My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Beneath the flickering shade of the trees, Ying Yuan gazed at Yi Shanshan, her eyes filled with concern.
It was rare to see such fear etched on her face. Yi Shanshan stared back, studying her for a long moment before asking, “Ying Yuan, are you scared?”
Ying Yuan had to nod. Yi Shanshan’s family background loomed like a mountain, its potential for conflict, resentment, and harm smoldering like molten lava beneath the surface.
Ying Yuan feared its sudden eruption, feared Yi Shanshan’s pain, feared their abrupt separation, fearing they would never be able to reunite.
If she could, she would hide her relationship with Yi Shanshan forever.
Tuck it away in a safe place, where no one would find it, so they could secretly be happy for a little longer.
But Yi Shanshan wasn’t that kind of person.
When she truly loved someone, she wanted to flaunt it like a prized treasure, for the whole world to see.
“I meant, are you scared about your side?” Yi Shanshan tilted her head. “Scared your classmates will gossip? Scared your parents will find out and argue, try to stop you?”
That question was easy to answer. Ying Yuan shook her head quickly.
“I’m not worried about my side. I’ve always been gay. As long as I’m in a relationship, I’ll have to deal with these things anyway.”
“I’ve been prepared for this all along. Whatever happens, it’s just what I should expect as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in this environment.”
Yi Shanshan’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Then why did you ask me?”
“Why do you think I’m scared?”
“Aren’t I already out as gay?”
“Isn’t this just another burden I should bear?”
Ying Yuan was momentarily speechless, managing only to mutter, “Shanshan, you’re different…”
Yi Shanshan: “How am I different? Just because I realized my sexuality later than you, does that make me lesser?”
Ying Yuan: “…The challenges you’ll face will be much greater.”
Yi Shanshan: “That’s because I stand to gain much more too. Didn’t we talk about this before? Kids from families like ours understand from a young age that everything is just a transaction. Now that I’ve chosen you, isn’t it only natural that I’d have to give something up in return?”
Ying Yuan frowned. Yi Shanshan tilted her pale face upward as she spoke, her expression calm, almost numb, as if she had grown accustomed to this kind of compromise long ago.
Normally, Yi Shanshan was as lively and carefree as a child who hadn’t a worry in the world. But when you really talked to her, you realized she had already thought through these issues countless times.
Once Yi Shanshan found a self-consistent path, she would follow it resolutely, never hesitating, never looking back.
This was her strength, a precious quality rarely possessed by ordinary people. Yet watching her, Ying Yuan felt a pang of heartache.
She raised her hand, her palm hovering gently near Yi Shanshan’s cheek, not touching, merely shielding her from a sliver of glaring sunlight.
“There’s a gentler way to resolve this,” Ying Yuan said. “We could stretch out the timeline, perhaps avoid such a violent eruption.”
Yi Shanshan laughed, a laugh difficult to describe—part mocking, part manic.
She glanced at Ying Yuan, tilted her head, and pressed her cheek into Ying Yuan’s palm, nuzzling against it. The smooth, soft texture sent a faint tickle through Ying Yuan’s heart.
“Haven’t you realized yet, Ying Yuan?” Yi Shanshan said. “I don’t like dragging things out. I prefer the intensity.”
Ying Yuan was speechless.
Countless moments exploded in her mind—fleeting yet fiercely vibrant flashes of Yi Shanshan:
She’d rather burn like a firework than slowly exhaust her heat over an endless stretch of time.
I’m sorry…
Ying Yuan whispered inwardly.
“Ying Yuan!” someone called out behind them, followed by a loud, surprised shout: “Shanshan?!”
Ying Yuan turned to see Mao Mao and Xiaohan, whom she hadn’t seen all summer.
“Aaaah! It’s really you two!” Mao Mao exclaimed, rushing forward with open arms, her eyes crinkling in genuine delight.
Ying Yuan withdrew her hand, while a flicker of emotion crossed Yi Shanshan’s eyes.
Mao Mao hugged them both in turn. “Long time no see! I never thought I’d find you two together again so soon.”
Yi Shanshan smiled and patted Mao Mao’s back. “Isn’t it natural for us to be together?”
“Right, right,” Mao Mao agreed. “Ever since I found out you’re the Rich Lady, I should have bowed out of this three-person game.”
Yi Shanshan glanced at Ying Yuan, offering only a smile and silence.
Xiaohan joined them, scrutinizing the pair from head to toe. “Only two months apart, but Ying Yuan looks even more beautiful now! Tsk… she’s developed such a unique aura…”
“Yeah,” Mao Mao chimed in. “She doesn’t even look out of place standing next to Shanshan anymore…”
“I’m starting to believe the theory that spending time with beautiful people makes you beautiful too,” Xiaohan mused.
Mao Mao gasped. “Did you two see each other a lot over the break?”
“Are you daft?” Xiaohan retorted. “They’re from the same hometown, dummy! They live in the same city when they’re back home. It’s not like us, scattered across the country.”
Mao Mao: “Ooh, ooh, ooh…”
The two girls chattered on about trivialities, and Yi Shanshan didn’t interrupt.
Ying Yuan remained true to her usual way of interacting with friends—quiet and reserved, speaking only when asked a question.
“Let’s head upstairs,” Xiaohan said. “What are we standing down here for?”
Ying Yuan nodded. Mao Mao asked, “Did Shanshan bring you, Yuan’er? Why don’t you come up with us?”
Yi Shanshan smiled sweetly. “Sure!”
The four of them walked forward together, with Mao Mao and Xiaohan flanking Yi Shanshan, discussing their vacation adventures. It was then that Ying Yuan realized she had grown so accustomed to holding Yi Shanshan’s hand while walking.
Now, her hand felt empty, as if she were missing something vital.
Ying Yuan edged closer to Yi Shanshan, but she still couldn’t squeeze her way into the lively group of chatting sisters.
Yi Shanshan’s gaze no longer lingered on Ying Yuan the way it used to. It was as if she’d suddenly forgotten Ying Yuan’s special place in her life. They… had reverted to their original state, just friends.
Ying Yuan’s heart began to feel empty too. It was as if a cold wind had pierced her chest, or as if a cat’s claws were scratching at her heart.
As she followed Yi Shanshan upstairs, Ying Yuan watched the ends of her hair and the hem of her skirt dance lightly with each step. Hearing Yi Shanshan’s cheerful laughter as she chatted with others, Ying Yuan suddenly understood why Yi Shanshan refused to hide or compromise their relationship.
She wants our intimacy to be constant, everywhere. She doesn’t want to lose even a second of our time together.
Once they had tasted the joy of belonging to each other, any retreat from that connection would feel like an unbearable compromise.
Ying Yuan took a deep breath, regret welling up inside her.
But she couldn’t fathom what Yi Shanshan was thinking or planning. A single word could have shattered the pretense, yet Yi Shanshan remained silent.
Not only silent, but also ignoring her.
Is this… punishment?
Ying Yuan’s throat tightened, her heart quickening slightly. The rhythmic thud of her footsteps, thump-thump, matched her accelerating pulse.
I deserve to be punished, Ying Yuan thought.
Back in the dormitory, Mao Mao and Xiaohan were unpacking their newly moved-in luggage—hometown specialties, snacks from the road, new clothes ordered online—all to be proudly displayed to Yi Shanshan.
When Yi Shanshan was in the mood, her ability to provide emotional validation was unparalleled. A few casual words from her could strike deep into a person’s heart, coaxing Mao Mao and Xiaohan into a state of childlike bliss.
The three friends continued their lively chatter and play for quite a while, showing off all their treasures until their throats grew parched. They finally settled down a bit.
Mao Mao and Xiaohan sipped on the milk tea they’d just bought outside, while Ying Yuan pulled Yi Shanshan’s water bottle from her backpack and handed it to her.
The bottle was a pink My Little Pony collaboration featuring Pinkie Pie, which they had bought together during a shopping trip in H City one day.
The bottle was beautiful and eye-catching, with a soft straw inside. Yi Shanshan sipped through the straw, her glossy lips moving slightly as she drank, looking utterly adorable.
The bottle contained Ying Yuan’s freshly brewed lemon passion fruit water from that morning. Yi Shanshan didn’t like drinks that were too sweet or not sweet enough. This was a new recipe Ying Yuan had recently perfected, and Yi Shanshan loved it, having yet to tire of the flavor.
Yi Shanshan focused on drinking her water, while Ying Yuan focused on watching Yi Shanshan drink.
Xiaohan’s gaze darted between them before she suddenly asked, “Yuan’er, Shanshan, what about you two? Don’t you have any fun summer stories to share with us?”
Mao Mao chimed in, “Yeah, yeah! We’ve been talking the whole time. If you have cool stuff, show it off too! Yuan’er, where’s your suitcase? Just a backpack? Didn’t you say you just arrived today?”
“I…” Ying Yuan began.
Her gaze drifted back to Yi Shanshan. This summer had brought her the most precious gift of her life, one she should have been flaunting proudly. But her Babe seemed… upset.
“I have…” she murmured.
Yi Shanshan blinked and cut her off. “Ying Yuan’s been back for ages, just hasn’t been in the dorm yet. Senior Qi’s gaming project blew up! They rented a proper office off-campus. Ying Yuan’s super busy now, basically a mini-CEO!”
The topic instantly grabbed Mao Mao and Xiaohan’s attention.
“OMG, that’s insane!”
“So she’s basically running a company now?”
“Yuan’er, are you getting paid now? How big is this expansion? Are you guys trying to make something like King’s Battle Royale or Chicken Dinner?”
“While we’re still stuck here 阿巴阿巴, Ying Yuan’s already juggling school and her own business!”
“Great heavens, open your eyes and look at these overachievers! They’ve gained so much—what have they even sacrificed? How is their hair still so thick?!”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Ying Yuan had no choice but to start answering their questions one by one.
The conversation stretched on for quite some time. Yi Shanshan sipped her drink through a straw, glancing between the two, dividing her attention evenly into thirds.
Before they could finish chatting, someone knocked on the door from next door, calling them to register and collect their books.
Mao Mao and Xiaohan stood up and asked Yi Shanshan, “Shanshan, aren’t you getting yours today?”
Yi Shanshan blinked. “Someone’s already taken care of it for me. It’s all sorted out.”
“It’s amazing how well-liked you are!” Mao Mao glanced at Ying Yuan, who was gazing at Yi Shanshan. Inspired, Mao Mao declared, “Our Shanshan gets spoiled wherever she goes! Of course, we can’t let her be neglected here either. Yuan’er, Xiaohan and I will go get your books. Your only job is to keep Shanshan company in the dorm!”
It was a perfectly reasonable arrangement.
Yi Shanshan didn’t object, and Ying Yuan quickly nodded. “Okay.”
Mao Mao and Xiaohan linked arms and left, the noisy flow of people in the corridor surging in waves.
Ying Yuan rose and went to close the dormitory door.
Her fingers hesitated over the deadbolt, and she didn’t slide it into place.
She was afraid Yi Shanshan would misunderstand.
She no longer wanted their relationship to be a secret. Even enduring this brief separation felt like her heart had been swept by a harsh wind, turning into a parched riverbed.
Ying Yuan walked back to Yi Shanshan, looked at her, and apologized, “I’m sorry, Shanshan. I was being too shallow.”
With no one else in the room, Yi Shanshan’s gaze finally focused entirely on her. The shimmering light in those beautiful eyes was now Ying Yuan’s river.
She needed her source of water.
Ying Yuan reached out and took Yi Shanshan’s hand. Yi Shanshan let her hold it without pulling away.
The soft fingertips in her palm brought comfort, and Ying Yuan let out a gentle breath.
Yi Shanshan smiled, not hiding her mischievous intentions. She glanced at Ying Yuan sideways and said, “Already can’t handle it? Isn’t this just like before?”
Ying Yuan shook her head, knelt before Yi Shanshan, and gazed up at her beautiful, captivating girlfriend. “There’s no going back,” she said.
Yi Shanshan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “Hmm?”
Ying Yuan wasn’t good at saying such things, but her heart and body compelled her, forced the words from her lips.
“Now that I have you, I can’t lose you—not even a little.”
The tranquil surface of the lake rippled with waves, and her half-kneeling posture resembled a plea.
Seated in her chair, Yi Shanshan merely lowered her gaze to see her devoted follower.
So devout, so pitiful.
“Then you’re not afraid anymore?” Yi Shanshan asked.
Ying Yuan shook her head vehemently.
Yi Shanshan reached out, cupped Ying Yuan’s chin, and gently rubbed her thumb across those thin, pale lips until they became tender and swollen.
“I don’t believe what your lips say, Ying Yuan.”
Yi Shanshan’s index and middle fingers slid upward, easily slipping between Ying Yuan’s teeth.
“Show me, Ying Yuan.”