My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Whether it was Yi Shanshan’s threat or the fact that Ying Yuan had less academic pressure during the break, she seemed to have accumulated a great deal of energy.
In the days leading up to Yi Shanshan’s birthday, they made love every night.
On quieter nights, it was because Yi Shanshan was tired. On more passionate nights, it was because she was less tired and brimming with enthusiasm.
By then, even the mere sight or scent of Ying Yuan sent a ticklish sensation through Yi Shanshan’s heart.
“Hold back a little, okay? Let’s skip tonight. My back’s already aching.”
On the afternoon of October 4th, Ying Yuan received this message from Yi Shanshan at her workstation. She couldn’t help but grin, secretly smiling into her phone for several minutes.
“Saving your energy for tomorrow?” Ying Yuan replied.
Yi Shanshan didn’t hide her intentions: “Exactly! You promised, no take-backs.”
“No take-backs,” Ying Yuan confirmed.
“No take-backs, but sneaky tricks are allowed, right?” Yi Shanshan countered.
“Well… yes, definitely some ‘tricks’ involved…” Ying Yuan admitted.
Yi Shanshan sent a flurry of cat emojis, each one angrily swatting and scratching.
Then she immediately added, Did you argue with Qi Hongyue?
The leave request had been approved long ago. Qi Hongyue had agreed smoothly, and the two hadn’t even met in person.
One person submitted the leave request online, and thirty seconds later, it showed “Approved.”
There really wasn’t anything to argue about.
But since Yi Shanshan had brought it up and was now emphasizing it, Ying Yuan had to keep her promise.
She replied to Yi Shanshan, Wait a moment.
Then she got up from her workstation and went to knock on Qi Hongyue’s office door.
The door was already half-open. Qi Hongyue sat at her computer, frowning as she processed documents. Without looking up, she asked, “What is it?”
Ying Yuan closed the office door and walked over. “Senior, you should take a break.”
Qi Hongyue shifted her gaze, a bad feeling creeping in. “Just get to the point.”
Ying Yuan opened her phone’s voice recorder and showed it to Qi Hongyue. “Senior, can we have a fight?”
Qi Hongyue: ????
Ying Yuan: “It’s Shanshan’s birthday tomorrow.”
Qi Hongyue’s mind finally snapped free from the grip of her work.
“What’s the connection between these two things? I know it’s her birthday tomorrow. I even brought a gift for you to give her…”
Ying Yuan: “This is part of the gift.”
Qi Hongyue: “????”
Ying Yuan stepped closer, took a deep breath, and steeled herself with unwavering resolve. “She just likes it when you and I argue.”
Qi Hongyue: “????”
Qi Hongyue exploded. “Wait, are you serious? She likes it when you and I argue, so we’re supposed to bicker just to entertain her?”
Ying Yuan: “Mm-hmm. A little squabble is no big deal.”
Qi Hongyue: “No big deal? It drains our emotions! You’re such a lovesick fool, I swear! Since you got a girlfriend, her words are gospel, right? Not only can she boss you around, but now she can order me around too?”
Ying Yuan: “Exactly. That’s a perfect analogy.”
Qi Hongyue scoffed in exasperation. Grabbing a small Artist-themed figurine from her desk, she hurled it at Ying Yuan. “Get out! I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
Ying Yuan caught the plushie. “Want to grab dinner tomorrow?”
Qi Hongyue: “To celebrate your emperor’s birthday?”
Ying Yuan: “Yeah.”
Qi Hongyue: “No way I’d intrude on your little lovey-dovey date. Why rush over just to be force-fed dog food?”
Qi Hongyue: “Doesn’t Yi Shanshan have tons of friends? She could throw a party tomorrow and let that whole group eat dog food together.”
Ying Yuan paused, her gaze flickering. “Ever since we got together, she hasn’t been seeing many of her friends. She hasn’t invited anyone for her birthday tomorrow.”
To an outsider, this might sound like boasting about their relationship. But Qi Hongyue precisely caught the subtle shift in Ying Yuan’s emotions.
She looked at Ying Yuan. “It’s about quality, not quantity, when it comes to friends. It’s her choice. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Ying Yuan: “Mm-hmm.”
Qi Hongyue: “When your heart is full, you don’t need so much noise from the outside world.”
Ying Yuan: “Senior, have you been in contact with President Wen lately?”
Qi Hongyue: “I have to report progress every few days.”
“The… private kind of contact.” Ying Yuan said.
Qi Hongyue: “…You’re curious about that?”
“Shanshan loves hearing about it.”
Qi Hongyue: “……”
“You haven’t given Shanshan a birthday gift yet. Tell us a story—consider it her present.”
Qi Hongyue: “……”
“After the story, we’ll sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ Senior, you’re a dear friend to both of us.”
Qi Hongyue felt the urge to smash something again.
Leaning sideways, she yanked open the cabinet behind her. “Better not be ‘friends’ then. I can’t handle that kind of trouble.”
She pulled out two large gift boxes and shoved them into Ying Yuan’s arms. “Here. Gifts. Happy Birthday.”
Ying Yuan glanced down at the items in her arms. They were a newly released set of developer commemorative merchandise and a box… of nutritional supplements Qi Hongyue had specially procured for female business partners.
Donkey-hide gelatin, bird’s nest, red dates, goji berries…
Ying Yuan: “……”
Qi Hongyue snorted coldly. “Here, something to replenish your strength.”
Ying Yuan left the office and sent the recording to Yi Shanshan.
Yi Shanshan sent back three 59-second voice messages, each bursting with uncontrollable laughter: “Hahahahahaha!”
Ying Yuan put on her headphones and listened to each message one by one, laughing along heartily.
That day, there was no overtime. Qi Hongyue made a point of announcing in the group chat that everyone should go home early and rest.
At 6:00 PM, Ying Yuan left the office. By 6:20 PM, she was at the supermarket buying ingredients for dinner.
With time to spare tonight, she was determined to cook Yi Shanshan’s favorite dishes herself.
At 7:00 PM, while Ying Yuan was busy in the kitchen, the custom-ordered flowers and decorations arrived.
The simmering dishes bubbled on the stove as Ying Yuan arranged the flowers, strung up fairy lights, and positioned the adorable balloon centerpiece.
By 8:00 PM, everything was ready.
Ying Yuan took off her apron and showered. At 8:15 PM, she headed downstairs to their usual meeting spot.
8:30 PM was their agreed-upon time to go home together. With just fifteen minutes left to wait, Ying Yuan felt a surge of happiness.
The sky had darkened to a deep blue, like the sea they had watched together before.
Yi Shanshan’s figure gradually became clearer in the distance. At first, she was strolling leisurely with her headphones on. But when she spotted Ying Yuan waiting for her, she yanked them off and sprinted toward her with a radiant smile.
Ying Yuan absolutely adored the sight of Yi Shanshan rushing into her arms.
It felt like spring itself was surging toward her, like all the world’s beauty was being bestowed upon her without end.
She caught her whole world securely in her arms. Her world leaned in on tiptoe and pressed a strawberry-flavored kiss to her lips.
The walk home was much slower with Yi Shanshan in her arms.
The trees were fascinating, the flowers were fascinating, even the fruit shop near their apartment complex was fascinating.
By the time they reached home, it was nearly nine o’clock.
The moment the door swung open, Yi Shanshan noticed the unfamiliar decorations. She abandoned Ying Yuan and dashed inside, whooping with delight.
“Wow! My favorite pink lychees! This flower arrangement is gorgeous! Ying Yuan, you have such taste!”
“Waaah! So many balloons! Even on the floor! Customized balloons! Hahahaha! Sparkling, Shanshan! Ying Yuan, you’re such a genius with slogans!”
“Waaah! The food’s ready? You came home early to cook? You lied to me! You said you had to work late! Turns out you were working overtime to spoil me?”
Seeing her radiant joy, Ying Yuan couldn’t stop smiling.
She nodded. “That’s right. Working overtime to spoil you.”
Yi Shanshan bounced back to her, eyes sparkling. “Did you blow up all these balloons yourself? Does your mouth hurt? Want me to kiss it better?”
Ying Yuan: “I bought them. The shop filled them with air.”
Yi Shanshan: “……”
Ying Yuan: “But my mouth was getting bored. Needed something to do.”
Yi Shanshan: “Hehe.”
Their mouths stayed busy for quite a while, a sweet appetizer before dinner.
At nine, they ate dinner together. Ying Yuan’s cooking was always perfect for Yi Shanshan’s taste. Yi Shanshan devoured the meal, then playfully grumbled, “It’s too delicious! I’m going to get fat!”
Ying Yuan: “You’ll be cute even if you gain weight.”
Yi Shanshan: “Hmph.”
Ying Yuan: “You’ll feel even better to touch.”
Yi Shanshan: “I knew it!!!”
At 9:40 PM, sated and content, Yi Shanshan sprawled on the sofa, digesting her meal.
Ying Yuan switched off the main lights, leaving only a warm, amber glow. She switched on the hidden string lights, and the room instantly filled with twinkling artificial stars.
Yi Shanshan tilted her head back, gazing at the twinkling artificial stars and laughing happily.
“Ying Yuan, my birthday isn’t until tomorrow. Why are you starting the celebration tonight?”
Ying Yuan walked over to her. “I always feel so happy before seeing you. Anticipation is a joy in itself—a special kind of joy.”
Yi Shanshan: “You’re looking forward to my birthday~”
Ying Yuan: “Mm-hmm.”
Ying Yuan sat down beside her. “I’ve been looking forward to it for ages. Actually, I wish I could have started anticipating it even earlier.”
Yi Shanshan rested her head on Ying Yuan’s lap. The room was quiet, filled with a subtle fragrance. Yi Shanshan and her dearest companion were chatting about the most meaningless things.
“How much earlier? A month ago?”
Ying Yuan shook her head. “Not enough.”
“A year ago?”
Ying Yuan thought back to this time last year, when she and Yi Shanshan were complete strangers. She had provided Yi Shanshan with a few “hug services,” and Yi Shanshan had become a legend throughout the entire school.
She knew Yi Shanshan’s birthday was October 5th because someone had actually organized a birthday support event for her on campus that day.
A massive poster cascaded down the side of a building, Yi Shanshan looking as beautiful and unattainable as a distant star.
Back then, she would never have dared to dream that she could ever have any kind of emotional entanglement with someone like that.
Ying Yuan shook her head again.
Yi Shanshan’s eyes widened. “You want to go back to when we hadn’t even met? Like… three years ago?”
Ying Yuan pondered. “That still might not be far enough.”
Back then, they had attended the same high school. Ying Yuan had been completely focused on her studies, occasionally catching glimpses of Yi Shanshan surrounded by crowds. Everything about her seemed as foreign and distant as another world.
Yi Shanshan: “How daring! You want to start from my childhood?”
Ying Yuan smiled. “You must have been so adorable when you were little.”
Yi Shanshan: “Not at all. I was even darker back then. Wearing the pinkest clothes while doing the most ruthless things.”
“For example?” Ying Yuan asked.
“Someone took advantage of me getting lost outside the banquet hall. He grabbed my arm, trying to grope me, so I stabbed his hand with a fruit knife,” Yi Shanshan said.
Ying Yuan’s brow furrowed. She leaned down and gently embraced her precious girl. “I should have been there even earlier—right by your side, always, to protect you.”
Yi Shanshan smiled, her nose tingling with emotion. She buried her face in Ying Yuan’s comforting scent, finding solace in the familiar warmth.
“How much earlier could you possibly want to go? Ying Yuan, do you want to be my mother?”
That seems to be what she’s implying.
Though exaggerated, it seemed only this kind of total devotion could fully satisfy Ying Yuan’s desire to pour her very soul into loving Yi Shanshan.
“That would be wonderful,” Ying Yuan said. “I’d await your arrival in this world with eager anticipation. Every day afterward, I’d love you wholeheartedly, and we’d never be apart.”
Yi Shanshan fell silent, tears welling up in her eyes.
She had celebrated countless lavish birthdays, but it wasn’t until this, her twentieth, that she truly understood the meaning of a birthday.