My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 123
Chapter 123
By the time Yi Shanshan returned home, Ying Yuan’s parents had already left.
She entered the house, her eyes darting around the room, but saw no one. Lowering her voice, she asked Ying Yuan, “Where are your parents?”
Ying Yuan seemed a little down. “I asked them to stay, but they didn’t want to eat here. They said they had to catch a train later.”
“So you didn’t really try to persuade them,” Yi Shanshan said, her voice returning to its normal volume. Her gaze locked onto Ying Yuan’s face, studying her with concern. “What did they say? Did you argue?”
“No,” Ying Yuan replied. “We don’t argue in our family.”
Yi Shanshan cupped Ying Yuan’s cheeks in her hands, her eyes filled with sympathy. “Sometimes not arguing means avoiding the real problems. You should have texted me earlier so I could come home sooner. If something’s going on at home, why make me stay away longer?”
As Yi Shanshan’s soft palms kneaded Ying Yuan’s cheeks, the worry seemed to melt away like butter on a warm stove. Ying Yuan curved her lips into a small smile. “I didn’t want to upset you. This was something I should handle myself.”
“It would be your business if you were dealing with it alone. But when you’re running around with me, it becomes our business,” Yi Shanshan said. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Ying Yuan lightly on the lips. “Mmm, smells delicious! Did you make soup?”
“Mmm,” Ying Yuan responded immediately. “Let’s eat.”
Yi Shanshan went to wash her hands while Ying Yuan carried the prepared dishes to the table.
After talking with her mother, Ying Yuan’s first instinct had been to add a couple more dishes. But her mother refused to stay, not wanting Ying Yuan to fuss over her and unwilling to share a meal in the same room with her daughter’s girlfriend. So she made up an excuse and hurried away.
Ying Yuan hadn’t felt this devastated even when facing her parents’ interrogations after coming out. What truly broke her heart was that her parents had traveled so far to see her, only to leave without even finishing a meal or taking more than a few sips of water.
The table was fragrant with the aroma of a meal for two—a mix of meat and vegetables.
Yi Shanshan emerged from the bathroom, tying her long hair back with an elastic band as she approached the table. She hadn’t even taken a bite yet, but after just a sniff, her face lit up with pure delight.
“It smells so amazing, Babe! I’ve been looking forward to this all day. I’m so happy!”
Ying Yuan gazed at Yi Shanshan’s face, feeling a deep sense of contentment.
People are often moved by the sacrifices others make for them, but Ying Yuan knew what she truly craved was to be needed.
When you’re needed, everything you do seems to have value, to carry meaning.
Ying Yuan ladled a bowl of soup and set it before Yi Shanshan, saying to her little princess, “Dig in!”
“Mmm!” Yi Shanshan nodded. “Dig in!”
She poured the soup over her rice, stirred it well, and popped a spoonful into her bright red mouth, her eyes crinkling with delight. “So delicious—”
Ying Yuan smiled.
“Let’s chat while we eat,” Yi Shanshan suggested. “You three—the whole family—seem to have avoidant personalities. If you have any questions, I can help you analyze them. Maybe things aren’t as you imagine them to be.”
That made sense. Ying Yuan nodded.
“And don’t leave out your feelings when you talk,” Yi Shanshan added. “Sadness, worry, discomfort—everything! That way, I can understand things from your perspective and make better judgments.”
To help Ying Yuan open up, Yi Shanshan automatically switched to a logical thinking mode, which indeed made it easier for the little robot to process her words.
“Okay,” Ying Yuan replied.
They continued eating and chatting. Ying Yuan, as the person sharing her story, spoke slowly and deliberately. Ironically, Yi Shanshan, the listener, would occasionally erupt in frustration.
“What?! He actually went to see your parents?! Has he lost his mind? Is he crazy?!”
“So what if he’s rich?! Who cares about his measly peanuts? Trust me, Ying Yuan, he’s a scammer! His company’s been failing for ages—he’s already planning to sell it! Once the ownership changes after signing this deal with you, who knows what kind of trouble you’ll be in?!”
“Wait, he’s even arranging your study abroad?! What kind of diploma mill did he find that would be worthy of your grades?!”
“Oh, this one doesn’t look like a scam. But once you’re there, he might just shove you into some nominal affiliate college.”
“Anyway, that old man’s up to no good. He’s ruthless—he even sets traps for his own daughter when giving her things! He’s nothing like those melodramatic, brainless fathers who’d hand over ten million just to make you leave their daughter…”
When she cursed her own father, she held nothing back, her brow furrowed so deeply it could crack walnuts.
“Shanshan, calm down,” Ying Yuan said, gently stroking her back. “We won’t fall for his tricks so easily. Don’t worry.”
Ying Yuan then explained her parents’ reaction in detail.
Yi Shanshan: “Your aunt and uncle sound really great.”
“Don’t be angry with them,” Yi Shanshan said, “or think they can’t accept us. Most parents wouldn’t. But they came here to hear you out, face-to-face, and didn’t pressure you to make a decision. They’ve already surpassed 95% of parents worldwide.”
“Mm,” Ying Yuan nodded.
“They trust you,” Yi Shanshan continued, “and they’re on your side.”
A pang of tenderness struck Ying Yuan’s heart, and she nodded again.
Yi Shanshan smiled. “It’s just that they don’t realize, or perhaps refuse to believe, that I’m on your side too.”
Ying Yuan was about to speak, but Yi Shanshan cut her off. “It’s okay,” she said. “They’ll understand eventually.”
Everyone said Yi Shanshan was arrogant, capricious, reckless, and selfish. But only Ying Yuan knew that when she loved you, she was equal, honest, caring, and generous.
“Ying Yuan, have you ever thought about studying abroad?” Yi Shanshan suddenly asked.
“Huh?” Ying Yuan quickly clarified her position. “I won’t accept that recommendation letter. I don’t trust your father either.”
“What if the recommendation letter turns out to be legitimate?” Yi Shanshan pressed.
“I wouldn’t leave you for something like that,” Ying Yuan replied firmly.
“What if I came with you?” Yi Shanshan countered.
“Huh?” Ying Yuan paused, considering seriously. “If we went together, we’d have to consider your wishes. I used to think about studying abroad longer, but it doesn’t have to be abroad. The project’s progressing well, and if the launch goes smoothly, Senior Qi will definitely start a new one right away…”
Ying Yuan put down her chopsticks. “Actually, she’s already planning a new project—to avoid putting all her eggs in one basket.”
“I’m really happy working under Senior Qi right now. Compared to more studying, being able to apply my skills directly and earn money feels more grounded and important to me.”
Yi Shanshan smiled. “Just one month’s salary, and you’re already hooked on the feeling of making money?”
“Yes,” Ying Yuan admitted. Facing Yi Shanshan’s bright eyes, she finally dared to voice her ambition. “I want to… earn enough to buy a house of our own.”
Yi Shanshan’s smile vanished, leaving her staring blankly at Ying Yuan.
She didn’t utter those meaningless platitudes, like, “This house is yours, what’s mine is yours.”
They both knew that all of Yi Shanshan’s past luxuries came from her family’s wealth.
If they continued this defiance, it was only a matter of time before everything was taken away.
Yi Shanshan was preparing for that eventuality.
They hadn’t discussed it, but Ying Yuan was preparing for it too.
Work hard, earn money, buy a house that belongs to us.
Yi Shanshan had materialized in Ying Yuan’s future—tangible, grounded, utterly real.
“Ugh…” Yi Shanshan’s lips trembled, tears welling up.
Since being with Ying Yuan, she’d laughed more, but she’d also cried more.
Ying Yuan panicked slightly. Already sitting close, she leaned even closer.
“What’s wrong, Shanshan…?” Ying Yuan stroked that soft, fluffy head, gently pulling Yi Shanshan into her arms. “Do you still want to go abroad? We can do that too. It’ll be tough at first, but later you’ll have less interference from your family…”
Yi Shanshan: “Waaah… I don’t want to go abroad! I don’t have any rose-tinted glasses about foreign countries. All those idiots in our circle just go there to show off and accomplish nothing. When they come back, they can’t even speak proper Chinese anymore—they’re even dumber than before…”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Yi Shanshan: “My dad has power, but it’s not like he rules the whole country. We can live perfectly fine here…”
Ying Yuan: “Mm-hmm!”
Yi Shanshan: “Besides, he’s bad news, and I’m no saint either. I have ways to deal with them. Just wait and see.”
The last few words were spoken with a venomous edge, her tone turning ruthless.
Ying Yuan knew better than to forget that Yi Shanshan was a sharp-toothed little fox. She quickly asked, “What are you planning to do?”
Yi Shanshan raised an eyebrow. “It’s a secret. I won’t tell you. I’ll come bragging about it later, after it’s done.”
Ying Yuan grew worried. She soothed the babe in her arms, “Actually, none of this really matters. As long as my parents and I don’t fall for their tricks, life will go on. We haven’t lost anything…”
“He might try to sabotage you,” Yi Shanshan warned.
“We can avoid him. Besides, we live in a society governed by laws. He can’t possibly…” Ying Yuan trailed off.
Yi Shanshan raised a finger and gently pressed it against Ying Yuan’s lips. “Nothing will happen.”
Ying Yuan fell silent.
Yi Shanshan blinked, her eyes shining like cold, hard diamonds. “You’re my girlfriend. I’ll protect you.”
By the end of the meal, Ying Yuan’s worries had completely vanished.
Just as Yi Shanshan had predicted, their conflict with Ying Yuan’s parents wasn’t even a true conflict. Time would gradually resolve everything.
Their real opponent was Yi Shanshan’s father.
Now, Ying Yuan’s mind was consumed with worry for Yi Shanshan.
Yi Shanshan’s refusal to reveal her plans meant she would act alone, secretly.
Ying Yuan didn’t want her to bear this burden alone. She wanted to stand by Yi Shanshan’s side, to be her partner in executing the plan, to serve as her unwavering support.
How could she change Yi Shanshan’s mind and uncover her secrets?
Ying Yuan prepared a beautifully arranged fruit platter for Yi Shanshan, feeding her each piece one by one. Yi Shanshan savored each bite with a radiant smile, but remained tight-lipped.
After finishing the fruit, Yi Shanshan went to wash up, and Ying Yuan followed her into the bathroom.
Ying Yuan squeezed toothpaste onto Yi Shanshan’s brush, unbraided her hair, and gently massaged her scalp. In the mirror, Yi Shanshan, toothbrush clenched between her teeth and head tilted back, resembled a kitten purring with blissful contentment under gentle scratches.
Yet she still refused to reveal her secrets.
Ying Yuan then followed her into the shower.
Under the warm cascade, they recreated that day in H City. Yi Shanshan’s skin flushed crimson beneath Ying Yuan’s touch as the mingling fluids flowed into Ying Yuan’s mouth. Yi Shanshan’s stifled moans, like a fragmented melody, echoed through the humid, enclosed space, amplified in waves.
Exquisite beyond words.
Yi Shanshan was sated, but her lips remained sealed.
Ying Yuan began to understand that no amount of attentive pampering could pry open Yi Shanshan’s guarded heart.
So, after the lights went out, with Yi Shanshan’s soft body cradled in her arms, Ying Yuan gently kneaded and teased, kindling flames in the darkness.
Yi Shanshan responded immediately.
Yi Shanshan quickly entwined herself around Ying Yuan, demanding more.
Ying Yuan complied, giving her what she wanted. The woman in her arms softened into a pliant mass, pressing ever closer to Ying Yuan’s palm.
Ying Yuan knew exactly what pleased Yi Shanshan most, and when she was about to reach her peak.
Ying Yuan concealed her movement, and at that crucial moment, withdrew from the most intimate point.
Yi Shanshan: “????”
The usually attentive Ying Yuan had never done this before.
Yi Shanshan nestled her body deeper into Ying Yuan’s embrace, nipping at her ear and deliberately panting.
Ying Yuan didn’t reject her, but she suddenly became clumsy. Her usually nimble fingertips fumbled awkwardly, unable to find the right touch.
“Mmm…”
Yi Shanshan’s desire burned fiercely, but the lack of that final touch left her heart aching with emptiness.
Ying Yuan held her tighter, pressing kisses to her cheek and coaxing her softly, “Babe, tell me what you want, okay? Please?”
Yi Shanshan finally understood what Ying Yuan was doing. Furious, she bit Ying Yuan’s lip hard.
The taste of blood. Yi Shanshan’s tongue licked it away, her throat swallowing.
“You little devil,” Yi Shanshan murmured, her voice uncontrollably soft and coquettish.