My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 17
Chapter 17
What should I do?
What does Yi Shanshan want?
Besides a hug, which she could get right now—there’s nothing stopping her.
Yi Shanshan was now subtly hinting with her fingertips while coaxing her with a honeyed voice. When Ying Yuan lowered her gaze, she could see Yi Shanshan’s curled lashes and her tender, half-exposed cheek.
She’s waiting for me, Ying Yuan realized, instantly recalling their last encounter. Yi Shanshan had fed her strawberries, then opened her arms wide, waiting for her to embrace her.
Yi Shanshan wanted her to take the initiative.
For some reason, ever since they rekindled their relationship, Yi Shanshan had developed this craving. She always yearned for Ying Yuan to spontaneously place her hands on her.
But this was Ying Yuan’s firmly established boundary, her absolute limit. She was indulging Yi Shanshan now only to gradually create distance between them, not to push their relationship into another abyss.
Ying Yuan couldn’t give Yi Shanshan what she wanted.
Growing impatient, Yi Shanshan’s hand, which had been poking her stomach, slid toward her waist.
Ying Yuan’s waist was an extremely sensitive area, prone to uncontrollable tickling.
Sensing Yi Shanshan’s intentions, a flash of inspiration struck Ying Yuan. Raising her voice, she exclaimed, “Hey, I really do have something to bribe you with.”
Even as she spoke, Ying Yuan deftly sidestepped Yi Shanshan’s attempt to get close and headed toward her bunk.
Amidst the densely packed books on her shelf, a rare trinket stood out: a tiny brown capybara plushie. Ying Yuan plucked it from its place and handed it to Yi Shanshan.
“Capybara,” Ying Yuan said. “I crocheted it myself.”
Yi Shanshan’s eyes widened in shock as she took the keychain-sized figure, examining it closely.
The plushie was soft and fuzzy, crocheted with incredibly fine yarn. Its simple, blocky design radiated a serene, almost detached calmness.
“You made this yourself?” Yi Shanshan gasped. “I didn’t know you had this skill!”
“Yeah, micro-crochet,” Ying Yuan replied. “It’s really hard on the eyes, so I only made one and never did it again.”
“This is a one-of-a-kind, limited-edition handmade masterpiece!” Yi Shanshan exclaimed.
Ying Yuan flushed slightly at her enthusiastic praise. “It’s not that impressive…”
“Are you giving it to me?” Yi Shanshan asked.
“Mhm,” Ying Yuan nodded.
“Don’t you think this capybara looks a bit like you?” Yi Shanshan asked.
“Huh?” Ying Yuan tilted her head, confused.
Yi Shanshan burst into laughter, hugging Ying Yuan tightly. “You’re giving me yourself! Ha ha ha…”
No… How did this… What logic even…? Ying Yuan was dazed, her head buzzing.
Yi Shanshan frowned, remembering something. “Ying Yuan, where’s the thing I gave you?”
Before Ying Yuan could answer, Yi Shanshan had already let go of her and started searching herself.
Yi Shanshan had already checked Ying Yuan’s wardrobe, knowing the small electric cooker was hidden at the bottom. Ying Yuan’s desk was in plain view, and the only interesting thing on it was already in Yi Shanshan’s hand.
That left only Ying Yuan’s bed. Yi Shanshan glanced up at the neatly made surface, wondering what lay beneath the covers.
Moving with lightning speed, she climbed the ladder to the bed in what seemed like an instant. As soon as her bottom touched Ying Yuan’s mattress, she collapsed onto it.
Then she let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
“Uuuuuuugh—”
Ying Yuan heard Yi Shanshan’s lazy groan, as if her brain had been emptied.
She swallowed the words she was about to speak. Perhaps Yi Shanshan hadn’t been searching for anything specific after all.
Now sprawled on Ying Yuan’s bed, Yi Shanshan lay with her arms outstretched, her legs dangling off the side, swaying gently.
Ying Yuan had given her this time and space. After spending so long with Yi Shanshan, she still knew so little about her. But she knew what Yi Shanshan looked like when she was truly comfortable: completely relaxed, utterly enjoying herself, languid, even greedy.
Those were their most peaceful moments, their bodies pressed close, exchanging warmth and heartbeats.
Now, it seemed Yi Shanshan could achieve that feeling without even embracing her.
Ying Yuan waited quietly. With Yi Shanshan here, everything in the dormitory suddenly felt unfamiliar.
She’d never noticed the color of the bed frame before, or the chipped paint on the railings. Today was the first time she’d realized the dormitory’s standardized sheets and pillowcases were a deep and light blue-and-white plaid.
Yi Shanshan’s legs swung idly, her black skirt fanning out below her knees. Her long socks, emblazoned with a school crest, and her shiny Mary Jane shoes painted a vivid portrait of a college summer.
After what felt like an eternity, someone began knocking on the door.
Xiaohan and Mao Mao’s voices overlapped, sounding frantic: “Ying Yuan, Ying Yuan, are you okay? Aren’t you finished yet?”
Snapping back to reality, Ying Yuan took a step forward to remind Yi Shanshan of their situation and the proper decorum.
But the moment she stopped moving, Yi Shanshan also rolled over and sat up.
She sat on the edge of Ying Yuan’s bed, leaning forward to meet her gaze.
It was a terrible yet beautiful position. Ying Yuan looked up to see Yi Shanshan’s lovely face, and if she reached out, she could grasp Yi Shanshan’s long, straight legs.
But of course, Ying Yuan wouldn’t do anything. She suppressed all her strange feelings and said to Yi Shanshan, “Get down. It’s time to finish.”
Yi Shanshan didn’t move, tilting her head slightly as she studied Ying Yuan intently.
The impatient knocking outside the door went completely ignored.
She gazed into Ying Yuan’s eyes, watching her own reflection mirrored in her pupils. Suddenly, she reached out and gently cupped Ying Yuan’s face.
Ying Yuan’s body trembled as Yi Shanshan leaned closer.
Her lips moved, her voice a low murmur: “Ying Yuan, your bed smells so good.”
Ying Yuan could never have imagined that this was the reply she’d been waiting for.
Embarrassment and shyness instantly flooded her body, turning her face crimson, her eyes almost red.
“It smells just like you,” Yi Shanshan said. “So comforting, so lovely.”
Ying Yuan scrambled for something to say. “I’ll send you the links for the laundry detergent and fabric softener.”
Yi Shanshan laughed, lifting her other hand—the one holding Little Capybara—to cup Ying Yuan’s face and playfully ruffle her cheeks.
“I’ve told you a million times, it’s not the scent of those products.”
Despite her teasing, Yi Shanshan eventually got out of bed.
She tucked the Little Capybara into her pocket and straightened her slightly rumpled skirt.
Grabbing the inspection checklist from the side, Yi Shanshan picked up a pen and lowered her eyes to mark it.
“Your bribe was very effective,” she said. “Your dorm receives an ‘Excellent’ rating, and the entire class gets two bonus points.”
Ying Yuan’s face flushed even deeper, overwhelmed by guilt on multiple fronts. She was practically a wholesale dealer in guilt these days.
After finishing the checklist, Yi Shanshan tapped the pen against her cheek, frowning thoughtfully. “With such a great dorm environment and an empty bed, I’m almost tempted to move in myself.”
Ying Yuan: “!!!!”
Terrified, the hairs on Ying Yuan’s arms stood on end. She quickly blurted out, “Isn’t it hard to transfer dorms across colleges? Your classes are all on South Campus anyway—it wouldn’t be convenient.”
“Hmph,” Yi Shanshan scoffed coldly.
“Go open the door and let your roommates in,” Yi Shanshan declared magnanimously, as if granting a universal pardon.
Ying Yuan darted to the dormitory door and swung it open.
Mao Mao and Xiaohan surged inside, followed by the College Student Union members behind them.
Eight eyes swiveled, darting between Ying Yuan, the dormitory, and Yi Shanshan.
Yi Shanshan turned, her expression as impassive and detached as when she had arrived.
“Next room,” she announced, and the crowd at the door parted instantly, like the Red Sea before Moses.
As the last person left, Mao Mao and Xiaohan slammed the door shut and pounced on Ying Yuan:
“What happened?!”
“Why did it take so long? What did she do? What did she ask you?”
“Did she find our hotpot? Did she stumble upon my snail noodle stash?!”
“Oh my god, Ying Yuan! Your face is all pale and flushed! Did she torture you?!”
“I used to think she was just a pure, kind-hearted beauty! I was so excited when she first walked in because she’s so stunning—like she’s on a completely different level than us!”
“I never imagined she’d be so cold-blooded in private! It’s terrifying! You can’t tell what she’s thinking at all. I didn’t even dare to look her in the eye!”
Ying Yuan couldn’t answer their barrage of questions all at once. She needed to calm down and figure out how to spin her story.
After a few tense minutes, a full-throated “AWOOO!” suddenly echoed through the hallway, followed by a frantic pounding on their dorm door.
“Ying Yuan! Ying Yuan!” Lina shouted.
Xiaohan opened the door. Lina burst in, her voice trembling, “That… that… dorm inspection!”
Ying Yuan: “…Yi Shanshan. I know.”
Lina: “Aaaaah! Is she giving you trouble?!”
Xiaohan and Mao Mao: “How did you know?!”
Lina: “!!! She is giving you trouble?!”
Xiaohan and Mao Mao: “Yup!”
The three of them grabbed each other’s hands, their faces practically stamped with giant letters: “I’ve made a major discovery! I have a huge secret! I have major gossip!”
They huddled around the table, even pulling out sunflower seeds and snacks.
Ying Yuan: “……”