My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 58
Chapter 58
How could Yi Shanshan do this?
How could she just… sculpt me into a dog?
And treat me like her owner, gazing down at me with such tender affection?
Yet Ying Yuan felt no anger.
Not even a flicker of displeasure.
A gentle pat on the head, a glance up to meet Yi Shanshan’s smile—all she felt was joy.
A joy tinged with a little shame, a secret delight hidden among the crowd, known only to her.
Ying Yuan even felt like she had been rewarded.
As if she really were a well-behaved dog who had completed her task perfectly.
After this gesture, Yi Shanshan stepped back to observe Ying Yuan’s reaction.
Suppressing the urge to bark, Ying Yuan simply said, “We both did great.”
Yi Shanshan’s eyes narrowed, her smile widening. “Mmm~ We both did great~”
With this foundation laid, by the time they reached the third game—the three-legged race—there was no barrier left between Ying Yuan and Yi Shanshan.
Their coordination was so seamless, it was as if they’d been close friends for years. With arms linked around each other’s waists and backs, they moved rhythmically across the grass.
As they reached the finish line to pass the baton, they both stumbled and tumbled into a tangled heap.
Yi Shanshan’s phone slipped out, unnoticed by either of them.
It wasn’t until the group photo after the game that Yi Shanshan realized her phone was missing and began frantically searching for it.
She found it—it had slid down the slope and landed in a pile of… cow dung.
Yi Shanshan: “……”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Yi Shanshan: “Let’s just leave it here. Goodbye.”
Ying Yuan: “The dung is dry… it shouldn’t be too… smelly.”
Yi Shanshan: “Then pick it up and smell it.”
Ying Yuan: “Bacteria can enter the lungs through the respiratory tract and cause illness.”
Yi Shanshan burst into laughter. “I love how you reject people with such a straight face!”
Ying Yuan cleared her throat lightly, still unwilling to abandon Yi Shanshan’s phone. She found a plastic bag and two twigs, using them to carefully scoop up the phone and place it in the bag.
“Changing phones and SIM cards is such a hassle; it’s easy to get held up. When we get back to the hotel later, I’ll disinfect it for you. At least the SIM card will be clean enough to pop out.”
“Leave it to you,” Yi Shanshan said, patting Ying Yuan’s shoulder, not overly concerned.
Under normal circumstances, a phone would be an indispensable item.
But on this team-building trip, the activities were so engaging, the laughter and chatter so constant, that everyone was too busy having fun to even think about checking their phones.
By the time the team-building games ended, dusk had already fallen.
The last sliver of crimson light vanished behind the mountains as everyone followed Qi Hongyue back in small groups, like calves and lambs returning to the fold.
And then they started eating calf and lamb meat.
Sated with food and drink, they were still eager for more fun.
So they gathered in a circle and played simple games:
Dice rolls, high-low, truth or dare.
Oh, what a thrill! Questions they’d never dare ask normally could now be posed under the guise of the game.
If the question wasn’t devilishly probing, the questioner had failed.
In the semi-private booth, screams and laughter erupted in waves.
Little Sister, the screenwriter, drew the highest number. She covered her face and asked Artist, “I’ve always wanted to know… are you… bent?”
Artist was stunned. She stood up and turned in a circle, showing herself off. “Seriously? What about me screams ‘straight girl’? Tell me, and I’ll change! Isn’t that enough?”
Everyone roared with laughter, declaring that Artist was as gay as a coiled mosquito coil—it wasn’t even a secret anymore, just a label.
Little Sister looked embarrassed. Artist pointed a finger at her. “You’re the straightest one here.”
Suddenly, she began surveying everyone at the table. “Big Sister will teach you how to tell.”
Ying Yuan’s heart lurched.
With Yi Shanshan right beside her, the question of sexual orientation hung over her head like a sword. At any moment, it could fall, slicing through her and leaving her bleeding.
She considered excusing herself to the restroom to escape this round.
But unexpectedly, Artist called her out first. “Like Ying Yuan…”
Ying Yuan clenched her fingers, holding her breath.
“Ying Yuan may look cool today, but that’s not her usual style. She normally dresses for comfort and simplicity, never considering human appeal. You can’t just assume she’s gay because she looks handsome today. She’s… Artist paused, … like our Team Leader. Her eyes are only focused on work and study; she doesn’t exude any romantic vibes at all. She’d probably be better suited to dating an AI than a human.”
Ying Yuan: “……”
It stung a little to hear that, but at least she’d dodged a bullet.
Her silently tensed nerves slowly relaxed, and she exhaled softly in her heart.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yi Shanshan propping her chin on her palm, smiling serenely at Artist with no peculiar expression on her face.
The group overwhelmingly agreed with Artist’s assessment. Yi Shanshan suddenly turned to Ying Yuan and said, “Didn’t I tell you you looked great in that outfit today?”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Why is the focus on this?
Well, if that’s the focus… that’s fine too.
Ying Yuan picked at her fingers. “Mm.”
The Artist gave two more examples. Having joined the group recently, Ying Yuan knew little of the others’ private lives, and today was a real eye-opener.
After going around the table, the Artist finally fixed her gaze on Yi Shanshan.
She stared at Yi Shanshan, who was holding a drink, for a long moment before suddenly lowering her head, blushing. “As for our Shanshan… she’s a succubus straight girl. The kind of queer girl who knows it’s hopeless but still goes in for the kiss.”
Someone teased, “A Shu, are you going in for the kiss?”
The Artist waved her hands frantically, her face flushing. “No way! I can control myself. It’s terrifying—if you let your guard down for a moment, you’d end up being her simp for life.”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Yi Shanshan: “Hahahahahahahahaha…”
She laughed heartily.
Someone asked, “Shanshan, you must have tons of guys and girls chasing after you. Has anyone ever made your heart flutter?”
Yi Shanshan blinked, twirled a die between her fingers, and tossed it with graceful flair. “Darling, that kind of question comes at a premium. Win me over first.”
The person Yi Shanshan called “baby” froze, their face flushing crimson moments later.
Qi Hongyue: “……”
Around the table, everyone began strategizing how to win against Yi Shanshan. No matter who won, they vowed to extract the story, to uncover the truth behind it.
Ying Yuan felt the urge to flee again, but Yi Shanshan, looking weary, had wrapped her arm around Ying Yuan’s, leaning heavily against her—lazy and utterly dependent, needing her right now.
Ying Yuan stared at each roll of the dice, her heart pounding like tripe simmering in a hotpot.
Yi Shanshan rolled a 1.
A chorus of shrieks erupted around the table.
Everyone rubbed their hands in anticipation, but in the end, Qi Hongyue won.
The crowd: “……”
The crowd: “Please, Team Leader, no game-related questions! Focus on real-world issues for once!”
Qi Hongyue: “Truth or dare?”
Yi Shanshan wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. “Since everyone’s so eager to hear, let’s go with truth!”
Qi Hongyue: “Would you deliberately hurt someone who loves you?”
Her question flowed smoothly, but the room fell silent afterward.
They had only wanted a story, not a moral judgment.
True to form, Qi Hongyue could find an exceedingly serious angle to any topic.
The smile vanished from Yi Shanshan’s face as she looked at Qi Hongyue. “What’s this, Team Leader? Do you have a crush on me?”
A chorus of suppressed howls rippled through the room.
Qi Hongyue: “I won. I’m asking the questions. Don’t turn it back on me.”
“Alright, alright~” Yi Shanshan raised her hand in a bored gesture of surrender. “Yes, I would. If you have a crush on me, doesn’t that mean you’re handing me the power of life and death?”
A collective gasp of horror swept through the room.
Artist: “Hiss… I told you, don’t fall for succubi.”
Qi Hongyue nodded. “Understood. I’ve finished asking.”
Ying Yuan’s eyes flickered. The part of Yi Shanshan touching her suddenly felt like scorching flames, emitting a burning scent.
The game continued, as if guided by fate. In the next round, Yi Shanshan won, and Qi Hongyue lost.
Everyone: “Aaaaah, go, Shanshan, go!!!”
Yi Shanshan: “Team Leader, truth or dare?”
Qi Hongyue paused to consider. “…Dare.”
Yi Shanshan: “Kiss the Project Team member you fancy most.”
The crowd: “Huh???”
Yi Shanshan added, “No narcissism allowed, even though you definitely love yourself.”
Qi Hongyue: “……”
The atmosphere was truly nerve-wracking for everyone.
They were once again personally experiencing Yi Shanshan’s “wickedness.”
Choosing Truth or Dare in front of her didn’t let you avoid revealing your true feelings; it simply added a physical penalty to the questions she wanted to ask.
Qi Hongyue looked at Ying Yuan.
Ying Yuan: “……”
Qi Hongyue stood up, walked over to Ying Yuan, and leaned down.
Ying Yuan: “!!!!”
With swift precision, Qi Hongyue reached out and grabbed the red wine bottle from in front of Ying Yuan, pouring herself a glass.
“I’m not doing it. I’ll take the penalty drink.”
“Phew—”
“Tch…”
“Team Leader, you’re a coward!”
“Team Leader, are you afraid to speak? Afraid it’ll cause chaos in your harem?”
Holding the wine glass, Qi Hongyue looked at Yi Shanshan. “I’m not afraid to speak. I like Ying Yuan the most.”
Yi Shanshan’s brow furrowed slightly.
Qi Hongyue smiled. “Because Ying Yuan is the most obedient, the most hardworking, and stays late the longest.”
The crowd: “………………”
“Didn’t everyone say she’s like me?” Qi Hongyue quipped. “Well, I am quite narcissistic.”
Chaos erupted.
Some condemned Qi Hongyue as an unscrupulous boss, while others swooned inexplicably at her remark and immediately started shipping her with Ying Yuan. Still others egged Qi Hongyue on, demanding a kiss. Everyone had gone completely mad.
“Alright, that’s enough for tonight,” Qi Hongyue declared. “Time for bed.”
The crowd ignored her, still whooping and hollering.
“The room arrangements are settled,” Qi Hongyue continued. “Two people per room, all standard doubles. Ying Yuan, please handle the distribution so everyone can get some rest.”
With that, Qi Hongyue snatched a room key from Ying Yuan’s hand and strode out.
No amount of shouting could stop her. Those who still wanted to play had to form their own groups.
In twos and threes, they huddled to coordinate before lining up to collect their room keys from Ying Yuan.
When everyone had been assigned, Ying Yuan lowered her gaze. Only one room key remained in her palm.
She stared at it, her thoughts swirling.
It seems no matter how many times you turn around, the things you fear most will eventually come to pass.
The lounge gradually emptied.
Yi Shanshan stood up and watched Ying Yuan, who was still staring at the key.
“Wanna play a round?” Yi Shanshan asked, extending her hand. A small die rested in her palm.
Even before the outcome was known, victory was already within reach.
This victory was the opportunity Yi Shanshan had presented to Ying Yuan.
If Ying Yuan won, she could make Yi Shanshan face the dare of sleeping alone.
Ying Yuan looked up at Yi Shanshan.
Yi Shanshan gazed back quietly, her features relaxed, her eyes devoid of coercion or seduction.
Everyone believed Yi Shanshan’s extraordinary charm, coupled with her manipulative skills, made her an intimidating “villain.”
But Ying Yuan saw her as merely a fluffy little fox—excessively beautiful, excessively clever. If you stroked her fur and saw her smile at you, you’d only find her adorable.
Being adorable wasn’t her fault.
Ying Yuan reached out and clasped Yi Shanshan’s palm.
The die pressed awkwardly between their palms, causing a slight ache and tickle.
The die didn’t need to be rolled; Ying Yuan already knew the answer in her heart.
The things we worry about always seem to come to pass—perhaps because what we call worry is actually anticipation—a trembling anticipation we dare not fully embrace.
“Let’s go back to our room to play,” Ying Yuan said, tightening her grip on Yi Shanshan’s hand. “After we tidy up, we can lie comfortably in bed. Let’s really play.”