My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

This was perhaps the most impassioned moment of Ying Yuan’s life.

Never before had she felt such an overwhelming urge to seize someone’s hand and break free from confinement.

Her chest swelled with boundless courage, her impulse surging like relentless ocean waves.

Gazing at Yi Shanshan, she finally voiced her request.

Her expectations loomed, vast as a mountain, pressing forward with crushing weight.

The room fell so silent that the sound of heartbeats filled the air. Yi Shanshan’s expression shifted from stunned blankness to shock, then furrowed into contemplative thought.

She met Ying Yuan’s gaze, her focus sharpening. She looked into Ying Yuan’s eyes as if peering through a window into her very heart.

She scrutinized Ying Yuan, observing her with a discerning eye.

Even someone so familiar could suddenly appear startlingly new.

Yi Shanshan remained silent, but her delicate handbag buzzed with an incoming call.

Distracted by the sound, Ying Yuan momentarily loosened her grip on Yi Shanshan’s arm.

“Do you want to answer it?” Ying Yuan asked.

The red marks from her fingers remained on Yi Shanshan’s arm, like the marks of a binding injury.

Yi Shanshan blinked. “Yes, I’ll answer it.”

Ying Yuan bent down, retrieved the bag, and held it out to her.

Yi Shanshan pulled out her phone, answered without checking the caller ID, and said, “Dad.”

Ying Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, unable to hear the other end of the call. She could only watch Yi Shanshan, observing her expression.

Yi Shanshan kept her gaze lowered as she spoke into the phone, her responses brief.

“Mm-hmm… Yes… It’s already over… I’m here, I saw it… Alright…”

The call was brief, lasting less than a minute.

After hanging up, Yi Shanshan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. When she looked up at Ying Yuan again, her expression had returned to normal, and she smiled brightly.

“Hardly anyone truly enjoys these banquets. Feeling uncomfortable is perfectly normal. You can rest here for a while, or go up to the Sky Garden on the top floor to get some fresh air. The atmosphere there is lovely, and the view of the city is breathtaking.”

Ying Yuan frowned. “That’s not what I meant. I wanted us to…”

“I still have some urgent matters to attend to,” Yi Shanshan interrupted. “Just another twenty or thirty minutes, and I’ll be able to join you.”

This evasive conversation, dancing around the real issue, made Ying Yuan increasingly agitated. She couldn’t resist grabbing Yi Shanshan’s arm again. “Shanshan, you know that’s not what I meant. This isn’t just about a banquet. You’ve told me countless times how much you despise these events and these people. Then why can’t you refuse? Escape? We could…”

“Ying Yuan, you’re so naive,” Yi Shanshan interrupted, her smile tinged with a bitterness that didn’t reach her eyes, as if she were dealing with a spoiled child who wanted everything without understanding the consequences.

“I was born here. Where could I possibly escape to?

“Run away and end up with nothing? Would all my past suffering have been for nothing?

“Where in this world does something exist that offers only benefits and no drawbacks? I enjoy my life now—unlimited funds in my bank card, connections and resources everywhere I go, being treated like a princess… Isn’t it only right that I sacrifice a little freedom and offer a little insincere affection?

“Just because you dislike something, you stop doing it? What student doesn’t hate going to school? What office worker doesn’t hate their job? Yet they endure it, don’t they? Not because they enjoy it, but because they’re exchanging it for the benefits they want.

Yi Shanshan gripped Ying Yuan’s wrist, pulling her hand off her arm. Then, she lifted her own hand and gently patted Ying Yuan’s cheek.

“College student, if I escape from here, where would I go?

“Would I be truly happy living a different life?

“Is there something better on the horizon that would make me choose between these two options?

“There’s no need for me to escape at all.”

Ying Yuan froze, Yi Shanshan’s fingertips landing on her skin, icy cold.

Like a winter icicle freezing her ocean waves.

Ying Yuan opened her mouth, her voice hoarse. “Your dad just called. What did he want you to do?”

Yi Shanshan: “He wants me to meet some guys. He handpicked them—young masters from powerful, wealthy families. First, cast a wide net, then focus on the ones who develop the most promising connections. You know, like fishing.”

A chill spread through Ying Yuan’s body as she stared into Yi Shanshan’s eyes. “So… you’ll end up marrying one of them?”

Yi Shanshan met her gaze, her expression as still as a bottomless, stagnant pool. “Not necessarily. There might be better prospects later.”

Prospects? What kind of prospects?

Richer, more powerful, more influential… standing at the very pinnacle of society, able to accomplish in a snap what others couldn’t achieve in a lifetime.

Ying Yuan would never possess such prospects.

She should never have harbored such absurd hopes in the first place.

This was a complete blizzard, foreshadowing an utterly desolate outcome.

The tiny tendril of hope that had sprouted in Ying Yuan’s heart had been frozen solid, transformed into a lifeless ice sculpture.

She stood there, momentarily at a loss for what to do next.

And tomorrow… what should I do then?

“Come on~” Yi Shanshan suddenly leaned in and hugged her. “No matter what happens, it won’t affect our relationship.”

“I’ll reject the things that aren’t worth it and try my best to be happy.”

“Like…” Yi Shanshan rubbed her cheek against Ying Yuan’s. “Just having you with me today makes me so happy.”

“Knowing you’re waiting for me makes dealing with those people so much easier.”

“Knowing you’ll be with me for the next few days… it feels like I have a pocket dimension that no one else can see.”

“A space filled with fluffy clouds made of cotton candy. I can lie down in it anytime, sweet and fluffy~”

Alright.

Even in this frozen wasteland, Ying Yuan could still feel the sweetness radiating from Yi Shanshan.

It was like an ice cream cone in a blizzard. But when she swallowed it, she discovered a razor-sharp blade hidden inside.

After comforting Ying Yuan, Yi Shanshan left the lounge.

Ying Yuan stayed for a while longer, then couldn’t resist going out to find Yi Shanshan.

When she saw Yi Shanshan laughing and chatting with the “fish” her father had handpicked, Ying Yuan felt like she was being pierced by a thousand arrows, almost unable to breathe.

She hurried away, entered the elevator, and went straight to the top floor.

Yi Shanshan’s Sky Garden, which she had described as having a wonderful environment, was indeed extraordinary.

In this prime urban location where every square inch was worth its weight in gold, an entire floor had been transformed into a lush garden.

Despite being an open-air space, it maintained a comfortable temperature. Fine mist sprayed through the air, creating nocturnal rainbows under the scattered, varying heights of the lighting.

Rare and exotic plants bloomed, filling the air with fragrance.

As Ying Yuan strolled along the flower-lined path, the suffocating feeling she had been experiencing gradually dissipated.

Though the city stars shone dimly and the moon hid behind clouds tonight, standing atop the penthouse revealed a breathtaking panorama of glittering lights and ceaseless traffic—a more dazzling spectacle than the sparse starry sky.

Ying Yuan suddenly understood Yi Shanshan.

What Yi Shanshan possessed was what others could only dream of.

Standing on this rooftop, there was nothing worth Yi Shanshan falling from such heights.

Yi Shanshan had no problems; she laughed when happy and found amusement even in suffering.

The problem was Ying Yuan herself. She couldn’t escape Yi Shanshan’s allure, trapped in the hallucinatory dreams woven by her repeated, tender embraces.

She needed to find something to occupy herself, to divide her heart—which she had poured entirely into Yi Shanshan.

Ying Yuan pulled out her phone and checked her new messages.

Her parents had landed a major contract, meaning they likely wouldn’t have much time to come home this summer.

When they told Ying Yuan about their busy schedules, they felt a pang of guilt, but mostly they knew their sensible daughter would understand.

It’s okay, you’re busy. This is a rare opportunity—you have to seize it, Ying Yuan replied.

Grandma sent a photo of her evening blood pressure reading. Ying Yuan carefully compared the numbers and sent back a voice message:

Everything looks fine. Keep taking your medication regularly, okay? If it gets too hot, turn on the air conditioner. I’ve adjusted the vent so it won’t blow directly on your head. Make sure Grandpa doesn’t touch it, okay?

The WeChat group with her roommates had long been infiltrated by Yi Shanshan. Right before leaving, Yi Shanshan had posted photos of their outfits for the day in the group. Now, Ying Yuan saw her roommates’ replies. Mao Mao and Xiaohan’s texts seemed to echo in her head, their “Ahhh!”s circling endlessly.

Ying Yuan decided not to reply. She knew they would only ask more questions about Yi Shanshan.

She then opened the game Project Team group. The group had grown much quieter since the summer break started. Everyone was busy having fun and wasn’t pushing project progress too hard. Only Qi Hongyue remained diligent, posting new updates to the shared files every few days.

After reviewing the latest documents, Ying Yuan posted her feedback in the group.

The very next second, her phone rang—a private call request from Qi Hongyue.

Ying Yuan put on her earphones and answered the call.

Qi Hongyue’s voice was calm and gentle, instantly putting Ying Yuan at ease.

They discussed the suggestion Ying Yuan had just made. Since they were both at their computers, Qi Hongyue suddenly asked Ying Yuan to switch to video mode to show her an operational detail.

Lost in her work, Ying Yuan didn’t think twice and switched to video mode.

“I originally thought using the left hand for assistance would be more…” Qi Hongyue glanced at her phone screen, her voice abruptly trailing off.

Her gaze locked onto Ying Yuan, unwavering.

“What’s wrong?” Ying Yuan asked.

“Holy shit…” Qi Hongyue muttered, then chuckled. “What have you been up to?”

Only then did Ying Yuan remember her current attire, feeling instantly awkward. “Um, I was accompanying Shanshan to a banquet.”

“That extravagant?” Qi Hongyue raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “So, how’s your ‘relationship’ developing?”

“There’s no ‘development’ or ‘relationship,'” Ying Yuan blurted out, as if stung by a needle.

Qi Hongyue fell silent, her smile fading. She stared at Ying Yuan for a long moment before suddenly asking, “Unhappy? Talk to me.”

Ying Yuan couldn’t bring herself to speak. Although keeping things bottled up was making her miserable, she couldn’t figure out how to voice her feelings.

“Let’s just discuss the operation module problem,” Ying Yuan said.

Qi Hongyue shoved the keyboard aside and stood up, phone in hand. “We’re not talking about work tonight. It’s summer break, it’s late, and my favorite teammate is clearly upset. Talking about work now would be a bit much, don’t you think?”

“It’s okay,” Ying Yuan said. “It’s not like I have anything—”

“I mind. I have something to say.” Qi Hongyue tugged at her shirt collar, unbuttoning two buttons. She strode down the corridor into a dimly lit area. “I’m not feeling great either. Cheer me up.”

“Huh?” Ying Yuan was stunned. She had never heard Qi Hongyue mention her personal life, let alone admit to being troubled by her emotions.

So if she was saying this, it must be something very serious.

Ying Yuan immediately replied, “Okay, Team Leader, go ahead.”

Qi Hongyue grabbed a bottle of… probably a beverage, and took a long swig. Then she said, “First, stop calling me ‘Team Leader.’ That title gives me PTSD now.

“Second, you can probably tell I’m neither at school nor at home right now.

“That’s right, I’m at my internship company.

“I meticulously chose this company and squeezed time out of my busy schedule to come get this internship certificate. And then…” Qi Hongyue scoffed. “She’s my team leader.”

Ying Yuan: “She?”

“Yes, and I’ll tell you who she is.” Qi Hongyue leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

“She’s the big sister who lives next door to me, five years older.

“When I was in middle school, my Chinese grades were terrible, so she came over to tutor me. She loved pinching my cheeks and calling me cute.”

“When I was in high school, she’d always take me along on her summer and winter vacation trips. We’d share a bed, and she’d ask if I had a crush on any boys. When I said I didn’t like guys, she’d kiss my cheek and say it was okay if I liked girls.

“I got into college in the same city as her. She was thrilled and invited me over for dinner. We drank wine, and she confessed she’d never slept with anyone, despite her age. I told her she wasn’t old at all, and she asked, ‘Then do you find me repulsive?’

“So we slept together.”

Qi Hongyue burst out laughing, as if it were the funniest joke she’d ever heard.

“We slept together many times. When she climaxed, she’d collapse into my arms and whisper, ‘I love you.’

“Meanwhile, she got engaged. I only found out when my parents sent me photos of her wedding back home.

“I called to confront her, and she insisted she was sincere—that she truly loved me, and genuinely enjoyed sleeping with me.

“‘It felt so good and so safe.’

“Hahahaha…!” Qi Hongyue roared with laughter. “Fuck, ‘so good and so safe.'”