My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 86
Chapter 86
How could Ying Yuan not feel anything?
Yi Shanshan had always been her type and preference. Yi Shanshan’s possessiveness and intense attention were like a delicious poison, tempting her to drink poison to quench her thirst.
Ying Yuan’s trembling was as fierce and impossible to conceal as the thunderous downpour.
Her body shrank inward, her brow furrowed tightly, and an unbearable flush surged across her skin in an instant.
Her palm pressed against the rough wall, her fingertips digging in unconsciously, chafing painfully against the coarse gravel.
Yi Shanshan had likely gone mad. Her gaze locked onto Ying Yuan, desperate to extract the answer she craved.
She cared nothing for the madness or absurdity of her actions, nor for their identities, backgrounds, location, or what they were doing.
The torrential rain drenched them both in an instant.
Until Ying Yuan answered her question, Yi Shanshan’s assault would not cease.
After a heavy, forceful squeeze, Yi Shanshan released her hand, only to grip Ying Yuan’s forearm moments later. She yanked Ying Yuan’s palm away from the wall and pressed it against her own body.
Ying Yuan’s eyes widened.
Yi Shanshan, already dressed lightly for the summer heat, now had her clothes clinging wetly to her skin like large and small translucent bubbles.
Ying Yuan’s fingers were forcefully pressed against these bubbles, squeezing out the last traces of air until they adhered perfectly to the curves of Yi Shanshan’s body.
Yi Shanshan’s body was supple, smooth, and feverish.
She was as hot as the summer itself—sweltering, humid, and scalding to the touch.
Ying Yuan’s palm felt as if it were pressed against the sun itself, on the verge of melting.
She struggled to pull back, pleading, “Shanshan, don’t do this…”
“Don’t do what?”
Yi Shanshan refused to relent, pressing even closer, squeezing her entire body into Ying Yuan’s embrace. She gripped Ying Yuan’s fingertips, lifting the hem of her own shirt to burrow underneath.
She wanted to tear away even that thin layer of cloth, to press their bare bodies together, to strip away their human pretense and reveal their raw, animal natures.
Ying Yuan gasped, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts.
Yi Shanshan guided Ying Yuan’s fingertips upward, her touch lingering.
“Do you prefer this? Or what we were doing before?”
“Do you prefer to take the lead, or to be taken?
“Is the thrill of the outdoors more exciting, or do you crave the security of indoors?
“Is this too aggressive? Do you prefer something gentler?”
Yi Shanshan pressed her entire body against Ying Yuan, her breath ghosting across her ear as she whispered, her words weaving a spell.
Ying Yuan felt herself being consumed by Yi Shanshan, her senses, breath, palms, and body flooded with her presence.
Aching, throbbing.
“Ying Yuan!” someone called out.
Qi Hongyue’s voice, clear and sharp, cut through the thunder and rain.
Ying Yuan trembled violently. Seized by overwhelming fear, she suddenly pushed Yi Shanshan away with all her strength.
It wasn’t as hard as she’d thought.
Their connection wasn’t a vine, but a silken thread.
Yi Shanshan stumbled back two steps, her brow furrowed in disbelief as she stared at Ying Yuan.
Ying Yuan heard Qi Hongyue’s footsteps approaching through the drenched rain, each step drawing closer.
The sensual illusion shattered, and Ying Yuan regained her composure. She spoke quickly, “Shanshan, calm down. Don’t cause a scene.”
She found a rationalization for Yi Shanshan’s earlier outburst: “My sexual orientation doesn’t change our relationship. We’ll still be good friends. You haven’t lost me.”
Yi Shanshan laughed—a cold, mirthless sound.
Qi Hongyue approached, glanced around, and shook her head, speechless.
“Are you two filming a melodrama? In this downpour, you couldn’t find somewhere to take shelter?”
She had only one umbrella. She hurried over, thrust it into Yi Shanshan’s hand, then grabbed Ying Yuan’s wrist, pulling her out from under the eaves.
“You done chatting? Let’s go home.”
Ying Yuan glanced back. Yi Shanshan stood beneath the transparent umbrella, still seemingly drenched in the rain.
She only stared at Ying Yuan, silent.
Ying Yuan’s panic surged like boiling water, overflowing from the pot. With a ruthless resolve, she did nothing, turning away to leave with Qi Hongyue.
Emerging from the alley, the bright streetlights dazzled her eyes.
White splashes erupted where the heavy rain hammered the ground. Seeing them emerge, Zhang Xiao dashed into a nearby shop to buy another umbrella.
The three of them, huddled under two umbrellas, hurried through the torrential rain without exchanging another word.
They reached the street corner, climbed into the car, and rolled up the windows, sealing out the deafening downpour. Only then did the frantic pace slow.
Zhang Xiao asked, “What’s the deal with that beauty? Ying Yuan, what did you two talk about?”
Ying Yuan sat stiffly, hands clasped in her lap, eyes lowered to her fingertips. “I can’t say.”
“Wow, everything you discussed was top-secret? Now I’m getting worried.” Zhang Xiao tilted her head, studying Ying Yuan. “Will she affect the development of our relationship?”
“Huh?” Ying Yuan blinked, her hesitation evident. “I… I don’t think so.”
“Not because you don’t… feel anything for me in the first place, right?” Zhang Xiao pressed.
Why so many feelings tonight?
Why is everyone suddenly asking if I have feelings?
In her past life, she had never considered such questions. Now, they were crashing down on her without warning, tons of them at once.
Yi Shanshan’s warmth still lingered in her palm, her words and actions replaying vividly in Ying Yuan’s mind. She feared Zhang Xiao might make another unpredictable move.
Ying Yuan shifted closer to the car door, putting more distance between them. She pulled out her phone, feigning busyness. “We’ve only just met… It’s nothing serious…”
A new message from Yi Shanshan interrupted her mid-sentence, leaving her words hanging in the air.
Really? No impact at all?
If it doesn’t matter, why did you ignore me for them?
Why did you leave me alone in the rain?
Will you still make my medicine for me?
Now that you have a girlfriend, will she let you hug me?
You said you’d always be there for me. Is this how you keep your promises?
Ying Yuan, you’re a liar.
Ying Yuan clutched her phone, her fingertips trembling.
The familiar pain washed over her again, undiminished by the presence of others in the car.
She remained silent for the rest of the ride.
Zhang Xiao got off halfway through the journey, and Ying Yuan barely managed a perfunctory wave goodbye.
Summer thunderstorms arrive and depart swiftly.
By the time Ying Yuan and Qi Hongyue reached home, the rain had stopped, and the puddles on the ground were evaporating rapidly under the intense heat.
Everything from the rain seemed like it had never happened.
Except… When Ying Yuan showered, she reached down to feel the slick, wet patch.
The day finally ended.
Qi Hongyue slept soundly, while Ying Yuan tossed and turned all night, her dreams a jumbled, surreal mix of everything imaginable.
The next morning, Qi Hongyue left for work. Ying Yuan stayed home, not venturing out at all.
She still hadn’t replied to Yi Shanshan’s message from the previous night.
Not knowing how to respond, she buried her head in the sand like an ostrich.
Zhang Xiao invited her to Happy Valley’s water park today, but she declined.
She genuinely had no interest; the thought of going on a date with someone else left her completely unenthused.
In the afternoon, Qi Hongyue returned home.
Ying Yuan made dinner, and the two of them sat at the table, eating quietly.
As they finished, Qi Hongyue stood up to clear the dishes. “I won’t be staying here tonight,” she said. “Their company’s quite far, and the commute’s too long.”
“Huh?” Ying Yuan felt a sudden sense of disorientation. With Qi Hongyue by her side, she felt grounded, as if she had a solid anchor preventing her from acting irrationally.
But what would happen when Qi Hongyue left? Could she still resist Yi Shanshan?
Qi Hongyue saw the worry in Ying Yuan’s eyes and sighed. “The biggest problem is already solved. Your differing orientations are right there in the open—she can’t ignore that.
“This can be your most direct argument, your most effective weapon. If she tries anything else, just wield it like a sharp blade to cut through the mess.
“‘I’m gay, so don’t hug me. You’re straight, so don’t say such ambiguous things to me.’
“Oh, oh.” Ying Yuan nodded rapidly, reciting the words verbatim.
Qi Hongyue continued, “If she asks what you want again, she’ll have to pay an even higher price. She’s a smart girl; she’ll weigh the costs and benefits herself.
“And you don’t need to do anything—just wait.
“Wait for her fervor to wane, for her to realize it’s no longer worth it. Wait for your own passion to cool. Time will heal all wounds and extinguish all feelings.”
“Oh, oh,” Ying Yuan murmured.
“Senior,” Ying Yuan asked, “has that… Team Leader contacted you again?”
“Not directly,” Qi Hongyue replied. “She contacted the project instead, sabotaging my work behind my back. Such dirty tactics.”
Ying Yuan frowned, her heart aching. “Why is she acting like this?”
“It’s okay,” Qi Hongyue said with a smile. “The more disgusting she is, the easier it is to let go. You can’t bear to throw away something good, and you’ll agonize over something half-good, half-bad. But something completely rotten? Straight into the trash or the gutter.”
Ying Yuan nodded. “That makes sense.”
Qi Hongyue leaned down and patted her head. “You’re in a tougher spot now. Yi Shanshan… she might not be as bad as we thought.”
Ying Yuan’s eyes widened like those of a startled bird.
Qi Hongyue quickly reassured her, “But she’s leaving tonight! You can finally relax for a while. Spend the rest of your summer vacation doing whatever you want—treat it like a vacation.”
“Oh, right,” Ying Yuan replied, her tone subdued.
It was hard to describe the jumble of emotions swirling within her. Relief at Yi Shanshan’s departure warred with a lingering sadness.
The thought that Yi Shanshan might not be so bad brought both tension and a strange sense of exhilaration.
After seeing Qi Hongyue off, Ying Yuan found herself with nothing to do. She meticulously tidied up the house, cleaning every corner until it gleamed.
Ying Yuan had changed into freshly laundered, pale blue bedsheets and a duvet cover, the color reminiscent of ocean waves, bringing her a sense of peace and tranquility.
In her small room, a desk stood before the window, illuminated by a table lamp.
The lamp remained lit as Ying Yuan planned to read until she grew sleepy.
A soft white glow gently enveloped the room.
From a distance, in the dark of night, it resembled a bright star.
Yi Shanshan gazed at this “star,” finding the car headlights too harsh. She switched them off.
Feeling the car window was a barrier, she rolled it down.
The hot night air refused to enter, while the air conditioning slowly dissipated.
The flight she had booked had long since departed. For her, the once-crucial opportunity now seemed far less significant.
Ying Yuan still hadn’t replied to her messages.
This was the matter weighing most heavily on her mind.
She had endlessly replayed their conversations, formulating a plan of action.
She had never been one to passively wait for fate to unfold. Whatever she desired, she would obtain.
Qi Hongyue had left, but her parents hadn’t returned yet. In the stifling, silent night, Ying Yuan remained home alone.
Perfect timing.
Yi Shanshan pushed open the car door.
She wiped off the moisturizing lip balm, her thumb gliding over her soft, silken lips.
She casually tousled her hair, letting her long, loose strands appear even more natural and disheveled—as if she had spent the entire day listless, trembling, dazed, and utterly lost, yet somehow pure and innocent.
She wore ordinary short sleeves and shorts, but the sleeves revealed the delicate straps of a beautiful white lace-trimmed bra.
The shorts were impossibly short, leaving her long, slender legs completely bare. With the slightest movement, the luminous sheen of her thighs would leave anyone dizzy with desire.
Yi Shanshan had always known where her advantages lay.
She was ready to unleash her full allure on Ying Yuan.
She walked forward, a melon-flavored hard candy—Ying Yuan’s favorite—in her mouth.
She strode through the sweltering wind along this familiar path.
Yi Shanshan was prepared. She was no longer the rash, enraged beast she once was.
She knocked on the door. She had to win.