My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 87
Chapter 87
When Ying Yuan heard the knock, her first thought was, Did Qi Hongyue forget something?
She glanced at her phone—no new messages.
Clutching her phone, she walked to the door, wondering if it might be something from the building management or a delivery her parents hadn’t notified her about.
Her mind raced through these possibilities, but when she peered through the peephole, all her composure vanished.
A wave of tension surged from her heart, spreading through her body like a tightening spring, leaving her as taut as a bowstring.
How could Yi Shanshan be here?
How could Yi Shanshan be at her door?
Yi Shanshan should be in another city, fresh off the plane, preparing for an important engagement in a luxurious hotel.
Ying Yuan’s throat went dry, her mind blank with shock, leaving her rooted to the spot.
She even considered calling Qi Hongyue, but remembering Qi Hongyue’s carefully prepared “emergency plan,” she swallowed her fear and impulse.
The Yi Shanshan outside the door looked nothing like her usual polished self. She wore no makeup, her hair was unstyled, and she appeared somewhat disheveled and pale. Her small, palm-sized face was framed by a faint furrow between her brows.
Her limbs were slender as she raised a hand to knock again, softly, slowly.
The knocking echoed in Ying Yuan’s ears like a rational alarm.
No matter why Yi Shanshan was here on this sweltering summer night, a girl shouldn’t be left outside the door to endure the oppressive heat any longer.
Ying Yuan took a deep breath, mentally rehearsing her plans and rules three times over before opening the door.
Yi Shanshan looked up, beautiful as a homeless silver fox. A faint fragrance, carried by the sweltering air, rushed to Ying Yuan’s face.
Ying Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Her gaze wavered as she lowered her eyes, stepping aside to let her in.
“Shanshan, what brings you here?” she asked. “Must be hot out there. Come inside.”
“I wanted to talk to you in person, since you’re not replying to my messages anyway,” Yi Shanshan said, already stepping inside and taking up space. She tilted her head to look up at Ying Yuan. “I can’t figure out what I did wrong again to make you distance yourself from me yet another time. We were fine just a few days ago—we even went to the melon patch together.”
Ying Yuan’s heart trembled, guilt washing over her like a tidal wave.
Once she considered things from Yi Shanshan’s perspective, Ying Yuan realized that the real bastard was herself.
“I…” Ying Yuan opened her mouth, unsure where to begin explaining.
When others were present, she could steel herself and bury everything, refusing to let it resurface. But when it was just her and Yi Shanshan, her mind flooded with memories of Shanshan and the joyful times they had shared.
“But it’s okay, really.” Yi Shanshan pouted, her expression a mix of coquettishness and irritation. “I’m not like some people, hiding in my shell at the first sign of trouble. I don’t need to look back; I’m looking forward. I know what I want and what truly matters.”
With practiced ease, she opened the shoe cabinet, slipped into guest slippers, and padded inside.
The slippers were too big for her small feet, making a clattering sound as she walked.
“That’s why I came to see you,” Yi Shanshan said, setting down her small backpack and sitting primly on the sofa, looking earnestly at Ying Yuan. “I think our relationship is the most important thing—more important than the plane I need to catch, and more important than the song I need to record.”
“You said dating others wouldn’t affect our relationship, but the truth is, it’s having a huge impact. So today’s main topic is this: we need to discuss a practical solution that works for both of us.”
She spoke with such honesty, clarity, and logical reasoning. This was the kind of communication Ying Yuan responded to best. Compared to the irrational, frantic Yi Shanshan from last night’s rainstorm, the composed, sincere Yi Shanshan sitting before her now was far more difficult to resist.
So obedient, so genuine, so composed. She wears her heart on her sleeve.
Ying Yuan lowered her lashes and took a deep breath, then closed the door.
“Okay,” she replied.
Almost instinctively, she began to serve Yi Shanshan. “Would you like some cold water? The lychees I bought today are delicious.”
“Yes, please! And the lychees too!”
Ying Yuan nodded, poured the water, and carefully selected the reddest, plumpest lychees to arrange neatly on a plate.
As Ying Yuan returned with the items, Yi Shanshan fixed her with a steady gaze until she set them down in front of her.
“Ying Yuan, after you get a girlfriend, you’ll do these things for her too, right?” Yi Shanshan asked, tilting her head slightly and gazing at Ying Yuan with a detached expression.
Ying Yuan froze mid-bend, feeling a warmth rise to her cheeks as she straightened up. Still, she answered candidly, “Yeah, I would.”
Remembering Qi Hongyue’s advice—to leverage her sexuality and dismantle the barriers of convention—she added with a downcast gaze, “I’d do even more.”
Yi Shanshan fell silent for a moment, a fleeting glint of cold calculation flashing in her eyes. She picked up a lychee. “Like what?”
Ying Yuan swallowed, letting her mind follow the scenario. “I’d peel lychees for her.”
Yi Shanshan, who was currently peeling one herself, fell silent. The lychee in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.
“How thoughtful,” Yi Shanshan said, forcing a smile as her fingernails dug into the dark red peel. “Sit down. Talking to me while standing makes it feel like a supervisor’s inspection.”
“Oh,” Ying Yuan replied.
Yi Shanshan settled onto another sofa.
She popped a lychee into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
The sweet, refreshing juice flooded her palate—it was indeed quite delicious.
But the moment she remembered that Qi Hongyue had undoubtedly eaten these lychees too, perhaps even bought them specifically to entertain her… the flavor soured.
“Why the sudden urge to date?” Yi Shanshan asked, her tone light but tinged with a sigh.
“Do you have someone in mind? A target? Has anything progressed? Is it Qi Hongyue, or… that girl from the bar last night?”
With each word, Ying Yuan’s heart trembled.
Yi Shanshan sat there on the pale green sofa, a pristine and lovely girl, and Ying Yuan found every gesture, every subtle expression utterly charming.
She was the bullseye of Ying Yuan’s affections, and she longed to date her.
“I just thought… it might be worth a try,” Ying Yuan replied, her throat dry.
“Oh~ the innocent yearnings and explorations of youth. It’s perfectly normal to want to date when you’re this age, especially in this season, with nothing else to occupy your mind.” Yi Shanshan sounded understanding, but then turned to ask, “Are you already in the ambiguous ‘talking’ stage?”
Ying Yuan: “……”
How was she supposed to answer that?
Yi Shanshan’s eyes widened suddenly. “You don’t already have a girlfriend, do you?”
“N-no,” Ying Yuan quickly waved her hand. This was an easy answer.
Yi Shanshan: “Have you confessed to anyone?”
Ying Yuan: “N-no.”
Yi Shanshan: “So you’re still completely open then? No one reserved yet, anyone can try?”
Ying Yuan: “……Mhm.”
Yi Shanshan stood up, furrowing her brow, and began pacing the room. “Even though I was really angry yesterday, the message I sent you made a lot of sense.
“I don’t think anyone would be okay with their girlfriend hugging and cuddling other people, right? That’s just… unethical.”
Unseen, Ying Yuan’s fingers twisted the hem of her shirt. “……Mhm.”
Yi Shanshan picked up a lychee and held it in her hand. “But I really can’t bear the thought of never touching you again. You know how important you are to me, right?”
Ying Yuan lowered her gaze, her heart feeling empty. “This is definitely something we need to face. There’s no perfect solution. Before I start a relationship with someone else, we should…”
“Who said there wasn’t?” Yi Shanshan interrupted, narrowing her eyes at Ying Yuan. “Don’t you know I’m the kind of person who wants everything?”
Ying Yuan stared, dumbfounded. “Huh?”
Yi Shanshan took two steps forward, leaned down, and offered her a lychee, half-peeled.
“Talk to me,” Yi Shanshan said.
The lychee’s sweet fragrance mingled with the girl’s own delicate scent, both rushing to Ying Yuan’s lips.
Yi Shanshan watched her intently, gazing directly into her eyes. In those depths, tiny, sparkling stars seemed to flicker.
“Talk to me,” she repeated, offering her reasoning. “We already have a strong emotional foundation and a solid physical connection. Talking to me would be twice as efficient—much easier than with anyone else.”
She smiled, nudging her hand forward. The tender white flesh of the lychee pressed against Ying Yuan’s lips. “I can peel lychees for you too. If you become my girlfriend, I can do so much for you.”
“Ah?” Ying Yuan’s mouth hung open, shock galloping through her mind like a wild horse.
Taking advantage of her parted lips, Yi Shanshan squeezed the lychee into her mouth.
“Date me—it’ll be super sweet~” she winked, her voice laced with playful teasing.
A plump, juicy lychee filled Ying Yuan’s mouth.
Juice and cloying sweetness overflowed, setting off alarm bells in her mind, yet she felt dazed, as if she’d just won a massive lottery.
Terrified, she had only revealed her sexual orientation when pushed to the brink. She’d assumed it would end their relationship, but here was Yi Shanshan, calmly inviting her to go out.
A date invitation.
She and Yi Shanshan… dating.
Ying Yuan’s heart raced wildly, almost forgetting to breathe. She even forgot to chew, the translucent white flesh of the lychee remaining motionless in her mouth, freezing her expression in shock.
Yi Shanshan savored her reaction.
Like a scanner, Yi Shanshan meticulously recorded every nuance of Ying Yuan’s expression.
Seeing no disgust on Ying Yuan’s face, Yi Shanshan’s own wildly beating heart gradually calmed.
“No…”
After what felt like an eternity, Ying Yuan finally regained some composure. As she spoke, she bit down on the lychee, inhaled sharply, and choked. She doubled over, coughing violently.
“Ah!” Yi Shanshan leaped to her side, patting her back.
Ying Yuan had already been ambushed by the lychee’s juice. Now she was being ambushed by Yi Shanshan herself. Yi Shanshan’s hand on her back was light and soft, like a marshmallow.
Ying Yuan raised her hand to block the lychee, then popped it into her mouth. She caught her breath, her entire face flushed crimson.
“You… you’re straight,” Ying Yuan blurted out, needing to say it quickly. “Stop teasing me. What are you talking about dating me?”
Yi Shanshan stood beside her, wide-eyed with innocent surprise. “Who told you I was straight?”
Ying Yuan: “?????”
Yi Shanshan: “I’ve never dated a man. What makes you think I’m heterosexual?”
Ying Yuan: “????!!!?”
Yi Shanshan: “It’s just that I get pursued a lot. And it’s not just guys—girls chase after me too.”
Ying Yuan felt like she was about to be led astray. She desperately pulled herself back. “Have you ever dated a girl, then?”
“Nope,” Yi Shanshan said. “I’ve never dated anyone. What’s wrong with being a lifelong singleton? Sure, people like me, but I just wasn’t interested in dating before. I didn’t like those people—they all seemed so… lame. Dating them would be worse than dating myself. I’m so beautiful, talented, and fun.”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Ying Yuan’s jaw hung slack. She couldn’t seem to close her mouth all night.
Yi Shanshan: “He who alleges must prove. You say I’m straight? Show me the evidence.”
Ying Yuan: “??????”
Wait, what? That’s not… This isn’t… I mean, we’re just saying… Ying Yuan’s heart screamed. She desperately wanted to call Qi Hongyue.
Yi Shanshan: “The fact that I want to talk to you right now makes me gay, doesn’t it?”
Yi Shanshan: “Besides, does sexuality even matter? You’re a woman, so I’m a lesbian. You’re a robot, so I’m in love with machines. You’re a turtle, so I’m attracted to turtles. You’re a table, so I’m drawn to tables…”
Ying Yuan wanted to cover Yi Shanshan’s mouth.
But she didn’t dare touch Yi Shanshan, not even a little. She couldn’t even meet her eyes.
She felt like Yi Shanshan was a multicolored vortex, pulling her in.
Ying Yuan covered her ears and clutched her head, struggling to think clearly.
“Wait, wait… You can’t just… you can’t be with someone you don’t like just because you want to be comforted…”
“Ying Yuan!!!” Yi Shanshan shouted, her voice shaking the entire room. “Who said I don’t like you?!”
“Have I never told you I like you?!” she roared. “Haven’t I been telling you every single day?!”
“I cling to you! I fawn over you!”
“I follow you around everywhere, even doing things I have no interest in, just to be with you!”
“I’d even avoid touching you just to make you happy. If you want to be just friends, we’re just friends!”
“Every time something goes wrong, you just run away without even giving me a reason. Yet I still chase after you to win you back, even when I’m furious!”
“I’ve done all this! I’ve never acted like this with anyone before! And you still say I don’t like you?!”
“If I didn’t like you, would I have abandoned recording my song just to come find you?! Am I crazy?!”
By the time Yi Shanshan finished shouting, her raw emotion had genuinely worked her up. The bitterness she’d been suppressing for days welled up into her sinuses, and her eyes quickly turned bloodshot.
Ying Yuan stared at her, her world in complete chaos. Yi Shanshan stood there, tears glistening in her eyes, so heartbreakingly vulnerable that Ying Yuan wanted to pull her into her arms, comfort her thoroughly, and promise her anything.
“This kind of liking… is different from that kind of liking…” she murmured, pulling out her last bit of defense. “Sexual orientation… it’s about sex…”
Yi Shanshan took a step closer, her knee brushing against Ying Yuan’s thigh as she leaned forward, her leg resting on the sofa beside her.
Leaning down, she trapped Ying Yuan in the narrow space.
Only Yi Shanshan filled Ying Yuan’s breath, as vital as oxygen.
Though tears still glistened in Yi Shanshan’s eyes and the tip of her nose remained red, her voice had regained its composure.
“There’s no answer to that question. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” She gazed tenderly at Ying Yuan, her eyes tracing the lines of her face—her eyes, her nose, down to her lips.
“Then let’s try it, Ying Yuan. Try it with me.” She pressed closer, each word a bone-deep enticement. “Can we kiss? Let’s start with a kiss—not just a peck on the cheek, not just a fleeting touch of the lips…”
“I’ll kiss you, and you can use your tongue.”