My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Throughout the entire flight, Yi Shanshan remained glued to Ying Yuan.

Their bodies rarely separated completely; Yi Shanshan always clung to some part of Ying Yuan, like a child clutching her comfort doll.

The plane landed in H City under clear, bright skies.

Located further north, H City maintained a pleasant temperature of around 27-28 degrees Celsius even during the peak summer heat.

After exiting the terminal and getting into a taxi to the hotel, Yi Shanshan clung even tighter.

She leaned most of her body against Ying Yuan, chatting about inconsequential things while her gaze remained fixed on Ying Yuan’s face. Only when Ying Yuan pointed out the scenery outside the window did she reluctantly glance away for a moment.

Finally, their journey came to an end.

The hotel room overlooked the coast; as soon as they opened the door, they could see the vast, shimmering blue sea through the living room window.

Ying Yuan set down her suitcase and began unpacking the disposable toiletries she had bought earlier, planning to check every corner of the room thoroughly.

As she squatted down, Yi Shanshan pounced from behind, draping herself over Ying Yuan’s back like a giant, soft plush toy.

Her hair slid down Ying Yuan’s neck, her arms hung limply at Ying Yuan’s sides, and her lips pressed against Ying Yuan’s head, repeatedly murmuring, “Ying Yuan, Ying Yuan, Ying Yuan…” in a coaxing, childlike voice.

“Mmm-hmm, I’m here, I’m here,” Ying Yuan responded gently, neither pushing Yi Shanshan away nor stopping her previous actions.

Yi Shanshan: “Want a hug, want a hug, want a hug!”

Ying Yuan chuckled, reaching out to pinch Yi Shanshan’s arm. “Aren’t I hugging you already?”

Yi Shanshan clasped her hands tightly around Ying Yuan, pulling her close. “I want a real hug, a complete hug, a dedicated hug.”

Ying Yuan’s hands froze mid-motion as she tried to explain, “Let me just get this stuff out first…”

Yi Shanshan: “Will this stuff die if you don’t get it out right now?”

Ying Yuan: “……No.”

Yi Shanshan: “Shanshan will die if you don’t hug her right now.”

Ying Yuan: “……”

What brazen pouting!

But how adorable does she sound calling herself by name? I can practically see her puffed-out cheeks and puppy-dog eyes without even looking.

“Alright, a hug it is,” Ying Yuan relented, straightening up and twisting around in Yi Shanshan’s embrace to face her. “But no more talk about dying.”

Yi Shanshan rested her hands on Ying Yuan’s shoulders, twisting her body to press her waist into Ying Yuan’s palm. Tilting her head back, Yi Shanshan gazed up at her, her eyes sparkling with a bright, radiant light.

“Then eat all my words,” Yi Shanshan said, her soft lips brushing together in a tender invitation.

There was no reason to refuse.

No need to refuse.

They had arrived in this strange new world, where pleasure was the only pursuit.

Ying Yuan lowered her gaze, leaned in, and gently kissed her.

Light kisses, falling again and again on those sweet, fragrant lips, like feathers drifting down, like the caress of the wind.

Yi Shanshan closed her eyes, savoring the kiss. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her lips parted further, offering themselves freely.

They were calm and natural, unhurried and unforced, knowing they had endless time to waste.

After kissing for a long time, Yi Shanshan was utterly content.

She collapsed into Ying Yuan’s arms, surrendering all her weight. Holding that body felt like embracing a vast, azure bay.

The sea breeze billowed the white gauze curtains on the balcony. Checking into their room had taken them nearly two hours.

When they emerged from the room again, they had changed into fresh outfits, donned hats, and clasped hands. A small camera hung around Yi Shanshan’s neck.

Their first stop in H City was to watch the sunset.

For dinner, they chose a cliffside restaurant not far from their hotel. Backed by mountains and facing the sea, its floor-to-ceiling glass walls allowed them to savor both the gourmet meal and the gradual descent of the sun.

The restaurant had a pleasant ambiance. A white piano stood at the center of the hall, and the performer was the restaurant owner, dressed casually with long, flowing hair. His fingers danced across the keys with effortless grace.

The music was unfamiliar yet captivating.

Yi Shanshan turned her head to admire the performance, remarking to Ying Yuan, “It’s an impromptu performance!”

“Huh?” Ying Yuan glanced over, surprised. “He can just make up such beautiful music on the spot? That’s incredible!”

Yi Shanshan pouted slightly. “I can do that too~”

“Really? I didn’t know that,” Ying Yuan said with a smile. “I’ve only seen you sing and play on stage before. It looked so difficult.”

“Those were all set pieces. I can play them well, but I don’t really enjoy them.” Yi Shanshan lowered her gaze, swirling the straw in her drink. “I’ve been learning piano since I was three. It was just basic practice every day.”

Ying Yuan’s gaze softened as she watched her.

Yi Shanshan, as radiant as the sun, had eyes that seemed to sink into the shadows cast by her lashes when she looked down.

“That must have been exhausting,” Ying Yuan said gently.

“Actually, when you’re that young, you don’t really understand what ‘exhausting’ means,” Yi Shanshan replied. “The adults just arrange your schedule—piano lessons followed by foreign language classes, then dance classes. You just do it without question.”

“Do well, get a reward. Do poorly, face a penalty. It’s as natural as breathing.”

Yi Shanshan frowned. “It’s just… they keep changing teachers. Each one has a different teaching style, so you’re always adjusting.”

The owner finished playing, and some applause rippled through the room.

Yi Shanshan clapped too, lifting her brows and turning to Ying Yuan. “Want to hear me play? I’ll do something really difficult, something that will wow everyone.”

“No,” Ying Yuan replied quickly. She had no desire to “wow everyone,” nor did she want Yi Shanshan to attempt anything too challenging.

Yi Shanshan: “How about an impromptu piece?”

“That’s not necessary either,” Ying Yuan said. “We’re just here to eat. There’s no obligation to perform.”

Yi Shanshan hadn’t expected such a response. She stared at Ying Yuan in surprise. “Wow, you’re so cool today, Yuan-dear. Usually, people beg me to play, but you’re actually refusing.”

“Just do what makes you happy. There’s no need to please others,” Ying Yuan said. “Others, including me.”

Her tone was gentle yet firm, her gaze unwavering and sincere.

Yi Shanshan looked into her eyes and suddenly smiled. “Are you worried about me? Did those few words I said just now make you feel sorry for me?”

Ying Yuan’s thoughts were pierced, her composure wavering. She lowered her lashes, offering no denial. “Mm-hmm.”

After a brief pause, Yi Shanshan suddenly changed the subject. “I think the way we’re eating right now is just… too conventional.”

“Hm?” Ying Yuan immediately looked up at her. “Are you bored? Or is there something else…?”

“Not bored. Just too conventional.” Yi Shanshan emphasized the last few words, staring intently into Ying Yuan’s eyes, enunciating each syllable deliberately.

Yes, very conventional.

The restaurant was sparsely populated, mostly with people like them—dining quietly and chatting pleasantly.

“Then what do you want?” Ying Yuan asked.

Yi Shanshan patted the seat beside her. “What’s the point of just sitting here like this? Seeing but not touching? Come over here and let me feel you up a bit.”

Ying Yuan: “!!!”

She never imagined this was the kind of unconventional Yi Shanshan had in mind.

Just a moment ago they were discussing piano and acting, and now she wants to “feel me up a bit”?

Was she pleased or displeased with Ying Yuan’s earlier remarks? Did she agree or disagree?

Though her mind churned with confusion, Ying Yuan’s actions betrayed no hesitation.

When Yi Shanshan told her to come over, she did. When Yi Shanshan asked her to sit close, she slid down, barely brushing Yi Shanshan’s leg as she settled into the seat.

The two of them squeezed into one side of the bench, leaving the other side completely empty. The arrangement looked unbalanced, but that didn’t matter. Yi Shanshan was smiling, and that was all that mattered.

Yi Shanshan pulled the dining tray closer and placed it in front of Ying Yuan. Then she picked up two shrimp with her chopsticks and dropped them onto Ying Yuan’s plate, commanding, “Peel these for me.”

Ying Yuan’s technique was impeccable. Using just chopsticks and a fork, she effortlessly removed the entire shrimp shell without damaging the delicate meat.

As Ying Yuan busied herself peeling shrimp, Yi Shanshan seized her arm and refused to let go. Ignoring Ying Yuan’s movements, she tightly gripped her forearm with both hands, kneading and squeezing it like stress-relief dough.

Her palms were warm, and Ying Yuan allowed her to play.

Once the shrimp were peeled, Ying Yuan turned to Yi Shanshan and said, “Eat.”

Yi Shanshan squeezed her arm playfully. “No hands. Feed me.”

She opened her mouth wide, revealing bright red lips, the tip of her tongue, and pearl-like teeth.

For a fleeting moment, Ying Yuan’s mind wavered. She actually wondered how Yi Shanshan wanted her to feed her.

Ahem. Ying Yuan cleared her throat self-consciously and picked up a piece of shrimp, stuffing it into Yi Shanshan’s mouth.

Mmm. Yi Shanshan swallowed it in one gulp, deliberately biting down on the tip of Ying Yuan’s chopsticks.

Realization dawned on Ying Yuan: “I should have used your chopsticks.”

Yi Shanshan chewed the shrimp, glancing at her sideways. “Bringing that up now feels a bit forced, Yuan-dear,” she teased, sounding like a playful kitten.

Ying Yuan felt a flicker of embarrassment, but not much.

She was growing accustomed to Yi Shanshan’s increasing intimacy, her shyness gradually yielding to boldness and desire.

For the next shrimp, Ying Yuan still used her own chopsticks, offering it to Yi Shanshan’s lips.

Yi Shanshan lifted her chin. “You eat this one.”

“Okay.”

Since Yi Shanshan had commanded, Ying Yuan obeyed.

The lemon shrimp was refreshingly light, the meat firm and springy.

As they ate from the same plate, Ying Yuan wondered if Yi Shanshan would comment on the taste. But the next moment, Yi Shanshan’s voice rang out, laced with laughter: “Yuan-dear~ We just shared an indirect kiss~”

Ying Yuan: “????”

Yi Shanshan: “Aren’t you supposed to care about that? If I didn’t say it, wouldn’t you be upset?”

Ying Yuan: “????”

Yi Shanshan leaned closer, her eyes glistening as she gazed at her. “Or was that your intention from the very first bite? You little devil, Yuan-dear~”

Ying Yuan: “……”

She couldn’t help but laugh at Yi Shanshan’s convoluted logic.

This cat just wanted to tease her, to flirt with her, to see her face light up with surprise and shyness. For that, she’d happily babble nonsense all day.

Ying Yuan didn’t want to let the cat win, yet she did want to let the cat win.

Behind the cat stretched the azure sky and sea, while in her shimmering eyes, Ying Yuan saw only her own reflection.

Ying Yuan leaned forward and kissed the cat.

Right on her babbling lips, soft, fragrant, and lemon-scented.

Yi Shanshan: “!!!!”

The cat froze in shock.

Ying Yuan: “I don’t need an intermediary.”

Yi Shanshan froze for several seconds before bursting into unrestrained laughter. “Ying Yuan, you’ve really leveled up! Moving to a new city is like breaking a seal. Kissing me in public? You’re so daring now…”

Her laughter was pure, unguarded joy.

Ying Yuan, however, grew a bit shy under her laughter.

Other diners glanced their way, and even the waitstaff couldn’t help but steal second glances at their unusual seating arrangement.

Ying Yuan had once found public displays of affection terribly awkward. But now, she understood it wasn’t about deliberately showing off; she simply couldn’t resist.

Moreover, she didn’t care.

She didn’t care what others thought; all that mattered was the radiant, joyful Yi Shanshan. She picked up some seafood and began cleaning it for Shanshan, making it easier to eat.

Shanshan’s hand still rested on her arm, its warmth intensifying, a burning tenderness that soothed her very soul.

“After we finish eating,” Ying Yuan suggested, “we could go to the beach. There’s a lighthouse there. If you’re not too tired, we could climb to the top and watch the sunset. The view should be spectacular.”

“Not tired at all!” Shanshan shook her head vigorously, her excitement bubbling over. “Go, go, go! Let’s see, let’s see, let’s see!”

With you, everything is fun.

With you, no beautiful thing should be missed.

Ying Yuan had planned their time perfectly.

After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant as the white daylight began to shift into twilight hues.

Passing the black reefs, they reached the towering white lighthouse. Yi Shanshan pointed at the sun, now beginning to peek above the horizon, and shouted excitedly, “Charge! We have to reach the top before the sun dips below the sea!”

Ying Yuan had already purchased tickets in advance and carried the backpack containing their IDs, swiping it to enter.

The spiral cast-iron staircase was deserted. Yi Shanshan’s hair danced before Ying Yuan like a cheerful banner.

At first, Yi Shanshan climbed with breakneck speed, chattering animatedly about the lighthouse’s interior structure and teasing Ying Yuan for being a scaredy-cat who only dared to follow behind.

But by the middle section, her initial burst of energy had waned. She hunched over, her hips thrust out, and skirt swaying rhythmically with each step.

“Ying Yuan… it’s pretty high up here, isn’t it?” Her voice had softened, tinged with a hint of coquetry.

“Here, have some water.” Ying Yuan pulled a small bottle of mineral water from her backpack and offered it to Yi Shanshan. “We can rest for a bit.”

Yi Shanshan turned back, her eyes widening as she gripped the railing. “Why are you still carrying water?”

Ying Yuan smiled. “I was worried you’d get thirsty.”

Yi Shanshan continued to glare at her. “How come you’re not even sweating?”

Ying Yuan: “Hmm… I thought it was quite cool in the tower?”

Yi Shanshan: “How come you’re not even out of breath when you talk?”

Yi Shanshan: “You’ve been secretly working on your stamina again, haven’t you?!”

Yi Shanshan: “You cheater! You could’ve carried me up!”

Ying Yuan’s smile turned helpless.

That one time, long ago, she had lied about her poor stamina. Yi Shanshan had believed her then and never forgotten it. Now, any display of Ying Yuan’s physical prowess made her unusually sensitive.

Ying Yuan twisted open the water bottle and handed it to Yi Shanshan, then hastened to soothe her competitive spirit. “I’m following behind you, so you’re breaking the wind for me. It saves a lot of energy.”

Yi Shanshan frowned as she drank. “Is that even a thing?”

Ying Yuan: “See? You’re amazing after all.”

Ying Yuan: “We just ate, so now we’re digesting food while climbing stairs. That’s why our energy is being drained so quickly. If we slow down a bit later, we can last much longer.”

Ying Yuan: “You’ll definitely be the first to reach the top.”

“Well, of course!” Yi Shanshan perked up, pleased by the compliment.

She took a few more big gulps of water and started moving again. “That just means I’m fiercely intense when I need to be, and incredibly persistent when endurance is key.”

Ying Yuan: “…Mmm.”

Yi Shanshan: “You stick right behind me. I absolutely have to be number one.”

Ying Yuan: “…Okay.”

The tower wasn’t too tall, so climbing to the top didn’t take long.

Yi Shanshan conserved her breath and climbed steadily upward in silence, quickly reaching the lamp chamber.

Standing at the highest point, she turned and reached out her hand to Ying Yuan, insisting on pulling her up the final step.

Ying Yuan placed her palm into Yi Shanshan’s. Their warm hands clasped tightly together, and once they locked, neither released the grip.

Yi Shanshan led Ying Yuan on a whirlwind tour of the lamp chamber before eagerly rushing out to the open-air platform encircling it.

As soon as they stepped outside, the sea breeze swept over them.

The damp, salty air whipped through their long hair and the hems of their clothes, creating a rustling sound. The endless sky met the boundless sea in a seamless horizon.

The sun had already transformed into a blazing crimson-orange, painting the scattered clouds sprawling across the horizon in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Golden light shimmered on the ocean’s surface, countless glittering waves dancing like living, leaping flames.

And you know, within that vast ocean teems with boundless life.

Hidden beneath the waves, covering more than half the Earth, they lived in a world utterly unlike that of humans on land, yet still dazzling and vibrant.

Even more dazzling and vibrant, in fact.

The sun had grown colossal, its true cosmic mass revealed at the horizon where sky met sea.

The universe was so vast that even at its apparent end, there was no end.

Yi Shanshan squeezed Ying Yuan’s hand tightly. Despite the breathtaking scenery, she couldn’t resist turning to look at the person beside her.

The setting sun’s golden light bathed Ying Yuan, making her seem to float, warm, and beautiful.

The moment Yi Shanshan’s gaze landed on her, Ying Yuan’s eyes met hers. Their eyes locked, and they smiled.

A smile that lifted the corners of their lips and crinkled the corners of their eyes—a comfortable, tender smile.

The vulnerability made them feel shy, yet the overwhelming love filled them with genuine, heartfelt joy.

“Now I understand why we had to see the ocean,” Yi Shanshan murmured.

“Hm?” Ying Yuan gazed at her, longing to embrace her, to kiss her, to do all the daring things, to etch this moment into their eternal genes.

“The feeling of freedom,” Yi Shanshan replied.

Their desires aligned perfectly. She rose on tiptoe and offered a fervent kiss, a kiss of complete devotion.

Even if they abandoned the entire world, they would never feel alone again.