Chapter 40.2

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Qiao Ziman stared at the person who had appeared out of nowhere, frozen for several seconds. Then, like a startled fawn, she shot up from the bed in panic.

“Wh-why are you in here?” Qiao Ziman stammered, catching a glimpse of her phone on the bed, still playing the video. Her eyes widened in horror, and she quickly pointed toward the door.

“Look! Xiaohua had babies!” she blurted out.

Chi Yin turned her head, momentarily confused. In that split second, Qiao Ziman snatched the phone and hid it behind her back.

“Qiao Ziman, you’re not making any sense today. Xiaohua is a male cat. Why are you sweating so much? And why is your face so red?”

The comment made Qiao Ziman flush even deeper, like a boiled crab. “I-I’m fine! Just… you should go!”

Chi Yin, growing more puzzled, tilted her head. “You’re not sleeping with me tonight?”

“N-no!” Qiao Ziman stammered, her voice an octave higher than usual. No way could she share a bed with her right now—it would be way too much for her nerves.

“Why not?”

Thinking quickly, Qiao Ziman blurted out, “My… my period!” She pointed toward the balcony, where three freshly washed pairs of underwear hung to dry.

Chi Yin raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Isn’t your period still over a week away?”

Qiao Ziman’s eyes darted nervously. “M-maybe it’s liver heat causing irregular periods?”

“Is that so?” Chi Yin stepped closer, narrowing her eyes as she stared directly into Qiao Ziman’s. “Are you hiding something from me?”

“I-I’m not…” Qiao Ziman stammered, but her panic only grew as Chi Yin inched closer. She tried to avoid her gaze but accidentally locked onto the impressive cleavage peeking from Chi Yin’s neckline.

Her throat went dry. So big.

Suddenly, a stream of blood shot from her nose, arcing gracefully through the air.

Qiao Ziman: “…”

“I told you, liver heat,” she muttered before hurriedly placing her hands on Chi Yin’s shoulders and pushing her out of the room.

“Goodnight!” Qiao Ziman squeaked, slamming the door shut behind her.

A few moments later, in the bathroom…

Qiao Ziman splashed cold water on her face, frantically pressing a wad of tissues to her nose. Her reflection in the mirror only deepened her despair.

Back in her room, Qiao Ziman lay on the bed, tissue still stuffed in her nose, staring blankly at the ceiling. She let out a despairing groan. “God, just kill me now.”

A nosebleed. How embarrassing. How humiliating. She could never show her face again.

Five minutes later…

She was back on her phone.

* * *

The Next Day at Work…

“Morning, Qiao-jie!” one of her colleagues greeted cheerily.

“Didn’t sleep well, huh?”

Not just didn’t sleep well. She didn’t sleep at all. Every time she closed her eyes, it was either a suggestive movie or Chi Yin’s captivating figure replaying in her mind. How could she sleep?

Tang Xiaoxiao suddenly pulled her aside, eyeing her critically. “Qiao Qiao, what’s up with you? Possessed? I’ve been studying metaphysics recently, and your face looks off—dark circles, pale skin, no energy. Did you attract something evil? I know a Taoist, Xiaodao from Xuanmen. His protective charms are pretty effective. Want a referral?”

No evil spirits, just a seductive little demon, Qiao Ziman thought to herself. Still, she asked, “How much?”

Tang Xiaoxiao flashed two fingers. “Twenty thousand.”

“Damn,” Qiao Ziman blurted, unable to stop herself. “What, is he robbing people?”

Without waiting for an answer, she decided it was better to face the real little seductress head-on.

“Hey, Qiao Qiao, don’t go! First-time buyers get a discount—just two hundred!” Tang Xiaoxiao called after her.

Qiao Ziman paused mid-step, patted Tang Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, and said solemnly, “Next time my mom signs up for a senior citizen scam prevention course, I’ll make sure to bring you along.”

Tang Xiaoxiao: “…”

Her phone buzzed twice in her pocket. She pulled it out to check. Ji Yun had joined the action.

Ji Yun: [How’s it going? You giving up already?]

Qiao Ziman chuckled, typing back: Does she think I’m that weak?
[Got any more of those videos?]

Ji Yun: [??? Are you out of your mind?]

Nope. She wasn’t losing it. She had made up her mind. Principles were officially out the window. Avoidance wasn’t solving the problem. She had to fight fire with fire. If she didn’t conquer this now, what would happen when they really got into bed? There’d be a massacre. Blood everywhere!

How would she maintain her role as a teacher and ensure Chi Yin’s… happiness?

With that thought firmly in mind, Qiao Ziman took a deep breath and strode straight toward Chi Yin’s office. When she arrived, Chi Yin was sitting at her desk, deeply focused on a stack of urgent company files.

Qiao Ziman plopped down on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at her. Today, Chi Yin was wearing a red dress, her long hair cascading naturally over her shoulders, strands gently swaying in the breeze.

So beautiful.

Her lipstick looked particularly tempting today—full, rosy, and almost shimmering.

I really want to kiss her.

Before she could second-guess herself, Qiao Ziman appeared in front of her. Chi Yin looked up, surprise flashing in her eyes, but before she could react, Qiao Ziman leaned in and quickly planted a kiss on her lips.

“You didn’t lock the door,” Chi Yin said, still stunned.

“It’s fine, it was just a quick one,” Qiao Ziman replied casually, though her heart was racing.

Her gaze drifted down to Chi Yin’s hands—long, slender fingers with neatly rounded nails. The pads of her fingers looked soft and flawless.

So pretty.

Unable to resist, Qiao Ziman picked up Chi Yin’s hand and started playing with her fingers.

Chi Yin, feeling a little uncomfortable, curled her fingers slightly. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” Qiao Ziman said, feigning innocence.

Chi Yin pointed to the corner of her mouth. “You’re drooling.”

Damn. How embarrassing. I’m such a hopeless pervert!

Quickly letting go of Chi Yin’s hand, Qiao Ziman wiped the corner of her mouth. “Sorry.” Then she darted back to the sofa, burying her face in her sketchpad.

But it didn’t stop her from staring.

Chi Yin shifted uncomfortably under the intensity of Qiao Ziman’s gaze. Finally, she put down her pen and turned to her. “Don’t you have work to do?”

“Oh, oh!” Reminded by her words, Qiao Ziman quickly flipped open her sketchpad, pretending to focus on the character designs for Master White Fox.

Ten minutes later, she realized she couldn’t focus at all. Her mind kept wandering. She discreetly opened her phone and began meticulously browsing lingerie, imagining how Chi Yin would look wearing each piece.

Her lips curled into a satisfied grin as the mental images played out in her head.

Chi Yin glanced up and noticed Qiao Ziman’s suspicious behavior. Why does she look so pleased with herself? What’s on her phone? Could she be… chatting with someone else?

Unable to hold back any longer, Chi Yin stood up and approached her. Leaning over her shoulder, she asked, “What are you hiding from me?”

Startled, Qiao Ziman quickly slapped her phone down onto the table. “Nothing!” she exclaimed, her voice pitched a little too high.

Out of the corner of her eye, her sketchpad caught her attention. She froze.

At some point—when she wasn’t paying attention—her pencil had betrayed her. On the page were two women—naked, intimately entwined.

And the faces? Hers and Chi Yin’s.

The worst part? It was surprisingly lifelike.

Qiao Ziman’s cheeks flushed bright red, and then, before she could stop it…

Her nose bled.

Oh no! Not again!

Without a word, Qiao Ziman grabbed her sketchpad, bolted from the sofa, and dashed toward the door.

“Qiao Ziman, what—” Chi Yin started, but Qiao Ziman didn’t stop.

She clutched the incriminating sketch to her chest and fled down the hall, thinking to herself, Who cares if running away doesn’t solve anything? To hell with it! This is so embarrassing!

Chi Yin stared after her fleeing figure, her frown deepening.