Chapter 47.1

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Qiao Ziman’s gaze was locked onto that line of text. She silently repeated I am the top three times in her head. With a slap of her notebook, she let out an eerie laugh—it sounded just a little unhinged.

A moment later, she picked up her phone and sent a message to Ji Yun.

[Send me a link for finger condoms.]

If her mom wouldn’t buy them, she’d get them herself.

Ji Yun replied instantly.

[You don’t even need them.]

Then, just as quickly, she unsent the message.

Qiao Ziman stared at the screen without blinking. Ha. Too late. I saw it. Is my image in Ji Yun’s mind already beyond saving?

iao Ziman: [(smiling.jpg)]

Ji Yun sent a ten-second voice message. Ziman tapped to play it. Ji Yun’s voice carried a trace of drunken amusement. She chuckled. “Oops, slipped. What, planning a counterattack?”

Qiao Ziman pressed her lips into a tight line and typed each word with measured intensity.

[Do you think I can’t? I’ll say it again—I’m just like you!]

I just haven’t had the chance to prove it yet!

Ji Yun: […]

[Lesbian finger condom link.]

Qiao Ziman clicked in and started browsing. With what little dignity she had left on the line, she ruthlessly hit the “Add to Cart” button—one box, two boxes, ten. Satisfied.jpg. She grinned smugly and, with a swift motion, sent a screenshot of her payment confirmation to Ji Yun.

At the bar, Ji Yun had just taken a sip of her drink when she saw the image. The moment it registered, she spat her alcohol out in a dramatic spray. What the hell just happened? Did Qiao Qiao get hit with something? Has she lost her mind?

Shaking her glass, she downed the last sip of her drink and waved for the bartender. The same short-haired girl from last time approached. “Yun-jie, Yan-jie really hasn’t been here these past few days.”

Ji Yun shot her a sharp look. “Who asked about her?” Her gaze dropped to her empty glass. “Another Spring Night—make it stronger this time.” 

Crossing her legs, she leaned back, arms folded, eyes coldly scanning the entrance of the bar.

Meanwhile, Qiao Ziman hugged her laptop and walked back to the bedroom. Chi Yin tilted her head slightly. 

“Your mom went to sleep?” Her eyes shifted to the laptop. “What’s that for? Still working this late?”

Qiao Ziman turned to look at her, slow and deliberate. She didn’t bother hiding the way her gaze traced over the curves of the woman lying in bed. Her throat bobbed. She licked her lips. “No.”

Something about Qiao Qiao’s expression felt… off. A little eerie. Or was it… something else? Chi Yin’s stomach tensed with unease. She eyed her warily and asked, testing the waters, “What did you and your mom talk about?”

Qiao Ziman shifted her gaze away, walked past Chi Yin, and placed her laptop into the drawer, pressing a thick book on top. “Guarding the cabbage.”

Chi Yin: “???”

Qiao Ziman grinned. “Nothing.” 

She climbed back into bed and lay down beside Chi Yin. Her eyes wandered over Chi Yin’s features again, tracing from her delicate brows to her full lips. Then her gaze dipped lower, following the neckline of her shirt—until she saw the soft, snow-white peaks accented by a hint of crimson. Her pupils darkened.

Chi Yin caught her staring and chuckled. “Like what you see?”

“Heh… yeah.”

Qiao Ziman’s eyes naturally drifted downward again, this time locking onto Chi Yin’s slender fingers. She paused for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, she grabbed Chi Yin’s hand and held it up for closer inspection.

Chi Yin: “???”

Qiao Ziman pressed her fingers against each knuckle, then squeezed the pads of her fingertips, silently assessing. Doesn’t seem all that different from mine… She spread out her own hand and pressed it against Chi Yin’s palm, comparing sizes. They were nearly the same length.

Confidence surged through her. I can do it. I can absolutely be the top.

Chi Yin watched her in silence for a moment before finally speaking. “Qiao Qiao… why do I feel like you’re acting a little… strange today?”

Qiao Ziman abruptly lifted her head and captured those soft, full lips, swallowing whatever words Chi Yin had left unspoken. She didn’t hold back. Desire, raw and unfiltered, poured into the kiss. Her tongue tangled with Chi Yin’s, hands roaming restlessly, scaling new heights. She mimicked the way Chi Yin had once touched her—setting fires everywhere.

As their lips parted briefly, Chi Yin’s gaze gleamed with amusement. A slow, knowing smile curled on her lips. “Feels good? You’re so bold tonight.”

Qiao Ziman froze. What was going on? Was I doing something wrong? Shouldn’t Chi Yin be breathing heavily by now? Maybe trembling a little?

Refusing to admit defeat, Qiao Ziman tried again. Her fingers tightened, then loosened. She felt the softness under her touch.

Chi Yin suddenly reached toward the nightstand, fingers brushing against the box of finger condoms. “Hmm? You want another round?”

Qiao Ziman: “???”

Another round, my ass! She immediately let go, sulking as she turned her back on Chi Yin. “Lights off. Sleep. I have to take my mom and grandma to the hospital tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.” Chi Yin switched off the light and wrapped an arm around Qiao Ziman’s waist, her voice gentle. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

Qiao Ziman let it go. One failed attempt didn’t matter—there was always next time. No point in being mad at myself. She turned back around, burrowing into Chi Yin’s embrace. Resting her head against Chi Yin’s collarbone, she inhaled the faint scent of lily of the valley lingering on her skin.

Closing her eyes, she murmured, “Goodnight.”

Chi Yin pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, girlfriend.”

Qiao Ziman couldn’t help but smile.

—

The next day, Qiao Ziman and Chi Yin took her mother and grandmother for full-body checkups at the hospital. After the appointments, He Cuizhen brought up the idea of heading back to their hometown—partly because the two of them had just started dating and would probably appreciate some privacy, and partly because she needed to pack up and move, a task that had been weighing on Qiao Ziman’s mind for a while. Qiao Ziman thought it over and agreed.

Since Chi Yin had a meeting later with her business partners, Qiao Ziman decided to drive her mom and grandma back on her own. After returning home, she saw that it was still early and figured she’d hit up Ji Yun. And while I’m at it… I can check in on her love life. She had spent the whole night thinking about what Ji Yun had said yesterday—“catching a bird.”