Chapter 49.1

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Time felt as if it had been paused.

Chi Yin sat there motionless, like a statue. Her black hair veiled her eyes, concealing not only her gaze but also the turbulent emotions surging within them.

Qiao Ziman’s fingers trembled slightly as she gripped the bottle. Tilting her head back, she downed half of it in one go. The icy liquid slid down her throat, barely managing to extinguish the fire threatening to consume her from within.

With a sigh, she reached out, tucking Chi Yin’s loose strands behind her ear. Looking into her eyes, she spoke with quiet determination. “I just want the truth. Isn’t honesty the most important thing between two people?”

Chi Yin’s eyes flicked up, startled. For a moment, the fear and unease in her heart faded. She picked up a bottle, poured herself a glass, and slowly took a sip before shaking her head. “No, it’s not.”

“Chi Yin!!!”

Qiao Ziman shot up from her chair, both hands slamming onto the table, her gaze burning with fury. “You—Chi Yin! Do you have any idea how much torment I went through? Those days, I could barely eat or sleep, terrified that it would ruin our pure friendship! Do you have any idea? How dare you lie to me?!”

Chi Yin responded a beat later, “I wouldn’t say I lied to you, because you never actually asked.”

Qiao Ziman thought back carefully to that day.

It seemed… she had been too busy overthinking everything. She really hadn’t asked.

Qiao Ziman smacked the table. “So if I don’t ask, you don’t say? But when I told you to kiss me back, you sure knew how to listen, huh?”

Chi Yin averted her gaze. “Only an idiot wouldn’t take advantage of a good opportunity.”

Qiao Ziman was stunned. Unbelievable!

And Chi Yin wasn’t done. “At most, I just went along with it.”

Qiao Ziman: “…”

Fine. She had to admit—she’d been the one who jumped to conclusions, assuming Chi Yin was some innocent little flower. That was why she had been so flustered, so overwhelmed. She couldn’t even blame Chi Yin for this. If anyone was at fault, it was herself for being stupid.

How could she have been so naïve to think Chi Yin was some delicate little white flower?

Chi Yin hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you want to kiss me back?”

“Kiss you? Damn right, I do!” Qiao Ziman shot her a glare, then patted her thigh. “Come sit on my lap.”

Chi Yin stood up, stepped closer, and wrapped her arms around Qiao Ziman’s neck before settling onto her lap. Their bodies pressed together, warmth radiating between them. The faint sweetness of alcohol lingered in Chi Yin’s breath as it brushed against Qiao Ziman’s skin, sending ripples through her heart and clouding her already hazy mind.

The woman in front of her had those signature peach blossom eyes—half-dazed, half-intoxicated—glimmering with an irresistible allure. A delicate flush spread across her jade-like skin, making her look even more captivating.

Qiao Ziman appeared calm, but in reality, her heartbeat was erratic, and her throat felt impossibly dry.

Then, those soft, full lips parted slightly, releasing a breath laced with sweetness.

“Come on… punish me.”

In that instant, the last thread of reason in Qiao Ziman’s mind snapped.

She didn’t hesitate. With a firm grip, she pulled Chi Yin’s head toward her and captured those lips in an urgent, hungry kiss. She kissed without rhythm, without a plan—just raw, overwhelming need.

Chi Yin could only surrender to the onslaught, passively enduring as the intensity grew. Before long, her breathing turned erratic, her body instinctively retreating under the pressure.

Qiao Ziman’s hands found their way around her waist, slipping under her clothes, tracing upward.

Setting fire to every inch of skin she touched.

Finally, Chi Yin couldn’t take it anymore. A soft, stifled moan escaped her lips as she pushed Qiao Ziman away, turning her head to the side, struggling to catch her breath.

As their lips parted, Qiao Ziman’s senses snapped back to reality.

Wait. She was supposed to be interrogating Chi Yin, not losing control like this!

But when she caught sight of the dazed woman in front of her—her slightly swollen lips, the deep red flush at the corner of her eyes—Qiao Ziman couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph.

Damn.

She was absolutely killing it right now.

Suppressing the smirk threatening to creep onto her lips, Qiao Ziman quickly put on a stern face again. She pointed to the seat across from her. “Get over there. Sit down. I’m not done questioning you.”

Chi Yin bit her lower lip, casting her a deep look before finally loosening her grip and pulling away. She returned to her seat, picked up the chilled beer on the table, poured herself a glass, and downed it in one go. Only then did the lingering heat in her body finally subside.

Qiao Ziman straightened up, putting on a serious expression as she continued her interrogation. “When exactly did you start liking me?”

Chi Yin’s eyes flickered slightly. After a long pause, she lowered her gaze and answered softly, “A long time ago.”

Qiao Ziman crossed her arms. “How long is a long time?”

Chi Yin’s thoughts drifted far into the past. The memory of a little girl with twin ponytails slowly overlapped with the woman sitting before her now.

Her gaze seemed to pierce through Qiao Ziman, looking into the distance as she murmured, “Probably… since the first time we met.”

Qiao Ziman was caught off guard.

A wave of warmth spread through her chest, sweet and intoxicating. She fought back the urge to smile and asked, “So, you planned this all along, huh?”

Chi Yin nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Then tell me—how exactly did you trick this innocent little lamb into your hands, you sly old fox?”

Qiao Ziman pulled out her notebook, flipped to a fresh page, and lowered her head, ready to take notes.

Qiao Ziman flipped to a fresh page in her notebook and started writing.

“Let’s start from the beginning. The first time we met—I was on the phone with my mom, and you were eavesdropping, weren’t you? That’s how you ended up suddenly parachuting into my company afterward.”

Chi Yin nodded. “Yes.”

Qiao Ziman continued piecing things together. “And that time I went to your restaurant, when you brought me that cake—who tipped you off?”

Chi Yin replied calmly, “The front desk manager. I told him that if anyone drove my car into the parking lot to eat, he should inform me immediately.”

Qiao Ziman smirked. “At least you’re honest. And thanks for the free meal.”

Then she narrowed her eyes. “Now, about our whole roommate situation—that was your doing, wasn’t it?”

Chi Yin didn’t even hesitate. “Yep. I had Ji Yun forward the listing to your mom. She messaged me on WeChat, decided I seemed like a good match, and, well… she sold you to me.”

Qiao Ziman: He Cuizhen, you traitor!!!

Just as she was about to explode, Chi Yin spoke again, smoothly shifting the topic.

“But the second time you stripped down and threw yourself at me—that one? Definitely not my doing.”

Qiao Ziman: “…”

Shut up.

The mortifying memories attacked her all over again.

Silently, she raised her glass in frustration.