Luring Her to Take the Bait - Chapter 17

Pei Wenjin stepped one foot over the other, her rounded toes curling slightly. She gracefully took hold of her orange cat mug and took a sip of hot milk.

The sofa was empty. Supporting herself with one hand, she hopped down from the armchair and walked barefoot across the carpet. She sat in the spot where Fu Su had sat yesterday, pulling her legs up and resting her chin on her knees. Lifting her delicate, soft lashes, she peeked toward the door of Fu Su’s bedroom.

Susu hadn’t sat on the sofa at all today; she had taken her milk straight back to her room.

What was she doing in there?

Did Susu think she was too noisy?

Everything was quiet. Only a thin sliver of light could be glimpsed through the crack beneath the door.

That light was suddenly cut off, breaking into three short segments, followed by the appearance of Fu Su’s snowy-white face. Meeting Pei Wenjin’s undisguised gaze, Fu Su paused for a moment before closing the door behind her. “What’s wrong?”

“…” Pei Wenjin withdrew her eyes, which had been trying so hard to drill through the door crack. She opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together. Glancing at the black mug in Fu Su’s hand, she quickly turned her head to cradle her own “fat orange cat” mug. “Nothing. I was just wondering when you’d finish your milk so I could wash the cups.”

As soon as she said it, she herself was startled.

She seemed unable to avoid it—subconsciously hiding certain thoughts and being less than sincere when confessing others.

This wasn’t like her.

Her fingertips dug hard into the ceramic cat’s head. Pei Wenjin suddenly tilted her head back and downed the milk in one go. Ignoring the milk stain on the corner of her lips, she ran toward Fu Su with the mug in one hand and grabbed her slender wrist with the other.

“No!”

Fu Su leaned back against the kitchen island, lowering her eyelids to look at her. Pei Wenjin’s eyes were startlingly bright, filled with urgency: “I was actually wondering what you were doing in your bedroom just now.”

“And,” she licked her lips, suddenly gripping Fu Su’s hem tightly. Her voice dropped, softening into something like a kitten’s whimper, her eyes taking on that moist look of a small animal.

“I’ve seen all the other rooms.”

“But I… I haven’t seen your bedroom yet.”

Her soft lips pressed together, then bit down slightly. Her eyelashes fluttered like a small brush sweeping against the tip of her restless tongue. None of Pei Wenjin’s rich micro-expressions escaped Fu Su’s eyes.

Fu Su closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. She set down her own cup, took Pei Wenjin’s orange cat mug, placed it on the island, and took her hand. She said simply and clearly: “Come.”

Led by the hand, Pei Wenjin arrived at Fu Su’s bedroom door. She looked at Fu Su, who pushed the door open. Pei Wenjin’s heart hammered with excitement.

This time, it wasn’t just standing at the doorway. Fu Su pulled her into the room, and the door closed automatically.

With a soft “thud.”

“I was just handling some work matters,” Fu Su explained. She let go of her and turned toward the desk. Files were spread out—scattered yet orderly. A prominent spotlight hit the desk surface, making the surroundings seem dim by comparison. It blurred Fu Su’s cold, elegant face, illuminating only her thin lips.

Pei Wenjin suddenly understood what the “atmosphere” created by ambient lighting meant.

It was the sight of eyelashes glowing in the night; the tickling, fuzzy sensation when they blinked, like a layer of goosebumps rising on the skin.

It made her look at the wrinkle-free bed and, instead of thinking how clean and tidy it was, her first thought was: How should I mess up these sheets?

And then she wondered if Fu Su’s loose pajamas would hang down when she leaned over to smooth the bedsheets.

Fu Su leaned her hip lazily against the edge of the desk and tucked her hair back. Her finger tapped the desk lightly. “Want to look around?”

She had a storyteller’s voice, sounding as if it were pushed out by the tip of her tongue—threads of charm lingering with a careless, magnetic quality that felt slightly sultry.

Fu Su had a look that kept people at a distance. When she was expressionless, her dark eyes could look quite fierce.

But after getting to know her, Pei Wenjin realized Fu Su was actually very tolerant and meticulous. She had never rejected her, nor had she made demands of her.

As Pei Wenjin strolled around, Fu Su stayed leaned there, shedding her daytime efficiency. Her right elbow rested on her left arm as she tilted her shoulder to look at her phone, her right leg slightly lifted to rest on her left ankle. Occasionally, she would lift her eyelids to look at Pei Wenjin, her lips curving almost imperceptibly, allowing the “puppy” to leave visiting marks on her territory.

Only that double bed—Pei Wenjin didn’t go within half a step of it.

Finally, Pei Wenjin ran over to hug her, wrapping her arms around Fu Su’s neck. Her soft body pressed against her, and her seaweed-like curls spilled over her back, radiating fragrance. “Susu, give me a hug.”

Pei Wenjin looked at her with a bare face, her gaze drifting over Fu Su’s porcelain-white features. Fu Su’s clear eyes were partially veiled, her pupils moving slightly, her breathing shallow. She held Pei Wenjin loosely with one hand while the other gripped the edge of the desk.

The two had long ago crossed the boundary of “polite distance.” With their noses nearly touching, a slight tuck of the chin would be enough to kiss.

No one retreated, no one found it strange; there was only the exchange of shallow breaths.

It was a relationship they couldn’t quite define—a marriage without the tether of romantic love, yet their bodies had become familiar with each other’s scent from the very first hug. It was a natural, fluid intimacy, as if they were always meant to be this way.

They did it because they wanted to.

One rushed forward eagerly, the other accepted completely.

They seemed to have grown a bit closer again, driven by pure impulse.

Pei Wenjin stared at those thin lips, her intentions clear.

She really wanted to know: if she kissed those sexy lips right now, would Susu turn pale and push her away immediately, or would she turn red and cover her mouth?

Fu Susuddenly pursed her lips slightly.

Pei Wenjin’s heart trembled. She suddenly felt a surge of seduction from that simple movement.

It wasn’t out of any emotional attachment, but purely physical—a charm radiating from Fu Su herself, a sexiness that contrasted with her cold exterior.

As if she knew you were staring at her lips.

Tempting you to kiss them.

Pei Wenjin suspected she was being driven by that “wicked” thought.

She immediately averted her gaze, hugged Fu Su tightly, and nuzzled her shoulder like a puppy. Lifting her sparkling, starry eyes, she said sweetly, “Then I’m going to wash the cups~”

Fu Su’s lashes dropped slightly as she lowered her arm. “Mm.”

Pei Wenjin let go and drifted away. After walking a few steps, she looked back. Fu Su was still in that lazy, casual pose, hip against the desk, looking weary and detached, with no desires or needs—one side of her hair tucked back, the other brushing against her chin.

But this is the fourth time… she still gets shy and her ears turn red from a hug.

Is it? Shyness.

When Fu Su lifted her eyelids, Pei Wenjin immediately pulled the door open and left.

—

She said she was washing the cups, but it was really just a press on the glass rinser.

Pei Wenjin wiped the water stains with a towel and placed them in the sideboard.

She slipped her right foot out of her slipper and rubbed her leg with her ankle. She set out the “Little Yellow Duck” mug she planned to use tomorrow.

Looking at the sharp divide between the black-and-white and the colorful items, Pei Wenjin knitted her brows. She decisively squeezed a pink kitty mug into the “black and white army.”

Actually, the black and white army only consisted of two cups—one black, one white, identical in style—clearly Fu Su’s.

This wasn’t enough. Pei Wenjin simply scrambled the entire order, rearranging them so the black and white army was completely integrated into the colorful ones.

Looking at the final result, Pei Wenjin nodded with satisfaction, showing her white teeth in a smile. The black and white pair were now surrounded and “captured.”

She sat cross-legged on the soft stool in the walk-in closet, feet touching, all the wardrobe doors open. She leaned back, cataloging everything with her eyes.

Compared to Fu Su’s extremely unified color palette and styles, neatly categorized, Pei Wenjin’s clothes were like colorful, graffiti-covered artists who had snuck into a group of elites.

Despite her best efforts to organize by color, style, and season, it still looked dazzlingly chaotic in comparison.

Forget it. Pei Wenjin rested her cheek in her hand and sighed helplessly. She grabbed a camisole and underwear at random, then closed all the wardrobe doors—very nice, a clean, uniform white once again.

Entering her room, she tossed them onto the bed and headed toward the bathroom while tying up her hair.

Pei Wenjin had a habit that wasn’t necessarily bad: before the moisture on her body was completely dry, she didn’t like wearing clothes. She preferred to wander around the house wrapped only in a bath towel.

If she lived alone, it wouldn’t matter, but there was someone else here. Yet, she didn’t care. They were both women; they had the same parts. Who was looking at whom? Besides, she had such a great figure—if she wanted to look, let her look.

After showering, she sat on the bed with her hair wrapped up, checking her phone messages. Water droplets slid from her hair onto the screen, and she wiped them away haphazardly.

Her long-time travel buddy tagged her in a group chat.

[Little Boss Pei, remember to bring a raincoat this time! Don’t be like last time where no one would squeeze into one with you!]

Pei Wenjin’s brow twitched as she scrolled through the messages.

They were discussing going to Mount Kailash in Tibet this Saturday for a kora (circuit trek).

To see the sacred mountain and holy lake, and the pure starry sky.

This group had originally met during a mountain climbing trip. During that time, a sudden blizzard on Tianshan Mountain had forced them to stop and find shelter.

Fortunately, the whole team were professional climbers, and they all made it down safely. Afterward, they started a group chat. They were all outdoor enthusiasts who often made appointments to go out together.

Saturday…

Pei Wenjin frowned, stretching her legs out wide as she replied.

[I don’t have time this Saturday, I won’t be joining you guys.]

The reply came quickly: [You had things to do the last two Saturdays, and you’re busy this Saturday too? What’s going on with you?]

Pei Wenjin: [I have to be with family, I can’t leave.]

[You can spend time with family whenever. Before, weren’t you the one organizing trips once a week, wishing you could go out twice? You’re a big CEO so it’s easy to take leave, but you have to drag us commoners along.]

[So what’s up with you lately? Did something happen at home? I haven’t seen any news about the Pei Group going bankrupt.]

Pei Wenjin pulled off her hair towel, her damp hair messy and sticking up. She ran her hand through it. The towel slipped off her shoulder, revealing her rounded shoulder, and she pulled it back up.

Pei Wenjin: [No, it’s hard to explain in a few words. Basically, I just want to stay at home lately and don’t want to go out. Sorry, I’ll treat you all next time.]

After a moment’s hesitation, Pei Wenjin hit send.

She tossed the phone aside and lay naked on the bed, then curled onto her side, drawing circles on the mattress with her finger.

Only those closest to her knew she was married. Aside from that, she hadn’t made a public announcement.

Would Susu go public with me?

For the first time, Pei Wenjin considered this question. She didn’t have a certain answer.

She went to the bathroom to blow-dry her hair. When it was halfway dry, she felt a bit restless. Subconsciously, she slipped on her underwear and camisole and opened her door to knock on Fu Su’s room.

Just as her knuckles were about to land on the door, Pei Wenjin suddenly looked down.

There was no light coming through the crack of the door.

She froze and quickly withdrew her hand.

Pei Wenjin looked up at the clock hanging in the living room.

The simple disc gave off a faint blue light in the night; it was almost eleven o’clock.

Susu was probably already asleep—a good girl with a regular schedule.

The lights in the house were all out, leaving only Pei Wenjin awake.

Pei Wenjin licked her teeth and tiptoed to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, and as the cold air rushed out, she shivered and rubbed her arms.

To her surprise, she found some fruits and vegetables inside.

Susu must have bought them.

Pei Wenjin was forgetful, and because she wanted to go grocery shopping with Fu Su, she hadn’t asked Ye Zhen to have groceries delivered in advance. She had only brought back some snacks she’d grabbed from her office.

Pei Wenjin’s eyes darted around as she began her midnight snack hunt, looking to comfort herself.

She searched from the top shelf down.

She took a bottle of yogurt; the straw was here.

Chocolate, chocolate—her favorite Crispy Rice chocolate!

When she saw the Nanjia “Lao Sheng” half-baked cheesecake, Pei Wenjin immediately spun around in place a few times with joy. Her eyes were full of happy light as she reached out to take it.

However, as her fingertips touched the cool box, she suddenly paused and retracted her hand.

Pei Wenjin realized: I didn’t buy this, so Susu must have.

It was Susu’s.

Her hand pulled back instantly, and she closed the fridge door.

Fine, I’ll see if I can get a bite tomorrow. Tonight it’s just yogurt and chocolate then~

Pei Wenjin intended to follow the light coming from her bedroom to find her way back in the dark. Suddenly, the overhead lights flickered on.

“Pei Wenjin?”

Fu Su’s deep voice rose slightly in tone.

“Huh? Susu?”

Pei Wenjin squinted. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she turned to look. Fu Su was still in her shirt and trousers. Pei Wenjin blinked, her voice sweet: “Susu, you’re not asleep yet?”

She saw Fu Su still holding the light switch, a mug in her hand, looking at her with a complicated expression. Fu Su moved her lips: “I was just handling work in the home office.”

Then, Fu Su’s gaze shifted slightly, her voice somewhat delayed. “Why are you…”

“Hmm?” Pei Wenjin didn’t understand and tilted her head.

Fu Su’s eyes glanced downward and quickly turned away, her throat moving slightly.

Little bear pattern, quite cute.

Fu Su had just taken a step forward when she suddenly smelled the minty tobacco on her collar and frowned.

She had just smoked.

The step she had taken was pulled back just as obviously. “You…”

As soon as she spoke, she was interrupted by Pei Wenjin’s shout, followed by two thuds as if things had dropped to the floor.

“Susu, I—I forgot! I’m sorry! I’m going to go put on pants! It won’t happen again!!!”

Pei Wenjin yanked her camisole down, but it still couldn’t cover her bottom. She turned tail and vanished in a flash, leaving behind a bewildered Fu Su.

The revolving door of the closet turned. In the mirror, Fu Su tucked her hair, revealing a bright red ear.

Fu Su glanced at it, then knitted her brows again. She touched her collar, looked down at the yogurt and chocolate scattered on the floor, and walked over to pick them up.