After Getting Bound to Both the Protagonist and the Villain at the Same Time - Chapter 22

“Can I?” Gu Mian pressed closer. “Can I kiss you?”

At some point, Lin Chuyi’s hair tie had been swallowed by the crevices of the sofa. Her hair fell loose, spilling out like expensive black silk. Her strands intertwined with Gu Mian’s, weaving a dense web from which she could not escape.

Lin Chuyi suddenly found it difficult to breathe. She couldn’t refuse. She felt herself growing hotter; her heart beat unnaturally fast, as if it were trying to leap from her chest, frantically seizing all the oxygen from her brain. She had no room left for thought, only for the irresistible sensations of the moment.

Clink.

The sound of their rings colliding brought a flicker of clarity to Lin Chuyi’s mind. She broke away, panting, her breath coming in ragged, noisy gasps like someone who had just struggled ashore after nearly drowning. “Wait. No, I can’t.”

Lin Chuyi tried to steady her nerves. She couldn’t bear to look into Gu Mian’s misty, pleading eyes, so she lowered her gaze to avoid them. Her voice came out in stilted fragments. “It’s a bit too strange.”

“What’s strange about it?” Gu Mian feigned confusion, pressing forward inch by inch. “Or perhaps I should ask, why does Sister think it’s strange?”

Gu Mian’s gaze drifted to their tangled hair. The alcohol, having simmered through time, had dissolved her usual sense of restraint and the inhibitions she maintained when sober. Her logic was steeped in a honeyed allure, and her original, dominant possessiveness was slowly surfacing.

Lin Chuyi stammered, the undeniable sensations within her becoming even clearer. She felt she was hovering on the edge of some profound truth.

“Perhaps Sister is just too sensitive,” Gu Mian sighed. She reached out to cover Lin Chuyi’s eyes, as if to hide her own flushed, emotional state.

She looked down and stayed quiet for a moment. Even though Lin Chuyi was right there, she didn’t want to take advantage of her before the timing was right. Her “Sister” deserved the best—the best conditions, the best moment, and the best version of herself.

Gu Mian’s voice softened. She felt Lin Chuyi’s eyelashes fluttering against her palm like the wings of a trapped butterfly, possessing a dizzying vitality.

She coaxed softly, “It’s nothing for good friends to do things like this. Some friends kiss, some bathe together, and some even help each other.” Gu Mian’s throat moved as she swallowed hard. She feared her intentions weren’t hidden deeply enough and that Lin Chuyi might catch on. “These things are all very natural.”

“Is that so?” Lin Chuyi asked hesitantly.

Gu Mian didn’t answer. She looked at Lin Chuyi, knowing her craving hadn’t diminished. Perhaps some girls really were like that—out of curiosity or just following a trend—but she wasn’t. For her, a kiss wasn’t a “natural” act between friends; it was something she wanted to give Lin Chuyi for the first time, and every time after.

Her only “good friend” was Lin Chuyi.

Lin Chuyi had never encountered anything like this before, nor had she ever been particularly close to anyone. To her, no one was closer than Gu Mian and Shen Qing. She looked at Gu Mian with a mix of confusion and dawning realization, but her eyes were still shielded by Gu Mian’s hand.

Only when Gu Mian felt she had regained enough composure to face Lin Chuyi did she slowly release her hand.

“I’ll ask for my birthday present another time,” Gu Mian said with a small smile. “You should rest for today, Sister.”

A bewildered shimmer lingered in Lin Chuyi’s eyes. Seeing the loneliness on Gu Mian’s face, she felt a sharp tug at her heart. She didn’t want to see her “kid” looking like that. Even though Gu Mian was no longer pinning her down, Lin Chuyi didn’t get up to wash; she sat on the sofa for a long moment.

Gu Mian nudged her gently. “Go wash up, Sister.” Her tone was light and natural, yet a hint of hoarseness remained at the edges. “Go on.”

Lin Chuyi stood up.

She looked at Gu Mian, thought for a second, and then leaned down. Slowly, she pressed the ready-to-rise Gu Mian back into the sofa. Her slender waist exuded an inexplicable beauty of strength, and the composure Gu Mian had just regained was instantly shattered.

A deep blush rose to Lin Chuyi’s face. She braced her knee against Gu Mian’s leg and propped her hands against the sofa, leaning over until she could press a light kiss against the corner of Gu Mian’s mouth.

A mere touch, then she pulled away.

Lin Chuyi’s throat tightened. She whispered, “It’s my first time kissing. I don’t have much experience.” She coaxed Gu Mian softly, “Don’t be mad at your ‘good friend,’ okay?”

Gu Mian’s eyes suddenly reddened. Her hands gripped the sofa cushions, sinking deep into the fabric. She instinctively tilted her head up, wanting more, but Lin Chuyi—her face bright red—panicked and fled to the bathroom.

Even after Lin Chuyi had finished and retreated to the inner room, Gu Mian remained on the sofa, dazed by the sudden kiss. Perhaps the shock Lin Chuyi had delivered was simply too much to process. She stared blankly at the ring on her finger. After a long time, she let out a soft laugh and sighed.

“Oh, Sister.”

My Sister.

After her birthday, Gu Mian seemed slightly less busy. Even if she couldn’t have dinner with Lin Chuyi, she made an effort to come home every night.

The ring Lin Chuyi had given her was too large and often slipped off, so Lin Chuyi usually left hers at home. Seeing this, Gu Mian bought two thin necklaces and used them to thread their rings.

“Can you wear this all the time, Sister?” Gu Mian knelt on the bed, supporting herself as she helped Lin Chuyi—who was sitting on the edge—put on the necklace. Lin Chuyi had her back to Gu Mian, but she could feel the faint warmth. Gu Mian’s unique fragrance swirled around her, invading every breath.

“Hmm? Oh, yes.” Lin Chuyi had been daydreaming; she gave a low mumble of agreement. By the time she snapped out of it, Gu Mian was pressed against her back, her hands reaching around from behind to fasten the clasp.

Lin Chuyi looked down at the necklace. The brass plating had faded slightly, perhaps due to oxidation, revealing a strange, shimmering luster underneath.

She had grown accustomed to Gu Mian’s proximity. As Gu Mian spoke, the vibrations from her chest were transmitted directly to Lin Chuyi, sending tremors through her.

“Do you have any plans coming up, Sister?” Gu Mian asked.

“Shen Qing’s school is having a ‘Fun Sports Meet’—it’s meant as a break for the seniors. They’ve invited parents to attend,” Lin Chuyi said. “I’m planning to go.”

“That sounds nice.” Gu Mian thought for a moment. “Could you spare a weekend for me soon? I want to spend some time with you, just us, like when you went to the amusement park with Shen Qing.”

“Oh?”

“I haven’t been to an amusement park in ages,” Gu Mian said, leaning into her. “But we don’t necessarily have to go there. We could just stay home, play some games, or do something together. That would be enough.”

Lin Chuyi had been prepared to decline another trip to the park—the novelty would be lost so soon after the first visit. But when Gu Mian suggested just staying home, she asked, “Should we bring Shen Qing?”

“No.” Gu Mian pinched Lin Chuyi’s earlobe playfully. “You didn’t bring me last time.”

“Alright. I’ll let Shen Qing know.” Lin Chuyi tried to be fair to both. Since she had given Shen Qing a private birthday celebration, it was only right to do something similar for Gu Mian.

“By the way,” Gu Mian’s long, slender fingers toyed with the necklace she had just placed around Lin Chuyi’s neck, her tone taking on an inexplicable edge. “Can I have a kiss now, Sister? I’ve been thinking about it.”