After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: No More Overthinking

Mingzhu took Rong Zhao’s ear into her mouth.

Such a beautiful Rong Zhao.

Mingzhu thought that if she only had a little over a month left, she was going to use every ounce of her strength, spirit, and energy to push the “Mrs. Rong” experience to its absolute peak. She would only be Mrs. Rong once in her life; she wasn’t going to spend it being cautious or walking on eggshells. She wanted to live it joyfully.

It was as if, knowing a breakup was inevitable, she decided to love more fiercely. It was as if, knowing death was certain, she decided to make life more brilliant.

“I was thinking—”

Mingzhu turned and lunged into Rong Zhao’s embrace, her arms tightening around Rong Zhao’s slender waist. Resting her chin on Rong Zhao’s collarbone, she looked up with a smile at the woman who was as cold in aura as she was soft and charming in features.

“Rongrong, will you take me to the Guge Zhai auction? If I see something I like, will you buy it for me? That way, everyone will know how much you love your Mrs. Rong,” Mingzhu coaxed in a sugary, flirtatious voice. “Please? Pretty please?”

Besides, Lu Zi wasn’t back yet. She refused to think so much or worry so much. The most logical thing to do was to hoard as many valuables from Rong Zhao as possible so she’d have plenty to take with her when they divorced.

Mingzhu had studied directing in the US. She had watched countless masterpieces and analyzed the perspectives on life held by great directors and screenwriters. She had been someone who loved herself since she was a child, and now, she had only grown better at it.

Internal conflict was unavoidable; a birthday invitation and a text message had triggered it. But it only took her one day to digest those emotions. She wasn’t going to trap herself in a cage of unknown worries.

Rong Zhao looked down at her. Mingzhu’s eyes were bright—so bright they seemed to hold stars, yet there was something unnaturally intense about them. It was easy to see through Mingzhu’s little scheme of collecting treasures to trade for cash later.

“What brought this on suddenly?” Rong Zhao’s long fingers threaded through the hair at the back of Mingzhu’s head, slowly stroking the red strands. She wasn’t using force; it felt more like she was cradling her. Mingzhu took the cue to lean further back, letting Rong Zhao support the full weight of her head.

The truth, obviously, could not be told. Mingzhu lied through her teeth with a straight face: “I just thought about how I’ve been lying in bed all day. My complexion looks bad, and I might not be as pretty anymore. Then I thought about that beauty salon that invited you to their ribbon-cutting, and one thing led to another until I thought of the auction.”

Rong Zhao slowly brushed a stray hair away from Mingzhu’s eyes. “Is that so? You certainly have a wandering mind.” Her eyes are darting everywhere; she’s full of lies.

Mingzhu: “It’s true! So, will you?” As she spoke, she playfully nipped at Rong Zhao’s collar with her teeth, throwing a coquettish, suggestive glance.

Rong Zhao let out an unexpected chuckle. Mingzhu immediately felt a sense of defeat and straightened up to glare at her. “…What are you laughing at? Was my flirting not good?”

It’s more than good, Rong Zhao thought. Every frown, every smile, every flirtatious tilt—she was breathtakingly moving. Rong Zhao covered Mingzhu’s glaring eyes with her palm. “Fine. I promise my Mrs. Rong.”

It was “Mrs. Rong”, not “Mingzhu.”

Mingzhu became even happier and felt less of a burden. She hooked one leg around Rong Zhao’s and let her hands wander playfully over the other woman’s lower back. “Mrs. Rong has such a good life.”

Rong Zhao looked up at the bright moonlight as if exasperated, but a clear smile was reflected in those cold, detached eyes. Is it that Mrs. Rong has a good life? No, it’s that I am the lucky one to have Mrs. Rong.

A moment later, Rong Zhao looked down at her. “You brought this on yourself.”

Mingzhu was confused. “What?”

Rong Zhao pushed Mingzhu’s leg away. “After your period ends, I’m taking you to the hospital for a check-up. No excuses. Otherwise, if the elders find out I’m not looking after your health, I’ll be the one getting scolded.”

Mingzhu: “…” She retracted her leg and stopped hugging her.

“What kind of check-up?” Mingzhu hated hospitals. Her happy face instantly shriveled up, and she kicked the air with her fluffy slippers.

As Mingzhu walked ahead, Rong Zhao followed with her hands in her coat pockets, smiling at the girl’s swaying, grumpy back. “The basics are a physical exam and an ultrasound to see if it’s primary or secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary means no pelvic lesions; secondary means there are. If we suspect endometriosis or other issues, there will be more specific tests.”

Mingzhu suddenly turned around. “What was the cause for you back then?”

“Primary.” Rong Zhao quickly looked away.

“How was it cured?” Mingzhu clung to her again.

Rong Zhao explained patiently, “By taking birth control pills to regulate the pain and the cycle. During menstruation, a woman’s body releases prostaglandins. If too much is released, it causes uterine contractions and pain. The pill inhibits ovulation and prostaglandins, thereby easing the contractions. I took them for three months—21 days on, 7 days off.”

“That sounds so hard,” Mingzhu hugged Rong Zhao’s waist tightly.

Terms like “birth control” and “prostaglandins” were unfamiliar to Mingzhu, but she loved hearing Rong Zhao speak them so naturally. Just like in 10th grade, when she heard Rong Zhao calmly tell a boy, “Sorry, I don’t like boys, I like girls,” it made her realize one thing—Rong Zhao was two years older, a presence like a protective older sister.

Unconsciously, Mingzhu was being guided by Rong Zhao. Unconsciously, she found herself only looking toward the woman standing in front of her.

Rong Zhao glanced at her. “It wasn’t hard. If you’re sick, see a doctor and take your medicine; your body will get better. You take vitamins and drink wine every day—why are you afraid of one pill?”

“…” So what if you’re two years older?

“Who drinks every day? Fine, fine! I’ll go! Whoever doesn’t go is a puppy and a big stinky bug!” Mingzhu grumbled under her breath while her hands mischievously slipped under Rong Zhao’s clothes to wander.

Under the moonlight, Mingzhu was noisy and spirited, and Rong Zhao wore a faint, imperceptible smile.

Late at night, the moon—with one tiny edge now shaved away—climbed higher, surrounded by stars competing in brilliance. While Rong Zhao went to the bathroom to shower, Mingzhu leaned against the headboard to check her phone.

It was 10:00 PM. In the UK, it was 3:00 PM. She had received Lu Zi’s message at 8:00 AM, which would have been 1:00 AM in the UK. Impressive that Lu Zi thought of me at 1:00 AM.

Mingzhu deliberated before replying: “Of course I remember you! It’s so good to hear from you. I was on my period today and spent the whole day in a daze, sorry for the late reply. I’m doing great now, don’t worry. How about you? How have you been?”

In school, she had loved sticking to Lu Zi. Lu Zi spoke gently, never lost her temper, and never argued. Plus, Lu Zi had a rather annoying older sister who bullied her; Mingzhu, with her “heroic” heart, had felt protective of her.

However, shortly before Lu Zi transferred schools, Mingzhu had accidentally seen a music box Rong Zhao gave Lu Zi. A subtle, awkward feeling had taken root in her heart—so awkward that when Lu Zi didn’t contact her after leaving, Mingzhu didn’t reach out either.

Now that they were adults and Lu Zi had reached out, Mingzhu responded warmly.

Mingzhu: “I heard your grandfather is celebrating his 70th birthday soon. Are you coming back to China?”

She put her phone down and lay on Rong Zhao’s pillow, inhaling its scent. Finding a single long black hair, she picked it up and twirled it around her index finger. When she received a reply, she absent-mindedly tucked the hair into the collar of her own pajamas.

Lu Zi: “I’m preparing for final exams, so the timing conflicts with the birthday. I’ll be back around late May or early June. Mingzhu, is it convenient to add each other on WeChat?”

Late May, early June. Rong Zhao’s birthday was June 1st.

Mingzhu stared at the message for a moment. Her emotions fluctuated slightly, but not too much. She searched for the ID and sent a friend request. Lu Zi’s profile picture looked like an animated character she had drawn herself; Mingzhu had heard she studied animation. It was a red-haired girl who looked like Princess Merida from Brave, but with looser curls—a bit like Mingzhu’s own French curls. It was so pretty that Mingzhu almost wanted to steal it for her own profile.

Lu Zi’s WeChat name was “Zi.” Mingzhu messaged her to say “hi” and catch up. Mingzhu didn’t say much about her own life—mostly about traveling and filming—and focused on asking about Lu Zi.

Lu Zi said she had been studying Animation all along. She finished an MA (theoretical) last year and was currently doing an MFA (creative), with plans to apply for a DFA (Doctor of Fine Arts) afterward.

Mingzhu, who had quit studying after her degree because writing papers and academic filming made her head ache, felt a sense of admiration. She asked more about Lu Zi’s work. She truly loved filming, so maybe in five or ten years, they might even collaborate.

When she heard the sound of the hairdryer stop, she knew Rong Zhao was almost finished. She quickly sent a closing message: “I’m going to sleep now. Let’s talk when I wake up.”

In a UK university campus, the temperature was a brisk 10 degrees. Lu Zi sat on a bench wearing a simple white Ralph Lauren cable-knit sweater and black trousers. She sent a gentle “good night” to Mingzhu, then, with trembling eyes, clicked into Mingzhu’s Moments.

It had been years. It was the first time she had the courage to peek into Mingzhu’s life. This “peeking” was born from a mix of concern for Mingzhu and jealousy toward Rong Zhao.

She had grown up being the “well-behaved” girl, yet when she realized Rong Zhao liked Mingzhu, she had deliberately acted out of spite, using subtle words to twist Rong Zhao’s good intentions in Mingzhu’s mind. These were things she regretted. Because of that regret, she had fled and hadn’t dared to contact Mingzhu.

Now, they were adults. But if the current her saw Mingzhu caring only about Rong Zhao again, would she be unable to stop herself from doing the same thing?

“Wow! Raya, she is so pretty! Who is she?” Her current girlfriend (she couldn’t remember which number this was) asked, leaning over her shoulder.

“She’s the one I told you about,” Lu Zi said, her eyes smiling.

“Your muse?”

Lu Zi gave a faint smile. “Don’t be jelly.” She stood up, her gentle features showing more confidence and power than her student days. “Leaving?”

When Mingzhu woke up, her back was pressed against Rong Zhao’s chest, and Rong Zhao’s warm palm was resting on her lower abdomen. She turned her head slightly; Rong Zhao was already awake. The moment she turned, Rong Zhao met her eyes.

“How are you feeling?” Rong Zhao asked.

Mingzhu smiled and nodded. “All better.” It was about 80% better, which she rounded up to 100%.

Seeing that Rong Zhao hadn’t gotten up yet, Mingzhu turned around and reached out. Rong Zhao caught her hand. “Mhm?”

Mingzhu lay on top of her with a grin. “Thank you for taking care of me yesterday.”

Rong Zhao didn’t let go of her hand. Mingzhu became even more spirited. “Come on, come on. You have plenty of time for work. Ten minutes. Just ten minutes.”

Rong Zhao slowly released her hand and closed her eyes. Her body shifted toward Mingzhu. Her posture was lazy as she draped an arm over Mingzhu’s shoulder, her fingers lightly twirling her hair. Her voice grew unsteady. “Are you going out today?”

“Mhm. To hand out gifts, find Assistant Jiang, and then have a ‘meeting’ with Jiangjiang in the park. I’ll film, she’ll draw, and we’ll talk about the tourist town.”

Rong Zhao felt a sense of relief. Mingzhu had her energy back; she must be physically comfortable. Listening to the gasps escaping Rong Zhao’s throat, Mingzhu felt immensely pleased. A cold beauty from the top of a snowy mountain, yet her voice was so soft right now.

Mingzhu’s gaze fell on Rong Zhao’s lightly bitten lip—those soft pink lips. She wanted to kiss them. She decided she would find an opportunity to kiss them—the kind of kiss that turns into a little bite.

Before her “realization,” Mingzhu had been somewhat cautious. After it, she had a “broken pot” attitude—she wanted to satisfy every whim.

Mingzhu leaned into Rong Zhao’s ear. “Rongrong, I want to taste your ear.”

Rong Zhao’s eyes snapped open.

Mingzhu whispered against her ear, her breath soft: “For fun, to give you some feeling. I want some feeling too. The tongue has a lot of nerve endings; I want to feel good too. I’ll count to three. If you don’t refuse, I’m biting.”

Rong Zhao was about to refuse.

Mingzhu: “Three, one.”

Having cheated on the count, Mingzhu took Rong Zhao’s left ear into her mouth. The moment she did, her own body felt a jolt of electricity—so this was what Rong Zhao’s ear tasted like.

Rong Zhao’s breathing tightened instantly. She tilted her face back, her knees curling up as she struggled for air. Her whole body flushed hot. Unable to ignore the wet, soft sensation of Mingzhu’s tongue, she gasped and pulled Mingzhu’s shoulder closer, pressing the other woman firmly against herself.