After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Depressed

“I want to see you wear it, is that okay?”

Mingzhu closed her eyes, breathing sharply as if entering some kind of dreamscape. In this illusion, her entire body felt limp and feverish. The ambient temperature seemed to rise steadily; it felt as though she were standing in a fire, oxygen-deprived and gasping for air. She breathed heavily, hearing her own ragged, trembling inhalations.

The culprit was Rong Zhao, whose cheek was pressed against Mingzhu’s pajamas. The fabric was thin, and she could feel the scorching heat of Rong Zhao’s breath against her skin—hotter than any flame. Sweat pricked her forehead. Everything felt damp.

Suddenly, amidst her own heavy breathing, Mingzhu heard Rong Zhao’s voice—teasing and enchanting. It was as if she had been summoned from her fantasy back to reality. Mingzhu looked down at Rong Zhao.

Rong Zhao was sexily biting the button of Mingzhu’s pajama top, looking up at her with messy hair and eyes as seductive as silk, asking if this was the “begging” she wanted. A soft glow seemed to flow in Rong Zhao’s bright eyes, like flickering flames on the water’s surface, making her gaze look red and alluring.

This isn’t right. Mingzhu suddenly regained her reason.

Is Rong Zhao controlling her? She didn’t want to be controlled; she wanted to be the one in control. Only by conquering Rong Zhao did she feel satisfied, the pleasure doubling. Mingzhu grabbed Rong Zhao’s hands and pinned them high.

Rong Zhao: “…?”

Mingzhu arched her back and leaned down, taking Rong Zhao’s ear into her mouth and biting it gently. Rong Zhao lowered her eyes and chuckled—Mingzhu’s competitive streak was back. Fine, let’s go with it. Rong Zhao went limp, letting Mingzhu do whatever she pleased.

Mingzhu grew bolder, her tongue and hands working together. She pulled open Rong Zhao’s collar and finally achieved her goal: a soft moan from Rong Zhao. Mingzhu raised an eyebrow near Rong Zhao’s neck. Having not seen her for a week, she felt she needed to cup her hand a bit wider to hold her.

Now it was Rong Zhao’s turn to close her eyes, her chest heaving in rapid, shallow breaths. The curtains in the study were still open; even if no person could see, the moon could, and the birds could. Rong Zhao tilted her head back, her mouth dry. She licked her lips repeatedly to quench the thirst, but it didn’t help. No amount of intimate contact was as satisfying as a kiss.

But there was no kiss.

The swivel chair rolled back under Mingzhu’s movements. Mingzhu was likely uncomfortable. Rong Zhao hugged Mingzhu’s waist with her right hand while her left adjusted the armrest. With a click, the back of the chair reclined. Mingzhu fell forward, her teeth accidentally clashing against Rong Zhao’s collarbone.

Rong Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. Mingzhu looked up, annoyed, covering her mouth. “What are you laughing at?”

Rong Zhao teased, “Nothing. I’m begging you—begging Miss Mingzhu to bully me a little more.”

Rong Zhao’s face was already scarlet, yet her words were so casual that it was Mingzhu who ended up blushing. It was always like this—Rong Zhao’s aura was too strong. Even when she was on the bottom, she always seemed to be the one controlling the person on top.

Mingzhu huffed and began to misbehave, her hands squeezing. After half a minute, her hand drifted lower, only to be caught by Rong Zhao’s wrist.

Mingzhu: “Mhm?”

Rong Zhao laughed again.

Mingzhu got angry: “What are you doing?”

Rong Zhao suppressed her laughter: “I’m on my period.”

Mingzhu: “??”

Mingzhu sat bolt upright, eyes wide with fury. “Then why were you flirting with me and letting me do that?”

“I wasn’t ‘flirting’ with you,” Rong Zhao reminded her softly. “I was just trying to help you.”

Mingzhu, frustrated and unsatisfied, snapped: “I don’t need your help.”

She was so angry. The mood had been perfect. Rong Zhao raised an eyebrow, stroking Mingzhu’s back to soothe her, but Mingzhu kept glaring.

Eventually, the anger dissipated. Mingzhu leaned down to help tidy Rong Zhao’s clothes, lightly touching her lower abdomen through the fabric. Her voice softened. “Does your stomach hurt? Do you want me to keep it warm for you?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Rong Zhao said, resting her left hand behind her head while her right twirled Mingzhu’s hair. “But stay with me for a while; it feels better.”

The position was a bit awkward, so Rong Zhao adjusted. She moved her right leg, letting Mingzhu sit astride her left leg to keep her abdomen warm. The mood had been broken by biology, but since Rong Zhao was clearly the one who had baited her, Mingzhu magnanimously let it go.

“Why are you still up so late?” Mingzhu asked. Then a second question followed: “It’s the first day of the May Day holiday; why is President Rong still working?” And a third: “Staying up late on your period is the easiest way to get cramps.”

Mingzhu continued: “I was going to give you the tea, but it’s too late now. Go to sleep.”

Then: “Wait, are you early this month? Twenty-five days?”

Mingzhu nagged on, and Rong Zhao couldn’t get a word in. She closed her eyes, listening to the gentle, concerned nagging and feeling the warmth on her stomach as she thought about what she had been busy with. Secretary Qian had told her about the Wu-Xun Bridge and the conversation Mingzhu and Jiangjiang had about the abandoned project. She knew Mingzhu had taken it to heart.

Coincidentally, a certain person was a bridge engineer who had built many bridges in China, and a certain company was deeply involved in bridge projects. It felt like destiny—Mingzhu and them would eventually meet.

Her grandmother had missed one thing. Rong Zhao’s biggest fear wasn’t that Mingzhu would feel like a pawn; it was that Mingzhu would return to Nanyu with her parents and sister and settle there permanently. The Qin family’s steel group couldn’t move to Jiangyue, and the Rongke Group couldn’t move to Nanyu.

“Alright, I feel much better,” Rong Zhao patted Mingzhu’s lower back. “You don’t need to warm it anymore. Get up and show me the tea.”

Mingzhu frowned. “Tomorrow.”

Rong Zhao insisted: “Let me see it before I sleep. I don’t have to work tomorrow.”

Mingzhu gave in. Thinking it wouldn’t take long, she hopped off Rong Zhao’s lap and opened the suitcase. The tea Master Chen gave her was wrapped in clothes—the packaging was actually quite good, but she had been worried about rough airport handling. This was the jasmine tea Rong Zhao liked; it was important.

Rong Zhao watched her unwrap layer after layer, a smile in her eyes. Then, her gaze jumped. She saw what Jiangjiang had mentioned. In a transparent bag lay something pink and white—it was barely “clothing,” looking more like a doll’s outfit, and it wasn’t exactly “wholesome.”

Rong Zhao walked over to the suitcase, looking down at the bag. Mingzhu, focused on the tea, hadn’t noticed she’d pulled it out. Seeing Rong Zhao’s white slippers and slender legs, she looked up. “What?”

Rong Zhao pointed her chin at the bag. Mingzhu turned her head in confusion until her gaze landed on the object. Her heart skipped; she immediately grabbed it, hid it behind her back, and retreated several steps.

“Mhm?” Rong Zhao drawled. She walked toward Mingzhu. “You were away for a week and developed a new hobby for cosplay?”

Mingzhu blushed and stammered, “Wha—what cosplay? This isn’t… I didn’t buy this. Jiangjiang did. I didn’t even know she put it in there.”

Rong Zhao pointed to the desk. “Lay it out.”

Mingzhu stayed put, hands behind her back.

Rong Zhao tapped the desk. “Don’t make me say it twice.”

Mingzhu walked over guiltily and placed the items on the desk.

Rong Zhao leaned against the desk with her arms crossed. “Take it out.”

Mingzhu shot her a secret glare but took the items out, even arranging them—bunny headband on top, tail under the panties. She felt like a student being lectured by a dean, stealing glances at Rong Zhao.

Rong Zhao caught the look and suppressed a smile. “So, you have this kind of taste,” she said flatly.

Mingzhu went stiff. “I really don’t.”

Don’t you? Rong Zhao actually thought it was a bit of a pity. She touched the bunny tail. “Doesn’t look like a bunny tail; looks like a cat tail.”

Mingzhu: “…” She had noticed that too. Bunny tails are short; only cat tails are long. The manufacturer probably did it on purpose—a long tail is more “playable.” Mingzhu didn’t want to discuss the mechanics.

Rong Zhao raised her gaze, her eyes circling the thin fabric. “Good taste. It’s quite pretty.”

“Huh?” Mingzhu was stunned. Rong Zhao thinks it’s pretty? Does that mean… she’s willing to wear it? Her stiff body relaxed instantly.

Rong Zhao picked up the tail, slowly feeling the soft texture between her fingers. “I wonder…” she muttered to herself.

Mingzhu unconsciously leaned forward. “Wonder what?”

Rong Zhao looked up. “Does it hurt if you hit someone with it?”

Mingzhu’s backside tightened. “Probably.”

Rong Zhao let out a small smile. Mingzhu stared, dazed. Rong Zhao was truly beautiful, especially since she rarely smiled; when she did, it was precious.

Rong Zhao looked at the other small box. “What’s that?”

Mingzhu’s heart hammered. When did Jiangjiang put all this in here?! Her gaze darted around. “…A toy.”

“What toy? A blind box figure?”

“…”

Maybe it was too late and her brain wasn’t working. Did Rong Zhao really not know, or was she teasing her? Mingzhu scratched her elbow, choosing a term that was less embarrassing: “Sex toy.”

“Mhm?”

“Vibrator.”

“…”

Rong Zhao raised an eyebrow. “You have quite the vocabulary.”

Under Rong Zhao’s teasing gaze, Mingzhu had to defend herself: “…I saw it on the packaging when Jiangjiang gave it to me.” She countered boldly: “Your vocabulary isn’t small either!”

Rong Zhao’s expression remained calm. “‘Vib’ means vibration; the root is right there, Miss Mingzhu.”

Mingzhu: “…” Tonight is so long.

She looked away, avoiding the desk and Rong Zhao. “I’m hungry. I’m going to eat. You should sleep too.” She turned to leave. Mingzhu’s best skill was running away.

“Stop,” Rong Zhao’s voice dropped.

Mingzhu turned back, pouting. “Rongrong, I’m so hungry.”

Rong Zhao picked up the skimpy top and handed it to Mingzhu. “Wear this to eat. The maids have all gone back to sleep anyway.”

Mingzhu: “??”

Rong Zhao shook the top. “It’s so pretty; only Miss Mingzhu is worthy of it. Wear it for me.”

Mingzhu was dumbfounded. She backed away. “This is for you to wear, not me.”

“Mhm?”

Mingzhu wouldn’t usually have said that, because Rong Zhao was clearly not the type to wear something so provocative. She had a reputation to uphold. But in the heat of the moment, the words just came out.

Now that she’d said it, Mingzhu grew bold. She took the clothes, walked up to Rong Zhao, and hugged her waist. She asked coaxingly, “Rongrong, I want to see you wear it. Is that okay? I’ve loved bunnies since I was little. Even if you don’t remember, when we first met, the gift I gave you was a bunny plushie—it was over a meter tall, almost as big as I was.”

Jiangjiang had said that if Rong Zhao were willing to wear it, it meant she liked her. If not, Mingzhu would just slink away; it wasn’t like Rong Zhao would hit her. Mingzhu felt there was some logic to that. She begged softly, “Rongrong, I want to see you wear it. Just once, please?”

Rong Zhao saw the sincerity in Mingzhu’s eyes. She really wanted to see it. How did Jiangjiang happen to pick a bunny suit of all things? Though, knowing Mingzhu, if it were any other animal, she’d probably want to see that too.

Mingzhu had a desire to conquer her.

Rong Zhao reminded her calmly: “Mingzhu, I’m on my period today.”

Mingzhu: “…” So, a rejection after all.

She completely missed the word “today” and only heard the “no.” She nodded quietly and began packing the items back. As she packed, she couldn’t help but blame Jiangjiang. What a terrible idea, making things so awkward. She felt a stifled, heavy feeling in her chest, like an impending blizzard. She tried to act normal, hiding her disappointment.

Then, as she was about to throw the bag back into the suitcase, she saw the tea. She handed the box to Rong Zhao. “I almost forgot… for you. You provided the people and the money for my trip. Even if you hadn’t ‘begged,’ I would have given it to you.”

Rong Zhao smiled, placing the tea on the desk and tapping it. “Thank you, Mingzhu. I appreciate it.”

Mingzhu felt bashful at the thanks.

Rong Zhao’s voice softened. “You must be hungry. Leave the suitcase here and go eat. From tomorrow, start taking your medicine.”

Mingzhu nodded. As she turned, she stole a look at the lingerie, wanting to take it with her, but then she saw Rong Zhao’s phone light up on the desk. The screen flashed quickly, but Mingzhu saw the name: Qin Wei.

Mingzhu pursed her lips, decided to stop caring about everything, and went downstairs for her late-night snack.

After Mingzhu left, Rong Zhao stood up. She took the bunny suit and the toy, brought them into the master bathroom, and began to hand-wash and disinfect them.