After the Black Moonlight’s "Death Escape" Failed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 52.1

Chapter 52.1: Day One of Living Together

◎ How did she know the size of every part of her body? ◎

Wen Fengyue’s action left Jiao Qingyin stunned.

Wen Fengyue’s current behavior stemmed from a subconscious trust in Jiao Qingyin. This familiar gesture was more like a habit etched into her soul; even losing her memories had failed to change this one point.

With her eyes half-closed and her eyelashes trembling slightly, she was clearly exhausted to the point of collapse, yet she still wanted to come over and speak with Jiao Qingyin.

The weight pressing on Jiao’s hand was somewhat heavy, tugging at the longings she had been intentionally suppressing.

In the past, whenever Al approached like this, it was to beg for head pats. Although Wen Fengyue likely didn’t have that specific intention, it still made Jiao Qingyin’s heart itch with a certain restlessness.

Seeing that the other woman was still in a daze and not fully conscious, Jiao Qingyin stopped restraining herself. Following her inner impulse, she gave Wen Fengyue’s chin a gentle squeeze.

There wasn’t much meat on Wen Fengyue’s jawline, but it was still soft. Jiao Qingyin found the texture addictive and couldn’t help but squeeze it a couple more times.

This caused Wen Fengyue—who had never been touched like this before—to finally snap out of the unfamiliar sensation and slowly widen her eyes.

Oops, she’s awake.

Jiao Qingyin regretfully withdrew her hand. She turned to spit out the mouthwash and watched Wen Fengyue’s delayed reaction through the mirror.

“I…!”

Wen Fengyue’s eyes, which usually appeared icy and cold, were now perfectly round. Her expression of disbelief was exactly like a small animal whose tail had been stepped on.

Seeing the sudden crimson flush spreading across Wen Fengyue’s face, Jiao Qingyin let out a light cough.

However, her cough seemed to cause a misunderstanding; the other woman’s face turned even redder, with a faint pink tint creeping up to her ears and neck.

She opened her mouth. “I didn’t… I…”

Despite wanting to defend her actions, Wen Fengyue’s lips parted and closed several times, but she couldn’t utter a single complete sentence.

—How was she supposed to explain it?

Should she say it was an accident, or that she wasn’t fully awake?

But no matter how conscious-free she was, she shouldn’t have done something like that!

Wen Fengyue had only ever seen similar gestures from pets interacting with their owners. When she realized she had actually known Jiao Qingyin for less than a day, her mental state began to crumble.

Taking in Wen Fengyue’s “end-of-the-world” expression, Jiao Qingyin chuckled inwardly. On the surface, she put on a concerned and considerate look, asking: “Are you just too tired?”

Wen Fengyue snapped back to reality and could only take the face-saving excuse Jiao Qingyin offered, answering with gritted teeth: “…Yes.”

“It’s my fault for waking you up,” Jiao Qingyin said as she put away her toothbrush and cup. She turned and smiled at Wen Fengyue. “Let me take you to the guest room to rest. Sleeping on the sofa isn’t comfortable.”

As Jiao Qingyin stepped two paces closer, Wen Fengyue instinctively wanted to dodge, but the other woman’s hand passed right by her shoulder to grab the towel hanging beside her.

Wen Fengyue became even more rigid than before.

It wasn’t until Jiao Qingyin had leisurely finished drying her hands and began removing her makeup in the mirror that Wen Fengyue finally found her voice.

“…No need, I can just go home.”

Although Wen Fengyue was grateful to Jiao Qingyin for helping her out of a jam and saving her from the drinking party, staying over at her house… was not appropriate given their current relationship.

Jiao Qingyin didn’t insist, however. She simply said, “Then at least remove your makeup and wash your face before you leave, otherwise you’ll be very uncomfortable.”

After saying that, she pointed to a room opposite. “You can use the bathroom in the guest room as you please.”

This time, Wen Fengyue didn’t refuse. On one hand, she really did want to clean herself up; on the other hand… her subconscious wanted to stay in Jiao Qingyin’s home for just a while longer.

Compared to her own home, which felt like a sterile model house, this living room had robots gliding back and forth, everything from the sofa to the slippers was fluffy, and the fridge was stuffed with all kinds of natural ingredients. Most importantly… before walking out the door, Wen Fengyue stole a glance at Jiao Qingyin’s silhouette from the side.

The other was seriously wiping her lips. The makeup remover had taken away the surface lipstick, revealing the naturally pinkish undertone of her lips.

…Most importantly, Jiao Qingyin was here.

She was like a celestial body that was constantly emitting light, drawing Wen Fengyue to observe her, to approach her, and to be—uncontrollably—warmed by her.

When Wen Fengyue finished tidying herself up and walked out of the bathroom with her long hair just dried by the intelligent wind, Jiao Qingyin was nowhere to be seen, but a strange fragrance filled the air.

It was very rich, somewhat like fish-flavored nutrient solution, but far more fresh and savory.

Wen Fengyue had never smelled anything like it before. Her appetite was almost instantly piqued. She subconsciously touched her stomach and followed the direction of the scent.

Jiao Qingyin had prepared a set of replacement clothes for her, but Wen Fengyue felt it would be strange to change at someone else’s house, so she was still wearing her previous evening gown.

Through the transparent glass door, she saw Jiao Qingyin. The other woman had her hair tied in a ponytail and was wearing an apron, busy in front of an intelligent stove.

White steam rose from the pot in front of her; that was the source of the fragrance.

Because natural ingredients were so expensive, Planet Blue residents basically lived on nutrient solutions for their three daily meals. Families with kitchens in their homes were few and far between. In most cases, even if someone had cooking equipment, they only used it for instant meals.

This was the first time Wen Fengyue had seen someone cook in real life. She involuntarily stepped forward and knocked on the glass door.

Jiao Qingyin turned her head and flashed her a smile. “…”

Through the door, the sound of the intelligent stove in the kitchen was a bit loud. Wen Fengyue didn’t hear clearly what the other said, but looking at her lip movements, it was likely “Wait a moment.”

Wait for what…?

Wen Fengyue had originally intended to say her goodbyes immediately. Now, hearing Jiao Qingyin ask her to stay, she felt a bit hesitant.

Maybe just for a bit… After all, the host was busy in the kitchen. Leaving directly as a guest would be quite impolite.

After finding a reason for herself, Wen Fengyue felt inexplicably more at ease.

However, just standing there waiting didn’t feel right either. After a moment of hesitation, Wen Fengyue pushed open the door and entered the kitchen.

“…Do you need me to help?”

Jiao Qingyin, who was simmering porridge, tilted her head. Her gaze met Wen Fengyue’s; the latter awkwardly shifted her eyes away. Jiao shook her head. “It’s almost ready to come out of the pot, there’s not much to help with.”

Although intelligent stoves weren’t common, their cooking functions were very advanced. Dishes that would take over ten hours to stew in other worlds only took a few dozen minutes here to achieve the same result. Jiao Qingyin was very satisfied with this.

She picked up a handful of cleaned green onions, chopped them into even lengths with a few swift strokes, and tossed them into the bubbling porridge. She checked the time and said, “Let it simmer for one more minute, then we can eat.”

Seeing her precise knife work, Wen Fengyue couldn’t help but ask: “Did you specifically study cooking?”

As the daughter of a shareholder in Star-Forged Entertainment—the largest entertainment company on Planet Blue—shouldn’t she have people to do everything for her? How did she know how to do all this personally?

“I only know a little, a lot of it has to be learned on the fly.”

The rich aroma swirled around her nose. This was a scent Wen Fengyue had never encountered even at the most luxurious banquets. To be able to produce food of this level, Jiao Qingyin’s “only knowing a little” was clearly a display of modesty.

But Jiao Qingyin was telling the truth. The method for this pot of seafood porridge came from an Earth recipe she had the system search for in real-time. Even the most basic identification and processing of ingredients were things she had learned on the spot.

The intelligent sink here could automatically clean all kinds of ingredients, but it didn’t know that clams needed to spit out sand first or that shrimp needed to be deveined. No wonder people on the Star-Net said that food cooked with natural ingredients couldn’t even compare to nutrient solutions.

It was simply that this world had lost its connection to history during its development; almost no heritage of fine cuisine had been left behind.

“It’s about ready. Go grab two bowls, let’s eat.”

“…There’s some for me too?”

Jiao Qingyin gave Wen Fengyue a puzzled look. “Are you just going to watch me eat?”

Wen Fengyue fell silent. That was exactly what she had thought.

Natural ingredients were expensive, and Jiao Qingyin had put so much effort into the cooking. If she were the other’s friend or family, she could of course share a meal without any burden, but…

“Hurry up,” Jiao Qingyin said, nudging Wen Fengyue with her elbow while holding a long ladle. “Otherwise it’ll overcook.”

Her tone was soft, and her attitude when giving Wen Fengyue orders was so natural—as if the same thing had happened thousands of times before—that the latter instinctively did as she was told.

By the time Wen Fengyue snapped out of it, two bowls of fragrant seafood porridge, loaded with ingredients, were already placed before her.

Green onions dotted the mostly white porridge, and various types of seafood were half-exposed on the surface and half-buried beneath, neatly arranged with colors that complemented each other.

“I’ll find some chopsticks and spoons. You take the bowls to the dining table first. Be careful, they’re hot.”

Wen Fengyue nodded without a word.

Two minutes later, the two sat facing each other at the dining table. Between them was the steaming seafood porridge and a cold side dish Jiao Qingyin had prepared at the last minute.

“Seafood porridge is good for the stomach. You can eat a bit more. There’s more in the pot if it’s not enough.”

Wen Fengyue had chronic stomach problems and had been feeling unwell all over because of her hangover. She didn’t think Jiao Qingyin had noticed this; she just assumed it was a coincidence, so she simply nodded: “Okay, thank you.”

The symptoms accumulated over years made Wen Fengyue’s stomach throb with pain whenever she was hungry. Nutrient solutions could replenish her energy but could not alleviate these symptoms.

But now, as a spoonful of warm porridge went down, aside from her taste buds being immensely satisfied, she also felt a sense of comfort and relief.

“How is it?” Jiao Qingyin asked with a smile, waiting for Wen Fengyue’s review.

“…Delicious.”

It was more than just delicious; it was actually incredible. Wen Fengyue had never eaten food that suited her tastes so perfectly. If she hadn’t been concerned about her image, she would have wanted to finish the entire bowl in one go without ever looking up.

“I’m glad you like it,” Jiao Qingyin said, her legs swinging under the table and her eyes curving into crescents. “I’ll make you other things in the future.”

Looking at her casual attitude, Wen Fengyue suddenly wanted to ask: Was there someone else who used to eat your cooking like this, which is why all your movements and reactions are so practiced?

But seeing Jiao Qingyin start eating as well, she buried that thought deep down.

Wen Fengyue ate her fill of this early-morning meal. Unlike nutrient solutions, the seafood porridge brought her an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. If she had eaten such a meal at a restaurant outside, she would have visited every day. But the person at the helm was Jiao Qingyin…

Even if the other was willing to cook for her, she found it hard to convince herself to accept this kindness. She was always worried that behind the kindness lay a hidden blade, and…

Wen Fengyue ultimately couldn’t hold back and asked the question she had thought of earlier: “Did you used to cook for others often?”

What she really wanted to ask was whether Jiao Qingyin had lived with someone before, because certain behaviors from the other always gave her a faint glimpse of someone else’s living habits.

That person must have had a great influence on Jiao Qingyin, perhaps even changing a part of her personality and leaving a deep impression on her…

Wen Fengyue couldn’t describe what she was feeling, but her stomach, which had just been filled by the seafood porridge, now felt a strange surge of sourness.

Jiao Qingyin clearly blanked for a moment at her question, but she gave a negative answer: “No. You are the first person in this world to eat my cooking.”

“…Oh.” Wen Fengyue lowered her head. Her eyes didn’t change much, but the corners of her mouth flickered upward for a brief second.

Seeing that she hadn’t noticed any flaws, Jiao Qingyin couldn’t help but inwardly sigh with a guilty conscience at how sharp the other woman still was.

In this world, Wen Fengyue was indeed the only one to taste her skills. But her former comrades, the people at the base, and Al from the previous world… who knows how many times they had eaten it.

Especially Al—every time he ate her cooking, those wolf ears on his head would pop out with a snap, and he would wag his tail while eating. He was incredibly cute.

Thinking of this, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on Jiao Qingyin’s face.

Just as she was feeling a tiny bit subtly happy, Wen Fengyue caught this expression on Jiao Qingyin’s face. She instantly froze again.

That nostalgic look… there was definitely something wrong!

Wen Fengyue had acted in countless dramas and was extremely good at analyzing characters’ emotions. The emotion expressed in Jiao Qingyin’s eyes right now was far too intense for her to ignore.

Who was she reminiscing about? A friend? Family? Or… a lover…?

Wen Fengyue knew in her heart that for Jiao Qingyin to show such an expression, the last possibility was the most likely.

But the nostalgia also held a bit of sadness… had that person broken up with her, or were they already dead?

A surge of malice rose in Wen Fengyue’s heart as she engaged in spiteful speculation: It’s better if they broke up. After all, if they died, they might become Jiao Qingyin’s “white moonlight” (unforgettable first love), while the living are easier to hate or forget—

Realizing what she was thinking, Wen Fengyue’s heart skipped a beat in shock.

How could she—how could she have such thoughts!

Regardless of what Jiao Qingyin’s actual personality was or if she harbored ill intentions, at least so far, the other had been good to her in every way—so good that she didn’t even know how to repay her.

Facing a Jiao Qingyin like this, she had actually produced such a vile thought!

Wen Fengyue had never imagined that she had such a loathsome side to her. Already feeling that she owed Jiao Qingyin much, her heart was now filled with even more guilt.

But Jiao Qingyin’s voice interrupted her self-loathing. “Teacher Wen, it’s already the early hours of the morning. Do you have any schedule for today?”

Her focused gaze fell on Wen Fengyue, bringing the latter back to her senses. She replied: “Two print advertisements, one roadshow, and a guest spot on a late-night radio station. It starts at six in the morning and ends at one tomorrow.”

Jiao Qingyin frowned. Wen Fengyue’s schedule was too packed. In the original story, her health was dragged down by never-ending work. Worst of all, according to her contract, 95% of her personal income had to be handed over to her adoptive parents. This resulted in her being a Best Actress who couldn’t even afford medical fees on Planet Blue, causing her illness to grow more and more severe.

Thus, Jiao Qingyin asked: “Did the company take these for you, or did you want to take them yourself?”

“…” Wen Fengyue slowly raised her eyes to meet Jiao Qingyin’s.

She could understand the hidden meaning behind Jiao Qingyin’s words. She wanted to help her again.

But why?

As long as she didn’t know the reason, she could not calmly accept Jiao Qingyin’s kindness.

She had asked Jiao Qingyin yesterday, only to be brushed off with a joke. Wen Fengyue had a feeling that even if she asked again, she wouldn’t get an answer.

But she still had to ask.

“Are you this good to everyone you’ve just met?”

While speaking, Wen Fengyue cast her entire gaze on the small robot cleaning the dining table, as if as long as she didn’t look at Jiao Qingyin, she wouldn’t expose the turbulence in her heart.

“Jiao Qingyin, what is it you want me to do? Why don’t you just tell me directly.”

Her voice was set very cold. Jiao Qingyin rested her chin on her hands atop the table, recording every tiny change in her expression.

The curve of Jiao Qingyin’s mouth widened slightly. As Wen Fengyue’s hands clenched tighter and tighter, she spoke: “I want… Teacher Wen to teach me how to act. Is that okay?”

“Teach you how to act…?”

Hearing an answer she had never expected, Wen Fengyue was stunned. Then she saw Jiao Qingyin stand up and walk over to her.

“Mm-hm,” Jiao Qingyin lowered her head, looking at Wen Fengyue sitting in the chair. There was a faint glimmer in her eyes. “My acting is very bad. I’m always told my face is stiff, my lines are poor, and my movements are exaggerated… Teacher Wen, only you can help me.”

“Teacher Wen, help me, okay…?”

Wen Fengyue’s body was extremely stiff. She wasn’t used to being looked down upon like this. Moreover, Jiao Qingyin’s voice—whether intentionally softened or not—made her nerves pull taut.

She could feel the warmth of Jiao Qingyin’s breath as she spoke brushing against the top of her head. It was a clearly insignificant movement, yet she felt that bit of warmth was like a hand, reaching into her clothes from the back of her neck and stroking all the way down to her tailbone.

Wary instinct made Wen Fengyue stand up quickly. Her movement was too sudden, and she accidentally knocked over the chair.

With a thud, the sound of the chair hitting the floor broke the strange and romantic atmosphere from a moment ago.

Wen Fengyue panted slightly and took a step back, widening the distance between herself and Jiao Qingyin.

Jiao Qingyin, however, didn’t move at all. She stood in place, her eyes looking at Wen Fengyue with a bit of a hurt expression.

“I’m sorry, Teacher Wen. I’ve asked too much of you…” Jiao Qingyin lowered her head and pinched the corner of her clothes, looking completely dejected.

While Wen Fengyue was washing her hair, Jiao had changed into a set of loungewear. The beige cotton fabric softened her sharp beauty considerably. At this moment, she looked even more like a poor little thing who had been bullied.

Wen Fengyue felt suffocated. Ever since she met Jiao Qingyin, she often had a feeling of losing control—many things seemed to have veered off their original tracks, and the one who had veered off the most was herself.

In front of Jiao Qingyin, she didn’t know why, but she was always unable to control her emotions and behavior.

Watching Jiao Qingyin look as if she were about to burst into tears, Wen Fengyue heard herself say: “I’ll teach you.”

As soon as those three words left her mouth, Jiao Qingyin’s eyes instantly brightened. Seeing her expression, it was as if a giant boulder had landed; the pressure weighing on Wen Fengyue vanished instantly, and she could breathe normally again.

“Really!”

“Really,” Wen Fengyue responded.