Cross the Boundary GL - Chapter 18

Just as the pale, thin lips were about to count to two, Li Chu panicked. “No, no, no! Wait, wait, wait… hold on!”

Qin Song eased the pressure on her fingers but didn’t let go, maintaining her posture. Li Chu had a fleeting thought that Qin Song was about to shoot herself in the head, probably because of how wild she was.

“I… I’m not ready yet, wait a minute,” Li Chu said, her palms sweating again. She was afraid Qin Song would notice.

Qin Song just let out a light scoff. “What do you need to get ready for?” It wasn’t her who would be feeling the pain.

Li Chu’s face turned red as she mumbled, “Just a little longer.”

The cold piercing gun had been warmed by Li Chu’s hands, yet she still hesitated. Her breath continuously fanned Qin Song’s cheek like a feather, a light tickle. Qin Song’s heart raced from the on-and-off sensation. Impatiently, she used her other hand to grab Li Chu’s neck and pull her closer, as if holding her in her arms.

Unlike other piercings that only went through skin, this one was in the concha, which was directly over the bone. Li Chu’s thumb and index finger went numb when she finally pressed the trigger.

She nervously asked, “Did… did I miss?!”

Qin Song’s expression was complex, with unfamiliar emotions flickering in her eyes. She reached out and pulled at her collar. The neatly arranged collar was pulled open, revealing the teeth marks, piercings, and bruises on her collarbone.

Li Chu stared blankly at the ring on Qin Song’s hand as she unbuttoned her shirt. Soon, a brown bra strap appeared. For a moment, Li Chu felt that while Qin Song was greedily seeking pain, something else was growing wildly within her. Why else would she shed her image of restraint and let the rise and fall of her collarbone be filled with lust?

From this angle, Li Chu could clearly see the many teeth marks she had bitten into Qin Song’s neck, a sight that was both strange and enchanting. It made Li Chu recall the night they stood by the wrecked car, and Qin Song bit her. The feeling of teeth sinking into flesh and bone was vivid, a feeling Li Chu didn’t like. Only Qin Song would enjoy such a morbid need.

As she zoned out, the warm tongue piercing rested against her lips, its touch arousing her nerves. Li Chu thought, even the most aloof person has warm, soft, and moist lips. They were like melting snow at the end of winter, turning into dewdrops on the first buds of spring.

Qin Song’s face was very close. Her eyelashes were long and thick, and the curve of her nose was surprisingly exquisite. Li Chu stole glances at her for a long time.

That is, until Qin Song opened her eyes, her gaze filled with lust as dark as spilled ink. She looked at Li Chu and said in a low voice, “Focus.”

Li Chu covered her eyes with her hand and hummed in acknowledgment. But then she wondered, was Qin Song focused when they kissed?

The warmth on her lips returned, and she heard Qin Song’s ring clinking against the edge of a box. She was likely changing some parts. Sure enough, Li Chu’s hand was pulled toward the piercing gun. She was shocked and immediately lowered her hand. “Another one?”

“Yes,” Qin Song said nonchalantly as she picked up an earring and loaded it into the gun. “I can’t just have one.”

The strong wind outside rattled the wind chimes, mirroring Li Chu’s current emotions: hesitant, indecisive, and unsure of where to start.

Seeing her frozen, Qin Song simply raised her own hand. Li Chu’s heart pounded at the sight.

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it…” Li Chu took the tool. Only Qin Song would dare to do something so reckless as to blindly pierce her own ear. Li Chu even suspected that for the sake of pain, Qin Song would commit suicide by jumping off a building or lying on the train tracks. Li Chu nervously wondered how she would stop Qin Song if she ever tried to kill herself. But Qin Song only liked the thrill of pain. She had no concept of death and wouldn’t actively seek it out.

After both ears were done, Li Chu immediately put the tools away, afraid that Qin Song would ask for another one. Her heart couldn’t handle piercing someone’s bone three times in one day. It felt like she was committing murder.

Since the piercing was in a sensitive area, it was bound to bleed a little. Li Chu was afraid Qin Song wouldn’t clean it properly, so she took a cotton swab and some alcohol to do it for her.

As she leaned in, Qin Song’s open collar revealed her lean, pale collarbone. The tattoos on it seemed to come alive with her breathing. Li Chu felt dizzy. The atmosphere was so thick, and the light from the ceiling lamp felt like it was baking her, making her lose all sanity.

It made her want to do something; she felt an urge. Especially when she recalled what Lin Zhiyan had said to her when she mocked her. You like what you like, and you don’t like what you don’t. Your body will follow your thoughts, so there’s no need to deny it first.

Li Chu really wanted to kiss Qin Song, but without the element of pain, she was afraid her actions would be met with disgust. She knew what Qin Song liked and what would trigger a different kind of feeling in her. So, she took it upon herself to retrieve something from under the table.

Qin Song’s gaze fixed on her, becoming deeper and more intense than the usual emptiness. Li Chu nervously moved closer and wrapped the object around Qin Song’s hand.

Although it was Qin Song who was being restrained, Li Chu’s eyes reddened first. Her fingers trembled as she wrapped it around one more time, tightening her grip.

Qin Song was so pale that her wrist turned red in no time. She didn’t mind, hanging her hands down as she looked at Li Chu with a playful smile. “What next?”

Even with her hands bound, she was still sharp and intimidating, like a vine wrapped around a fence, not struggling, but slowly winding itself around it.

Li Chu mustered up her courage and tugged on the chain. Qin Song’s body was pulled along with it. She looked up, her breath hot and humid. “You’re not strong enough.”

With that, she moved her clasped wrists and broke free. Li Chu stared, dumbfounded, her hand holding the chain suspended in mid-air.

Qin Song took the rest of the chain from her hand, looked at her with a knowing smile, and slightly lifted the corner of her lips. “What are you going to do?”

Li Chu thought Qin Song was livelier and more vibrant now than her usual cold self. She realized that desire was definitely at play.

Qin Song stared at her for a moment, then suddenly tilted her head back. “Unbutton my shirt.”

Li Chu did as she was told. Qin Song’s collar was already pulled open, so she instinctively pulled it toward the middle to gather it. Qin Song wrapped the metal chain around her own neck and handed the other end to Li Chu. “Try.”

Li Chu was afraid to make a move. The sense of control seemed to be in her hands, yet she was also being dominated. It was a… strange feeling.

Qin Song hooked her finger in the opposite direction, and Li Chu was pulled a little closer, almost touching her. Her hands trembled, barely able to hold on.

Li Chu straightened her back. When she moved, the object in her hand tightened, and Qin Song was pulled forward unexpectedly. With a white wall behind her, Qin Song fell backward, and Li Chu’s back hit the wall. It was cold, making her shiver.

Their breathing was instantly disrupted, getting mixed together. Although it was Qin Song who was being enclosed, she still seemed oddly fierce. She held Li Chu’s hand and tightened the chain, pulling herself forward.

In this way, it looked as if Li Chu was leading her, but in reality, she was the one moving forward on her own. The distance was ridiculously close. Qin Song half-knelt on the chair, her head slightly lowered.

She wanted to see what Li Chu would do now. She guessed it would be kissing. It could only be kissing.

Li Chu’s eyelashes fluttered as she leaned in. The chain in her hand gave her courage, and she even pulled Qin Song down a little. Qin Song had to use one hand to support herself against the wall next to Li Chu’s ear, brushing aside her hair. Li Chu felt the coldness of the ring and the warmth of her fingertips.

For a moment, she felt like she would drown in the melting frost. But it was only for a moment.

Qin Song’s long holiday was over. On her first day back at work, she was waiting for a ride at an intersection. Coincidentally, Lin Zhiyan arrived. Li Chu was at the station to pick her up.

They hadn’t seen each other for a while after that night, maybe ten days or so. Li Chu’s face, hidden by her dark hair, was flushed with a rosy color. She was still thinking about that overly intense kiss.

She also didn’t know how she found a chain that was the perfect length and width for… restraint.

She secretly glanced at the pink-haired woman on the side of the road. Qin Song was wearing a work suit, her collar was neatly ironed without a single wrinkle, and her legs were wrapped in black stockings under a narrow skirt. She looked very professional.

Li Chu deliberately looked at the back of Qin Song’s neck, hidden by her shirt. The bruises must have faded… right?

This formal outfit didn’t match Qin Song’s pink hair and wild personality. Qin Song’s other side was only revealed within the walls of Kiss.Me. It was as if, unknowingly, Li Chu had become the keeper of her secrets. She felt a little excited.

When Lin Zhiyan arrived, Qin Song still hadn’t gotten a ride. A taxi stopped right in front of her. Lin Zhiyan was a little stunned after getting out of the car.

“You’re not here to pick me up, are you?”

Qin Song gave her an empty, lifeless stare, opened the car door, and got in. Lin Zhiyan felt like an idiot and dismissed the idea. “You’re waiting for a ride? What a coincidence…”

The car’s exhaust blew in her face, cold and indifferent, just like the person in the car. Lin Zhiyan looked at Li Chu with a complicated expression. “Li Xiao Chu, how do you get along with her? Do you guys even talk?”

Li Chu took Lin Zhiyan’s suitcase and explained with less confidence, “We don’t necessarily have to talk. I just give her tattoos.”

Lin Zhiyan thought about it and decided that made sense. After all, they had a business relationship.

In another part of the city, at Yangxin’s office building, Qin Song had just finished a meeting. The high-rise office was getting a lot of sun, so she turned on the air conditioner. While waiting for the room to cool down, she went to the pantry to make an iced coffee.

This caused all her colleagues to stay out of the pantry, waiting anxiously at the door for her to come out. But the lipstick on Qin Song’s mug was reapplied again and again, and she had no intention of leaving. The colleagues who had been in meetings all morning were dying of thirst. They pushed and shoved until they finally got a member of the planning department to go in.

This team member was named Ye Qiying. She had been a graphic designer in the planning department for three years and was usually quite talkative. But now, under Qin Song’s pressure, she was intimidated and stammered, “Hello, Mr. Qin.”

Qin Song looked down, focusing on her coffee. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail and rested on her shoulder. Ye Qiying carefully peered at her beautiful jawline, her hand trembling as she picked up a mug and slowly approached the coffee machine.

It just so happened that Qin Song was standing right next to the coffee machine. After a long struggle, she plucked up the courage to say, “Mr. Qin, could you please move aside? I… I’m afraid I’ll spill coffee on you.”

The colleagues at the door held their breath. Qin Song held her cup and stared at the coffee machine for a moment, then actually moved to the side.

“Tha… thank you.” Ye Qiying took a step forward, her hand trembling uncontrollably as she made her coffee.

Qin Song frowned at the side. It wasn’t because she was asked to move, but because if she spilled coffee all over the floor, the pantry would be dirty, which would ruin her mood. She tilted her chin and reminded her coldly, “Remember to clean the floor.”

Ye Qiying was startled and quickly turned off the machine. “I… I know. Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Qin. I’ll be careful.”

Seeing Qin Song about to leave, the colleagues at the door scattered. Qin Song had just taken half a step out the door when she turned back. “You’re in the planning team?”

Ye Qiying’s hair stood on end. “Yes, I’m a graphic designer.”

“Who is in charge of the website in the planning department?” Qin Song put down her mug. The smudged lipstick made her look like a withered rose.

Ye Qiying looked up to think for a moment. “It’s Planning Team Three, the web marketing team. Do you have any instructions, Mr. Qin?”

Qin Song was silent for a while, then took her mug and walked out. “Tell Team Three to transfer the official website account to me.”

She said it so lightly that it took a while for Ye Qiying to process it before she quickly sent an internal message to her manager.

No one dared to object or delay Qin Song’s orders. Before she even reached her office, the account transfer was already completed.

It was a weekday, so Kiss.Me probably didn’t have much business during the day. Qin Song logged into the official website account and changed the password. Now, no one in the company could log in except for her.

Near lunchtime, a message notification popped up. Li Chu was finally saying hello. She was actually clearing her computer’s Browse history when she saw Yangxin’s official website and couldn’t help but click in. She noticed that the customer service avatar had a little green dot.

“Hello, Miss Customer Service, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Before Qin Song could reply, another message came in. “Did she go to work? Did you see her today?”

It was obvious who she was referring to.

“Yes, I did,” Qin Song replied.

“I saw her this morning, too. But she’s so strange. She has two cars, so why did she take a taxi to work?”

This could be a source of confusion for Li Chu. She must be so curious. Qin Song typed out “don’t want to drive,” deleted it, and retyped, “Maybe because she didn’t want to drive.”

The other side replied quickly, which meant they probably didn’t have much business. “I’ll tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. When she was on holiday and we went out, she always drove.”

Then two more messages popped up.

“But I don’t think she’s a very good driver. The first time she drove me, she got into a car accident. It was so scary.”

“You probably don’t see her much at the company, do you? Can you keep these things a secret? I don’t want her to get angry at me.”

Qin Song was about to type, but she took off her ring first. It would be more convenient. “Is she that fierce?”

“She really is! Has she never been fierce with you?” On this topic, Li Chu seemed to have a lot to say. “Maybe you guys haven’t had much contact. She’s my… friend.”

To be more precise, a “partner.” Li Chu always thought their relationship should go one level higher than that, at least to be friends. Because beneath the cold agreement lay warm kisses and the body heat from a chain that had been wrapped around her neck for a long time.

“She must have a lot of authority at the company, right? I heard she’s a graduate student. That’s so cool. I never went to school.”

“I wish I could have gone to school, but I’m too old now. Which university did Qin Song go to? Can you tell me? I promise I won’t tell anyone!” After sending that message, she also sent a system-generated rabbit emoji that looked like it was pleading.

Qin Song hated nosy questions and probing. But when it was done through this persona, everything became much more interesting. She deliberately waited for an hour before replying, “Nanda.”

Li Chu was indeed waiting eagerly at her computer. She replied instantly, “Wow, she’s that good? Did she do her master’s at Nanda?”

“She went straight from undergrad.”

“I can’t believe it…”

Qin Song’s fingers paused mid-air. Can’t believe what? That she got into Nanda, or that she would actually study seriously? From behind the official account, Qin Song’s questions became as open as Li Chu’s. “Can’t believe what?” To avoid giving herself away, she changed the period to a question mark.

“I can’t believe she’s that amazing. What I mean is, in terms of studying, she doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would be serious.”

“Appearances can be deceiving.”

“Haha.” Li Chu seemed to have thought of something. “That’s true.”

Qin Song guessed she must have been thinking about a certain aspect that involved desire.

“Miss, what do you think? Do you think someone like her would be liked by anyone?” Li Chu’s tone suddenly shifted.

The moment she saw the message, Qin Song’s breath hitched. She let out a short, self-deprecating laugh and quickly typed two words: “No.”

Thinking back on all those years, if anyone had ever loved her, she wouldn’t have gotten sick, and she wouldn’t have been struggling in the scars of her memories. She couldn’t even remember when she got sick.

Her memory was like a dull knife, carving into her brain in a subtle yet profound way, tormenting her and causing her to go crazy again and again. In the end, she became pathologically self-destructive. So she was certain that no one would love a person like her. She had also given up on that desire over the years. With her sickness and her scars, she lived her life alone, resolutely and with indifference.

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