Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 62

Lan Qing chased into the garden and saw Jing Xuan standing by the small pond, her head bowed as she stared into the water. Her figure, framed by the surrounding scenery, looked even lonelier and more desolate.

“Xuan!”

Jing Xuan didn’t turn around. Lan Qing walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around her from behind.

“Xuan, you still have me!”

Lan Qing’s interlocked hands were gently covered by another pair of warm hands.

“Qing, thank you… for staying by my side. I thought… I thought she was with me because… she loved me!”

“Xuan, please don’t be like this! It breaks my heart!”

“Qing… why does it have to be this way? Now that my identity is exposed, being with me is dangerous. People will criticize you. I can’t give you the kind of happiness most people expect… Aren’t you afraid of any of that?”

“I’m not afraid! I told you when I came to City C to find you—I love you because you’re Jing Xuan, not because you’re a woman, and certainly not because you’re something others would call a ‘monster.’ Don’t you understand my heart by now?”

Jing Xuan turned around and held Lan Qing tightly, her voice filled with emotion.

“Qing, thank you! Thank you for loving me! Now that Fei’er has found her happiness, I no longer dare to hope for anything more. From now on, let’s love each other well…”

“Mmm…”

The thought that Jing Xuan now belonged to her alone filled Lan Qing with joy. But the memory of Fei’er’s heartbreak, so deep it had almost shattered her, brought a flicker of guilt.

“What’s wrong with me? Isn’t it better that it’s just the two of us? Shouldn’t Xuan belong to me and me alone?”

Lan Qing struggled fiercely with her thoughts but eventually relented.

“Xuan, I know you truly loved Fei’er. There’s still a chance for you two to make things right. Fei’er… and Junye are only together because—”

The truth was, Qiao Fei had originally planned to go home for winter break. But on the way to the airport, her taxi broke down, and she missed her flight. Frustrated, she dragged her suitcase, hoping to catch a ride back to the city. Coincidentally, Yan Junye happened to be driving by. Though Qiao Fei and Junye weren’t close, Junye had remembered her clearly from Lan Qing’s farewell party—such a beautiful girl.

When she heard there was news about Jing Xuan, Qiao Fei had become overwhelmed with emotion and didn’t know what to do. Junye offered to take her to Japan to find Jing Xuan—if Qiao Fei agreed.

Junye’s offer wasn’t entirely selfless. She didn’t want this girl to disappear from her world so quickly.

After a brief hesitation, Qiao Fei decided to trust Junye. At that point, nothing mattered more than seeing Jing Xuan again. So, the two of them flew to Japan together, and everything that followed unfolded from that moment.
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After hearing Lan Qing’s explanation, Jing Xuan felt a little better—but Qiao Fei’s words about “being possessed” still stung deeply.

Seeing that Jing Xuan still wore a troubled expression, Lan Qing gently said,

“Xuan, you know it was all a misunderstanding. Why aren’t you happy yet? Fei’er really loves you!”

Jing Xuan sighed and hugged the woman in her arms tightly.

“Who pushes away someone they love? Silly girl…”

“It’s true!”

“I know…”

“Then why?”

“Actually… when it comes to Fei’er… what I feel is guilt…”

Jing Xuan then told Lan Qing about the complicated entanglements between her and Qiao Fei.

“I knew it! There had to be a reason! I knew you wouldn’t leave me so easily. You big dummy—why didn’t you just explain things to me?”

“It was my fault…”

Lan Qing reached out a small hand and gently pressed her fingers against Jing Xuan’s lips.

“Don’t say things like that anymore. From now on, whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

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Just as they were talking, a series of urgent footsteps echoed. Jing Xuan turned toward the sound and saw Xiaofeng approaching quickly.

“Oh god… is this kid crazy? Coming here so openly—doesn’t he realize Jing Cheng might notice?”

Jing Xuan stared at Xiaofeng, confused. His face was expressionless, his eyes locked on her.

Then something utterly outrageous happened—Xiaofeng pulled out a gun and pointed it at Jing Xuan. A shot rang out. The bullet narrowly missed her and buried itself in the shrubs behind her.

Acting quickly, Jing Xuan shielded Lan Qing and rolled into the bushes. As they fell, she noticed several pairs of feet moving near a wall not far away. She recalled Lan Qing once describing the layout of the

General’s Residence—there was a secret passage entrance exactly where those people were standing.

Jing Xuan suddenly understood Xiaofeng’s intention.

“This kid… does he always have to risk my life when giving me a warning?”

Xiaofeng didn’t stop with one shot—he kept firing, guiding Jing Xuan step by step toward the hidden passage. The gunshots alerted the guards in the courtyard and startled the people by the wall as well.

Amid the chaos, Jing Xuan took the opportunity to drag Lan Qing into the secret passage.

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Inside, Jing Xuan quickly realized she’d misunderstood—Xiaofeng wasn’t just helping her escape, he was trying to expose Jing Cheng’s true scheme.

“What’s this?” Lan Qing asked, noticing scattered debris in the passageway, clear signs that someone had tampered with it.

Jing Xuan lit her phone flashlight and began walking cautiously.

“Qing, I remember you said this passage was built during wartime, as a bomb shelter?”

“Yes, during World War II. It was abandoned long ago. My sister and I found it when we were kids, and later our father told us the story.”

“Where does it lead?”

“It doesn’t really lead anywhere—it was meant as an air-raid shelter for the household staff.”

The passage grew wider as they advanced, eventually opening into a hidden chamber.

“There’s so much space here… and the air’s not stale. That means there must be ventilation.”

Jing Xuan observed as she analyzed,

“The furnishings are old, but the iron mesh isn’t rusted shut. The connections have been cut—clearly tampered with. It’s probably too dark to notice otherwise.”

Following the disturbed iron mesh, she traced her steps back to the entrance.

“Strange…”

“What is it?”

Jing Xuan shook her head.

“Oh right! Junye told me earlier they found a small truck packed with explosives near the parking lot—but she already had the bombs removed.”

“A truck? With bombs?”

“Yes, you were with Fei’er at the time. Then you weren’t feeling well… I was so worried I forgot to tell you.”

“It’s okay. Do you know where the truck was parked?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go!”

Because they had spent time exploring the passage, the guards had dispersed, noticing nothing unusual.

Lan Qing quietly led Jing Xuan to the parking lot. Jing Xuan carefully lifted the truck’s tailgate—there was nothing inside.

“Junye wouldn’t mislead us!”

“Qing, I’m not doubting Junye. The gunshots must’ve alerted the guards, and they discovered the truck and dismantled the bomb.”

“Xuan, now that your identity is out, Jing Cheng must know too. You’re in real danger… I’m so worried…”

Jing Xuan held Lan Qing in her arms, whispering comfort into her ear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. My identity was bound to be revealed sooner or later—I don’t care about that anymore. Now listen to me. Go back to the hall and see what’s going on. I need to look around.”

“I’ll go with you!”

“Good girl… You’re the second daughter of the Iga clan. The hall must be in chaos. Go back and assess the situation… and… check on Fei’er too. Sigh… she shouldn’t have been dragged into this. It’s all my fault…”

“No, this isn’t your fault! Don’t keep blaming yourself! I’ll go back now. But be careful! That assassin just now… almost…”

Tears welled up in Lan Qing’s eyes again. She had been truly terrified.

(Of course, Lan Qing didn’t recognize Xiaofeng.)

“There, there. I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”

Jing Xuan planted a light kiss on her forehead. Lan Qing reluctantly pulled away from her embrace and returned to the hall.
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As expected, chaos had erupted in the hall following rumors of the bomb.

Lan Qing quickly found Junye and the others, relieved to see Qiao Fei was with them.

“Iga Jonin! What’s going on here?” Nishikawa Heiji asked, visibly agitated.

“Heiji, please calm down. I will get to the bottom of this. Clearly, someone’s trying to cause trouble.”

Nianqing leaned close to Iga Jōnin and whispered,

“Father, could it be someone from the underground world?”

“How strange! You know, Jing Xuan just left, and then we suddenly find a bomb here. Don’t you think that’s suspicious?” Jing Cheng feigned casual conversation with someone nearby, but deliberately raised his voice. Others quickly echoed his remarks.

Lan Qing was about to speak up in defense when her phone rang.

“Xuan!”

“Qing, I know what Jing Cheng is plotting! No matter what happens, do not let anyone enter the secret passage—under any circumstances! Stop them at all costs!”

Before Lan Qing could ask more, a loud explosion shook the building. The floor trembled violently—many people lost their balance and fell hard.

Lan Qing wasn’t spared either—and Jing Xuan’s call was cut off…