Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 65

At night, the Iga estate felt vastly different from the bustling atmosphere of the day. Qiao Fei wandered aimlessly through the garden and, without realizing it, found herself beside a small pond. The intense events of the day now felt like a distant memory.

She stood quietly by the water’s edge, letting the cool night breeze brush against her face. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, falling into the mirror-like surface of the pond, creating ripples that slowly spread outward.

Suddenly, Qiao Fei felt a jacket gently draped over her shoulders. She turned around, delighted, only for the smile on her face to freeze. “Thank you,” she said.

“Thinking about Ajing?” Gao Zhe asked as she stood beside her, also gazing at the water.

“And you? Missing Xinyu?”

“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “I miss her—every moment. But I came here tonight to talk to you. There are some things I want to tell you.”

“What is it?” Qiao Fei asked.

Gao Zhe sat down on the grass and looked up at the stars. Confused but curious, Qiao Fei mimicked her movements and waited for her to continue.

“You love Jing Xuan, don’t you?”

“I do. But… it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Fei’er, what are you really thinking?”

“I… I love her. Truly, deeply. But even now, I realize I never really knew her. Who is she, really? What’s her background? Her past? Her… mission? I know nothing. Maybe I never truly entered her heart. Perhaps all she’s ever felt toward me is guilt. We began as a mistake. We were always from two different worlds. Maybe… this outcome is what was meant to be.”

“Fei’er, you shouldn’t doubt Ajing’s feelings for you.”

“What’s the point in talking about this now? I exposed her secret and brought her a lot of trouble. And regardless of everything else—she’s already chosen Lan Qing. That’s all that matters…”

Qiao Fei fell silent.

“Fei’er,” Gao Zhe said firmly, “I can tell you this with certainty—Ajing won’t leave Lan Qing.”

Qiao Fei gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

Staring at the surface of the water, Gao Zhe continued, “Did you know the four of us grew up together? We all… grew up in an orphanage.”

“Orphanage? But wasn’t Jing Xuan raised in Singapore?”

“Yes, but that came later. Ajing saved Mr. Huang’s life and was adopted by him. But do you know how deep Lan Qing’s feelings for her run? Do you know how long she’s loved her?”

Without waiting for a response, she asked, “Fei’er, you say you love Ajing—how much do you really love her?”

“I didn’t care about her gender. I didn’t care that she hid her identity. I always believed in her!”

“If that were truly the case, you wouldn’t be here tonight. Don’t you realize how much your questioning in the hall today must have hurt her?”

“I…”

“If that’s what you call deep love, then Lan Qing’s love is extraordinary. Her love for Ajing has lasted ten years.”

“Well, you all grew up together…”

“Fei’er, you don’t understand. We weren’t ordinary children. Ajing carries a blood feud, the burden of her entire family’s fate. That kind of pressure is unimaginable. Have you ever witnessed your parents being murdered before your eyes? Grown up in hiding, always concealing your identity? Endured the pain of physical reconstruction? Been ridiculed as a freak—neither male nor female?”

Qiao Fei’s eyes widened in shock.

“These are all things Ajing has gone through,” Gao Zhe said resolutely.

“When Ajing went to Singapore, Lan Qing was taken away by her father. During that time, Lan Qing never stopped searching for her. But Ajing’s identity was too special—she couldn’t find anything. Still, she worried constantly. When they finally reunited in City C, Lan Qing didn’t care about her identity or gender.

She told Ajing, ‘I love you because you’re Jing Xuan—not because you’re a woman, and certainly not because you’re a monster.’

“Can you imagine how a woman would feel, coming home to find the one she loves had left her? Yet Lan Qing never blamed Ajing. She always believed she had her reasons. She told us over and over, ‘Jing Xuan loves me.’ Was she just fooling herself? No—she truly believed in her.

“She, the daughter of the prestigious Iga family, defied her family, gave up all her wealth, even pawned her brooch just to buy a ticket to see Ajing again. She left home in the middle of the night, flew alone to a completely unfamiliar city—do you know how dangerous that was? And just hours after returning to Japan, Ajing was attacked. Lan Qing didn’t hesitate for a second—she shielded her with her own body.

“Lan Qing doesn’t care that you exist. She only wants a place in Ajing’s heart. She’s cast aside dignity, safety, everything—just to be with the one she loves. If Ajing ever leaves her… then she would be the worst kind of scumbag.”

Qiao Fei was stunned. Everything Lan Qing had done for Jing Xuan overwhelmed her. She had never done any of that for Jing Xuan herself.

“Ajing is the most emotionally loyal among us. She didn’t leave Lan Qing for you out of obligation—she left because she loved you. Even though she still loved Lan Qing, she wanted to give you a complete love.

“What happened between you two that night—it’s nothing in this day and age. But what you received was exactly what Lan Qing has longed for the most.

“Lan Qing loves Ajing with all her being, body and soul. So tonight, if you decide to leave, then do it completely. I don’t want to see all three of you suffer. At least this way, one couple might still have a chance.

“But if you choose to make up for what you’ve done—then love Jing Xuan the way Lan Qing does. Love her with your soul.”

Gao Zhe stood up and turned to leave. But as she turned, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“You shouldn’t have said all that to her, Shuangji,” a voice said.

Qiao Fei stood as well and looked toward the speaker. “Ah… Sister Lan Qing…”

Lan Qing ignored their surprise and looked gently at Qiao Fei. “Fei’er has the right to make her own choice. We should respect that.”

“Sister Lan Qing…” Qiao Fei twisted her fingers nervously, like a fan meeting her idol. Then she burst into tears and threw herself into Lan Qing’s arms. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“Sorry for what? You haven’t wronged me. The one you owe an apology to… is Jing Xuan. No matter what decision you make, please believe this—Jing Xuan truly loves you. From the very beginning until now.”

“I love her too… but maybe… maybe there’s no more chance.”

“Chances are something you have to fight for yourself. This is something only the two of you can resolve. She hasn’t gone to bed yet, you know,” Lan Qing said with a playful wink.

Qiao Fei quickly wiped her tears and hugged Lan Qing tightly once more. “Sister Lan Qing, thank you!”

Only after Qiao Fei dashed away in excitement did Gao Zhe sigh and rub her temples. “Lan Qing, why go to such lengths?”

Lan Qing, however, seemed completely unbothered. “Just like you, I don’t want all three of us to suffer. If we can help one couple find happiness, why not two?”