Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 68

Qiao Fei really did wait outside Jing Xuan’s door for the entire night. It was a quiet, silent night—the kind of stillness that awakens memories most easily. She sat hugging her knees, leaning against the door, fragments of her past with Jing Xuan—how they met, came to understand each other, and even fell in love—flashing repeatedly in her mind. She was certain their fates were forever intertwined.

She pressed her head against the door, her ear flat against the wood. The person she loved was sleeping just on the other side. If she listened closely, she thought she could hear the calm rhythm of her breathing. In this moment, there were no cold wars, no quarrels—just the quiet happiness of being near someone you love.

At midnight, the temperature dropped. Qiao Fei wrapped her arms tightly around herself, rubbing them for warmth as her head grew heavier. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep…
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When she awoke, Qiao Fei was surprised to find herself lying in a soft, comfortable bed with a thick velvet blanket covering her. She sat up and looked around, slowly realizing she was in Jing Xuan’s bedroom.

“This is…” She was in her bed. Did this mean Jing Xuan was no longer angry? Had she forgiven her?

“Xuan? Are you there?” Qiao Fei called out, her voice full of hope as she looked around the room.

A maid outside the door, hearing the noise, stepped in. “Miss Qiao, you’re awake!”

“Um… yes. Where’s Jing Xuan?”

“Miss Jing and the Second Miss are having breakfast in the dining room. Second Miss instructed us to take good care of you when you woke. Is there anything you need?”

“Oh… not right now. Just take me to see Jing Xuan later.”

“Yes, of course.”

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Due to the events of the previous day, Nianqing and Nishikawa’s wedding had been canceled. Most of the guests, unsettled by the incident, had already left. The Nishikawa family, having lost face, departed quietly and awkwardly.

After breakfast, Lan Qing and Jing Xuan were summoned to the study by Iga Jonin. Despite owing Jing Xuan a life debt, he still didn’t seem to regard her favorably. Lan Qing, afraid of the tense atmosphere, tried her best to ease the charged undercurrent between them.

Iga Jonin leaned back in his oversized leather armchair, legs crossed, and said bluntly, “To be honest, I should thank you, Miss Jing. You saved my guests, my family—I owe you a favor, and I will repay it. But let me be clear: don’t think this means I’m grateful enough to allow you to be with Lan Qing.”

“Father!” Lan Qing protested.

Jing Xuan gently patted Lan Qing’s hand to calm her and smiled confidently, completely unfazed by Iga’s arrogance. She reached over and laced her fingers through Lan Qing’s, gently squeezing her hand.

“Uncle, Lan Qing and I will be together. No matter what happens, no matter who opposes us—nothing will change that.”

“Hmph! You young people are so arrogant! My daughter, of the Iga family, together with another woman? What a disgrace to our lineage!”

“If loving another woman is what brings shame to a family… then what do you call patricide—”

“Outrageous! Who do you think you are, to be so insolent in my home?” Iga Jonin cut her off angrily. “Miss Jing, I may owe you gratitude, but you are not welcome here. Please see yourself out!”

“Father! Jing just saved us! You talk about disgrace—how is repaying kindness with hostility not a disgrace to our family?” Lan Qing argued.

Nianqing, ever composed, stepped in gracefully to ease the tension. “Lan Qing is right, Father. Miss Jing is both our benefactor and our guest. We should treat her with hospitality. Since she’s here, why not have her stay a few days? Things at home are chaotic right now—please forgive us if we fail to be proper hosts.”

“Elder sister, don’t you need more rest?” Lan Qing asked.

“I’m not made of porcelain. I’m not that delicate,” Nianqing said with a soft smile.

“Ahem!” Iga Jonin cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you young people to talk. Nianqing, take good care of our guest.”
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Once Iga Jonin left, the room visibly relaxed. Lan Qing nestled into Jing Xuan’s arms with a blissful smile. Nianqing, sitting across from them, watched quietly with a hint of warmth in her gaze. Despite the sour taste in her heart, she was genuinely happy that Lan Qing had found love. Still, she had heard rumors of Jing Xuan’s flirtatious nature and numerous confidantes.

If Jing dared hurt Lan Qing, Nianqing wouldn’t let her off so easily—she would take it upon herself to protect her sister from now on.

“Sister, what are you thinking about?” Lan Qing asked.

“Ah… just that I’m happy you’ve found your happiness.”

“You’ll find yours too, I promise.”

My happiness… Lan Qing, how could I have happiness… without you?

“Are you still thinking about Nishikawa?” Lan Qing asked. “Now that the wedding is canceled, you don’t have to pretend anymore. You’re free.”

“It’s not that simple,” Jing Xuan said quietly, putting down her teacup.

“Yes. The Nishikawa family clearly had their eyes on us for some time. The marriage was just a cover. Now they’ve aligned with Jing Cheng—they won’t back down easily.”

“That’s what worries me,” Nianqing said. “You must be careful.”

“Let’s go outside,” Jing Xuan suggested. “Junye and the others should be up by now.”
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In the garden, Yan Junye and Gao Zhe were bickering playfully. Qiao Fei sat quietly on the swing, gently kicking her legs. When she saw Jing Xuan approach, she immediately stopped and looked up at her with longing eyes.

Jing Xuan walked up to her. “Hey. How’s your hand?”

“Mm… much better.”

“Good. Don’t forget to apply the medicine—it should heal in a few days.”

“Mm… okay…”

“Well, I’m heading over there.”

“Oh…” Qiao Fei wanted to slap herself. Why am I so tongue-tied?!

As Jing Xuan was about to walk past her, Qiao Fei quickly found her voice. “Xuan, are you still mad at me?”

Jing Xuan smiled and shook her head.

That small gesture gave Qiao Fei hope. “Then… you don’t hate me anymore?”

“I never blamed you, let alone hated you.”

“Really?! Then you forgive me? Last night, actually Junye and I were—”

“You don’t need to explain,” Jing Xuan interrupted. “I already told you—I never blamed you. Fei’er, everything you said was right. I am scum. A jerk. You have the right to make your own choices. So… you should

—”

“Should what?!” Qiao Fei snapped, cutting her off. “Why are you always so stubborn, Jing Xuan? If I disgust you so much, fine—I’ll disappear! I’ll never bother the great young master Jing again! I’m leaving, far away!”

Watching her storm off, Jing Xuan’s mood sank.

“Seriously, Ajing,” said Junye. “Why do you do this to yourself? You love her. She loves you. Just be together.”

“Fei’er wants a love that’s pure and complete. I can’t give her that. I won’t betray Lan Qing. Fei’er will find someone better.”

“You’re unbelievably stupid, you know that? Dumb, dense, and hopelessly rigid! Remember what you said on Xin Yu’s balcony? And now look at you. Jing Xuan, think about what you’re doing.”

“Alright, let’s leave it for now. I’ll figure it out. Right now, Jing Cheng is making moves. Even though we avoided a crisis this time, I’m sure more traps are on the way.”

“Exactly. You ruined his big plan and made him lose face. Knowing how he operates, he’ll strike back soon.”

“Junye, I think it’s time we rescue Uncle Yan. Now that I’ve revealed my identity, Jing Cheng will go all-in to destroy me. If we don’t act now, he might target Uncle Yan next.”

“Understood. I’ll handle it.”

“I have to get back. I’m worried about my foster father.”

“Go—we’ve got things covered here.”

“Lan Qing, stay home this time, take care of Uncle and Aunt, and your sister.”

“Xuan, I want to go back with you!”

“Oh~ The wife wants to meet the in-laws~” Gao Zhe teased, joined by Junye.

Lan Qing blushed. “Stop it, you two!”

“Be good. I’ll be back soon. And then… I’ll officially propose to your father. Whether he agrees or not. Hm~”

(These two are the worst!)

“Lan Qing, don’t worry,” Junye said with a grin. “Even if your dad doesn’t like our Ajing, his precious second daughter already chose her. Sooner or later, she’s joining the family.”

“Here, have a tea cake and stuff that mouth of yours.”

“Ha! Trying to bribe me? Denied!”

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The cheerful chatter lifted the lingering gloom from the past few days. Just then, someone leaned in close to Junye and whispered something in her ear. Her smile instantly froze.

“Ajing… stop joking around. Uncle Huang—he’s in trouble in Singapore.”