Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 74

“What footage?” Lan Qing asked Jing Xuan in confusion.

“The surveillance footage used as the final piece of evidence against me in court!”

“Mm~ What about it?”

“I think there’s something wrong with it too,” Nianqing said, folding her arms in agreement.

“Sister Nianqing, what do you mean?”

“We all know that footage is definitely fabricated, but others don’t. There’s a term, ‘familiarity breeds blindness.’ It means that when people are exposed to something repeatedly, they form a mental reflex. So even if the original subject is switched out suddenly, they won’t notice the change.”

“And since Xuan is a public figure constantly in the news, the moment the footage was shown, everyone simply assumed it was real,” Lan Qing added, picking up Nianqing’s train of thought. “There’s still a hidden hand behind this case, one that refuses to let go. They even dared to submit such poorly doctored footage as evidence… it’s absurd.”

“A lie repeated by many becomes the truth. Public opinion can be terrifying,” Qiao Fei sighed, walking over to Jing Xuan and leaning into her embrace. Lan Qing clung to Jing Xuan’s arm and rested her head on her shoulder.

Watching the scene unfold, Nianqing felt a twinge of bitterness—was it jealousy toward Jing Xuan, or disappointment with herself? She couldn’t tell.

“The person in the footage… is a man!”

“What?!” Lan Qing and Qiao Fei instinctively recoiled as if Jing Xuan had grown spikes.

“I don’t have an Adam’s apple. But the person in that footage does.”

“You noticed something that specific?” Qiao Fei asked, incredulous.

“I was in special forces, remember? I’ve been trained for this,” Jing Xuan shrugged with a knowing smile. “Marine Corps.”

“I heard there’s an image enhancement system in the U.S.—if you increase the resolution and run it through that system, you can reconstruct a clear high-definition image,” Nianqing suggested.

“Right!” Qin Lang, the lead attorney, lit up with hope. “That could completely clear us!”

“But that system is only available to the CIA. Are we supposed to send the footage to the U.S. for analysis?”

“No need for that hassle. Every national security agency has access to similar technology. We just need the video to be officially submitted for inspection. That’s where the Iga sisters come in,” Qin Lang said with a knowing glance.

“No problem!” Lan Qing threw an arm around Nianqing’s shoulders, exuding the energy of a gangster boss. “Once we’re in Japan, that’s our territory!”

Jing Xuan, now seeing a clear breakthrough, felt a weight lift off her shoulders. But she wasn’t the only one analyzing the footage.

In another room, Shi Jiawen held the remote tightly, replaying the surveillance clip over and over. Her brows gradually furrowed. Though she had watched it hundreds of times, after spending time with Jing Xuan and observing her behavior even in prison, she was starting to seriously question whether the person in the footage was Jing Xuan at all.

Jing Xuan had a strange kind of magic—one that made people forget all notions of evil.

Wasting no time, Shi Jiawen dialed a number.

“Yiyi, are you at home?” …
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When court resumed, everyone returned to the courtroom, awaiting the verdict.
“Order! The National Court will now issue the ruling,” the presiding judge announced.

“After thorough verification, the testimony of witness Iga Nianqing has been deemed valid and credible. This court accepts it. Due to insufficient evidence supporting the murder charge, the accused, Jing Xuan, cannot be convicted. However, she remains a prime suspect. She must stay within Singapore’s borders and report her whereabouts regularly until the final ruling. Court adjourned!”

“Your Honor! We also have a witness who claims to have seen Jing Xuan commit the murder! We demand this witness be brought forth!”

“Prosecution, this court has issued its ruling. Submit your evidence at the next session. Court adjourned!”
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The next court session was scheduled for three days later—the final ruling that would determine Jing Xuan’s fate.

That evening, Jing Xuan’s legal team submitted a formal request to verify the authenticity of the video evidence. Things settled down once again.

Under the conditions of the suspect restriction order, Jing Xuan was not allowed to leave the country. That night, she called Gao Zhe and Junye to discuss the case briefly before hanging up. Every move she made was under strict surveillance, so the calls were short—just enough to confirm that they were all safe.

Nianqing’s testimony had helped Jing Xuan temporarily avoid disaster. The most excited of all was Lan Qing—partly to celebrate Jing Xuan’s reprieve, and partly to welcome Nianqing’s arrival. She threw a lively party at home.

“Xuan hasn’t seen one of my fashion shows yet! She must see it tonight!”

Jing Xuan, smiling, wrapped an arm around the busy Lan Qing and nuzzled her ear playfully.

“Alright, alright. Everyone’s tired. Why does it have to be tonight? It’s not like I’ll never get to see it again. You’re acting like this is the last chance of my life.”

“What are you saying?! Don’t say things like that!” Lan Qing turned in Jing Xuan’s arms, her eyes suddenly red from the weight of emotion. “Nonsense!” She threw her arms around Jing Xuan’s neck, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.

“Hey, little one, don’t cry… I was just being silly. I’ll watch your show every single day if that’s what you want…”

“Xuan, I’m afraid tonight really might be the last time you’ll ever see me perform…”

Lan Qing tightened her embrace.

“Say that again, and I’ll…”

“Okay, okay, I give in! But seriously, Qing… you’re choking me…”

“Oh!” Lan Qing quickly let go.

“Whew—Qing, haha!”

“What’s so funny?” Was Jing Xuan lightheaded now?

Jing Xuan drew her close again.

“Qing, I love you.”

“Hmph! I only love you, but you love so many people…”

“I’m sorry, I…”

Lan Qing teased her, but deep down, it was something she truly felt.

Who wouldn’t want their lover to belong only to them?

________________________________________

“Alright, enough of that. Go take a nice bath and relax. I have something special planned for tonight… something unforgettable…”

As she spoke, Lan Qing’s cheeks flushed pink. She gave Jing Xuan a quick peck on the lips and pushed her into the bathroom.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, Nianqing hesitated when her sister asked her to participate in the show.

“I don’t think I should…”

“Oh come on, Sis! You’ve got such a great figure—I’ll make you look stunning!”

“I am already stunning.”

“Hey! I’ve modeled for you so many times over the years—can’t you be my model just once? And it’s just at home, not for an audience~”

Lan Qing unleashed her ultimate weapons—pouting, pleading, and playing the victim. Her go-to combo always worked.

“Fine! Just this once.”

“Yay! You’re the best! Come to my room soon—I’ll design something just for you. I’m off to find Fei’er!”

“Great. Having Fei’er there means I won’t be walking into the lion’s den alone…” Nianqing took a deep breath and headed toward Lan Qing’s room.

Once inside, she realized Lan Qing was utterly chaotic—clothes scattered everywhere. It looked like the aftermath of a robbery. Shaking her head helplessly, she began folding and hanging the garments neatly.

Meanwhile, Jing Xuan emerged from her bath in a robe, towel-drying her hair. Barefoot on the plush carpet, she was a vision of temptation. Seeing Nianqing busily tidying up, a mischievous idea sparked—maybe she should tease her a little. After all, she always got scolded for lacking romance…

A playful smile curved her lips as she quietly approached the beautiful figure, then suddenly wrapped her arms around her.

“Ah—mm!”

Startled, Nianqing turned around, only to be pinned against the wardrobe and kissed hard.

The sensation of those lips—soft, warm, and completely overwhelming—froze her mind.

Her eyelashes trembled; the jasmine scent on Jing Xuan’s skin was intoxicating.

She wanted to push her away, but her limbs wouldn’t obey, her arms resting helplessly on Jing Xuan’s shoulders.

Getting no response, Jing Xuan boldly deepened the kiss, her tongue slipping between Nianqing’s lips.

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“Fei’er, my sister will be joining us too. I picked out one of my new designs—you’re going to love it. It’s perfect for you…”

“Really?”

Laughter and footsteps grew louder… they were getting closer…