Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 81

A ray of sunlight pierced through layers of mist and shone into the hospital room. Qiao Fei’s eyelashes fluttered as she slowly woke up. She felt her hand being gently held in a warm grasp, and her heart warmed—she had just been dreaming about Jing Xuan.

But the moment she turned her head and saw who was beside her, it was as if she had awakened from a nightmare. Her face turned pale.

“Lin Hao?! Why are you here?!”

Seeing Qiao Fei awake, Lin Hao finally let out the breath he had been holding. She had been unconscious for an entire day, and it had terrified him. Ever since she was admitted to the hospital, he hadn’t left her side. But no matter how long he waited, she didn’t wake up.

Seeing her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Qiao, looking so haggard, he couldn’t bear it anymore and persuaded them to go home to rest. Who would’ve thought the moment they left, Qiao Fei would wake up?

Qiao Fei quickly yanked her hand away from Lin Hao’s, as if she had touched something disgusting, and wiped it on the blanket in distaste. Lin Hao flinched at her reaction, but forced himself to maintain a calm expression, pretending not to notice her disgust.

“Lin Hao, where are my parents?”

“Uncle and Aunt Qiao are getting on in years. I told them to go home and rest.”

“And why are you here?”

“Fei’er, I was worried about you.”

“Senior Lin, I don’t need your concern. As you can see, I’m fine now. Please leave.”

“Fei’er, you still won’t forgive me? Just tell me—what will it take for you to forgive me? Whatever it is, I’ll do it!”

Qiao Fei stared at him coldly and repeated her words with clear emphasis: “Senior Lin, please leave.”

The hopeful light in Lin Hao’s eyes dimmed. Seeing that she still refused to acknowledge him, he turned away. He knew no amount of sweet talk would win her back now. If he wanted to regain her heart, it wouldn’t be easy. After quickly weighing the situation, he decided to retreat for now.

Qiao Fei’s expression made it clear he was no longer welcome. Staying would only invite further humiliation. Lin Hao stood and made his way toward the door—only to run into Qiao Fei’s mother, who was entering with a lunchbox.

“Lin Hao, where are you going?” she asked.

“Auntie, Fei’er is awake… but she doesn’t want to see me. I—I should go.”

Hearing that her daughter was awake delighted Mrs. Qiao, but the fact that she was driving Lin Hao away made her frown. Without a second thought, she grabbed Lin Hao’s hand and pulled him back into the room.

Qiao Fei heard her mother’s voice and saw her dragging Lin Hao back. Irritated, she turned her head away again.

“Fei’er, it’s Mom,” her mother said softly.

Qiao Fei turned back and whispered, “Mom.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“Your father… he didn’t mean it. He’s just outside.”

“Mom, I don’t blame him. It was my fault. I made you both worry. I’m sorry.” Tears welled up in Qiao Fei’s eyes again.

Mrs. Qiao quickly set down the lunchbox and rushed to embrace her trembling daughter. Seeing the bandage around her daughter’s head, she cursed her husband in her heart—how could he have hit their daughter so hard?

Meanwhile, Lin Hao stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or leave. Seeing the mother-daughter bond before him, he pursed his lips and finally decided to leave.

“Um, Auntie… Fei’er, you get some rest. I’ll—I’ll visit another day.”

“Don’t go, Lin Hao,” Mrs. Qiao said warmly. “I brought chicken soup. You should have some too. You’ve been here all day without a sip of water. You must be exhausted.”

She briskly poured two bowls of soup, handing one to Lin Hao and preparing to feed the other to Qiao Fei.

“I can do it myself, Mom.” Qiao Fei knew full well her mother’s words were really meant for her. Another girl might have been touched by Lin Hao’s devotion. But not her—not when she had already fallen for Jing

Xuan. And not after all the disgusting things Lin Hao had done. There was no way they could ever be together.

Qiao Fei obediently took the soup, her beautiful eyes locking with Lin Hao’s. Her gaze was cold and clear, its meaning unmistakable: Enough, Lin Hao. Drink the soup and leave.

“This soup… your father made it for you himself. That old fool insisted he couldn’t face you.”

“Don’t say that, Mom. He cares about me. I know. I don’t blame him. I made him angry—I deserved it.”

“Fei’er… my good girl,” Mrs. Qiao murmured, moved.

Lin Hao looked at the soup in his hands, but the room’s warmth did not extend to him. Feeling invisible, he set the bowl down and excused himself once again. This time, he really did leave. Mrs. Qiao didn’t try to stop him—clearly, the two hadn’t reconciled. This would take time. She sighed inwardly. Lin Hao was a good boy, she thought. Her daughter just didn’t know how to cherish him.

(Poor Mrs. Qiao doesn’t know the whole story—we can’t blame her.)

“Fei’er, tell me… what happened between you and Lin Hao? You’ve been at odds for so long. I think he’s a good kid. Don’t miss your chance.”

“Mom, he cheated on me. I caught him red-handed.”

“What?!”

Mrs. Qiao was shocked. By all appearances, Lin Hao was a handsome, intelligent, well-bred young man—of course girls would be drawn to him. But during Qiao Fei’s coma, he’d been there day and night, looking completely devoted. Even if he had been tempted, surely it was just a passing phase? Men were men, after all—young and full of energy. As long as he came to his senses, he could still be a good person.

She opened her mouth to speak on his behalf, but Qiao Fei saw it coming and added coldly, “He’s with the daughter of our school’s board chairman. Everyone knows they’re about to get engaged. If you don’t believe me, go ask around campus.”

Mrs. Qiao fell silent. There was nothing more to say. The relationship was beyond saving. Forget it—what mattered most now was her daughter’s well-being.

“Mom, I want to see Dad. Can you go get him?”

“Of course.”

As soon as her mother left the room, Qiao Fei grabbed the phone by her bedside and quickly dialed Liu Xinyu’s number.

Mrs. Qiao had just stepped out when she spotted Mr. Qiao hurrying down the corridor, clutching a magazine. His face was tense with suppressed anger.

“Old Qiao, what now?”

He didn’t answer her, storming straight into Qiao Fei’s room. Mrs. Qiao, sensing trouble, followed quickly behind.

Qiao Fei had just set down the phone when her father barged in and threw the magazine at her.

“This is the person you said you love?”

Qiao Fei opened it and immediately spotted Jing Xuan’s name in bold. Flipping to the article, she skimmed it quickly. The report described how Jing Xuan had successfully hosted a lavish banquet after inheriting

Huatian International. Celebrities and social elites were all in attendance. The article heavily hinted at a romantic connection between Jing Xuan and Miss Lan Qing, the second daughter of the Iga family. They were described as a perfect couple, with affectionate glances and matching outfits. Every photo screamed intimacy.

Qiao Fei already knew all this. But seeing the pictures again, she couldn’t help feeling a sting of inferiority. If she hadn’t left that night, would she have been the princess at that banquet?

Mrs. Qiao noticed her daughter’s pale expression, took the magazine, and scanned the article. Her heart sank. Not only had her daughter fallen for a woman, but this was the second time she’d been betrayed. Her heart must be in pieces.

She wondered: Was it because Lin Hao had cheated that Fei’er lost faith in men and turned to a woman? But now it seemed women were no better.

Qiao Fei hung her head in silence, mind spinning. There was no way to explain this to her parents. Admitting she loved a woman had already earned her a blow to the head. Now, with that woman seemingly involved with someone else, there was even less she could say. She couldn’t defend herself, and she certainly couldn’t defend Jing Xuan.

If she couldn’t win over her parents, she and Jing Xuan might never be together.

Her only hope now was Liu Xinyu. She needed her to come as soon as possible—and help her find a way out of this mess.