Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 85

Qiao Fei’s father woke up. With the Lunar New Year approaching the next day, he was adamant about not spending the holiday in the hospital. He insisted on being discharged and returned to their apartment.

By now, Qiao Fei’s parents were aware of her breakup with Jing Xuan. True to her word, Jing Xuan had not shown up again. Facing this outcome, Qiao Fei felt a deep sense of loss, mixed with bitter self-mockery:

Isn’t this what I wanted? But was it really?

The bitterness quietly consumed her heart.

Despite the Liu family’s efforts to persuade them to stay, on the 26th of the lunar month, Qiao Fei moved out of the apartment with her parents and returned to their hometown.

Everyone found it hard to believe that Qiao Fei and Jing Xuan had truly broken up. Jing Xuan appeared calm as always—smiling, carefree—but in the quiet of night, her sorrow spread like a plague, affecting everyone around her. During this time, Lan Qing had returned once. She learned about Qiao Fei’s family situation, but left again in a rush before she had time to visit.

On New Year’s Eve, Lan Qing finally rushed back to Jing Xuan’s side. After the gala, her father had “borrowed” her back to Japan. Later, she was constantly flying around the world due to work. Communication between her and Jing Xuan had become scarce. They even missed each other’s messages during Jing Xuan’s “busy season.” But now, at last, she could spend the holiday with her.

“Xuan baby! Daddy wants us to go back and spend Spring Festival at home!” Lan Qing hugged Jing Xuan from behind, whispering sweetly in her ear.

Jing Xuan pulled her into an embrace, gave a faint smile, but said nothing.

“What’s wrong? Still upset about Fei’er? Was it really that serious? Parents are like that—my dad didn’t approve of us at first either. But we made it through, didn’t we? It’s like they say, ‘After the clouds part, you’ll see the moonlight.’ You and Fei’er will be fine too—”

Lan Qing rambled on until Jing Xuan gently silenced her with a tender kiss.

After a passionate, lingering French kiss, Jing Xuan wiped the damp corner of Lan Qing’s lips. “Your mouth is really something—now you’re even quoting ancient Chinese proverbs.”

“Of course! I studied Chinese culture, remember?” Lan Qing giggled. “But you haven’t answered me—are you coming home with me for the New Year?”

Jing Xuan tenderly brushed Lan Qing’s unruly curls behind her neck. “Please thank Uncle for the invitation, but I won’t be going. I want to visit my own parents this Spring Festival.”

Her voice was laced with sorrow. Lan Qing, feeling her pain, quickly responded, “Then I won’t go either. I’ll stay and spend the New Year with you! We can invite Fei’er too—if a whole group of us go, I’m sure Uncle and Aunt Qiao will let her come out!”

Lan Qing had no idea that Jing Xuan and Qiao Fei had already broken up. She thought Jing Xuan was simply troubled by Qiao Fei’s family situation. She went to make tea and brought it over. Noticing Jing Xuan’s tightly furrowed brow, she reached out to gently smooth it.

“If you keep frowning like that, you’ll get wrinkles. A big ugly ‘川’ right between your brows—ugh! Hey, what’s this?” Lan Qing got off Jing Xuan’s lap and picked up a velvet box from the CD rack. “Wow! What a gorgeous ring!”

Seeing Lan Qing’s delighted expression, Jing Xuan felt a stirring in her heart. She stood up and wrapped her arms tightly around her from behind. “Little one, let’s get married.”

Lan Qing was touched, but sensing something off in Jing Xuan’s mood, she frowned. “Is that how you propose? So casually? No way—I’m not saying yes unless it’s romantic!”

She twirled in Jing Xuan’s arms, holding up the ring. “Xuan, this ring—wasn’t meant for me, was it?”

Jing Xuan sighed and rested her cheek against Lan Qing’s temple. “You really don’t miss a thing.”

“I just thought… this ring doesn’t suit me at all. If it were your choice for a wedding ring, you’d pick it carefully. Thoughtfully.”

Lan Qing curled up contentedly in her lover’s embrace, purring like a satisfied cat.

“Qing… Fei’er and I broke up,” Jing Xuan finally admitted, her heart aching for this foolish girl trying so hard to comfort her.

“What?!” Lan Qing jolted upright. “What happened?”

“She said she was tired. That she wanted a love that was single-minded. And I couldn’t give her that.”

“Idiot! And you just believed her?” Jing Xuan remained silent.

“Xuan, believe me—Fei’er loves you! She’s strong; she wouldn’t give up so easily. She must have her reasons. She must!”

“Qing… it doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t you think I considered that? Maybe she’s right. Love should be exclusive. I already failed you once… I won’t fail you again.”

“Xuan! Do you love me?”

“Silly girl, of course I do.”

“No. I don’t feel it. It’s like you’re with me out of duty. Like you’re just trying to make amends. If that’s all it is, then your love feels like charity—and I don’t want charity! Everything I give to you, I give willingly.

I’ve never expected anything in return. But you still don’t understand your own heart. Come find me when you do!”

Lan Qing stormed out of Jing Xuan’s home. She climbed into her car, buried her face in the steering wheel, and finally burst into tears. Her clothes soaked with tears, she cursed Jing Xuan in her heart—this foolish, foolish woman!

The moment Lan Qing ran out, Jing Xuan panicked. She grabbed her coat and chased after her. Seeing Lan Qing in the car but not driving off, her nerves eased slightly. She approached, saw the girl still crying, and instantly wanted to slap herself for hurting someone who loved her—again and again.

She tapped on the window. Lan Qing looked up, saw her, and moved to start the car. Jing Xuan panicked, opened the door, and pulled her into her arms.

“Silly girl, how could I not know my own heart? We’ve been through so much—if I still can’t be sure about how I feel, I’d be a fool! Qing, I know I’m slow when it comes to emotions, but I do love you! Please forgive my dullness, my lack of romance. Don’t be mad anymore, okay?”

“Hmph! Who said I’d forgive you?! You jerk!” Lan Qing pounded her fists against Jing Xuan’s chest, but her heart had already softened. She was utterly helpless against this woman.

She was frustrated at her own weakness—how easily she was coaxed back—but in the end, what did it matter?
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As firecrackers exploded and the year came to a close, spring breezes brought warmth to the wine, and thousands of households greeted the dawn by replacing old charms with new.

The New Year’s bells rang. Everyone had grown a year older. Qiao Fei hid in her room, watching the splendid fireworks light up the night sky through the window. Her tears had long since dried up, her heart now calm, her smile rare. But her longing for Jing Xuan had only grown deeper.

On the first day of the New Year, Lin Hao arrived with gifts to offer greetings. To Qiao Fei’s parents, he was practically a future son-in-law already. No matter how cold Qiao Fei was to him, her parents more than made up for it.

“Looks like this clingy guy is impossible to shake,” Qiao Fei thought coldly, watching Lin Hao entertain her parents like he belonged there. Like he was family—and she was the outsider.

Before she knew it, the new semester had begun. When Lin Hao showed up at school with Qiao Fei, Liu Xinyu nearly dropped her jaw. “What’s going on with Fei’er?!”

But she could clearly see that Qiao Fei had changed. She was thinner—so thin it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away. The girl who once wore only light makeup now covered her face in heavy cosmetics.

Don’t get the wrong idea—it wasn’t vanity. The exhaustion on Qiao Fei’s face could only be hidden behind layers of powder. Without tremendous willpower, she looked like someone on the verge of collapse. Even

Shen Yiling was shocked by her appearance. The school beauty… was wilting.

Qiao Fei never gave Lin Hao the time of day, but he didn’t care. As far as he was concerned, winning over her parents meant he’d already won. Humming a tune, he stepped into his house—completely unaware that a storm was waiting for him inside.