One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 42

Ji Zhuozhou fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

The bedsheets were soaked through everywhere. The air was filled with an indistinct, elegant fragrance of freesia and the faint scent of white tea; the smell of chamomile was weakly mixed in, already indistinguishable.

Xiao Shuangyu’s intensity had forced Ji Zhuozhou’s pheromones to release, but those pheromones were immediately blocked by the scent-blocking patch Ji Zhuozhou wore.

Even when she was deeply mired in desire and blurred with confusion, the first thing Ji Zhuozhou did the moment her pheromones began to drift out was to squeeze out the words “blocking patch” from her trembling throat.

She only settled back into the pillow with peace of mind after she felt the patch being pressed onto the back of her neck.

Xiao Shuangyu held Ji Zhuozhou’s waist, restlessly and gently biting her shoulder, the side of her neck, and her earlobes.

Along with the shallow tooth marks, she left behind a small amount of chamomile scent.

She smeared her pheromones over Ji Zhuozhou’s body, a futile declaration of possession.

Her pheromone grade was too low, and there was too little of it; having released most of it into the blocking patch, she soon found herself unable to secrete any more scent.

Yet, Ji Zhuozhou’s body still failed to clearly retain the scent of chamomile.

Her scent.

The smell of rain, mist, and the aftermath of their intimacy kept drilling into her nose, making it tingle with a sourness that matched the aching void in her heart.

Ji Zhuozhou moved unconsciously, seemingly uncomfortable, even appearing as if she wanted to leave the embrace.

Xiao Shuangyu did not let go. Taking the opportunity, she pulled Ji Zhuozhou closer into her arms, clinging to her like an octopus.

But the mattress and covers beneath them were indeed far from comfortable; even in her deep sleep, Ji Zhuozhou’s brows furrowed.

Xiao Shuangyu blinked, finally getting up to give herself a quick rinse before carrying Ji Zhuozhou to her own room next door.

With her body dry and the bedding beneath her fresh and crisp, Ji Zhuozhou slept peacefully without further movement.

Xiao Shuangyu buried herself carefully against Ji Zhuozhou’s shoulder, sensing that the scent of pheromones had grown even fainter.

The night was very late, but she could not sleep.

The tips of her teeth were able to ooze a bit more pheromone now. She leaned in gently toward the crook of Ji Zhuozhou’s neck, leaving the scent of chamomile against her skin.

Every so often, before the already shallow and sparse scent could vanish completely, she would re-apply the newly secreted pheromones.

Back and forth, tireless.

She was unhappy.

Sourness welled up continuously in her empty heart—tart and swelling—as if it wanted to melt her entire being into a corrosive, viscous liquid.

She thought she should be happy.

The person Ji Zhuozhou embraced was her; the person she kissed was her; the person who bit and scratched in a blur of passion was her.

Ji Zhuozhou wouldn’t have the time to think about anyone else.

…Right?

Even Xiao Shuangyu’s teeth felt sour now.

She leaned in once more toward Ji Zhuozhou’s collarbone, opening her mouth to bite down gently, grinding her teeth softly against the delicate skin, leaving behind a pathetic, meager trace of pheromones despite her best efforts.

She seemed to melt a few degrees further.

Even Xiao Mingyi’s friends could leave a domineering and arrogant scent on Ji Zhuozhou without relying on pheromones, yet she couldn’t leave a mark even with them.

Not only could she not leave a mark, but Ji Zhuozhou wouldn’t let her; she still couldn’t get close to the back of Ji Zhuozhou’s neck.

Only now, while Ji Zhuozhou was asleep and unaware, could she secretly prolong the scent at the collarbone.

She was so useless.

A mere D-rank… so useless.

When the moist, warm mouth bit down on her collarbone once again, Ji Zhuozhou opened her eyes.

The day was already bright. Clear light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling into the room and onto the fluffy head nestled in her arms.

The owner of that head was completely unaware, half-sucking and half-nibbling to finish scraping off every last bit of pheromone from her teeth before pulling slightly away from Ji Zhuozhou’s shoulder.

The heat of her breath still puffed out, scattering the scent of chamomile toward the tip of Ji Zhuozhou’s nose.

It was a very light, shallow scent with a unique fragrance.

Ji Zhuozhou blinked and spoke in a low voice, “What are you doing?”

Her voice was as soft as ever, but it couldn’t hide the hoarseness underlying it.

Xiao Shuangyu was startled. Her body froze instantly, motionless. “No… nothing.”

Xiao Shuangyu had fallen asleep in a daze sometime during the night and had only just woken up. Finding that the scent she had left had long since vanished, she had hesitated before leaning back in, unwilling to give up.

She hadn’t expected to be caught red-handed by Ji Zhuozhou.

She looked up cautiously, revealing distinct dark circles on her pale face. Her voice was muffled and noticeably raspy. “Did I wake you up, Sister?”

Ji Zhuozhou shook her head slightly. Just as she was about to say “no,” that small movement immediately triggered an ache in her waist and back.

Ji Zhuozhou paused, shifting the subject. “Why are you biting me? Are you in your rut?”

Xiao Shuangyu stiffened and lowered her head, her voice even more muffled. “No.”

She wanted Ji Zhuozhou to carry her scent. She wanted Ji Zhuozhou to be stained only with her scent.

However, Xiao Shuangyu asked, “Should I wipe it off?”

That fluffy head was hanging very low; Ji Zhuozhou could only see the crown of her hair.

Ji Zhuozhou rolled over to lie flat on the bed and reached up to touch the back of her neck. The blocking patch was still there.

She said, “Leave it for now. It smells quite nice.”

Regardless, at this concentration, it would vanish completely before they even left the house. It wouldn’t leave a trace.

With her movement, the soreness in her back became more pronounced, and a tingling sensation seemed to linger deep within her lower abdomen.

Ji Zhuozhou turned her head, looking at Xiao Shuangyu’s gaze, which followed her with a hint of brightness. “Did Lian-Lian bring me over here?”

This wasn’t her own room; Ji Zhuozhou realized.

Xiao Shuangyu lowered her head again, the tips of her ears flushing red. “Mm. That side… was too wet.”

Ji Zhuozhou was stunned for a moment. The memories of last night—of nearly losing her senses—flooded back. She looked away, a bit embarrassed. “Let’s get up.”

As she finished speaking, she attempted to rise, but stopped again due to the difficulty.

She looked at Xiao Shuangyu.

Xiao Shuangyu’s fingers were truly very long and very strong.

After the guest room had been converted into a drum room, she had watched Xiao Shuangyu practice.

A large part of Xiao Shuangyu’s strength definitely came from long-term drumming, Ji Zhuozhou thought.

She spoke up, sounding as if she were merely reflecting. “LianLian, were you treating me like a drum?”

Xiao Shuangyu, who had already scrambled up first, went blank upon hearing this. She shook her head rapidly like a rattle.

Then, realizing something, she spoke cautiously. “Did I make you uncomfortable, Sister?”

Ji Zhuozhou thought for a moment. “Not really.”

She looked at Xiao Shuangyu, who was just as naked as she was. Her own nakedness was because she had lost consciousness; Xiao Shuangyu’s seemed very deliberate.

Ji Zhuozhou couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m very satisfied.”

She reached out toward Xiao Shuangyu, asking for a hand up. “It’s just… I can’t get up.”

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned. Her gaze darted away instantly. She moved forward stiffly and, misunderstanding the request, gathered Ji Zhuozhou into her arms.

Their skin met once again, but this time without the cover of darkness or blankets.

Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t bring her eyes back at all. Seeing her so shy, Ji Zhuozhou didn’t say anything; she leaned against Xiao Shuangyu’s shoulder and watched the girl’s face turn red at record speed.

Xiao Shuangyu awkwardly carried Ji Zhuozhou back to the room next door and into the bathroom.

She didn’t leave, either; she stood by her side with her head bowed low.

Ji Zhuozhou’s legs were still a bit weak, so she instructed her to go grab two bath towels first.

It wouldn’t do for both of them to remain exposed.

But as she looked up, she saw in the mirror a body covered in scattered, faint marks. Alone on her fair, flawless collarbone sat a clear, ambiguous hickey.

It didn’t look like it had been left by the single bite Xiao Shuangyu had just given her.

Ji Zhuozhou looked at Xiao Shuangyu, who was bending over to grab the towels. Her pale finger tapped the spot on her collarbone. “This is?”

Xiao Shuangyu’s movement froze. She immediately whipped her head even further away, leaving only an ear that was red enough to bleed.

Ji Zhuozhou realized. She said softly, “LianLian has learned to be bad.”

Xiao Shuangyu blinked and said nothing.

Matching the “intensity” Ji Zhuozhou had mentioned, most of the marks she had left were further down.

Breast, waist, belly, legs—the color wasn’t deep, but the coverage was wide, focusing specifically on the places that made Ji Zhuozhou feel good.

Those spots would be covered and hidden once she put on clothes.

Xiao Shuangyu, sleeping in Ji Zhuozhou’s arms, hadn’t thought of that. She had only wanted to leave her pheromones on Ji Zhuozhou’s body.

The darkness had swallowed her vision; she couldn’t see clearly, so she hadn’t noticed that her repeated biting and sucking had left marks.

However, that last time, she had bitten the original spot on purpose.

She had deepened that mark.

If the scent couldn’t stay, she wanted to leave something else—even if it would be covered by clothes, it might still appear in someone’s line of sight during a movement.

So she thought.

Ji Zhuozhou said she was fine and refused Xiao Shuangyu’s help, walking out of the bathroom on her own. She looked almost completely normal.

But Ji Zhuozhou found it somewhat difficult to bend down. Sitting on the chair at the vanity, she looked up at her. “LianLian, can you help me put these on?”

In the hand she extended toward Xiao Shuangyu, she held a pair of soft lace panties she had just taken from the drawer.

Xiao Shuangyu took them in a daze, feeling the weightless lace burn in her palm.

She knelt before Ji Zhuozhou and slowly cupped Ji Zhuozhou’s ankle, sliding the panties upward.

Higher, the panties passed the back of Ji Zhuozhou’s knees and were pushed almost to the base of her thighs. Those hidden marks caught the corner of her eye, making her heart thrum loudly.

Everything that had happened in this room last night had been so intense; afterward, she had only taken Ji Zhuozhou away and hadn’t cleaned up at all.

The damp bedding had already dried, but the drifting scent still lingered in the air, delivering thoughts filled with desire to her eyes over and over again.

Her hands had already disappeared beneath the cover of the towel, touching the soft flesh of the thighs. If she went any higher, it would be…

Ji Zhuozhou sensed her hesitation. “I can do the rest. Thank you, LianLian.”

Xiao Shuangyu obediently withdrew her hand but did not leave.

Her black eyes, with nowhere to settle, stared at Ji Zhuozhou’s slender knees. she spoke in a muffled voice. “Sister said she was satisfied…”

“Are you satisfied with me, or satisfied that I’m like her?”

She couldn’t hold it back after all; she asked.

But she didn’t dare look up, didn’t dare look at Ji Zhuozhou’s face.

Last night, she had been very presumptuous.

Presumptuous enough to question Ji Zhuozhou, presumptuous enough to beg Ji Zhuozhou, presumptuous enough to make Ji Zhuozhou compare her to Xiao Mingyi.

Last night’s Ji Zhuozhou hadn’t answered; this morning’s Ji Zhuozhou hadn’t mentioned it. It was as if it didn’t exist, as if it hadn’t happened.

But jealousy burned, and the ashes it left covered her heart. She didn’t want to just move past it, yet she was afraid of moving past it.

Above her, Ji Zhuozhou was momentarily stunned.

A hand landed on her head, slowly and gently stroking her hair.

She heard Ji Zhuozhou’s voice. “LianLian is LianLian.”

A dark flicker passed through those deep green eyes. Ji Zhuozhou said, “LianLian did very well. I like doing it with LianLian.”

Xiao Shuangyu looked up cautiously. Ji Zhuozhou’s eyes crinkled in a smile toward her, her gaze perfectly clear.

The ashes in her heart fluttered away.

After a moment, Xiao Shuangyu imitated Ji Zhuozhou’s crinkled smile. “I like doing it with Sister, too.”

Xiao Shuangyu felt entirely lighthearted. She carried the bunched-up bedding out of the room, but standing before the washing machine, she felt unable to move again.

But since the bedding had been so wet last night, and she had to go to work with Ji Zhuozhou today, she couldn’t secretly take it away. If she didn’t wash it, it really wouldn’t do.

Xiao Shuangyu gritted her teeth and stuffed the bedding inside.

Turning around, she went back to her room to change. After coming out, she went straight to find Ji Zhuozhou.

Ji Zhuozhou was wearing a halter-neck dress that left her shoulders bare, covering all the marks perfectly.

Xiao Shuangyu’s mood sank.

But Ji Zhuozhou beckoned her over with a finger. Xiao Shuangyu approached in confusion, and Ji Zhuozhou suddenly pulled her by the neck.

Gently pulling aside the collar of her hoodie, soft lips pressed against the side of her neck, leaving a mark on her collarbone with a soft suck.

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned.

While washing up, Xiao Shuangyu had been secretly glancing—glancing to see if Ji Zhuozhou would wash away that red mark on her collarbone.

Ji Zhuozhou didn’t deliberately wash it off, but the scent of chamomile had already dissipated.

Only the misty, humid atmosphere remained in her embrace.

Eyes filled with that overflowing mist looked up at her. Ji Zhuozhou said, “LianLian needs to have one, too.”

Xiao Shuangyu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.