The Devil President's Delicate Wife (GL) - Chapter 9

At one in the morning, Murong Qing woke up with a splitting headache. When she saw the thin blanket covering her and Lin Yueshu sound asleep at the desk, warmth still filled her heart.

She knew that with Lin Yueshu’s abilities, there was no need for her to sell herself like this. A genius designer, with her reputation in the industry, could easily have lived an upper-class life.

Though Murong Qing understood that Lin Yueshu had done this for Lin Yushu, she couldn’t help but feel that their meeting might have been fate’s gift to them.

Sitting beside Lin Yueshu, watching her sweet, peaceful sleeping face, Murong Qing felt a quiet joy. Perhaps only in this moment was Lin Yueshu truly herself, unfiltered and unguarded.

Murong Qing vaguely remembered how happy Lin Yueshu had looked yesterday afternoon, chatting with that handsome man. Jealousy and resentment had gnawed at her. Jealous, because Lin Yueshu had never been that cheerful around her. Resentful, because Lin Yueshu was her woman. How dare another man even think of her? That was unforgivable.

Her head throbbing, Murong Qing pressed a hand to her forehead and tried to get up for some sobering tea. But as she rose, she accidentally bumped into the corner of the table. With a sharp cry, she collapsed to the floor.

The noise startled Lin Yueshu awake. Her eyes flew open to see Murong Qing sprawled at her feet, clearly in pain. Alarmed, she immediately knelt to help her up, asking anxiously, “Miss, are you alright?”

Murong Qing hadn’t meant to wake her. But seeing the worry on Lin Yueshu’s face, despite the pain, her heart swelled with happiness. Lin Yueshu cared about her.

Gritting her teeth, Murong Qing forced a smile. “It’s nothing, just a little bump. Help me up, will you?”

When you love someone, even the smallest glance or gesture can sway your emotions. Murong Qing finally understood that now.

She had never understood love before. Her parents’ failed marriage had left her with a fear of commitment and a deep disdain for beautiful, alluring women. So, she had vented her bitterness and anger by toying with them.

But when Murong Qing realized she had fallen for Lin Yueshu, her entire perspective on love changed. The only problem was Lin Yueshu couldn’t accept her feelings.

Now, all Murong Qing wanted to know was why. Was it because Lin Yueshu was straight? Did she prefer men? Countless questions swirled in her mind, none with answers.

Murong Qing was possessive by nature, but Lin Yueshu didn’t know that. It would lead to much heartache in the future and a struggle to recognize her own heart.

“Of course, Miss.” Lin Yueshu helped Murong Qing onto the sofa, then knelt to examine her bruised left leg. Frowning at the darkening mark, she said, “Miss, it’s swollen. Let me apply a warm compress, it’ll help it heal faster.”

Murong Qing watched Lin Yueshu’s every movement, overwhelmed by a new, unfamiliar happiness. Here was someone who genuinely cared for her, waited for her at home, looked after her. And most importantly it was the person she loved.

Lin Yueshu returned with hot water, gently pressing a warm towel to the injury. She was meticulous by nature, a habit honed from years of caring for Lin Yushu.

Her care for Murong Qing was largely out of habit. Even if it were a complete stranger, if an accident occurred and she could help, she would certainly lend a hand.

However, Murong Qing didn’t see Lin Yueshu’s series of actions that way. She thought Lin Yueshu might actually like her otherwise, why would she take such good care of her?

Murong Qing felt that Lin Yueshu was like a wife tending to her injured husband. The thought made her giggle foolishly without realizing it.

Hearing Murong Qing’s laughter, Lin Yueshu looked up at her, puzzled. She had no idea what Murong Qing was laughing about but sensed it was directed at her. “Miss, what are you laughing at?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

Seeing Lin Yueshu’s wide-eyed confusion, Murong Qing found it utterly adorable. Covering her mouth, she chuckled, “Nothing, I just think you’re really cute. Hahaha!”

Lin Yueshu didn’t take it well. Cute? What was cute about her? She lowered her head and ignored Murong Qing.

Unbeknownst to herself, Lin Yueshu had also begun to care for Murong Qing. Perhaps when people are closest, they often fail to see themselves clearly.

Murong Qing noticed Lin Yueshu’s displeasure. She had only called her cute—why was Lin Yueshu upset? Most girls loved hearing that. Why didn’t it work on her? Little did Murong Qing know, Lin Yueshu hated being called cute more than anything.

“Yueshu, don’t be mad, okay? I didn’t mean it,” Murong Qing quickly apologized. She couldn’t afford to upset Lin Yueshu now otherwise, who knew when she’d ever win her over?

Though slightly annoyed, Lin Yueshu’s irritation was fleeting. She wrung out the towel, placed it in the basin, smoothed down Murong Qing’s pant leg, and stood up with the basin in hand. “Alright, Miss, you should rest early,” she said.

Murong Qing, now thoroughly enjoying Lin Yueshu’s attention, felt neither tired nor in pain. Her headache was gone, her leg was fine, and she was brimming with energy. Watching Lin Yueshu bustle about, she said, “I’m not sleepy yet. How about we chat for a bit?”

Emerging from the kitchen, Lin Yueshu heard Murong Qing’s request to chat in the middle of the night. Exhausted, she had no intention of indulging the CEO. Yawning widely, she replied, “Miss, you might not be tired, but I am. Why don’t you watch some TV? I’m going to bed.”

Hearing this, Murong Qing sprang up from the sofa, rushed over, and grabbed Lin Yueshu’s hand, whining playfully, “I’m sleepy too. Let’s go to bed.” With that, she dragged Lin Yueshu upstairs.

Before Lin Yueshu could process Murong Qing’s sudden change, they were already in the bedroom. Staring blankly at Murong Qing perched on the edge of her bed, Lin Yueshu asked, “Miss, are you planning to sleep here?”

Lin Yueshu knew Murong Qing had never slept in her room before. Yet, Murong Qing’s actions now made it seem as though she were the master of the space, not Lin Yueshu.

“Of course. Where else would I sleep? On the sofa?” Murong Qing replied matter-of-factly, without a trace of embarrassment.

Lin Yueshu was displeased. She didn’t like others using her things. Murong Qing’s implication was clear. She intended to sleep here tonight, leaving Lin Yueshu to deal with it. “No, Miss, you have your own bedroom, and it’s even more comfortable than mine. Why insist on squeezing into my small bed?”

Though Lin Yueshu’s bed was a double, it wasn’t particularly spacious just enough for two people to barely fit.

Murong Qing noticed Lin Yueshu’s reluctance and wondered why. After all, everything here belonged to her. She could sleep wherever she pleased. Was Lin Yueshu perhaps particular about cleanliness? That was the first thought that crossed Murong Qing’s mind. “I like sleeping next to you. Don’t you like it?”

Murong Qing lowered her head, speaking with a hint of grievance, like a wronged child. Seeing her like this, Lin Yueshu’s heart softened, and she relented. “If Miss wants to sleep here, shouldn’t you freshen up first? You can’t just sleep reeking of alcohol.”

The moment Murong Qing heard Lin Yueshu agree, she lit up like a delighted bunny, her smile blooming. “I’ll go right away!” she chirped before darting off in a flash.

Left alone on the bed, Lin Yueshu lay there, perplexed. Ever since her return, Murong Qing’s transformation had left her unsettled. Over a year ago, Murong Qing had never treated her this way. Sometimes, she had even acted as if looking at her was a chore.

Back then, whenever Murong Qing was upset, she would take it out on Lin Yueshu, let alone smile at her.

But now, Murong Qing had changed completely. Lin Yueshu couldn’t wrap her head around it. She had only been gone for a year, yet upon returning, Murong Qing was entirely different even confessing that she liked her.

Lin Yueshu had never claimed to like women, nor had she ever expressed interest in men. When it came to emotions, she was exacting. What she sought was wholehearted, unwavering devotion. To her, love was sacred something pure and untarnished. Murong Qing clearly didn’t fit into that category, so when she confessed, Lin Yueshu had rejected her without a second thought.

Lin Yueshu had always suspected that something was off about Murong Qing’s sudden change, but she wasn’t particularly interested in finding out. After all, Murong Qing had made it clear that their relationship was purely transactional nothing more.

When Murong Qing emerged from her shower, she found Lin Yueshu already asleep on the bed. She climbed in, gently lifting Lin Yueshu to adjust her position before turning off the light, pulling up the thin blanket, and wrapping her arms around her.

Murong Qing could feel the warmth of Lin Yueshu’s body, and in that moment, she felt an unfamiliar sense of peace. In the past, when she had been with Lin Yueshu, she had never truly taken the time to appreciate these small sensations.

Holding Lin Yueshu’s soft form, she felt as if the entire world had become beautiful. So this was what it felt like to love someone—as if, at twenty-eight years old, she was finally experiencing it for the first time.

Murong Qing nestled her head against the crook of Lin Yueshu’s neck, breathing in the milky fragrance of her body wash. Closing her eyes, she savored everything about Lin Yueshu, slowly drifting into a serene slumber.

When Lin Yueshu awoke the next morning, the first thing she saw was Murong Qing’s peaceful, smiling face in sleep. For the first time, she found Murong Qing strikingly beautiful. Gently, she brushed the stray strands of hair from Murong Qing’s forehead, tucking them behind her ear as she quietly watched her.

In the past, she had never wanted to understand Murong Qing, believing there was no need. Their relationship had been simple nothing more than that of a lover and a servant.

But since Murong Qing confessed her feelings to her, Lin Yueshu knew their relationship had changed. It was no longer just a simple transactional bond; it had transformed into a complicated, unfulfilled romantic entanglement.

Just because Lin Yueshu didn’t want it didn’t mean Murong Qing didn’t. Lin Yueshu had always understood that even if she rejected Murong Qing, the latter wouldn’t give up. That was just the kind of person Murong Qing was. Whatever she wanted, she would do everything in her power to obtain it.

Lin Yueshu rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, letting out a helpless sigh.

Hearing the sigh, Murong Qing opened her eyes and asked, “Why sigh so early in the morning? You’ll age faster that way.”

Lin Yueshu turned her head and smiled at Murong Qing. “Actually, sometimes I think growing old wouldn’t be so bad. But for me, that might be a luxury.”

There hadn’t been many truly happy moments in Lin Yueshu’s life or perhaps she just didn’t remember them. Maybe she had never been truly happy at all.

Murong Qing was stunned into silence by Lin Yueshu’s response. She hadn’t expected such a pessimistic outlook. Most women dreaded aging, yet Lin Yueshu considered it a luxury. It spoke of someone who yearned to leave this world, held back only by some unseen tether.

A sharp pain twisted in Murong Qing’s heart for Lin Yueshu, and for herself. She wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Yueshu and said, “Whether you’re young or old, you’ll always be my Yueshu.”

It wasn’t a particularly romantic declaration, but it carried the weight of all Murong Qing’s feelings. Hearing this, Lin Yueshu closed her eyes and nestled obediently into Murong Qing’s embrace.

Love doesn’t always need grand gestures or passionate words. Sometimes, it’s just a simple phrase or a quiet action that conveys everything one feels for another.