The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 38

When the final exams ended, the five of them boarded a flight together to Austown.

Since students went on holiday earlier than company employees, they set out first. Besides, even if they joined the Shen Corporation’s staff trip, they wouldn’t really be hanging out with them. This was just an excuse to travel.

All five were seated in first class. Naturally, Shen Jianxi nestled right next to Tang Yanzhao, her head leaning intimately against her.

Tang Yanzhao had grown accustomed to her reliance. Even though the plane’s heating was sufficient, she still covered Shen Jianxi with a blanket, whispering softly:
“Sleep.”

The past few days of revision had drained Shen Jianxi considerably. In order not to fall too far behind Tang Yanzhao in ranking, she’d forced herself to burn the midnight oil, finally understanding what “studying late into the night” really meant. Now she looked completely exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, pitiful to behold.

Tang Yanzhao tilted her head slightly, catching sight of her high-bridged nose under the soft light, even the fine downy hairs visible in detail. The tiny rise and fall of her lips with each breath seemed to hover just above her lower lip, close yet not quite touching. The sight filled Tang Yanzhao’s chest with warmth.

Realizing her heartbeat was quickening, Tang Yanzhao immediately turned away, shut her eyes, and tried to sleep lightly.

On the other side, Jiang Lan had simply dragged Fang Xing into her seat, pulled the curtain shut, and gazed eagerly at her.

Fang Xing poked her between the brows with a finger, deliberately teasing:
“What do you want?”

“Want!”

“In public like this? Not appropriate, right?”

Ever since Jiang Lan had managed to tempt her into tasting her lips while sober at the Shen family villa, things had spiraled out of control. Jiang Lan was like a floodgate burst open, constantly tugging her along, whispering “want.”

Fang Xing had even teased her once:
“Anyone who didn’t know would think my mouth was made of poppy.”

Her tone was laced with playful mockery, but in action, she never actually rejected her.

When they were done, Fang Xing, still much clearer-headed than Jiang Lan, pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped her lips.
“Jiang Lan, let me ask you something?”

Jiang Lan hadn’t even recovered yet, her neck slack as she slumped against Fang Xing’s shoulder. She responded thickly through her nose:
“Mm?”

“You…” Fang Xing paused, then spoke lightly instead:
“After all these times, why are your kissing skills still so bad?”

That was practically an insult to Jiang Lan’s Alpha pride. Could she endure it? Absolutely not. She immediately flipped over, pinned Fang Xing to the seat, and kissed her hard.

It was the most aggressive, “rough” move she’d ever made—and also the most satisfying for Fang Xing.

Jiang Lan really was a fool, the kind who’d thank you even after being sold off.

Meanwhile, Ye Tao sat alone, far too quiet, staring out the window at the endless blue sky. It was so close, yet untouchable.

She had seen Fang Xing go to Jiang Lan. She knew how close the two of them had become recently. She had even stumbled across them kissing passionately on the school rooftop.

Her heart felt split open as she watched the person she liked walk into someone else’s arms. As a friend, she truly couldn’t bring herself to offer sincere blessings.

If so, then perhaps watching silently from the sidelines was its own kind of kindness.

The flight lasted a full three hours. By the end, Shen Jianxi’s back ached and her little face was all scrunched up.

When they got into the car heading for the hotel, Tang Yanzhao couldn’t resist being charmed by her adorable expression, massaging her shoulders and back without complaint.

Shen Jianxi rewarded her with a sweet smile.

Neither of them had confessed, yet the air between them was so sweet and intimate that anyone watching would assume they were a couple.

In contrast, another pair looked equally close on the surface, as if they were lovers—but only they themselves knew they were nothing more than “friends and family.”

The ride from the airport to the hotel took about forty minutes. Porters handled their luggage as they followed the staff’s lead to their reserved accommodations.

It was the Atlantis Theme Hotel—a lavish oceanic wonder known for its luxury. It housed more than sixty thousand sea creatures, with glass walkways that made you feel as though you were strolling inside a marine palace. Replicas of shipwrecks and stone pillars added to the effect. Its Michelin-starred restaurants were staffed with world-class chefs. The aquarium inside was even more magnificent than those on land. Here, dining, entertainment, and leisure blended seamlessly—you could spend days exploring without leaving.

Ye Tao and the others were shown to their rooms. Just as Tang Yanzhao was waiting for hers, Shen Jianxi suddenly tugged her straight into a private elevator. Light and shadow flickered across their faces as it descended.

Soon they arrived at their suite. The heavy oak doors closed softly behind them, shutting out the bustle of the outside world.

Tang Yanzhao instinctively glanced at Shen Jianxi. Shen Jianxi tilted her head playfully with a mischievous smile, kicked off her sneakers, and pulled Tang Yanzhao along, stepping barefoot onto the plush carpet that felt like clouds beneath their feet. The air carried the faint scent of an expensive fragrance, mixed with a barely detectable oceanic freshness from the purifier. The boundary between dream and reality blurred completely.

The domed ceiling glowed with pale blue and white light, like ancient ice. Beyond the massive glass walls swam schools of silver-scaled fish, glittering like galaxies in motion. Looking up, they seemed to stand beneath a flowing Milky Way, timeless and serene.

Light sparkled in Shen Jianxi’s cat-like eyes as she turned to study Tang Yanzhao’s sharp jawline and straight nose. The shifting glow painted her face with an air of mystery, softened by her usually composed expression.

Noticing the weight of that gaze, Tang Yanzhao blinked and asked softly:
“Mm? What is it?”

Shen Jianxi shook her head and instead asked:
“Do you like it?”

Tang Yanzhao answered honestly:
“It’s breathtaking.”

Shen Jianxi tugged her down onto the enormous hanging hammock. As schools of fish drifted overhead, she said slowly:

“Have you ever heard the romantic legend of Atlantis?”

Tang Yanzhao replied, “No.”

“They say long ago, Atlantis was a rich and powerful empire. At its heart stood the Lingge Pillar, filled with oceanic power that kept the empire eternal. But one day, earthquakes and floods struck. The pillar wavered, and the empire crumbled in an instant.

“In that critical moment, Crown Princess Calissan gave her life to freeze the pillar and steady it. But the disaster was overwhelming. Alone, she couldn’t hold back the heavens’ wrath. Laisa could only watch as her beloved exhausted her strength and vanished before her eyes.

“Heartbroken, Laisa fulfilled the vow she once made. She poured what little power she had into an ice crystal, merging it with Calissan. Though they couldn’t save the empire, they remained eternal in another form—their love everlasting.”

Shen Jianxi finished and looked over.
“So the legend says that two lovers who come to Atlantis will be blessed by the gods with eternal love.”

Tang Yanzhao pressed her lips together, then answered coolly with a harsher truth:
“In the actual myths, the Atlanteans were descendants of Poseidon. But as gods, their greed and pride grew unchecked, until their divinity was lost. So the heavens punished them—earthquakes and floods swallowed Atlantis day by day. That ancient civilization perished because of moral decay and arrogance. Your story doesn’t exist in history.”

She was plainly saying: I know you made it up.

Shen Jianxi’s face darkened. After a beat, she suddenly rolled over, pinning Tang Yanzhao beneath her shoulder, teeth gritted. She pinched her nose in mock anger:
“Mythology is made-up anyway. So what if I add the story I want?”

Tang Yanzhao just started to respond when Shen Jianxi “ferociously” pinched her lips instead, cat-eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Say it nicely.”

Only then did she release her. Tang Yanzhao smoothed her lips and admitted:
“Mm, you’re right.”

Satisfied, Shen Jianxi smiled faintly.
“Then—is the story of eternal love real?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe it?”

“I do.”

So obedient. Shen Jianxi’s heart bloomed. She leaned in and kissed her cheek, just slightly closer to her lips than necessary, indulging a private desire. Then, acting casual, she praised:
“Good girl.”

The rush of her white sandalwood pheromones shattered Tang Yanzhao’s composure. She stared, heat flooding her face, heart pounding violently.

Sensing herself losing control, Tang Yanzhao sprang up, fled to the corner, and pressed her forehead to the wall, taking deep breaths to calm down.

Watching her retreat, Shen Jianxi lounged back against the bed, amused by the sight of her shoulders heaving. The sharp ache in her chest just moments earlier was now nothing.

She vowed next time she’d make her last longer. After all, her self-control had grown stronger lately.

After a short rest, the two of them headed to the restaurant.

Normally, with a suite of this caliber, meals would be served privately. But Shen Jianxi wanted to explore with Yanzhao, cherishing the rare chance to travel together.

And of course, food from Michelin-star chefs would never disappoint.

Shen Jianxi stuffed a little cake into her mouth, cream smearing her lips. Tang Yanzhao pointed at her:
“You’ve got cream there.”

It was something she could’ve solved with a single lick, but Shen Jianxi didn’t. Instead, she leaned her face close to Tang Yanzhao, expectantly demanding with her expression: You do it for me.

Tang Yanzhao didn’t complain. Deep down, beneath her own awareness, there was a subtle, eager desire pushing her to oblige.

Their faces drew near—one playful and cute, the other focused and intent. A contrast, yet somehow perfect.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out behind them, light and teasing:
“Oh? Yanzhao?”

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