The Lady I Flirted With Is Here - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Grapefruit

After their brief argument, the bond between the two seemed even more stable and trusting. Lin Xian was busy with her internship as a teaching assistant for the Chinese Department; additionally, she was preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam. Although she wasn’t actually taking it seriously until next year, she planned to register anyway, considering the fee a “down payment” to experience the exam atmosphere in advance. As October passed, the weather turned colder. The southern part of the campus was filled with vast groves of ginkgo and maple trees—the former a brilliant gold, the latter a fiery red. Once the end of the month arrived, Lin Xian officially resigned from her assistant job and began her revision in earnest, hoping to at least stay awake during the mock exam.

Upon hearing this, Fang Daiyu gave up on her plan to take Lin Xian to Fragrant Hills. During a video call, she mentioned it regretfully: “It would have been so nice to climb Fragrant Hills with you and see the red leaves covering the mountains.” Lin Xian, who usually raved about romance, had a face written with pure refusal: “Don’t even think about it! I’ll keep you company elsewhere, but I’m not climbing that mountain.”

She recalled her sophomore year when she went to Fragrant Hills. It was freezing, and she spent the whole trek weighed down by heavy clothes. She never even saw the summit; every time she thought she was close, reality taught her a lesson. After finally panting her way up, she planned to take the cable car down, only to find a sea of people. She stood shivering and hungry in the biting wind for nearly four hours before she and her classmates finally managed to board an expensive cable car down.

The cable car offered no shelter from the wind, which blasted her the entire way. Lin Xian returned home with a fever. Fragrant Hills was beautiful, yes, but once was enough. Lin Xian was midway through her exaggerated retelling when she noticed Fang Daiyu’s profoundly dissatisfied gaze. “I’ve decided,” Daiyu said. “This weekend, we are climbing Fragrant Hills!”

Usually, a little acting cute would suffice, but this time Fang Daiyu was dead set on it. Her reasoning was private, but it boiled down to a flare-up of possessiveness: Lin Xian had gone there with others before she had gone with her. How could she stand it?

Lin Xian thought she was joking and continued to act cute toward the screen. She pouted and blew kisses: “Dear little Daiyu, my tummy hurts. My period is coming soon, do you really have the heart?”

Fang Daiyu was skeptical. “Really? Didn’t you just have it two weeks ago?” Lin Xian felt helpless. “I don’t know! My stomach has been aching lately, and all signs point to…” She didn’t need to say more.

The trip to Fragrant Hills was put on hold, and taking care of Lin Xian became the priority. On Thursday night, Fang Daiyu sat at home with two large grapefruits (pomelos) during their video call. She began peeling one, her fair fingers looking even more beautiful against the translucent segments of fruit.

Lin Xian was completely stirred by the sight and made an excuse: “Daiyu, I want to eat grapefruit too.” She wanted the fruit, but she wanted the… person even more.

Fang Daiyu smiled. “I’ll order some for you now. Let me see if any fruit shops are still open…” As she looked at her phone, she heard Lin Xian’s refusal: “What’s the point if you don’t deliver it yourself? Silly Daiyu, I just want to see you!”

On the screen, Lin Xian—who had finished washing up and was lying in bed—had her short hair draped around her pale, youthful face. She counted on her fingers: “Two more days. Come see me, okay?” What she didn’t say was that the maples on campus were red and the ginkgo trees were gold. Why go to Fragrant Hills? The campus was a golden wonderland. In previous years, the South District only left her with a vague impression of autumn’s beauty.

To see the ginkgo trees on campus with her lover… that would be a first.

Looking at Lin Xian’s expectant face, Fang Daiyu replied, “Alright. It’s not grapefruit you’re missing, it’s your ‘wife,’ isn’t it?” Lin Xian dove under her covers, peeking out to whisper shyly, “Mhm. A fairy wife as beautiful as Sister Lin from the heavens!” She hung up and rolled around on her bed, her face burning.

…

The next morning, around six or seven, Lin Xian heard her roommates Yaya and Nannan—the serious exam candidates—getting out of bed. Realizing she was about to join the ranks of the “postgrad army,” she half-heartedly began packing her things. Clearly, a “reserve” soldier couldn’t compare to the regulars; by the time Lin Xian had finished washing her face and applying cream, the other two had already dashed off to the morning study hall.

Lin Xian took her time getting ready. To boost her mood, she applied a bit of lipstick and put on a pretty outfit. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lin Xian walked over, feeling smug. Those two forgetful girls probably left their study materials behind again. Hmph. Waking up so early just to end up leaving at the same time as me.

“Hehehe, forgot your books?” Lin Xian opened the door with a look of schadenfreude, only to find Fang Daiyu standing there. Dressed in a black down jacket with a cool, elegant expression, Daiyu raised an eyebrow and lifted a bag of grapefruit.

“No way!” This time Lin Xian was so shocked she thought she was hallucinating. She slammed the door shut, checked her phone—8:03 AM. A wild Daiyu appeared at the door in the early morning?

Knock, knock, knock. The knocking was gentle. Fang Daiyu’s voice was like a cool spring: “I know you’re right behind the door, Xianxian. Open up.”

Even after Fang Daiyu walked in and set the grapefruit on the table, Lin Xian followed her like she was in a dream. “No, really… why are you here?” Her entire rhythm had been disrupted, leaving her flustered and dazed.

Fang Daiyu pulled her into a hug, planting a lingering kiss on her familiar lips, but even that didn’t snap Lin Xian out of it. Lin Xian’s eyes were hazy. Wait, what did I say last night?

“What’s the point if you don’t deliver it yourself?” Right. She had also mentioned she wanted to see her. It was just a bit of flirting! Even so, seeing Daiyu unexpectedly at her door made her heart swell with emotion and surprise.

“Don’t want to see me?” Fang Daiyu hugged her from behind, her kisses instinctively sticking to the girl’s pale earlobe. Between work overtime and Lin Xian’s exam prep, they had only managed a brief meeting a few days ago.

“How is that possible?” Lin Xian found it unbelievable. “It’s only Friday. It’s only eight o’clock!”

Speaking of which, she grabbed Fang Daiyu’s hands—they were as cold as ice. She cupped Daiyu’s cheeks; they were like frost. Lin Xian frowned, plugged in an electric hot water bag, and started rubbing Daiyu’s hands to warm them up. She pulled her to the bed and wrapped her in a quilt, then pulled a scarf from the wardrobe and wrapped it around Daiyu’s face and ears for good measure.

“Mummy” Daiyu, sitting stiffly on the bed with only her eyes visible: “…”

She struggled to speak through the layers of the scarf. “Xianxian, I took a taxi. I only walked a short distance through the neighborhood.”

Lin Xian shot her a glare. “The seasons are changing, you know!” At the display of “fierceness,” Fang Daiyu played along and went quiet. “I know.”

Lin Xian began her lecture: “You know? If you knew, why didn’t you take care of yourself?”

Fang Daiyu acted like an obedient student, showing none of the “fearsome director” persona she had at the office. “I’ll remember what my ‘wife’ says from now on.” She gave a sweet smile, though wrapped in the scarf, her attempt at acting cute was somewhat lost.

Lin Xian got angrier the more she thought about it. “Fang Daiyu, how many times have I told you? Why no hat? Why no scarf? Where are your gloves? What about your ankles? Do you think you’re still three years old?”

Lin Xian looked so serious that Fang Daiyu’s alluring eyes sparkled with amusement. “My mom didn’t teach me when I was little. I know now.”

“Hmph, you know now? Too late!” The hot water bag clicked off. Lin Xian finally “rescued” her from the bundle of blankets. She claimed she was warming her up, but she had actually enjoyed the little bit of teasing.

As she unwrapped the bedding, she asked, “You just let people wrap you up like that? What if someone kidnapped you? You don’t know how to resist at all!” As she bent over to unfasten the scarf, Fang Daiyu’s hands suddenly gripped Lin Xian’s wrists. With a gentle push, Lin Xian fell back onto the bed. Fang Daiyu smiled. “Xianxian, I’m an adult.”

She hooked a leg over the bed, hovering over Lin Xian with her arms braced on either side. Her eyelashes fluttered restlessly. Lin Xian closed her eyes and pleaded: “It’s broad daylight! In the light of day! Fang Daiyu, let go of my hands, I was wrong.”

Lin Xian began to beg: “I wrapped you up on purpose. I won’t do it again.”

Fang Daiyu’s voice was husky. “I know.” She gave a faint smile. “Broad daylight is the perfect time for ‘daytime’ activities, Xianxian. What did you just call me?”

“Fang Daiyu,” Lin Xian muttered, looking aggrieved but rebellious.

This pitiable yet stubborn look triggered Fang Daiyu’s playful side. “Say it again, I didn’t hear you clearly.”

“Daiyu.” (Pouting)

“Mhm?”

“Girlfriend.” (Whispering)

Fang Daiyu kissed her lips. “Wrong.”

“Wife.” (Eyes burning with shame)

Fang Daiyu gave her earlobe a gentle nip before letting go. “Still wrong. It’s ‘Daddy’ (Baba).”

She was immersed in the game, not realizing those two words hit Lin Xian’s limit of shame. A surge of strength erupted within her. Lin Xian gritted her teeth, fought back against the grip on her wrists, and rolled with Fang Daiyu, pinning her to the bed instead.

Now, it was Lin Xian looking down, pressing the other woman’s arms down. “Daddy? Want to say it for me to hear?” Her eyes were triumphant. Pressing the “fairy” beneath her—wasn’t this delightful? Finally, I’ve got her where it hurts.

She expected Daiyu to beg for mercy while she gloated. Instead, Fang Daiyu bit her lip, looking half-ashamed and half-provocative. Her voice was breathy and lingering: “Daddy~”

Lin Xian shuddered and immediately let go of her hands.

Fang Daiyu burst into loud laughter. Lin Xian couldn’t take it anymore. She angrily grabbed her coat. “Hmph! Neglecting your duties! Skipping work on a Friday to come here—your girlfriend still has to study for her exams!”

Because Lin Xian sounded so serious about the “exams,” Fang Daiyu looked puzzled. “Didn’t you say, ‘It’s just a trial run, I’ll just skim the books and answer what I can’? Weren’t those your words?”

Defeated again, Lin Xian picked up her backpack and grumbled, “You people in the workforce just love to corrupt innocent female college students!”

“Female college student? A pure one?” Lin Xian slapped a hand over the rest of the sentence. She wanted to cry. Why had the “ethereal little fairy” developed such a… “lewd” personality?

Was it a case of “one who sleeps with dogs rises with fleas”? From now on, she was never going to talk about “unhealthy” topics with her friends again.