The Second Fall - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Sleeping Together

Lan Cixing’s voice was like a breath.

Rong Yushu’s bedroom door had excellent soundproofing. It was only because there was a slight crack now that she could hear Lan Cixing’s voice. Even so, through the heavy door, it sounded as if it were filtered through sponge.

Rong Yushu pressed her ear tightly against the doorframe, yet she still couldn’t quite gauge the other’s emotions. She eventually pulled back, feeling foolish. To think she was sprawled against a door just to hear a single sentence.

She let out a soft laugh and stepped back, staring at her own shadow as if she had no intention of opening the door. However, there was no trace of a smile on her lips. Rong Yushu lowered her lashes and leaned her back against the door, as if this counted as being pressed against Lan Cixing.

She let time flow in silence.

Outside, Lan Cixing gripped the hem of her shirt, so nervous that sweat beaded on her forehead. She heard no footsteps and didn’t know if Rong Yushu had even come to the door. After a long period without a response, she assumed Rong Yushu was asleep and didn’t dare make another sound. She simply lingered at the door like a stubborn brat, taking a few deep breaths.

Faintly, she could still taste a hint of white tea sweetness. Lan Cixing leaned against the door too. She didn’t know that Rong Yushu was standing back-to-back with her on the other side; she was simply acting out of longing.

How could she not miss her?

Lan Cixing pressed down on her fluttering heart, slowly calming her pulse. Then she exhaled. It felt as if Rong Yushu had already flowed into her body; even this breath carried the ambiguous scent of white tea.

Lan Cixing started walking toward her own room. But the door suddenly opened.

A distinct crack appeared. Although there was no sound, Lan Cixing turned and saw the invitation. Her footsteps paused, then she turned and nearly ran toward Rong Yushu’s room. Before the gap could close itself, she pushed against the door and entered.

Rong Yushu was clearly lying in bed.

Lan Cixing assumed she had opened the door via her phone and crept inside. Rong Yushu had curled into a tiny ball, her face completely covered by the duvet. She was huddled like a cat, leaving only a stray lock of hair visible to Lan Cixing. The rise and fall of her breath moved the blanket up and down.

Lan Cixing wasn’t sure if she wanted to be seen, so she didn’t dare be presumptuous. She knelt on the floor next to Rong Yushu’s slippers, looking up at her from below the bed.

The rhythm of the blanket shifted. She was awake.

Only then did Lan Cixing speak. Perhaps because the bedroom lights were so dim, her voice was hushed. “Sister…”

The bundle of blankets shifted to the other side.

“Are you still angry?” Lan Cixing’s knees instinctively moved forward, following her. When Rong Yushu retreated, Lan Cixing advanced.

“What do I have to be angry about?” Rong Yushu finally stopped moving. Her voice emerged from the sheets, muffled and thin.

“You didn’t want to see me. You didn’t even help me wash my hands just now.” Lan Cixing’s example was quite peculiar.

Rong Yushu poked her head out from under the covers and gave her an annoyed glare. “Are you over-inflating your ego? You made such a mess of me, and I’m supposed to help you wash your hands?”

Lan Cixing was as shameless as ever. At the thought of what had happened earlier that night, Rong Yushu’s earlobes burned with heat—how could she have a pleasant tone?

But Lan Cixing didn’t let the scolding drive her away. She pressed against the edge of the bed, resting her head on the mattress and gripping the sheets. Like a pitiful, lowly dog, she looked up at the woman looking down on her. She was practically wagging her tail.

Rong Yushu narrowed her eyes. She looked down at Lan Cixing as if she were dirt, yet Lan Cixing would still pop up and look at her with those shimmering grey-blue eyes. If she reached out and slapped her, she’d just laugh and offer her face for more.

“But you’re Mommy…” Meeting Rong Yushu’s eyes, Lan Cixing spoke with such confidence that she seemed to lack any self-awareness of her lower status.

This actually caused Rong Yushu to daze for a moment, and she stopped glaring. Rong Yushu sat up. As soon as her feet stretched down, her slippers were automatically guided to her.

A puppy-brand automatic shoe-wearing machine—flexible and obedient. After Lan Cixing finished putting on the shoes, she sat nearby. Rong Yushu let out a huff of air through her nose and pulled her up.

“Did you not see the chairs, or did you not see the cushions?” Rong Yushu was lazy; the room was filled with soft cushions and sofas. She suspected Lan Cixing was deliberately fishing for sympathy by kneeling on her bare knees by the bed.

Thinking this made her even more displeased. Rong Yushu grabbed Lan Cixing by the collar and hauled her to the bathroom.

“But they’re so far from you. I wanted to be closer to you,” Lan Cixing explained, deliberately slowing her steps.

“Sweet talker.” Rong Yushu’s accent slipped through; she let go of her. Lan Cixing’s plan failed, and she had to quicken her pace to keep up.

She was led to the sink. Rong Yushu stood behind her as if embracing her. Intimately, she washed Lan Cixing’s hands. Face to face. Chest to back. Legs pressed together. Fingers interlaced. Rong Yushu rubbed between Lan Cixing’s fingers.

They were clearly already clean. Being handled by Rong Yushu, Lan Cixing could still faintly catch her scent. It was different from pheromones; this was a scent only she had smelled. And tasted.

Lan Cixing lowered her head with a shy smile. Rong Yushu let out a “tsk” and nipped at her reddened earlobe. However, she wasn’t perfunctory; she gave her hands a thorough rinsing.

“Sister isn’t angry anymore.” After the wash, while Rong Yushu carefully dried her hands, Lan Cixing chuckled.

Rong Yushu slapped the towel against Lan Cixing’s palm like a strict teacher hitting a student’s hand. “You think you can judge my emotions? You’re quite capable then, even more so than my elder sister.”

What level was her acting? Could people just guess her true thoughts?

Lan Cixing paused, thinking she might have judged incorrectly. Her perception of Rong Yushu’s mood wasn’t based on expressions or tone. It was mostly a sixth sense, combined with a few of Rong Yushu’s habits that deviated from the norm.

For instance, both involved being kicked. On the bed, it wasn’t anger—it was encouragement. But that kick during the doctor’s visit earlier was truly laced with fury.

And right now… Lan Cixing tried hard to feel it, but she couldn’t be certain of Rong Yushu’s mood. She was being cautious, peering around restlessly even while her hand was still in Rong Yushu’s, making Rong Yushu’s gaze follow her movements.

“I didn’t wake you up, did I?”

Rong Yushu squeezed her finger, finally finishing the drying, and tossed the towel aside disdainfully. “You did.”

“With all that noise you were making at the door, who could sleep through that?” Her voice was a bit slurred now, likely because she hadn’t switched back from her dialect.

Lan Cixing understood and suddenly reached out to hug her. She was quite bold, nuzzling against Rong Yushu’s face. She used a bit of strength, holding her tight. Rong Yushu tried to push her away, pressing against her chest. Lan Cixing wouldn’t let go; she added a bit more pressure, not letting her escape easily.

“I’m sorry”, Lan Cixing said slowly. “And about the marking… I don’t look down on you or anything. You’re great, you’ve always been great. And very… attractive. The marking is because I have a problem, so I can’t…” She spoke vaguely, her voice unclear.

It was as if she were still separated from Rong Yushu by that thick acoustic door. The sponge was heavy, stealing the sound. Rong Yushu gripped her lapels, her fingertips trembling.

How could anyone understand Lan Cixing when she spoke like that? Rong Yushu felt resentment, grievance, heartache… yet in the end, she said nothing. She simply stopped resisting and let Lan Cixing hold her.

“I’m sorry, Shushu-jie,” Lan Cixing apologized one last time and prepared to let go. She had only hugged her because she was afraid Rong Yushu wouldn’t listen.

But her waist was encircled by a pair of arms. Rong Yushu rested her head on Lan Cixing’s shoulder, binding her body tightly. She held her so close it was as if she wanted to swallow her whole. Her breathing was faint; even pressed against her, Lan Cixing couldn’t hear it—she could only smell the faint sandalwood.

Perhaps Rong Yushu had released pheromones. Or perhaps it was just a flash of Lan Cixing’s past memories. Regardless, she didn’t leave. She just stayed there, hugging Rong Yushu.

For a long time.

Only a single nightlight was lit in the bathroom, its glow so weak it seemed about to go out. Rong Yushu finally released her, pushing her aside as if discarding her.

“How much longer do you want to hold me? You little pervert dog.” It was as if Lan Cixing had insisted on extending the hug until the hearts of both were overflowing with bitterness.

Rong Yushu tossed her hair, went back to the bedroom, and climbed into bed. Lan Cixing followed like a puppy, trotting to the bedside. She leaned there, staring blankly. Who knew what she was thinking.

Suddenly, Rong Yushu’s lips curved into a deep smile. She caught a lock of Lan Cixing’s hair with her finger. “Since you’re already here, stay and sleep with me.” She was lying back, yet she seemed to lean forward, tightening the invisible collar around Lan Cixing’s neck.

Lan Cixing’s face slowly turned beet red, and she fled the bedroom like a bolt of lightning. She touched her neck. She wasn’t wearing a collar. Yet, she had still almost stayed in Rong Yushu’s bed. She shuddered, overcome with shame. She didn’t dare sleep with her.

Lan Cixing ignored the wave of friend requests from An Yu. Someone seemed to be using the friend request field as a chat box, harassing her relentlessly.

Lan Cixing didn’t dwell on the issue of An Yu’s online times anymore. When she and Rong Yushu were doing that, An Yu was indeed offline. But who knew if it was a coincidence. She was scared of this person now and wouldn’t continue with her. She was just a netizen.

Lan Cixing turned off her phone and sprawled out on her bed. As her breathing leveled out, she hazily recalled a scene from many years ago.

The first talent agency Lan Cixing signed with was unreliable. Her manager only thought about offering her up as a plaything for powerful tycoons; she didn’t actually want to give her roles or resources. Lan Cixing’s second official role was one she signed for herself. She had haunted Rong Yushu’s film set, persistent and thick-skinned in her youth.

As it turned out, she actually passed the audition. The director was very satisfied with her portrayal and wanted to sign her. However, the call went to Lan Cixing’s manager. The manager was furious. If Lan Cixing signed, the manager wouldn’t get a cent, and Lan Cixing would be on set for the next six months, unable to flatter those tycoons.

The manager brought a tycoon who had his eye on Lan Cixing to the set, intending to replace her. It was Rong Yushu—who hadn’t yet revealed her connection to the Rong family and wasn’t yet a superstar—who fought for her. She drove them away with nothing but her words. Fortunately, the director was a good person and the production team wasn’t blinded by money.

That time, Lan Cixing also felt Rong Yushu was angry and wanted to apologize. She also wanted to thank her. Under the nightlight, Rong Yushu poked the tip of her nose, telling her she didn’t want an apology or thanks. It was as if she did it purely because she wanted to, having nothing to do with Lan Cixing.

“Silly kid. Just call me Sister.” A single sentence explained why she helped. Simply because she was “Sister.”

Lan Cixing knew Rong Yushu had an older sister, and she assumed that sister had once helped her in the same way, and Rong Yushu wanted to pass that kindness along.

“Act well, and don’t embarrass me.” When Rong Yushu said this, she only left Lan Cixing with her back. She did so much but said so little, asking for nothing in return.

Lan Cixing only knew how fast her heart was beating that night. She wanted to keep up with Rong Yushu’s footsteps; she wanted to continue being her little shadow. Instead, she was tossed toward better roles and a higher future.

Lan Cixing had once defined that day as the moment she fell for Rong Yushu. Now, pressing her hand to her heart, a familiar warmth flowed through her veins. A taste of sweetness, yet the aftertaste was incredibly sour.

Lan Cixing tossed and turned, finally hugging her blanket. If the her from that day had fallen for Rong Yushu… what were her feelings for Rong Yushu today? And what were her feelings during that first meeting when she was eighteen?

Perhaps the boundaries of love were very blurred. Perhaps Lan Cixing had always been trapped in that summer, detained by a bottle of cold water from Rong Yushu, unable to leave to this day. So no matter how the cycle repeated, she would eventually return to the starting point of her heartbeat.

She recalled everything that had happened recently. She thought that whether it was her or Rong Yushu, they hadn’t actually changed. She still couldn’t understand anything about Rong Yushu, yet she couldn’t help being attracted to her. Rong Yushu still had that bad temper, moody and unpredictable. Yet she was still so good to her.

How could someone give her everything while being so harsh with their words? But Lan Cixing rolled around several times and still couldn’t bring herself to hate Rong Yushu’s mouth. Wasn’t that mouth what she liked most? Usually merciless, saying whatever she wanted. But once they kissed, it was as soft as water.

Clutching her sheets, Lan Cixing unconsciously fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams, there was the sweet scent of white tea, pinching her face painfully one moment and kissing her the next.

Lan Cixing slept until noon. She had slept enough. After waking up, she headed to the gym first. She wasn’t sure if Rong Yushu was up. Passing Rong Yushu’s room, she only saw a tightly locked door. She had even quietly tried to push it. Usually, Rong Yushu’s door wasn’t locked. But it didn’t budge. With a red face, she quickly ran downstairs.

Midway through her workout, a golden shadow flickered in her peripheral vision. A figure sat down nearby.

“Sister.” Lan Cixing stopped her movements, wanting to walk toward Rong Yushu. It was an instinctive reaction.

Rong Yushu glanced at her and slumped onto a soft chair, looking quite sleepy. “Where’s your phone?” Her voice sounded like she was on the verge of yawning.

Lan Cixing, confused, handed her the phone that was lying nearby.

“I’ll play for a bit, you continue.” Rong Yushu’s head bobbed; it was unclear why she had come to accompany her. Lan Cixing didn’t ask; she just moved back to the treadmill, choosing a low-noise, steady setting so as not to disturb her.

A while later, just as she finished, Rong Yushu stood up and stretched. A towel landed with a “smack” on Lan Cixing’s neck. Lan Cixing looked at her, and her eyes couldn’t help but fill with a smile.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Like a dumb dog.” Rong Yushu glanced at her, still fighting back sleepiness, wiped the sweat from Lan Cixing’s face, and gave her a sip of water.

“Sister.” Lan Cixing didn’t answer; her eyes were shining. It was a pity she wasn’t a real dog. No matter how blatant her emotions were, there was no tail to wag into a propeller.

“Good girl. Go wash up. I’m going back to rest.” It seemed Rong Yushu had only come to accompany her for a moment, specifically to take care of her.

Lan Cixing took her phone and prepared to follow Rong Yushu upstairs. Before entering her room, Rong Yushu suddenly turned around. She stared at Lan Cixing, all traces of sleepiness gone from her eyes, replaced by a fox-like grin.

“Next time you want to enter my room, you can just come in. I won’t lock it for you.” Then she shut the door, leaving Lan Cixing with a gust of wind.

Lan Cixing gripped her phone as her head spun. The phone automatically detected her face and unlocked. She looked down and saw that she had accepted An Yu’s friend request.

…? Since when?

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