The Second Fall - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Falling for the Second Time

Rong Yushu tossed her phone aside, switched on a nightlight, and hurriedly went to check on Lan Cixing.

Lan Cixing was crying miserably. She had almost no voice left, only rapid, heaving breaths.

Rong Yushu gently patted her shoulder, but there was no reaction. Her eyes wouldn’t open; tears simply welled and overflowed in steady streams.

To cry like this and still be trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up—it was the first time Rong Yushu had seen Lan Cixing like this.

Four years ago, they had slept in each other’s arms many times. They never did anything excessive; they would simply kindle an ambiguous atmosphere, embrace, and at most, touch each other’s faces. Lan Cixing was a very quiet sleeper, much more well-behaved than Rong Yushu. Occasionally, in the middle of the night, Rong Yushu would kick her out of bed, but she never complained, merely crawling back in a daze.

When had she ever cried like this? And in a dream, no less.

Panicked and flustered, Rong Yushu sat beside Lan Cixing and clumsily pulled her into her arms. But holding her brought no relief. It seemed her white tea scent no longer had any effect on Lan Cixing.

Rong Yushu hurriedly used her sleeve to wipe Lan Cixing’s tears, wanting to wake her but unsure if she should. She kept wiping the tears, but it was in vain. Lan Cixing’s tears would not stop. If she weren’t still dreaming, she would likely be in a state of heart-wrenching agony.

Not knowing what she was dreaming about, Rong Yushu watched as Lan Cixing’s body began to tremble slowly. Rong Yushu’s sleeve was already soaked, and her elbow felt the cold dampness of the tears. The more she wiped, the more tears appeared, and the bedsheets were not spared. Rong Yushu was nearly turned into a “water person” by Lan Cixing’s crying.

I really should have asked, Rong Yushu thought, taking a deep breath and simply kissing the corner of Lan Cixing’s eye. She began to swallow the bitter tears bit by bit; after just two tastes, the bitterness made her heart flutter with unease. Rong Yushu paused to swallow the bitterness—she didn’t find it distasteful—and kissed her again. She had completely forgotten that the tissues were right there on the nightstand.

Finally, Lan Cixing opened her eyes. As she snapped out of the nightmare, the image in her mind was still Rong Yushu’s cold eyes. Those green eyes were naturally eerie and light-colored; with even a slight lack of emotion, they looked fierce.

Four years had passed, and the coldness in that gaze had deepened time and again. Lan Cixing could no longer distinguish what Rong Yushu’s true gaze had been back then. Yet she was still haunted by that night.

The first half had been so wonderful. Her first time, which she could never forget. She finally got to kiss the person she liked, embracing and touching each other recklessly. Rong Yushu had been drugged and was in a daze, but she had recognized that the one helping her was Lan Cixing. She was always the “Mommy” who taught Lan Cixing. Even in the midst of a heat, she led Lan Cixing, teaching her what to do. At that time, Lan Cixing thought she was helping Rong Yushu. So, she grew bold.

Who would have thought…

Lan Cixing barely managed to regain consciousness. Her vision was still blurred. Her tears continued to flow uncontrollably. She held her breath, finally forcing the flood of tears to stop. Then she saw… Rong Yushu.

Rong Yushu was holding her. Clinging to her, embracing her. As if she were Rong Yushu’s baby. As if she were the lover Rong Yushu cared about most. The way Rong Yushu looked at her eyes was so soft, filled with a worry that Lan Cixing couldn’t understand.

Lan Cixing let out a gasp like someone choking on water, her eyes wide. As she blinked, she saw Rong Yushu’s face clearly. A belated warmth from a kiss felt on the corner of her eye. Rong Yushu was even kissing the corner of her mouth. Those privileged lips were helping Lan Cixing wipe away her “lowly” tears.

Lan Cixing’s hand unconsciously grabbed Rong Yushu’s collar, and Rong Yushu pulled her a bit tighter into her embrace. Before a single question could be asked, Lan Cixing, like a startled bird, broke free from the embrace and “launched” herself away. She probably gave Rong Yushu a push before slamming the bathroom door and locking it.

Rong Yushu sat frozen on the spot, staring at the bathroom where the light wouldn’t turn on. After a long while, she heard suppressed, low sobbing from inside. Only then did Rong Yushu feel that her chest, where Lan Cixing had pushed her, hurt terribly.

Lan Cixing dry-heaved over the sink for a long time. There was only a sour taste in her mouth. Her stomach was churning, but she couldn’t bring anything up. She lowered her head, panting, and washed her face and mouth several times. Slowly, she slid down and sat on the floor.

This nightmare had been deeper than usual. It had even included impossible fantasies. Even if it was a fantasy, it was of the worst kind. In the dream, Lan Cixing couldn’t even allow herself to be with Rong Yushu.

She dreamed of everything from four years ago. She dreamed of the ugly faces of the entertainment media. She dreamed of Rong Yushu’s cold eyes. Yet, she also dreamed that Rong Yushu had found her in secret. She said they could elope. Lan Cixing believed her; she didn’t pack anything and ignored her family, following Rong Yushu directly to elope with her.

But after eloping, she had no money, and Rong Yushu’s cards had been frozen. They were squeezed into a dilapidated rental room. Looking at her destitute lover, Lan Cixing made up her mind to work to support the family. At the security agency, she was exploited by the boss, bullied by her colleagues, and made difficult by the clients.

When she returned home, she found Rong Yushu gone. The Rong family had found them. They would never allow Rong Yushu to remain adrift outside. And they certainly wouldn’t allow Rong Yushu to be with an inferior Alpha like Lan Cixing. In the dream, Lan Cixing lost her beloved and was mocked by Rong Yushu’s countless world-class suitors.

The pain was unbearable. She had finally woken up with a start. That pain of gaining and then losing burned Lan Cixing over and over again. It was repeating even now.

She curled herself into a ball. Her 182cm tall frame became very small at this moment. She hid in the shadows of the corner. Even the moonlight outside the window couldn’t see her.

She should know. There was no possibility between her and Rong Yushu.

What if it was unrequited love? Too many people liked Rong Yushu. There wasn’t a single point where she could compare to them—family background, looks, talent, money, or power…

What if the feelings were mutual? Love between families of unequal status only succeeds in literature. In reality, it would only be worn down by different perspectives or obstructed by families.

So… why fall for her again? Wouldn’t it be better to continue hating her? Knowing it’s impossible but still forcing it. It hurts so much…

Suddenly, there was the sound of the door lock turning. Lan Cixing looked up; she remembered she had locked the door, and no one could come in.

But Lan Cixing saw a kitchen knife. Thud after thud, it hacked at the bathroom door. It felt as if it were hacking at Lan Cixing’s heart. Lan Cixing trembled along with the bathroom door.

With a dong sound, the lock was hacked off, and the bathroom door opened.

Rong Yushu dropped the kitchen knife, her back to the light. Step by step, with her familiar cold gaze, she came before Lan Cixing. Lan Cixing closed her eyes, waiting for words of punishment.

Instead, she received an all-too-burning… embrace.

Rong Yushu’s eyes were cold. Green is naturally a cold tone; clear spring water has no temperature, and a deep green pool is enough to suck away all heat. Her usual gentleness was merely her disguise. When Rong Yushu removed the mask and stayed silent, she radiated a cold air that kept everyone at a distance.

But the arms holding Lan Cixing were soft and warm. For a fleeting moment, even the cold eyes seemed tinged with a touch of sunlight.

Lan Cixing grabbed Rong Yushu’s arms, her whole body trembling. She recoiled when Rong Yushu approached. Rong Yushu was rarely this forceful with Lan Cixing. Today, she broke her own rule. Using her strength, she held Lan Cixing tight, for a moment suppressing the stronger Alpha in her arms.

She tilted her head. But she only kissed her. She kissed the corner of her pitiful eyes, her tear-stained face. She kissed the corner of her mouth, which was bitten until it was swollen.

Lan Cixing kept resisting, trying to dodge, but her face was held by Rong Yushu; she couldn’t escape. The two of them knelt, huddled together under the moonlight. Finally, Lan Cixing was kissed thoroughly. Her lips were bitten open without mercy. Her eyes flickered, seeing only Rong Yushu’s cold green eyes, which carried a faint frost from the moon.

But the kiss was hot. …So hot it made Lan Cixing want to cry.

She didn’t refuse anymore. She relaxed, letting Rong Yushu give her one kiss after another. Rong Yushu’s kissing skills were unusually clumsy. She only pecked and bit, not knowing how to go deeper.

Lan Cixing closed her eyes and suddenly hugged Rong Yushu. Becoming bold, she slowly deepened a kiss. She taught Rong Yushu how to breathe. Just like that night many years ago, when Rong Yushu had held her and taught her how to breathe. She led Rong Yushu deep. Just like every time, Rong Yushu was the more active one, reaching out, searching for her hidden heart.

Rong Yushu’s eyelashes trembled, and she too closed her eyes. The cold of the moon was contained within her eyes. But Lan Cixing couldn’t see it anymore; she just kissed.

Until she pushed Rong Yushu down, pinning her to the cold bathroom floor. It was a very meaningful posture. Lan Cixing rarely pinned Rong Yushu down like this. She understood Rong Yushu’s preferences and was willing to yield. Rong Yushu didn’t like her always being on top, resisting, as if declaring she had grown tall and big and was no longer in the palm of Rong Yushu’s hand.

But tonight, under the frost-cold moonlight, Rong Yushu did not refuse. She lowered her breathing, relaxing bit by bit, letting her clothes fall away, and opening her arms. She gave Lan Cixing permission.

Lan Cixing could do whatever she wanted. Rong Yushu doted on her most and would not refuse a single instance of her willfulness. The person she liked was right in her palms.

Lan Cixing braced herself against the floor, staring foolishly at Rong Yushu. She could see her eyes clearly; the familiar coldness had turned into unfamiliar encouragement.

Rong Yushu had played many roles with a seductive, enchanting charm. Every frown and smile made the audience’s hearts flutter. But only Lan Cixing knew that when she took off the mask of performance and did nothing but expose a trace of her mundane truth—that was when she most attracted Lan Cixing’s fire of desire.

It was exactly this moment. Rong Yushu didn’t need provocative eyes, a beautiful body, or deliberate flirting. Just lying in Lan Cixing’s arms was enough to drive Lan Cixing mad.

Lan Cixing truly began to tremble. Her emotions were high, her excitement unbearable. Rong Yushu finally moved. She hooked Lan Cixing’s collar, calling her downward to offend her.

…Except Lan Cixing didn’t make a move. She suppressed her exploding desire and leaned down. She pressed against Rong Yushu’s chest and held her. She handed the initiative back to Rong Yushu.

She never dared to hope for an equal relationship. So, no matter how urgent it was, she would listen to Rong Yushu. Lan Cixing could be very satisfied with just an embrace. She gently rubbed against Rong Yushu’s neck, calling her name intimately.

“Mommy…” Her love was never about indulgence.

Rong Yushu’s fingertips trembled because of that call. Lan Cixing’s restraint made her happy. It also made her feel uncontrollable heartache.

“Why don’t you do it?” Clearly, she only allowed Lan Cixing alone to be indulgent with her. Clearly, Lan Cixing wanted to as well. Anyone could see the fire in each other’s eyes.

Lan Cixing had a psychological barrier. Rong Yushu finally realized the meaning of this sentence.

“You actually really want to.” Rong Yushu started to nuzzle Lan Cixing’s earlobe—her most sensitive spot. Rong Yushu bit down without regard for anything.

Lan Cixing let out some whimpers like a weak animal. How could she tell Rong Yushu? Because it was impossible between them. If it’s impossible, then don’t sink into it. She had been hurt once. Lan Cixing didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

But she heard Rong Yushu’s light chuckle.

“I… also really want to.” Rong Yushu tightly interlaced her hand with Lan Cixing’s. She led her to slowly explore. Just like a long, long time ago. Bit by bit, she taught Lan Cixing how to play with her.

Lan Cixing was truly guided through the entire process. By the time this absurd session ended, the moon had moved its shadow.

Lan Cixing buried her face in Rong Yushu’s embrace, lightly suckling. Rong Yushu stroked her hair, following the curls. She didn’t mind such an offense and even kissed her forehead with her fingertips.

Lan Cixing was about to give up her meaningless resistance. Rong Yushu was truly so good to her. How could she not like her… Unconsciously, she bit down a little tighter.

She heard Rong Yushu’s feather-like laugh, scratching at her heart.

“It hurts.”

Some people can say “it hurts” so elegantly and seductively. As if it wasn’t discomfort, but…

Lan Cixing quickly let go, switching to licking instead, like a newborn puppy. Rong Yushu held her, accepting it all. She led her to bathe. After coming out, she carried her to bed. Lan Cixing only wanted to drown in her embrace, without thinking much.

“You have something on your mind.” Rong Yushu seemed to want to talk to her.

Lan Cixing closed her eyes and nudged her.

“Sigh.” It made Rong Yushu feel helpless. If she didn’t want to talk, then next time. She wouldn’t let Lan Cixing run away again.

Rong Yushu stroked Lan Cixing’s hair. Lan Cixing hugged her waist tightly. “Mommy…” she called out clingily.

“Get some rest; there’s a show to record tomorrow.” Rong Yushu turned off the light.

The next morning, they boarded Rong Yushu’s private plane. Lan Cixing was staring blankly at her phone, her mind filled with the cold eyes she had seen last night. She knew that in her normal state, those green eyes were naturally cold. Even with a fox-like allure, they were still cold like proud frost.

If Rong Yushu was being this good to her now, had she misseen something four years ago?

She was deep in thought and didn’t notice her phone screen flashing.

“So many people are sending you messages.” Rong Yushu sat beside her, tilting her head to lean closer. “They’re all asking you out on dates. You’re so popular.” She forgot to delete them last night.

Rong Yushu lowered her eyes, her voice carrying its usual playful tone.

“Ah, that’s not it…” Lan Cixing quickly snapped out of it and looked down. She saw messages from Sheng Yuexiao and An Yu popping up together.

“…Spam messages.” Lan Cixing turned off her phone and didn’t intend to reply. She had just reported to the people she frequently contacted that she had a mission and would be offline. As for Sheng Yuexiao, Lan Cixing didn’t quite understand why she suddenly said she wanted a date. A month ago, Lan Cixing would have agreed. Now, she didn’t really want to.

Rong Yushu glanced at Lan Cixing, which was somewhat meaningful. Lan Cixing simply handed her phone over to Rong Yushu.

“I really don’t. I won’t go on dates with others.” The meaning was quite clear. Lan Cixing didn’t think there was anything wrong with what she said.

Rong Yushu paused, her ear tips turning red. She stopped talking. Lan Cixing tilted her head and gave her a smile, boldly leaning against her shoulder to browse the arrangements for this episode of the variety show on her tablet.

Rong Yushu wanted to push away this shameless “dog.” In the end, she didn’t do it. Instead, she held her a little tighter.

This episode of the variety show changed from a deserted island to the deep mountains and old forests. The environment was even harsher than the deserted island. In the middle of summer, who knew how many mosquitoes and insects there would be. Lan Cixing brought a lot of repellent, determined to follow Rong Yushu closely.

After getting off the plane, they had to take the production crew’s bus into the mountains. Lan Cixing sat in the same row as Rong Yushu, her mask and hat neatly in place.

Yu Mingsong arrived shortly after and was just about to greet them. Feng Shi and Bian Zhi also came. The two of them looked at Yu Mingsong in bewilderment.

“Hello?” Feng Shi looked at Yu Mingsong, feeling even more guarded.

Bian Zhi was stunned. The one wearing the mask was Yu Mingsong. Then, who was this standing Alpha?

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