The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Like Sweet Milk, or a Tempting Milk Cake, Melting into the Lake.

“What are you looking at? Am I pressing the right spot?” Zhong Manjing was focused on Lin Yuqing’s forehead, her thumb gently rubbing the temples. Her faint scent was like a tangible embrace, wrapping Lin Yuqing up completely.

Lin Yuqing lightly placed her hand on Zhong Manjing’s back, but her answer was irrelevant to the question: “Careful.”

Zhong Manjing didn’t stop her movements; she curled her lips. “Careful of what?”

“Careful of losing your balance and falling on me.” Lin Yuqing’s gaze was fixed unblinkingly on Zhong Manjing’s porcelain-white earlobe; she could only allow herself to look there.

Zhong Manjing smiled. “Lin Yuqing, you’re drunk.”

“I’m not. I only had about 100ml or 150ml.” Lin Yuqing was certain she hadn’t overdone it. Aside from the hand on Zhong Manjing’s back, her other hand was placed very properly on her lap. If she were truly drunk, that hand would be on Zhong Manjing’s neck, and she wouldn’t let her go.

Zhong Manjing glanced over at Brother Wang, who was already flushed and teasing Nuoyan, and then at Meng Luo and Zhang Pingrui, who looked dazed and glassy-eyed. The jar of wine was nearly empty thanks to those four; she was certain Lin Yuqing had at least 200ml.

“I warned you, home-brewed wine has a strong kick. You’ll have a headache if you drink too much. Let me massage you first.”

“Don’t,” Lin Yuqing said. “If you keep pressing, I really might get drunk.”

“Look at you, talking nonsense already.”

Lin Yuqing had intended for her hands to remain proper, but she couldn’t manage it anymore. Since Zhong Manjing wouldn’t listen, Lin Yuqing used both hands to grip Zhong Manjing’s waist, lifting her slightly and placing her on the adjacent stool, away from herself.

She could finally breathe deeply. She couldn’t do that while Zhong Manjing was right there, though she wasn’t sure why.

Lin Yuqing stood up to reach for the hairy crabs at the far end of the table. She cracked them open and began meticulously picking out the meat, not even looking up. “Zhong Manjing, I’ll peel these for you. Eat more.”

Meng Luo chimed in, “Peel some for me too! I’m a rich lady too, you know. I didn’t die; I only came to Yuhai County to bide my time. If you give me a bowl of crab meat, I’ll tell you my revenge plan immediately.”

Lin Yuqing didn’t look up. “Fine.”

She’s definitely drunk, and it’s hitting her now. Zhong Manjing smiled, swapped Lin Yuqing’s cup for clear Sprite, and circled behind her to loosely tie her hair into a low ponytail.

As she pulled the hair up, she saw the tips of Lin Yuqing’s ears were slightly red. And she says she’s not drunk. Her body is quite honest.

Lin Yuqing finished peeling the meat, giving a small portion to Meng Luo and most of it to Zhong Manjing.

Zhong Manjing took a bite. Lin Yuqing asked, “Where is your revenge plan?”

“What?”

“The revenge plan,” Lin Yuqing looked at her, her voice calm. “You didn’t die, you came to Yuhai to bide your time. If I feed you a bowl of crab, you tell me the plan. Now, tell me.”

Zhong Manjing’s smile froze for a second, and the curve of her lips gradually faded. In that moment, her first thought was a doubt: Is Lin Yuqing actually drunk?

Seeing her silence, Lin Yuqing let out a low laugh. “If you don’t tell me, how can I help you?”

“Sister! Sister, come here! Let’s play Eagle Catches the Chickens!”

Zhang Xiaohua and Su Xiaodong were fully energized, pulling at the adults to join their game.

Zhang Pingrui, who swore he wouldn’t get drunk, was out of it. Su Xiaodong and Chen-chen, acting like “real men,” had dragged him into the tent. They came out and announced solemnly, “We have buried the big brother. Come on, let’s play.”

Su Xiaodong assigned the roles: Lin Yuqing was the Eagle, Zhang Xiaohua was the Mother Hen, and the others were the chicks. Zhong Manjing was the last chick in line, following the swaying queue and trying to dodge the Eagle with “snake-like” maneuvers.

The last chick is usually the easiest to catch. Zhang Xiaohua spread her arms wide to protect her brood, but after a few rounds, she realized something was wrong. “Sister Yuqing, you’re so slow! You’re going easy on us!”

Lin Yuqing was actually trying, but she lied through her teeth: “I’m not. I’m drunk, so my reactions are slow. And you chicks are too fast; I can’t keep up.”

Meng Luo, standing in front of Zhong Manjing, turned back. “Manjing, did you hear that? This is why she can run a business. She can even trick kids. She’ll be a big, heartless boss one day.”

They burst into laughter, leading the kids in a chant: “Lin Yuqing is going easy! She’s not being serious!”

Zhong Manjing’s eyes frequently met Lin Yuqing’s.

Zhang Xiaohua had an idea: “I know! Since Sister Yuqing is going easy on Sister Manjing, let’s make Sister Manjing the Mother Hen. Then we’ll win!”

Zhong Manjing was pushed to the front. The new round began. To everyone’s surprise, before Zhong Manjing could even move to dodge, Lin Yuqing lunged forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Lin Yuqing! What are you doing!” Zhong Manjing was held so tightly she was separated from the “flock.” She laughed and tapped Lin Yuqing’s shoulder. “You can’t catch me first! Don’t you know the rules?”

“Oh,” Lin Yuqing said, as if waking from a dream, and let her go. “I thought if I caught you, the whole flock would lose.”

Zhang Xiaohua said, “Sister Yuqing, why are you acting differently from the last round?”

Lin Yuqing said, “Because you wanted me to be serious, so I’m playing seriously.”

“That’s too serious,” Meng Luo muttered. “As soon as Manjing got to the front, Lin Yuqing went into predator mode. What was that? You really looked like an eagle seeing its prey.”

Lin Yuqing smiled gently but didn’t respond. She walked to the table and finished her Sprite. “The wine turned sweet.”

It was late. Feng Xiangxia called the kids to rest, and the game ended. Zhong Manjing gave Lin Yuqing a glare, and the latter immediately waved her hands. “I’ll clean up.”

Zhong Manjing’s job was to take the kids to wash up and put them to bed. Inside the tent, someone sneezed. Zhang Pingrui had indeed been “buried”—the kids hadn’t put him in a sleeping bag; they just laid him flat and piled bags on top of him.

“What a lightweight,” Meng Luo grumbled, kicking Zhang Pingrui aside. “Useless man.”

Zhong Manjing tucked the kids into their sleeping bags and turned off the main light. Small touch-lamps were left by each bed. Meng Luo fell asleep instantly. The mountain air was perfectly cool. Through the mesh sunroof of the tent, the stars were visible.

Zhong Manjing sat on the edge of the air mattress. She wanted to change and wash up. This was a two-room tent; the kids and Meng Luo were in the large room, and she and Lin Yuqing had the smaller one, which had no door. She needed to wait for Lin Yuqing to come back so she could have her stand guard.

She couldn’t stop thinking about what Lin Yuqing had said tonight. She felt she needed to be calm… she needed a good wash to clear her head for the next step.

When Lin Yuqing returned, Zhong Manjing was waiting, staring dreamily at the stars. The bedside lamp was low, outlining her silhouette in a soft glow.

Lin Yuqing looked up too. Is it really that beautiful?

Zhong Manjing made a “shh” gesture. “They’re all asleep.”

Lin Yuqing didn’t sit on the bed; she sat cross-legged on the soft mat on the floor, looking up at Zhong Manjing. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

The smell of wine on her was gone. Zhong Manjing guessed she had brushed her teeth again always so meticulous.

“I want to wash up. I feel like the smell of BBQ is stuck on me,” Zhong Manjing said.

“Brother Wang and Sister Feng are already asleep; it’s not convenient to go back there.” Lin Yuqing stood up. “I’ll boil some water for you.”

Zhong Manjing grabbed her hand. “Have you washed?”

“Not yet.”

“Come with me, I’ll take you somewhere.” Zhong Manjing led Lin Yuqing stealthily out of the tent, both carrying a change of clothes. Lin Yuqing took Zhong Manjing’s hiking bag, not forgetting to bring some roasted sweet potatoes they had left in the embers.

Zhong Manjing touched her forehead. Her temperature was normal. She looked normal. But for Lin Yuqing, looking normal was the biggest sign of being abnormal.

“Where are we going?”

Zhong Manjing didn’t answer but unplugged the charging scooter. “Get on. I’ll drive.” She clearly knew the way. Lin Yuqing sat behind her, and Zhong Manjing pulled her hands around her waist.

“Hold on tight.”

The scooter shot forward like an arrow. Lin Yuqing wasn’t prepared, but Zhong Manjing held her hands firmly. Zhong Manjing’s hair blew back into her face. Lin Yuqing’s body bounced as they sped over the mountain paths.

Is she crazy? Driving this fast with one hand? How is she doing this? Lin Yuqing’s heart raced; she almost stopped breathing. She realized that while she was tense, Zhong Manjing was relaxed and free, clearly enjoying the wild ride under the moonlight.

Ten minutes—or maybe only five—Zhong Manjing stopped by a shimmering lake.

“Wild low-temperature hot spring. Perfect for summer.” Zhong Manjing got off and shed her oversized shirt, leaving only a camisole and denim shorts.

Lin Yuqing stayed rooted to the spot. It felt like the day they first met, with one difference that day she had been asleep, but now she was wide awake, watching Zhong Manjing peel away her clothes piece by piece.

Zhong Manjing’s toes hooked her shorts and tossed them aside; they landed on the grass right next to Lin Yuqing.

Lin Yuqing’s gaze could only fall on those shorts—every small wrinkle seemed to hold the memory of the curves they had just covered. She took a deep breath, but the image of Zhong Manjing standing in the night wouldn’t fade.

The shimmering was no longer on the lake; it had moved to Zhong Manjing’s bare shoulders, cheeks, shoulder blades, lips, and the soft curves of her body. Even with only the moon for light, Lin Yuqing could clearly see how white her skin was.

Like sweet milk, or a tempting milk cake, melting into the lake.

Lin Yuqing was so shell-shocked by the visual impact she couldn’t move. She felt she shouldn’t look anymore Zhong Manjing looked like a goddess who had wandered into the mortal world. Looking any longer felt like a profanity. At this moment, Lin Yuqing was certain: she was definitely drunk tonight.

She would stay here and guard her. She wouldn’t move.

“Come over,” Zhong Manjing called out, splashing a handful of water at her. Lin Yuqing’s heart skipped a beat as the voice drew closer. “Come in with me.”

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