Twist of Fate - Chapter 39 (END)

The reason Xie Jing returned to Jiangcheng once again was, as expected, her aunt’s wedding with Shen Xinghe.

However, Qin Ning had been incredibly busy during this time—so much so that she couldn’t spare a moment.

Xie Jing originally planned to fly back to Jiangcheng on her own to help her aunt with the wedding preparations, but Qin Ning strongly opposed the idea.

No matter how gently and persuasively Xie Jing tried to convince her, Qin Ning remained stern and unyielding.

Xie Jing asked, “Why not?”

Qin Ning simply replied, “No means no.”

Xie Jing was nearly hoarse from trying to reason with her. “Can you just tell me why not?”

Qin Ning responded, “No particular reason.”

Xie Jing stared at Qin Ning’s stubborn expression, confused. In her memory, Qin Ning had never refused her so firmly before.

“What’s going on?” she asked patiently, reaching for Qin Ning’s hand.

Without a word, Qin Ning grabbed her wrist, pulled her into a tight embrace, and buried her face in the crook of Xie Jing’s neck.

They hadn’t been holding each other for long when Xie Jing suddenly had a realization. “Wait… do you have PTSD from the time I left you and returned to Jiangcheng alone?”

Qin Ning remained silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Yeah.”

Her voice was muffled, her shoulders tense, her whole body seemingly gripped by anxiety.

“Don’t go,” she whispered.

The last time Xie Jing had secretly returned to Jiangcheng behind her back, they were separated for two entire years. During that time, Qin Ning lived through hell every single day—only to later find out that Xie

Jing had suffered even more, her days bordering on torment.

After such a painful lesson, how could she possibly feel at ease letting Xie Jing go back alone?

Hearing that, Xie Jing felt so guilty she nearly dropped to her knees. “I’m sorry, Qin Ning. I was wrong. I’ll never lie to you again.”

She had never imagined that a lie from two years ago would leave such a deep scar on Qin Ning.

It felt like a sin.

Qin Ning finally relaxed her shoulders and hugged her tightly, her hand gently stroking Xie Jing’s back through her clothes. “Promise me, never push me away again. No matter what.”

Xie Jing nodded fervently in her arms, nearly swearing an oath to the heavens.

By the time they returned to Jiangcheng, it was already the wedding day.

As Xie Jing watched her aunt walk down the aisle hand in hand with Shen Xinghe, both dressed in white, she was nearly moved to tears.

Qin Ning, ever attentive, noticed the shimmer in Xie Jing’s eyes and leaned in to whisper, “Jing, if you want, we can have a wedding too.”

“Huh?” Xie Jing turned to her, eyes still misty. “But we’ve had our marriage license for ages!”

“So what?” Qin Ning smiled. “If you want, we can get married every year.”

Though they had accidentally registered their marriage due to a twist of fate, Qin Ning had never properly proposed after the misunderstanding between them had cleared up.

Xie Jing was about to say there was no need to go to such lengths, but then she remembered—Qin Ning had never worn a wedding dress in her life.

A wave of regret washed over her.

Yes, she should give Qin Ning a grand wedding.

Because no matter how long they’d been married, Qin Ning’s love for her still felt as fresh as newlyweds’.

And just now, she had clearly seen that longing for a wedding reflected in Qin Ning’s eyes.

“Alright then!” Xie Jing beamed. “Let’s get married. But you realize, once we do, everyone will know you’re mine. People might start calling you ‘Xie Jing’s wife,’ ‘Xie Jing’s sweetheart,’ ‘Xie Jing’s beloved.’”

“That would be my honor.”

“No matter what—married or not—I belong only to you.”

Right after she finished speaking, Qin Ning walked over to catch the bridal bouquet. With everyone watching, she stepped steadily toward Xie Jing.

In that moment, Xie Jing saw the image of the present-day Qin Ning overlap with her memory of the young girl from their school days. It felt like she was back on the university track field, eighteen years old,

asking Qin Ning how far a school romance could go.

Qin Ning had said, “As long as you want, we can be together for a lifetime.”

A lifetime is long. Whether it was the Xie Jing of freshman year, or the Xie Jing of today, she wanted to spend every single day with Qin Ning.

________________________________________

After the wedding, Pei Anle called Qin Ning over to a nearby pavilion for a private chat.

Watching their silhouettes in cheerful conversation, Xie Jing casually remarked to Shen Xinghe, “Your wife isn’t trying to get advice from Qin Ning, is she?”

Shen Xinghe looked puzzled. “Advice about what?”

Xie Jing glanced at her sideways and said blandly, “Calling a married woman over on her wedding night… what kind of advice do you think?”

Shen Xinghe’s face flushed red. She opened her mouth to protest, but upon seeing the teasing glint in Xie Jing’s eyes, she suddenly realized—she was being toyed with.

Seeing her so embarrassed, Xie Jing couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Who would’ve thought my aunt likes them young? But younger partners are great—full of energy. Don’t be fooled by how dominant my aunt looks in public. At home, she’s lazy by nature—definitely a bottom.”

Shen Xinghe stared at her in shock. “How… how do you know I’m…?”

Xie Jing folded her arms and raised a brow. “My aunt’s nails are long enough to play the Bone Demon in a fantasy drama. One look at you, and it’s obvious.”

Shen Xinghe: “…”

No wonder she’s a full-fledged lesbian—her radar is sharp.

“She’s been talking with Qin Ning for ages,” Xie Jing muttered, glancing in their direction. “Are they ever going to wrap up? Don’t they want to consummate the marriage?”

“I should probably go urge them a little?” she suggested.

Shen Xinghe’s blush deepened. “No… no need.”

“No need to be shy. I can tell my aunt really likes you. You two are made for each other. You’ll be together for a lifetime.”

Her blessing was sincere.

Shen Xinghe responded just as warmly. “Thank you. You and Qin Ning too.”

Xie Jing grinned. “Haha, I’ll take your good wishes.”

By the time her aunt finally returned Qin Ning, Xie Jing had already finished two pots of tea.

Shen Xinghe took a deep breath, face still red, and walked toward Pei Anle.

“What did my aunt say to you?” Xie Jing asked the moment Qin Ning returned, clinging to her.

“She told me lots of stories from your childhood,” Qin Ning said as she wrapped an arm around Xie Jing’s waist and helped her sit. “Like how you were afraid of the dark and thunder, and when your parents weren’t home, you’d cry and crawl into her bed, begging to sleep with her.”

Xie Jing was mortified. “That was so long ago! I’m not afraid of thunder anymore.”

But Pei Anle had told Qin Ning much more—from Xie Jing’s hatred of cilantro to the hardships she endured during her time abroad in Country A.

She had also said, from now on, she was entrusting Xie Jing to Qin Ning’s care. She asked her not to let her down.

Qin Ning said, “Even if you’re not afraid, I’ll still protect you.”

“Okay. So next time there’s a thunderstorm, I’ll curl up in your arms, cling to you, and make you stay in bed with me. Then we’ll just lie there together, watching the rain fall outside the window.” Xie Jing smiled dreamily. “Just thinking about it makes me look forward to rainy days.”

Qin Ning replied, “Even if it doesn’t rain, you can still do that.”

That would practically make her a seductive femme fatale.
________________________________________

That night, they boarded a flight back to Jinghai City.

As the plane took off, Xie Jing instinctively gripped Qin Ning’s fingers tightly, only relaxing once they were airborne.

But just as she tried to pull her hand away, Qin Ning caught it again and interlaced their fingers. “Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we land.”

“Okay.” Xie Jing had been exhausted all day. She closed her eyes and quickly drifted off.

When she woke again, the plane was descending.

The cabin doors opened. Qin Ning helped her off the plane and into the car waiting outside the terminal.

She’d slept the entire way, only starting to regain her senses once they got home.

“That was fast…” she murmured, collapsing onto the bed.

After unpacking, Qin Ning cleaned her hands and walked over, gently cupping Xie Jing’s chin and lowering her head for a kiss.

She had been holding back all day—finally home, her kiss was laced with urgency.

Her fingertips, though cold, seemed to ignite fire everywhere they touched.

When her hand slid lower, Xie Jing trembled, letting out a soft gasp.

Qin Ning paused and looked at her. “Tired?”

Xie Jing shook her head, breath ragged.

Qin Ning smiled slightly, then leaned down to kiss her again, soft and teasing, her tongue skillfully tracing her lips until it slipped in—

“Qin… mm.” Xie Jing tried to protest, but Qin Ning caught her off guard and deepened the kiss.

“Forgot again,” Qin Ning murmured between kisses.

Forgot what? Xie Jing’s mind was a haze as Qin Ning gripped her jaw, forcing her lips to part wider.

“Forgot what to call me.”

“I… I’m sorry.”

“Please, have mercy.”

“…Sister.”

Finally, a smile flickered across Qin Ning’s frosty face. But her words were cold and merciless: “Too late.”

She unbuttoned her shirt and tied Xie Jing’s hands above her head, then bent down to nibble her earlobe.

Xie Jing tried to dodge, but turned just enough to fully expose her pale neck.

Qin Ning’s eyes darkened. She held her firmly in place and kissed from her ear down to her neck and collarbone.

Boom—

Outside, rain began to fall in a gentle drizzle. A flash of lightning lit up the room.

Qin Ning glanced toward the window and murmured, “That was fast.”

Their wish—to lie in bed together watching the rain—had already come true.

They held each other tightly as the thunder rolled, only drifting to sleep once the storm had passed.

The sky, freshly washed by rain, was a clear, deep blue. A few birds soared across the horizon…