Weakness Trap - Chapter 6

It was pitch dark all around. Tonight was cloudy and foggy, with no stars or moon in sight, and the woods had few streetlights.

This wasn’t a place meant for walking at best, it served as a backdrop.

Of course, the woods were deep and secluded, and in the past, many students would secretly meet here.

Now that she had become one of them, Yu Qingluan couldn’t help but find it ironic.

Back in the day, she had mocked such people university students acting like high schoolers. Was it really necessary to venture into the woods just to date?

But in such an environment, Yu Qingluan finally understood.

Some things simply couldn’t be done in public.

Yet, in the shadows of the moon, one could be unrestrained.

Yu Qingluan couldn’t resist taking Yu Lingxue’s hand.

Her fingertips brushed against the back of Yu Lingxue’s hand before sliding into the spaces between her fingers.

Interlacing their fingers amidst the playful whispers of the wind, their kiss gradually grew heated.

Yu Qingluan forgot the day’s unhappiness. She forgot her own insignificance.

In these shadows, Yu Lingxue was just like her both had become pitch-black silhouettes, so dense they seemed to merge, with only their eyes still gleaming brightly.

Here, no one would say they were from two different worlds.

They were clearly the same their dark hair tangled in the wind, their lips soft and fervent, their palms pulsing with hidden heartbeats…

They were simply two people in love.

And so, Yu Qingluan could step forward, wrap her arms around Yu Lingxue’s waist, cradle her face, and kiss her again and again.

The cloyingly sweet scent of Yu Lingxue slowly seeped into Yu Qingluan’s being with each kiss.

Following Yu Qingluan’s lead, she released her hand and instead wrapped her arms around Yu Qingluan’s neck.

Yu Qingluan was a few centimeters taller this was their usual posture when they were intimate.

Yu Qingluan knew what came next.

At the end of a kiss, Yu Lingxue would bend slightly, resting her upper body against Yu Qingluan.

She would melt into a puddle of syrup, like a languid cat.

Expecting Yu Qingluan to hold her securely, then lift her slightly and pull her into an embrace.

And Yu Lingxue did just that.

This was a gesture reserved only for Yu Qingluan.

Her hands would grasp Yu Qingluan’s collar, toying with it playfully.

Her skirt would flutter upward, and she could finally cast aside propriety no one was around, only her peace remained.

Yu Qingluan would hold her unconditionally, loving her.

She knew this.

“Why did you come find me so suddenly?” After holding her for a while, Yu Qingluan buried her face in Yu Lingxue’s hair, her voice muffled and indistinct from Yu Lingxue’s sweetness.

“Is that not allowed?” Yu Lingxue nuzzled against her, wrapping her arms around Yu Qingluan’s waist, shifting from passivity to initiative.

“You have evening classes, you wouldn’t go home. I missed you, so I came.” Yu Lingxue omitted her restlessness, her distress, the gloom of the entire day, the rumors of weariness.

She only spoke of missing her.

Yu Qingluan’s cheeks flushed at her words.

Someone who didn’t even blush during kisses now had ears reddening from just two words.

Yu Lingxue chuckled softly, watching her under the dim light filtering through the trees.

She reached out and poked Yu Qingluan’s cheek, and Yu Qingluan lowered her head even further.

Though shy, the little rabbit always allowed her owner to pet her.

This was love. Yu Qingluan would never refuse.

Yu Lingxue quietly nibbled on Yu Qingluan’s earlobe.

The area, already tinged with peach blossom pink, turned completely tomato red.

So flushed it seemed as if it might bleed.

Yu Lingxue collapsed into her arms with a light laugh.

“Come home with me.” That was all she needed to say.

Yu Qingluan would obediently take her hand and get into her car.

Yu Lingxue lit a stick of calming incense.

Truthfully, on days when Yu Qingluan was around, she didn’t need to light it.

Tonight was merely for amusement.

While Yu Qingluan was washing up, Yu Lingxue took the opportunity to tend to her own hands. She still couldn’t make any large movements, but it was much better than yesterday.

It was true Yu Lingxue missed Yu Qingluan deeply.
It was also true that finding Yu Qingluan was to soothe her own emotions.
She had simply chosen to withhold half of her feelings and the truth, speaking only the other half.
Yu Qingluan wouldn’t blame her for it.

Yu Qingluan emerged from the bathroom, carrying the faint scent of steam and water, and bumped into her petite master.
“Lingxue…” Yu Qingluan lowered her head, sniffing at her like a little puppy.
“The perfume you like,” Yu Lingxue said, guiding her to the bed.
“Mm.”
“Lingsue.” Yu Qingluan loved saying Yu Lingxue’s name.
During intimate moments, she would call it out again and again.

Yu Lingxue only loved hearing Yu Qingluan say her name.
During those moments, she would cup Yu Qingluan’s face, her eyes brimming with surging emotions and desire, gazing at her lover.
Her hidden lover, her treasured chocolate, her obedient little bird, her solitary mimosa.

From the very first moment Yu Lingxue laid eyes on Yu Qingluan, she knew she would love her deeply.
Beyond the most important matters, Yu Qingluan was indeed her number one.

Yu Lingxue reached out to trace the contours of Yu Qingluan’s brows and eyes.
Yu Qingluan let out a soft, bird-like coo.
“I’ll allow you to be a little more unrestrained tonight. Okay?” Tonight, Yu Lingxue wanted nothing but pure, unadulterated pleasure.
The day’s exhausting charades and struggles had worn her out. The night, she wished to reserve for losing control and madness.

“Your body.” Yu Qingluan’s hand gently brushed over Yu Lingxue’s form.
They had only lit candles, and in the hazy glow, Yu Qingluan could see Yu Lingxue’s almost ethereal, perfect figure.
She couldn’t help but swallow.
Last night, they hadn’t even fully undressed, restrained by the need to remain undiscovered. When had there been a chance to look?

“It’s fine,” Yu Lingxue said, suppressing a cough.
“Come here, little bird,” Yu Lingxue tugged Yu Qingluan down with a bit more force, her tone carrying a hint of ferocity.
“Come love me.”

Yu Qingluan yielded to her, exerting more strength than usual.
Yu Lingxue was truly left breathless by her, coughing and weeping as if flowers were blooming from her tears.
When Yu Qingluan hesitated, Yu Lingxue bit her lip.

Occasionally, Yu Qingluan felt that Yu Lingxue was not quite the same as the image she projected to the outside world.
Like at this very moment.
Her lips were slightly bleeding.
She wanted to pull away, but Yu Lingxue paid it no mind, kissing her deeper and deeper, even sweeping away the crimson stain on her lips until not a trace remained.

Yu Lingxue, ah, Yu Lingxue my dear master.
What are you truly like?
Yu Qingluan longed to peel away Yu Lingxue’s disguises, layer by layer, and tear them to shreds.

Madness was always as fleeting as fireworks.
By the time she lay beside Yu Lingxue, Yu Qingluan had let go of those overly bold thoughts.
She had always been obedient, the most rebellious thing she had ever done was agree to Yu Lingxue’s confession because of a sudden kiss.
Now, she wouldn’t cross that line again.

As long as Yu Lingxue remained by her side, it was enough.
As for those bothersome outsiders whether they came to confess, to act as “protectors,” or simply to approach her out of admiration,
Yu Qingluan could pretend not to see any of them.

Her gaze traced the lines of Yu Lingxue’s sleeping face, and she couldn’t resist nestling closer into her embrace.
The tighter they held each other, the more at peace Yu Qingluan felt.
She closed her eyes, unaware of the lingering furrow in Yu Lingxue’s brow.

In the early morning, Yu Qingluan rose drowsily.

She almost called out “Mom,” but managed to hold back after taking in the room’s decor.

“Good morning, my little bird.” Yu Lingxue gently wiped the drowsy Yu Qingluan’s face with a warm, damp towel.

Yu Qingluan wrapped her arms around Yu Lingxue’s waist.

“Aunt Fang will take you to school later. I have a house call to make today.”

“Mhm.” Yu Qingluan was still half-asleep.

Yu Lingxue playfully nipped her cheek.

“Wipe off the drool.” Yu Qingluan mumbled, her eyes still closed.

“Alright, it’s gone.” Yu Lingxue then pulled out a lipstick, suddenly inspired to apply it to Yu Qingluan.

“Winter is coming. Remember to use the ointment, or you’ll be miserable from the itching.” She had noticed Yu Qingluan’s irritated skin the night before.

Poor little bird, allergic to the cold air.

No matter how delicate her health, she shouldn’t be allergic to cold air. That would mean suffering through an entire season.

Yu Lingxue didn’t know that Yu Qingluan now loved winter more than any other season.

“It’s all gone.” Yu Qingluan kept her eyes shut and pouted, letting Yu Lingxue fuss over her.

“I’ll give you a new one today.” Yu Lingxue applied the lipstick haphazardly.

A thought struck Yu Qingluan, and her eyes snapped open.

The scent of this lipstick wasn’t the one Yu Lingxue usually wore.

Yu Lingxue was allergic to many things, especially cosmetics.

Her own products were custom-made, with a consistent, classic floral scent.

It would never have such a cloyingly sweet chocolate fragrance.

“Who gave this to you?” Yu Qingluan turned her face away, refusing to let Yu Lingxue apply more.

“Hmm? Guess?” Yu Lingxue didn’t stop, instead pinching Yu Qingluan’s cheek and drawing a cat on her face.

“The one who confessed to you yesterday.” Yu Qingluan sounded quite certain.

That local troublemaker, Su Lian.

The thought of her and the forum posts made Yu Qingluan uneasy.

“Jealous?” Yu Lingxue didn’t confirm or deny it.

In Yu Qingluan’s eyes, her silence was an admission.

Frowning, Yu Qingluan reached for a tissue to wipe her face.

If someone gave her a gift, why smear it on me?

“I turned her down. Don’t listen to the rumors.” Yu Lingxue took the tissue and cleaned Yu Qingluan’s face.

“I’m not.” Yu Qingluan averted her gaze.

“Don’t be upset, little bird. I made things clear with her.” Though, the lipstick wasn’t actually from Su Lian. Yu Lingxue didn’t explain this to Yu Qingluan.

“Here, a gift for you. I have to go now. See you when I have time.” They didn’t exchange another proper word until Yu Lingxue had to leave.

Only then did Yu Qingluan move, giving her a brief hug.

After the door closed, Yu Qingluan sat at Yu Lingxue’s dining table to eat.

She eyed the skincare gift set, convinced it was another present from someone to Yu Lingxuan.

Yu Qingluan returned to school in low spirits, overhearing chatter about Su Lian and Yu Lingxue along the way.

She hugged the bag containing Yu Lingxue’s gift tighter, as if to hide that she was the one connected to Yu Lingxue.

There was no other way.

At best, she was Yu Lingxue’s secret lover, well aware she couldn’t be openly acknowledged. Their relationship was never meant to be in the spotlight.

So, no one would ever realize the items in her bag were from Yu Lingxue.

Yu Qingluan entered the school building.

A commotion was unfolding downstairs two groups arguing, one larger, one smaller.

The smaller group seemed to have started it.

After listening for a moment, Yu Qingluan gathered that the larger group had been enthusiastically shipping Yu Lingxue and Su Lian, and the others had overheard.

Among the few missing, one was known to Yu Qingluan Ye Dada, a notorious second-generation heir of a local prominent business family. He was an utter playboy, and his infatuation with Su Lian was common knowledge.

The most outrageous instance was when Yu Qingluan once spotted an advertisement for his family’s product on a billboard with the words, “Su Lian, I like you.”

It was like a domineering CEO trope had jumped straight out of fiction into reality.

Ye Dada had been crushing on Su Lian for years, following her around like a loyal dog. Su Lian probably didn’t even recognize him, having heard his name only in passing before forgetting it entirely.

However, this young master Ye couldn’t stand anyone shipping Su Lian with someone else.

Yu Qingluan had an early class, so she didn’t linger long, but she caught a few snippets of conversation:

“Su Lian belongs to me. Try spreading rumors again, I dare you.”

“What’s it to you if I ship them? It’s my mouth, and my friends and I are just enjoying ourselves. Mind your own business. Besides, does Miss Su even know you?”

Finding the exchange dull, Yu Qingluan decided it was more worthwhile to attend her advanced mathematics class.

Once in the classroom, she took a seat next to Xiang Yan, propped up her textbook, and promptly dozed off.

Xiang Yan didn’t ask what she had been up to the night before, simply covering for her as usual.

“I’m heading back to the dorm to drop off some things,” Yu Qingluan said after class, and Xiang Yan accompanied her.

The gift from Yu Lingxue was undoubtedly valuable she couldn’t leave it at home, so the dorm was the only safe place.

The two walked back to the dorm to store the items. Yu Qingluan tidied up her space a bit and greeted her roommates.

Before she could finish organizing, a commotion erupted downstairs.

“Fire! The south dormitory building is on fire!”

“Oh my god, hurry, put it out! The flames are huge!”

“The north building! The north building is on fire too!”

“Someone set it on purpose!! They ran! Chase them!!!”

Yu Qingluan caught a faint whiff of smoke in the air.