You Should’ve Said Earlier that you’re Such a Little Flirt! - Chapter 28

She blamed herself for being momentarily bewitched, losing her self-control, and falling straight into Lin Konglu’s trap.

The more Xu Qingqiong thought about it, the angrier she became. Her body was heavy with exhaustion, yet sleep eluded her.

She knew Lin Konglu was hiding many things from her—why they were getting married… and why she maintained this kind of attitude.

If before she had held a nonchalant “it doesn’t matter, it’s just a contract and not real anyway” perspective, making Lin Konglu’s secrecy acceptable, now those same secrets left her feeling inexplicably stifled and frustrated.

Unable to help herself, she kicked Lin Konglu’s shin.

“Don’t go to sleep.”

Lin Konglu opened her eyes to look at her, her voice thick with the haze of sleep. “Hmm?”

Xu Qingqiong’s gaze fell upon her neck.

She had bitten down hard; a bright, startling red mark remained on Lin Konglu’s neck, one that likely wouldn’t be hidden by a collar tomorrow.

The human neck is fragile, housing major arteries; biting it is a potentially dangerous act. But at the time, she simply couldn’t control herself. Recalling the scene, Xu Qingqiong couldn’t stop herself from blushing—Lin Konglu had been far too much!

Besides, Lin Konglu had bitten her back.

Steeling her nerves, she got straight to the point. “I’m a little angry,” she said bluntly.

Lin Konglu watched her quietly without speaking, as if asking what was wrong.

Meeting her gaze, Xu Qingqiong thought to herself that it didn’t matter if Lin Konglu considered her petty or vengeful, but she wouldn’t let Lin Konglu brush things off like this. Especially not using that method.

“If there’s something going on, you need to explain it clearly. We are about to get married,” Xu Qingqiong said, her voice muffled and her mood unpleasant.

Even if it was a marriage of convenience, she didn’t want things between her and Lin Konglu to be a muddled mess.

If her initial decision to marry Lin Konglu was an act of desperation, she had now expressed her stance: she wanted to take this seriously.

It wasn’t a good time for a talk—the two of them were lying in bed, unclothed, with the lingering scent of intimacy still in the air—but she couldn’t stop herself from speaking. She didn’t want to drag this problem into tomorrow.

Lin Konglu looked at her silently and tentatively reached out to hold her fingers, their warm palms interlocking.

However, this gesture of intimacy only served to irritate Xu Qingqiong. Seeing that the other woman still had no intention of speaking, she couldn’t help but snap, “Don’t you have a mouth?” She turned away, giving her the cold shoulder and shaking off Lin Konglu’s arm.

In truth, it wasn’t that Lin Konglu didn’t want to speak; she just didn’t know how to say it.

Xu Qingqiong’s way of expressing emotion was too direct—whether it was anger or affection. She was blunt about her temper and blunt about her desire for the marriage.

It was a bit overwhelming for Lin Konglu.

The adult world was one of push and pull, where words were laced with hidden meanings and one had to remain vigilant to avoid falling into traps. Lin Konglu had spent too much time in that world and had long since been assimilated. She was used to expressing herself through subtext; it was difficult for her to state her desires and feelings directly.

She knew that if she just opened her mouth and gave a random reason, Xu Qingqiong would easily turn the page, stop dwelling on it, and lose her anger quickly. By remaining silent, she was only magnifying the other’s emotions.

But, she watched Xu Qingqiong’s back silently.

Xu Qingqiong had clearly forgotten her. She remembered nothing of the past.

How was she supposed to start that conversation?

The two of them entered a sort of stalemate.

By the time Xu Qingqiong woke up the next morning, Lin Konglu had already left for the office. That evening, while Xu Qingqiong was livestreaming, Lin Konglu worked late. It wasn’t exactly a “cold war,” but there was a subtle distance between them, and neither brought up the topic.

Unsure how to resolve the situation, Xu Qingqiong eventually called Cong Yun and asked her to come out and chat.

Cong Yun agreed instantly, sounding like a bird that had just been set free.

The two had known each other for a long time, having practically grown up together. Their personalities and interests were worlds apart, yet they had always maintained a good relationship.

It had been a while since they last met. Although they chatted frequently online, nothing beat seeing each other in person.

Upon meeting, Cong Yun hugged her excitedly. “Baby! Qiong-er! Give me a kiss.”

Xu Qingqiong glanced at the ring on Cong Yun’s hand and reminded her, “…Mind the distance.”

Cong Yun looked at the ring with a hint of disgust, quickly slipped it off, and stuffed it into her pocket.

Before coming, Xu Qingqiong had confirmed with her that they wouldn’t go to any chaotic, shady bars. She wanted somewhere quiet where they could sit down, have a drink, and relax.

But the moment she stepped inside, the blasting music nearly deafened her. A dance floor occupied the center of the bar, a DJ was spinning on stage, and a crowd of people was swaying to the beat.

Regardless of whether this bar was “respectable” or not, it certainly wasn’t quiet.

Cong Yun, however, was in her element, pulling Xu Qingqiong further inside.

Feeling like her ears were about to ring, Xu Qingqiong frowned and asked, “Can’t we switch to another place?”

Cong Yun persuaded her, “Just come and experience it!”

Cong Yun had the face of a “good girl”—round, deer-like eyes, long straight black hair, and very fair skin. Based on looks alone, no one would guess she was a bar regular.

Even the bartender at the front greeted her with a smile. “Yun-yun, haven’t seen you in a while. Cultivating your soul?”

“Screw that. I’ll cultivate my soul in my next life,” Cong Yun waved her hand dismissively. She put on a profound expression, sighed, and added, “You wouldn’t understand. This is just what married life is like.”

The bartender laughed. “Alright, then. Congratulations on entering the grave of love.”

At those words, Cong Yun’s expression soured instantly. She whispered, “The grave is real enough—it’s about to bury me alive. But let’s forget about the ‘love’ part.”

Xu Qingqiong: “Are you sure about this place? Is it safe?”

Cong Yun brushed it off. “It’s not like I’m actually married yet.”

Xu Qingqiong didn’t agree with that logic, but Cong Yun had always been like this—she was all talk. She scanned the surroundings, deciding that if things got too ridiculous, she would leave immediately.

Fortunately, Cong Yun wasn’t entirely unreliable and led her up to the second floor.

The second floor was noticeably quieter. The walls were well-insulated; while the rhythmic thumping from downstairs was still audible, it was reduced to a faint, distant hum.

As they sat down, Cong Yun pushed the drink menu toward her and asked what she wanted. The names of the cocktails were eccentric and varied; Xu Qingqiong didn’t know much about them, and looking at the list gave her a headache.

Seeing her struggle, Cong Yun turned directly to the server. “Anything new? Something low-alcohol, palatable, and sweet? Bring her one of those.” She then practicedly ordered two high-proof drinks for herself.

Only then did she get down to business, asking curiously, “What’s up? Did you and Lin Konglu have a fight?”

Xu Qingqiong shook her head. “No.”

She didn’t think it counted as a fight, mainly because Lin Konglu hadn’t said a single word the entire time. But that was exactly what made it more agonizing than an actual argument.

“If you didn’t fight, then it’s just a minor issue,” Cong Yun said with the air of an expert. “When you get back, just hug her, let her hug you, have a little make-out session, and it’ll be resolved in no time.”

Xu Qingqiong: “…” This “familiar method” was exactly what was making her angry. Was Lin Konglu learning her moves from Cong Yun?

Catching a glimpse of a hickey on Cong Yun’s neck, Xu Qingqiong decided to ruin the mood with some scientific facts. “Next time, don’t let anyone bite your neck. It’s potentially dangerous. If the carotid sinus is compressed, it can cause fainting. There’s even a risk of death.”

Cong Yun looked down at her own neck, though her takeaway was quite different. “How do you know that? Did you bite Lin Konglu?”

Xu Qingqiong: “…”

Cong Yun thought to herself: It’s not that I’m uneducated, but who keeps track of obscure medical trivia like that unless they’ve done it?

Just as Xu Qingqiong was about to explain, the atmosphere turned eerily quiet.

Beyond the muffled music outside the door, she heard the unmistakably clear clicking of high heels. There were several private rooms on this floor, but the footsteps stopped precisely in front of theirs.

A second later, the door swung open. The thunderous roar of the music from the hall rushed in.

A strange woman in a dark suit stood in the doorway, her gaze fixed on Cong Yun.

Cong Yun, who had just taken a sip of her drink, turned around. Her pupils dilated in sudden panic. She stood up immediately. “Sister…”

The moment that title left her lips, Xu Qingqiong realized this must be Zhong Qingying—Cong Yun’s “flash-marriage” spouse.

She was tall, with grey eyes and deep, defined features that suggested mixed heritage. She wore a half-smile that felt intensely oppressive. This was the first time Xu Qingqiong had seen her.

The previously relaxed Cong Yun now looked uneasy and tense, like a child caught doing something wrong.

Zhong Qingying didn’t look at Cong Yun again. Instead, she turned to Xu Qingqiong with a seemingly friendly expression. “Qingqiong, right?”

Xu Qingqiong: “Yes, hello.”

“It’s late. I’m taking Ayun home now. You should head back early too; stay safe.” She added, “Do you need me to call a driver for you?”

Xu Qingqiong shook her head. “No need.”

Cong Yun, however, looked reluctant—she hadn’t finished her drink yet. She hooked her pinky finger around Zhong Qingying’s, her eyes pleading.

Zhong Qingying took the opportunity to grasp her hand, interlacing their fingers. But when she felt the absence of the familiar ring, her expression shifted. Her smile deepened. “You want to drink?”

Cong Yun nodded apprehensively.

“Fine. I agree.”

A look of surprise and joy flashed in Cong Yun’s eyes. “Really?” She failed to see the hidden danger lurking beneath that permission.

Zhong Qingying smiled and nodded. “Of course.”

Cong Yun turned to Xu Qingqiong. “Qionger, don’t leave yet. Try the drink!”

Xu Qingqiong’s drink was a beautiful pink gradient, looking like colored sand. It was quite pretty, but the alcohol content was actually quite high. She took a small sip; it was sweet at first, but left a sharp, stinging aftertaste.

Cong Yun hadn’t had a drink in a long time—Zhong Qingying kept her under strict, almost obsessive control. Craving the sensation, she downed both of her high-proof drinks in one go. Having abstained for so long, the alcohol hit her quickly.

Zhong Qingying sat to the side with her legs crossed, watching her composedly. Once Cong Yun’s eyes grew hazy and she was clearly drunk, Zhong Qingying held out her palm. Cong Yun instinctively leaned in and nuzzled her cheek against the woman’s hand.

A touch of genuine amusement finally entered Zhong Qingying’s eyes. “Such a good girl.”

“…Excuse me, I’ll be going first.” Xu Qingqiong interrupted the atmosphere, set down her glass, and stood up.

Because her movement was a bit too hurried, her phone slipped from her pocket and landed silently on the black sofa.

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