You Should’ve Said Earlier that you’re Such a Little Flirt! - Chapter 58.1

Xu Qingqiong could only gently pat her back, just as her grandmother used to comfort her, to soothe Lin Konglu.

There is no such thing as true empathy in this world.

Even though she knew what had happened to Lin Konglu before, she hadn’t truly experienced it herself. She couldn’t fully feel that sense of loss, sorrow, and pain; she could only try her best to empathize. She could do nothing but hold her tightly in this moment.

Previously, she had always viewed Lin Konglu’s tears as a form of intimacy belonging only to the two of them. But now, seeing her cry, all she felt was heartache and a numbing sensation in her chest.

In a way, she was glad she had been persistent; she desperately wanted to regain those lost memories. Lin Konglu told her it didn’t matter, but wasn’t it exhausting for one person to carry those memories alone?

She stroked Lin Konglu’s hair and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.

Besides… when people who usually suppress their emotions finally start to cry, they really can’t stop! Lin Konglu had probably never been this disheveled in front of her; her eyes were swollen, and her nose was bright red.

Xu Qingqiong didn’t quite remember how it all ended. By the time she snapped out of it, it was already afternoon.

“So, you’re a little crybaby,” Xu Qingqiong teased, hoping to settle her emotions.

The place hadn’t been lived in for a long time and lacked extra clean bedding, making it unsuitable for staying overnight. So, they had to head back.

Having just gone through such an emotional rollercoaster, Xu Qingqiong didn’t dare let Lin Konglu drive. However, her own driving skills weren’t great, so she drove back slowly with Lin Konglu in the passenger seat.

By the time they reached home, the sky had darkened. Only then did they realize they hadn’t eaten lunch or dinner; they had been on empty stomachs the whole time.

Looking at Lin Konglu, who was still in a bit of a daze, Xu Qingqiong volunteered to cook dinner.

The scene felt so familiar—

She remembered her first day moving into this house. By the time everything was organized, it was already night. Lin Konglu had asked her coldly what she wanted to eat. She had no appetite and doubted if Lin Konglu could even cook, so she simply replied, “Whatever.”

At that time, because of her grandmother’s sudden passing, she was guarded, ready to prickle like a hedgehog against the world. But sitting on the sofa, looking through the transparent kitchen door, she saw Lin Konglu roll up her sleeves with practiced movements. White steam rose up, bringing a strange sense of warmth.

It was a feeling hard to describe. She suddenly felt relaxed, leaning against the sofa, wanting to sleep and let go of every thought. In the end, she didn’t even know what Lin Konglu had cooked that night because she actually fell asleep to the sound of the cooking.

It was the best sleep she’d had in a long time.

When she woke up the next day, Lin Konglu had already gone to work, leaving a note on the fridge and breakfast on the table. That was Xu Qingqiong’s first day living there, and she stayed ever since.

That first day set the pattern for almost every day after. Lin Konglu would often leave notes on the fridge reminding her to eat. Lin Konglu would quietly cook according to her tastes. Without her even knowing, Lin Konglu had wrapped her in a silent blanket of love.

Xu Qingqiong didn’t like cooking and wasn’t good at it. But standing where Lin Konglu usually stood, she suddenly understood: cooking for someone you love can bring happiness.

Throughout their lives, people are eventually healed by the concept of “home.”

Suddenly, Lin Konglu hugged her from behind, resting her head on Xu Qingqiong’s shoulder. It was a gesture of deep attachment.

“What’s wrong?”

Unable to pull her hands away and held tightly by Lin Konglu, she could only turn her head to look at her. Lin Konglu said nothing, merely rubbing her nose gently against Xu Qingqiong’s cheek.

Xu Qingqiong’s heart melted into a soft puddle. She smiled, but the next second, a burnt smell hit both their noses. Flames flared up in the pan. Panicked, she cried out to Lin Konglu, “Help! What do I do?”

Lin Konglu was startled too, but she reacted quickly, taking control of the kitchen and snuffing out the disaster before it spread.

The tender moment was abruptly interrupted. Dinner was delayed indefinitely, and it looked like it wouldn’t be ready anytime soon. Both were left caught between laughter and tears.

Ultimately, after an hour of effort, “Chef Xu” successfully ordered a delicious takeout meal.

Everything settled into a routine.

Xu Qingqiong had been at the art gallery for six months. While she started as a student, she was now officially learning to take over the gallery from Aunt Chun. Lin Konglu chose a location for her new company near the Jiawei Art Gallery—just a five-minute walk away.

They could go to work together and return home together.

Since the company was new, things were complicated. Lin Konglu often had to stay late and worked overtime frequently. One day, Xu Qingqiong got off work on time and went to the company to wait for Lin Konglu.

She happened to run into Barfu, who was carrying a cat carrier out of the elevator. Inside was a kitten, only a few months old, lying quietly without making a sound.

Seeing Xu Qingqiong, Barfu greeted her.

Curious, Xu Qingqiong asked, “Where did the kitten come from?”

Barfu sighed, looking a bit stressed. “An employee found it downstairs the day before yesterday. It seems abandoned. We planned to keep it at the office, but with so many strangers coming in and out, the kitten is too scared. I’m taking it home for a few days until we can find an adopter.”

Xu Qingqiong reached out to play with the kitten. Surprisingly, it was very friendly, nudging its head against her finger through the gaps in the carrier. It had that soft, warm touch unique to small animals.

Barfu was surprised. “It actually likes you! It wouldn’t let anyone touch it before. I had a hard time getting it into the carrier earlier.”

“Really?” Xu Qingqiong was amazed. The kitten didn’t just let her touch it; it was quite enthusiastic, meowing softly at her.

Barfu watched for a moment and smiled. “This kitten is clever. It’s looking for its meal ticket.”

Hearing this, Xu Qingqiong stroked the kitten’s soft head, and an idea formed. Just then, Lin Konglu walked out of the office.

“Should we keep this cat?” “Do you want to keep this cat?”

They spoke at the same time, looking at each other and smiling at the coincidence.

“But can we take good care of it?” Xu Qingqiong wanted to, but she was worried. Pets aren’t just about money; they require time, companionship, and careful attention to their emotions. For a pet, the owner’s responsibility is more important than just love.

Bringing it home meant accepting it as a family member. Deciding to raise it meant taking responsibility for its entire life. Her grandmother had a dog, and she remembered the time spent bathing it and playing with it… while dogs provide emotional value, they need the same companionship in return.

Lin Konglu had never thought about having a pet before, but now she felt—perhaps the time was right.

There’s a theory that people are more likely to want pets when they feel stable. Lin Konglu hadn’t owned a pet before either, so she didn’t speak impulsively.

Barfu observed them and smiled. “Actually, having these thoughts already makes you qualified owners. You just need to ask yourselves one thing: if one day this cat brings you a lot of trouble or pain, would you abandon it?”

Barfu looked at their expressions. “If the answer is no, why not try?”

Right, why not try? No one is born a perfect pet owner; it takes learning and practice. Just as no one is born a perfect lover.

A few days ago, while flipping through the calendar, Xu Qingqiong was surprised to find they had been married for six months. Yet lately, it felt like they were in a honeymoon phase.

They walked to and from work hand-in-hand, cooked together at night, and went grocery shopping when they were free. Though Xu Qingqiong still occasionally “bombed” the kitchen or made “dark cuisine,” Lin Konglu’s superior skills always saved the dish at the brink of disaster. Thus, despite being a novice, Xu Qingqiong proudly maintained a zero-failure rate.

They had gradually become qualified lovers. Learning to be owners of a kitten didn’t seem so difficult now.

Xu Qingqiong held the kitten, which nestled into her arms, its pink, wet nose nuzzling her palm. Her voice was full of disbelief. “So, we have a kitten now?”

“Yes.” Lin Konglu also reached out. The kitten seemed to understand, tilting its head to let her pet it.

Xu Qingqiong suddenly thought, “What should we name our kitten?”

Lin Konglu joked, “How about Ice Cream?”

The kitten gave a tiny meow, as if it understood and was responding. The two looked at each other in surprise.

Xu Qingqiong laughed. “It seems to like that name.”

“So, your name is Ice Cream now?”

The kitten blinked its round eyes, tilted its head, and meowed again, seemingly agreeing to the name. The two laughed together.

Saying goodbye to Barfu, Lin Konglu took her hand. “Let’s go home.”

Xu Qingqiong squeezed her hand back, their fingers interlocking. The sunset blurred the horizon, turning everything into a dreamlike orange-red. With their new family member, they walked home side-by-side, their shadows stretching long behind them.

It was an ordinary day, just like many they would share in the future. With a kitten and a lover, they had built a home, and everything reflected the silhouette of happiness.

Extra 1

Xu Qingqiong recently discovered that Lin Konglu could be quite “bad” sometimes. A quiet, subtle kind of bad. Especially in bed.

Lin Konglu seemed to know exactly how much power her tears held. Using this to her advantage, she often made somewhat excessive requests. Often, Xu Qingqiong would hold her ground and refuse at first.

But the next second, seeing Lin Konglu’s eyes redden and her wet lashes as she deliberately leaned her face against Xu Qingqiong’s shoulder, she would immediately surrender. Lin Konglu got to do whatever she wanted, in whatever position she wanted.

Even though she knew Lin Konglu was doing it on purpose, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. Plus, it was quite enjoyable because Lin Konglu was very skilled. She thought about it with a blush.

However, over time, a question occurred to Xu Qingqiong. Lin Konglu’s technique seemed too good. So good that she couldn’t help but think sourly, With skills like that, how many ex-girlfriends did she have?!

She wasn’t jealous; she just wanted to know about Lin Konglu’s past. Or so she stubbornly told herself.

Thinking it, she asked directly. Lin Konglu found it funny that it took her this long to realize.

“Come here, I’ll teach you.”

Confused, Xu Qingqiong sat beside her. Lin Konglu suddenly hugged her, gazing into her eyes as her fingers gently caressed her. Xu Qingqiong grew shy under her gaze, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Konglu spoke slowly: “Every expression of yours, every reaction of your body, tells me whether you are willing or unwilling, whether you want me to continue or stop.”

Xu Qingqiong was still a bit dazed. “So?”

“If you love someone, you naturally know how to please them. How to make them cry, how to make them laugh, and how to make them happy.”

Her implication was that she had no ex-girlfriends. But Xu Qingqiong caught a different point and asked hesitantly, “So… you love me?”

Such a subtle and natural confession could probably only come from Lin Konglu. They had never formally expressed their love, though they both knew it in their hearts. Xu Qingqiong often said “I like you,” but neither of them was particularly good at saying romantic things. Saying it solemnly felt a bit embarrassing.

But Xu Qingqiong didn’t want to lose. “I love you too.” She held up her fingers to show a tiny distance. “Look, I love you about this much.”

Lin Konglu could tell she was being “tsundere” and didn’t mind. Xu Qingqiong was a woman of action; she expressed her love through her deeds.

After a moment, Xu Qingqiong realized something was wrong and frowned. “Then why is my technique still so bad?”

“Well…” Lin Konglu pondered for a moment, her expression sincere. “I suppose besides love, you also need a bit of talent.”

Xu Qingqiong: “…” You’re insulting me, I heard that.

Even though Lin Konglu always said she didn’t know how to love someone, she had done well enough in loving Xu Qingqiong. She was incredibly patient, tolerating her bad habits and always being there whenever she was needed.

And the fact that Xu Qingqiong could see Lin Konglu’s love—wasn’t that a talent in itself?

She hugged Lin Konglu and confessed, “Actually, it’s a lot more than ‘this much’.”

Lin Konglu said, “I know.”

Even though Xu Qingqiong was casual with her words, she gave a lot of herself.

“Then…” Xu Qingqiong looked at her tentatively. “Based on the fact that I love you a little bit more, can I be the ‘1’ today?”

Lin Konglu: “…”

Noticing the eerie silence, Xu Qingqiong frowned. “You don’t want to?”

Lin Konglu: “…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but every time Xu Qingqiong vowed she could do it, she would run out of battery before they were even halfway through, slumped on Lin Konglu’s chest whining. Lin Konglu would be left hanging and eventually have to carry her to the shower.

After a few times, she figured out the pattern. When Xu Qingqiong said she could do it, she was telling the truth maybe three or four times out of ten. Never trust a woman’s words—especially when Xu Qingqiong claims she can be the “1.”

So, whenever Xu Qingqiong excitedly suggested it, Lin Konglu would find a subtle way to change her mind. And to do that, she used a very simple and effective method: striking first.

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