After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 60

The lights in the house flickered on. Shen You’an could clearly hear the sound of the shower running in the master bedroom upstairs. She looked around; the day she had fled this house, she hadn’t been in any state to truly observe it.

Does Su Wu like art too? The house was filled with collections that left Shen You’an dazzled.

She sat down on the sofa.

The taste on the tip of her tongue felt hot—so hot it made her restless and unable to sit still.

Her tail and bone wings were tucked away; she didn’t want to accidentally damage Su Wu’s sofa in a moment of inattention. Her senses, which had been hyper-sensitive due to the transformation, hadn’t fully returned to normal. On the second floor, inside the bathroom, subtle sounds mixed with the gurgling of water drifted through the walls and ceiling, landing right in Shen You’an’s ears.

“Ngh… mm…”

“Haah…”

Shen You’an’s pupils instantly contracted into those of a beast. Her spine straightened in a flash.

A-jie… is doing…?

A realization hit Shen You’an immediately. She hurried upstairs and knocked on the master bathroom door.

“A-jie!”

The water didn’t stop, but the sounds ceased for a moment. After a pause, Su Wu asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Are you okay?” Shen You’an asked with deep concern. “Did I… make you uncomfortable just now?”

“I’m fine,” Su Wu answered, trying her best to sound steady.

Shen You’an didn’t believe her for a second.

She knew how to read. She knew what those words on the paper meant. And after seeing that damp spot on the table, she understood everything with absolute clarity.

“A-jie—” Shen You’an lowered her head. “I-if you need help, you can call me.”

It was a mess she had caused.

Separated by a wall, beneath the mist of the shower, Su Wu felt helpless.

Help?

How could she ask Shen You’an for help?

By telling her that when she “eats,” she shouldn’t just focus on one side while completely ignoring the other, leaving a person in such frustrated agony?

Or by telling her that the things she wanted were actually more, deeper, and heavier than a mere “experiment” or “extra lesson”?

She couldn’t utter a single word.

“No need,” she said. “Go back downstairs. I’ll be out soon.”

With things said to this point, Shen You’an couldn’t be stubborn. She murmured an acknowledgment and walked back down.

With every step she took, the suppressed sounds from the bathroom crawled into her ears. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, hands gripping the railing, clutching her hair. She told herself she couldn’t listen anymore, yet she couldn’t bear to stop.

The monster was waking up again; desire surged along with it.

Her mind involuntarily filled in the visuals she couldn’t see. What is A-jie doing? Why would she make those sounds? She held back so persistently in front of me, yet she lets her voice go when she’s alone. Is it because I didn’t “eat” well enough? A-jie has never made those sounds in front of me.

Shen You’an rubbed her hair irritably. She was distracted and restless.

As she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, images appeared that shouldn’t have been there. Flickering, blurry, yet real. Everything in the bathroom was in full view from a subtle angle. She felt herself being placed in a warm, moist place—resilient yet soft, wrapping around her, rubbing against her.

Crazy.

Shen You’an cursed herself. She must be having delusions from wanting to eat Su Wu so badly. She banged her head against the railing a couple of times.

She truly didn’t understand why she still felt hungry—but it wasn’t the usual kind of hunger; it was something else entirely. As for the specific difference, she couldn’t immediately tell. It was as if, after the main course, there was a separate stomach for dessert. Oh no, could the monster side be mutating again?

The current situation was already enough of a headache; Shen You’an didn’t want any more unknown changes in her body. She slapped her own cheeks hard, shaking off the muddy, heart-pounding, blushing imagery of the bathroom. She opened her eyes and decided to find something to do.

Su Wu emerged about twenty minutes later. She had changed into clean clothes and looked refreshed, her hair still slightly damp.

“A-jie, you’re out,” Shen You’an said.

Su Wu nodded, then looked at the mop in her hand. “…?”

“What are you doing?”

Shen You’an said, “Just, uh, cleaning up a bit. Doing some cleaning.” She couldn’t very well tell the truth—that she couldn’t sit still and kept having wild thoughts when she closed her eyes, so she decided to deep-clean the whole house.

“A-jie, your hair isn’t dry yet.”

“It’s fine,” Su Wu said. “I’m driving home anyway; the wind will dry it on the way.”

“No,” Shen You’an disagreed. “You’ll catch a cold easily.”

She pulled Su Wu over and made her sit on the sofa. “I’ll go get the hairdryer. A-jie, I’ll dry it for you. Where is it?”

“Third shelf of the white cabinet in the bathroom,” Su Wu said. “I’ll get it myself.”

“No need!” Shen You’an sprinted upstairs. “I know where it is!”

Opening the bathroom and finding the dryer, Shen You’an turned to leave, then suddenly looked back. The tile patterns, the layout, the way Su Wu’s discarded clothes were draped over the hooks… everything was identical to the images that had flashed in her mind.

“…?”

Shen You’an frowned and went back downstairs.

“What’s wrong?” Su Wu asked, seeing her pensive look.

Shen You’an shook her head, plugged in the dryer, and made Su Wu sit properly as she stood behind her to dry her hair. Strands were lifted one by one as the warm air hummed. Neither of them spoke.

Until a red mark caught Shen You’an’s eye.

Her movements paused. She moved the dryer away and carefully touched the back of Su Wu’s neck.

“A-jie, is this… from me?” It looked like a finger mark. Was Su Wu’s skin really that easy to mark, or had she been too forceful just now? Her gaze followed the marks down; there were more on the neck.

The most prominent marks—the holes from the blood-sucking—were gone, leaving only these. She had thought this kind of “eating” wouldn’t leave a trace. Who would have thought—

Shen You’an’s face turned bright red. “A-jie, I’m sorry.”

Su Wu: “Are you really sorry?”

Shen You’an nodded vigorously.

Su Wu: “Then don’t eat recklessly like that next time.”

Shen You’an: “…”

Su Wu: “Unwilling?”

Shen You’an acted coy. “I was just afraid that if I only sucked blood, A-jie’s body wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Su Wu thought to herself: I didn’t take it very well even without the blood-sucking. It would have been more straightforward to just suck blood.

“A-jie, I’ll be gentler next time, okay?”

Su Wu didn’t answer, only saying: “Weren’t you going to dry my hair?”

Shen You’an hurried to bring the dryer back, blowing the air as she used her fingertips to lift the woman’s hair, letting the wind scatter the strands bit by bit. Well, Shen You’an thought, some delicacies are worth eating even once in a lifetime.

They dried her hair in silence for a while.

As Shen You’an’s thoughts fully pulled away from her appetite and she calmed down, she belatedly realized that some of the things she had said while doing that were truly shameless and scandalous.

Drinking milk—

Why didn’t she just die?! She wanted to bang her head against a wall.

Once she finished drying Su Wu’s hair, Shen You’an ran upstairs to put the dryer away and then stayed by Su Wu’s side as they prepared to return to their residence.

Noticing that the person beside her kept her head down, her ears glowing red and her thoughts drifting, not daring to look her in the eye, Su Wu knew the little monster was fully conscious now. The madness driven by desire had receded, leaving only reason.

“A-jie—” Shen You’an struggled for a long time before finally forcing herself past the shame to speak. “The things I did just now…”

Su Wu lowered her gaze.

“You don’t need to overthink what happened just now,” she said. “And you don’t need to worry too much about my feelings. I understand your situation and your condition.”

A cold, objective analysis.

“In that state, many of your actions weren’t your own intention but stemmed from predatory instinct. Beyond that, there was no other meaning.”

Shen You’an felt relieved at first, but the more she listened, the more it felt like Su Wu was drawing a line. She was stunned. She opened her mouth to say it wasn’t like that. But then her mind jammed—what would “other meaning” even represent?

She looked down at her fingertips; the residual warmth from a certain place seemed to linger. She truly wanted to eat Su Wu—eat her until nothing was left. Should this “want” be categorized as appetite, or “other meaning”?

Su Wu asked, “What is it?”

Shen You’an pursed her lips and shook her head, unable to voice her confusion. She saw Su Wu reach out and ruffle her hair. “You’an, don’t think too much. No matter what happened just now, I’m still your A-jie.”

Shen You’an gave an “mhm,” but her gaze fixed on Su Wu’s bracelet. The one she had given her—the snake biting its tail, the black pearl shimmering.

Shen You’an’s lips suddenly felt dry. She licked them and asked, “A-jie, do you always wear it?”

Su Wu glanced at it and said, “Mhm. It’s from you; I never take it off.”

Shen You’an’s brain silently exploded. She suddenly understood where those absurd images—the ones she thought were ridiculous when she closed her eyes—had come from.

That tiny, tiny tail. The existence silently hidden inside the pearl. She had actually shared a sensory connection with it.

A-jie had looked so longing, and in such pain. She’d rather use the pearl to rub against herself than ask for help.

…It was true.

After all, A-jie had only helped her in the basement for research. After leaving the basement, there was indeed no reason to have that kind of contact. It was she who had been pushy, leaning in to ask if help was needed. When she was the culprit.

If it weren’t for the unknown substance she carried causing the “pro-lust reaction,” Su Wu wouldn’t have been in that situation. Su Wu probably didn’t want that, right? She had always treated her as a beloved sister; even knowing she was a monster, she helped her wholeheartedly. She always maintained the boundaries, which was why she reminded her: “I’m still your A-jie.”

Actually, that was enough. How could she ask for more?

Shen You’an proactively reached out and took Su Wu’s hand. “A-jie, let’s go home.”

Once I leave the basement, once I leave this room, Shen You’an told herself, I must hide the monster away safely and properly.

“Wait,” Su Wu stopped her, pulling at her collar. “You aren’t taking this off?”

Only then did Shen You’an remember the collar controller around her neck. She reached back to remove it, and Su Wu helped her. The woman’s scent enveloped her again; the distance was as close as when they were intimate not long ago, and the bitten skin was within reach.

“A-jie.”

“Mhm?”

Shen You’an suddenly hugged her tight, burying her head in her chest.

Su Wu paused. “What’s this?”

Shen You’an shook her head, just hugging her and refusing to let go, then whispered, “Next time… next time I come over, I’ll be even better.”

Su Wu unlatched the collar and smoothed down You’an’s long hair. “You’re already good enough.” The woman ruffled her hair. “How much better do you want to be?”

“I’ll be gentler, leave no marks, and I won’t let A-jie be alone—”

“Alone doing what?”

Shen You’an shook her head. “N-nothing.”

Su Wu: “…?”

Shen You’an’s reaction was so strange.

A guess flashed through Su Wu’s mind, but it felt subtle. She put the collar away and said, “Wait for me at the door; I’m going upstairs to grab something.”

Shen You’an said okay.

Su Wu walked upstairs gracefully, and after a moment, a startled “Ah!” was heard. Shen You’an sprinted up instantly, opening the door worriedly: “A-jie! What’s wrong!”

At the bathroom door, Su Wu was standing with her arms crossed, her face showing not a hint of panic or alarm. Shen You’an intuitively felt something was wrong.

Su Wu asked, “Why did you come up?”

Shen You’an instinctively tried to hide it. “I-I—”

Su Wu sighed lightly. “Shen You’an, has anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible liar?”

Shen You’an was mortified.

Su Wu hit the nail on the head: “So, you heard everything I was doing in the bathroom just now?”

Shen You’an was so ashamed her face turned a bright, feverish red. She spoke incoherently: “A-jie, I-I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t adjust my senses in time, and I accidentally—”

Su Wu raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of a smile in her eyes. “I didn’t say anything; why are you so panicked?”

“Actually, You’an, there are some things you should understand.”

Shen You’an: “Huh? Oh… ah! W-what things?”

Su Wu: “As you can see, I am nearly thirty—a normal woman with my own physiological desires. Generally, these desires are especially prominent around ovulation. To put it simply, it’s caused by estrogen secretion. If we must trace it back, it’s likely a mechanism the human body evolved for the survival of the species.”

Shen You’an’s racing heart cooled down instantly at this educational lecture that sounded like a science documentary. She looked at Su Wu blankly.

“I just went to the basement to organize the files.” Su Wu paused. “I assume you saw that report. The ‘pro-lust reaction’ does indeed happen. Everything you heard was a behavior I performed to alleviate that reaction.”

“I’m telling you this openly because I hope you won’t misunderstand or take any unnecessary pressure upon yourself.”

Su Wu gently ruffled her hair. “You’an, that isn’t your responsibility, and you certainly don’t need to be accountable for it.”

Shen You’an’s hands and feet went cold. For the first time, she felt that Su Wu’s kindness was so great that it drew a clear line between them. She lowered her head and gave a quiet “mhm,” her chaotic thoughts hidden beneath her eyelids.

Shen You’an’s heart was squeezed tight, so she didn’t notice that as Su Wu spoke these words, her own heart was racing strangely fast.

Su Wu had spoken a lot of grand logic, but only she knew how relieved she was that she hadn’t uncontrollably called out Shen You’an’s name in the bathroom. She thanked her nearly abnormal rational control once again. Otherwise, she had no idea how today’s “extra lesson” would have ended.

“So slow.” Shen Huaijin was waiting at her door. Seeing them come up, she complained, “I thought you weren’t coming back today.”

Su Wu looked at her, her eyes saying, What are you doing here?

Shen Huaijin pulled open her door. “Post-lesson midnight snack! Xiao An, come quick! I’ve prepared milk and egg tarts!”

Shen You’an suddenly choked on her own saliva, waving her hands. “No, no, Sister, I-I won’t be drinking milk for now.”

She had realized that for a short while, she wouldn’t be able to look at anything milk-related.

Shen Huaijin was puzzled. “What’s wrong? You used to love it.”

Shen You’an: “…Sister! I-I’m tired! I’m going to my room to rest!”

Shen You’an ducked into her apartment like she was running away. Huaijin frowned and grabbed Su Wu. “What’s going on?”

Su Wu: “Hm?”

Shen Huaijin: “Did something happen? I noticed Xiao An’s inner shirt seems to have been changed.”

What a keen eye, Shen Huaijin.

Su Wu stayed calm. “She spilled milk on herself during the lesson. We went to buy new clothes and changed before coming back.”

Shen Huaijin automatically filled in the logic. “Oh, so that’s why you’re back so late?”

Su Wu nodded.

Shen Huaijin: “Alright.”

Shen Huaijin: “When is the next lesson? If you’re too busy, I can pick her up and drop her off.”

Su Wu glanced at her. “Not sure. And no need.”

“…” Shen Huaijin bit back a retort and asked, “I still don’t get it though. Isn’t Xiao An a liberal arts student? Since when does she need biology lessons?”

“She’s very gifted,” Su Wu answered, her gaze falling on Huaijin’s hand clutching her sleeve. “Any more questions?”

Shen Huaijin cleared her throat. “No questions, it’s just… it must be hard work helping Xiao An study. Do you want a snack? I made a portion for you too.”

Su Wu: “…”

Su Wu: “Thanks, but no.”

For a short time, she probably didn’t want any milk either.

Having been rejected twice, Shen Huaijin had no choice but to return to her room. Looking at the exquisitely plated snacks she had prepared early on, she shook her head and sighed, “Sigh, nobody knows a good thing when they see it. If they won’t eat, I’ll eat it myself!”

“You’an!” Meng Dongdong patted her dazed seatmate. “What’s up? You’ve been out of it for the past few days.”

Shen You’an shook her head. “Nothing.”

Meng Dongdong pouted. “Liar. Tell me, what did Old Wang talk about in class just now?”

Shen You’an opened her mouth and couldn’t answer a single word.

Meng Dongdong was worried. “Did something happen?”

Shen You’an couldn’t say it. She couldn’t very well tell Meng Dongdong that these past few days, she saw Su Wu when she opened her eyes and Su Wu when she closed them. The basement, the bathroom—every single image was being replayed in her mind. Fortunately, Su Wu hadn’t been home much lately, spending her time in the lab preparing for the weekend trip to Tian’ai Hospital.

Partly to research the specific components in the white peach scent that caused the reaction, and partly to fulfill You’an’s suggestion of strengthening the collar’s control functions.

Initially, hearing that Su Wu would be busy and home less, Shen You’an had felt relieved. She hadn’t sorted out her feelings yet and didn’t dare look Su Wu in the eye, much less her lips—one look and she’d think about how many scandalous things she’d done to those lips.

But before the day was even over, Shen You’an already missed her. She even had wild thoughts, wondering if Su Wu was busy just to avoid her. Her mind was a mess, so she had no energy to notice anything else; it was no wonder Meng Dongdong could tell.

“It’s nothing really,” Shen You’an said. “Just a bit frustrated.”

Meng Dongdong patted her shoulder. “Young lady, it seems your ‘tribulation’ has arrived.”

Shen You’an didn’t understand. “What?”

Meng Dongdong acted mysterious. “Nothing.”

“Tell you what, An-jie. After school today, I’m taking you somewhere!”

“Where?”

“A great place to relax!” Meng Dongdong chuckled. “Don’t ask, just come with me. Oh, and good news! Remember I said I’d give you a safe? Hehe, I asked my mom to find someone to custom-make it. It’ll arrive this week! I’ll have them deliver it straight to your house!”

“Thank you.” Shen You’an found it hard to refuse such kindness, but she really wanted to ask: “But why a safe?”

Meng Dongdong gasped. “You don’t know? My god, you really don’t? That little crown of yours… the pink diamonds on it aren’t some lab-grown ones. That’s Fancy Vivi—the most incredible pink diamonds produced before the Argyle mine closed.”

“I’d been curious who bought them through my parents long ago. When I saw them at your place that day, I understood everything. So they were in your hands.”

“…?”

Seeing Shen You’an’s stunned face, Meng Dongdong dropped another bomb. “Do you know how much those pink diamonds are worth? Let me whisper it to you.”

After whispering the price, Meng Dongdong looked with satisfaction at Shen You’an’s shocked expression. She reached out and pushed You’an’s jaw back up, warning her, “Now do you know why I must give you a safe? That’s sixty million! Who in their right mind just leaves sixty million lying around in a plastic box?!”

Shen You’an murmured, “A-jie gave that to me.”

Meng Dongdong: “I know! The gift you two gave me together? The diamonds on that are also Fancy Vivi. Sister Su Wu didn’t tell you?”

“No.” Shen You’an shook her head distractedly. “Dongdong, tell me… why would she give me this?”

Meng Dongdong let out an “aiyah”: “That I don’t know. But anyway, my sister certainly wouldn’t buy me sixty million in diamonds—though that might just be because she can’t afford them.”

Shen You’an was thinking much more deeply. That crown was given to her by Su Wu shortly after they met. The design was exactly the same as her favorite designer brand from before. She hadn’t even questioned it, assuming from the start that the diamonds were lab-grown just as they used to be. But it turned out…

Had Su Wu made a mistake? Or had she intended to give this to her all along? But according to Dongdong, the pink diamonds had been bought a long time ago. It would take time to cut and polish them to fit the crown. If Su Wu had been preparing this for a long time—back then, she hadn’t even returned yet.

She couldn’t figure it out. Shen You’an’s heart and mind were in even more of a mess. She couldn’t see this woman clearly, just like she couldn’t see a mountain in the fog.

Hearing her sighing repeatedly again, Meng Dongdong slammed the desk. “An-jie! Perk up!”

“Tonight I’m taking you to see some beautiful girls!”

Shen You’an: “…”

Shen You’an: “???”

She thought Meng Dongdong was just joking, but after school, she was whisked away in a car to a small bistro.

“The bassist on stage is my friend,” Meng Dongdong introduced her with a grin. “I wanted to introduce you two before, but she’s been on tour with her band. Today is perfect; I brought you here to unwind and meet her!”