Chapter 43

They kissed for a long while, until Lin Yi could no longer control the growling sound coming from her stomach. Only then did Zhao Qi release her with a low laugh.

Lin Yi covered her face in embarrassment, peeking at Zhao Qi through the gaps between her fingers, only for Zhao Qi to peck the back of her hand.

“Let’s eat.” Zhao Qi laughed softly, the curve of her lips warm and bright.

“Mm.” Lin Yi’s face reddened in embarrassment. She really was a killer of romantic atmosphere.

The two quietly finished their meal.

Lin Yi’s left hand was much better now. Daily use was basically fine, though she still had some difficulty lifting it. The ointment Zhao Qi bought from overseas really was useful. The marks on Lin Yi’s neck corroded by the sulfuric acid had faded a little, but they were still somewhat frightening.

She went to the bathroom and carefully wrapped the bandages properly. The large patches of uneven wounds had not yet disappeared, but she could feel the energy Wuming mentioned slowly repairing the injuries inside her body. Even the doctor was amazed by her recovery speed. But among so many people in the country, after she had been splashed with sulfuric acid, it just so happened to rain, diluting the acid concentration. She had also been sent to the hospital and treated in time, and there was the ointment Zhao Qi had spent a huge sum to obtain. With all these factors, this recovery speed could be understood.

But the wound was truly ugly. She was afraid of scaring Zhao Qi, so she had been hiding it all along.

Zhao Qi waited for Lin Yi to return, then washed up herself. She pulled Lin Yi onto the bed. The two nestled together in bed, Lin Yi lying on Zhao Qi’s chest as they quietly watched videos.

Zhao Qi asked, “Fan Texi said you decided to participate in the show organized by the company.”

Lin Yi rubbed against Zhao Qi’s chest and nodded. “He showed me notices for other programs, but I didn’t think they suited me.”

Turning over, she lay on Zhao Qi’s chest and said, “And I feel very confident in a show produced by you.”

Who knew where her confidence came from? Zhao Qi’s eyes darkened, her black pupils fixed on Lin Yi without moving.

Lin Yi buried herself against the woman’s chest, soft and sweet.

“I believe in you.”

Zhao Qi’s fingers moved slightly. She wrapped her arm around the slender waist of the person in her arms. Her knuckles unintentionally slipped into Lin Yi’s clothes and brushed against the smooth skin of Lin Yi’s lower back.

Lin Yi had never felt there was anything special about that patch of skin, but when the woman’s warm fingers slipped in and brushed against her, she suddenly felt rather uneasy.

Zhao Qi remembered Lin Yi’s back. On her fair, smooth spine, close to the waist, there were two shallow dimples. The dimples were round, making Zhao Qi want to poke them.

And she did indeed do that. Her long, slender fingers probed until they found the place. There were shallow little depressions, and she poked them with interest. Lin Yi’s body trembled. At a loss, she clutched the woman’s clothes and widened her eyes at Zhao Qi.

What did she want to do?

“Miss Lin, you’re being discharged early tomorrow morning. I’ve packed everything up. Is there anything else on your side that needs packing?”

The door rang twice. The caregiver stood outside and spoke. Knowing the rules, she did not directly push the door open.

Zhao Qi leaned beside Lin Yi’s neck and laughed softly.

Lin Yi’s mind had turned into a mess. She exhaled heavily, breathing out a ball of heat, and awkwardly avoided the woman’s gaze.

“Miss Lin, are you asleep?” The caregiver knocked again and asked. No one inside had spoken. She wondered strangely, “It’s only what time?” Logically speaking, it was not yet the time Miss Lin usually slept.

Hearing the voice outside, Lin Yi’s mind instantly cleared. She bit her lower lip. Zhao Qi leaned closer and kissed her again, deliberately acting wickedly as she kissed the root of Lin Yi’s ear. Lin Yi pushed the woman’s head away and answered with a trembling voice, “I’m tired today. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

“I understand, Miss Lin.” The caregiver felt Lin Yi’s voice sounded a little strange, but did not think too much of it.

Zhao Qi continued downward until she reached Lin Yi’s neck. The hot breath she exhaled scattered over Lin Yi’s neck. Lin Yi suddenly pushed the woman hard. Her voice grew even more unsteady. “Here, here… no.” She sounded as if she were about to cry.

That wound was so ugly. She did not want Zhao Qi to touch it. She wanted herself in Zhao Qi’s eyes to always be clean and fair.

Zhao Qi’s fingertips trembled slightly. [bailiantales.com]Knowing Lin Yi’s unwillingness, she calmed down completely.

That was where Lin Yi had been burned…

She pressed Lin Yi into her arms and held her tightly, her voice clear and faint as she comforted her. “It’s all right, Yiyi.” I won’t despise it.

Lin Yi nestled into her arms and said honestly, “I care.”

I care about my image in your eyes.

Zhao Qi tightened her arms and held Lin Yi close, kissing the top of the girl’s head.

“All right.” I respect your decision.

Lin Yi clutched Zhao Qi’s clothes and opened her mouth shyly. “Wait for me.” She said in embarrassment, “Wait until I’ve adjusted.”

Last time, they had originally been about to go all the way, but Zhao Qi’s leg was injured. The woman had kissed her again and again, and in the end, still held her and slept.

She had always respected her.

Zhao Qi laughed aloud. How could she be this adorable?

Suppressing the restlessness in her body, she kissed Lin Yi again. “Sleep early.”

After this little disturbance, the night had grown deep. The two embraced each other and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, it was time to process the discharge procedures. Zhao Qi’s biological clock activated right on time. She woke first, then leaned close to Lin Yi’s ear and nuzzled her before waking her girl.

Lin Yi was still dazed, but suddenly remembered she was being discharged today and immediately became happy. She could go to work with the woman again!

What was she so excited about? Zhao Qi found it funny. Clearly, Lin Yi looked like such a grown person, but at certain times, she still had a childlike innocence. This was also one of the things Zhao Qi liked most about Lin Yi.

Zhao Qi got up first and tidied herself. By the time Lin Yi began getting ready, Zhao Qi had already taken the initiative to pack Lin Yi’s clothes.

The caregiver went to handle the procedures. By the time everything was done, Zhao Qi had already had the driver move all the luggage downstairs.

Standing beside the hospital room, Zhao Qi reached out to Lin Yi.

“Come on. Let’s go home.”

Holding the woman’s hand, Lin Yi’s face was full of smiles, and her heart swelled.

Yes. Wherever the woman was, that was her home.

…

On the road, Zhao Qi’s phone rang from time to time. She swiped it open and saw messages from Dan Ze.

“Have you told my sister?”

Zhao Qi swiped it away, feeling unhappy. The treasure she had found—how had she suddenly become someone else’s?

She sighed inwardly, but what needed to be said had to be said eventually. Yesterday, she had simply not found the right time.

She looked toward Lin Yi. Lin Yi sensed it and smiled at her without realizing anything, the corners of her eyes and brows filled with sweet joy. Zhao Qi’s heart softened into a puddle again.

What was there to be afraid of? Her girl would not change in the end.

Their fingers interlocked, palms pressed together. She would find a chance to say it today.

Back at Sangzhu, Lin Yi was intoxicated by everything she saw, as if she had been freed all at once. As soon as she returned, she impatiently [Read on BaiLianTales]ran to the piano and pressed the keys at random, and the pleasant sound of the piano once again floated through the room.

The corners of Zhao Qi’s lips curved. She carried Lin Yi’s things directly into her own bedroom.

Only after Lin Yi had fully satisfied the itch in her hands did she stand and follow Zhao Qi’s traces.

The moment she entered the woman’s bedroom, she froze in place.

Zhao Qi walked over and held her hand, smiling as she said, “From today onward, let’s live in one room.”

Was she entering the inner chamber just like this? Lin Yi nodded shyly.

Zhao Qi held her hand and showed her around. “I changed the bed to a slightly bigger one, so you’ll be comfortable lying down.”

Where was there any need for it to be this big? Lin Yi measured it with her eyes. It was more than enough for four or five of her to lie on.

“I also had your things moved over exactly as they were. This is your vanity mirror and mine.”

The curve of Lin Yi’s lips rose even higher, and her eyes were full of sparkling little stars.

The woman had changed to an even larger vanity mirror. Their cosmetics were arranged separately on both sides, and beneath the table were two identical stools. Everything was integrated.

Zhao Qi brought her to the dressing room again. Her finger pressed the switch, and the cabinet doors automatically opened slowly to both sides.

“From now on, this half will hold your clothes, and this half will hold mine.”

Lin Yi clutched the woman’s hand, her heart stirred with emotion. She could only nod. Never had there been a moment that made her understand so clearly that she had truly become part of Zhao Qi’s life.

“There’s more.” Zhao Qi took Lin Yi’s hand and brought her into the washroom. “From now on, each of us has our own mirror.”

The washroom had also been renovated. It had been changed to two sinks.

Zhao Qi hugged Lin Yi from behind. In the mirror, their two reflections overlapped into one. She lowered her head and rubbed against Lin Yi, the two of them quietly enjoying this moment in silence.

After a while, Zhao Qi pulled Lin Yi out. She brewed a pot of tea, poured the tea into a cup, and handed it to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi obediently watched the woman’s movements, her lively eyes circling around her.

Zhao Qi also took a cup and sat beside her. Not knowing how to bring up the matter, she brewed the words for a moment before saying, “Your paternity test report is out.”

The hand Lin Yi used to hold stolen content the cup paused. She put the cup onto the small table beside her and sat upright.

Zhao Qi held her teacup. “You are the girl the Dan family lost.”

Lin Yi’s eyes widened slightly. Then she lowered her head and clutched the leg of her pants.

Zhao Qi continued, “I communicated with Dan Ze. This is his phone number.”

She sent Dan Ze’s information to Lin Yi. Lin Yi’s phone was beside her. She picked up the phone and looked at it, not knowing what to say.

In the end, she only stretched out her hand and asked the woman for a hug.

She had once imagined what her family would be like. Now that they had truly appeared, she suddenly felt endless panic again.

They had not seen each other for so many years. Did they miss her the way she missed them? Or had they already forgotten her? And why had they abandoned her back then? Xiao Qi said she was lost?

She buried her head against Zhao Qi’s abdomen, then lifted her face, full of confusion. “Xiao Qi, do you know anything?”

Zhao Qi slowly told Lin Yi what she knew.

“The Dan family’s main business is in the north, but your mother should [bailiantales.com]be from Huaicheng. I don’t know much, but back then, Madam Dan was supposedly driven out of her family. Now, she probably still has no contact with this side.”

“Mr. Dan started from scratch and created the now-famous Zhongcheng. I’ve never heard any gossip about him. I’ve only heard that he and his wife have always had a very good relationship.”

“The person who has come looking now is your older brother. His name is Dan Ze.”

She held Lin Yi’s shoulders. Lin Yi clutched her clothes, the fragility on her face obvious.

“You can consider meeting him.”

Lin Yi nodded and hooked Zhao Qi’s slender waist. She suddenly said, “I don’t want to leave you.”

Zhao Qi slowly curved her lips into a smile. She cannot escape. Her smile was charming and restrained.

“You won’t leave me.”

Lin Yi buried herself in the woman’s stomach again and did not hear that the woman’s answer was a certain declaration.

“Okay. I’ll go meet him.”