"You know how much I've always wanted to be a full-time housewife," Gu Yangjin murmured, her fingers entwining gently with Qiao Zhi's. "Just waiting for you to come home every day… Being a star is too exhausting."
As she spoke, she guided Qiao Zhi's hand to the back of her neck, where the swollen omega glands throbbed faintly.
Qiao Zhi's hand moved instinctively, her fingertips brushing over the sensitive area. The glands were warm and tender, and the peach-sweet scent of Gu Yangjin's pheromones drifted up slowly, rich and intoxicating, making her chest tighten.
Gu Yangjin let out a soft breath, smiling lazily. "Anyway, you've got such good stamina... I think we could have a baby whenever you want~"
Qiao Zhi hadn't expected her to be so easily persuaded. But the way she smiled, soft and seductive, made her heart flutter uncontrollably. She couldn't help but hold her closer, her palm pressing more firmly against the back of Gu Yangjin's neck, fingertips gently massaging the warm skin.
The pressure made Gu Yangjin tremble slightly. Unable to resist, she tilted her head up and caught Qiao Zhi's lips in a kiss. Her tongue brushed teasingly against her lower lip, and her entire body shivered with anticipation.
Qiao Zhi's heart was pounding wildly. Just as she leaned in to deepen the kiss, a short cry of pain stopped her cold.
She froze. Her eyes widened as realization struck—her fingers had pressed directly against the broken skin around Gu Yangjin's glands.
Panic surged. Qiao Zhi quickly sat up and pulled away.
"There's a pharmacy downstairs. I'll go get some medicine."
She hastily gathered the clothes scattered across the floor, throwing on her windbreaker to hide the water-stained fabric beneath. Her face was blank, but her movements were hurried, almost like she was trying to flee the room.
On the bed, Gu Yangjin couldn't help but laugh softly. The scene was almost absurd—Qiao Zhi's usual calm and aloof expression was now replaced with frantic discomfort. She returned quickly with medicine in hand, then ducked back inside like a guilty child, grabbing the quilt beside the bed to wrap herself up in it tightly, not daring to make eye contact.
Gu Yangjin chuckled even louder.
Ah Zhi, you're even cuter than before.
She curled up under the covers, cheeks flushed, her smile sweet and content as she licked her lips and closed her eyes in satisfaction.
By the time Qiao Zhi returned to the room, heart pounding with anxiety, she found Gu Yangjin already asleep. She was bundled up in the quilt, only her peaceful face peeking out. The curtains fluttered lightly in the breeze from the slightly open window. A beam of afternoon light filtered through, falling softly onto the bed, making the moment feel like a still-life painting.
Qiao Zhi stood there holding the medicine, dazed.
She walked over quietly and sat beside the bed, not wanting to disturb her. Gu Yangjin, however, wasn't fully asleep. She cracked one eye open, and upon seeing her, a sleepy smile curled at her lips.
Reaching out from the warmth of the quilt, she wrapped her arms around Qiao Zhi's waist and nuzzled her face into the windbreaker.
"How cute…" she murmured, voice thick with sleep. "But help me clean the other wounds first, okay?"
"I'm too tired to move... You're responsible now…"
The way she acted spoiled and soft, Qiao Zhi couldn't resist even if she wanted to. With a defeated sigh, she pulled back the covers and scooped Gu Yangjin into her arms. Her body was still warm and fragrant, and Qiao Zhi held her tighter as if trying to etch the moment into her bones.
After hastily carrying Gu Yangjin into the bathroom, Qiao Zhi gently set her down and wrapped her arms around her waist, hesitating as she stared at the showerhead above.
"…Wash."
But she didn't move right away.
Sensing her pause, Gu Yangjin called out softly, her voice like a feather brushing across Qiao Zhi's heart. She tugged lightly at Qiao Zhi's collar, her fingers grazing along the curve of her collarbone. The subtle contact made her shiver.
Gu Yangjin was half a head shorter, and her body leaned almost entirely against Qiao Zhi's for support. Despite her exhaustion, she forced herself to stay awake, standing on tiptoe, arms looping around Qiao Zhi's neck. Her lips brushed against hers in a gentle kiss, eyes curved with amusement like a cat that had just stolen something sweet. Her voice was light and coaxing.
"Come on, Ah Zhi~ Hurry up."
"I feel all sticky…"
Qiao Zhi didn't even remember how she responded, or how she managed to turn on the shower. Her mind felt hazy, her body moved on instinct. She only knew the clothes ended up in a heap on the floor, her face was flushed as if drunk, and the warm water ran over their skin like a quiet whisper.
After cleaning her up and wrapping her in a bathrobe, Qiao Zhi scooped her back into her arms and returned to the room.
Gu Yangjin had fallen asleep at some point, nestled quietly in her embrace. She looked peaceful, the soft rise and fall of her chest soothing to watch. Qiao Zhi sat down beside the bed and carefully began drying her hair.
Midway through, Gu Yangjin whimpered in her sleep. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she cried out faintly as if trapped in a painful dream. Her body trembled slightly, as though something in her dreamworld was hurting her.
Qiao Zhi's heart clenched.
She gently hushed her, blow-dried the rest of her hair as quickly as she could, then tucked her under the quilt. Sitting by her side, she placed a hand on her back and patted her rhythmically until her breathing calmed.
Once Gu Yangjin finally seemed at ease, Qiao Zhi reached for the ointment she'd bought earlier. With soft fingers, she lifted the long strands of her lover's hair and began applying the cream with a cotton swab, little by little, to the torn and reddened glands at the nape of her neck.
The pale yellow medicine spread delicately across the swollen area, mixing faintly with the lingering scent of peach and the sterile fragrance of ointment. After applying it evenly, Qiao Zhi took a thin piece of breathable gauze and gently pressed it in place.
When everything was done, she sat there for a long while.
Her fingers trembled faintly as she held the empty swab. Her heart was pounding with guilt.
Then, as if finally gathering the courage to face the truth of what she'd done, Qiao Zhi stood up, face still flushed, and hesitantly lifted the quilt. She turned on the bedside lamp, the soft light illuminating the delicate curves beneath the covers. Slowly, she knelt beside the bed and gently parted Gu Yangjin's legs.
And in that moment—when she saw the redness there, Qiao Zhi again felt guilty as she gently caressed the soft cheeks of the woman and let her sleep a little more peacefully.
Qiao Zhi didn't know how long she sat there, shoulders heavy with guilt, her heart tangled in silent remorse. Gu Yangjin's breathing had steadied now, soft and slow, and her face—though still flushed—looked peaceful beneath the lamplight.
She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Then, as if all the exhaustion that had been kept at bay by adrenaline had finally broken through, Qiao Zhi lay down beside her. Carefully, she pulled the woman into her arms again, one arm resting protectively across her waist, the other cradling the back of her head.
Gu Yangjin murmured something incoherent in her sleep and instinctively curled into her embrace, like she was seeking warmth. That small, unconscious gesture pierced straight through Qiao Zhi's chest.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered, almost inaudible. "I should have been gentler…"
But there was no response—only the soft rhythm of her breathing, the heat of her skin, and the faint scent of peaches lingering between them.
Qiao Zhi closed her eyes, listening to the quiet of the room.
Wrapped around her like this, feeling the delicate rise and fall of her chest, it was impossible not to let herself believe—for just a moment—that everything was alright. That Gu Yangjin was here because she wanted to be. That she would wake up in the morning and smile sleepily, maybe grumble a little, maybe kiss her again without hesitation.
She tightened her hold, just a little, like she could keep that fragile dream in place.
And then, finally, she fell asleep.
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