Rose in No-Man's Land

14 First

"Can't you hold back?" Tao Ye stepped back a bit, running her tongue over her upper lip. "I thought a month would make you get used to it..."

Xia Xingmian leaned in closer, using Tao Ye's hand to unbutton her shirt. "Get used to what?" she asked absently.

Under the light of the desk lamp, Tao Ye squinted, her eyelashes glistening slightly. "...Getting used to not thinking about that kind of thing when you're by my side." As she spoke, her hand slipped from Xia Xingmian's palm, resting gently on her head, fingertips caressing her hair.

Xia Xingmian and Tao Ye locked eyes for a moment.

"I understand now." She suddenly lowered her gaze, pulling back, and flipped open her textbook with her left hand.

Tao Ye propped her chin on her hand, watching her. "Why have you gone cold all of a sudden? You're flipping your attitude so quickly."

Xia Xingmian paused in her actions, silent for a moment. "Sister, if you don't like doing that with me, you could have said so earlier. That way, I wouldn't have to keep pushing for it while you hold back..."

"I don't dislike it." Tao Ye interrupted her, her eyes curving into a smile. Her gaze fell on Xia Xingmian's right hand, and the hand that had been supporting her chin slowly drifted down, lightly touching the tips of Xia Xingmian's fingers through the layers of gauze. "Your piano-playing hands know how to be gentle," she murmured. "I've never held back."

Xia Xingmian felt her face heat up at the compliment, a wave of joy swelling inside her.

She forced herself to cling to a bit of rationality amidst her delight, clearing her throat to ask, "But you just said you didn't want me thinking about those things."

Tao Ye replied, "Because your hand is injured."

Xia Xingmian quickly countered, "But I don't have to be the one on top."

Tao Ye's eyes widened in realization. "Oh—so you—"

Xia Xingmian hurriedly explained, "I'm not... I just..."

Tao Ye chuckled leisurely, asking slowly, "What is it then?"

Xia Xingmian took a deep breath, trying to calm her tumultuous emotions. She lowered her head, frowning, seemingly at a loss for words, and sighed, "Sister, as long as it's with you... I'm okay with anything."

As her gaze scattered across the small print on the page, she suddenly felt a cool touch under her chin, gently lifting her face. Xia Xingmian blinked, seeing Tao Ye's eyes just inches away and the hand that was supporting her chin.

Just like last time. Tao Ye always liked to hold her chin when she kissed her.

The woman's eyelashes softly closed, her warm breath drew nearer, and as she lowered her eyes, Xia Xingmian could see the light-colored mole on her nose.

As they kissed, Xia Xingmian's mind was filled with four words:

She's so beautiful.

Tao Ye never deliberately seduced her, she had already become utterly enraptured. If one day Tao Ye intentionally beckoned her, she feared she would dizzyingly hand over everything she had.

Being carried to the bed by Tao Ye, watching her slender fingers begin to unbutton her clothes, Xia Xingmian thought again:

Handing it all over would be fine.

Everything she had—money, body, anything of value—was okay.

She was like a pure white balloon, and this woman was a needle. Just a slight prick, and her delicate shell would burst, exposing the emptiness inside, irreparable.