Yu Qing leaned against the soft sofa in the private room, Sun Ya’s passionate singing echoing in her ears.
The stirring ancient-style melody unsettled her, making it hard to concentrate.
Tonight, Lin Wei’s care had been meticulous, almost never ceasing to ask about Yu Qing’s comfort.
On the surface, Yu Qing maintained a gentle smile, but inside, she was on guard, enjoying this special treatment while remaining alert for the next round of crisis.
Lin Wei’s attentiveness was like a sweet, sticky candy coating, possibly wrapping a deadly poison inside.
Yu Qing didn’t want to believe this was just friendship between close friends.
Lin Wei might look thoughtless, but her instincts were sharp—especially when it came to Fu Yi.
Tonight, Yu Qing had deliberately adjusted her portrayal of her junior from lively and outgoing to gentle and reserved, just to test if such a subtle change would catch Lin Wei’s attention.
And the result was—nothing was discovered.
Now Lin Wei was even more clingy than during their previous meetings.
“Unsolicited kindness is either from a schemer or a thief.”
That old saying suddenly echoed in her mind.
What does she want?
Is it simply a desire to get closer to Fu Yi, to satisfy her inner longing?
Or…
Has she subconsciously sensed something off, and is probing with this kind of behavior?
Yu Qing’s gaze fell on the peeled grape Lin Wei offered to her lips.
The girl’s slender fingers carried the sweet scent of fruit, pale and beaded with water, translucent and clear.
She parted her lips slightly and obediently accepted it, her tongue inevitably brushing against Lin Wei’s fingertips.
Lin Wei jerked her hand back as if shocked, twin red patches blooming on her cheeks.
Her eyes flickered, hiding secret delight.
Shy already?
You really are a small fry, Weiwei.
Yu Qing chuckled inwardly, amusement rising at Lin Wei’s expense—unaware that her own cheeks had already turned a tempting shade of red, making Lin Wei’s heart skip a beat.
“Yiyi, is it sweet?”
Lin Wei, regaining her composure, asked nervously, a hint of expectation in her voice.
“Yes, very sweet.”
Yu Qing looked up at her, eyes as gentle as a spring lake.
“Thank you, Weiwei.”
She reached out—not for another grape, but to gently grasp the hand Lin Wei had used to feed her, her fingertips brushing against Lin Wei’s own, as if savoring the lingering touch.
“It’s just a bit cold. Next time, don’t peel them yourself—be careful not to dirty your hands.”
The delicate pads of her fingers traced Lin Wei’s, two pale hands meeting, creating a silent atmosphere of intimacy.
Lin Wei froze, eyes widening as she watched her hand being held by “Yiyi,” breath quickening, the shifting lights of the private room making her ears flush nearly transparent.
“It’s… it’s fine. I’m willing…”
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she tightened her grip on Yu Qing’s hand, as if holding a precious treasure she would never let go.
“Willing for what?”
Yu Qing laughed softly, but didn’t mind, letting Lin Wei hold her hand.
It certainly wasn’t because she realized she couldn’t pull away.
For her plan, she even shifted her position, allowing their intertwined hands to feel each other more naturally.
The warmth and slight dampness from Lin Wei’s palm pressed into hers, the rapid pulse betraying Lin Wei’s nervousness.
Very good.
The reaction was strong.
This meant her decision was effective—wrapping Lin Wei in a more delicate, proactive gentleness, letting her drown in it, unable to focus on anything else, ultimately following Yu Qing’s lead toward the most advantageous direction.
Of course, it would have been better if Yu Qing’s own face wasn’t as red as an apple.
But it didn’t matter—shy Yiyi only made Lin Wei more drawn to her, making her want to pounce.
If Yu Qing had to judge her own actions today, it wasn’t exactly a clever move—more like being pushed by circumstances.
But this step, unexpectedly, turned out well.
She had managed to shift Fu Yi’s image a little toward gentleness and calmness, and reached a conclusion.
This foolish Lin Wei not only didn’t suspect a thing, but even seemed delighted.
At the very least, it proved this degree of change was safe.
As long as the core—“being good to Lin Wei”—remained, all other details would automatically be explained away by “Yiyi is especially gentle today.”
The singing paused.
Li Ming leaned over, inviting everyone to play Dice Game.
Lin Wei tried to pull Yu Qing along, but Yu Qing frowned slightly, showing a hint of fatigue.
She leaned softly against Lin Wei’s shoulder and whispered, “You guys play. I feel a little dizzy. Let me rest against you for a while.”
It was the first time Yu Qing had initiated such closeness with Lin Wei, entrusting some of her weight to her.
It signified deeper trust and dependence.
Lin Wei’s body tensed, then immediately relaxed.
She quickly adjusted her posture, letting Yu Qing rest more comfortably.
One hand still gripped Yu Qing’s tightly; the other carefully circled her shoulders, as if guarding something fragile.
“Mm-mm, Yiyi, you rest on me! I won’t play either—I’ll stay with you!”
She rejected the game invitation without hesitation.
Yu Qing closed her eyes, breathing in Lin Wei’s faint scent mixed with the odors of the KTV.
She could feel Lin Wei’s warmth and softness, hear her heartbeat quicken with nerves.
This all-encompassing contact was also a huge trial for Yu Qing, who had to control the darker thoughts rising within, keeping them from affecting her body.
Feeling the fullness of Lin Wei’s chest and the warmth of her embrace, Yu Qing’s face reddened.
Her lips pressed together.
Between her pale legs, she unconsciously shifted, resisting the growing desire in her heart.
Li Ming glanced at the two practically stuck together, his expression odd, but said nothing as he joined the Dice Game.
Cheng Qinghuan sent a gentle glance, her eyes carrying surprise and faint comfort.
Leaning on Lin Wei’s shoulder, Yu Qing banished the sinful thoughts and began thinking rapidly.
The KTV was too public.
She couldn’t probe or guide any deeper here.
She needed a more private, controllable environment.
Time was running short.
After about half an hour, Yu Qing judged it was enough and shifted slightly, pretending to wake from sleep.
She lifted her head from Lin Wei’s shoulder.
“Feeling better, Yiyi?”
As soon as the precious girl in her arms moved, Lin Wei immediately asked with concern.
“Yes, much better.”
Yu Qing rubbed her temples, giving a slightly apologetic smile.
“It’s still a bit stuffy. I want to go out for some air. Weiwei, will you come with me? Just the two of us.”
She looked at Lin Wei, her gaze holding a hint of plea.
For the next part of her plan, getting Lin Wei away from the crowd was essential.
And this step would not be hard.
Faced with today’s gentle, dependent “Yiyi,” Lin Wei could not possibly refuse.
Even if she was asked to leave for the apartment right now, Lin Wei would probably agree without hesitation.