Why Was the Young Lady Even Angry at Herself?

Xing Yue rarely envied anyone. She was good-looking, had done well in school, and was capable at work. Without relying on anyone, she had bought a car worth around 700,000 yuan, owned a small home, and saved a little money. She was content.

But ever since she met Bu Yao, her heart had been restless. Once, while arguing with her mother on the phone, she had even caught herself thinking, Bu Yao has it so good...

If Bu Yao wanted to marry at eighteen, she could. If she didn't, no one would force her, even when she was seventy or eighty. Madam Bu might have spoiled Bu Yao to an unhealthy degree, but she had always raised her with encouragement.

"Yao-bao, that's amazing! You're so good!" "So pretty! It really suits you!" "Mom knew you could do it~"

In Madam Bu's eyes, it seemed there wasn't a single flaw in Bu Yao. No matter how she looked at her, Bu Yao was perfect—the cutest person in the world.

Xing Yue had never received that kind of approval growing up. When she came second in her grade, she was dumped on the street to collect discarded drink bottles and reflect on her failure.

The entire villa was dim. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside, and only the occasional burst of white light brought the room into focus for an instant.

Bu Yao held a candle, its yellow glow falling across her cheek. She turned her head and tipped her face up, and her ear unexpectedly brushed Xing Yue's damp, soft lips. They were cool and still tasted of rain.

"I was worried about you." From this angle, she couldn't see the woman behind her clearly and could only glance at Xing Yue from the corner of her eye. "I thought you'd moved out without telling me."

She was angry. She had waited at home for ages, unable to reach Xing Yue by phone or find her at the office. Her frustration had grown until she'd nearly smashed something.

Afraid Xing Yue would dislike her even more, she had held back.

But seeing Xing Yue like this, Bu Yao couldn't bring herself to vent her anger. She turned and wiped the mud from Xing Yue's face. Had she fallen? How long had she been lying on the lawn...?

"Where did you go after work? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked bluntly.

Those words struck a nerve in Xing Yue, triggering an old reflex. It was like being thrown back ten years, into the fear of living under Bu Yao's thumb.

She gripped Bu Yao's shoulders and pushed her back a little, then gave a derisive laugh. "I should be asking you that. What are you doing in my house? I never agreed to live with you."

At those last two words, Bu Yao's face went hot. Xing Yue's teasing tone made it worse, leaving her flustered. "When did I ever say I came here to live with you?"

"Then why did you come looking for me?" Xing Yue asked, her eyes fixed on the little tongue of flame.

When she lowered her gaze slightly, she saw Bu Yao's filthy feet. She must have taken off her shoes inside long ago, then gone out to look for Xing Yue when she failed to come home.

She hadn't even put her shoes back on. Before, she would have asked her assistant to help, but Xing Yue had told her not to let outsiders in. So Bu Yao hadn't called anyone, hadn't put them on herself, and had gone barefoot instead.

Xing Yue didn't know whether to call the woman obedient or hopelessly clumsy...

Bu Yao had no answer. Candle in hand, she hurried upstairs, moving so fast that Xing Yue was left to grope through the dark behind her.

"What are you sulking about now?" Xing Yue muttered. As the only source of light receded, she strode after Bu Yao and slipped into the bathroom before she could shut the door. "I haven't even blamed the great Miss Bu for barging into my home, and you're angry with me?"

Bu Yao turned on the shower and ordered her out. "Leave. I'm taking a shower."

Xing Yue gave a soft laugh and refused. "You leave. I'm going first."

The slightest upset, and Bu Yao's true nature showed. The young lady had always had her own way of insisting on getting what she wanted. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought the house belonged to her.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, young lady—" Xing Yue tugged at her collar with one hand, getting ready to undress for the shower. The motion was almost rough; every button popped open, and she left a red mark on her neck.

"That wonderful mother of yours plans to make me famous." She tossed her soaked shirt on the floor and reached behind her back to unfasten her bra. "Don't worry. I'll work hard and become a big singing star. Once I'm famous, I'll buy a bigger place, and we won't have to fight over the bathroom. I'll dump you, too, and find a woman with a hotter body. Mm, someone with a better temper and a prettier face."

Bu Yao, who had managed to hold her temper until then, now had angry tears spilling from her eyes. Her chest rose and fell.

Those hypothetical words made her feel as though Xing Yue had already betrayed her. Fury surged through her. "Xing Yue, how can you be so awful?"

She raised a hand to slap Xing Yue's face, but just before it landed, Xing Yue caught her wrist fast.

"Let go... Ah!"

Bu Yao cried out as Xing Yue yanked her close. The candle fell from her hand, and water doused their only light, plunging the bathroom into darkness.

She tumbled into Xing Yue's arms. When she reached out, her hand met the soft curves of Xing Yue's chest. Startled, she lost all composure, fumbled upward, and clung to Xing Yue's shoulders.

With nothing to see, her hearing grew sharper.

Xing Yue pressed her lips to Bu Yao's ear, her breath hazy with alcohol. "Not as awful as you. Did you lie in my bed waiting for me the whole time I was gone?"

Bu Yao's heart pounded. She struck at Xing Yue with both hands, her voice trembling on the edge of tears. "Xing Yue, you... you bastard..."

She had been waiting in Xing Yue's bed, but she hadn't meant anything by it. Just as at home, lying down was simply more comfortable. The way Xing Yue put it, she sounded as though she'd spent the whole day desperate to mate.

Anger made Bu Yao's nose sting, yet her tail silently emerged and shamelessly coiled around Xing Yue. Its tip curled, trying to draw their bodies closer together.

Her mind went blank. Mortification washed over her, and she swung a fist at her disobedient tail.

"Why are you angry at yourself too, young lady?" Xing Yue stopped her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and planted a kiss on her lips in the dark. Feeling for Bu Yao's eyes, she breathed hard. "Why are you crying?"

Bu Yao pressed her forehead against Xing Yue's chin, sniffling even as she snapped, "You... you won't get the chance to find a woman with a hotter body. I'll... I'll poke your eyes out!"

And Xing Yue wanted someone prettier than her? What gave her the right? She had clearly promised that once Bu Yao learned how to do those things, they would remarry.

If Xing Yue dared break her word, Bu Yao would never let her get away with it.

By the light of the lightning outside, Xing Yue used the showerhead to rinse herself and the young lady off. At that threat, spoken through stammers and hiccupping sobs, she couldn't help smiling.

She enjoyed teasing Bu Yao far too much.

"How about a deal? Don't poke my eyes out." Xing Yue carried her out and dropped her onto the bed. "Will you settle for my hands?"

She pinned the red tail beneath one knee, rubbing against the warm scales as she asked, "How much do you want? As much as you like? Hm?"

Xing Yue hadn't said it outright, but Bu Yao understood. She felt hot enough to melt, torn between embarrassment and anger. "Get off me..."

There was no bite to that shy protest.

Xing Yue bent down, felt her way to the cold, exquisite tail, and pressed her face against it. Eyes closed, she kissed it reverently. "Thank you for worrying about me, young lady."