Hooking You

Hooking you was child's play.

Gynecology was right next door. Tan Xiang'e noticed the examination report in the woman's hand and asked, seemingly offhand, "Miss Xing, did you mate with your wife yesterday?"

Being called Xing Yue's wife made Bu Yao self-conscious. She stood in the doorway, her hands unconsciously curling around the report, her cool, beautiful face flushed with a heady glow.

Xing Yue had just taken a hypnosis test and was in a foul mood. "No," she said flatly. "And she's not my wife."

Mating meant joining their tails. In their world, partners usually used both forms—their legs and their tails—but Xing Yue couldn't.

Of the two of them, one couldn't control her tail, while the other had never shown her snake tail at all.

When Xing Yue left the examination room, she saw the little assistant with the wolf tail standing by the door. This was the woman who had put Bu Yao's shoes on for her at the hotel yesterday. Clearly, the assistant had done it again today.

Xing Yue's mood soured further. She shot them a glance and headed toward the pharmacy.

Bu Yao followed close behind. "Why did you say that?"

"Say what?" Xing Yue didn't turn around.

Thinking of Xing Yue's answer to the hypnotist, Bu Yao couldn't help grabbing her wrist. Her restrained temper began to bubble up. "You told that doctor I wasn't your wife. What will she think of me? Won't she think I'm some loose woman?"

It might not have mattered to someone else, but she was Bu Yao.

Given the Bu Family's standing, if people found out she had ended up seeing a gynecologist over something that happened in bed, only for the person responsible to deny their relationship, she would become a laughingstock.

It would have been different if Xing Yue had acknowledged her as her wife.

"Does Miss Bu care that much?" Xing Yue asked. She was smiling, but there was no warmth in her narrow eyes. "Afraid people will say you have no morals? That your private life is a mess? Then why did you get a room with me?"

She disliked Bu Yao's high-and-mighty airs. Who in this day and age would look down on an unmarried woman for having a one-night stand?

But because her surname was Bu, it suddenly became something filthy. As though everyone in the Bu Family had to remain spotless, above even their own physical needs.

Something had clearly happened during the hypnosis session, and Xing Yue was taking it out on her. Bu Yao could feel it, and her own resentment swelled in response.

Bu Yao bit her lower lip and gave a short laugh. "I just wanted to see if you'd turn down a woman you hated so much ten years ago. I never thought you'd take the bait so easily. Xing Yue, hooking you really was child's play."

She was Bu Yao. How could she let someone mock her like that?

She thought those words would save face. Everything her mother had taught her flew out of her head.

For a moment, Xing Yue felt as though she were back in the early days of their marriage. They had fought constantly, without a single peaceful day.

"Right." Xing Yue gave a derisive laugh and advanced until Bu Yao was backed into a corner. "Now do you know what kind of person I am? Even if I hate you, I can still sleep with you. I'm not as high-minded as you. You need a title just because we did it once? What, afraid people will find out Miss Bu had a one-night stand? Then don't do it. I'd take the bait a second time, or a third."

She still cared enough about Bu Yao's reputation to keep her voice down. Not a word she said was kind, but her tone stayed cold and even.

Little did she know that her reaction only made her dislike of Bu Yao seem more certain.

She had only wanted to bring Bu Yao to the doctor, not make things this ugly. But Bu Yao had trained a reflex into her: the slightest edge in her voice or attitude, and Xing Yue's scales practically bristled. She became even nastier than Bu Yao.

Xing Yue no longer wanted to go to the pharmacy. She changed direction and headed for the hospital entrance.

Each time she took a few steps, heavy, muffled footsteps followed. When she stopped, the person behind her stopped too, always half a meter away.

Irritation rose in Xing Yue. She turned back. "Why are you still following me? Do you—"

The impatient words died in her throat. Bu Yao stood right in front of her, close enough for Xing Yue to see the fine down on her cheeks.

Her eyes, already bright as rubies, were red all along the lower lids—redder even than her irises. It looked as though tears would spill the moment she blinked.

Bu Yao hadn't always cried so easily. Xing Yue had said far crueler things when they fought before, but back then Bu Yao had been hopelessly infatuated. No matter how harsh Xing Yue's words were, Bu Yao had taken them as proof that Xing Yue loved her desperately.

Now Bu Yao's infatuation had passed, and she could see clearly that Xing Yue seemed to truly hate her. The realization filled her with an ache she couldn't stop.

Bu Yao said nothing. She just kept following her.

Xing Yue's head began to pound. The words she'd been about to use to drive Bu Yao away would no longer come. Come on, make a scene. Yell at me. Aren't you best at throwing a rich girl's tantrum? Why do you look like I've bullied you half to death?

Even after all that, Bu Yao didn't talk back. She just followed in silence, looking utterly miserable. I'm the one whose dignity got trampled here!

Who was it that said hooking me was child's play?

Xing Yue was so furious she wanted to chase Bu Yao away on the spot, splashing mugwort water after her for good measure.

Instead, she pulled Bu Yao into her arms and patted the back of her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I shouldn't have said that in public."

The little assistant had witnessed the whole thing. A moment ago, she'd been trembling at the thought of a brutal fight. She hadn't expected things to change course so quickly...

The corner of her mouth twitched. She went to crouch by the wall and draw circles on the floor, composing an entire rant in her head.

Xing Yue closed her eyes, unable to face herself. I've lost my mind. I really have.

Why am I apologizing? Bu Yao was the one who went too far. Why should I be sorry?

But the woman in her arms was growing warmer, a little furnace on legs. Xing Yue held the warmth tight, her hand moving over Bu Yao's hot lower back through her clothes.

Mmm... That feels good.