Chapter 129 The Familiar Taste of Love and Passion
Upon returning, Zuo Qinghuan immediately busied herself in the kitchen. Qin Wanshu offered to help, but Zuo Qinghuan, fearing she'd only make things more complicated, gently pushed her out.
Leaning against the kitchen doorway, Qin Wanshu watched Zuo Qinghuan work. With her hair tied back and wearing a white apron, Zuo Qinghuan looked the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother – a stark contrast to the playful, mischievous woman Qin Wanshu had seen on the street earlier. Qin Wanshu found herself deeply enjoying the sight of Zuo Qinghuan bustling about just for her.
Zuo Qinghuan glanced back, catching the faint smile on Qin Wanshu's face. She returned it with a brilliant grin of her own before turning back to earnestly stir-fry her specialty home-style dishes. Though it had been three years since she'd last cooked and she felt a bit rusty, her movements gradually grew more practiced and familiar.
When it was time to eat, Zuo Qinghuan opened a bottle of red wine. She always felt that wine was excellent for enhancing the mood, especially when she was feeling happy. She enjoyed drinking a little then, and she particularly loved seeing Qin Wanshu after she'd had some wine. Qin Wanshu's reactions after drinking were just too adorable, making Zuo Qinghuan keen on getting her tipsy.
"Want some?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Qin Wanshu shook her head. It wasn't that she disliked alcohol – she actually quite enjoyed it sometimes – but her body was overly sensitive to it. She disliked the feeling of losing control over her mind and body when drunk, so she rarely drank voluntarily.
Although Zuo Qinghuan adored Qin Wanshu's cute appearance when tipsy, she didn't push her. She simply poured herself a small glass and began sipping it elegantly. Over the past three years, Zuo Qinghuan had learned quite a few things about high society from Aoba; appreciating red wine properly was just one small part of it.
Qin Wanshu watched Zuo Qinghuan thoughtfully. It was subtle, but she noticed an faint aura of elegance starting to manifest around Zuo Qinghuan, something that hadn't been there before.
"What is it?" Zuo Qinghuan sensed Qin Wanshu looking at her.
"I was just wondering how many upper-class 'bad habits' you've picked up," Qin Wanshu said, feigning seriousness.
"And here I thought you were going to praise me for becoming more elegant!" Zuo Qinghuan laughed. Bad habits – indeed, they were all bad habits. But, she had to admit, they were necessary ones.
"The moment you speak, your true self comes out," Qin Wanshu teased. While an elegant Zuo Qinghuan possessed a certain unique charm, Qin Wanshu found it felt a little unfamiliar.
"Then I won't speak," Zuo Qinghuan declared, adopting a posture of refined dining etiquette. She refused to believe she couldn't bluff Qin Wanshu. Japanese etiquette was far more demanding than Chinese; surely Aunt Xiao had considered this when sending her to Japan.
"I still prefer the most authentic Zuo Qinghuan," Qin Wanshu said, picking up her chopsticks, ready to eat.
"The Zuo Qinghuan in front of Qin Wanshu is always the most authentic," Zuo Qinghuan replied, her gaze meeting Qin Wanshu's, growing slightly heated.
"Mm," Qin Wanshu smiled faintly.
"Try it. I haven't cooked in three years, I don't know if I've gotten worse," Zuo Qinghuan asked, a little anxiously. Even though she'd tasted it herself, she still felt unsure…
"It tastes just like before. It's delicious," Qin Wanshu smiled after taking a bite. The flavor hadn't changed. Every chef's cooking has a unique taste, and this was Zuo Qinghuan's taste.
Relieved, Zuo Qinghuan picked up a slice of fish and brought it to Qin Wanshu's lips. She truly did love doting on Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu had no choice but to open her mouth and accept the fish Zuo Qinghuan offered. The gesture felt incredibly intimate, making Qin Wanshu feel a little awkward, yet mostly filled with sweetness.
Just as Qin Wanshu came out after washing the dishes, Zuo Qinghuan wrapped her arms around her from behind. Zuo Qinghuan felt like she wanted to stick to Qin Wanshu every single second. She greedily inhaled Qin Wanshu's scent; indeed, just being near Qin Wanshu made her feel aroused. Qin Wanshu's scent was the best aphrodisiac.
"Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan murmured intimately, pressing her body tightly against Qin Wanshu's back.
"Mm?" Qin Wanshu thought that Zuo Qinghuan was just as clingy as before, not changed at all.
"Qin Wanshu, we..." Zuo Qinghuan already harbored intense desire for Qin Wanshu. Coupled with three years of abstinence, now that she was finally back by Qin Wanshu's side, her desire surged like a flood threatening to burst through the gates at any moment.
"No," Qin Wanshu knew exactly what Zuo Qinghuan was scheming. Who else but Zuo Qinghuan would think of being intimate in broad daylight? The lustful look in Zuo Qinghuan's eyes made her seem ready to devour her whole. However, Qin Wanshu had no intention of granting Zuo Qinghuan's wish so quickly.
"Why?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, her face etched with grievance.
"Although I promised not to ignore you anymore, it doesn't mean my anger has disappeared," Qin Wanshu smiled gently at Zuo Qinghuan, but the smile clearly held a deeper meaning.
"Darling, don't you feel desire too?" Zuo Qinghuan asked curiously. Logically speaking, back when Qin Wanshu seemed frigid, lacking desire made sense. But Qin Wanshu had clearly been 'awakened' by her, and she was now at an age known for strong passions; how could she possibly have no desire?
"It's manageable," Qin Wanshu replied coolly. She wasn't as fervent about this aspect as Zuo Qinghuan. Women were more refined than men precisely because they could control their desires better.
"Manageable means it's there! Since it's there, you should follow your desires. I'll take very good care of you..." Zuo Qinghuan whispered ambiguously near Qin Wanshu's ear. Her hand resting on Qin Wanshu's waist began to stroke gently, one hand moving upwards, the other downwards.
Qin Wanshu felt Zuo Qinghuan's eager hand dispense with any subtlety, sliding directly between her legs, the movement so swift it caught her completely off guard.
"Zuo Qinghuan!" Qin Wanshu couldn't help but raise her voice, warning the impatient woman.
Zuo Qinghuan knew Qin Wanshu was desperately trying to suppress her desire. The more Qin Wanshu resisted, the more Zuo Qinghuan wanted to tease her. She longed to see Qin Wanshu melt under her touch, utterly captivating; she longed to hear Qin Wanshu's soft, breathless moans of pleasure; she longed for Qin Wanshu's body to lose control for her, clinging weakly onto her, letting her do as she pleased. Ignoring Qin Wanshu's warning, Zuo Qinghuan captured her earlobe, slowly teasing the inside of her ear with the tip of her tongue. Her right hand massaged Qin Wanshu's sensitive spot through her trousers, while her left hand slipped under Qin Wanshu's shirt, cupping her full, soft breast and kneading firmly until it yielded, the actions fervent and almost frantic.
Qin Wanshu felt her dormant body instantly awaken under the provocation, a feeling both unfamiliar and familiar washing over her. As she recognized the physical response, a wave of heat surged from her lower abdomen towards her private areas. She tried desperately to control her body's reaction, but as Zuo Qinghuan's hands roamed, she felt increasingly weak and powerless, unable to suppress the rising pleasure.
Zuo Qinghuan had already pinned Qin Wanshu against the wall, her lips moving down to kiss and nip at Qin Wanshu's neck, her leg pressing between Qin Wanshu's thighs, rubbing against her core. Qin Wanshu's clothes were in disarray, her face flushed with a captivating blush. Just as Zuo Qinghuan was about to undress her further, Zuo Qinghuan's phone rang.
The piercing ringtone jolted Qin Wanshu out of the passionate haze Zuo Qinghuan had created. She grabbed Zuo Qinghuan's hands, stopping her from proceeding. The feeling of losing control moments ago left her slightly panicked; she had almost let Zuo Qinghuan take her right there in the hall. It was utterly insane, a type of frenzy she had never experienced before.
"Go answer your phone," Qin Wanshu said, thankful for the timely interruption. She quickly re-fastened the buttons Zuo Qinghuan had undone.
Zuo Qinghuan was reluctant to let go, but the phone on the living room table kept ringing jarringly. Seeing the clarity return to Qin Wanshu's eyes, Zuo Qinghuan seethed inwardly. Who had such poor timing, daring to ruin her moment? Did they have any idea how hard it was to get Qin Wanshu lost in passion like that?
Severely frustrated, Zuo Qinghuan answered the phone with a hostile tone.
"Li Xin, you better have something damn important, or else..." Zuo Qinghuan said darkly.
"Why so aggressive? Sexually frustrated?" Hearing the explosive tone on the other end, Li Xin wondered if she had interrupted something halfway through. She had to admit, she knew Zuo Qinghuan well; her guess was spot on.
"You guessed it," Zuo Qinghuan ground out through clenched teeth.
"Hehe, sorry about that! Who knew you'd be in heat in broad daylight? Anyway, my YanYan invites you for coffee tomorrow," Li Xin said, her words apologetic but her tone clearly laced with schadenfreude. Zuo Qinghuan had been abstinent for three years; could she have really interrupted her first time breaking the fast? The thought of Zuo Qinghuan probably going crazy right now was amusing.
"Not free," Zuo Qinghuan snapped and hung up. How dare she call at a time like this!
Li Xin heard the line go dead and figured a certain sexually frustrated someone had hung up in a fit of pique.
Just as Zuo Qinghuan hung up, the phone rang again. She assumed it was Li Xin calling back.
"Are you going to let me get back to business or not?!" Zuo Qinghuan yelled. After shouting, she noticed the silence on the other end and realized something was wrong. She looked at the caller ID – it was Aoba.
Aoba was momentarily stunned. It was the first time Zuo Qinghuan had ever yelled at her, leaving her somewhat bewildered.
"Aoba? Is something wrong?" Zuo Qinghuan immediately switched to a kind and amiable tone.
"I've prepared the materials for tomorrow's meeting for you," Aoba said, snapping back to reality upon hearing the familiar voice.
...
By the time Zuo Qinghuan finished the call, Qin Wanshu was nowhere to be seen. She had left a note saying she needed to return to the Qin family home. Zuo Qinghuan was so frustrated she could have almost vomited blood.