Hu Tao's words seemed to drift in from afar, as ethereal as smoke.
What did she just say?
Wait...what did she just say?!
"Ahaha, I didn't quite hear you, Hu Tao. What did you say just now?" Qin Yu asked with a smile.
"I said, should we try kissing?"
"Excuse me?" Qin Yu said, feigning confusion as if she hadn't understood Hu Tao's meaning.
Hu Tao thought Qin Yu was avoiding reality. Had she been too forward with her invitation? But she couldn't help it—she was just too curious.
Besides, Qin Yu's reaction was just too interesting.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Hu Tao tapped her lips. "Kiss. You know, mouth-to-mouth? Fishy Treasure, don't tell me you don't even know what that means?"
Of course I know! Even Shenhe knows what kissing is!
Qin Yu, realizing there was no escape from reality, internally screamed in despair.
What the hell? Why bring up kissing out of nowhere?
Could it be... Hu Tao is gay?
Huh? A lesbian is right here beside me? But I'm not! Qin Yu felt utterly flustered, this being the first time in her life she'd received such an invitation—and from another woman, no less.
Red-faced and ears burning, Qin Yu shifted away awkwardly, waving her hands frantically.
"T-this isn't right!"
"Why not?" Hu Tao asked, genuinely puzzled.
Qin Yu couldn't fathom why Hu Tao would even ask such a question. Surely this is something that's normally considered wrong?
"Because we're both women," Qin Yu blurted out, offering the first reason that came to mind.
"So what? That shouldn't matter, right?"
How could she possibly come to that conclusion?
Hu Tao countered, "Anyone with a mouth can kiss, right? We both have mouths. What's the problem?"
Such twisted logic! Qin Yu felt a surge of annoyance.
"Normally, women don't... do... that kind of thing with each other," Qin Yu stammered, unable to bring herself to say the word "kissing." It was too embarrassing.
Hu Tao found Qin Yu's girlishness endearing—even her reluctance to say the word "kissing." She considered it one of her cute qualities.
"Then let's just make it special."
Qin Yu vaguely understood Hu Tao's train of thought.
"Normally, people don't do that"—"Then let's just make it unconventional." Hu Tao never followed conventional norms; rather, she adhered only to the "norms" she herself established.
Thus, persuading her with conventional arguments would likely be futile.
Realizing this, Qin Yu persisted, trying to dissuade Hu Tao from her sudden idea.
Although Qin Yu couldn't fathom what chain of thought had led Hu Tao to propose a kiss, it might just be a whim—a fleeting notion that would soon fade away.
Still, the fact that Hu Tao could even entertain such a fleeting notion was troubling.
How was Qin Yu supposed to interact with her from now on? This was another dilemma that left her feeling conflicted and overwhelmed. But the immediate priority was to dissuade Hu Tao from this idea.
Qin Yu's face remained flushed—all thanks to Hu Tao's sudden, bizarre remark.
"Special... Hu Tao, isn't this behavior special to you? Special actions require a special relationship, right? We're just friends. Doing something like that would be inappropriate," Qin Yu argued for the second time, trying to reason with Hu Tao.
Hu Tao hummed thoughtfully.
"A special relationship? Like... being boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"Exactly," Qin Yu replied with a smile.
Hu Tao's eyes widened in realization.
Looks like she gets it now. This kind of behavior definitely isn't something friends should do. If you really want that, you should find a proper partner yourself.
Whether it's a man or a woman, I'll wish you happiness! Qin Yu thought.
A blush, as if gently rubbed across her cheeks, bloomed on Hu Tao's face. Grasping her twin ponytails, she nodded.
"Alright, then I'll be your girlfriend."
Ha!?
This was undoubtedly the most astonishing thing Qin Yu had ever heard in her entire life.
What does "alright, then" even mean? How did the conversation even get here? Shocked and utterly bewildered, Qin Yu's mind raced. She had completely lost control of the conversation's direction.
Evaluation: A
But one thing she was certain of—this was absolutely unacceptable!
"No way!" Qin Yu blurted out involuntarily.
"Why not?" Hu Tao protested, shaking her head in confusion. "Didn't you say we needed a special relationship to kiss? Being girlfriends should qualify, right?"
So, all Hu Tao really wants is to kiss me, Qin Yu realized. Kissing is the goal, and if becoming my girlfriend is the means to achieve that, she's willing to agree. How terrifying.
Does she... have her eyes on my body?
I never could have predicted this.
Qin Yu now deeply regretted accepting Hu Tao's invitation to visit. She even considered running away right then and there.
But if I run away now, Hu Tao will likely become even more fixated on this, Qin Yu thought, feeling utterly hopeless.
I just want to go back to sleep...
At that moment, Hu Tao leaned forward, half-crawling onto the bed like a cat stalking its prey, inching closer. Qin Yu instinctively scooted back, trying to create distance.
But soon, her back pressed against the headboard.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
Hu Tao's eyes gleamed with mischievous curiosity. Her orchid-scented breath grew more distinct as she drew nearer, and the blush on her delicate skin deepened, giving it a pinkish glow. Even at a glance, you could tell her body temperature was rising.
She's clearly embarrassed too, so why is she still doing this? If this is brazenness, then her cheek must be thicker than a city wall...
Or... is her desire to kiss me just that strong? Is that really what she wants? Qin Yu thought, her head spinning.
Although she had always suspected Ningguang might be a woman with similar inclinations, Ningguang had never tried to kiss her, so Qin Yu had been able to tolerate it. But this was different.
Someone wanted to kiss her—and that someone was her friend.
She watched helplessly as Hu Tao's hand settled on her shoulder, her face drawing nearer, inch by inch.
Qin Yu's gaze involuntarily drifted to Hu Tao's lips. A thought flashed through her mind: If it's Hu Tao, it should be fine...
Their initial impressions of each other hadn't been great, but after spending some time together, their relationship had become quite good.
If Qin Yu had to choose between kissing someone she had a "good relationship" with versus someone she had a "bad" or "ordinary" relationship with, she would undoubtedly pick the former.
At least I wouldn't hate it—wait, no! Some things are simply unacceptable. I'm not that kind of woman.
Qin Yu gently tried to push Hu Tao away with her hand.
"Hu Tao, things like this should be done with someone you love..." Qin Yu offered a third reason.
Hu Tao pouted and retorted, "You make it sound like you don't like me at all! I really like you, you know."
Evaluation: A+
She likes me?!