Again?
Though it felt wrong to think this way about Hu Tao's confession, after the incident with Ningguang and Keqing, only this thought flashed through Qin Yu's mind.
Hu Tao wants to be my lover too?
Why is it always about love?
Qin Yu desperately wanted to avoid another "Lover's Choice" situation. But if Hu Tao truly desired this, what should she do?
Rejection was impossible, but... Qin Yu's mind raced, her heart a tangled mess.
Why are most of the women around me like this?
At first, she'd only wanted to play the role of a good woman and earn Points by being a good friend. But nearly all of them had developed "ulterior motives."
Wait, I can't be sure it's romantic feelings yet, Qin Yu thought.
"What kind of 'like' are we talking about?" Qin Yu asked, clinging to her last shred of hope.
"The kind of 'like' where I want to get naughty with you, Fishy Treasure?"
This is even worse!
"Y-you... are you just after my body?" Qin Yu asked, flustered.
Hu Tao smirked. "Heh heh, exactly! You're beautiful, Fishy Treasure, and your figure's pretty good too. Who wouldn't like that? I just want to devour a fish like you."
Qin Yu made a face of disgust. "What's with that tone?"
"It's just a joke!"
Oh, it was just a joke, Qin Yu thought, relief washing over her. She exhaled deeply. "Don't joke like that so casually."
A peculiar light flashed in Hu Tao's eyes, hinting at the turbulent emotions beneath her playful demeanor.
"But only the tone was a joke. I really do want to do... that with you."
This is still terrible!
Qin Yu's face burned crimson as she clutched her chest defensively. "I don't want that! And the way you say it makes it sound like you only like my body!"
Hu Tao shook her head.
"It's not that shallow. It's not just your body—I like your inner self too."
Qin Yu felt her heart flutter slightly, but she quickly averted her gaze. "So, are you saying you want to be my lover?"
"Nope~"
"Huh?"
Hu Tao's answer left Qin Yu utterly confused and bewildered.
What does she even want?
Hu Tao leaned against Qin Yu, resting her head on her chest and listening to her heartbeat. "It's beating so fast. Are you flustered?"
"I'm just startled," Qin Yu replied.
"Come on, you're being so dishonest. Weren't you my girlfriend before? I've already experienced that," Hu Tao said, her hand slyly lifting Qin Yu's shirt.
Qin Yu grabbed Hu Tao's hand and tugged at her cheek. "That was just a trial run, wasn't it?"
Like playing house.
"But I still experienced it."
Qin Yu was stunned. Experienced it?
She reviewed the events of that time in her mind. Where had there been any elements that could have allowed Hu Tao to experience romance?
"When you say 'experienced,' you mean..."
Hu Tao grinned. "Mm, at the end, I felt something like the warmth of love, so intense it felt like I was melting—it was actually quite nice."
So... Hu Tao fell for me back then? Qin Yu was deeply surprised and astonished.
Hu Tao's behavior hadn't changed in the slightest, which only deepened Qin Yu's confusion.
"Then why did you say you didn't want to be lovers?"
Hu Tao wrapped her arms around Qin Yu's neck, nuzzling her cheek. "Because I don't think we need to overthink it! Lover, friend—who cares about labels? We're all going to end up cremated anyway."
This place hasn't changed either, Qin Yu thought with a sigh.
After sharing her thoughts, Hu Tao continued, "It's not that complicated, at least not for you and me. I like you, Fishy Treasure, and you like me—that's all that matters!"
"So, wanna give it a try?" Hu Tao asked excitedly.
Why does she always circle back to this?
Qin Yu had been feeling so reassured and comfortable just moments ago, but Hu Tao's question made her sigh involuntarily.
"The more you want it, the less I do," Qin Yu said, hoping to end the conversation.
"The more you resist, the more I want it," Hu Tao retorted with a mischievous grin.
I almost forgot—Hu Tao's shamelessness is legendary.
Even if Rex Lapis shot her point-blank, her face would probably still be intact.
Growing increasingly annoyed, Qin Yu lightly bit Hu Tao's neck.
Hu Tao's face flushed red. "Eh? Are we starting already? Wait, I haven't removed my nail polish yet!"
"Starting what?!" Qin Yu exclaimed, startled.
"But you bit my neck."
Qin Yu retorted, "I was just expressing my displeasure! Didn't you feel it?"
"No, quite the opposite. Doing that actually gets me more excited. Fishy Treasure, don't you know that's actually a hint?" Hu Tao teased with a mischievous smile.
A hint?! Qin Yu panicked, "I-I wasn't hinting at anything!"
"What's said without meaning is heard with intent," Hu Tao said concisely.
"That's just you misunderstanding!" Qin Yu insisted.
"Then let's just run with the misunderstanding!" Hu Tao declared boldly.
"Don't mess around!" Qin Yu said frantically.
"I am going to mess around! Because I'm Mischief Treasure, Hu Tao!"
The atmosphere instantly chilled.
Qin Yu stared blankly. "Ha?"
Hu Tao's face flushed with embarrassment. She knew the joke had fallen flat. Not wanting to linger in the awkwardness, she stuck out her tongue and tried to act cute.
"Forget I said anything. Let's just continue, okay?" she said casually.
Qin Yu grabbed Hu Tao's cheeks with both hands. "I. Don't. Want. To."
"Waaah, Fishy Treasure is bullying me—"
"That's so fake."
Qin Yu exhaled softly, finding Hu Tao's cheeks delightfully squishy. She couldn't resist giving them a few more squeezes.
Watching Hu Tao's expressions shift endlessly, Qin Yu couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing this, Hu Tao reached out and began tugging at Qin Yu's face, then pulled her into a hug.
"Stop squeezing me, let's just hug instead."
Realizing Hu Tao was just being affectionate, Qin Yu reluctantly returned the embrace.
After a moment's thought, Qin Yu steered the conversation back on track: "But Hu Tao, earlier... didn't you find out about me and Ningguang and Keqing?"
"Hmm? Oh—it doesn't bother me at all."
Qin Yu was both surprised and confused. "Doesn't bother you?"
Hu Tao propped herself up and grinned. "Didn't I say? As long as you like me and I like you, that's all that matters. No need to overthink it."
Qin Yu struggled to understand. Hu Tao didn't want to be her lover, yet she was completely unbothered by Qin Yu's actions, showing no jealousy or concern.
"I can't figure out what you're thinking," Qin Yu murmured.
"Don't overcomplicate it," Hu Tao replied. "Simply put, I just don't mind."
"But why?"
Hu Tao flashed her a radiant smile.
"Because it's interesting!"
"Interesting?"
Qin Yu genuinely hadn't expected Hu Tao to think this way. How could this be interesting at all?
Hu Tao nodded emphatically. "Exactly! It's incredibly interesting! The Tianquan, the Yuheng, and the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor all falling in love with the same person? Something like that might only happen once every thousand years! As Director, I adore things that are... intriguing."
It's like she's actually enjoying this. Qin Yu thought.
Just as Qin Yu was thinking this, Hu Tao leaned in for another kiss, giggling shyly. "Besides, I've already told you how much I adore you, Fishy Treasure."
"T-thank you..." Qin Yu stammered, flustered.
Being told that doesn't feel so bad after all, she thought to herself.
"Oh, right! I haven't asked you yet—what about you, Fishy Treasure? Do you like me too?" Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she asked.
Don't just suddenly ask that!
But Qin Yu couldn't avoid answering, so she nodded.
Hu Tao puffed out her cheeks. "Don't just nod—say something! How am I supposed to know how much you like me if you don't tell me?"
She really knows how to push her luck.
But I do need to express it... Fine, Qin Yu murmured, "I... I like you too. I don't know if it's romantic love, but you're very important to me."
Hu Tao's heart pounded, and she pressed a hand to her chest to feel the rapid thumping.
"Wow!"
The intensity of her emotions made Hu Tao's face and ears burn.
"Hehe, hearing you say that makes me so happy! Whether it's romantic or not doesn't matter. I like you too, Fishy Treasure!" Hu Tao said, unable to stop smiling.
Qin Yu found this back-and-forth exchange of affection terribly embarrassing. She reached for the book that had fallen beside her.
"I'm going to read now," she said.
Hu Tao snatched the book away and tossed it aside.
"Don't look! If you want to look, look at me instead. I'll try to be like you, Fishy Treasure."
"Like me?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled. "Me? What's there to learn about me...?"
"Meow."
Qin Yu's lips twitched slightly before she took a deep breath, grabbed her pillow, and threw it at Hu Tao's face.
"That's nothing like me! I'm not a cat."
But that momentary display of seeming "tamed" only reinforced Hu Tao's conviction that Qin Yu was indeed a cat—just one who had grown sufficiently close to her.
Hu Tao tossed the pillow back.
Qin Yu, quick-witted and quick-handed, caught it, only to be caught off guard as Hu Tao seized the opportunity to pounce, pinning her down.
After pinning Qin Yu down, Hu Tao licked her lips.
"Fishy Treasure," she murmured, her voice thick with a peculiar heat, "now that we've confessed our feelings—even if we're not lovers—shouldn't we at least satisfy each other's... needs?"
"Satisfy? Satisfy what...?" Qin Yu asked nervously.
Hu Tao's fingers traced lightly over Qin Yu's lips.
"Just this."
Qin Yu relaxed. If it was just this, she could accept it.
"...If it's just this, then it's not impossible."
"And what about... those other things?" Hu Tao pressed.
"No. At least, not yet."
Hu Tao sighed, disappointed. "Alright."
So, it means 'later' is okay, right?
Hu Tao's heart fluttered with joy. She leaned in, letting their breaths mingle. The closer she felt Qin Yu's warmth, the more intense her longing grew, an insatiable hunger to feel, to be consumed, or to consume the other, never feeling satisfied.
Qin Yu pushed Hu Tao away, gasping for breath. "Is that enough now?"
"Mmm~ No, just a little longer."
"Ha?"
"Just a little longer," Hu Tao insisted, lowering her head again despite Qin Yu's protests.
Qin Yu closed her eyes tightly, a sudden thought striking her: Even if all the women around me were like this, it would be one thing. But Ningguang, Keqing, and Hu Tao—their desires are all so intense. And Shenhe... she wants that too.
What will become of me in the future? Unease gnawed at her.