Chapter 437: Two Girls Vying

Lin Yuan tensed all over at the knock on the door.

He hastily reached out and pushed Zhai Qing, who was still kneeling, away.

Lin Yuan almost stumbled to the door, lowered his voice and asked, "Who?"

A drunken female voice immediately came from outside, reeking of alcohol: "Lin big brother..."

The moment Lin Yuan heard that voice, his body paused and his eyes narrowed.

It was Zhao Tian's voice—how did she actually come looking for me?

Lin Yuan glanced back at Zhai Qing, lowered his voice urgently: "Stay in the living room, don't come out."

Without waiting for Zhai Qing's reply, he hastily turned the lock and pulled the door open a crack.

The hallway light by the door was dim...

A slender figure was squatting on the ground, arms wrapped around her knees.

Zhao Tian's head rested on her knees, her long hair spilling over both cheeks.

It was Zhao Tian, looking pitiful and drunk, obviously having drunk herself into a stupor.

Lin Yuan quickly squatted down and helped her up from the ground.

But as soon as Lin Yuan touched her arm, he felt her go limp, almost entirely leaning on him.

Zhao Tian's cheeks flushed with alcohol, her gaze hazy as if veiled in mist.

Her breath reeked of strong alcohol as she leaned into Lin Yuan's embrace, her voice soft and aggrieved: "Lin big brother, why did you take so long to open the door... I, I feel awful..."

Zhao Tian said this, unconsciously rubbing against Lin Yuan's chest, her fingertips lightly hooking the hem of his clothes.

Her demeanor carried a hint of drunken laziness and allure, making it hard to steel one's heart.

Lin Yuan helped her up and consoled, "You, you, it's just a blind date—do you really need to blow up with your parents like that? Be good, go home. It's so late, otherwise your parents will worry."

Zhao Tian, however, shook her head drunkenly: "I'm not going back; I've run away from home, I have nowhere to go... Lin big brother, will you take me in, please?"

She blinked her beautiful eyes, looking pitifully at Lin Yuan...

Lin Yuan was about to help her to the hallway outside so Zhai Qing wouldn't see...

But at that moment, footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

Lin Yuan's heart sank; he turned and saw Zhai Qing standing with her arms crossed at the living room doorway...

Zhai Qing's gaze fell straight onto Zhao Tian.

Obviously, Zhai Qing hadn't listened to him and came out anyway.

At that moment, Zhai Qing's beautiful eyes stared meaningfully at Zhao Tian.

She just wanted to see who Lin Yuan's so-called "little lover" really was.

Zhao Tian was startled by the footsteps, lifting her head with drunken, blurred vision...

She looked in the direction of Zhai Qing.

The two women's gazes instantly collided.

The warm light of the living room and the cool light of the hallway intertwined between them.

The air seemed to freeze, full of awkwardness.

Zhao Tian blinked; her focus wasn't fully there, and it took a while before she reacted...

Zhao Tian tugged at Lin Yuan's sleeve, her voice tinged with drunken confusion and a hint of grievance.

"Lin big brother... you, why is there another woman in your house at this hour?"

Zhao Tian's fingertips still hooked the edge of Lin Yuan's clothes, her head slightly tilted.

Her hazy gaze swept over Zhai Qing...

As Zhao Tian spoke, a hint of alcohol on her breath lightly brushed Lin Yuan's wrist, exuding an unconscious allure.

Only then did Zhao Tian turn to Zhai Qing, her voice soft yet wary, like a drunken kitten guarding its food:

"Who are you?"

Zhai Qing looked at Zhao Tian's drunken state, arms crossed, and spoke relatively calmly:

"I'm Lin Yuan's friend, Zhai Qing. I've been feeling unwell lately, so I came to his place for him to treat me with Chinese medical massage."

Zhao Tian blinked her watery eyes, her drunken head turning.

She seemed not to have fully understood, yet inexplicably felt a sourness in her heart, a surge of jealousy.

Zhao Tian's voice choked with tears: "Oh... treating illness... then sorry for the disturbance... I'll go..."

Saying that, she tried to break free from Lin Yuan's support, her steps unsteady as she shuffled toward the hallway.

Lin Yuan watched her, so drunk she could barely stand, yet forcing herself to walk, her eyes red-rimmed...

Lin Yuan's heart softened all at once...

He reached out and grabbed her arm.

Lin Yuan said helplessly, "It's late, you're this drunk—where are you going? It's not safe outside at this hour."

Upon hearing Lin Yuan's words, Zhao Tian had tears still on her cheeks, her voice filled with drunken resentment and helplessness:

"Where else can I go? You won't take me in. Let me sleep on the street."

She said this, her shoulders slumping further, her gaze hollow on the hallway floor, looking like she could burst into tears any moment.

Lin Yuan looked at her like that and scratched his head in resignation.

Lin Yuan could only sigh and say, "Fine, you can stay at my place tonight..."

Lin Yuan paused, then added, "But just for one night—you have to go back home tomorrow, got it?"

Upon hearing the words "stay at my place," Zhao Tian's eyes lit up instantly...

She quickly wiped the tears from her face and nodded vigorously.

"Okay! Thank you, Lin big brother!"

Lin Yuan had no choice; he could only half-support, half-assist Zhao Tian again, bringing her into the house.

He placed her at the edge of the sofa.

Zhai Qing sat on the sofa, watching the suddenly appearing Zhao Tian, her brows faintly furrowed.

She had originally been waiting for Lin Yuan to help her with the breast nodule massage…

Now there was an extra person; no matter how she looked at it, it seemed inconvenient, and Zhai Qing inexplicably felt a bit uncomfortable.

Zhao Tian leaned against the sofa, her whole body limp and powerless, so she could only lie down obediently.

But Zhao Tian's gaze would occasionally dart toward Lin Yuan and Zhai Qing.

Zhai Qing glanced at Lin Yuan, then at Zhao Tian on the sofa.

Zhai Qing spoke up: "Lin Yuan, why don't we two go into the bedroom so you can treat my illness? It's crowded here, not very convenient."

Lin Yuan thought it over, felt Zhai Qing made sense, and the massage indeed required a quiet environment.

Lin Yuan nodded: "Alright, wait a moment, I'll take you to the bedroom."

Just as he was about to turn, Zhao Tian on the sofa suddenly sat up a bit.

Zhao Tian, with drunken, hazy eyes, looked at the two, her voice tinged with bewildered confusion: "Why do you need to go to the bedroom to treat the illness? Can't it be done in the living room?"

Hearing that, Zhai Qing's cheeks flushed slightly…

After all, "breast nodule massage" isn't something you can just say casually.

Zhai Qing paused, then explained somewhat embarrassedly: "The treatment isn't convenient… I, I have a breast nodule on my chest, so I need Lin Yuan to do the massage; it's not suitable in the living room."

Zhao Tian blinked, the alcohol slowing her reaction by half a beat, and a complex expression flickered in her beautiful eyes.

There was doubt, jealousy, and a hint of awkward indescribable feeling.

Zhao Tian stared at Zhai Qing for a few seconds, then slowly lowered her head.

After a while, Zhao Tian leaned back onto the sofa, speaking softly: "Alright then. You two go ahead; I, I'll watch TV for a bit…"

As she spoke, she reached out to grope for the remote, but being so drunk, her fingers missed it several times, making her look clumsy.

Lin Yuan glanced at her, feeling a bit uneasy.

But Zhai Qing's treatment was still waiting.

Lin Yuan could only tell Zhao Tian: "Just watch TV obediently, don't move around; I'll be out soon."

Zhao Tian said nothing, just gave a soft "hum."

Her eyes were fixed on the TV screen, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

Zhai Qing followed Lin Yuan toward the bedroom, and as they passed the sofa, she deliberately glanced at Zhao Tian…

There was an indescribable meaning in Zhai Qing's gaze.

Zhai Qing followed Lin Yuan into the bedroom, then reflexively reached to turn the door lock.

But when her fingertip touched the cold lock core, she found it wouldn't turn no matter how she tried.

Her brows furrowed instantly: "How did your bedroom door lock break?"

Lin Yuan scratched his head, tone tinged with helplessness: "It's a rented apartment; the lock broke a few days ago, and I haven't had time to call a repairman."

Zhai Qing let out an "oh," didn't say more, and merely glanced back toward the living room.

Although the lock was broken, fortunately Zhao Tian was so drunk she shouldn't just wander in.

Zhai Qing took a deep breath, walked to the bedside, and sat down.

Zhai Qing's pretty face instantly flushed red, even her ear tips turning pink.

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito: "Lin Yuan… can… can we begin?"

Lin Yuan stood where he was, took a deep breath before stepping forward, trying to keep his tone calm.

"Relax a bit; I'll first locate the nodule."

His hand lifted lightly; when his fingertips touched Zhai Qing's skin, he could clearly feel her body tremble slightly.

Lin Yuan eased his motion, slowly pressing the acupoint…

Zhai Qing's face turned even redder in an instant.

Even her neck took on a scarlet hue; she sat stiffly, not daring to breathe loudly.

Lin Yuan's tone also turned unnatural: "Um… should we pause? Am I pressing too hard?"

Zhai Qing quickly shook her head, voice tiny like a mosquito: "No… no, it's me… it's my own issue…"

As she spoke, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, covering her face with both hands, not daring to lift her head.

As time passed, Zhai Qing's distending pain gradually eased.

But her body grew softer and softer; the fatigue from dissipating qi and blood left her barely able to lift a hand.

After a long while, Lin Yuan stopped his motion and said softly, "All right, the treatment is over after 40 minutes."

Zhai Qing tried to push herself up using the mattress.

But as soon as she bent her waist, her body swayed, nearly toppling over the bed's edge.

Lin Yuan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, reached out and grabbed her arm, his tone concerned: "Be careful; you're weak right now."

Zhai Qing leaned into Lin Yuan's embrace accordingly.

Her forehead rested against his shoulder, and the tip of her nose was instantly enveloped by the faint scent of herbal medicine on Lin Yuan's body…

That was the aroma from the herbal decoctions Lin Yuan had brewed for years, which inexplicably made her feel at ease.

Zhai Qing suddenly raised her hand, hooking it around Lin Yuan's neck…

Then she slightly lifted her head, her lips pressing directly against his, warm and moist.

"Zhai Qing, you've just finished the massage; your body is still weak, don't let your thoughts run wild…"

But Zhai Qing didn't loosen her grip; instead, she buried her face deeper, her scorching breath spraying onto Lin Yuan's neck:

"I'm not letting my thoughts run wild…"

The warm light in the bedroom spilled over both of them, and through the gap in the broken door lock, the faint sound of the TV from the living room could still be heard……

Zhao Tian was still outside, which made Lin Yuan's heart even more confused.

Lin Yuan hastily shook his head and refused, his voice tightening: "No, there's still someone outside the bedroom! Zhao Tian is still in the living room—what if she comes in……

Zhai Qing, however, showed no retreat; instead, she slightly lifted her gaze, a hint of determination in her eyes.

Zhai Qing whispered, "It's fine—she's drunk out of her mind. Just now on the sofa she could barely keep her eyes open; she must be asleep by now, she won't come in."

Zhai Qing said, her hands gently sliding down from Lin Yuan's neck as her body slowly sank……

Her knees touched the floor with a soft 'thud'……

【……The following scenes omitted, 10,000 words】

The warm light in the bedroom fell on her, outlining her silhouette with unusual clarity.

And the TV sound from outside the door gap…… had somehow grown quieter.

Outside the living room, only a faint clamor remained……

It seemed as if even the outside world was yielding to the atmosphere inside the house.

Lin Yuan looked at Zhai Qing kneeling before him, then thought of Zhao Tian possibly asleep in the living room, and his heart leapt into his throat.

He wanted to push Zhai Qing away, but seeing the pleading in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it;

【The scene, continuing to spiral out of control……】

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