Let Her Sleep a Little Longer

In the end, they managed to finish the meal, though it was unclear who broke the silence first. Slowly, they resumed eating, though the conversation dwindled, as if afraid of revealing any more shocking truths.

After dinner, Yu Shuman washed the dishes, leaving Yu's mother and Qin Ran sitting awkwardly on opposite ends of the living room sofa. Silence loomed between them, and the tension was palpable. The TV played the local news, covering small, heartwarming stories like firefighters rescuing a kitten.

The news was wholesome, filled with snippets of everyday life, giving the evening a sense of warmth. Yet, in the midst of their shared silence, the meowing of the rescued kitten was a bit too sharp, piercing the quiet room. The cat's high-pitched cries, coupled with its shock, added to the awkward atmosphere.

Trying to find a topic, Yu's mother hesitantly asked, "Have you and Shuman adopted any pets? Like a kitten or a puppy?"

Qin Ran, the typically composed and sharp businesswoman, fidgeted awkwardly. She tugged at her pants and replied quietly, "No... we're both too busy. I have classes, and she has work. We don't really have time for pets."

Though, she thought to herself, once they moved into a bigger house with a yard, having a pet wouldn't be out of the question. She could get a cat to cuddle with in the sun, and Yu shuman could get a large dog to join her on runs, doubling as a guard dog. And if Shuman ever made her go running, she could hop onto the dog's back when she got tired, letting it carry her home.

Qin Ran's imagination wandered into fantasy territory, oblivious to the increasingly awkward look on Yu's mother's face. With Qin Ran's head lowered, there was no eye contact, and only their stilted conversation hung in the air.

"Yes... you're both quite busy."

Another silence fell between them as the TV showed the rescued kitten relaxing in the firefighter's arms. The scene shifted to a live broadcast, with the anchor smiling and saying, "It seems this little kitty has really taken a liking to our brave firefighter. And if any of you watching would like to adopt this cat, feel free to call our station's hotline to help find it a loving home."

Just then, Yu Shuman came out of the kitchen, holding a plate of fruit filled with oranges. Seeing the space between her mother and Qin Ran, she plopped down between them and handed each of them an orange.

"What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, I saw a video about a firefighter saving a kitten, so I asked if you two had any pets."

At the mention of pets, Yu shuman glanced at Qin Ran, thinking she didn't need a pet. After all, Qin Ran herself embodied the qualities of several small animals—rabbits, hamsters, cats. Being with her already brought the joy of having a pet.

Yu shuman chuckled, peeled an orange, and seeing that neither her mom nor Qin Ran had started eating, she split the orange into thirds and handed them each a slice. Shuman, being the quickest to shake off the earlier awkwardness, was now her usual cheerful self, easing the tension in the room.

With Yu shuman there, the awkward atmosphere dissipated. After watching TV for a while, Yu shuman suggested Qin Ran take a shower first. Their apartment was small, with only one bathroom, so they had to take turns. Qin Ran wanted Aunt Yu to go first, out of concern for her health, but Aunt Yu didn't hesitate and went to get her clothes for a shower.

The apartment had poor soundproofing, so they could hear the shower running from the living room. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Ran leaned over to Yu shuman and quietly asked, "Why didn't you tell me you already talked to Auntie about us…"

Yu shuman's ears turned red, and although she didn't say it out loud, Qin Ran already knew the answer.

—Yu shuman was embarrassed.

Even someone as straightforward as Yu shuman couldn't just brag, "I already came out to my mom, so you don't need to worry about anything!" Nor could she tell her mom, "Don't mention anything to Qin Ran," wanting to keep it a secret.

But Yu's mother, being just as direct, completely forgot about Yu shuman's request and let everything spill out.

Yu shuman's face turned red, and Qin Ran leaned in. Glancing quickly at the bathroom to make sure the water was still running, she daringly kissed Yu shuman's cheek. Yu shuman shot her a glance but didn't protest, silently accepting the gesture.

When Aunt Yu came out of the bathroom, she saw the two younger women with flushed faces, which confused her. "Is it too hot in here? I've finished my shower, so go ahead, you two."

This time, Qin Ran didn't argue and quickly grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom, eager to escape the awkwardness.

Before leaving, Yu shuman giggled at how they had been caught with red faces, like mischievous little mice. After Qin Ran left, Yu's mother called Yu shuman over to help make the bed. As they were setting the sheets, she suddenly realized something: "Wait... are you two sleeping in the same bed?!"

Her eyes widened in shock. Aunt Yu knew that even between two girls, certain things could happen. Although she wasn't entirely sure what those things were, she had a gut feeling that something inappropriate might be going on.

Yu shuman calmly tucked the sheets on her side of the bed, unfazed. "What's wrong with that?" She genuinely didn't see anything wrong with it. After all, they had been sharing a bed for a while now.

Aunt Yu, however, was at a loss for words. "It's not... appropriate. You two haven't even graduated yet…" She was clearly conflicted, trying to adjust to the fact that her daughter was in a serious relationship. For over twenty years, she had worried about her daughter being taken advantage of, and now, she was worried her daughter might be the one taking advantage.

In her mind, it was Yu shuman leading Qin Ran astray.

Yu shuman laughed softly, "Mom, we're both adults. We know our boundaries."

With a sigh, Aunt Yu reluctantly let it go. After helping set the bed, she retired to her room. When Qin Ran came out of the bathroom, the living room was empty, so she headed to Yu shuman's room, finding her lying in bed, playing on her phone. Without hesitation, Qin Ran jumped onto the bed beside her.

Yu shuman put down her phone and caught Qin Ran in her arms. Her body was still warm and slightly damp from the shower, and the floral scent of the shampoo lingered in the air. It wasn't the shampoo they usually used but the one Aunt Yu preferred. The fragrance wrapped around them, and instead of being overwhelming, it made Yu shuman want to get closer.

Qin Ran snuggled up, brimming with excitement. She couldn't believe it—Aunt Yu had accepted them. She had always feared Aunt Yu would be furious if she ever found out, envisioning herself being thrown out of the house, walking dejectedly down the street during the holidays.

But now, Yu shuman had already told her mother about their relationship, and she had accepted them wholeheartedly.

She worried that Aunt Yu might react badly, that it might worsen her condition, leading to a tragic end. But reality had turned out to be as wonderful as a dream, leaving Qin Ran in disbelief.

"Did Auntie really accept us?"

She asked again, and Yu shuman playfully pinched her nose. "You heard her yourself during dinner, didn't you?"

Qin Ran pressed a kiss to Yu shuman's lips, then moved down to kiss the small mole beneath them. That tiny mole was even more enticing than a regular kiss, making Yu shuman's breath catch. Qin Ran's kisses were soft and lingering, slowly removing Yu shuman's clothes.

It was winter, and as Yu shuman's thick clothes hit the floor, she mumbled, "Wait... I haven't showered yet…"

Her voice was barely audible, and Qin Ran ignored her, pulling a small bottle from her pocket. Yu shuman's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you get that?"

"When I grabbed my clothes earlier."

Yu shuman gave Qin Ran a look, but in the end, she didn't stop her. She simply lowered her voice, knowing the apartment's poor soundproofing could betray them. The only sound that filled the quiet, heated room was the soft whispers between them.

The next morning, Qin Ran woke up feeling refreshed. She kissed the still-sleeping Yu shuman on the forehead and got up to make breakfast. She texted her bodyguard, asking her to bring breakfast when she went out for hers. The bodyguard, without hesitation, bought the food and left it by the door.

When Qin Ran woke up, Aunt Yu wasn't home. Qin Ran didn't know where she had gone but continued to prepare porridge and side dishes. When Aunt Yu returned, she found Qin Ran already up, wearing an apron, with the table set for breakfast.

"Oh my, Qin Ran, you're up so early? You should've slept a little longer. Where's Yu shuman? I'll go wake her."

As she put down the breakfast she had bought, she moved to wake Shuman, but Qin Ran stopped her. "Auntie, Yu shuman's still sleeping. Let her rest a little longer."

At that moment, Yu's mother felt something was... not quite right.

Aunt Yu: Something's off here.

Qin Ran: Hehehe...