The soft sensation vanished. Amid Lin Ruijiao's breathless gasps, those warm, damp crimson lips pressed against hers once more. Their kiss deepened with an intimate, unrelenting fervor, tongues entwining, heat building between them as their breaths mingled—hot, rapid, desperate.
The air thinned. Heat rolled off their bodies in waves, and even the temperature of the room seemed to rise. Lin Ruijiao's eyes turned red at the corners, teardrops welling up—clear and crystalline—falling with every kiss Ye Ruihuan stole.
At last, the kiss ended.
Still drunk and light-headed from lack of air, Lin Ruijiao was left dazed and foggy. Her mind, usually sharp, had fractured into scattered thoughts. Instinctively, she gasped for breath.
Ye Ruihuan cupped her face in both hands, gently wiping away the tears on her cheeks. Her voice was low, husky, and dripping with magnetic allure."You were right… I do like women."
Seated on the edge of the bed, Lin Ruijiao struggled to catch her breath. Her dewy eyes lifted, soft and helpless, her flushed lips slick from their kiss. The lingering scent of alcohol clung to the air around them. But in her eyes burned something else—pure, unfiltered disgust. The disdain etched into her frown pierced Ye Ruihuan's heart like a blade.
Ye Ruihuan's thumb brushed Lin Ruijiao's lips, but the latter turned her face away abruptly, breaking free from her grip. A sharp glint flared in her eyes—a look rarely seen on her face.
Ye Ruihuan froze, breath catching in her throat. That gaze—so cold and cutting—it tore through her, leaving her heart raw and shredded. She bit her lip. Her eyes shimmered with pain, delicate and broken.
Lin Ruijiao couldn't understand what she was seeing. Even in their past life, she'd never seen Ye Ruihuan this vulnerable. All her usual composure had crumbled, replaced by something heady and seductive—dangerous, and heartbreakingly fragile.
But Lin Ruijiao knew—none of this emotion was meant for her. It was for Ye Ruihuan's long-lost love, Dong Yulan. As her stand-in, Lin Ruijiao understood this better than anyone.
Still dazed, her muddled mind couldn't figure out how to balance the situation—how to find a path where neither of them had to lose. She cast her gaze down, pondering hard, but the alcohol clouding her thoughts left her grasping at nothing.
Before she could react, a hand gripped the back of her head, pressing her down against the bed. A sharp pain bit into her neck.
Ye Ruihuan pinned her wrists tightly, hair cascading down over Lin Ruijiao's face.Why was she the only one denied?Why did Lin Ruijiao only reject her?Why…
The biting eased, replaced by a trail of kisses—soft, slow, drifting downward along her throat. Ye Ruihuan pulled back Lin Ruijiao's fluffy pajamas, revealing a thin camisole beneath. Maybe it was the intoxicating kisses. Maybe the alcohol had finally taken full effect. But Lin Ruijiao could feel her blood racing, her body burning with a familiar heat.
"Let me go… mmph…" she tried to cry out, but her voice was barely a whisper—soft, powerless.
The kisses bloomed across her skin like vibrant flowers.
A feather-light touch traced along her waist, making her tremble. In that moment, Lin Ruijiao wrenched her hands free and shoved Ye Ruihuan with all her strength."Get out!" she yelled.
Ye Ruihuan stumbled back, stunned. Her eyes—still misty with tender longing—shattered in an instant, replaced by disbelief and heartbreak."You're telling me to leave?" Her voice trembled, hoarse with pain.
"Fine… don't come begging me later," she said, voice cracking. With that, Ye Ruihuan turned and walked away. Her retreating figure was slender, frail—utterly defeated.
Lin Ruijiao lay frozen for a moment, then pulled the blanket over her head, burying herself beneath it. Her body still tingled with the echo of those kisses, and she felt inexplicably irritable.What even was that?
But the thought barely had time to settle. Drunk and exhausted, she quickly fell asleep.
On the other side of the wall, Ye Ruihuan paced in her room, seething. She was hurt, furious, aching… yet helpless. She couldn't do anything to fight back, and the frustration gnawed at her insides.
All she could do was cling to the desperate excuse that maybe Lin Ruijiao had just been startled—not disgusted.
But everything about Lin Ruijiao—her words, her eyes, her push—screamed one thing:Revulsion.
The thought made Ye Ruihuan's chest tighten, as if her heart were being shredded by broken glass. The pain was unbearable.
And yet, she couldn't stop herself. She willingly, hopelessly dove headfirst into this bottomless pit—no matter how fruitless it was. A bitter smile flickered across her lips. Despite her wounded gaze, there was still love in her eyes. She brought her fingers to her mouth, tracing the fading warmth of Lin Ruijiao's kiss.
In a fit of rage, she considered moving back to her villa in Guiting. But in the end, she stayed. Because even if she couldn't touch her, she still wanted to see her—just to look at Lin Ruijiao.
Meanwhile, Lin Ruijiao carried on as usual—hopping from one event to the next according to her schedule. The internet buzzed with updates on her every move. Her fanbase had just surpassed half a million and was still growing fast. She was everywhere—on entertainment platforms, social media, media headlines.
And with that fame came more gossip.
[Comment] Damn, capital really is powerful—can't escape Lin Ruijiao these days.
[Reply] RIGHT?! It's ridiculous. And our Sister Ye hasn't made a single appearance! Sister Ye, please come back and set the record straight!
[Comment] Not gonna lie, Lin Ruijiao's looks are really starting to grow on me…
[Reply] +1! She's gorgeous! So pure and sweet, unlike that ice queen Ye Ruihuan.
[Counter] Watch your mouth! Ye Ruihuan's a goddess—elegant and accomplished. She's won every award in the industry. Lin Ruijiao can't even compare!
[Counter-Rebuttal] Oh please, Ye Ruihuan's just clinging to her capital and seniority. Isn't she too old to be acting cute now?
[Rebuttal] And Lin Ruijiao doesn't have a sponsor? Ye Ruihuan's awards are all earned fair and square. Let Lin Ruijiao try winning something before she opens her mouth.
[Snark] Everyone knows Ye Ruihuan was legendary back then. Lin Ruijiao can't hold a candle to her—no looks, no skills. Stop trying to compare.
[Fan Reply] She's young and already on the cover of XX magazine. She has a bright future ahead. So pretty!
[Reply] And Ye Ruihuan was the actual cover star! That little accomplishment is laughable by comparison.
[Curious Bystander] Wait… weren't they on the same cover? Did they fight about it or what? Just wondering.
The two fanbases clashed relentlessly online, while bystanders enjoyed the drama. Ye Ruihuan's cold demeanor and unflattering tabloid history were well known, but no one could deny her talent. Lin Ruijiao, though rumored to have a powerful backer, had skyrocketed to fame with undeniable charm and luck.
Neither side could agree on who was better. Both fanbases fought tooth and nail for their idols, unwilling to give an inch.
Ironically, the two actresses themselves remained utterly silent. They went about their lives as if nothing had happened, ignoring the storm that raged around them.
The chaos even spilled over into the comments of their mutual friend Zhou Yanyan's social media.
Fueling the flames, rival fans tried to stir things up even more. After all, both actresses were signed under the same agency—Huari Entertainment. And yet, its CEO, Ye Ruihuan herself, hadn't issued a single PR statement.
This silence only sparked more rumors:"Was Ye Ruihuan losing her grip on the industry? Had she been dethroned by a rising star?"
Speculation spread like wildfire.
But there were no clear answers—only questions.
As Lin Ruijiao's schedule finally quieted down, her manager Sister Wang informed her that there were no upcoming engagements for the time being.
Lin Ruijiao looked at the message on her phone and raised an eyebrow. She could already guess who had orchestrated this.