Chapter 59
The barrage of comments scrolled rapidly across the screen, so fast that Zhong Ning could barely make out what they said—but she was used to this kind of pace.
In her past life, every time she drew her own character, it always triggered a wave of wails.
Zhong Ning's mood finally recovered a little. The negative emotions carried over from the original body's memories completely dissipated in that moment.
As expected, when feeling down, one should do something that brings joy.
She smiled and said, "I'm actually pretty lucky when drawing my own characters. Anyone else want to try? My luck's pretty good today."
The comments: "Draw!!!"
Just as Zhong Ning was about to pull up the login code, the door was knocked a few times. She turned her head, and a servant said, "Miss Zhong, the massage therapist has arrived downstairs."
Zhong Ning replied, "This will be the last one for today! We’ve got guests at home."
Which was more important, learning massage or making money by drawing? Of course, the former. Money could be earned every day—this kind of opportunity didn’t come by often.
After all, being busy for the one you liked was the happiest thing in the world.
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The massage therapist was a gentle and serene-looking woman, with faint lines at the corners of her eyes and a soft temperament.
There was a room in the villa specifically designated for massages. The décor was simple, and a mild incense was burning in the room. Zhong Ning couldn’t quite tell what scent it was, but just smelling it made her feel noticeably calmer.
Zhong Ning had, of course, experienced massages before. She changed into a light, loose-fitting loungewear and lay down on the bed, beginning to chat with the therapist.
"Do you come here to give massages often?"
The therapist placed her hands on Zhong Ning's shoulders and began kneading. Upon hearing the question, she replied, "Yes, Miss Xie invites me over from time to time."
Although her head was turned to the side, making it impossible for the other person to see the expectation and delight in her eyes, Zhong Ning still managed to clearly express her intentions through the emotion in her voice.
"Can I learn a bit of massage technique from you? It doesn’t have to be too comprehensive or professional—just enough to have some soothing effect."
She spoke a little shyly, "I want to give Shiqing a massage."
The massage therapist immediately understood—this was about adding a little intimate fun between spouses.
She wasn’t worried about losing her job. She had started learning massage in her teens, and now, over twenty years later, her skills had reached a level of mastery. The very fact that she served as Xie Shiqing’s personal massage therapist was a strong testament to her ability.
So, at this moment, she wasn’t stingy in sharing a few techniques—how to press the shoulders and neck, how to work the back.
These weren’t any kind of secret techniques. There was no need to hide them and risk displeasing the lady of the house.
Zhong Ning absorbed a wealth of practical knowledge and, after receiving a full massage herself, felt she was ready to try it out.
That evening, when Xie Shiqing returned and they finished dinner, Zhong Ning leaned in quietly by her ear and whispered, "I learned some massage today. Would you let me try it on you? You’ll feel completely relaxed afterward."
Massaging required hands, and that naturally made Xie Shiqing think of Zhong Ning’s hands—well-defined joints, not delicate, but long and beautiful to the touch, and equally capable in action.
She really should let herself relax and enjoy it.
With that in mind, she gave a slight nod and replied softly in the same quiet tone, "Alright. Come to my room."
It was clearly a proper and simple matter—just a massage. So why did it feel like they were doing something secretive?
But as that breath brushed against her earlobe, Zhong Ning felt lightheaded. She quickly lowered her head to hide the intoxicated expression on her face, as her pinky was hooked and tugged toward the elevator.
The moment they entered the lightless room, Zhong Ning was pushed up against the wall. A warm body pressed in close, a hand caressed her face, and a pair of lips sealed over hers.
A moist tongue slipped in, uninvited, trespassing into the host’s territory, extending an invitation to dance—and then, without waiting for a response, it entangled on its own.
Zhong Ning didn’t have the reflex to push her away. Her instinctive response was to wrap her arms around that waist and back, and she did just that.
If her tongue had found a new place to settle, then her hands, on Xie Shiqing’s body, had likewise found their rightful place.
The moment her hands landed, they found their path like a seasoned traveler, slipping beneath the hem of her clothes and gliding up along her waist.
The smooth skin was even softer than the silky sleepwear. One hand pressed against her back, pulling her in even closer.
The faint scent of absinthe suddenly grew rich and intense, as if someone had knocked over a bottle, letting the liquid spill, like fragrance diffusing, the aroma and the intoxication enveloping everything.
Zhong Ning took the initiative, seizing control. She held onto those lips, and with a gentle yet firm pressure, slipped through the gap between her teeth, returning everything Xie Shiqing had just done to her—without missing a beat.
In the pitch-black room, only deep breaths echoed, like tiny flickers of flame, igniting the pheromones that hung heavy in the air.
Zhong Ning still remembered she had come to give a massage—but just as that thought surfaced, it was shattered by Xie Shiqing’s soft moan and instantly forgotten.
What was she just thinking about?
Probably nothing important.
The only thing that mattered now—was the bed.
Zhong Ning couldn’t see a thing, so she had to follow Xie Shiqing’s lead, walking cautiously through the darkness. Xie Shiqing could sense her hesitation and bit her lip, giggling quietly. Strangely, she didn’t feel schadenfreude or frustrated sympathy.
She only thought—it was adorable.
“There’s a chair ahead, be careful,” she warned, deliberately trying to scare her. Right after, she felt a sudden tightness around her waist—the person behind her had wrapped her arms around and pressed up close, walking against her back.
Adorable.
The rich scent of grapefruit blossoms grew even stronger with her proximity. Xie Shiqing’s eyes half-closed, feeling like she might just get drunk on that fragrance. Her bones felt like they were melting into softness, and she tipped forward onto the bed.
Zhong Ning let out a startled yelp and toppled over onto her, the two of them tumbling together in a heap, groping and exploring each other in the darkness.
After a thorough and intense marking, Xie Shiqing lay still, not wanting to move. But her body felt sticky and damp—she’d have to clean up.
Zhong Ning lingered in the aftertaste for a moment, then suddenly remembered her original goal. "Shiqing, I came to give you a massage, didn’t I?"