Chapter 124: A small boat with a single sail sways on the water

Jiang Ling let out a hurried, low gasp, eyes wide as she watched Mo Ran’s movements grow more and more intense, her skin from head to toe feeling as though it had been set ablaze.

She was forced to tilt her head back, the only thing in her line of sight was the dull, gray ceiling overhead, and unconsciously she gripped the bedsheet at her side, fingers curling slowly, her knuckles whitening from the force.

“You…”

Feeling the stark change in Mo Ran’s strength from before, Jiang Ling grew frantic and exasperated: “Didn’t you say you just wanted love, didn’t want anything else… Then what are you doing now, liar…”

The last words tumbled out in a jumbled mess, her petite chest rising and falling evenly but with powerful force in time with the movement.

“Have you ever heard the saying—”

With these words, she suddenly halted her motions, then slowly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, her voice laced with irrepressible laughter.

“Since you’re already here.”

Under such a burning gaze, Jiang Ling felt like a marked prey; no matter how she tried, she couldn’t escape.

Since there was no way to run, she might as well enjoy—

No, she should just give up!

Jiang Ling had always held firmly to one life motto:

There’s no difficult thing in the world, as long as you’re willing to give up.

In other words, escape may be shameful but it’s useful! In just a few breaths, she convinced herself to stop struggling, lowered her trembling eyelids and muttered: “Then… hurry, hurry up…”

The sooner it’s over, the sooner it ends.

Mo Ran raised her eyebrows at these words, looking rather surprised: “Hurry up?”

Seeing Mo Ran’s confused expression, Jiang Ling didn’t quite understand why she was making such a face, so she took a breath and timidly repeated herself.

“Mm… just hurry up…”

Rather than be tormented all night, she’d rather get it over with quickly.

That was what Jiang Ling thought, but when Mo Ran heard those words, she interpreted them differently.

She stared at Jiang Ling for a long time before dropping her head thoughtfully, lips moving: “Am I… too slow?”

Mo Ran had never imagined she’d be told she was “not good enough” under such circumstances.

Jiang Ling’s mind was a bit scattered, so she didn’t catch what Mo Ran said, only tilting her chin and gently shaking Mo Ran’s hand that was resting on her waist, as if urging her to hurry up.

This made Mo Ran’s expression turn even stranger. After a moment of silence, her brows filled with a stubborn yet astonished look, she suddenly pounced, pinning Jiang Ling’s wobbling legs in midair.

Her fingers slid inch by inch from Jiang Ling’s ankle upward, stroking with a tenderness as though handling a precious treasure, cautious and careful, fearing to crush it.

But the higher her hands went, the heavier her touch became, until there was no gentleness left.

Jiang Ling had thought Mo Ran would act as before, but reality was different. She was like a wolf starving for three days that had found a helpless little rabbit, showing no mercy at all.

“Wait, wait!”

Jiang Ling’s voice took on a tearful edge under these movements, biting her lip until her teeth ached: “I said wait a second…”

But Mo Ran didn’t slow down in the slightest.

“Weren’t you the one who wanted me to hurry?”

At those words, Jiang Ling’s mind went blank with a bang.

“That’s not what I… I meant, Mo Ran!”

Her face was flushed bright red, trembling even more than before, her calves limp and hanging, utterly powerless to resist.

She felt like a solitary little boat drifting in a raging storm, fine rain pelting down like goose feathers, slowly soaking her hull. She could only brace the edge with her palms, afraid that the sweeping winds would leave her gasping for breath.

While Mo Ran, by her side, wielded her hands like oars, stirring ripples across the water, rocking the little boat forward amidst the tempest.

“Mo, Mo Ran… stop, please!”

Jiang Ling raised her voice, never expecting the gentle and obedient-looking Mo Ran to have such strength.

People really can’t be judged by appearances…

Oblivious to Jiang Ling’s silent grumbling, Mo Ran’s lips curved in a smile, her actions suddenly softened, like a proud little cat curled up in the corner of a café, licking its fur.

“Alright.”

Hearing Mo Ran answer so readily, Jiang Ling let out a sudden sigh of relief, hurriedly pressing her lips together, afraid something shameful might escape.

But within just a few seconds, Jiang Ling’s expression went from relaxed back to tense, unconsciously swaying her waist, feeling an unbearable heat well up from within.

Mo Ran had indeed stopped her excessive movements, but her hands hadn’t left—on the contrary, she teased, making Jiang Ling’s heart itch unbearably.

“Ahem.”

Jiang Ling coughed uncomfortably, words lingering on her lips for ages before she finally gave up, gazing helplessly into Mo Ran’s eyes.

“Hmm?”

Seeing this, Mo Ran narrowed her eyes with a smile, clearly in a good mood.

Even with Jiang Ling’s usual slow reactions, she realized Mo Ran was toying with her on purpose, shame and frustration flooding her heart together with an uncontrollable urge. In a fit of desperation, she pressed down on Mo Ran’s hand.

“Stop teasing me.”

But Mo Ran held back, speaking slowly and with great interest: “What did I have you call me last time? Call it again, let me hear.”

Jiang Ling struggled to recall through her scattered mind, her burning face turning even redder, voice urgent: “Mo Ran!”

“Mm.”

Mo Ran continued to caress her, neither too lightly nor too heavily, as if she didn’t see Jiang Ling’s growing desperation.

Seeing Mo Ran wouldn’t let her off, Jiang Ling pouted, tears gathering in her eyes, trembling at the corners, her voice tinged with sobs. “Ma—Mama…”

As soon as she spoke, she turned her head to the side, exposing her slender white neck, closing her eyes tightly and sobbing quietly, a bright streak of tears shining on her face.

Mo Ran’s gaze darkened at the sight, an unprecedented satisfaction blooming in her chest. She stared, somewhat entranced, at the sight of Jiang Ling crying from being bullied, then bent down again.

“Alright, good girl—”

Her sobs were soon drowned out by the wave upon wave of growing, heated cries.

When Jiang Ling woke up the next day, her whole body felt like it was about to fall apart. Still, she took advantage of Mo Ran being in a deep sleep, forced herself up, dressed, and quietly slipped out of the room.

She thought she’d been very careful, but as soon as she entered the living room, she saw the others sprawled everywhere, sleeping in twisted heaps.

“Ugh… Jiang Ling?”

Lin Xiaoyu seemed mostly fine, only her eyes a little dazed, and upon seeing Jiang Ling she called out softly.

The others slowly woke up as well.

They’d all apparently drunk quite a lot the night before—the living room was a mess.

Suppressing the ache in her body, Jiang Ling found a corner and sat down.

After a brief rest, everyone started to recover a little.

“So, how did things go with Mo Ran?”

Now that she was fully awake, Fang Wannan finally couldn’t help herself. She tried to act casual, nudging Jiang Ling with her elbow, but her eyes were full of anxious worry. After all, last night Mo Ran hadn’t read the farewell speech as planned—this had surprised everyone.

But Mo Ran herself had said it was only a temporary change. Such an ambiguous result was clearly not satisfying for anyone.

And something had obviously happened between her and Jiang Ling—something only the two of them knew. That secret seemed to have swayed Mo Ran’s decision, hence Fang Wannan’s anxiety.

After all, she didn’t want Mo Ran to leave NOVA either.

She believed everyone felt the same way.

At her question, nearly everyone’s gaze turned to Jiang Ling.

Jiang Ling, rubbing her aching waist, replied in a weary voice, “Mm, I persuaded her.”

Though it had been a bit rough—in fact, the only thing she could recall was being toyed with back and forth—Jiang Ling felt Mo Ran had at last opened her heart to her.

As long as she kept her promise, there would be no more talk of leaving the group.

But just as Jiang Ling finished speaking, the room went instantly quiet, as if everyone had just heard something shocking.

Puzzled, Jiang Ling looked up, only to find Xu Nuo’s face suddenly up close, and to hear a shriek loud enough to pierce the practice room.

“You SLEPT her into submission?!”