NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 57 - Prepare yourself
Tang Yuan pushed her backward until Jiang Zi’s back pressed against the door.
Gripping Jiang Zi firmly, she tilted her chin down, meeting her lips in a fervent kiss. She nibbled and sucked, stealing her breath away.
Jiang Zi wasn’t one to back down. Wrapping Tang Yuan tightly in her arms, her flawless legs pressed against the rough fabric of Tang Yuan’s clothes. One hand deftly yanked away anything in the way and tossed it aside.
The fabric of the program’s provided clothing was mediocre, coarse against the skin. It felt much better with nothing between them.
Tang Yuan’s grip loosened slightly as she brushed her lips gently against Jiang Zi’s, maintaining an alluring tension between them.
“Sister, do you want?”
Jiang Zi’s hand wandered along Tang Yuan’s waistline, finding her lips again to continue their kiss.
“I want you every moment of every day.”
“Little Tang Yuan, maybe I should be asking you: do you want?”
Tang Yuan chuckled softly at the question, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “What if I said I’m a little scared?”
Jiang Zi’s hand stopped at the soft curve of Tang Yuan’s waist, kneading with deliberate pressure. Her tone carried a trace of danger.
“I hadn’t planned to do anything to you today, darling.”
“But how can you seduce me and leave me burning like this?”
Tang Yuan pulled Jiang Zi’s hand away, stepping back to put some distance between them. Taking Jiang Zi’s hand in hers, she led her toward the bathtub.
“If we don’t wash up now, the water’s going to get cold.”
From behind, Jiang Zi hugged her tightly, her tone turning coquettish.
“Darling~”
Her cool skin gradually warmed as she rubbed against Tang Yuan’s back, her voice tinged with unbidden vulnerability.
“Do you want to?”
Hot blood coursed through Tang Yuan’s veins, a sensation both thrilling and maddeningly itchy, as though ants crawled under her skin.
Standing by the bathtub, Tang Yuan swirled her slender, fair fingers through the water, creating ripples.
“Sister, how about…”
“Let me help you?”
“I’ll help you, too.” Jiang Zi’s hand began to wander downward but was intercepted halfway.
“No. I’ll just help you.”
Jiang Zi froze, her thoughts momentarily clouded. The arms encircling Tang Yuan slowly slackened.
Her soft voice, already tinged with longing, took on an edge of coldness.
“You don’t want to?”
“I don’t,” Tang Yuan replied rationally once more.
Jiang Zi’s eyes turned red instantly. Her fox-like eyes lowered, her whole demeanor exuding despondence.
“Are you afraid I won’t do well, darling?”
Tang Yuan turned around quickly, alarmed at the sight of her misty eyes. Like a little fox abandoned, she hurried to explain, “Please don’t think that! That’s absolutely not what I meant.”
Jiang Zi guided Tang Yuan’s hand to her own cheek.
“Then what do you mean? Why don’t you want?”
Tang Yuan, unused to seeing Jiang Zi’s usually composed expression crumble into something so pitiful, faltered. She softened her tone, coaxing, “I’m just afraid it’ll hurt.”
“Really, I’ve heard the first time is really painful, and I’m not mentally ready yet.”
Blinking her lively eyes, Tang Yuan added, “Plus, there are snakes everywhere. I don’t want this to happen here.”
Though she was intrigued by the thrill, fear underpinned the sensation. Tang Yuan wasn’t ready to tarnish such a precious moment in such an unsettling setting.
The right person, the right time—but the wrong place.
Jiang Zi slowly calmed down. When it came to matters like this, she had to consider Tang Yuan’s feelings. It really wouldn’t be fair otherwise.
After a long silence, Jiang Zi pushed Tang Yuan into the warm water of the bathtub.
Sitting in the water, Tang Yuan rested her hands on the tub’s edge, staring up at Jiang Zi with wide eyes.
“Sister?”
Jiang Zi said without allowing any room for argument.
“Close your eyes.”
Tang Yuan blinked in confusion.
“Huh?”
Jiang Zi didn’t repeat herself. She lifted her left hand, pressing her palm over Tang Yuan’s eyes. Her other hand grasped one of Tang Yuan’s hands, guiding it toward herself.
Tang Yuan’s lashes trembled, brushing against Jiang Zi’s palm. Though her vision was blocked, but the sensation of their interlaced fingers became even more vivid. It felt as though every nerve in her body was focused on the touch of their fingertips.
In the quiet space, Jiang Zi’s breathing seemed to grow louder. Tang Yuan’s trembling fingers followed Jiang Zi’s lead, completing what Jiang Zi desired.
[Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!]
[Why won’t you let me see it?!]
[Darling must be punishing me on purpose! Sob sob sob.]
[What do I do? Should I just gather my courage, push aside the obstacles in front of me, and look openly?]
[B-But I don’t have the strength… or the courage…]
Jiang Zi lowered her gaze to Tang Yuan. Tang Yuan’s eyes were covered, her trembling hands resting against the edge of the bathtub. The warmth of the bathwater, or perhaps the heat radiating from Jiang Zi’s touch, had turned Tang Yuan’s entire body a deep shade of red, like a ripe peach.
Tang Yuan hesitated, and Jiang Zi would never force her. But Jiang Zi herself had no intention of holding back. This needed to be resolved—there was no avoiding it.
Tang Yuan’s mind was a tangled mess, like a ball of yarn unraveling further and further. Her thoughts became so jumbled that she lost the ability to process anything. By the time her senses returned, Jiang Zi was already squeezing body wash into her hands, gently massaging and cleaning Tang Yuan’s delicate fingers one by one.
“Sister…”
“Hmm?” Jiang Zi responded, her voice soft but tinged with satisfaction. It was clear she was in an excellent mood.
Tang Yuan bit her lip, unable to say another word.
[This is so unbearable.]
[Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.]
Taking the bath puff Jiang Zi handed her, Tang Yuan hurriedly washed herself and stepped out of the tub. Jiang Zi was waiting with a towel, wrapping it around her before pressing a light kiss to her forehead.
Pushing Tang Yuan gently toward the sink, Jiang Zi said, “If you’re afraid of snakes, just wait for me here. Brush your teeth first—I won’t be long.”
Jiang Zi knew how shy Tang Yuan was, so during Tang Yuan’s bath, she hadn’t stood idly by watching her the whole time. Instead, she’d gone to the sink to take care of her own skincare routine.
Tang Yuan moved like a broken machine—her actions mechanical and slow. She dawdled until Jiang Zi, now wrapped in her own towel, tapped her on the shoulder. Only then did Tang Yuan snap out of her daze and finish brushing her teeth.
Tonight had taught her a crucial lesson: if you’re in a relationship and not prepared for it, never go into the bathroom together!
Even if you don’t intend for anything to happen, when the moment arrives, something always will.
Even without going all the way, it was agonizing.
“I had new pajamas and clothes for tomorrow sent over—they’ve arrived,” Jiang Zi said, opening the door and bringing in the bag hanging outside. She handed Tang Yuan her set, which had been thoughtfully chosen just for her.
Back in the bedroom, Jiang Zi casually changed into her pajamas without a care in the world, even with Tang Yuan watching.
Tang Yuan, now facing away from her, quickly put hers on as well.
After all, it’s not like there’s anything left to hide.
Jiang Zi hung their towels on the rack, glancing at the clock—it was 10 p.m. Normally, this would be the time Tang Yuan was at her most energetic, playing a few rounds of games or scrolling through videos.
But tonight, she didn’t even have the desire to do any of that. She just wanted to close her eyes and drift off to sleep.
So, without any prompting, Tang Yuan climbed into bed, her mind a noisy mess, though the room itself was silent. Before long, she found herself inching closer to Jiang Zi.
Tang Yuan tucked herself completely under the covers, sinking into the soft mattress. Peeking her head out just slightly, she whispered, “You promised—after I took a bath, I could lean on you and sleep.”