NOVEL WEB Chapter 106 - Why is your
It was a ring.
Tang Yuan had bought her a ring.
Jiang Zi half-opened her eyes, a flush of crimson blooming at the corners.
Holding the girl who had gone soft in her arms, she planted light kisses on her red lips. Only after indulging herself did she carefully examine the ring slipped onto her middle finger.
The silver band was inlaid with small diamonds, smooth to the touch—not the kind with protruding stones. This design, where the diamonds were embedded seamlessly into the band, was elegant and practical, unlikely to catch on clothes or hair.
Jiang Zi recalled the ring she had ordered just yesterday. Custom rings took time—the design draft hadn’t even been finalized—yet here she was, receiving Tang Yuan’s gift first. Her heart felt stuffed with cotton candy, soft and sweet.
Jiang Zi twirled the ring between her fingers. “Why the sudden gift?”
“It’s not that sudden.” Tang Yuan’s voice carried a hint of coyness, still breathless from the long kiss. Her eyes shimmered as she handed over another ring. “It’s a matching set—put mine on too.”
Yesterday, she’d deliberately taken off the decorative ring she usually wore on her left middle finger, ready to wear their couple rings.
Jiang Zi slid the ring onto her finger—an exact fit. On closer inspection, she noticed the diamonds were arranged in the shapes of their initials.
Tang Yuan pressed her hand against Jiang Zi’s, satisfied. “I knew they’d look good.”
“When did you prepare this?”
“Remember on the show, when we had to confess a secret the other didn’t know? I said I’d bought something, but you hadn’t seen it yet.” Tang Yuan’s memory sparked, and she sat up abruptly in Jiang Zi’s arms.
“Wait—didn’t you say you’d secretly bought something too? How come I’ve never seen it? Is it some custom piece?”
Jiang Zi’s face stiffened. Her gaze flickered away before she composed herself. “It’s at home. I didn’t bring it out. I’ll show you when we get back.”
“At home?” Tang Yuan squinted suspiciously. “How come you’ve never mentioned it? You didn’t just lie on the show and rush to buy something afterward, did you?”
Her tone carried the hint of brewing anger. Jiang Zi hurried to placate her. “No, I really bought it! I just… worried you wouldn’t like it, so I never showed you.”
“Why wouldn’t I like it…” Tang Yuan’s words trailed off. Her mind turned swiftly before she scrambled off Jiang Zi’s lap, her face flushing. “Wait—it’s not one of those… pearl things, is it?”
Jiang Zi caught her hand, stopping her retreat. “No, not that kind.”
Tang Yuan huffed, trying to sound menacing. “Then what is it? You have to tell me now.”
Jiang Zi’s expression wavered. After some hesitation, she mumbled, “Handcuffs.”
Even though she barely whispered, Tang Yuan heard her loud and clear.
Her brain short-circuited.
[Those handcuffs? Those?]
[I’ve never seen or used them—thank you, sister, for sparing my life.]
[Wait… does that mean I’ll have to wear them when we go home?]
[Forced confinement play? Yandere possession literature?]
[No, no, no—will I even be able to get out of bed?]
Tang Yuan instinctively yanked her hand free, stammering, “Y-you… you need to reflect on yourself!”
Hearing every anxious thought, Jiang Zi panicked too. She rushed forward, grasping Tang Yuan’s hand again. “If you don’t like it, I won’t use them. I would never force you. I won’t imprison you.”
Her explanation sounded hollow—because when she’d ordered the custom cuffs, she had indeed entertained the idea.
But in practice, Tang Yuan was far too delicate for such extreme measures.
The props had been left untouched.
Tang Yuan’s thoughts were written all over her face. Seeing Jiang Zi so flustered, she gradually softened.
“Alright, alright—I believe you. You’ve never taken them out, so I trust you.”
Jiang Zi still looked uneasy, surprised by Tang Yuan’s strong reaction. At the same time, she silently thanked herself for never acting on those ideas.
Tang Yuan sighed and wrapped her arms around Jiang Zi. “Alright, alright. I know you love me.”
Then she muttered under her breath, “But your way of loving me really makes my waist hurt.”
Who said girls couldn’t ruin their backs? They just hadn’t unlocked the right positions.
During Jiang Zi’s insatiable demands, Tang Yuan’s waist ached worse than after dance rehearsals.
She remembered the days when they’d simply shared a bed, chatting under the covers. Back then, Jiang Zi’s predatory nature had been hidden—who could have guessed…
[Breaking Sister’s addiction: a matter of urgency.]
Jiang Zi’s gaze flickered—so her little TangYuan really was troubled.
Fine. She would try to restrain herself.
—
That night, Hou YuanZhan invited them out for dinner and drinks.
When they arrived, there were fourteen people in total—mostly unfamiliar faces, men and women mixed. The VIP private room was huge, complete with dedicated servers.
Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi sat beside Hou YuanZhan. “Quite the crowd.”
Jiang Zi usually remained silent at such gatherings. If not for accompanying her wifey, she wouldn’t waste time on dull parties.
“Ah Yuan, Sister Jiang—long time no see.” Gao QiaoMan greeted them warmly, her personality as fiery as ever. “Filming a new show recently?”
Though Tang Yuan rarely chatted with her on WeChat, they struck up conversation easily in person. “Yeah—what about you? What have you been up to?”
“Acting now.” Gao QiaoMan flicked her straight black hair, looking pained. “Remember my beautiful golden waves? Gone.”
“Black hair suits you too—you’re a beauty no matter what.”
Gao QiaoMan’s spirits lifted instantly. “Jiang Zi’s got black hair too—do you have a thing for straight hair, Ah Yuan? What if you fall for me?”
“You’re overthinking it.” Jiang Zi’s voice was cool. “Tang Yuan loves me. Even if I cut it short or curled it, she’d still love me.”
Gao QiaoMan raised an eyebrow. “Tsk tsk tsk, as long as she likes you, it’s fine. I’m straight anyway.”
Jiang Zi was surprisingly persistent on this point, still bickering as she retorted, “Even if you weren’t, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Gao QiaoMan looked to Tang Yuan for help. “Is your girl always this possessive?”
Tang Yuan smiled awkwardly. “She just takes me very seriously.”
The eight-person group had dwindled to six—two had left the entertainment industry for nine-to-five jobs and hadn’t come.
Apart from Gao QiaoMan, Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi weren’t close to the others, exchanging only simple greetings.
Hou YuanZhan, ever the social butterfly, had gathered quite the crowd in Blue City.
The night remained wholesome—no shady games, just lively chatter—until they finally dispersed at half past midnight.
Hou YuanZhan watched them drive off, genuinely wishing his little apprentice happiness. He had no ill intentions.
Yet the remnants of past feelings clung like a stubborn lump—harmless, but irritating.
Perhaps he wouldn’t invite her out again.
Maybe that was for the best—tonight had been enough.