Chapter 79 - Big Sister: (1)

Long Xia woke up the following day with Yuan Bojing spooning her.

He must have felt her wake because he slid his hands to her breasts, squeezing them, rousing her further to make a sound. She stifled a moan. 

Since before their hospitalization, they had not had sex, so Long Xia had been extra sensitive to his advances since then. 

Long Xia attempted to ride him shortly after returning home, but it turned out she was, indeed, hurting Yuan Bojing physically. He said he was not hurting, but she knew it was a lie from how he groaned—not from pleasure but pain.

They had tried to do other things, but it always ended up being too rough and fast, and Long Xia had to be the one to stop them from going all the way, knowing Yuan Bojing could tear a stitch or two during his recovery period. 

Yuan Bojing slid a hand down her nightgown, sliding his fingers below. Long Xia stilled his hand just before he dipped his fingers beneath her panties. "Let me pleasure you," he muttered with a sleepy voice.

Long Xia let out a breathy laugh. "You know if I let you finger me, we won't stop at just fingering." 

He gave her a toothy smile. "I've fully recovered by now. We can do it once for today." 

Long Xia grinned at him. "Wait until we get married." 

Yuan Bojing mocked gasped. "You're going to make me wait?" he teased. 

Long Xia flipped over to face him fully. "Yes," she said, running a hand down his broad chest. "I want to draw it out. It makes it more exciting." 

She then watched as her fiancé's eyes sparked. "Besides, I want it to be special," she added. It would be their first time since facing danger. A danger that nearly costed their lives. She wanted to wait until they were married, no matter how badly she wanted it now. 

Yuan Bojing nodded.

He then moved forward to kiss her head lightly. "I agree with you." 

Long Xia caught his mouth on hers, kissing him before she stirred out of bed. 

Yuan Bojing propped himself on an elbow as he watched her find some new clothes. "What are you going to do today?" he asked. 

She dug throw her dresser. "Most likely going to see Mei first, and then I will be seeing your mother later if you want to join." 

"My mother?" he questioned. 

"Yes. There are some important things I need to go over with her." 

"Empress to Empress business, I assume?" he said. "Well, I do want to join." 

She turned around. "Then I will see you later," she said before dipping into the bathroom to wash up. 

…

After Long Xia had breakfast with Yuan Bojing, she went on her way to see her sister. 

She arrived at the Long estate when she found Long Mei in her room, packing some boxes. 

"Are you rearranging your room?" Long Xia questioned curiously from behind. 

Long Mei was startled, but she smiled once she saw her. She shook her head. "No. I'm moving out." 

Long Xia gaped. "You're leaving the nest? But you're only 22." Long Xia had waited until she was 25 when she left, mostly because she was unmarried and loved having her family around. But there came the point where she needed privacy, so she moved into her brother's apartment complex a level below him. 

"I'm old enough to leave, big sis." 

Long Xia sighed. "I know but living on your own? Are you sure you want this?" Not to mention that it has not been long since she had woken from her coma. And she still does not remember a thing from before her accident, but perhaps it had been a good thing because what she experienced was very traumatic. 

Long Mei lifted her chin high. "I can perfectly be independent," she assured her, "but I won't be living alone." 

Long Xia's eyes widened. "Whom will you be living with?"

Her younger sister took a deep breath. "Jin Qing." 

"Jin Qing?" Long Xia questioned accusingly. "You hardly know him." 

Long Mei shook her head. "It does not matter whether I knew him for three years or three months." 

"It kind of does," Long Xia countered. 

She watched as her sister continued to pack, ignoring her concern.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Long Xia pressed on. "Do you know him? Have you known him longer than me? Is that what this is."

Long Mei looked her dead in the eye. "Not that I remember," she answered coldly. But Long Xia could tell it was a lie. 

"Besides," Long Mei added. "I don't understand why you're playing the big sister act. It's not like you've done it before." 

Long Xia's cheeks heated in shame. She did not want to continue to bombard Long Mei with questions.

The relationship between them was fragile. They rarely fought before, but Long Xia realized she had not been there for her as much as she should. She had not been there for her at all. The youngest sibling was easy to ignore, but it had not been her intention. She had always been closer to her brothers, but she did not realize how long her younger sister might have been pushed aside. 

Long Mei was able to get away with things because she knew she was unseen. She put up with the sweet and innocent girl persona because everyone assumed she would do no wrong; she would not involve herself in any risks. They had been wrong. 

If Long Xia had known Long Mei was caught between something sinister and dangerous, maybe she could have prevented her accident—

She tried not to think about the what if's. 

Long Xia took a deep breath. "I just really care about you." 

Long Mei narrowed her eyes. "Since when? Before or after the accident?" 

Long Xia bit her lip. She deserved that. Even Long Yat-sen felt ashamed that he had not paid attention to Long Mei. It was guilt they would have to spend a long time atoning for. "Before. You know that" she answered. 

Long Mei released a breath. "I know. Sorry for taking it out on you."