Chapter 69 I Want to Kiss Your "Mole"

(This chapter has been revised for some reasons, and the actual word count will be several dozen words less than the marked number. Sorry.)

There's no air conditioning at home, and even with aromatherapy burning, the air is still humid and hot after a night of fun.

Jiang Nuanyu huddled under the covers, almost exhausted, squinting as she rested. Liang Qi, seeing her disheveled appearance, covered in sweat and with messy hair, carried her to the bathroom to wash up.

Jiang Nuanyu was initially a little shy and resistant, but her waist and legs were really weak and she felt sticky and uncomfortable all over, so she had no choice but to hug Liang Qi's waist the whole time, bury her face in his chest, and close her eyes to avoid looking.

Liang Qi used the showerhead to rinse her chest and back, steam rising in the small shower room. He didn't know how much alcohol she had metabolized, so he touched her face: "Are you dizzy?"

Jiang Nuanyu shook her head: "I'm not dizzy."

Liang Qi still pulled the shower curtain open a little.

When he got there, he noticed she was badly swollen and asked her, "Did it hurt after you came back last time?"

Jiang Nuanyu paused to process what he had said, then shook her head.

Are you feeling unwell?

"..." Jiang Nuanyu didn't speak at first, but after a few seconds, she said in a low voice, "It will be a little rough when walking."

Liang Qi didn't say anything more. After washing her, he wrapped her in a bath towel and carried her back to bed.

Just as Liang Qi was about to go back to wash himself, Jiang Nuanyu grabbed his wrist and said, "There are disposable slippers on the bottom shelf of the locker next to the sink. They're a bit bigger. See if you can wear them."

She still spoke listlessly, her eyes mostly closed, but the way she spoke in such a soft voice was strangely endearing. Liang Qi leaned down and kissed her eyelids, saying, "I know."

When Liang Qi came out of the shower, Jiang Nuanyu was nestled in the blankets with her back to him, only half of her head showing.

Hearing the noise, she turned her head.

Jiang Nuanyu was feeling a bit more energetic. When she saw the towel wrapped around his waist, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

The pale purple bath towel, with its subtle floral print, was quite out of place with his usual mature and composed elite, old-money demeanor.

Liang Qi raised his eyelids and looked away, feigning ignorance as he asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips, suppressing the curve of her mouth, but the bright smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden: "It's nothing." Knowing he definitely wouldn't believe her, she simply added another compliment, "You look quite good in this color too."

Liang Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, ignored her, and went to close the window.

Jiang Nuanyu's gaze followed him, and she saw the clothes he had changed out of on the back of the sofa. She asked him, "Can your clothes be washed and dried? Do you want them washed?"

"No need," Liang Qi said. "I'll have someone send the clothes over tomorrow morning."

"Assistant Peng?" Jiang Nuanyu asked subconsciously.

Liang Qi turned around, glanced at her, and said, "No."

Liang Qi has been traveling to Europe frequently these past few months, and Peng Ze has hardly had any vacation time as well. This time, Liang Qi simply let him stay in China and rest for two days. The clothes will be delivered tomorrow by Liang Qi's driver in Paris.

Jiang Nuanyu didn't press for details, and simply said, "Okay."

Liang Qi walked to the bedside, and Jiang Nuanyu gently shook one of his hands while lying down, pursing her lips and smiling at him. In that smile, there was five parts apology and five parts flattery.

She left the person behind, but apart from herself, she hadn't made any necessary preparations and had to leave them to make do.

...except for condoms.

Liang Qi looked down at her. She wasn't wearing any clothes; the blanket was tucked under her armpits, and her shoulders were completely bare. He picked up the slip dress he had just taken off from her and asked, "Still wearing this?"

Jiang Nuanyu nodded, took the nightgown, held it up to check the front and back, put her head in, and then put her arms through the shoulder straps. She crawled back into the blanket, twisted around for a while, and finally emerged with a flushed face.

Liang Qi didn't understand what she was doing at first, but after silently watching her evasive actions, he found it amusing.

Who is she trying to protect herself from?

Jiang Nuanyu moved to the other side of the bed, making room for Liang Qi. Her intention was good; it was an invitation. However, moving too far made it seem like she was avoiding him. Liang Qi looked at her for two seconds, didn't say anything, and then pulled back the covers and lay down.

He leaned against the headboard and stretched out his arms toward her.

Jiang Nuanyu hesitated for a moment. His lower body was wrapped in her bath towel, but his upper body was naked. He had broad shoulders and long arms, and at a glance, all he could see was his strong, muscular skin.

Liang Qi patted her head and said, "Come here."

Jiang Nuanyu slowly walked towards him. She was still a little embarrassed, so she stopped as soon as she touched his body, bending her elbows and hiding them in front of her.

Liang Qi pulled her wrist to his body, wrapped his arms around her back, and pulled her into his embrace. She then wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest.

Their skin touched; his chest was firm and warm, and she could even hear his strong heartbeat.

After hugging for a while, Liang Qi suddenly asked, "Was it your birthday yesterday?"

Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback, realizing that it was already past midnight and her birthday was indeed the day before.

She asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Liang Qi said, "'One year ago today,' the day you kissed me, wasn't it my birthday?"

Jiang Nuanyu didn't know if he was listening to her seriously or if he was just being logically astute, but no matter what, she was very happy that he brought up her birthday.

She nodded slightly: "Oh, yes."

Liang Qi bent his elbow, patted the top of her head, and said, "Happy birthday."

Jiang Nuanyu smiled and said in a soft, sweet voice, "It's past midnight, it's already the next day."

“Mm.” Liang Qi did not deny it. After a pause, he said, “Then may every day of this year be filled with happiness.”

Jiang Nuanyu's heart was stirred by his words. She looked up into his half-closed eyes and said, "At other times, I'm not sure if I'll be happy, but at least today, right now, at this moment, I am happy. I am very happy, Liang Qi."

Liang Qi smiled and lowered his head to touch her hairline with his lips.

Jiang Nuanyu supported his shoulders, lifted herself up, and returned the kiss to his chin. She didn't rush to leave, but instead pressed her lips to his, gently sucking.

She slowly kissed his jawline, stopping near his ear, and pressed her face against his shoulder.

Liang Qi turned his head slightly to help her place her head.

Jiang Nuanyu rested her head on his shoulder and suddenly felt that Liang Qi was very unreal.

At this moment, he was not the distant Mr. Liang whom she had to guess at, whom she looked up to and worshipped, but Liang Qi who would be considerate and caring towards her, intimately close to her, and gently indulgent towards her.

She could hear his breathing, feel the warmth of his body on her skin, and still feel the lingering sensation of intimacy with him. She felt that this moment was incredibly beautiful and real.

It was as if she had suddenly stepped into his world. Regardless of what the future holds, the happiness of this moment is real, and Liang Qi is real in this moment as well.

She saw the section of purple towel peeking out from his waist and chuckled softly again.

Liang Qi reached back and lifted her face, raising an eyebrow and asking her what she was laughing at. Jiang Nuanyu naturally didn't answer, keeping her mouth shut and smiling brightly.

She looked at him and only then did she notice from this angle that he had a mole on the middle of his chin, which connected to his neck.

She was surprised: "You actually have a mole here."

Her tone was as if she had discovered something extraordinary. Liang Qi found it amusing and replied in a cooperative manner, "Really?"

"Hmm!" Liang Qi's reaction made her even more excited. She said, "Can't you even see it yourself?" As she spoke, she rolled her eyes down to look at her chin.

Liang Qi pinched her cheek helplessly and said, "What's a mirror for?"

Jiang Nuanyu was stunned for a moment: "..." Realizing that she had acted stupidly, she lowered her head and was so embarrassed that she didn't say anything for a while.

After a while, she suddenly leaned back to his chin and kissed the mole. After kissing it, she said, "You can see it, but you definitely can't kiss it, right?"

Liang Qi smiled and said, "That's right."

Jiang Nuanyu's slightly competitive possessiveness subsided a bit, and then she kissed his Adam's apple again.

"You can't kiss me here, can you?"

Liang Qi smiled and nodded, "Mm."

She kissed his neck, his face, his chin, and the corners of his mouth repeatedly, becoming more and more unrestrained with each kiss.

Liang Qi was so overwhelmed by her kisses that he lost his temper and looked at her with his eyes lowered.

The alcohol tonight seemed to have unlocked Jiang Nuanyu's secrets about love, making her bolder, and she kissed his ear.

She mimicked what he did when they were intimate, licking his ear and asking, "Does it tickle?"

Liang Qi felt a tightness behind his ear, tilted his head to the other side, and said, "Hmm."

He pulled her back into his arms, tightening his grip to hold her close and prevent her from moving.

Jiang Nuanyu leaned against him, and in the shadow of the bedside lamp, she saw a small mole on the left side of his chest.

She reached out her hand, gently tapped it with the pad of her index finger, and said, "There's another one here."

Liang Qi didn't speak. Her hand was soft, warm and alluring compared to the skin on his chest.

Jiang Nuanyu stroked the small black mole. Although Liang Qi didn't say anything or take any action, it was precisely this inaction that encouraged her to continue.

In the past, even during intimate moments, she had never kissed Liang Qi's body, but this time, she pressed her lips to that small mole.

Compared to her fingers, her lips were softer and warmer, and the hot breath she exhaled brushed against his chest, causing Liang Qi's pupils to narrow and his lips to purse.

Jiang Nuanyu slightly parted her mouth, her gaze falling on the slightly larger "mole" in front of her, and touched it with her finger.

She didn't dare look at him, and her voice was barely audible as she spoke: "When you kiss me, do you want to know how I feel?"

Liang Qi's gaze deepened, and he didn't respond to her words.

She said, "I want to know how you feel."

Liang Qi's chest heaved, but he remained silent.

She took his silence as consent.

She lay half-lying on him, her black hair slightly curled and draped over her shoulders; the satin nightgown clung to her figure, revealing her slender waist and rounded hips, her exposed back smooth and white, like a mermaid.

And this fish is swimming freely and exploring his body.

She recalled how he did it and did it exactly as he did.

A surge of fire rose from beneath him. Liang Qi gritted his teeth, grabbed her chin, and lifted her face.

He suppressed his desire, using considerable force. Her cheeks were pinched until they caved in, and she looked at him blankly.

Liang Qi loosened his grip a little, gently touching her lower lip, and said, "Isn't your mouth tired?"

Jiang Nuanyu looked into his deep, heavy eyes and noticed his suppressed breathing. She vaguely sensed something, shook her head halfway, and then stopped.

Liang Qi pressed her onto the bed, propped himself up above her, and after a few breaths, pulled the blanket over her, leaned down, and pressed his face against hers, saying, "Sleep."

Jiang Nuanyu understood what he meant, nodded, and accepted.

Liang Qi lay down and turned to turn off the light. Jiang Nuanyu suddenly noticed several faint lines on his left shoulder, which were very different from the rest of his skin. She was startled and immediately rolled over and propped herself up on her elbows.

Liang Qi turned around and saw her frowning as she looked at his shoulder.

Jiang Nuanyu reached out and touched the scars. She recognized them; they were extremely similar to the marks left after her abdominal surgery. However, the scars on Liang Qi's shoulder were so faint that they were almost invisible, probably because so much time had passed, but they could still be felt by hand.

"Is it here that's the injury?" she asked softly.

Liang Qi lowered his gaze to her serious expression and gave a curt "Mmm" without any emotion.

His tone was indifferent, but Jiang Nuanyu felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart, and her brows furrowed even more deeply.

She gently touched the wounds, remembering what Bernard had said: Liang Qi had undergone more than one surgery and more than one rehabilitation, but in the end he could only retire. The sour feeling that swelled in her chest could no longer be suppressed, and she couldn't help but put her lips on his shoulder.

She carefully examined the scars with her eyes, her lips gently moving from one spot to another, kissing the marks again and again with a devout air, as if trying to soothe his past in this way.

He has left his pain behind and moved on, but she wants to wrap up that past that she never saw with her own eyes, yet still cherishes immensely.

Liang Qi's hand, which was about to turn off the light, hung limply by the bedside, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. His heart was trembling slightly; with each kiss she gave him, the defenses in his heart receded a little further.

Suddenly, he flipped her over and pinned her down.

Her eyes were glistening with tears, the tenderness of her heartache still lingering, as she gazed at him with a hazy and bewildered expression.

His gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips: "Don't you want to sleep?"

Before she could speak, her lips parted slightly, and he kissed her.

His kiss intensified, becoming deeper and more passionate. She reciprocated his kiss, instinctively tightening her grip on his shoulders.

Their bodies sizzled together, and he breathed heavily in her ear, saying, "Don't walk tomorrow."

She immediately understood his previous restraint and obediently wrapped her arms around his waist: "Okay... mmm—"

*

The next morning, Jiang Nuanyu vaguely heard a soft door closing. She opened her eyes, still half asleep, and saw Liang Qi walking towards her from the other end of the corridor.

Liang Qi glanced at the bed and saw that she had her eyes open. His gaze lingered on her face for two seconds: "Awake?"

"Hmm..." After speaking, Jiang Nuanyu found that her voice was extremely hoarse.

She couldn't remember how Liang Qi had put her to sleep last night.

Her lower back and abdomen ached so much that she couldn't sit up. She frowned and propped herself up on the side, watching Liang Qi take a suit out of a cloth bag. She guessed it had just been delivered.

Seeing that the suit looked quite formal, she asked, "Do you have something to do today?"

"I have a lunch appointment at noon." Liang Qi looked up at her. "Want to come along?"

Jiang Nuanyu paused for a moment, then shook her head: "Forget it."

It sounded like a situation where she didn't yet have a formal title, and she didn't want her presence to disrupt Liang Qi's plans.

Liang Qi didn't insist, and picked up the remaining clothes from the bag and went into the bathroom.

Jiang Nuanyu sat on the bed in a daze for a while, recalling the tenderness of the previous night. She felt that Liang Qi was like two different people, one during the day and one at night, one in bed and one out of bed.

She gradually got used to it and stopped thinking about it, then moved to the other side and got out of bed. She pulled back the curtain on the platform, and sunlight instantly streamed down the floor along the window frame.

As she rubbed her lower back and gazed absently at the vast expanse of clear blue sky outside, thinking how lovely the weather was today, a knock sounded at the door.

The person who delivered the item must have forgotten something and returned. Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the closed bathroom door; Liang Qi was still changing. She put on the coat she had half-worn out last night, wrapped herself in it, and went to open the door.

The door opened, and Jiang Nuanyu's friendly yet slightly questioning expression froze instantly when she saw the person standing outside.

She opened her mouth: "...Mom? Dad..."

Jiang Wenrui and Lin Zhiwei looked travel-worn, each carrying a supermarket shopping bag that was stuffed full.

Lin Zhiwei smiled and walked inside, saying, "Dad and I went to the Chinese supermarket and bought some of your favorite foods. We noticed yesterday that you didn't have much food at home."

They are in a different time zone, and it gets light early in Paris this time of year. They couldn't fall back asleep after dawn, so they went out for a walk. On the way, they thought of stopping at the supermarket to buy some food for their daughter, and after buying the food, they came straight here.

Jiang Nuanyu's brain was completely stunned by her parents' sudden visit, and she was momentarily stunned.

"Wait a minute..." she hesitated, reaching out to stop them, but her parents had already entered. "Mom—"

Lin Zhiwei was about to turn her head to respond when her gaze fell on the men's suit on the sofa, and she froze. She turned her head again and saw Liang Qi, who had just come out of the bathroom.

Liang Qi had already changed into a shirt and trousers, but hadn't put on a tie yet.

Jiang Wenrui fell behind Lin Zhiwei, and then, also stunned, stopped in his tracks.

Even Liang Qi took a moment to react to the scene before him. His gaze swept subtly over the shopping bags in their hands, then he looked up at them, giving a composed yet polite slight nod: "Hello."

Lin Zhiwei subconsciously returned a smile, trying her best to appear less awkward as she replied, "Hello."

She glanced at the large bed on the platform; the slightly disheveled blankets proved that someone had been sleeping there not long ago.

Moreover, it seems there is more than one person involved.

Jiang Nuanyu braced herself and walked back unsteadily. She quickly glanced at Liang Qi, who was looking at her with a normal expression, while her parents seemed to be waiting for her next reaction.

"Um, Mom..." Whether it was psychological or not, the box of condoms on the bedside table seemed particularly eye-catching at this moment, making her head buzz.

She wanted to say something to salvage the situation, to ease Liang Qi's awkwardness and prevent her parents from misunderstanding, but her mind went blank, and she couldn't come up with a decent sentence.

"Uh—" She clutched the collar of her coat with one hand, gathered a handful of hair from her forehead, and placed it behind her head. "It's just..." She lowered her head, her brow furrowing slightly.

“You have friends here,” Jiang Wenrui said for her.

Jiang Wenrui tried to appear relaxed, but his expression and tone were still somewhat unnatural. He said, "Ah, we just happened to be passing by. We'll drop off your things and then leave. We'll just wander around this area with your mother."

“Yes, that’s right,” Lin Zhiwei quickly replied, “It won’t affect your original plan.”

As soon as they finished speaking, Jiang Wenrui and Lin Zhiwei didn't wait for Jiang Nuanyu's response. They put the shopping bags on the kitchen counter one after the other, turned around and walked towards the door, without putting the frozen food in the bags into the refrigerator.

Before leaving, the three people in the room, excluding Jiang Nuanyu, exchanged a brief glance, and Liang Qi calmly nodded to Jiang's parents.

The front door opened and closed, and the echo lingered in the house for a few seconds before Jiang Nuanyu's shoulders slumped completely, and her hands fell limp.

This is more absurd than a dream.

Liang Qi stepped down from the platform and glanced at her as he passed by: "Are Mom and Dad here?"

He picked up the tie from the back of the sofa, wrapped it around his collar, and began to tie it skillfully. His movements and expression were so calm that it was as if the embarrassing scene just now was just a trivial matter to him.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Jiang Nuanyu felt even more guilty.

Liang Qi is a man of principle, meticulous in everything, and capable of controlling everything. Yet she let him stay overnight, without slippers, having to make do with a bath towel, and then, in the morning when she was least prepared, she stumbled upon this outrageous and embarrassing situation.

She felt she had done a terrible job.

“They came to Paris to celebrate my birthday.” Her voice was low, filled with self-reproach, frustration, and a touch of disbelief. “We agreed to meet at the hotel at noon; I never expected them to come now…”

Liang Qi fastened his tie, came over to her, put his hand on the back of her neck and pinched it, and said, "If you think it's necessary, I can have dinner with your parents tonight."

Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback, then looked up: "That's not what I meant, I was afraid... you'd hate what happened just now. I..." She pouted and stopped talking.

"how?"

"……not good."

Liang Qi said, "I don't think it's bad."

Jiang Nuanyu felt a pang of sadness, gently squeezed his wrist, and said with her head down, "I'm sorry, Liang Qi... I'm not good either."

Liang Qi looked at her and said the same thing again: "I don't think it's bad."

Jiang Nuanyu said, "I didn't treat you well."

Liang Qi laughed, and after a few seconds said, "I don't consider myself an outsider."

"I..." Jiang Nuanyu was speechless, unable to utter another word after being silenced by his gentle words.

Liang Qi stroked her face and said, "Just tell me if your parents need anything from me."

This was the second time he had spoken, and Jiang Nuanyu accepted his sincerity, nodding and saying, "Hmm." She added, "I should be able to do it myself."

Liang Qi glanced at her and said, "Okay."

*

Contrary to Jiang Nuanyu's initial fears, everything was unusually calm at lunchtime, so calm that it seemed somewhat abnormal.

She wasn't unprepared for her parents to be tactful and not to interrogate her. She just thought that even if they didn't ask directly, they would at least offer some indirect hints or a meaningful glance. But from the moment they met, the two acted as if nothing had happened.

The more this happened, the more restless she became.

Whenever Lin Zhiwei or Jiang Wenrui called her name, her heart would skip a beat reflexively. After realizing that they hadn't mentioned what happened that morning, she would breathe a sigh of relief, but soon she would fall into a new round of feeling extremely uneasy.

She knew this matter definitely needed to be explained. But she had absolutely no clue how to bring it up.

As lunch drew to a close and the food on their plates was almost gone, Lin Zhiwei casually asked, "Hey? What about that friend I met this morning?"

Jiang Nuanyu immediately sat up straighter, her nerves on edge, and said, "Oh, he... he has something to do..."

"Oh, I see," Lin Zhiwei replied casually.

There was a brief silence at the dinner table. After a moment, Lin Zhiwei added, "Is it your boyfriend?"

"No—" Jiang Nuanyu instinctively wanted to deny it, but then stammered, "...I don't know."

Her ambiguous answer caused an eerie silence to linger.

The questions they originally wanted to ask could no longer be asked. Lin Zhiwei and Jiang Wenrui exchanged a glance and remained silent for a moment.

They weren't incapable of understanding open relationships and maintained a respectful attitude towards them. But they knew their daughter well and knew she wasn't someone who would take intimate relationships lightly.

Jiang Wenrui wiped his mouth with a tissue, stood up, and casually said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Lin Zhiwei glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Jiang Nuanyu glanced at her father's departing figure, then her gaze returned to the plate in front of her. Her heart, which had been filled with anxiety, was finally truly "waiting for the wind to come."

After Jiang Wenrui had walked a little further away, Lin Zhiwei turned her head slightly to look at her daughter and said, "Would you like to talk to Mom about you and him?"

Jiang Nuanyu lowered her head and looked down, without replying.

Seeing her like this, Lin Zhiwei smiled and said, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about this. Mom was just asking casually, just gossiping a bit." As she spoke, she playfully winked at her daughter.

After a while, Jiang Nuanyu suddenly said, "I really like Liang Qi... I especially like him."

Lin Zhiwei was stunned for a moment; it was the first time she had heard her daughter say such a thing. At the same time, she felt a little relieved, knowing that her daughter was definitely invested, serious, and loving in this relationship.

"Hmm." Lin Zhiwei nodded, then asked, "What about him?"

Jiang Nuanyu blinked and looked at her mother: "What?"

"You said you really like him," Lin Zhiwei asked gently, "Does he really like you too?"

“Ah…” Jiang Nuanyu blushed. “I don’t know.” She lowered her eyelids and said softly, “He didn’t say that.”

She gripped the handle of her knife, wanting to know the answer to the same question, and had speculated about his attitude countless times. But Liang Qi never said how he truly viewed her or how he defined their relationship, and she dared not ask.

Lin Zhiwei glanced at her daughter's little hand gestures and said gently but seriously, "Our Pearl isn't a silly baby."

Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips and after a long while said, "I really don't know, Mom... But I just really like him. I'm happy to like him. I also like that I like him. But I don't want to think about anything else for now."

Lin Zhiwei felt heavy-hearted and complicated, and couldn't respond to her daughter's words.

Jiang Nuanyu looked up with red eyes: "Mom, I..."

Lin Zhiwei patted the back of her hand to comfort her, and said, "Mom is very happy to hear you say these things."

As she spoke, a tear rolled down Jiang Nuanyu's cheek, and she choked out, "Don't blame me for this."

Lin Zhiwei's eyes instantly reddened as she wiped away her daughter's tears. She said, "It's a wonderful thing that someone can make you like them so much, and that you can love them wholeheartedly. Mom won't blame you."

Jiang Nuanyu put down her knife and fork, and let her mother hold her hand. "Mom..."

"Just treat him the way you think is right." Lin Zhiwei paused, wanting to say a lot—comfort, advice, and concern—but in the end, all she could say was, "Mom believes in you."

Jiang Nuanyu's nose tingled again; the tension of the past half-day finally eased at this moment. Her love for him had found support from her mother.

She nodded: "Mm."

When Jiang Wenrui returned from the restroom, the mother and daughter tacitly ended their conversation. After sitting back down, Lin Zhiwei leaned over again and whispered to Jiang Nuanyu, "My daughter has good taste; he's so handsome."

Jiang Nuanyu's eyelids were still red, but now she lowered her eyes and smiled shyly and happily.

Lin Zhiwei glanced at her daughter, then looked away and sighed silently.

She could see that her daughter was loving someone with all her heart, someone who hadn't yet given her a clear answer. She felt heartache, but also relief that her daughter hadn't missed her chance to love.

The process of loving someone is a form of growth, a gain. Love itself is worthwhile, even if the outcome is uncertain.

However, she trusted her daughter's judgment. She believed that her daughter loved someone who could reciprocate her love.

*

(This chapter has been revised for some reasons, and the actual word count will be several dozen words less than the marked number. Sorry.)

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