Chapter 55 Fingertips Touch His Belt

As the speech ended, it started snowing.

Suiyi is a southern city where it rarely snows, and when it does, it's usually a light drizzle that melts as soon as it hits the ground. This snowfall, however, was unusually heavy, with large, visible snowflakes fluttering and falling from the sky.

Most of the teachers are local students from Suiyi. The children from the south were overjoyed to see the snow and shouted with excitement, taking pictures everywhere with their mobile phones.

It was getting late. Jin Zhao was to proctor the postgraduate entrance exam early tomorrow morning. The Academic Affairs Office required proctors to be at the exam office before 7 a.m. The dean was worried that she might cause a teaching accident, so he told her to go home and rest early and that he would accompany the principal to see Meng Yanxi off.

Jin Zhao and Meng Yanxi exchanged glances, their expressions extremely serious, and Jin Zhao thanked him and said goodbye like ordinary friends.

For some reason, Jin Zhao didn't want people to know that they were in a romantic relationship, especially their superiors and colleagues.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will work here until retirement.

The fact that her relationship and work are intertwined makes her feel insecure.

Meng Yanxi looked at her, paused for two seconds, and then suddenly said, "I'm going to New York tomorrow for about a week. If I can make it back, can we celebrate New Year's Eve together?"

Jin Zhao: "..."

Jin Zhao was able to invite Meng Yanxi, who might be his friend, but there's a huge difference between an ordinary friend and a friend whom Meng Yanxi actively invited to spend New Year's Eve together.

All eyes turned to Jin Zhao.

Jin Zhao braced himself and continued to pretend that their relationship was innocent: "Okay, we'll invite Xi Xi along then."

Meng Yanxi raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

As they descended the stairs, taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, Jin Zhao quickly slipped his hand into Meng Yanxi's coat pocket.

This caused Meng Yanxi's heart to flutter uncontrollably, and her hand instinctively reached into her pocket to hold hers, but Jin Zhao quickly withdrew it.

Meng Yanxi's hand, which was grabbing his girlfriend's hand, found nothing but a thick red envelope in her coat pocket.

Meng Yanxi could be said to have an innate sensitivity to money; without even looking, she recognized the red envelope he had given to Jin Wenyi just by touching it with her fingers.

He suddenly looked at her.

Jin Zhao pretended not to see and quickly walked towards the teachers' apartment.

Meng Yanxi watched her retreating figure.

The principal turned around and spoke to him, but he didn't hear clearly. His words fell into the snow, and there was a moment or two of silence. Lu Jingyue, who was standing to the side, calmly took over.

Meng Yanxi stood still, her gaze following Jin Zhao.

Snowflakes were falling heavily, and there was a beautiful moon in the distance.

The crescent moon, not full, but very bright, hung gleaming in the sky.

She walked slowly toward the direction where the moon was rising. The moon illuminated her figure and the snowflakes falling around her.

The snow fell on her, making her even cleaner and purer than when she arrived.

With a sudden thought, Meng Yanxi took out her phone and pointed the camera at her back.

The shutter is pressed, and the image is frozen.

The principal and his entourage escorted Meng Yanxi and Lu Jingyue to the parking lot. Meng Yanxi remained tight-lipped until the Maybach left.

Lu Jingyue's dissatisfaction was at an all-time high. She glanced at him and said meaningfully, "It's hard to say whether you're a sanctuary of love or a sanctuary of speech."

Meng Yanxi, that dog, agreed to give the speech himself, but he was coerced and lured to come. In the end, he didn't say a word, and everyone else did all the hard work.

What happened during the half hour that was missing?

He's really something, managing to balance public speaking and romance without missing a beat. He's having a good time, but he doesn't care about his brothers' well-being.

Meng Yanxi ignored Lu Jingyue, her expression indifferent, and she seemed uninterested.

The ten thousand yuan in his pocket seemed to have abruptly ended all the sweetness and beauty of the night, leaving him feeling uneasy.

So many people like his money, so why doesn't his girlfriend want it?

The last time he wanted to design a lottery, another woman would have been so happy, even if she knew everything, she would have pretended not to. But she, she actually saw right through him.

Last time, it could be said that the two of them had just gotten together, and that she was a bit slow-witted. But this time it's different; this time Meng Yanxi is truly invested.

He minded it; she would rather owe Jin Wenyi money than take his money.

Doesn't she know that Jin Wenyi's help to her is itself a way of maintaining her sibling relationship with Jin Wenhui? She has to repay all the kindness Jin Wenyi has shown her. But she doesn't need to repay anything he has given her.

"What's wrong? Did you break up with your boyfriend?" Lu Jingyue asked ruthlessly when he didn't react for a while. "Jin Zhao doesn't want you anymore?"

Meng Yanxi was hit where it hurt, and her gaze swept over him, colder than the snow water outside.

"roll!"

Lu Jingyue wisely kept quiet.

Meng Yanxi took out her phone, opened the photo she had just taken, and looked at it over and over again.

The girl in the photo is slender with a thin back and straight shoulders and neck. Her coat is calf-length with a fitted waist, making her waist appear incredibly slim, and the curve from her waist to her hips is absolutely beautiful.

Meng Yanxi couldn't help but recall the feeling of holding her waist, as if the warmth of her body and the touch of her skin still lingered in his palm.

The scene is clean: her, the moonlight, and the snow.

Lu Jingyue's gaze swept over the scene and he happened to see the photo, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

Meng Yanxi ignored him and didn't try to avoid him. She tapped the pinned WeChat account with her long finger and sent the photo to Jin Zhao.

Lu Jingyue teased, "President Meng has become a fan site host now, this picture is pretty good."

Meng Yanxi glanced at him with disdain: "Have some culture, huh? You're over twenty years old, and all you can say to compliment someone's beauty is 'okay'."

"Are you cultured?"

Meng Yanxi stared at the photo for a few more seconds, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard the poem that says, 'Between the moonlight and the snow, you are the third kind of unparalleled beauty'?"

Lu Jingyue looked at him thoughtfully.

"Zhuang Yu told me that President Meng has recently taken a liking to reading poetry, from the West to the East, from the Renaissance to modern and contemporary poetry. Lately, when he goes on business trips, he doesn't bring anything else with him, he always takes out a book of poetry, and if he doesn't have one, it's Shakespeare."

“Meng Yanxi, you’re really into this relationship…” Lu Jingyue paused, a half-smile on his face, “…giving it your all.”

*

After returning to her dorm, Jin Zhao took a shower and looked at her phone before going to bed, only to see a message from Meng Yanxi.

She thought her boyfriend was coming to make trouble for her because of the 10,000 yuan, but when she clicked on the link, there was only a photo and a sentence.

Meng Yanxi: [The moonlight isn't beautiful, nor is the snow; in my eyes, there is only one kind of unparalleled beauty.]

The photo was taken from his perspective as she left.

Jin Zhao stared at the screen, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

Exit WeChat and open your phone's photo album.

In the most recent photo, a tall, long-legged man is slightly turned to the side, listening to someone behind him speak. His eyelashes are slightly lowered, his eyes are dark, and his profile is sharp and striking.

The streetlights illuminated the shapes of the snowflakes. He was surrounded by a large crowd, like a star surrounded by the moon. He stood out from the crowd, and the background automatically became nothingness.

Just as he turned around, preparing to leave with the group, she suddenly turned around and was amazed by the scene.

Between the moonlight and the snow, you are the third kind of unparalleled beauty.

No, the moonlight is not beautiful, nor is the snow; you are the most beautiful.

Jin Zhao sent the photo, holding his phone, and typed softly: "What a coincidence, I thought so too."

*

The next day, Jin Zhao was proctoring the exam, while Meng Yanxi flew to New York. For the next week or so, they were both busy with their own things. Separated by half the globe, the only time they missed each other was when they would video chat late at night.

Meng Yanxi's trip to promote overseas markets went more smoothly than expected, but she is also busier now and may not be able to return until after New Year's Day.

Jin Zhao felt a little disappointed.

She went to the college today and listened to the teachers in the office discussing where to go for New Year's Day. Some were going skiing, and some were going to Sanya. She brought her husband and children along, and the whole family was having a lively time.

Even students are posting on WeChat Moments.

Students have even longer holidays; some students ask for leave several days in advance, even for a short break. Young people call their friends and travel all over the country.

Some people had received advance notice that fireworks would be set off by the lake and river on New Year's Eve, and they invited each other to watch the fireworks together.

Some suggested staying overnight at Luxi Villa, since watching fireworks outside in the dead of winter is quite cold. Watching fireworks from a five-star hotel room would be amazing!

Unfortunately, Luxi Villa is too expensive, costing at least five thousand yuan a night. Most college students are still short of money, so they end up settling for a hotel near the school.

Because Meng Yanxi said "Let's ring in the New Year together" during her speech that night, Jin Zhao has been looking forward to it all this time.

She used to envy others most during New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, but this year neither of those days happened.

As a result, her boyfriend never came back.

She was a little disappointed, but quickly adjusted her mindset and took the initiative to comfort Meng Yanxi: "It's okay. The school also has a New Year's Eve event. This is a good opportunity to participate in a group activity, so that the director won't say that I'm not a good fit for the group every time."

To her utter surprise, her boyfriend didn't appreciate it. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Were there any young male teachers at the New Year's Eve event?"

Then, in a sarcastic tone, he said, "Your director seems to really like introducing you to potential partners. You should be careful and watch out."

Jin Zhao: "..."

She doesn't remember that New York's specialty is aged vinegar!

But she only talks about it; she rarely participates in group activities like this. Spring and summer are okay, but she basically doesn't go in winter because it's just too cold.

She still had classes on December 31st. Early in the morning, the teachers were complaining in their small group chat that they were most afraid of classes before the holiday. Most students would ask for leave. If the counselor was lenient, they would submit a stack of leave slips. If the counselor was strict, the students would insist on skipping classes and there was no way to stop them. Even if they asked someone to take their class for them, they would still have to skip classes.

Actually, the teachers can tell at a glance who is a substitute teacher, so they are in a dilemma about whether to expose them or not.

Fortunately, Jin Zhao's class ended in the morning, so it wasn't too bad.

In the afternoon, she went back to her dormitory for a nap. When she woke up, it was already five o'clock. She lay in bed, debating whether to go to the cafeteria for a meal or not. Suddenly, she noticed a brown line seeping into the snow-white ceiling.

It seems like the water pipe upstairs is leaking.

Jin Zhao immediately took a picture and posted it to the dormitory group, tagging the dormitory manager.

The building manager quickly replied, saying that she had reported the problem on the system and the maintenance staff would contact the upstairs teacher to make the repair.

Jin Zhao still got up and went to eat dinner.

She didn't know if the logistics staff had contacted the teachers upstairs. All she knew was that when she finished dinner, took a stroll around the school, and returned to her dormitory, the sky had fallen.

On the last day of the year, the water pipe in the dormitory upstairs burst, and the water flooded her dormitory.

Jin Zhao: "..."

Everything went black.

The only saving grace was that the worst-hit areas were the bed and sofa, while the corner where the desk was located escaped the worst.

Jin Zhao rushed in to salvage his thesis materials and electronic devices.

When she came out again, she was just as disheveled as her dormitory.

The building manager repeatedly apologized, explaining that because of the New Year's Eve celebrations, the maintenance staff had left work on time and couldn't come to make repairs immediately. She was asked if she wanted to contact the property management office to arrange another dormitory room.

Jin Zhao couldn't blame her bad luck on others, and she figured the teachers in the asset management department had already gone home. Even if they arranged another dormitory for her, her blankets were flooded, so she wouldn't be able to move in anytime soon.

Jin Zhao took his work-related items to the college office, then left the school, planning to stay at a hotel for the night.

The nearest budget hotel is outside the South Gate; she stayed there last time, and it was alright, but it's fully booked tonight because of New Year's Eve. Several other budget hotels nearby are also fully booked.

The luxury hotel did have rooms available, but it cost over a thousand yuan a night, which she was reluctant to spend.

She wanted to ask the building manager if they would reimburse her for the hotel stay tonight.

Thinking about it, I decided against it; she probably wouldn't get reimbursed anyway, and it would only expose her poverty.

Actually, she wasn't that poor. Last time she went to the neighboring city, Zhao Xu told her that she could give the money to her grandparents first. After she came back, she visited her grandparents again and gave them the 10,000 yuan.

It wasn't Meng Yanxi's ten thousand yuan; it was her own.

Finally, to save money, Jin Zhao chose a small hotel near the school.

It wasn't expensive, and it wasn't a chain hotel, but it looked alright; at least the room was quite clean. She decided to stay there for one night and buy bedding the next day.

When Meng Yanxi landed, she didn't contact Jin Zhao. It's unclear whether she was genuinely jealous or wanted to surprise her. After getting off the plane, she rushed straight to Jin Zhao's dormitory building and only called her when she arrived.

Jin Zhao had just finished showering when she saw Meng Yanxi's video, and an indescribable joy welled up in her heart.

She quickly glanced around the cramped room and finally chose a white wall as a backdrop. But the next second, she realized that her choice of backdrop was pointless.

Meng Yanxi: "Come downstairs, I'm downstairs."

Jin Zhao: "..."

Jin Zhao went downstairs to pick up Meng Yanxi. It wasn't the dormitory building, but a small hotel building.

The small hotel was frequented by a diverse group of people, and the passageways were narrow. When people walked side by side and encountered someone coming from the opposite direction, they had to separate to let them pass.

Meng Yanxi looked unwell and remained silent.

Jin Zhao felt a little guilty and asked in a low voice, "Didn't you say you'd be back in a couple of days?"

Meng Yanxi glanced at her, no longer wanting to be polite to his girlfriend: "I heard your dorm's water pipe burst, so I flew back overnight to see what was going on."

Jin Zhao: "..."

Jin Zhao tried to ingratiate herself by hooking her finger around his.

The man hesitated for a second, but then took her hand in return.

Jin Zhao took him back to his room.

The room was fairly tidy and clean, except for being a bit small. If two people passed each other, their bodies would inevitably rub against each other.

Meng Yanxi didn't want his girlfriend to live in such a place, but when he thought of the 10,000 yuan that Jin Zhao had returned to him, he instinctively became cautious and dared not make decisions for her so easily, let alone deny her decision.

But this cautiousness lasted only a few seconds. Soon, he heard some indescribable sound, echoing in his ears through the hotel's uninsulated walls.

The man's panting and the woman's moans mingled with the sounds of flesh colliding and slapping against flesh.

At the same time, Jin Zhao also heard it.

She was a little slow to react, and it took her a while to realize what was happening next door. Instantly, her whole face turned bright red.

She looked up at Meng Yanxi innocently, and subconsciously explained, "No, I didn't..."

As soon as she opened her mouth, her face turned even redder.

She had no idea what she was explaining.

"I'll go ask the front desk to change my room." She quickly lowered her head and walked out as if fleeing.

When passing by Meng Yanxi, because the passageway was only wide enough for one person to pass at a time, their bodies inevitably rubbed against each other.

She hadn't felt awkward before, but the raw background noise made her feel like she'd been burned. She instinctively tried to avoid him, pulling her body back and trying not to get too close.

But then the man's hand suddenly grasped hers.

The temperature of my palms was burning hot.

Jin Zhao instinctively stepped back, but lost his footing and fell onto the bed behind him.

Meng Yanxi was pulled by her and then pounced on her.

He reacted quickly, bracing himself on the large bed beneath her to steady himself and avoid falling completely onto her. Even so, it was still quite intimate.

The bed was too soft, and his palm sank into it. He didn't exert any force, but he was still pressed tightly against her.

The heat from their bodies passed between them through their clothes.

Next door, the young lovers enjoying their lovemaking quickly reached their climax; the man excitedly shouted vulgarities, and the woman's moans turned into screams.

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came from the hallway outside, followed by a grumbling voice: "What are you yelling about! You think it's so great?"

Jin Zhao lay beneath him, their eyes meeting. His eyes were as black as ink, staring straight at her, so deep it seemed he wanted to devour her whole.

Her face was flushed crimson.

"I..." went to the front desk to change rooms.

She avoided his predatory gaze and was about to make an excuse when, in the next instant, Meng Yanxi pulled her up.

He held her hand in one hand and her bag in the other, leading her through the narrow corridor, through the simple hall, out the door, and into the car.

Meng Yanxi drove her to Luxi.

Meng Yanxi has a penthouse suite in Luxi, which is his private property, and he brought Jin Zhao there with him.

The stereo sound from the small hotel was so powerful that Jin Zhao still hasn't calmed down.

Suddenly, they found themselves in a luxurious penthouse suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the central lake of Suiyi, where fireworks were being set off. Brilliant light streamed in, illuminating their faces.

She looked at Meng Yanxi blankly.

Meng Yanxi looked down at her, her expression restrained: "It's okay if you don't want to stay at my house, at least you can stay here for tonight. Don't worry, I'll go home to sleep when I'm not here."

Meng Yanxi placed the room key in her hand and then left without lingering.

It wasn't until Meng Yanxi turned around decisively that Jin Zhao realized he was angry.

She didn't know what he was angry about, whether it was because of the hotel or because she preferred to stay in a hotel rather than go to his house.

The New Year's fireworks outside exploded and burst, and they also hit Jin Zhaoxin's heart.

The illusory light of the fireworks shone on his receding figure. She watched him, with only one thought in her mind.

She wanted to keep him.

Even if this moment is illusory.

She caught up with him and hugged him from behind around the waist.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that it was too sudden, I didn't think of it for a moment." She pressed her face against his back and patiently explained to him.

Meng Yanxi looked down at the hands wrapped around her waist and asked in a low voice, "What don't you want?"

Jin Zhao didn't speak for a moment, but just held him quietly.

After a while, she gently but firmly pulled him back.

Their eyes met, and Jin Zhao's fingers twitched slightly, his fingertips touching Jin Zhao's belt.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Sorry, sorry, I'm so late again because I'm writing this. I've written over 5,000 words, a little bit of a two-part update! I'll still update tomorrow!

I told you we shouldn't mention time, because the moment we do, the flag flies off... I'll be giving away 20 red envelopes this chapter to celebrate, hahaha~

Note: Between the moonlight and the snow, you are the third kind of unparalleled beauty. — Yu Guangzhong