Chapter 41 Chapter 41 It probed into her lips
Tang Ci paused for a moment: "That's not what I meant..."
"I know."
Sheng Yu let go of her and put the tissues from the bedside table into her hand.
Tang Ci pulled out two tissues in quick succession, one to blow his nose and the other to wipe the tear stains on his clothes.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she wiped them, casting a small, shimmering shadow on her eyelids.
If it weren't for her still swollen eyelids, probably no one would have been able to tell that she had just been crying sobbing.
Sheng Yu loosely grasped her wrist, stopping her from wiping it any further: "Then do you want it?"
Tang Ci sniffed lightly, meeting his gaze in the dimly lit bedroom. Her brow furrowed as she pondered the question with difficulty.
The look of wanting it, yet not daring to.
After waiting for three seconds, Sheng Yu's patience ran out, and he questioned her about the time taken: "Three."
"two."
He couldn't bring himself to say "one".
Tang Ci hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: "Yes."
/
Tang Ci looked up and watched Sheng Yu standing on the stool, stretching out his arm to twist the lampshade. The hem of his hoodie was lifted up by his movement, revealing a section of his lean waist and abdomen.
"Take a picture for me."
Tang Ci quickly turned on her phone's flashlight and held it up: "Do you know how to change it?"
Sheng Yu responded with an "Mm," and with her slender fingers unscrewed the light bulb and replaced it with a new one: "Go turn the power back on."
Tang Ci slipped on her slippers and ran to the entrance hall to turn on the power, then returned to the bedroom to press the switch.
With a click, the lights filled every crevice of the room, instantly making the bedroom feel crowded.
Sheng Yu jumped off the stool and threw the broken light bulb into the trash can: "I'm going to take a shower, you go to sleep first?"
They were so close that Tang Ci could smell a faint scent of soap on him.
With so little space and nowhere to retreat, she sat back on the edge of the bed: "Okay."
Before leaving, Sheng Yu left the door slightly ajar. Tang Ci listened as his footsteps gradually faded away, covered by the sound of rushing water, and her muddled mind began to clear.
What did she just do?
Not only did she move into Sheng Yu's house, but she also dared to ask Sheng Yu to sleep with her.
Tang Ci turned to look at the bed. When the light came on, she realized that the bed was only 1.5 meters wide, and it would be too crowded for two people to sleep on.
But the words had already been spoken, and Tang Ci had no other choice. She pulled a novel from the bookshelf to cover up her drowsiness, but gradually she lost it. Only when she heard footsteps by the door again did she pull herself out of the book.
Sheng Yu was drying her hair with a towel in her right hand and holding a long, plush blanket in her left. She casually asked, "What are you looking at?"
Tang Ci glanced at the cover: "Lover".
Sheng Yu chuckled lightly.
Tang Ci's ears turned red, she stopped reading, closed the book, and put it back on the shelf.
She turned her head and saw Sheng Yu bending over to lay out a blanket.
Tang Ci reached out to help: "Why are you laying this down?"
"sleep."
"...Don't you sleep in the bed?"
"You really want me to sleep?"
Sheng Yu bent over and straightened the blanket, then glanced at her.
"Really?" Tang Ci was stunned. She picked up her pillow and got out of bed. "I'll sleep on the bottom."
She was wearing a long nightgown for spring and autumn, made of thin and soft material. The trousers slipped down to her knees, revealing two slender and flawless calves. Her ankles were so thin that Sheng Yu could easily grab them with one hand and tuck the blanket back into her.
"Lie down," he said impatiently.
Tang Ci shivered under the covers and mumbled, "Oh."
After spreading out the blanket, Sheng Yu got up and took out a pillow and a quilt from the cabinet. There were no pillowcases or quilt covers. He threw them on the carpet and lay down on the spot.
As soon as the lights were turned off and the room became quiet, Tang Ci stared at the ceiling with her eyes wide open, her previous drowsiness completely gone.
It was only 11:30, but the thought of Sheng Yu sleeping next to me made the remaining half hour of the day suddenly seem precious.
Sleeping peacefully in the same room with someone I've liked for many years—I probably won't have that moment again in the future.
Thinking of this, Tang Ci couldn't help but feel greedy. Taking advantage of the late night, she quietly turned over, covered her face with her elbow, and secretly looked at Sheng Yu under the bed.
Caught off guard, she met a pair of bright eyes.
Tang Ci choked, shrank back, and tried to turn around unconsciously.
Sheng Yu suddenly spoke up: "Can't sleep?"
Tang Ci had no choice but to stop what she was doing: "Hmm..."
He reached out and patted her blanket: "Shall we talk?"
In the darkness, only his silhouette could be vaguely seen. His eyes shone like cold stars, and his voice was amplified in the quiet night, deep, magnetic, and tinged with helplessness.
Tang Ci found it hard to refuse Sheng Yu's kindness, so she carefully lifted the corner of the blanket, leaned over the headboard, and nodded.
She thought that she and Sheng Yu would only exchange a few words before falling into an awkward silence, but once they started talking, they found themselves chatting past midnight.
When the topic of work came up, Tang Ci asked blankly, "What kind of job will you do in the future?"
She probably didn't have any job opportunities herself, and she couldn't imagine what kind of job Sheng Yu would do.
Sheng Yu propped his elbow up and rested his chin on his hand as he looked at her.
The girl's cheeks were wrinkled, her expression like that of a mother worried about her son's future.
"What kind of job do you want me to do?" he chuckled.
Tang Cizhen considered it for a while before whispering, "I want to do something where I can meet a lot of people, something lively, with a human touch, like home."
"How can work be like home?"
Tang Ci lay back down on her pillow, feeling wistful: "You're right."
"And you?" Sheng Yu fiddled with the corner of her blanket. "What are your plans for the future?"
Tang Ci fell silent for a long while before whispering, "It's too far... I haven't thought about it yet."
“Then let’s think about something closer to home,” Sheng Yuping said. “You’re about to turn 18, what kind of gift do you want?”
Tang Ci was taken aback, remembering what Sheng Yu had said not long ago: she could make any wish.
She thought about it for a long time at the time, but still has no clue.
Even now, when it comes to gifts, she still looks completely lost.
Sheng Yu asked, "What kind of gifts did you want for your birthday when you were a child?"
“I don’t remember when I was very young,” Tang Ci recalled, “I only remember when I was in the last year of kindergarten, I wanted Tony Rabbit, which was very popular at the time.”
"You know what? It's that cartoon. The merchandise is selling really well. I really want that doll that sings when you turn on a switch."
Sheng Yu searched on her phone and showed her the pink rabbit on the screen: "This one?"
Tang Ci's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Yes! This was very expensive; it cost seven or eight hundred yuan back then."
"My dad scolded me after he heard about it, but my mom secretly told me that she was saving up money for me so she could take me shopping on my birthday."
"But Tony Rabbit was already sold out at that time. My mom didn't know. On my birthday, she took me to all the toy stores around, but they were all sold out."
"In the end, we didn't even have time to go to the amusement park."
"Then..." Tang Ci's voice lowered, "she passed away."
Sheng Yu did not respond.
Tang Ci buried her face in the soft blanket and yawned: "Sorry, was it boring?"
Sheng Yu rubbed her head and said, "Go to sleep."
/
Time is like a rapidly spinning gear; the countdown on the blackboard shortens day by day, and by the time the second mock exam is scheduled, the weather has completely warmed up.
Students who felt hot put on short sleeves early on, and Sheng Yu was among them.
Tang Ci always kept herself covered up in long sleeves and trousers, thinking that this would cover up her increasingly thin body.
Joint pain and fever became a daily occurrence, making Tang Ci look listless and lacking energy all day.
During the long break, Sheng Yu returned from playing basketball. His black T-shirt accentuated his upright shoulders and back, and his bare arms showed off their muscular and toned physique, attracting the attention of girls from all grades.
When he reached the classroom door, he tossed the ball to Zhou Yiyang, went in through the front door, stopped in front of Tang Ci's desk, and lightly tapped her desk with his fingertips.
"Sleeping again?"
Tang Ci rubbed her eyes and got up: "No... I just lay down for a while."
Sheng Yu placed the milk on her desk: "Still nervous?"
Because she had been sleeping during breaks, Sheng Yu caught her in the stairwell one day after she returned from the hospital and asked her what was wrong.
Tang Ci hid the newly prescribed special medicine in her schoolbag, lying that she was nervous because the exam was approaching.
"It's alright..." Tang Ci swallowed her dry throat: "How's your revision going? Are there any questions you can't answer?"
Sheng Yu shook his head: "I got a perfect score on the test."
"Really?" Tang Ci's eyes lit up, and she straightened her back, even happier than if she had gotten a high score herself.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"No."
Sheng Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry."
Tang Ci was truly relieved.
Sheng Yu leaned against the edge of her desk, her head and neck drooping lazily, their sharp outlines outlined by the spring light outside the window, like a vibrant poplar tree.
Tang Ci suddenly dared not look at him, like a withered leaf curled up in a corner, afraid to peek out from the greenery.
Unable to catch her gaze, Sheng Yu, perhaps dissatisfied, forcefully rubbed her cheeks, not even sparing her earlobes.
His movements were natural and quick, and no one around noticed. Tang Ci didn't have time to dodge and watched him stride back to his seat, her cheek red from being rubbed.
He sat down, crossed his arms, and chatted idly with the boys. Sensing Tang Ci's gaze, he raised his eyebrows at her from across most of the classroom.
His bright eyes held a smug malice.
The victim, Tang Ci, suddenly turned around and nervously opened her textbook.
On the day the results of the second mock exam came out, Sheng Yu's score once again caused a sensation. Compared to the lukewarm progress in the first mock exam, this time he seemed like a sharp sword breaking through the sky, showing his talent in the top fifty of the grade.
Throughout the day, the sound of talking about Sheng Yu could be heard everywhere in the school.
After lunch, Tang Ci accompanied Jiang Chan to the convenience store to buy milk tea. While queuing to pay, several high school girls in front of them were exaggerating about Sheng Yu's miraculous academic progress.
Jiang Chan sipped her milk tea and whispered, "Thanks to you, Sheng Yu was able to turn over a new leaf."
Tang Ci pursed her lips and didn't respond. She knew that Sheng Yu wasn't a prodigal son who had turned over a new leaf, but rather that this was how he was supposed to be.
He is like a lost traveler who will eventually find his way back to the right path.
She used to be the guide, but now Sheng Yu doesn't need guidance to walk on the road to success.
The school was bustling with activity during the afternoon break on a spring day.
After finishing their physics class, students from a certain class in the second year of high school filed out of the laboratory building. They saw Sheng Yu taking a break outside the sports field. One boy exclaimed in amazement that this legendary senior had scored full marks in physics in the second mock exam, and a girl suggested that they could ask him about the primal charge.
After a few words, the group of people made a decision and then stepped forward to surround Sheng Yu.
Sheng Yu's forehead veins bulged from being squeezed, but he couldn't get angry while listening to his junior's earnest request for advice.
Zhou Yiyang, who was in the distance, was laughing so hard he almost choked while holding a basketball. He cheekily teased, "Senior Sheng, I also have a question for you."
After explaining the knowledge point in front of her, Sheng Yu glanced at him sideways and said, "Go ask your elementary school teacher."
The boys playing basketball booed, but Zhou Yiyang wasn't bothered. He gestured towards the sidelines and said, "There's a real problem! I saw Tang Ci fall down, but I don't know if I should tell you."
Sheng Yu frowned sharply, his eyes quickly scanning his surroundings.
A slender figure stood hunched over on the sidewalk of the water room, his two clean hands constantly patting his knees and the hem of his coat.
He swallowed hard, his patience completely exhausted. He pushed aside the younger students surrounding him and strode towards the figure.
After leaving the convenience store, Jiang Chan received a message from her crush, inviting her to take a walk on the playground.
Tang Ci slowly walked back to the classroom. As she passed the basketball court, she caught a glimpse of Sheng Yu being surrounded by people. She paused for a few seconds, vaguely heard people discussing something, and couldn't help but chuckle a few times.
In those few seconds of distraction, she didn't see the path clearly, missed a step, and fell to the ground.
Her already swollen and painful knees slammed against the tiles, causing her to wince in pain. It took her a while to stand up and carefully brush the mud off her body.
Tang Ci was startled when her wrist was suddenly pulled away. She looked up and met Sheng Yu's displeased gaze, and her heart, which had been in her throat, went back to normal.
"You...why are you here?" Tang Ci said, glancing at the court, where a group of people who had been surrounding Sheng Yu were now watching them with great interest.
“You even fall on flat ground,” Sheng Yu released her wrist and brushed the leaves off her sleeve. “What are you thinking about?”
"...think of a question."
"Can you still walk?"
Fearing he might do something shocking like hugging her at school, Tang Ci quickly spread her arms and walked around him twice, even jumping up and down at the end.
"OK."
Sheng Yu chuckled softly.
Tang Ci realized her foolish behavior and stood still with embarrassment.
“Wait at home this weekend, I’ll come pick you up,” he suddenly said.
Tang Ci exclaimed, "Huh?" and asked, "Where are we going?"
Sheng Yu raised her hand and flicked her forehead, asking instead of answering, "What day is the weekend?"
Tang Ci thought for a moment, then suddenly widened her eyes: "My birthday...?"
Sheng Yu smiled and said, "I'll take you to the amusement park."
/
weekend.
Tang Ci got up very early, and by the time everything was ready, it was only seven o'clock.
As far as she knew, the amusement park didn't open until 9 a.m.
She didn't have the habit of taking a nap, so she went to her desk to do some problems. She flipped through the test paper several times before finally finishing the first page.
Tang Ci stared at the bookshelf, unusually lost in thought while studying.
Since the night Sheng Yu stayed over last time, he hasn't come back. He went back to the hotel, where the bookshelves were still neatly arranged with books, but he put the several photo frames away in the cabinet.
Tang Ci could sense that Sheng Yu instinctively rejected the house that belonged to his mother.
But why?
Tang Ci lay on her desk, lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to the passage of time, until her phone on the desk vibrated, interrupting her chaotic thoughts.
Sheng Yu called her.
"Go downstairs."
When Tang Ci stood up from the chair, her legs, which had been curled up under the table for a long time, were slightly numb. She staggered to the window and looked down.
The building is too high; I can't see the people below.
"I'm here," Tang Ci said, slinging her packed schoolbag over her shoulder and quickly heading out after a short pause.
As the weather warms up, the sunlight also gradually becomes warmer.
A black sedan was parked outside the building. Sheng Yu was standing at the back of the car making a phone call. He was wearing a light gray shirt, the hem of which was tucked into black casual trousers. This simple outfit made him look more composed and reserved, dispelling some of his youthful arrogance.
This made him attract a lot of attention just by standing there casually.
Tang Ci's heart pounded. Just as she got close to his back, he turned around, his eyebrows twitching unnaturally.
"That's all for now." He hung up the phone, his gaze shifting to her backpack strap: "Get in the car, kid."
Tang Ci got into the car, and as he started the engine, he solemnly emphasized, "From today onwards, I am an adult, not a child."
Sheng Yu suddenly moved closer, his straight nose brushing against her forehead.
"W-what's wrong?" Tang Ci held her breath, not daring to smell or look, and asked softly with her eyes lowered.
Sheng Yu picked up the black nylon strap from her hand and snapped it into the buckle: "I have to fasten your seatbelt for you, and you still say you're not a kid?"
Tang Ci opened her mouth, and after a long while, she replied, "I forgot."
The amusement park was at its peak on the weekend, and it took them an hour just to squeeze into the crowd and queue to get into the park.
Tang Ci was dressed warmly, afraid that the alternating hot and cold temperatures would cause her to catch a cold, so she didn't take off her coat. After completing one activity, her cheeks were flushed red from the heat.
She instinctively reached for her water bottle in the side pocket of her backpack, only to find it empty; she realized she had forgotten to bring it.
"Come on, let's go buy some water." Sheng Yu rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows and pulled her toward the square.
“There’s a shop selling water here…” Tang Ci pulled him to a stop.
Sheng Yu glanced indifferently at the shops along the roadside: "They're expensive here."
"Take it." Tang Ci continued walking towards the square without hesitation.
The square is surrounded by flower beds trimmed into various shapes, and on the stage in the center, puppets are performing a play, while tourists are taking photos in several circles below the stage.
There are no stores that sell water.
Before Tang Ci could even question him, Sheng Yu pressed her down onto the bench under the flower bed: "Wait here, I'll go buy it."
Tang Ci was indeed tired, and nodded, panting slightly.
After Sheng Yu left, the play on stage was nearing its end. Tourists crowded around to take photos and left laughing and joking.
A short while later, a commotion arose at the entrance of the square. Tang Ci turned her head and saw a fluffy pink ear pop out from the throng of people.
A soft thud struck my chest, like a raindrop hitting the ground, followed by a downpour of rain, leaving my whole body with a tingling, itchy sensation.
Tang Ci stood up, clenching her fingers, and came face to face with the rabbit named Tony.
The rabbit was large and cute, waving its paws as it walked towards her.
Tang Ci suddenly couldn't move or speak. Her throat was choked up, and she really looked like a child, completely helpless.
The rabbit pushed through the crowd to her, slipped a bottle of mineral water into her arms, and then turned and went to the stage.
Tang Ci stared blankly as the rabbit took the microphone from the staff member, and a deep, clear voice rang out from the rabbit's open mouth.
"Are you alright, my little one?"
After the rabbit finished speaking, it waved in her direction again.
Amidst the children's cheerful responses, Tang Ci's throat suddenly felt dry.
She was all too familiar with the scene before her; it was the opening sequence of Tony the Rabbit that she had watched countless times.
As the melodious violin music began, the rabbit raised the microphone and began singing the ending theme song of the Tony Rabbit cartoon, an English nursery rhyme.
Memories begin to resurface, and the sweet, carefree days of childhood are repeatedly replayed in my mind through the songs.
On this spring noon when she turned eighteen, Tang Ci briefly returned to the time when she was free from illness and had her mother by her side.
Tang Ci had no idea when the singing stopped. She stood silently under the flowering tree, which was trimmed into the shape of a cloud, holding a bottle of mineral water in a ridiculously devout posture, and shed tears.
The scene was so pitiful that the rabbit naturally noticed it and started walking towards her, only to be tripped up by a group of chattering children.
The reason why Tony Rabbit merchandise became a global phenomenon was not only due to its adorable appearance, but also its long, fluffy fur.
At this moment, the rabbit's fur below its shoulders was being grabbed by the children, and some naughty boys even tried to climb up by pulling on the fur.
Tang Ci was terrified. She wiped away her tears and ran over to drive them away.
"Don't grab his fur, it will hurt him!" she said urgently, but she was blocked outside the human wall and futilely reached out to try to pull the rabbit out of the children's group.
The little boy, clinging to the rabbit, looked indignant: "I'll catch it! I talked to it so much, why didn't it talk to me? Does it not know how to talk?"
Seeing that reasoning with him was futile, Tang Ci buried his head and dug the children out one by one, which actually worked. The rabbit's arm was freed, and he ripped off the hood, revealing a handsome face covered in sweat.
Sheng Yu's actions are tantamount to telling a child who receives Christmas gifts every year and deeply believes in Santa Claus that the gifts were bought by his parents.
One little girl even burst into tears on the spot.
The boy on Sheng Yu's back stared wide-eyed and tugged at his hair, seemingly trying to verify if it was true or not.
But as soon as his hand touched her, Sheng Yu grabbed him by the back of the neck and threw him to the ground.
Sheng Yu ripped off his hairy arm and coldly glanced at the petrified boy on the ground: "I can not only talk, but I can also eat children. Tonight, I'll start with you."
The boy trembled all over, crawled back two steps on his hands and feet, stood up, and ran away crying for his mother.
The remaining children, fearing that Sheng Yu would eat them next, scattered like birds and beasts, their little faces pale.
In an instant, the small square was left with only a cannibalistic monster with half of his mascot costume off and a high school student with tear stains on his face.
Sheng Yu brushed his sweaty bangs back onto his head and scoffed, "Why are you crying? I didn't even cry when those kids bullied me like that." As he spoke, he naturally reached out his hand.
Tang Ci caught his arm and chuckled, "You look like a strawberry bear."
With her help, Sheng Yu pulled his legs out of the mascot costume and raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"
"He looks cute and harmless, but he's actually an evil villain."
Sheng Yu bent down and tucked the mascot costume under her arm: "Don't you have any conscience? Who am I doing this for?"
"I..." Tang Ci opened her mouth, her voice very soft. She picked up Tony the rabbit's head, which was almost touching the ground, and was caught off guard, almost being crushed by the heavy head.
Why is it so heavy?
Tang Ci frowned and looked up, seeing that Sheng Yu's shirt collar was soaked with sweat, and the ends of his dark hair were stuck to his neck, which was red from being rubbed by the hood.
A lump formed in her throat, and she lifted the rabbit's head up again before following him to return the clothes.
Why did you decide to wear this?
"You can't buy that doll you wanted anymore," Sheng Yu turned her head, her tone showing no sign of fatigue: "Are you happy about that?"
"I'm happy." Tang Ci's voice was muffled. "Thank you, I haven't been this happy in a long time..."
"I'll set a high bar and celebrate every birthday you have from now on."
Sheng Yu didn't turn around. Tang Ci looked at his back, which was facing the sunlight, blinked, and after a while, mumbled an "Mmm".
/
Lunch was at a specialty restaurant in the park. Tang Ci stood at the counter, saw the price of the set meal, and grabbed Sheng Yu's arm, wanting to leave.
Sheng Yu grabbed her with his long arm and pulled her back, then reached out to block the price on the set meal and forced Tang Ci to order a turkey set meal.
There were too many customers dining at the restaurant, and the staff was limited. The food was not heated evenly. Tang Ci had a small appetite, and she put down her chopsticks after eating only a little over half of it.
Seeing this, the waiter came to collect the plates. Tang Ci hesitated for a second and said, "Let's collect them later. We haven't finished eating yet."
Sheng Yu handed her plate, which was almost empty, to the waiter and asked, looking at her plate, "Can you still eat?"
Tang Ci shook her head sheepishly, her fingers still gripping the plate: "There's still so much left. It's so expensive, it would be such a waste to throw it away."
Her intention was to wait a while, perhaps to digest her food before eating some more.
Sheng Yu misunderstood, pulled her plate in front of him, ate some of the almost untouched food, and then asked, "Is this alright?"
Apart from her mother, no one else has ever shared a meal with her.
Tang Ci watched as Sheng Yu calmly collected the tableware and handed it to the waiter; the chopsticks were even ones she had used.
Tang Ci's ears turned bright red, her fingertips pressed against the edge of the table, and she stammered, "Okay, that's fine."
The specialty restaurant is located next to a roller coaster on the left and a Ferris wheel on the right. During mealtimes, there aren't many people queuing.
"Which one do you want to play?" Sheng Yu picked up her schoolbag and slung it over his shoulder.
Tang Ci stood up and followed closely behind: "Let's go with the Ferris wheel."
The two only queued for ten minutes before boarding the Ferris wheel's cramped cabin.
The machine started up, and the metal box wobbled and rose into the air, the two men's knees slowly rubbing against each other as it rose.
Tang Ci turned to look at the sky outside the small window and moved back almost imperceptibly.
The machine gears suddenly jammed, and the car shook for a moment. Tang Ci swayed and leaned towards Sheng Yu.
Sheng Yu grasped her waist, but couldn't stop her from pressing down.
Dark pupils suddenly enlarged before her eyes, and she felt a soft touch on her lips. After realizing what it was, Tang Ci trembled and shrank back, but Sheng Yu's strong palm gripped the back of her neck, keeping her at a distance where they could hear each other's breaths.
Her heart pounded erratically against her chest wall, and Tang Ci herself said in disbelief, "I didn't mean to..."
"I know." Sheng Yu believed her argument, his cool fingertips gently rubbing her protruding neck bone, his voice lowering: "I did it on purpose."
"……What?"
Tang Ci's mind went blank, and she asked in bewilderment.
The fingers that were pressed on the back of her neck slid down her neck to her chin and finally slipped between her lips.
"Tang Ci, I really am a bad person."
As Sheng Yu spoke, he released his fingertips and pressed his thin lips against hers again.
A soft smacking sound came from between her lips. Tang Ci's mouth was slightly open as she let him do whatever he wanted. Her hands and feet were stiff, and she forgot to breathe.
The elevator car rose high into the air and then slowly descended again. Sheng Yu finally let go of her, gently patting her feverish cheeks and saying, "Be good, breathe."
Tang Ci obediently inhaled, and the biting wind rushed into her nostrils, instantly clearing her mind.
Her slightly swollen, red lips were pressed into a straight line. She belatedly realized that her clenched palms were already sweaty, and a tingling sensation ran down her spine and back.
So this is what kissing is like.
It was as if I had undergone surgery, my body was temporarily paralyzed, and when I woke up it was a heart-stopping experience, like surviving a disaster.
When the sedan chair arrived at its destination, Tang Ci came to her senses and stumbled as she got off. Sheng Yu, who was right behind her, put his arm around her waist and helped her out of the enclosure.
The sunlight slanted in, casting their shadows together. The music in the park played tirelessly, accompanied by waves of boisterous laughter.
Tang Ci and Sheng Yu stood outside the fence, neither of them speaking.
"I'm sorry." Sheng Yu leaned against the railing, half-encircling her in his arms, but his gaze was fixed on the roller coaster beside him.
The roller coaster roared past with strong winds, but it couldn't reduce the heat around her ears. Tang Ci lowered her eyes and said, "It's okay."
/
For the rest of the afternoon, Tang Ci seemed to be in a daze, unable to remember anything about what they did or drank. She simply followed Sheng Yu around, queuing up, getting on and off the bus.
They didn't finish their dungeon-crawling activity until dusk.
The fireworks display by the lake was about to begin, and the lakeside was crowded with tourists. Sheng Yu led her through the crowd to find empty seats.
Without holding hands, Sheng Yu would turn around every few seconds to check her location.
Tang Ci had no choice but to follow him and cling tightly to his arm. As they walked, her wrist would occasionally brush against Sheng Yu's fingertips, and electric currents would crackle from their skin and spread to every part of her body.
Her brain immediately shut down due to this tiny electric current, and Tang Ci followed him step by step until she heard Sheng Yu speaking to her.
"Go sit over there."
Tang Ci hummed in surprise and noticed an empty spot on the steps just two steps away. In front of it was a lake surrounded by stone steps, making it an excellent spot to watch the fireworks.
"But only one person can sit here."
Sheng Yu nodded: "Go and sit down."
Tang Ci wanted to say something, but when she looked up and saw his face, she suddenly choked up.
Sheng Yu's face was pale and grim in the dark lake water, his eyebrows pressed down heavily.
Tang Ci recalled the night he stayed at her house, and how Sheng Yu had looked so lost in the bathtub full of water.
Forget everything else, Tang Ci grabbed his hand, her voice involuntarily breaking into a sob: "Are you feeling unwell? Why don't we go? The fireworks aren't that interesting—"
Sheng Yu paused for a moment, then ruffled her hair and smirked, "I'm just tired, go and see."
"But……"
"No buts." Sheng Yu hugged her and took two steps forward: "Listen to me, I'll stay right behind you."
Tang Ci looked up and saw his eyes regain their luster, and breathed a sigh of relief. But when she looked away, she saw Sheng Yu suddenly narrow his eyes and tighten his grip on her shoulder.
"Wait here."
Before Tang Ci could react to what was happening, Sheng Yu whispered instructions in her ear, then unbuttoned his collar and ran quickly toward the lakeshore.
She opened her eyes wide and saw a child tumbling down the stone steps into the lake on the dark shore. Amidst the woman's shrill screams, Sheng Yu nimbly jumped in as well.
In that instant, Tang Ci felt her heart stop beating.
Amidst the cacophony, she lunged toward the shore.
The rational tourists turned on their flashlights, illuminating the dark lake surface with sparse lights. After a few ripples, Sheng Yu, holding a little girl in his arms, surfaced.
The mother picked up her limp limbs and, with tears of gratitude, carried her daughter, who was frozen in fear, back to the shore.
The onlookers breathed a sigh of relief, and one by one, they turned off their phone flashlights.
Tang Cixin felt a pang of anxiety and stretched out her arm towards Sheng Yu, who was floating on the lake: "Sheng Yu, hold me—"
Sheng Yu slid towards her. As he got closer, Tang Ci saw the lake water bobbing up and down at his chin. Sheng Yu had his eyes closed and his lips were white from the cold.
wrong!
Tang Ci suddenly realized that the lake water, which had been exposed to the sun all day, could not possibly be cold.
Sheng Yu was clearly scared; even the arm that was reaching out to her was trembling.
Tang Ci gritted her teeth and reached out to grab his palm, but only touched his cold fingertips for a moment.
The next second, Sheng Yu sank into the inky black lake.
"Sheng Yu!!"
Tang Ci's cries attracted the attention of tourists around her. Two middle-aged men grabbed her body as she was about to jump into the water and jumped into the lake to save her.
The scene before her eyes began to change. The pungent smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils, and the corridor outside the operating room was bitterly cold. Tang Ci stared at the ever-burning light above the operating room, trembling as she waited for the doctor to come out and announce her mother's death.
She didn't know how much time had passed when her cheek was brushed by cold fingers. Tang Ci suddenly came back to her senses, and the surrounding noise rushed into her ears like a flood.
She breathed heavily, her chest heaving, staring blankly at Sheng Yu, who was lying against the stone steps, completely soaked.
He reached out again, wiping his wet hand vigorously under her eyes. His bloodless lips parted, and a few words escaped his throat.
"Don't cry, I'm okay."
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