Chapter 26: May I kiss you?
In the evening, Liu Chengxu put on an apron and cooked a spicy braised chicken dish with soft, tender potatoes, and also braised a crucian carp. To avoid making the flavors too strong, he also stir-fried a dish of bean sprouts.
As soon as Chang Ruyin entered, she smelled the delicious aroma and kept praising it in surprise. She had only ever seen Liu Chengxu bring Su Zhiluo meals before, but today, smelling the aroma, she realized that this girl's cooking skills were truly excellent.
She watched Liu Chengxu's back as he worked intently with his hair loosely tied up, then leaned close to Su Zhiluo's ear and whispered, "Your husband is really good-looking, and his skills are so good too."
Su Zhilu smiled softly, pursing her lips.
"Eat rice or make pancakes?" Liu Chengxu asked.
"Eat the pancake," Su Zhiluo replied.
Liu Chengxu deftly prepared the batter, brushed a thin layer of oil on the bottom of the pan, and spread out a round pancake. Chang Ruyin helped bring the dishes to the table, while Su Zhiluo took out chili sauce from the refrigerator.
Chang Ruyin's words warmed her heart, and she couldn't help but turn back to look at Liu Chengxu again.
They are all ordinary people who just want a peaceful life.
Liu Chengxu wore a plaid apron around her waist, and her profile was exceptionally soft when she lowered her head slightly. When she looked up, her eyes held a faint smile, and she exuded a warm, approachable aura. Her gentle and focused demeanor revealed a tender strength that drew people in.
The food was to my liking, and I thoroughly enjoyed every dish.
Chang Ruyin made a phone call in the living room after finishing her meal. Liu Chengxu was a little curious, and Su Zhiluo explained softly, "She's in a relationship."
Liu Chengxu asked twice before Su Zhiluo finally revealed that it was Yang Jie.
After Su Zhilu finished speaking, she heard Liu Chengxu scoff. Su Zhilu didn't understand what she meant and thought it was impolite of her to do that, so she asked, "What are you doing?"
Liu Chengxu said, "I thought she would like you for the rest of her life."
"It's not like we're making a movie." They've never even been together, yet they'll love each other for a lifetime.
Su Zhiluo was sweating profusely after dinner, so she took her clothes to take a shower. Liu Chengxu laid a mat on the floor and said, "You should put down a mattress. The air conditioner is quite strong, and you won't be able to stand the direct airflow."
Su Zhiluo then gave her an air-conditioning blanket.
After Su Zhiluo finished showering, Liu Chengxu was lying on the floor looking for something. She didn't notice that she stepped on Liu Chengxu's back, and Liu Chengxu hissed in pain. Just as Su Zhiluo was about to pull her foot away, Liu Chengxu happened to look up, and the back of his foot lightly brushed against her cheek.
Liu Chengxu looked up, his eyes confused and innocent, like a wronged big dog. Su Zhiluo was about to back away when she was grabbed by the leg.
"Hey," Su Zhiluo gently struggled, "Stop fooling around."
Liu Chengxu hugged her even tighter, rubbing his cheek against her leg. Her skin, fresh from a bath, was especially sensitive, and Su Zhiluo tickled, whimpering, "Liu Chengxu, it tickles... Why are you acting like a puppy?"
"Woof."
Su Zhiluo's heart suddenly softened, and a warmth spread from the soles of her feet to her cheeks. She couldn't explain why, but that sweet voice was like a feather brushing against her heart, making her breath catch in her throat.
She subconsciously lowered her eyelashes, not daring to look at Liu Chengxu anymore, and her fingers on her sides tightened.
Just then, Chang Ruyin's smiling voice came from next door: "Having fun, huh?" Normally, Chang Ruyin would say, "Having fun is so naughty."
The two froze instantly; more accurately, Su Zhiluo dared not move. Liu Chengxu's burning cheeks pressed against her leg, his eyes filled with a pitiful expression. Su Zhiluo understood; Liu Chengxu was expressing his longing.
So specific, so intense.
It made her heart burn.
The intimate rubbing sent a strange sensation through Su Zhi's legs, a warm, unfamiliar feeling rising from her thighs to her throat. She took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable agitation, and pulled her leg back. Caught off guard, Liu Chengxu stumbled and fell to his knees before her.
Su Zhiluo's throat moved slightly, but she swallowed the words back down.
She sat down on the edge of the bed to dry her wet hair. She had been so busy for the past six months that her hair was frizzy at the ends. Her gaze swept over the shadow moving on the wall, and she wondered what Liu Chengxu was looking for, when she saw the shadow slowly approach. Liu Chengxu reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.
"Su Zhiluo".
Su Zhiluo did not respond; she was actually not used to being called by Liu Chengxu's full name.
Until a warm yellow light appeared in the darkness, flickering gently like a breath, casting a hazy glow on the walls. She turned around and saw Liu Chengxu still kneeling in the same spot, holding a bouquet of flowers, with string lights among the flowers flashing on and off.
A mix of excitement and surprise welled up inside me instantly.
"These are for you," Liu Cheng said. "I also brought you flowers this time."
Su Zhiluo felt a pang of sadness and didn't know what to say. She sat silently, and Liu Chengxu asked with a puzzled look, her mood somber, "Don't you like it?"
Su Zhilu shook her head, took the flowers, and said, "What were you looking for just now?"
This time, instead of fresh flowers, I sent handmade flowers. There was a star-shaped bottle at the bottom, filled with many folded paper stars.
Liu Chengxu didn't know if his sister-in-law understood.
The stars are filled with her longing and love, but because she cannot speak of them, therefore…
I hope that one day Su Zhiluo will see the contents of the note. Of course, it's okay if she doesn't see it; love doesn't have to force others to see it.
Liu Chengxu replied, "The stars inside just came out, so I went to pick them up."
"Um,"
Su Zhiluo held up the glowing star and said, "Thank you, I like it."
She placed the star-shaped flowers on the bedside table and continued drying her hair. During this time, she went out to put away a towel. The moment she turned around, her eyes were red. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and then smiled through the tears in her eyes.
Su Zhiluo returned to her room, and Liu Chengxu turned off the lanterns.
Su Zhiluo: "Why would I turn it off?"
Liu Chengxu said, "I'm afraid it will dazzle your eyes."
Su Zhiluo turned on the light again, and the shadows of the flowers were cast on the wall, like a tree covered with stars.
There are no people in this world who are incapable of romance, only people who don't love and are unwilling to spend the time to learn and to win someone's smile.
I was moved again.
Su Zhiluo lay on the bed and said gently, "I'll arrange to take you out to play later."
Liu Chengxu said that there was no need for that; she would rather help Su Zhiluo than let her go through so much hardship.
Su Zhiluo asked, "Then what do you want to do?"
Liu Chengxu turned to the side, a sly glint in his eyes: "Did you just step on my foot?"
Su Zhiluo stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Staring at her, Liu Chengxu suddenly felt her ears burning. She quickly turned over, her voice muffled by the pillow: "...I just suddenly remembered something from when I was little, and I found it quite interesting."
This startled Su Zhiluo.
She recently read a novel that Chang Ruyin sent her, which included scenes of kicking, slapping, and sitting on the face...
Su Zhiluo thought Liu Chengxu would do something, but apart from secretly watching her by the bedside at night, Liu Chengxu didn't cross any boundaries while sleeping facing her.
This made Su Zhilu feel a little uncomfortable. She had made preparations before coming, but this person suddenly became well-behaved.
She tossed and turned until 3:30 a.m. before finally falling asleep.
The alarm clock rang in the early morning. She quickly turned it off, but found the bedside empty. Pushing open the door, she saw Liu Chengxu wearing a vest and cargo pants, making breakfast with his back to her.
The waistline was outlined slenderly and neatly by the fabric.
This dress was a sample designed by Su Zhiluo, intended to accentuate her waist and bust, and was specially made with petal-shaped edges to give it a girlish feel. Liu Chengxu noticed the gaze and turned around, but Su Zhiluo quickly turned her head away, her ears slightly red.
Chang Ruyin, with bubbles in her mouth, exclaimed in amazement, "My goodness, is your Cheng Xu in such good shape?"
Su Zhilu responded softly, her hand pausing as she squeezed toothpaste.
Liu Chengxu called her after preparing breakfast. Su Zhiluo glanced at her, then quickly looked away. Liu Chengxu was puzzled.
That's strange.
During the meal, Liu Chengxu noticed that her sister-in-law never looked at her. She felt uneasy, wondering if her words "You stepped on my foot" from yesterday had crossed the line.
As Su Zhiluo was about to go out, Liu Chengxu offered her a parasol. Taking the opportunity, Liu Chengxu leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Sister-in-law, I'm not a pervert."
"..."
Su Zhiluo didn't respond, but instead forcefully pinched her burning earlobe as she went out.
After that, everything was normal. Liu Chengxu slept peacefully every night, and Su Zhiluo had no problems except for her lips being a little dry when she woke up in the morning.
She couldn't help but wonder: How could he... have held back?
*
Summers in Guangzhou are unbearable, and the warehouse is poorly ventilated with barely any air conditioning. Every time Su Zhiluo and Chang Ruyin come over, they are covered in sweat.
Every time Su Zhiluo went out, she told Liu Chengxu not to follow her, but as soon as she stepped out, she would see him wearing a hat and following her. His stubbornness was so strong that scolding him was useless, which left Su Zhiluo feeling very helpless.
When Liu Chengxu arrived, she immediately started helping Su Zhiluo. She didn't want Su Zhiluo to be busy, so she took over whatever Su Zhiluo was doing. She was quick and efficient, which made Chang Ruyin feel embarrassed, as she felt that they were exploiting the child.
Several times, Chang Ruyin wanted to tell Su Zhiluo to think more positively, to try following the child, that there is a long road ahead, to let go of what needs to be let go, and to look forward to the future.
But that sounds so corny, and every time I'm about to start, I stop myself from saying it.
It was a bit cooler in the morning, so Liu Chengxu went out to buy things and came back in the evening. Because of the high cost of living during the summer vacation, they simply hired workers.
Liu Chengxu rode over on his bicycle and handed the bag in his hand to his sister-in-law.
"What is that?"
Su Zhiluo assumed she had bought snacks, and seeing that she was sweating profusely, she said, "You didn't even think to buy an ice cream."
Su Zhiluo opened the bag. Inside was a black bottle, a hand cream, and a bottle of hair oil. At first, Su Zhiluo didn't recognize what they were. But after listening to the young girl who was helping with the packing, she learned that they were from a big brand and came in a small black bottle. In total, Liu Chengxu had bought them for her for 2,500 yuan.
Liu Chengxu said, "The money I earned from taking those model photos won't be very expensive if I buy it for you."
She sat crookedly on the floor, which was so hot it was almost burning her bottom.
Su Zhiluo was still wearing the necklace she had bought for her. She always told Su Zhiluo she was too stingy and shouldn't be so frugal, but receiving such expensive skincare products made her quite...
Liu Chengxu said, "The money we make is meant to be spent on you."
"I don't want you to work too hard."
Unable to argue with her, Su Zhiluo flicked her forehead with her finger.
The nights before a typhoon arrives are especially unbearable; the air is thick and muggy, making it hard to breathe.
In the middle of the night, the transformer in the apartment complex exploded with a loud bang, instantly turning the entire room into a stuffy oven. Su Zhiluo turned on two fans, one pointing under the bed and the other towards the bed, but the air blowing out was scalding hot.
She was drenched in sweat when she woke up, her hair sticking to her cheeks, and every inch of her skin was burning hot.
Su Zhiluo tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so she got up to drink some water. As she looked down, she saw Liu Chengxu sleeping on the lower bunk—she was clearly also feeling hot, her nightgown rolled up to her chest, and fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
I don't know how long the power outage will last.
After drinking the water, Su Zhiluo lay back down on the bed. A moment later, she picked up the fan again and gently sat down next to Liu Chengxu. Liu Chengxu opened his eyes groggily and, in the dim light, vaguely saw Su Zhiluo fanning him.
She rolled over and naturally nestled between Su Zhi's legs, wrapping her arms around Su Zhi's slender waist.
Perhaps due to differences in constitution, Su Zhiluo was naturally cold-natured, and her skin remained cool even in the hottest weather. Liu Chengxu, on the other hand, was burning hot all over, like a small furnace.
She rubbed against Su Zhiluo's lower abdomen, seeking coolness, and mumbled sleepily, "Sister-in-law, it's so hot..."
Su Zhiluo lowered the fan and gently fanned her face. "The power should be back on soon, just bear with it a little longer. Do you want some water?"
Liu Chengxu shook his head, then pressed his cheek against her cool skin again, his voice sleepy: "You feel so cool."
Su Zhiluo trembled slightly from the heat, slowing her fanning motion. She reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Liu Chengxu's ear, her fingertips touching the damp roots. Liu Chengxu pressed his advantage, rubbing against her again and mumbling indistinctly, "Sister-in-law... I love you so much."
The night breeze drifted through the gauze window, gently caressing our skin as we pressed together.
Su Zhiluo paused slightly, then responded softly, "Mm."
The sweltering heat of the summer night made her feel a bit stifled. She looked down at the person who had been with her through many years, and a surge of emotion welled up inside her.
Recently, she came across a term in her studies—the "suspension bridge effect." It refers to the tendency for people in stressful situations to mistake an increased heart rate for romantic feelings.
Su Zhiluo always suspected that Liu Chengxu had mistaken dependence for love because he was being taken care of by her.
Liu Chengxu held her tightly in his arms and slept soundly.
Su Zhiluo waved her fan more and more slowly.
At that moment, a sudden urge to kiss Liu Chengxu welled up in her mind.
This idea did not come out of thin air.
Perhaps it was when Liu Chengxu stole a kiss from her that she couldn't control the desire that arose in her body to respond, or perhaps it was when Liu Chengxu stared at her as she applied face cream that night that left a mark on her heart and quietly gave rise to an impulse.
In a sense, Liu Chengxu was also her little hero.
He would take a 20-hour train ride, carrying heavy luggage, to travel thousands of miles to see her; he would buy her necessities and take meticulous care of her. If there is any true reliance in this world, Liu Chengxu is her safest haven.
It's actually quite difficult to bring it up.
Her lips moved, but she swallowed back the three words, replacing them with an apology.
The phone finally came back on around 4 a.m. When Liu Chengxu woke up, he saw that Su Zhiluo was still asleep, so he gently kissed her forehead and quietly went out to buy groceries.
The scorching heat lasted for nearly a week, as if we were experiencing extreme weather.
Last year, when Su Zhiluo came to Guangzhou, she often heard people talk about typhoons, but she didn't really feel it. Locals said that Guangzhou is not a major landfall area for typhoons, so the impact is usually minimal.
This time, however, it was completely different.
The sweltering heat was unbearable, and their phones were constantly receiving typhoon warnings. The typhoon, named "Lynx," was poised to strike. They rushed to stock up on groceries, planning to treat this typhoon season as a holiday and stay safely at home.
The sky was overcast, and the trees outside the window swayed uneasily. A notification popped up on my phone: the local government had implemented "five suspensions" measures, including suspending classes for students and advising residents to avoid going out as much as possible.
The wind howled outside the window, and the shadows of the trees swaying wildly were cast on the curtains like a silent shadow play.
Liu Chengxu stuffed the frozen dumplings into the already full refrigerator. As he turned around, he saw Su Zhiluo standing on tiptoe, applying windproof tape to the living room window. She was wearing a simple white cotton T-shirt today, and her waistline was faintly visible as she moved.
"That should be enough." Liu Chengxu got off the stool and clapped his hands. "For the next few days, we'll have to rely on each other here."
Her tone was relaxed, but her gaze lingered on Su Zhiluo's face for a moment longer. Su Zhiluo looked away, pretending to tidy up the already neat kitchen counter.
"Are you nervous?" Liu Chengxu suddenly asked, his voice sounding particularly soft against the backdrop of wind and rain.
"What's the rush?" Su Zhilu asked, puzzled. "It's just a typhoon. We should be fine if we don't go out."
“The typhoon. And,” Liu Chengxu paused, then pointed to himself, “was locked up with me.”
That's a bit strange.
Su Zhilu bent down to pick up the remote control that had fallen out sometime earlier, but her movements faltered upon hearing this. The wind outside the window suddenly became sharp, but it couldn't mask her suddenly racing heartbeat.
"It's not like it's the first time we've been alone together." She tried to keep her voice calm, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "Ruyin is right here."
Liu Chengxu chuckled softly, without replying. She walked to Su Zhiluo's side, her warm arm brushing against Su Zhiluo's arm unintentionally. Su Zhiluo subconsciously took half a step back, only to be enveloped by the faint scent of jasmine emanating from her.
Liu Chengxu helped her apply the tape, saying, "I remember you said last year that the typhoons in Guangzhou were nothing."
“This time is different.” Su Zhilu handed the air conditioner remote to Liu Chengxu, their fingertips briefly touching.
A loud crash, like a heavy object falling, suddenly came from outside the window, and the whole building seemed to shake. The lights flickered twice and then went out abruptly. Dimness descended, with only the faint light of the emergency lights outlining the buildings.
In the sudden darkness and silence, Liu Chengxu's breathing became clearly audible. Su Zhiluo felt her hand gently rest on her arm, the warm touch seeping through the thin fabric.
This time is definitely different.
The light cast a soft shadow on her profile, and her eyes, which always held a smile, were now as calm as a deep pool. Su Zhiluo suddenly realized that they were standing too close, close enough to see the fine shadows cast by each other's eyelashes, close enough to feel their breaths mingling.
The wind and rain raged outside the window, while in this dimly lit world, something quietly growing was beginning to sprout.
The wind outside was getting stronger and stronger. At first, Liu Chengxu looked over curiously and saw that the trees outside were bent over by the wind, which was quite frightening. Liu Chengxu took a picture and sent it to the group.
Su Zhiluo said, "Didn't all your friends live in Guangzhou? Why are you still showing them these pictures?"
Liu Chengxu hummed in agreement.
She typed: "[I went through the typhoon with my sister-in-law.]"
No one likes typhoon days, but this is a time to take shelter from the typhoon with Su Zhiluo.
Su Zhiluo went to turn on the computer next to her.
Liu Chengxu placed his phone on the side.
Su Zhiluo glanced at her with a puzzled look.
Unable to go for a run during the typhoon, Liu Chengxu exercised at home. She was used to the rhythm of exercise, and being stuck at home made her feel uncomfortable.
After spending a lot of time with her, Su Zhiluo would occasionally start moving around with her too.
Liu Chengxu had an excellent physique, especially when he did glute bridges, his waist and hip curves were particularly eye-catching. Although Su Zhiluo pretended not to care, her gaze kept drifting over to him involuntarily.
Liu Chengxu sat on the yoga mat, panting. She had the kind of figure that girls would envy, with very defined abs.
Su Zhilu glanced over and started to laugh.
Liu Cheng asked, "Do you want to touch it?"
Su Zhilu shook her head.
Liu Chengxu generously said, "Go ahead and touch it, it feels pretty good."
Indeed, it looked very good. Su Zhiluo had only seen photos of fitness bloggers online when Liu Chengxu walked over. She bit the hem of her shirt and took Su Zhiluo's hand, placing it on it.
It feels really good to the touch, and it's still warm.
Su Zhiluo had just opened her mouth to say "Not bad" when she looked up and saw Liu Chengxu. She was startled to see that Liu Chengxu's eyes were wet with tears.
She was about to pull her hand back when Liu Chengxu pressed it down.
Su Zhiluo's fingertips were still lingering on that firm, warm surface when Liu Chengxu's palm covered hers, pressing her down firmly.
"Don't avoid me." Liu Chengxu's voice was lower and husky than usual, his breath gently brushing against Su Zhiluo's ear. "Petting your little dog is fine."
Su Zhiluo could clearly feel the slight undulation of the skin beneath her palm, trembling gently with each breath. Liu Chengxu's eyelashes drooped wetly, casting small shadows beneath his eyes, and those eyes, which always held a smile, were now filled with too much desire.
"You..." Su Zhiluo had just opened her mouth when Liu Chengxu gently rested his forehead on her shoulder.
This dependent posture left Su Zhilu frozen in place. Her faint shampoo scent mingled with the slight sweat from her workout.
Liu Chengxu held her wrist, guiding her palm to slowly move across his skin. The temperature gradually rose where their skin touched, and Su Zhiluo's pulse pounded fiercely under Liu Chengxu's fingertips.
"Can you feel it?" Liu Chengxu asked softly, his breath warming Su Zhiluo's shoulder line through the thin fabric.
Su Zhiluo was speechless. She should push away this overly intimate distance, but her fingers involuntarily curled slightly, as if trying to memorize the direction of every inch of their lines.
A distant rumble of thunder sounded outside the window, as if pressing pause on this overly quiet afternoon. Liu Chengxu finally loosened his grip slightly, but didn't completely let go of her hand.
Their eyes met in the dim light, and something fragile seemed to float in the air. Liu Chengxu's eyes still bore traces of red.
Su Zhiluo hummed in agreement and withdrew her hand, but Liu Chengxu didn't. She held Su Zhiluo's hand and said, "May I kiss you?"
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The puppy will do it again and again, as long as he can. [Go for it!][Go for it!] You know, his brain will be eaten by horny worms.
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