Chapter 68
In the hotel suite, Ling Yao placed the potato and pork rib soup he'd packed on the coffee table. Next to it was the bottle of strawberry milk he'd bought from the convenience store, still dripping with icy water. He fidgeted, glancing at the door from time to time, his brow thick with guilt and anxiety.
Finally, there was the sound of a card being swiped at the door. Su Rui walked in, her face pale and her expression calm, yet with an unconcealable tiredness and depression.
"Su Rui!" Ling Yao immediately went up to her, his tone anxious and full of apology, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry! In that situation just now, I..."
Su Rui raised her head, looked at him, shook her head gently, and interrupted him: "It's okay, I understand." His voice was soft, without any blame, but there was a hint of heartbreaking alienation in his understanding. "You handled it well. I'm glad you didn't get caught."
This overly sensible attitude was like a needle, piercing Ling Yao's heart even more deeply. He would rather Su Rui scold him or lose her temper than endure it silently.
"No," Ling Yao grabbed his wrist, his tone more urgent, "I shouldn't have left you there alone... I was... I was only thinking about how to cover it up as quickly as possible. I was afraid that if I looked at it for one more moment, people would notice... I..." He was a little incoherent, and it was the first time he looked so flustered and clumsy in front of Su Rui.
Su Rui looked at his genuinely guilty expression, and the slight sense of grievance and coldness in his heart gradually gave way to heartache. He gently patted the back of Ling Yao's hand with his backhand, revealing a somewhat forced smile: "It's really okay. Let's eat first."
Ling Yao looked at him, took a deep breath, suppressed his surging emotions, and nodded.
The two of them sat in silence at the coffee table, unpacking their takeaway spinal bone soup. The atmosphere was a bit dull, but Ling Yao struggled to find a conversation, clumsily helping Su Rui with some meat and describing how the boss had given her an extra side dish when she took the food home. Su Rui listened quietly, nodding occasionally.
After finishing the soup, Ling Yao picked up the bottle of strawberry milk, unscrewed the lid, and handed it to Su Rui, his eyes filled with cautious expectation: "This is for you."
Su Rui took it, the cool touch passing through the bottle to his palm. He lowered his head and took a sip. The sour, sweet, and cool taste of the milkshake instantly spread in his mouth, alleviating the greasiness of the food and the bitterness in his heart.
"Is it delicious?" Ling Yao asked softly, his eyes following him closely.
"Hmm," Su Rui nodded, took another sip, and finally raised the corners of her mouth. "Just like you said, sour and sweet."
Ling Yao looked at the pinkish-white milk stain on his lips, and saw his brows finally relaxed. He slowly approached, stretched out his fingers, and gently wiped away the milk stain.
Su Rui was slightly startled and looked up at him.
Their eyes met, the air filled with the sweet aroma of strawberry milk and a silent surge of emotion. Ling Yao's gaze was deep, filled with lingering apology and an unwavering love.
He lowered his head, and his warm lips gently covered Su Rui's lips, which still smelled of the sweet scent of strawberry milk.
The kiss started out tentative and compensatory, gentle and cherished. But soon, the fear, guilt, and profound love that had been suppressed all night surged forth, becoming deep and lingering. The sweet and sour aroma of strawberry milk mingled between their lips, as if completely obliterating and melting away the unpleasant episode at the market.
Su Rui closed her eyes, feeling this kiss filled with complex emotions and the sweetness of strawberries, and the last bit of resentment in her heart finally dissipated. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Ling Yao's neck, responding awkwardly but firmly.
After the kiss, their foreheads touched, their breathing quickened. "I'm sorry..." Ling Yao whispered again, his voice hoarse. "Yeah..." Su Rui responded softly, closing her eyes, "I understand."
No more words were needed. All the grievances, apologies, understanding, and love melted into this strawberry-flavored kiss and tight embrace. The city outside the window was still noisy, but in this room, they once again had a quiet and complete world that belonged only to each other.
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