36 Chapter 36
◎This time...don't push me away◎
After chatting for a while, Sang Xinqi returned to the studio. She temporarily put aside Xu Jianian's conversation with her and focused on the work at hand.
Before she knew it, the clock had already pointed to twelve o'clock. Sang Xinqi packed up her things and walked to the door of the studio. She found Xu Jianian leaning against the car waiting for her. When he saw her come out, a gentle smile appeared on Xu Jianian's face.
"I found a great new restaurant nearby," Xu Jianian suggested, "Would you like to go try it together?"
Sang Xinqi thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."
Seeing that she agreed, Xu Jianian considerately opened the passenger door.
Sang Xinqi was about to get on the bus when she saw a bouquet of beautifully wrapped white roses on the seat. She was slightly stunned and turned to look at Xu Jianian.
Xu Jianian raised an eyebrow and said cheerfully, "This is for you."
Sang Xinqi carefully picked up the bouquet and got into the car, placing the flowers gently on her knees. Xu Jianian closed the car door, walked around to the other side and sat in the driver's seat. The bouquet in his arms exuded a delicate fragrance, and Sang Xinqi's guess was confirmed at this moment.
"Why did you suddenly send me flowers?" she asked casually.
Xu Jianian didn't start the car immediately. Instead, he turned to her, his eyes focused. "What do you think of me?"
Sang Xinqi's heart tightened. She lowered her head and stroked the petals. "As a friend, you're very good."
A hint of disappointment flashed across Xu Jianian's eyes, but he quickly smiled again, "What if we were lovers?"
Sang Xinqi forced a smile, "He's also very good, but...Xu Jianian, I already have someone I like."
She took a deep breath. "Actually, I had a vague feeling about your feelings before, but you didn't say it clearly, and I didn't dare to bring it up on my own initiative, for fear of appearing too self-indulgent. So I've been looking for opportunities to keep some distance from you, but I didn't expect that before I could..."
Xu Jianian smiled bitterly and said, "I was rejected before I even officially confessed my feelings."
Sang Xinqi pursed her lips and looked at him apologetically.
"If we had met earlier," Xu Jia asked in a young voice, "would you have fallen in love with me?"
Sang Xinqi thought about it seriously and said, "You are so outstanding, have high emotional intelligence, and are handsome. Maybe."
Xu Jianian smiled with relief, "Fortunately, I was mentally prepared for rejection in advance, otherwise I would be even more upset now."
His tone was relaxed, but he couldn't hide the loneliness in his eyes.
Sang Xinqi looked at him, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the bouquet in her arms, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Xu Jianian turned his head, his eyes calm and teasing, "I think, if we can't be lovers, being friends is still okay, right, Sang Xinqi?"
Sang Xinqi was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Okay."
"Let's make a deal, don't alienate me because of this," he half-jokingly raised a finger and shook it gently. "After all, we're in the same industry and we'll need to work together in the future. If we join forces, maybe we can carve out a niche in the fashion world."
Sang Xinqi was amused by him and her brows relaxed, "Okay."
"Let's go and have dinner," Xu Jianian retracted his gaze and started the car.
Sang Xinqi nodded, and the street scene outside the window slowly receded. The sunlight shone through the glass between the two of them. The atmosphere was no longer tense, but instead had a bit more tacit peace.
-
As dusk fell, Sang Xinqi wrapped her coat tightly around her as she walked out of the studio. She immediately spotted Liao Yishen's tall figure standing at the door. She waved goodbye to her colleagues and quickly walked towards him, her tone tinged with heartache. "Why didn't you text me first? It's so cold outside."
Liao Yishen looked at her softly, "I just arrived not long ago."
He answered briefly, taking her bag.
Sang Xinqi let out an "ow" and watched him considerately open the car door.
As she got into the car, warmth instantly enveloped her whole body. Liao Yishen walked around to the driver's seat and leaned over to help her fasten her seat belt. The familiar faint scent of osmanthus lingered around her nose.
"Where are we going to eat?" Sang Xinqi asked, tilting her head.
"Let's go home and eat," Liao Yishen started the car in a low voice.
"Okay," she murmured softly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the seat belt.
The neon lights outside the car window flickered in the silence of the two people.
Soon, the car stopped in front of the community supermarket.
Liao Yishen pushed the shopping cart and tilted his head to ask, "What do you want to eat?"
"How about fried pork ribs?" Sang Xinqi suggested thoughtfully.
Liao Yishen nodded and carefully selected some spare ribs from the meat section. He also picked up a fresh fish. Sang Xinqi added, "Let's add some bitter melon and scrambled eggs."
"Okay," he responded simply, with indulgence in his voice.
Back at Liao Yishen's house, the two of them went into the kitchen tacitly.
He put on an apron and prepared the ingredients, while she washed the vegetables with one hand and prepared the ingredients. The sounds of running water and cutting vegetables intertwined in the misty steam, which sounded like the daily life of an ordinary couple.
The food was quickly served. Liao Yishen turned around to get some wine, but Sang Xinqi gently held his wrist and said, "Don't drink today. I can't drink either."
He paused, "I drank it."
"You can't drink either," Sang Xinqi remembered that Jiang Xun told her that Liao Yishen couldn't drink, and her attitude became a little tougher.
He finally nodded obediently, "Okay."
The table was unusually quiet.
Sang Xinqi nibbled at her rice, her eyes constantly glancing at the silent man across from her. The spare ribs were fragrant and flavorful, the bitter melon crisp and refreshing, but her mind wasn't on the food at all. What exactly did Liao Yishen want to talk to her about? This suspense, like a kitten, kept tickling her mind.
After dinner, Sang Xinqi stood up as usual to clean up the dishes, but Liao Yishen gently stopped her, "Sit down for a while, I'll go wash them."
His voice was low and gentle.
Sang Xinqi was slightly stunned, and the chopsticks in her hand fell to the table. "Well... okay."
She pursed her lips, her tone somewhat unnaturally casual.
The floor lamp in the living room cast a warm glow. Sang Xinqi curled up on the sofa, her eyes unconsciously following the busy figure in the kitchen. The sound of running water was gurgling, and his back looked particularly tall and straight under the light.
I don’t know how long it took, but Liao Yishen returned to the living room with the cut fruits. Crystal clear water droplets were still rolling on the fruit flesh, sparkling with an attractive luster under the light.
"Thank you," Sang Xinqi poked a piece of Hami melon with a toothpick, and the sweet juice bloomed on the tip of her tongue.
She suddenly put down the toothpick, turned her head and looked him straight in the eyes, "Liao Yishen, didn't you say you wanted to talk to me? I've been waiting all night, and you're so patient."
Liao Yishen sat down beside her, and the sofa sank slightly.
His slender fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the glass coffee table, "I'm thinking...how to start."
"What takes so long to think about?" Sang Xinqi raised her hand and picked up a toothpick to play with it, unconsciously holding her breath.
Under the warm yellow light, Liao Yishen's outline appeared particularly deep. He spoke slowly, his voice hesitant, "I'm considering... whether I should start over with you."
Sang Xinqi's heart skipped a beat, and the toothpick in her hand fell to the coffee table with a "clack". She leaned forward eagerly, almost touching his arm, "Really? So... have you thought it through?"
Liao Yishen looked deeply into her eyes, "Can I... trust you again?"
"Of course!" Sang Xinqi answered without hesitation, and moved closer, close enough that she could smell the faint scent of osmanthus on him.
"If..." Liao Yishen's voice suddenly became difficult, "If we encounter the same situation again, will you still... give up on me?"
This question was like a heavy hammer, and Sang Xinqi's breathing stopped. The memories of eight years ago came flooding back like a tide. On the day of their breakup, her resolute back and cruel words of rejection kept replaying in her mind.
"No," she said softly but firmly, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the corner of her clothes.
She unilaterally ended the relationship on the grounds that she "didn't want to delay him."
Long-distance relationships are too difficult, and she has no confidence in herself. But over the years, whenever it is late at night and everyone is asleep, those deliberately suppressed emotions always quietly emerge.
It was not until the day of reunion that she realized that the feelings had never really disappeared, but were just carefully hidden in the softest corner of her heart.
"Sang Xinqi, do you know... I've tried many times over the years." His gaze was scorching and deep, as if he wanted to carve her into his eyes. He slowly raised his hand, gently brushing the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, his voice low and hoarse, "But I just can't forget you, even though you've abandoned me..."
Hearing this, Sang Xinqi felt a pang of pain in her nose, and her chest felt like something was gripping her tightly. She reached out and grasped his wrist, her fingertips trembling slightly. "I'm sorry... I was too self-righteous, thinking that giving up was the best thing for you..."
Liao Yishen didn't let her finish her words. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist with such force that it seemed as if he wanted to rub her into his bones and blood. Sang Xinqi buried her face in his shoulder. The familiar body temperature and breath made her eyes warm, and tears silently rolled down her face.
"This time..." His voice was low and trembling slightly, "Don't push me away again."
Sang Xinqi shook her head desperately, put her arms around his neck, and choked with sobs, "No... Never again..."
Liao Yishen closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were as dark as ink. He held the back of her neck and lowered his head to kiss her.
This kiss was filled with longing and desire that had been suppressed for many years, it was hot and lingering. Sang Xinqi raised her head in response, her fingertips sinking deeply into his clothes, as if she was afraid that he would disappear in the next second. As their lips and teeth intertwined, their breathing became disordered, but neither of them wanted to separate.
After a long time, he slightly moved away, resting his forehead against hers, his breathing still a little rapid. "No matter what we encounter in the future, we will face it together, okay?"
Sang Xinqi nodded with red eyes, and gently traced his eyebrows with her fingertips, "Okay, I promise."
Liao Yishen hummed softly and held her in his arms again.
This time, his strength was gentle yet firm, as if he had finally found a long-lost treasure.
-
When she woke up in the morning, Sang Xinqi was still a little dazed. She couldn't believe that she and Liao Yishen had reconciled, and it was he who took the initiative to bring it up.
The more I thought about it, the happier I became. I couldn't help but laugh several times while washing up.
After getting dressed, Sang Xinqi waited in the living room. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. She happily went to open the door, and when she saw Liao Yishen standing there, she couldn't help but smile, her eyes especially bright, "Good morning, Liao Yishen.
The man standing at the door was wearing a black coat with a sharp suit underneath, but his features softened when he heard her greeting. He reached out and brushed her emerald hair away from her forehead, then whispered a long-lost greeting, "Good morning, Sangsang."
Sang Xinqi's breathing stopped. Her relatives and friends all called her "Sangsang", but when she heard the word "Sangsang" from his mouth, her heart beat wildly.
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