Chapter 48 Palm Print: Does he know which position makes you more comfortable? ...
Without a doubt, Chu Jingnian's proposal was very tempting.
Su Ming knew very well that Ning Jiu agreed to be with him more out of practical considerations than out of love. She thought he felt the same way, but that was not actually the case.
Su Ming has always been a top student in everyone's eyes since childhood, the kind of child that other people admire. However, he doesn't always obey his family. He could have dealt with his parents' arranged blind dates in other ways. The fact that he and Ning Jiu ended up in their current relationship was more of a choice on his part.
Over the years, they have grown from ordinary classmates into friends who can confide in each other. Su Ming can keenly sense that Ning Jiu is no longer as distant from him as she was when they first met, and subconsciously shows concern and care for him.
—What if they can keep going like this?
Su Ming greedily thought that even if she didn't fall in love with him yet, given enough time, she would get used to his presence. Then, they could be like other couples, holding hands, hugging, and even doing more intimate things...
Stop, what are you thinking?
Su Ming was surprised that Chu Jingnian's few words had stirred up his deep-seated desires, and after weighing the pros and cons, he politely declined.
"Forget it, my girlfriend isn't really interested in this kind of thing," he said, his words still carrying an unconscious possessive tone towards Ningjiu. "Thank you for your kind offer, but we won't participate."
Watching Su Ming's departing figure, Chu Jingnian's previously upturned lips returned to their flat state.
He pressed the silver earphone button in his left ear.
"I did as you said, but he didn't take the bait."
"Where's the ring?"
A calm male voice came from the other end of the line, and Chu Jingnian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
What ring?
A soft chuckle came from the other end of the earpiece; Qiao Bolin's voice was calm.
"It's nothing, the event will proceed as planned."
Although Chu Jingnian didn't understand what he was talking about, he still did as he was told, since Qiao Bolin was not only his cousin but also his boss.
Hearing that a mysterious segment had been added, the crowd grew increasingly lively. At first, there were some lighthearted activities, such as drawing wish cards and couples answering questions. But as the atmosphere reached its climax, a staff member grinned mischievously and walked through the crowd with a microphone, somehow ending up handing it directly to Su Ming.
"That gentleman answered very well. Now it's this gentleman's turn." The host skillfully cued the flow of the conversation, smiling as he tossed the topic to him, "If you had the chance, what would you most like to say to this beautiful lady beside you?"
The lights suddenly shone on Su Ming from all around, making him feel dizzy.
In psychology, there is a term called the suggestion effect.
Although the host did not explicitly state what to answer, after the previous couples expressed their hopes and vows for each other, the answer was almost implicitly ingrained in everyone's minds.
If it were the usual Su Ming, he would probably have casually picked an unimportant topic to laugh it off. However, Chu Jingnian's meaningful words earlier made him feel an uncontrollable resentment. This resentment was magnified under the convergence of countless eyes and lights, and his chest heaved violently. As if guided by something, he wanted to say the wish that he had longed for in his heart.
If he had been a little braver and more direct, would Ning Jiu have expressed her feelings for him too? Perhaps they would have already fallen for each other and taken things a step further.
I wanted to say...
If we had a choice, we could become more important to each other; if we could be the only one, that would be best.
The words were already on his throat when he was gently bumped, and a small, hard object fell from his suit pocket to the ground. The object was so small that it should have been hard to notice, but now that the spotlight was on Su Ming, everyone looked at his panicked eyes and saw that it was a rather large engagement ring.
The room fell silent briefly, then erupted into even louder applause and cheers than before.
Couple, spotlight, engagement ring.
It's self-evident what Su Ming wants to do next.
The girl who had been holding his arm looked at him, her beautiful light-colored eyes more dazzling than the lamplight.
Perhaps because the lights were too bright, Su Ming was momentarily dazed after speaking. When he regained his senses, he had already picked up the ring that had fallen to the ground.
The atmosphere grew increasingly agitated, pink balloons floated in the air, and shouts of "Say yes!" in German echoed throughout the hall, propelling them towards the center of the stage like a tidal wave.
Ning Jiu maintained a calm demeanor throughout, but only Pei Yueli could see that the light in her eyes had turned completely cold.
To Pei Yueli's surprise, after a near-silent period of silence, Ning Jiu did not refuse or resist in any way, and even tightened her grip on Su Ming's arm slightly.
Amidst cheers and blessings, everyone watched as Su Ming slipped the ring onto Ning Jiu's finger. Some even took photos to commemorate the moment. After the couple finished their interview, they retreated to the stairwell. Su Ming swallowed hard, his gaze towards Ning Jiu burning with unprecedented intensity. Just as he was about to say something, she spoke first.
"Have you been drinking?"
Su Ming stood there, stunned. The joy that had welled up because Ning Jiu had tacitly agreed to wear the ring gradually turned into unease. He subconsciously reached out to hold Ning Jiu's hand, but she dodged away.
“You don’t smell of alcohol,” Ning Jiu said, much more rational than Su Ming, whose emotions had been volatile today. “What did that silver-haired man say to you? Why do you have a ring in your pocket?”
"......What's the meaning?"
The fervor created by the banquet and activities gradually dissipated at this moment, and Su Ming vaguely sensed that something was amiss. However, compared to these minor details, he was more concerned about Ning Jiu's attitude.
“I met a kid selling jewelry before I entered the winery, and I immediately felt it would suit you perfectly, so I wanted to buy it for you,” his voice trembled slightly. “I thought you accepted it because you liked it too—”
"......sorry."
Hearing Su Ming's choked voice, Ning Jiu could only utter these three words.
She wouldn't do anything to embarrass Su Ming.
Whether as a contractual partner or a friend I've known for four years.
But that's all.
The more overjoyed she was when the crowd surrounded her on stage and put the ring on her finger, the more dejected she felt now when she spoke of it.
The stairwell was stuffy and stagnant. Su Ming suppressed the immense sense of loss surging in his chest and still restrained himself by letting Ning Jiu return to the lobby first to avoid her getting too hot.
When he returned to the first floor, he almost instinctively went straight to the champagne bar and drank bottle after bottle. Qian Mingzhi, who was next to him, witnessed the phenomenal romantic scene that was comparable to a marriage proposal. He assumed that Su Ming had achieved his wish and was so excited that he drank so excessively. He congratulated him with half envy and half jealousy.
Turning around, he saw that Su Ming looked dazed, his face flushed from the strong effects of the alcohol, and he had an indescribable sense of loneliness.
-
A day later, Ning Jiu saw Qiao Bolin again in the corridor on the second floor of the winery.
The furnishings on both sides of the corridor were so grand that they were almost dazzling. The entire wall was covered with famous European paintings, and a thick, dark red carpet was laid underfoot, so that even the sound of footsteps was swallowed up when you walked.
Yu Kelin was walking beside Qiao Bolin when he saw a girl in a light pink dress running towards him as he turned the corner. He subconsciously tried to catch a glimpse of another slender figure behind her, but the woman he expected did not appear.
Just as I was feeling disappointed, I suddenly heard a loud "smack" sound beside me.
Qiao Bolin's sculpted features were slapped so hard by the girl that his head was turned slightly to the side. A striking red mark appeared on his fair cheek almost instantly, and the ring left a bright bloodstain on his skin.
The entire corridor was so quiet it was almost deathly still.
Ning Jiu's slap was merciless. Although it landed on Qiao Bolin's face, her own palm burned with pain. Her eyes were slightly red, whether from grievance or pain. Qiao Bolin's gaze fell on her flushed eyes, and his index finger trembled slightly. He stopped himself from wiping away the tears in her eyes.
"Are you even human?" She stood right in front of him, tears welling in her eyes, accusing him because of another man. "With so many people around, did you even consider the impact on Su Ming if things got out of control?"
On the short journey from the conference estate to the winery, Su Ming happened to encounter a jewelry vendor along the way, and during the crowded event, the ring was bumped into and fell out of his pocket.
What a coincidence!
Joel Berlin maintained this tilted-head posture, the light casting shadows over his high brow bone, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Yu Kelin observed that the situation was not right and withdrew from the battlefield in time. He then pulled Lian Zhuoxun, who wanted to go forward, downstairs together, leaving only Qiao Bolin and Ning Jiu in the entire second-floor corridor.
Ning Jiu's chest was still heaving violently from the emotional turmoil. She had thought the man would be evasive, but to her surprise, he quickly admitted it.
"Is that why you agreed to his request?"
She was taken aback. She wanted to explain, but then she thought, who is Qiao Bolin to her now? Why should she explain to him?
"Yes, we were already at this point."
If he could plan and orchestrate such a meticulously crafted show to test her, Ning Jiu didn't believe he couldn't find out the timeline of her relationship with Su Ming.
"Should I thank you, Joe Bolin?" The exhaustion of the past few days had turned into unspeakable resentment. She used every sharp and biting word she could muster to pierce through his facade. The outcome no longer mattered. "Today's opportunity was perfect, saving us all those tedious procedures. I was actually wondering when he would propose to me—"
"What good will it do you to provoke me?" he abruptly interrupted her.
“I did not provoke you, and besides, how could I possibly provoke you?”
Just like now, Qiao Bolin's face remained as calm as ever, while Ning Jiu's eyes grew even colder as she laughed in anger.
"I am thanking you for saving us trouble and for allowing lovers to be together in the end."
Her words fell softly to the ground, but no one responded, and the pent-up emotions seemed to dissipate somewhat.
Originally, he just wanted to completely break ties with Qiao Bolin, but he managed to control his emotions even better than he did in high school. Just by looking at his indifferent face, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.
"Finished?" he asked, posing his third question of the day.
"...That's all."
Ning Jiu let out a soft breath, her rationality returning, and belatedly realized how dangerous her actions had been.
She subtly took a few steps back to create distance between them, secretly relieved that he hadn't done anything. The surroundings were eerily quiet. She turned to leave, her high heels clicking on the floor. One step, two steps...
Suddenly, someone grabbed my waist.
"Now that you've finished speaking, it's my turn."
Ning Jiu was carried to the elevator by Qiao Bolin.
Having learned from her previous experience, Ning Jiu jerked her elbow back, trying to use the momentum to break free from his arms. However, he was prepared and moved even faster, lifting her higher and firmly gripping her waist with his shoulder while his other hand subtly held her calf, leaving her no room to escape.
With a ding, the elevator doors closed, and Qiao Bolin put him down. The next instant, a rich sandalwood scent filled the air.
"Your boyfriend..." She chuckled softly and corrected herself, "Oh, no, I mean your fiancé—"
The expensive shirt subtly outlined the man's lean and powerful waistline. In the cramped elevator space, Ning Jiu had nowhere to retreat. The moment their chests collided, he keenly sensed the change in Qiao Bolin's body.
She heard him ask.
"Does your fiancé know which positions make you feel better?"
This time, Ning Jiu couldn't utter a word of protest.
His breath and lips relentlessly invaded her mouth, his tongue swiftly probing in, precisely hooking and licking that familiar corner, the wet sounds echoing through the silent elevator, even the faint, seductive echoes could be heard.
Whether it was anger or something else, Ning Jiu felt her ears and cheeks burning hot. She frantically pushed against his hot chest with both hands, but he grabbed her wrists, forcefully pried open her fingers, and intertwined his fingers with hers tightly.
The sensation between her legs grew stronger. She wanted to escape, but Qiao Bolin acted first. His forceful attack with his lips and teeth feigned a slowdown, waiting for Ning Jiu to lower her guard before his long, slender fingers silently moved to the back of her neck, finding a sensitive spot and pressing it unexpectedly—
Ning Jiu let out a soft groan, her legs went weak, and she was pulled into his arms.
The warm, moist breath still lingered in her mouth. Taking advantage of the gaps in her disordered breathing, his tongue penetrated deeper, stirring her tongue and creating a soft, sticky sound. The overflowing saliva slid down the corners of her lips, only to be roughly licked back by him. Her lips were numb from the kiss, almost devoid of feeling.
This kiss was undoubtedly filled with a strong sense of catharsis, both of them.
Ning Jiu initially tried to silently resist Qiao Bolin with her lips and tongue, but her mind gradually became blurred. Her saliva was forcefully pulled out by him and spilled out uncontrollably. He occupied all her senses, and the kneading and pressing on the back of her neck was sometimes light and sometimes heavy, as if he had gripped her lifeline.
It seems that, just as he said, he knows her body all too well.
More noticeable than the suppressed gasps in her throat was the physiological reaction of her body gradually softening. With another ding, the elevator reached the top floor and opened. Only then did Qiao Bolin release the long, suffocating kiss. Ning Jiu, like someone who had been forcibly pulled out of a vacuum, began to breathe greedily and urgently.
She was rendered dazed by the kiss, her lips tingling, her once clear, light eyes now blurred with moisture, yet she still insisted on speaking to him.
"Let me go..."
"Okay, I'll let you go."
He released his grip on her chin, his tone polite, gentle, and calm.
Then Ning Jiu heard the sound of the top-floor suite door being locked.
She no longer believed anything Joel Bolton said!
With no strength left in her body, Ning Jiu let Qiao Bolin do as he pleased. At first, she thought it was because he had kissed her too hard, but when he carried her toward the master bedroom, she realized something was wrong.
"The cherry pudding from earlier..." Her voice, already soft, became even more intoxicating, as if infused with alcohol, "Joe Bolin, how can you be so cunning..."
When I was eating the pudding, I noticed that besides the cherry flavor I liked, there was an indescribable sweetness. Now that I think about it, it was clearly the taste of brandy.
Knowing that she rarely drinks and has a low alcohol tolerance, easily becoming disoriented, weak-kneed, and blushing after just a little, yet he had tasted the sweetness of alcohol a few days ago, and today he set a trap for her. How could this person be so wicked?
Qiao Bolin leaned down to look at her. After their intense kiss, her once-delicate lipstick was now a mess, and there were still some ambiguous, wet traces on the corners of her lips, with fine strands of saliva, which looked particularly enchanting under the light.
Qiao Bolin only took all her rebukes and resistance as flirting.
"Have you ever acted like that in front of him?"
The sudden appearance of "him" caused Ning Jiu to pause slightly. Right now, she only wanted to infuriate him and didn't care about anything else.
"He's my boyfriend, don't you think?"
He understood her, and she understood him too; Ning Jiu relentlessly poked at his most sensitive sore spot.
"What position can make me feel good..." she sneered, the ring on her right middle finger gleaming under the light. "He knows more about me than you do, Joe Bolin."
"We've only slept together a few times, don't think you know so much about my body—"
Feeling his hand, which was holding her waist, gradually move down, and her soft area being kneaded, Ning Jiu bit her lip to suppress the soft moan that was about to escape her lips, and finished saying her last harsh words.
"And," he said, emphasizing each word, "his work is much better than yours."
In an instant.
The air inside the suite was extremely cold.
Qiao Bolin tightened his grip on Ning Jiu's hand and then loosened it, a crack finally appearing in his indifferent expression.
Before Ning Jiu could catch her breath, she felt his footsteps suddenly change direction and head towards the master bedroom's bathroom.
Her delicate skin became scalding hot under his repeated kneading, and the soreness brought out by his strength was not just intoxication, but also his ever-deepening teasing.
The showerhead suddenly gushed out, water droplets splashing and hitting the tiles, creating a humid, steamy atmosphere between the two of them.
Their clothes were quickly soaked through. Joel Berlin's shirt was washed almost transparent, the fabric taut against his shoulders, back and waist, revealing his well-defined abdominal muscles.
He put Ning Jiu down, not giving her a chance to catch her breath, and then pressed against her. The rushing water was deformed by their pressure. Ning Jiu's back was pressed against the cold shower glass, her chest pressed tightly against his. Their rapid breaths intertwined in the close proximity, as if they could hear each other's uncontrollable heartbeats.
In the damp air, water droplets slid down his defined jawline and landed right on her collarbone, scalding her so much that she gasped for breath.
He gave her the first smile since their reunion, a smile as gentle and doting as when they were dating in high school.
"Then let's give it a try, me or him, and see who makes you feel better."
-----------------------
Author's note: Qiao Bolin is going to be furious, haha.
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The next chapter will be updated at 9 PM on Thursday. Please try to come on time, everyone! The plot of the third synopsis is... [heart emoji]
I've already informed you all that I've been quite busy lately, and my stockpile of chapters is almost gone. I won't be updating on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but I will update from Thursday to Monday at 9 PM.
I'll be giving out red envelopes on Thursday, so please leave lots of comments, my darlings! Love you all~
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