Chapter 63 "Chu Yi, you are not obedient." (!!!)
Zhou Ai opened the passenger door, held the roof and let Chu Yi get in first, then he went around to the driver's seat.
The interior lights automatically came on, casting a soft glow. He fastened his seatbelt, then turned sideways and carefully took the large bouquet of Roselle roses from Chu Yi's arms, gently placing it on the back seat, making sure it wouldn't fall over or get squeezed.
Chu Yi followed his movements and looked over, his eyes falling on the petals that were gently fading into pink and white. In the dim light of the back seat, they appeared even more tranquil and beautiful.
He suddenly spoke, his voice remarkably clear in the closed compartment, carrying his characteristic calmness: "Do you know the language of this flower?"
Zhou Ai just sat up straight, and was stunned for a moment when he heard the words. He answered subconsciously: "Ah? Flower language? The little girl selling flowers just told me."
He touched his nose sheepishly and tried to recall, "But I was so happy that I only seem to remember waiting...hoping and stuff like that. I can't quite remember it all."
Chu Yi didn't speak immediately. He simply tilted his head slightly, the soft light from the carriage casting a faint shadow on his sharply defined profile. His long eyelashes drooped, as if he was considering something.
After a few seconds of silence, he slowly sat up straight and turned completely to Zhou Ai.
Zhou Ai couldn't help but meet his gaze. Chu Yi's eyes looked particularly deep under the light from inside the car, calm yet possessing a power that drew one in.
Chu Yi looked at him, and his low and clear voice rang out word by word, striking Zhou Ai's heart in the quiet carriage:
"Reserve, believe, wait..."
He spoke slowly, and pronounced each word clearly and seriously, as if he was not repeating the language of flowers but making some kind of solemn confirmation.
After saying these three words, he paused slightly.
The air in the car seemed to stagnate at this moment.
Zhou Ai held his breath, his heart beating uncontrollably. He had a premonition that there was something more important to say.
He saw Chu Yi's eyes looking straight into his, and the usual alienation and calmness in his eyes had faded a lot.
And he vaguely heard Chu Yi's low voice, slowly adding the last sentence:
"I had no intention of offending Jinghong, but Jinghong has entered my heart."
This ancient and romantic line of poetry, when spoken from his mouth, had no affectation at all, but instead carried a cold and sincere shock.
It is no longer the cold words on the book, but has been given a concrete and vivid meaning - it is the flower language of Roselle, and it seems... it also contains some kind of indescribable state of mind.
"I had no intention of provoking Jinghong" - I had no intention of provoking Zhou Ai, I just wanted to keep the heart-warming beauty of our first encounter in Florence in my heart forever.
"How can I stop the stunning figure from entering my heart" - How can I stop the stunning figure from entering my heart.
Zhou Ai was completely stunned.
He stared at Chu Yi in a daze, his brain seemed to have crashed, unable to process the sudden and huge amount of information that far exceeded his expectations.
All the blood rushed to the top of my head, my ears and cheeks became hot in an instant, and my heartbeat was so loud that it almost drowned out all the sounds of the world outside the car window.
He opened his mouth, but no syllable came out. All his eloquence was ineffective at this moment.
He just looked at Chu Yi stupidly and in disbelief, looking at the other's eyes that were still calm but seemed to contain endless meaning.
Chu Yi...is this the way he responds to him?
Respond to his previous uneasiness, respond to his passionate approach, respond to all his cautious love?
This flower language, spoken from Chu Yi's mouth, made Zhou Ai's heart beat faster and her face moved more than any straightforward "I like you too".
Neither of them spoke for a long time, maintaining this just the right amount of ambiguous atmosphere.
It was unknown how long it took before Chu Yi slowly turned around and looked ahead. "Aren't you going to take me home? If you don't drive now, it might delay your trip tomorrow."
This sentence was like a switch, instantly awakening Zhou Ai from his petrified state.
"Ah? Oh! Yes! Drive! Drive now!" Zhou Ai woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly started the car. His movements seemed a little clumsy due to excitement, and he almost pressed the wrong button.
The engine started smoothly and the vehicle slowly drove into the night.
Zhou Ai gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, staring straight ahead, trying to appear to be driving seriously. However, his slightly trembling fingertips, his still red ears, and the corners of his mouth that couldn't help but curl upwards completely betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Zhou Ai almost relied on muscle memory and strong willpower to drive the car smoothly to the destination that Chu Yi mentioned.
Along the way, he deliberately drove to the lowest speed limit, just to prolong this short time they were in the car together.
Inside the car, the two chatted idly about trivial matters, such as the night view outside the car or a dish they had just had. However, the subtle and thrilling atmosphere in the air made every ordinary sentence seem to have a different meaning.
However, no matter how slow you drive, the road will end.
The car finally slowly stopped at the door of the destination. Zhou Ai's heart sank and a strong feeling of reluctance surged up.
After this separation, he couldn't even find a suitable reason to contact Chu Yi.
On the other side, Chu Yi had already unbuckled his seat belt, and the metal buckle made a crisp "click" sound, which was particularly clear in this suddenly quiet and narrow space.
He turned his head and looked at Zhou Ai, who seemed to be a little dazed, and said in a calm tone: "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
"Huh? Tomorrow?" Zhou Ai snapped back to reality, like a primary school student who was distracted in class and suddenly called on. He subconsciously sat up straight, "No, I don't have any new plans recently."
Chu Yi nodded upon hearing this, and calmly glanced at the dim street lights outside the car window. Then he turned back to look at Zhou Ai, and in a natural tone, he made an invitation that almost made Zhou Ai's heart stop:
"Then, let's go to my house and sit together."
This sentence was said so calmly and so naturally, as if it was as simple as inviting a neighbor to visit.
But to Zhou Ai's ears, it was no less than a thunderclap!
Go... go to Chu Yi's house? Now?!
A huge, unbelievable ecstasy instantly swept over him like a tsunami, the impact making his scalp numb. He felt his blood boiling, and a heat rushed to his cheeks and ears.
He almost held his breath, his eyes wide open, staring at Chu Yi without blinking, trying to find any trace of joking or reluctance on his face.
But no. Chu Yi's expression remained calm and composed, and there was even a hint of inquiry in his eyes, as if he was waiting for his answer.
"Can, can I?" Zhou Ai's voice trembled noticeably due to excessive excitement and nervousness. He even stuttered a little. "Will it... disturb you too much?"
He tried hard to appear reserved and mature, but his peach blossom eyes, which lit up instantly and sparkled with brilliant light, had already betrayed his inner ecstasy.
Chu Yi looked at him trying hard to hide his joy but couldn't, and there seemed to be a smile in his eyes.
He nodded slightly, his tone still calm: "I won't bother you. Just a cup of tea, or... you can drink something else if you want."
After receiving a positive answer, Zhou Ai felt his heart beating so fast that it was about to jump out of his chest.
He hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt, his voice rising slightly in excitement, but he quickly lowered it, trying to maintain composure: "Okay! Okay! Then... excuse me for disturbing you!"
He immediately restarted the car and, following Chu Yi's instructions, drove into the underground parking lot of the community.
Throughout the whole process, Zhou Ai's movements were brisk and joyful, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise up, and she couldn't suppress it no matter what she did.
After parking the car, Zhou Ai carefully picked up the huge bouquet of Roselle roses in the back seat, as if holding some kind of priceless pass, and followed Chu Yi obediently towards the elevator.
The elevator slowly rose, the numbers kept jumping, and Zhou Ai felt that the sound of her heartbeat was particularly clear in the quiet elevator car.
He secretly looked at Chu Yi beside him through the mirror. The other person seemed to sense his gaze and looked over at him.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
Zhou Ai was like a child who had been caught. She immediately looked away embarrassedly, her ears turned even redder, but she couldn't help but secretly curl up the corners of her mouth.
The love that was waiting for...seemed to have finally received a response.
Moreover, the response came faster and was more heart-warming than he had imagined.
———
The elevator arrived smoothly at the floor with a crisp ding. Chu Yi stepped out first, followed closely by Zhou Ai, clutching the enormous bouquet of roses. Their heartbeats seemed magnified several times in the silent corridor.
Chu Yi stopped in front of a dark gray entrance door, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and the door opened.
A warm, dry air with a faint, refreshing aroma blew towards him, forming a stark contrast to the chill outside. Zhou Ai subconsciously took a deep breath and followed Chu Yi inside.
The interior of Chu Yi's apartment is highly consistent with the impression he gives people - extremely neat, simple, calm, even a little too orderly, lacking a trace of life.
The entrance is a simple hallway, lit by a warm white light that is soft yet not dim. The living room is spacious and open, offering excellent views. The overall color scheme is elegant gray and white, with light gray art paint on the walls and matte dark gray flooring.
The furniture is sparse, but each piece is imbued with design, clean lines, and a premium feel. There's a large, dark gray modular sofa, a uniquely shaped black metal coffee table, and an open bookshelf built into the wall, neatly stacked with a wealth of books and documents, meticulously organized and organized.
There are no extra decorations, only a minimalist black aromatherapy machine placed in the corner of the bookshelf, silently emitting a faint fragrance of white tea.
Chu Yi bent down and took out a pair of brand new gray slippers from the entrance cabinet, placed them at Zhou Ai's feet, and said in a natural voice: "Change into these."
"Oh, okay, thank you." Zhou Ai responded quickly, carefully placed the bouquet against the wall temporarily, and awkwardly bent down to change his shoes. While moving, he couldn't help but quickly glance at the overly neat environment, secretly clicking his tongue in his heart.
Chu Yi naturally took the bouquet of roses, walked to the living room with the flowers, thought for a moment, and finally placed it temporarily on the small cabinet next to the sofa.
"Take a seat first," Chu Yi said to Zhou Ai, then turned and walked towards the open kitchen. The kitchen was also minimalist in style, and the kitchenware was as shiny as new, with almost no signs of use.
Zhou Ai obediently walked to the sofa and chose a seat closest to the edge. He kept his back straight and placed his hands neatly on his knees. Like a primary school student who was called to the teacher's office for the first time, he didn't dare to look around too obviously and could only observe secretly out of the corner of his eyes.
He heard the faint sound of water washing cups in the kitchen and the sound of the refrigerator opening and closing.
After a while, Chu Yi came over with a transparent glass cup with a few slices of fresh lemon and yellow lime in it. He bent down and placed the cup on the coffee table in front of Zhou Ai, "Don't drink tea at night. It affects your sleep."
"Thank you." Zhou Ai took the cup of warm lemon water with both hands. The warmth in his palms made him relax a lot.
Chu Yi turned around and casually took off his crisp dark coat. Underneath, he wore a thin cashmere sweater of the same color, which made his shoulders look straight and his figure look slimmer. He casually draped the coat over the other corner of the sofa.
Then he turned around and saw Zhou Ai, who was still sitting upright on the sofa, wearing a coat, with his cheeks even slightly red from the heat. He shook his head with a smile, but still couldn't help but remind him.
"Aren't you going to take off your coat? The heating is on full blast, isn't it hot?"
Zhou Ai suddenly reacted.
Yes! From the moment he entered the room, he was enveloped by the warmth of the room. After sitting for a few minutes, he was actually sweating on his back.
But all his attention was focused on nervousness, secret joy and secretly observing the environment. His body's perception of temperature seemed to be dulled, and he was completely unaware that he was still wrapped in a coat.
After being reminded by Chu Yi, he suddenly felt that the heat became more obvious, and his cheeks became redder. He almost put down the water cup in a panic, quickly took off his coat, and held it in his arms a little awkwardly, not knowing what to do with it.
Chu Yi looked at his embarrassed yet cute appearance, and the smile in his eyes deepened. He stretched out his hand and said naturally, "Give it to me. I'll help you hang it up."
Zhou Airu was relieved and quickly handed over the coat, muttering softly: "...Thank you, I, I didn't notice..."
Chu Yi took the coat, turned around and walked to the wardrobe in the entrance to hang it up.
Zhou Ai looked at his tall back, feeling the comfortable warmth brought by the sweater on his body, and finally relaxed a little and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He picked up the glass of lemonade and took a sip. The slightly sour taste spread across his tongue, yet it was strangely sweet to his heart.
"Just feel free to do what you want. Don't be so reserved." Chu Yi casually reminded Zhou Ai, who was still sitting upright, while walking towards the balcony connected to the living room.
The sky outside the window grew darker, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, and he could already feel the damp rain seeping in with the wind. He reached out and carefully closed the open window, blocking out the approaching wind and rain.
Zhou Ai's eyes subconsciously followed Chu Yi's movements from the living room to the balcony. His sight was drawn to a black grand piano placed in the empty space where the balcony connected to the living room.
"You can also play the piano?" Zhou Ai almost blurted out.
Hearing Zhou Ai's question, Chu Yi closed the window and turned around, his eyes falling on the piano that was rarely played. A hint of self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "To me, it can probably only be regarded as a decoration that takes up a lot of space." His tone was flat, and not much emotion could be heard.
"Can I take a look?" Zhou Ai was interested and stood up from the sofa.
"Whatever you want." Chu Yi nodded, not caring at all. He remembered that his bedroom window seemed to be open, and the wind was getting stronger outside, so he turned and walked towards the bedroom. "I'll go in and close the window."
With permission, Zhou Ai approached the piano curiously. It was in excellent condition, though lacking the marks of regular use. He casually lifted the keyboard cover, revealing the distinct black and white keys.
Almost out of musician's instinct, he stretched out his slender fingers and randomly pressed a white key in the middle.
However, the expected clear piano sound did not sound, but was replaced by a dull, strange sound as if it was stuck.
"Hmm?" Zhou Ai frowned slightly, and subconsciously wanted to reach out to open the top cover of the piano to check the internal situation.
Just as his fingers touched the lock of the top cover, before he could exert any force——
"Don't open it!"
Chu Yi's hurried voice sounded from behind.
Zhou Ai was startled by the sudden sound and paused, but due to inertia, his fingers touching the lock subconsciously exerted force.
There was a soft "click" sound.
He opened a crack in the roof.
At this moment, because the top cover was opened, the pile of things that were originally firmly pressed down by the top cover and the strings and neatly stacked inside the piano lost the pressure from above. The top few things slid out with a "crash" along the inclined angle and scattered on the bright floor.
Zhou Ai looked down subconsciously.
Scattered on the ground were several music albums that were extremely well preserved.
The cover of the top album was a face that he was very familiar with, with a bit of youthfulness and flamboyance - it was his first solo album released when he just debuted.
On the cover, there is his handwritten signature with a marker, which is a little sloppy but full of his passion at the time.
Zhou Ai's mind went blank, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly. He bent down slowly and mechanically, reaching out to pick up the album from the ground, his fingertips even trembling slightly uncontrollably.
The album is well-preserved, without a trace of creases or dust, and is obviously carefully preserved by the owner.
He turned his head sharply and looked towards the source of the sound.
Chu Yi was seen running out of the bedroom barefoot in a hurry, with panic still lingering on his face that he had not yet concealed.
He obviously didn't expect Zhou Ai to move so quickly and actually open the top cover.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to completely freeze at this moment.
The sound of rain outside the window gradually became clearer, crackling against the glass, but it further contrasted with the dead silence in the room.
Zhou Ai held up the album, exerting slight pressure with her fingertips, almost embedding them into the hard cover.
But his eyes were fixed on Chu Yi, who was standing barefoot not far away, his face pale and looking a little helpless.
Neither of them spoke. At this moment, the album in Zhou Ai's hand seemed to be holding Chu Yi's lifeline.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. His eyes, which were always calm and composed, were now filled with an unprecedented sense of helplessness.
Chu Yi's hands were tightly grasping the hem of his sweater, but he subconsciously tried to avoid Zhou Ai's burning gaze. His eyelashes were trembling violently, but his feet did not move at all, as if he was nailed to the spot.
When Zhou Ai looked at him like this, her heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it feel sore and swollen.
He took a small step forward with the album in his hand, his voice even deeper than before, and every word struck Chu Yi's tense nerves.
"Chu Yi, won't you explain?"
Chu Yi heard Zhou Ai's questioning but still couldn't say a word.
Zhou Ai's burning gaze did not move away at all, and he stared closely at any change in expression on Chu Yi's face.
As Zhou Ai's footsteps got closer, Chu Yi's body's involuntary physiological shaking became more and more intense.
The more abnormally silent Chu Yi was and the stiffer his body retreated, the clearer the vague answer became in Zhou Ai's mind.
The album in his hand is no longer just a record, but has become a dazzling trophy of victory, a piece of undoubted evidence.
"This album wasn't released in large quantities, and signed copies are even rarer. How did it end up here?"
Zhou Ai pressed on, his tone filled with inquiry and a certainty that was almost certain, "Hidden in the piano... Chu Yi, isn't this ornament of yours hidden a little too deep?"
Chu Yi took a half step back when asked by him, and his heels touched the cold wooden floor, causing a slight shudder.
He lowered his eyes and his gaze fell on the other scattered albums. Those were Zhou Ai's works from different periods, which he carefully collected like specimens in this unknown corner.
He never thought that there would be a day when the person involved would dig it out himself.
Explain? What could he explain?
Explain that he actually knew him a long time ago, long before the dressing was changed?
To explain this piano, is it more of a clumsy symbol that even he himself is unwilling to delve into than a decoration?
How to explain the phrase "A stunning beauty entered my heart"? It is not just a momentary feeling, but a seed that has already taken root and sprouted over a long period of time?
The words rolled in my throat, but I couldn't utter a single word.
He was used to hiding, used to protecting himself with alienation and calmness, but now all of this was suddenly stripped away, leaving only naked panic.
He raised his head and looked into Zhou Ai's surprisingly bright eyes, but his throat seemed to have lost the ability to speak at this moment.
Zhou Ai had a determined smile on his face. His gaze was extremely aggressive. He slowly passed over Chu Yi's bare feet, which were slightly curled up due to nervousness, and finally locked onto those eyes that were full of panic and helplessness.
The next second, he moved with astonishing speed. One hand was still holding the album, but the other hand suddenly stretched out and accurately grasped Chu Yi's waist.
Before Chu Yi could react at all, Zhou Ai easily picked up Chu Yi by the waist with one hand and threw him directly into the large and soft dark gray sofa behind him.
Chu Yi was completely stunned by this sudden action. With his head spinning, he subconsciously supported his body with his elbows and lay back on the sofa. His pupils were dilated with shock, his breathing was rapid, and his chest was heaving violently.
He had never experienced such an oppressive and aggressive scene. All his usual calmness, self-control, and aloofness were shattered at this moment, leaving only the most primitive panic.
Zhou Ai then pressed forward, with his knees pressed against the edge of the sofa, forming a position that trapped him.
He looked down at the person below him, the album in his other hand almost touching Chu Yi's nose. His voice was low and dangerous, like a temptation: "Not going to explain?"
Chu Yi was completely speechless.
He was like a fish out of water, with his lips slightly open, only able to make broken sounds.
Those eyes that were always cold and clear were now covered with a layer of mist, the corners of the eyes were red, and the long eyelashes were trembling violently.
He wanted to avoid Zhou Ai's scorching gaze, but he was locked firmly in his sight and had nowhere to escape.
Seeing that Chu Yi was still biting his lower lip and stubbornly refused to speak, Zhou Ai's patience seemed to have run out, or perhaps, he had never intended to use only words to interrogate him.
He lowered his head and the first kiss fell.
Gently imprinted on Chu Yi's tightly pursed lips.
Instantly separate.
Chu Yi's body trembled violently, his eyes widened even more, as if even his breathing had stopped.
"Don't tell?"
Zhou Ai's voice was so close that its heat sprayed on Chu Yi's sensitive earlobes.
The second kiss followed, a little heavier than the first, lingering a moment longer, with just the right amount of grinding force.
Chu Yi's hand on Zhou Ai's chest was trying to push him away in vain, but his fingertips curled up slightly due to weakness, making it seem more like he was trying to resist but actually wanted to.
He shook his head in confusion but couldn't utter a complete syllable.
Zhou Ai narrowed his eyes, and his eyes became darker.
The third time, he used a little force and bit Chu Yi's soft lower lip neither lightly nor heavily.
"Hiss—" Chu Yi gasped in pain, and his eyes instantly filled with physiological tears.
The slight stinging pain was like an electric current that ran through his whole body.
"Still not telling?"
Zhou Ai's thumb stroked the corner of his lip where he had bitten it. His movements were extremely gentle, but his tone was still pressing.
He looked at Chu Yi's tearful eyes and completely lost appearance, and pretended to kiss him for the fourth time, and this time his target seemed to be his neck.
The strong sense of crisis finally broke through Chu Yi's tense nerve defenses.
He suddenly stretched out his hand and pressed harder against Zhou Ai's chest. His voice was filled with tears and extreme panic, and it broke out: "I'm sorry - I..."
However, the remaining excuses or confessions were completely drowned out by Zhou Ai's even more fierce and deep kiss.
This kiss was no longer a superficial temptation or punishment. Zhou Ai pried open his teeth, which were slightly open due to panic, and wantonly plundered his breath and sanity.
Chu Yi felt like a drowning person, his oxygen being deprived bit by bit, his mind blank, and he could only passively endure the surging waves, his fingertips weakly grabbing the sweater on Zhou Ai's waist.
An unknown amount of time passed, but just when Chu Yi thought he was going to suffocate, Zhou Ai stepped back slightly, giving him a chance to breathe.
Both of their breathing was disordered, and it was particularly clear in the quiet living room.
"I don't want to hear sorry." Zhou Ai straightened his upper body, leaving Chu Yi enough space to breathe, but his thumb still stroked Chu Yi's hot cheek, "If you don't tell the truth, I don't mind continuing."
After saying that, he pretended to lower his head and kiss her again.
The intense pressure and the almost oxygen-deprived experience just now made Chu Yi completely panic. He turned his head in vain to dodge, his voice trembling with despair: "I... I..."
"You what?"
Chu Yi was forced into a desperate situation. All his calmness and pretense collapsed. He almost gave up on himself and blurted out with a choked sob: "I... I have nothing to say..."
This statement is more of a disguised admission than a denial, an admission that he cannot explain or refute it.
A dangerous signal flashed in Zhou Ai's eyes. He stared at Chu Yi for a few seconds, and his eyes seemed as if he wanted to tear him apart and eat him.
In the end, he just lowered his head and rubbed Chu Yi's nose with his nose.
"Chu Yi, you are not obedient."
———
The two of them remained in a stalemate on the sofa for several minutes, one on top of the other.
Chu Yi lay on his back, with red at the corners of his eyes. Physiological tears accumulated in his eye sockets, about to fall, like glass covered with a layer of mist.
Zhou Ai looked down at him, seeing how completely disturbed he was, the strong sense of aggression in his heart softened instantly.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the urge still stirring in his body, reached out and used the tip of his thumb to very gently wipe away the moisture from the corners of Chu Yi's eyes.
His movements were cautious, completely different from his previous dominance.
Then, his eyes fell on the collar of Chu Yi's sweater, which was a little loose due to his previous struggle, and one of his white shoulders and delicate collarbone was inadvertently exposed to the air.
Zhou Ai's eyes darkened, and he reached out and gently straightened the loose neckline, pulling it back into place, properly covering the suggestive piece of skin.
This protective gesture made Chu Yi's trembling eyelashes move slightly.
Zhou Ai looked at him and slowed down her voice. "Talk nicely. I'll give you another chance. I won't force you. Let's try another way. I'll ask, and you'll answer. Okay?"
Chu Yi's confused brain was almost unable to think, and he could only nod slightly based on instinct.
Zhou Ai finally got up from him and sat on the other side of the sofa, giving Chu Yi space to breathe and organize himself.
The weight on his body suddenly disappeared, and Chu Yi supported himself with his arms somewhat weakly and slowly sat up.
He felt like his head was stuffed with a tangled mess. He had never been so confused in his life. All his calmness and logic left him, leaving only the huge shock brought by Zhou Ai and the secrets that were stirred up in his heart.
He was like a puppet with all its strings pulled, confused and at a loss.
Zhou Ai gently placed the crucial album on the coffee table, squatted on one knee, and looked up at Chu Yi who was sitting on the sofa.
Then he reached out and held Chu Yi's cold foot. The warm touch made Chu Yi shrink subconsciously, but Zhou Ai held it firmly and easily with one hand.
He watched Zhou Ai lower his head, take off the slippers on his feet, and put them on his feet.
One, then another.
After doing all this, Zhou Ai still remained in a half-squatting position, looking up at Chu Yi.
Then he stretched out his hands and gently held Chu Yi's still hot cheeks, forcing his gaze to meet his own.
"First question..." Zhou Ai's voice was very soft, but it struck Chu Yi's heart clearly. His eyes looked straight into Chu Yi's eyes, not missing any fluctuations. "Have we known each other for a long time?"
Chu Yi's pupils trembled slightly, and he couldn't dodge as Zhou Ai held his cheek.
He closed his eyes, and his long eyelashes brushed across Zhou Ai's fingertips. Finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he nodded very lightly.
This is a tacit acknowledgement of the unknown time that preceded all encounters.
Zhou Ai couldn't help but pull up the corners of his mouth into a knowing smile filled with great satisfaction.
He leaned closer, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling.
"The second question..."
Zhou Ai continued to ask, "Pi, that fan page that's been supporting me since my debut, as mysterious as a little ghost...is that you?"
When Chu Yi heard the word "pi", he could no longer conceal the surprise in his eyes and suddenly opened his eyes wide.
He didn't expect that Zhou Ai could guess this!
"Is it, or isn't it?" Zhou Ai didn't give him time to think, and rubbed his nose against his with an intimate and pressing look.
Chu Yi looked at the handsome face so close to him, which was full of confidence, and all his defenses were completely broken.
He nodded again resignedly, his ears so red they seemed to be bleeding.
The smile on Zhou Ai's face instantly widened, dazzlingly bright. Instead of asking a third question, he suddenly released the hand that was holding his face, leaned forward, and gently pressed his burning cheek against Chu Yi's chest.
Chu Yi was frozen by his sudden action and dared not move.
Zhou Ai put his ear to his left chest. The heart inside was beating violently at an uncontrollable speed, "boom boom boom". Each beat was clearly audible, telling of the owner's extreme restlessness.
Listening to the heartbeat that was beating wildly for him, Zhou Ai closed his eyes and asked the question that he most wanted to know the answer to and that made him most nervous.
His voice was muffled by Chu Yi's sweater, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness:
"The third question... is also the most crucial one."
He paused, raised his head, and looked at Chu Yi again, his eyes extremely serious, even with a hint of desperate earnestness.
"Chu Yi, what kind of love do you have for me?"
"It's about the answer I wanted when we were in the mountains of Guizhou. It's about the album you hid in the piano, about your silent attention as 'Pi', about some kind of connection we may have already had, one I'm unaware of... that complex and profound love?"
"Or is it..." Zhou Ai's voice lowered, with a hint of uncertainty and fragility, "is it just... a distant admiration and liking for an idol?"
After asking this question, Zhou Ai felt his heart in his throat. He didn't even dare to breathe deeply. He just held his breath and stared at Chu Yi's eyes, waiting for his judgment.
This answer will determine everything.
After asking the third question, the air seemed to freeze again.
Zhou Ai half-knelt in front of Chu Yi, his hands still holding his face, his gaze fixed on his eyes, waiting for the crucial answer.
He could clearly feel his heart beating heavily and rapidly in his chest, each beat beating out a tense drumbeat.
However, Chu Yi just stared at him blankly, his lips slightly parted, as if all his strength had been drained away, or as if he was undergoing an extremely difficult introspection. He did not utter a word for a long, long time.
Time passed by minute by minute, and it was so quiet that only the sound of rain outside the window and the intertwined breathing were left.
Zhou Ai maintained a half-squatting position, and his legs began to feel slightly sore and numb, but he didn't dare to move, for fear that the slightest movement would disturb Chu Yi and make him retreat into that hard shell.
Hope and anxiety were like two intertwined vines, entangling his heart tighter and tighter.
Just when Zhou Ai almost thought that he would not get a reply and his heart was slowly sinking, he heard Chu Yi speak.
The voice was very soft, with a rare soft and sticky grievance, gently echoing in the silent living room:
"I don't kiss anyone casually."
Zhou Ai was startled and almost thought he was hallucinating.
He subconsciously asked, his voice a little dry due to nervousness: "...What?"
Chu Yi seemed to have mustered up more courage. He raised his eyes, looking straight at Zhou Ai with his moist eyes. His tone was a little clearer than before, but the grievance and seriousness in his voice remained unchanged, and even carried a hint of stubbornness:
"I said, I don't give kisses to others casually."
I don't do this to anyone, but you are an exception.
I didn't push you away just now. I accepted your kiss and even... responded.
Isn’t this the most straightforward and irrefutable answer?
He was not answering the complicated question of "what kind of like", he was declaring the simplest fact in the most clumsy and intentional way: you, Zhou Ai, are special, unique, and the one who can break all my principles and distances.
Huge, overwhelming ecstasy and emotion instantly overwhelmed Zhou Ai.
He couldn't help but chuckle. He couldn't hold it in any longer, so he stretched out his arms and hugged the seemingly cold but actually clumsy and adorable person in front of him tightly.
Chu Yi was suddenly embraced by him, but he did not struggle. As soon as his face touched Zhou Ai's warm and strong chest, he felt a drop of wetness.
He was slightly startled, and subconsciously raised his hand and gently touched his cheek with his fingers, and his fingertips were stained with cold liquid.
Chu Yi raised his head in confusion and looked at Zhou Ai.
Zhou Ai was still smiling, but his beautiful peach blossom eyes were sparkling with crystal light. A tear was sliding uncontrollably from the corner of his eye, along the contour of his cheek, and dripping onto Chu Yi's upturned face.
Zhou Ai... is crying?
Chu Yi was completely stunned. His heart felt like it was hit hard by something, causing him to feel a tingling pain.
He had seen Zhou Ai in various ways: the radiant one on stage, the lively and playful one in private, and even the strong and dangerous one just now, but he had never seen him cry.
Zhou Ai looked at Chu Yi's confused and distressed eyes, smiled, but her tears flowed even more violently.
He lowered his head and rested his forehead against Chu Yi's, his voice choked with sobs and a heavy nasal tone.
"Chu Yi...Chu Yi...you really...are going to kill me..."
He spoke incoherently, just repeating the name over and over again, his arms clenched tighter, as if he wanted to rub the person in front of him into his bones and blood.
Chu Yi felt his boiling tears and the cool wetness on his face, listened to his choked voice, and the frozen lake in his heart seemed to be completely melted by these boiling tears at this moment, and the spring water overflowed, no longer able to maintain its original shape.
He slowly raised his hand, somewhat clumsily, and gently hugged Zhou Ai's trembling back.
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