Chapter 16. The long night on the northern island, all things are in turmoil. ...
The effects of the alcohol kicked in again, and Zhu Xu felt his legs swaying and slightly dizzy. He leaned back against the wall to support himself.
It felt like only a minute or two had passed before He Yanzhou pushed open the door and strode towards her.
Zhu Xu squinted and saw that he had already put on a coat, a black leather and wool patchwork short jacket. The crisp fabric was stretched by his broad shoulders, making the man seem exceptionally tall.
He walked with a brisk pace, his legs beneath his trousers tensing and relaxing with each step, the crease of his trousers sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, making it hard to imagine how strong and powerful his muscles were...
Zhu Xu looked away, his heart pounding wildly.
She was now completely controlled by something, both timid and expectant of what would happen next.
"Let's go." He Yanzhou stopped in front of her and took the shoulder bag and coat from her arms again.
Where to?
“My place,” he simply said.
Zhu Xu didn't ask any more questions, and followed him one step behind.
There were quite a few people coming and going, and the surroundings were noisy, all looking forward to the upcoming New Year's Eve.
He Yanzhou stepped aside to avoid the oncoming group of young people, then turned around and asked, "Are you alright?"
Zhu Xu was conscious, but his steps were a little unsteady.
She nodded.
He Yanzhou pulled the person to the wall to shield them: "Wait a moment." He took out his phone from his trouser pocket: "Call a car to pick me up, it's not a short walk."
Zhu Xu obeyed the arrangement.
He Yanzhou dialed a number, said a few words, hung up, and then walked over to stand next to Zhu Xu by the wall.
After a moment of silence, he turned to look at her.
Her eyes were downcast, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing seemed labored and rapid, causing her chest to rise and fall noticeably. Beneath the thin knitted fabric, her chest resembled rolling, flowing, yet towering hills.
He Yanzhou held his breath for a moment and looked away.
Not long after, a four-seater electric vehicle (not for passenger use) drove towards them. The driver stepped on the brakes and respectfully said, "Mr. He."
He Yanzhou nodded and let Zhu Xu sit down first.
Upon arriving at the hotel lobby, he got out of the car and entered the elevator. He pressed the number 9, which was the extra half-floor on the A side of the building.
The elevator doors slowly closed, the noise gradually subsided, leaving only the faint sound of the machine operating.
The two stood side by side inside, both silent.
Zhu Xu hadn't expected that being alone with him would make her so uneasy. For a moment, she didn't dare to look up; the mirrors on all sides made her nowhere to hide, and the brighter lighting than outside made her feel lost and helpless, far less at ease than when she was facing him earlier.
He Yanzhou coughed lightly.
Zhu Xu was on edge, and suddenly looked up. In the mirror opposite him, he looked at her with a relaxed expression, as if he had his prey under his complete control.
Perhaps because the elevator car was too cramped, Zhu Xu felt short of breath and began to consider turning back.
He Yanzhou seemed to see right through her, "It's hot?"
"A little."
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he said, "You can adjust the room temperature later to suit you, so you don't catch a cold."
Zhu Xu's heart skipped a beat, and he pursed his lips as he looked in the mirror.
He Yanzhou's gaze was also fixed on her face. After a moment, he pulled his hand out of his trouser pocket, let it hang by his side for a instant, then flipped his wrist and opened his palm towards her. He waited patiently for a while until she offered her hand. He grasped it before speaking: "Zhu Xu, it's too late for anything at this point. It's almost impossible for me to say 'let's call it a day.' You chose the order, and now I seem to be in a bind. I'm even more eager to do something with you first."
His words were gentle, but the force he exerted in his hands told her that he was determined to win tonight.
Zhu Xu's fingertips swelled from being gripped so tightly. He chose to continue rather than show weakness, since that brief moment of timidity was negligible.
She said, "I didn't say anything."
The elevator dinged and went straight to the ninth floor. This was a non-public area, so no one was getting on or off.
"That would be best." He Yanzhou took her hand and walked out of the elevator.
This floor is a bit different from the others; the corridors are spacious, but they don't go straight.
Zhu Xu was led by him, turning left and then right, getting confused about the direction, and finally stopping in front of a door.
He unlocked the door with his fingerprint, pushed it open, and the room's lights and ambient lights turned on one by one, followed by the sound of the air conditioner starting up, and the curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows opened automatically.
Zhu Xu glanced around the room. The decorating style was consistent with the others, but his room was larger and had a stronger private feel.
It was pitch black outside the window; it must be the sea, because I could clearly hear the sound of the waves.
"Would you like something to drink?" he asked.
"No."
"Sit wherever you like." He took off his coat and casually placed it on the back of the sofa.
Zhu Xu did not answer.
He Yanzhou walked to the door and pressed a few buttons on the central control panel, causing the room's light to alternate between light and dark until he was satisfied with the brightness.
It wasn't so dark that you couldn't see the other person, nor was it so glaring that it made you feel uncomfortable.
Zhu Xu looked away before he turned around.
She felt the alcohol she had drunk today was particularly strange, causing her to feel intoxicated intermittently, and the symptoms were getting worse. At this moment, her cheeks were flushed and swollen again, her heart was pounding, and her legs were weak and sore, making it difficult for her to support her body.
Zhu Xu slowly walked to the window. The room went from bright to dark, and he could finally see the outside environment clearly. He couldn't help but sigh, "This is truly a wonderful sea view room."
"The fireworks will be set off on the mudflats over there later," He Yanzhou pointed in a direction.
Zhu Xu was startled. A voice came from behind her. He had walked over without making a sound.
"Mmm," she uttered softly through her nose.
He Yanzhou remained silent for a moment, his hands in his pockets, standing quietly behind her, looking out the window together.
Time stretched on endlessly. Zhu Xu felt a burning sensation on her back. He hadn't touched her, but she could tell the distance between them was definitely beyond safe limits. His breath was right next to her ear, and she could vaguely smell his perfume, initially like clear stream water, with a hint of nutmeg's spice, then growing stronger. Just like him.
He Yanzhou reminded them, "There's still almost an hour left. If we hurry, we might be able to celebrate the New Year together."
Zhu Xu turned around, and as expected, he was right in front of him.
He Yanzhou lowered his gaze and saw her eyelashes tremble slightly as her gaze slowly moved upwards from in front of him until she raised her head and their eyes met. Her eyes seemed to be filled with water, very moist.
He kept waiting, but found his patience was wearing thin.
He pulled his hands out of his pockets, but the next second, she leaned forward slightly and grasped them in her hands.
Zhu Xu used the momentum to stand on tiptoe and pecked him on the corner of his lips. It felt like time stood still for a few seconds. From that kiss onward, there was nothing left to worry about.
She said softly, "I'd like to ask Mr. He, what would happen if he drank spiked wine?"
He Yanzhou swallowed lightly and said in a deep voice, "Feeling hot and cold? Dry mouth? Weakness? Legs weak?"
"Then I might have been infected."
He chuckled lightly, not exposing the truth, "That's quite troublesome."
"what to do?"
He Yanzhou didn't answer. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and realized that he could easily control her waist with one hand. So he raised his other hand, gripped the back of her neck with some force, and lifted her up, forcing her to raise her head high.
He leaned down and kissed her, but the kiss wasn't exactly gentle.
Zhu Xu unconsciously let out a groan, feeling his tongue intrude and devour her in a domineering manner.
My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest, and my legs were so weak that I had to lean on him.
When she was about to run out of breath, he stepped away to give her a chance to catch her breath: "What should we do?" He seemed to be seriously considering her problem before giving his answer: "What can we do? Deal with it ruthlessly and thoroughly."
Zhu Xu was completely numb.
The next second, He Yanzhou suddenly flipped her over and pinned her against the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
She instinctively raised her hands and braced herself against the glass.
Behind him, there was a rustling sound. Unexpectedly, the long dress was cumbersome today, and the thick leggings underneath were too tight. But who would have thought that he would pull it down to his thighs along with it.
Zhu Xu felt the coolness in the air and took a deep breath.
She never expected him to be so direct.
He Yanzhou looked down and his breath caught in his throat.
The room was far from dimly lit; one could see everything clearly before them, white as porcelain, perfectly round…
Below the deep valley, a clear stream flows gently.
He Yanzhou suddenly smiled; he hadn't done anything yet.
As she dug her hand deep into the hole, her waist suddenly stiffened and arched. After a long while, she let out a heavy breath, as if she had adjusted and relaxed, and her waist slowly slumped back down.
She lifted her head and offered it to him.
The soft moonlight spread out, and the distant sea rippled with light.
Zhu Xu pressed his forehead against the window, his eyelids lowered as he looked down. Cars were constantly passing by on the road, and there were still many people taking photos, strolling, and flashing their lights in front of the hotel and on the beach. As soon as any of them raised their heads slightly...
She dared not think too deeply about it; her lips were already bitten until they were bloodless. The room was eerily quiet, so much so that the sound of stirring water was amplified countless times. The shock left her speechless for a long time. Her palms were sweaty, and she futilely scratched at the glass, leaving strange, elongated, blurry marks.
She felt like a willow branch in the wind, being lifted or lowered depending on his speed.
But just as she was about to be routed, He Yanzhou also gave up.
He was clearly playing a prank on us.
"Just your hands." He Yanzhou leaned closer, kissing the back of her ear with a smile in his voice: "Zhu Xu, what are you capable of?"
Zhu Xu closed his eyes briefly, his voice almost pleading, "...Let's go take a shower first, okay?"
A moment later: "Okay."
There was a "click" sound, like a tightly sealed bottle stopper being pulled out, and two drops fell to the ground.
He Yanzhou chuckled softly again.
Zhu Xu's gaze was deep and unfathomable. The next second, he was picked up horizontally and carried towards the bathroom.
He began amidst the gentle flow of warm water, like a light drizzle.
The whole process was not smooth. Because of the long time that had passed, Zhu Xu was on edge, as if facing a formidable enemy. But then he heard Zhu Xu's low, slow laughter behind him as he lamented how difficult it was for him to make any progress.
Zhu Xu tried hard to adjust and adapt, but he showed her no pity, either positively or negatively. She became a small boat as she wished, rising and falling and tossing in the deep sea with its surging waves.
Helpless yet yearning, she uttered some outrageous words and made unfamiliar, almost collapsing sounds, sometimes demanding, sometimes begging...
Perhaps only by blaming all the absurd behavior on that glass of wine can one feel at ease accepting the joy of the moment.
By the time it was over, her throat felt incredibly dry and hoarse.
He Yanzhou carried her out of the bathroom and settled her on the large bed in the bedroom.
The bedding was made of dark blue Tencel, and she curled up on it, completely exposed, just like a crescent moon radiating pearly white light in the night sky.
He Yanzhou's eyes darkened; he hadn't expected to lose control like this.
Tonight was indeed not in his plans, but he wasn't so naive as to refuse her. Besides, she was the woman he admired and had the intention to develop a deeper relationship with, so he couldn't ask for more.
He Yanzhou fed her some warm water and then leaned closer to her again.
He had already dimmed the lights in the hall to their lowest setting, and the faint moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing the room's enchanting atmosphere.
Midway through, a loud bang suddenly rang out, and the sky brightened abruptly as a firework shell with a diameter of approximately 750 meters opened the way for the upcoming New Year.
The room was as bright as day.
He Yanzhou paused. "Zhu Xu, turn around."
Zhu Xu's face was buried in the quilt, with two pillows under her abdomen. She turned her head with difficulty and saw a golden firework filling the entire sky framed by the French windows.
Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes after a moment of dazzling light.
The electronic clock in the room indicated that there were 30 seconds left until the New Year.
He Yanzhou leaned in and kissed her shoulder: "It's snowing."
"……Yeah."
“You said you regretted not seeing snow this year.” He Yanzhou glanced at the clock: “There are still eighteen seconds left, counting this year’s.”
Zhu Xu squinted and strained to look out the window. Under the illumination of the fireworks that kept rising and bursting into the sky, he saw snowflakes falling gently.
She remembered that she had said those words to him in the casserole restaurant on the night she decided to take her own life. She was surprised that he still remembered.
In an instant, Zhu Xu felt a wave of guilt. He Yanzhou was her benefactor; she had used him, and he had saved her... Zhu Xu suddenly realized how despicable she was, not only lacking gratitude but also ruining a certain relationship.
She regained her senses for a moment, but was pulled back to reality by He Yanzhou in an instant.
He was particularly harsh, as if he was punishing her for being distracted for too long.
The electronic clock began its five-second countdown, and fireworks burst forth outside the window.
The sky was as bright as day, shimmering with exceptionally beautiful colors.
On the long night in the northern island, everything is in a state of flux.
The same applies inside the room.
All the revelry outside was the best cover. Zhu Xu's throat was dry and hoarse, and his speech was incoherent. Before long, his mind also burst into a burst of excitement, like fireworks.
/
After that, Zhu Xu took a long time to recover until he finally regained his hearing and vaguely heard the sound of water pattering.
She struggled to open her eyes and saw the bathroom enclosed by frosted glass, like a dreamlike box, radiating an ambiguous, warm yellow light. Inside, He Yanzhou's shadow was reflected; he was tall and slender, standing under the shower, raising his hand to toss his short hair.
Zhu Xu instantly regained consciousness, gritted his teeth and tried to stand up, but his legs suddenly gave way and he fell back down.
After a few seconds, she walked barefoot around the house searching for the clothes she had just thrown around, put them on one by one, and finally, holding her phone, she draped her coat over her arm and moved to the sofa to wait for him.
A short while later, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
Zhu Xu stood up.
He Yanzhou opened the door, revealing himself wearing only a bath towel, with water droplets sliding down his shoulders and chest. He dried his wet hair with a towel, and when he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, his eyes instantly turned cold.
Zhu Xu averted his gaze and remained silent for a moment.
He Yanzhou changed into a pair of clean slippers, walked past her to the door, and turned on the lights. "Aren't you going to stay the night before you leave?"
"I'll go back."
He dried his hair a few times, pulled out a towel, and tossed it aside casually: "Aren't you going to take a shower?"
"I'll go back and wash."
He Yanzhou looked at her coldly, not particularly surprised, but her sudden change in demeanor and her unilateral decision to make this night seem somewhat ironic to him.
He let out a soft laugh: "Sober now?" Then he asked with concern, "Are you still feeling hot and cold? Are your legs still weak?"
Zhu Xu sensed the mockery in his voice and couldn't help but recall his unrestrained behavior just now, causing him to break out in a cold sweat instantly.
She didn't want to answer and try to brush it off, but He Yanzhou leaned closer, put his hands behind his back, and looked at her with his eyes slightly lowered: "I'm asking you."
Zhu Xuru could only shake her head, seemingly unresponsive, and said, "No."
"Looks like I'm the antidote." He Yanzhou straightened up and said with a cold laugh, "Satisfied now?"
Zhu Xu didn't react for a moment: "Satisfied with what?"
"The service I just received," he said, "is something I've never done before, after all."
"..." Zhu Xu said in vain, "I didn't think that way."
"What is that?"
She paused, realizing that the word "one-night stand" was a bit too much to say. Desperate to escape, she glanced at the clock on the wall: "It's late, you should rest."
She was about to leave when He Yanzhou tried to stop her, wanting to embarrass her further, but he swallowed his words.
He Yanzhou gave a cold laugh.
He holds grudges; there's plenty of time for him to make them.
He casually grabbed a white T-shirt from the back of the sofa and put it on, then turned around to look for pants in the dressing room.
A short while later, he appeared in a white shirt and black pants, dressed casually—an outfit Zhu Xu had never seen before. For a moment, Zhu Xu had the illusion that the man was somewhat thin, his strong physique and muscular build completely concealed beneath the T-shirt.
She couldn't help but recall what had just happened. She vaguely remembered his amazing arm strength, which allowed him to support the mattress and suspend himself completely above her. Then she looked down at the connection point.
Lost in thought, Zhu Xu felt utterly ashamed.
She looked up suddenly and found He Yanzhou staring at her with an inscrutable expression.
Suddenly realizing his intention, Zhu Xu quickly said, "I can walk by myself, no need to trouble yourself."
He Yanzhou opened the door: "Go to the elevator. It's a bit of a roundabout way here."
Zhu Xu didn't insist and slipped away in front of him with his head down.
He Yanzhou closed the door behind him, taking large strides and walking ahead of her.
The corridor was dimly lit, with a thick sound-absorbing carpet on the floor. He wore a pair of leather slippers, which made no sound when he walked.
Zhu Xu also tried to walk quietly and followed him silently.
The two did not exchange any words.
At the elevator entrance, He Yanzhou pressed the down button for her. While waiting, his silhouette was faintly reflected on the silver brushed elevator door.
A short while later, the elevator doors slowly opened with a "ding".
He Yanzhou nodded towards the inside.
Zhu Xu stood silently inside, turned around, and looked down, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Xu's brown slippers.
It was the first time she felt the elevator doors were closing for so long. Only when she heard the faintest sound of the machine operating did she dare to raise her eyes slightly, and inadvertently, she saw the way he was looking at her.
Zhu Xu felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, which then rose up to his throat.
She swallowed hard and pressed down.
The elevator doors finally closed, and her reflection appeared in the mirror opposite.
With his last breath about to run out, Zhu Xu's legs trembled, and he slowly squatted down against the wall.
Feeling disgusted at seeing her own face, she raised her hand and covered her eyes.
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