Chapter 68 "You're going to kiss me until I faint..."
After taking a shower, Jiang Nuanyu dried her hair in the bathroom and then changed into a cool slip dress.
The bathroom had no windows, and some damp, warm steam still lingered inside. The bathroom door faced the bed directly, and Jiang Nuanyu, annoyed by the noise of the exhaust fan, opened a half-open window next to the sofa, letting the cool night breeze drift in through the crack.
She lit her favorite scented candle and placed it on the bedside table, then took her phone and crawled under the covers, ready to end her twenty-seventh birthday like this.
The phone screen showed a missed call from Liang Qi ten minutes ago.
Jiang Nuanyu had already accepted that she wouldn't have any contact with Liang Qi on her birthday, which had lowered her expectations considerably. So when she saw this missed call, she was overjoyed.
Just as she was about to call back, Liang Qi called again, and she answered quickly.
Her voice held a joy she herself didn't realize: "Hello? Liang Qi?"
She always liked to call his name first after answering the phone. Liang Qi didn't quite understand why, but he always responded.
"Yes." He asked her again, "At home?"
"Yes." Jiang Nuanyu pulled the pillow next to her into her arms and explained apologetically, "I was taking a shower just now, that's why I didn't answer your call."
On the other end of the phone, Liang Qi's voice was calm and even: "I see."
"Um."
"Are you going to sleep?"
"Hmm..." Jiang Nuanyu turned over and said, "I'm lying down, but I'm not sleeping yet."
There was a moment of silence on the other end. Jiang Nuanyu clutched the lace trim of the pillowcase in her hand and tentatively asked, "Are you still in China?"
Downstairs at the apartment building, Liang Qi held her phone to her ear, her gaze sweeping over the windows that belonged to her, and said, "No."
Jiang Nuanyu blinked quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Liang Qi said, "I've arrived in Paris."
"Ah." Jiang Nuanyu was slightly surprised. It was already this late, and she subconsciously assumed that Liang Qi had been busy with other things after arriving in Paris. "Oh, are you done now? Are you going to rest?"
Liang Qi didn't answer her, only saying, "It's getting windy tonight, why don't you close the window after lying down?"
"Hmm?" Jiang Nuanyu's eyes shifted to the half-open window. "How did you know..."
She was speaking when she suddenly paused, her heart almost stopping for a second. After realizing what was happening, she quickly threw off the covers, sat up, slipped on her slippers, and ran to the window.
She pulled back the curtains, and there stood Liang Qi downstairs, casually tilting his head back, his gaze fixed directly on her.
A breeze blew in, rustling the leaves outside the window and causing the screen window to sway gently. The coolness unique to summer nights, mixed with the faint scent of grass and trees, rushed into the room.
The two looked at each other and remained silent for a moment, but neither of them hung up the phone.
Despite being separated by only one floor, Jiang Nuanyu spoke to him in a voice that could only be heard over the phone, "You should come up...."
She quickly changed the "ma" she was about to say, turning the question into an invitation.
Liang Qi paused for two seconds, then said, "Okay."
Jiang Nuanyu remained silent. Liang Qi waited for her for a while before saying, "I'll hang up now."
She gave a very soft "hmm".
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Nuanyu stood there for a moment, feeling lost and confused.
Liang Qi is coming up. Should she open the door directly, or wait for him to knock? She then remembered that she had already given him the password. But would he actually use it?
A series of questions swirled in Jiang Nuanyu's mind, making her increasingly confused. She took a step forward and then stepped back, unsure of where to stand.
She glanced out the window and suddenly remembered that there was another access control downstairs, and that one required a card to enter.
But the doorbell didn't ring for a long time, and Jiang Nuanyu couldn't wait any longer, so she decided to go downstairs to open the door for Liang Qi.
Passing by the dressing room, she grabbed a long-sleeved jacket, put on only one sleeve, leaving the other half hanging on her arm, and hurriedly opened the door to leave.
The elevator arrived at her floor, the metal doors opened, and Liang Qi appeared before her. He looked up, his gaze settling steadily on her face.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Jiang Nuanyu rushed forward and bumped into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
She didn't hesitate, wasn't shy, and stopped trying to guess his reaction. She just wanted to completely follow her feelings at that moment, truly embrace him, and confirm his presence.
Liang Qi put his arm around her shoulder and lowered his head to press his face close to the top of her head. At that moment, she smelled of fresh, slightly sweet floral scents.
Liang Qi draped the half-worn jacket over her shoulders, covering most of her exposed back, and said, "Why were you in such a hurry to run out?"
Jiang Nuanyu tilted her head back, but didn't loosen her grip on him at all. She rested her chin on his chest, her eyebrows slightly raised, and asked with some confusion, "There's a security gate at the building entrance. How did you get in?"
"The door wasn't locked," Liang Qi said.
Jiang Nuanyu paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, it's probably broken again. That thing always breaks."
Liang Qi didn't continue the conversation. He picked up a wisp of hair from her forehead and touched her temple. He lowered his head and looked at her intently.
Jiang Nuanyu liked being looked at like this, but his stare made her feel really shy. She gave a soft hum and pressed her face against his chest again, a smile playing on her lips.
She was unusually childlike, and Liang Qi couldn't help but chuckle softly. He gently stroked the back of her head and asked, "Not going in?"
“Go inside,” Jiang Nuanyu said, but hugged him even tighter.
She clearly didn't want to let go of him yet. Liang Qi said, "Do you want me to carry you inside?"
Jiang Nuanyu said lightly, "No."
As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Qi untied her hands from behind her waist and placed them on his shoulders, then wrapped his arms around her legs and lifted her up.
Jiang Nuanyu hugged his neck tightly. Although she was gradually getting used to Liang Qi's way of hugging her, her heart still trembled, and she let out a soft "ah".
Hearing her soft exclamation, Liang Qi silently curved his lips into a smile.
The door frame of Jiang Nuanyu's front door was rather low. As they entered, Liang Qi naturally placed one hand over her head, and Jiang Nuanyu cooperated by lowering her head and resting it against his shoulder. Once inside, Liang Qi stood with his back to the door, and Jiang Nuanyu reached out and leaned on his shoulder to close the door.
The two didn't exchange a single word, which showed their tacit understanding.
Liang Qi walked to the sofa and stopped. Jiang Nuanyu was still nestled comfortably in his arms, not saying she wanted to get off. Liang Qi didn't let go of her either, but tilted his head back slightly and looked at her with his chin raised.
His gaze was direct, fixed on her eyes, occasionally drifting to her lips for a light touch, before returning to her eyes.
Jiang Nuanyu didn't dare to look Liang Qi in the eye for long. She put one arm around his shoulder and pinched the lapel of his suit jacket with her fingertips.
Her gaze fell on the top button of his shirt, and she suddenly remembered the scene in the bathroom when Liang Qi asked her to unbutton his shirt.
Liang Qi noticed the subtle change in her expression and glanced down at his shirt. Their eyes met again, and a different meaning lingered in their gazes.
As luck would have it, perhaps because the atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous, Jiang Nuanyu became nervous, and her foot, which was hanging in the air, failed to catch the slipper, causing one of her shoes to fall off.
"Snap—", that sound extinguished the tiny flame that had been flickering in the air.
Jiang Nuanyu lifted her leg, adjusted the slipper that was still on her foot, and said, "Put me down."
Liang Qi said, "Have you hugged enough?"
Jiang Nuanyu: "..."
She was too embarrassed to admit that she had snuggled into his arms wanting a hug, so she changed the subject, saying, "I was worried you'd get tired."
Liang Qi raised an eyebrow, not quite accepting the assumption. He held her leg tightly, looking at her expressionlessly: "I'm not tired."
Jiang Nuanyu had another sudden inspiration and said, "So... you wanted to hug me."
Liang Qi paused for a second, then nodded: "Mm."
He was so frank, which made Jiang Nuanyu appear utterly defeated once again. Then he added, "So you asked me to put you down because you don't want me to hold you anymore?"
"..." Jiang Nuanyu thought for a moment and realized that she still couldn't win the argument.
If force doesn't work, try a gentler approach. She tilted her head on his shoulder and said sweetly, "Okay..."
"What's good about it?"
She turned her head behind him and whispered in his ear, "I want you to hug me."
Liang Qi's lips curled up into a slow smile, his chest vibrating gently.
He raised his hand to rub her head, kissed the skin on her chest, and then put her down on the ground.
Jiang Nuanyu's face turned rosy as he teased and kissed her.
Not counting the time he brought her home, this was the first time Liang Qi had officially come to their house. Jiang Nuanyu didn't know how to entertain him, and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Why are you coming over so late today?"
Liang Qi didn't answer her immediately. He was also thinking about the answer to that question.
Their meetings usually had a pretext, like having a meal. But today, even though it was well past lunchtime, he still came.
Keeping the promise? He told her it would be Saturday or Sunday, and that they could meet again tomorrow, so it wouldn't count as him breaking his promise.
Liang Qi remained silent, but Jiang Nuanyu suddenly seemed to remember something, tilted her head back and asked him, "Do you want to drink?"
The topic changed too quickly, and Liang Qi squinted at her slightly.
"I'm the one who wants to drink it." Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "Shall we drink it together?"
She gave him a slightly drooling look, which amused Liang Qi. He glanced at her for a couple of seconds, then nodded and said, "Okay."
Jiang Nuanyu immediately went to get the wine, but halfway there she turned around, took off her coat which was hanging halfway on her body, threw it on the sofa, and then excitedly headed towards the kitchen.
Liang Qi found her unusual excitement today quite peculiar, so different from her usual calm and reserved demeanor, which was rather endearing.
He smiled and turned his gaze away from her retreating figure, glancing around the room. He noticed a low bookshelf between the two sofas, a feature he'd added since his last visit. Judging by its placement and size, he guessed it was being used as a coffee table.
He shook his head, the curve of his lips deepening.
Jiang Nuanyu's voice came from the kitchen: "Liang Qi, what would you like to drink?"
Liang Qi turned his head to look over.
Jiang Nuanyu peeked out from behind the bar, listing her wares with obvious familiarity: "I have red wine, beer, liqueur, whiskey. And a bottle of shochu too!"
He casually replied, "Either is fine."
"How about this?" Jiang Nuanyu held out a bottle of whiskey and waved it.
When Liang Qi saw the bottle of liquor in her hand, his expression paused. He was clearly surprised that she would choose such a strong one.
But he still went along with her and said, "Okay."
Jiang Nuanyu returned carrying a wine bottle and two glasses, just in time to see Liang Qi taking off his suit jacket. He had broad shoulders and a neatly tucked shirt into his trousers, creating a powerful and sexy silhouette from top to bottom.
It wasn't that she actually undressed, but her face still flushed uncontrollably.
The wine was poured, and a faint aroma of alcohol filled the air.
Since her illness and surgery, Jiang Nuanyu has deliberately avoided alcohol. Initially, she temporarily abstained from alcohol for her health, but later her sleep improved, she stopped suffering from insomnia, and no longer needed alcohol to fall asleep.
But tonight, perhaps because it's her birthday, she especially misses that slightly tipsy, dizzy, and lightheaded feeling.
In the past, Ye Ji would always drink with her on her birthday. She guessed that Ye Ji would never have imagined that Liang Qi would be drinking with her this year.
Jiang Nuanyu hadn't drunk alcohol in a long time, so she didn't restrain herself. Liang Qi had only taken two sips when she had already downed half of her drink, and by the time Liang Qi had half left, she had already emptied her glass.
Liang Qi watched her drink without trying to stop her. On one hand, he let her do as she pleased, and on the other hand, he felt that she was someone who was confident in herself.
Jiang Nuanyu poured herself another half glass and picked it up to clink glasses with Liang Qi.
Liang Qi rested one hand on his knee, raised his glass and clinked it against hers, saying, "Not bad at drinking?"
Jiang Nuanyu said confidently, "I can drink a whole bottle by myself."
Liang Qi glanced at the bottle: "Whiskey?"
"No, but pretty much the same."
Liang Qi didn't speak, but took a sip of wine, clearly not believing it.
“Really!” Jiang Nuanyu said, “When I said I could drink that much, I didn’t mean I wouldn’t get drunk. Of course I can get drunk.”
Liang Qi frowned, puzzled: "Then why drink so much?"
"To fall asleep," Jiang Nuanyu said. "I can't sleep here."
Liang Qi looked at her: "Why?"
Jiang Nuanyu remained silent for a while, then gently shook her head and took a sip of wine.
Liang Qi recalled the time he picked her up from the hospital; the pervasive smell of alcohol in her house, and the bottles and glasses of alcohol on her bedside table.
He slowly twirled the cup in his hand, unsure whether he should ask any more questions.
Jiang Nuanyu suddenly said, "But I don't want to get drunk today." She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, but they weren't tears.
She said, "Because you're here."
The emotions in her eyes were so pure and raw that Liang Qi couldn't utter a word.
Jiang Nuanyu tapped her finger on the glass and said, "So, this is the last half glass. If you drink any more, I might not be able to understand what you're saying."
She smiled at him, and Liang Qi looked at her for a moment before looking away.
After downing two and a half glasses, Jiang Nuanyu wasn't drunk and remained conscious, but because she hadn't drunk for so long, the alcohol was making her a little tipsy.
She hugged a pillow to her chest, tilted her head, and quietly gazed at Liang Qi with relaxed eyelids.
Seeing the two bright red patches on her cheeks and her slightly hazy eyes, Liang Qi smiled and asked, "Are you drunk?"
Jiang Nuanyu shook her head: "No."
"Then what are we looking at?"
“You’re handsome,” she replied quickly, then added, “Liang Qi, you’re really handsome.”
Liang Qi didn't reply. After a long while, he slowly shook his head and smiled.
He didn't take her flirtatious remark seriously, even though she was drunk, but Jiang Nuanyu, emboldened by the alcohol, leaned a little closer to him.
Her gaze lingered on his face, then into his eyes. She pouted and said, "Although you always seem to see right through people when you look at them, I actually get a little nervous every time you look at me. But sometimes, I also feel a little itchy inside... Just like now, when you look at me like this, I feel itchy inside."
Liang Qi looked at her with his eyes half-lowered, a faint smile lingering on his lips, but he didn't move.
Jiang Nuanyu knelt up, rested her hands on the sofa, and moved closer to him.
She looked at him closely for a moment and said, "Liang Qi, I remember, it was a year ago today, I twisted my ankle, and you took me home and helped me apply a cold compress. After that, I kissed you." Her gaze fell from his eyes to his lips, she blinked, and said, "...Now, I feel like I want to kiss you again."
As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes, leaned forward, and placed a deep kiss on the corner of his lips.
Liang Qicheng accepted her kiss without responding, but his fingers tightened their grip on the wine glass.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips almost touching his, her words carried on her warm breath, like feathers gently brushing against his face: "Liang Qi, kiss me, please. I want you to kiss me too..."
Liang Qi turned his head, lifted her face, and kissed her lips.
He held her lips to his, gently pursing them; she parted her lips to meet his, lightly licking his. The kiss wasn't intense; the mellow aroma of wine lingered between their lips, intoxicating and tender.
As she tossed and turned, Jiang Nuanyu's breathing became hotter and heavier, her blood continued to rise, and an indescribable desire surged within her.
She felt it wasn't enough.
She pulled away slightly and looked up into his eyes; Liang Qi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he pinched her burning earlobe, his voice low and husky: "Not kissing anymore?"
“No.” Jiang Nuanyu lowered her eyes, then raised them again. “It’s not just this kind of kiss. I want that kind of kiss.”
Which one?
She gazed at him, her eyes desperately trying to express herself, and finally mustered the courage to speak. She didn't answer what kind of kiss he wanted, only saying, "Liang Qi, I want you to stay tonight... I want you."
Liang Qi's breath hitched, and he suddenly lowered his head to kiss her.
He held the back of her head with one hand, stretched out his arm, placed the wine glass on the coffee table, pulled out the cushion between them, and pulled her into his arms around her waist.
He was no longer gentle; his tongue forcefully probed into her mouth, entwining with hers and stirring her breath.
Jiang Nuanyu felt a sudden weakness and clung tightly to his neck. As their lips and tongues intertwined, she excitedly clenched her teeth and accidentally bit his lip.
Her bite was quite forceful, causing Liang Qi to stop. He licked the spot she had bitten, a faint smile flashing in his eyes as he asked, panting, "What do you want?"
Jiang Nuanyu panicked and explained shyly, "I didn't mean to, does it hurt—"
Before she could finish speaking, Liang Qi kissed her again.
The pain on his lips completely ignited his almost nonexistent restraint. He pushed her down onto the sofa, pinned her down, and forcefully sucked and bit her lips and tongue.
Jiang Nuanyu gripped his shirt tightly with her fingers, her mind blank. She lost her rhythm under his intense kisses and could only respond to him instinctively.
She couldn't hold on for long; she couldn't take it anymore and pressed her hands against his chest, letting out moaning sounds of unbearable pain.
Liang Qi released her, and she gasped for breath, saying from the bottom of her heart, "You're going to kiss me unconscious."
Liang Qi lightly pecked the tip of her nose: "Let's breathe here."
“I changed it…” Jiang Nuanyu muttered between breaths as she accused him, “You’re too fierce, I don’t even have time to react.”
Liang Qi's chest heaved as he nodded and remained silent.
He glanced at her lips; they were indeed full and red from his caresses, with a small, glistening wet spot on the edge of her lower lip. He lowered his head, took it in his mouth, and licked it away. Then, he took a bit of her lip in his mouth, holding it between his lips, his tongue swirling around it.
Jiang Nuanyu felt a tingling sensation in her heart from his kisses, and just as she recovered a little, she wanted more. But while his lips and tongue teased her, and his fingers played with her, he wouldn't kiss her deeply again, nor would he take it any further.
This time, Jiang Nuanyu couldn't wait any longer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned in, and gently licked his lips. He parted his lips slightly, allowing her to lick them, but made no other moves.
She had no choice but to probe her tongue inwards, and he allowed it, gently holding her little tongue in his mouth, otherwise remaining still.
Jiang Nuanyu whispered, "I'm all set."
Liang Qi pretended not to understand: "What do you mean?"
"...Kiss me."
Liang Qi took his hand out of her tank top, pinched her chin and lifted it up, saying, "You said the same thing just now. What if you say I'm mean later?"
Jiang Nuanyu: "..."
Both of those sentences were indeed said by her.
But now was not the time to argue. She steeled herself and said, "I like it when you're fierce."
Liang Qi raised an eyebrow very slightly, surprised.
Jiang Nuanyu noticed the change in his expression and swallowed hard.
She seemed to have figured out how to appease Liang Qi: directness. The more direct her words, the more effective they would be for Liang Qi.
If that's the case, then... she's still good at this.
She took his hand, placed it in front of her, and said, "I liked what you did just now."
Liang Qi didn't speak, but his eyes were so intense they seemed to be dripping with tears.
He kept his upper body half-supported, the blood pressure so high that the veins in his neck bulged, tightly bound by his shirt collar.
Jiang Nuanyu said, "Liang Qi, you still haven't answered me."
Liang Qi paused for a moment: "What?"
“I said… I wanted you to stay, but you haven’t agreed yet.”
Liang Qi stared into her eyes. She reached for the buttons on his shirt with both hands and whispered, "I want to help you unbutton them...is that alright?"
A night breeze lifted a corner of the gauze curtain, bringing in a touch of summer coolness, but the temperature inside the room was rising higher and higher. So, the clothes had to be taken off.
Liang Qi kissed her ear, but as soon as he got close, Jiang Nuanyu pushed him away from his chest: "Wait, wait a minute."
Hearing this, Liang Qi propped himself up, touched her forehead, and asked in a low, husky voice, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Nuanyu didn't answer immediately. She pulled her legs up and moved to the bedside, opened the bedside table drawer, took out an unopened small cardboard box, and handed it to him.
She didn't dare look at him, and she was also too embarrassed to look at the cardboard box in front of him, so she said, "...Do you want to use this?"
Liang Qi took it, recognized what it was, glanced at her, and casually asked, "When did you prepare this?"
Jiang Nuanyu felt even more embarrassed by his question. She bit her lip and then let go, choosing to remain silent.
The day after returning from Beijing, she went to the supermarket to buy some fresh vegetables. On her way home, she passed a pharmacy at the street corner and inexplicably stopped, hesitated, and then went inside.
When I went to buy it, I discovered that the set came in different sizes.
She hadn't actually seen what the place looked like before, so she just chose one based on her "feeling".
Liang Qi asked the question casually, not expecting an answer. She didn't answer, and he didn't press her for an answer.
He opened the outer packaging seal, took one out, and tore open the thin layer of packaging.
Jiang Nuanyu propped herself up on her elbows and half-lay on the bed. From the moment Liang Qi started unpacking the outer packaging, her eyes were fixed on him.
She was so curious that her gaze unconsciously followed the movements of his hands. It wasn't until the very last step that she suddenly realized where her gaze had been fixed.
Her head exploded with a buzzing sound, and she abruptly turned her face away, closing her eyes tightly. But the overly clear and realistic image was so visually impactful that it lingered in her mind, refusing to leave.
Liang Qi grabbed her leg and pulled her back to him, supporting himself with one hand beside her and turning her face to face.
Jiang Nuanyu's entire body was as red and hot as a freshly cooked cherry tomato. Shyly, she still managed to ask him, "Is it suitable?"
Liang Qi leaned down and kissed her, saying, "You have a good eye for choice."
She returned his kiss with a sense of reassurance.
The scented candle by the bedside had been burning for too long; the flame flickered on the long wick, casting an intermittent glow on the ceiling.
The light and shadow flickered, and Liang Qi's eyes reflected the dancing firelight, like a lighthouse in a boundless sea, deep and captivating, drawing her in.
She climbed onto his neck, responding to his close embrace.
For the past month or so, every morning when Jiang Nuanyu woke up and realized she had slept well the night before, she would think of Liang Qi. It was Liang Qi's presence that filled the void in her heart, allowing her to sleep peacefully through the night without any dreams.
And now, he has completely filled another void in her life.
She might not be too bad off alone in Paris.
But she thought that with him, she felt better and more complete in this city.
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A note from the author:
"
Your love will intoxicate me, and I don't care.
How can one be intoxicated when one is too clear-headed?
"
—Dear John by Billie
"Ding—", this is a notification for a lucky draw!
See the article's homepage and the author's announcement below for details. It's definitely worth the trip! [Applause]
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