Chapter 40 Kiss Kiss Kiss Kiss
When Liang Kongxiang finally arrived at the "good place" Jiang Jiaoming had described, he realized that Jiang's comment about the "beautiful moonlight" was not simply a prelude to his ulterior motives.
In the middle of a wide, flat grassland lies a lake. A small boat rests on the mirror-like surface of the lake, swaying gently against the shore. The upturned stern of the boat is reflected in the water, just as a sliver of the full moon is visible.
"How is it? Does it look good?" Jiang Jiaoming suddenly asked.
Immersed in the bright moonlight, Liang Kongxiang subconsciously walked towards the wooden boat, her eyes fixed on it, trying to figure out how to board. "It's beautiful. How did you find it?"
Liang Kongxiang turned around and looked at him with amusement, then took two small steps forward and stopped by the side of the boat.
The lawn near the lake is quite damp, and your feet will sink slightly when you step on it.
Just as she was about to bend down and grab the hull to get on the boat, a hand suddenly reached across her waist, grabbed her, and pulled her back, her back pressed against a warm, firm chest.
"I'll go first." Jiang Jiaoming placed his other hand on her head and patted it hard. He spoke of getting on the boat as if it were a "you jump, I jump" situation, as if it weren't getting on the boat but jumping into the sea.
Seeing that he was putting on a "hero" persona again and showing unnecessary boyfriend charm, Liang Kongxiang ultimately didn't argue with him. She stepped aside and let him go first.
Jiang Jiaoming took a long stride and stood steadily in the boat, turning to the side and reaching out his hand to her, "Come here."
His arms were long and strong, with smooth lines, and Liang Kongxiang placed her five fingers on them. The phrase "impregnable fortress" might also apply to Jiang Jiaoming. He didn't seem this muscular in high school. Although he wasn't thin, his height of nearly 1.9 meters was considered excellent among his peers... Now he had truly become a man in the real sense.
“You can get distracted even when you’re leaning on me,” Jiang Jiaoming said, pulling her inside and putting his arm around her waist. He then used his thumb and forefinger to hold her chin, forcing her to look up. He stared at Liang Kongxiang expressionlessly. “Who are you thinking about?”
Jiang Jiaoming immediately noticed the obvious expression on Liang Kongxiang's face, indicating she was recalling someone. He quickly checked all of Liang Kongxiang's past rumored lovers, his heart burning with anxiety, and squinted as he asked, "Who? Hmm?"
This place looks like it's on high alert...
With her hands tied, Liang Kongxiang could only stand on tiptoe. She bumped her forehead against his chin, sighed helplessly, and said to him, "How can you only have the magnanimity of a third party?"
A soft, delicate fragrance wafted over, and Jiang Jiaoming paused for a moment, then gently touched her forehead with his index finger. "...Doesn't it hurt?"
Liang Kongxiang shrugged her shoulders and moved her arms up and down in Jiang Jiaoming's arms. Only then did he realize that he was holding her hands captive.
Jiang Jiaoming slowly released her, then started spouting nonsense again: "I've only ever been a mistress in my life, so what, are you going to give me up again?"
Jiang Jiaoming was still wondering who Liang Kongxiang was thinking about when she lost in thought. Before he could say anything, Liang Kongxiang touched something else.
Two cans of Coke, two cans of beer.
Are you drinking on the boat?
Liang Kongxiang steadied herself with Jiang Jiaoming's outstretched hand and asked with a smile, "Who taught you that?"
Jiang Jiaoming said absentmindedly, "Self-taught."
"That's impressive." Liang Kongxiang praised, picked up a wooden paddle and handed it to him, then looked ahead and said, "Why don't we row to the other side? There's a tree over there."
Jiang Jiaoming followed her gaze and glanced at it. It wasn't a big tree; with a little effort, he might be able to climb it. He looked at Liang Kongxiang, who seemed slightly excited.
Over the years, she has seen many beautiful sights and experienced the world of fame and fortune, yet she can still smile sincerely at a small tree upon her return.
"Why aren't you moving?" Liang Kongxiang had already sat down, put the oar into the water, and noticed that Jiang Jiaoming was still standing still. She patted his calf, as if inviting a guest to her home, "Sit down."
Jiang Jiaoming laughed in anger, sat down cross-legged, and suddenly leaned over without warning to bite her cheek to vent his anger. He also grabbed the wooden paddle in his hand and splashed it heavily in the water, splashing up a puddle.
Liang Kongxiang touched her slightly stinging left cheek, both amused and exasperated, "Why do I look like a dog?"
"Then remember to tie the rope securely." Jiang Jiaoming rowed with his left hand, leaned back, grabbed a bottle of cola, and with a "rip," opened the tab with one hand, tilting his head back to gulp down several mouthfuls.
As the moon gradually sank, it seemed to expand, growing larger and larger, a thin, serene round disc resting against my eyes.
As they approached the shore, Liang Kongxiang put the wet oars aside and suddenly stood up, bracing himself against the edge of the boat.
The wooden boat swayed slightly from side to side twice.
"Where are you going?" Jiang Jiaoming frowned and grabbed her ankle.
“Standing at the bow of the boat,” Liang Kongxiang said with a smile, her tone innocent, “I always felt that if I took two steps forward, I would be able to touch it.”
"What did you run into?" Jiang Jiaoming quickly realized what was happening. He said "Oh," and worried that she might not be able to stand steadily on her own, so he didn't let go. "Why don't you just row to the other side?"
My leg isn't fully healed yet; if I lose my balance and fall, I'll suffer all over again.
Liang Kongxiang couldn't break free from his tight grip, so she had to sit down again and urged, "Then row faster." She was worried that the moon would move faster than them.
With sparks practically flying from his arm, Jiang Jiaoming sighed helplessly, "...Fine."
With one hand and one oar, he practically stole fire from the water, causing the lake to ripple violently. The boat rocked and swayed, and soon reached the other side.
As usual, Jiang Jiaoming got off the unstable boat first and reached out his hand to her.
Liang Kongxiang used the momentum to walk out. Jiang Jiaoming's thoughts were clearly written on his face. He stared intently at her expression and, seeing that she wasn't distracted this time, felt much better. "You're going..."
Before he could finish speaking or even take her hand, Liang Kongxiang's clothes brushed past him as she headed straight for the tree. He stood there, looking down at his empty palms, then up at Liang Kongxiang's retreating figure. He chuckled in exasperation, took a few steps over, wrapped his arms around her neck like a buddy, and coldly asked, "Use and then throw away? What do you take me for?"
Liang Kongxiang's steps suddenly stopped as he circled her territory. She subconsciously reached out to cover her face to prevent him from biting her again. Then she realized that he was just questioning her and gave her a perfunctory compliment, "You're so amazing," before quickly changing the subject: "I want to climb a tree."
"...Climb a tree?" Jiang Jiaoming was indeed stunned for a moment, then picked at his ear, doubting his hearing.
He stared blankly at her, then looked up at the tree.
The tree's branches looked fairly sturdy, and Jiang Jiaoming estimated that it could bear a good weight, but Liang Kongxiang's knee injury had only just revealed pink, tender flesh, and it couldn't withstand another scratch.
His gaze toward her turned helpless. Liang Kongxiang's occasional thoughts would leave him at a loss. Back in high school, she would sneak out late at night to watch a movie and dare to walk alone at night, always saying that she had pepper spray in her bag. When they went hiking together in college, the routes they chose were increasingly difficult, but she had a strong will to overcome any difficulty.
Jiang Jiaoming sighed and asked her, "Do you really have to go up?"
"Mm." Liang Kongxiang nodded, pried open his hands that were wrapped around her neck, took his wrist, and pulled him forward. "I'll step on your shoulders to get up."
Jiang Jiaoming paused, but Liang Kongxiang persisted, pretending not to notice, and continued to pull him along. They reached the tree in just a few steps.
The tree looked ordinary from a distance, but upon closer inspection, it seemed quite impressive. The trunk was thick enough that climbing it wouldn't break the branches, but Jiang Jiaoming still held up his index finger and waved it left and right in front of her, coldly rejecting her: "No way."
Seeing his resolute attitude, Liang Kongxiang nodded in agreement, "Okay."
Something's not right. Jiang Jiaoming looked at Liang Kongxiang suspiciously. Giving in so quickly was completely unlike her...
Sure enough, Liang Kongxiang didn't give up at all. Instead, he grabbed the thick tree trunk with both hands and looked up to determine how to climb the tree.
By the time Jiang Jiaoming reacted, Liang Kongxiang had already stepped on the ground with the ball of his foot and pushed off, but he slipped and seemed to hiss softly.
For a split second, Jiang Jiaoming grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back against him, then bent down to carefully examine her wounds. "How are you?"
Liang Kongxiang didn't speak, but Jiang Jiaoming clicked his tongue in annoyance, his brows furrowed as if two threads were tied in a knot.
Why was he arguing with her? He could have just helped her climb up. Now she not only failed to get up the tree but also got injured again.
Jiang Jiaoming squatted down in front of her knees, gently touched the edge of her wound with the back of his hand, and looked up to ask, "Does it hurt?"
Before she could speak, Jiang Jiaoming patted his shoulder and said, "Come up."
He lowered his head and waited for Liang Kongxiang to step up. His shoulders were broad, like a majestic and loyal dog.
Liang Kongxiang held onto the tree trunk with one hand and stepped onto Jiang Jiaoming's shoulder. She was truly steady, as if standing on flat ground.
As soon as she placed her feet on the ground, Jiang Jiaoming quickly grabbed her calves and asked to confirm, "Are you done? Can I get up?"
Liang Kongxiang peeled away the dirty bark with both hands, her gaze falling on the branch that had grown out to the right. "All done."
Jiang Jiaoming slowly stood up, keeping a close eye on Liang Kongxiang, worried that she might lose her balance. He held her ankles tightly with both hands, one on each side, and then took small steps to the right. After Liang Kongxiang touched the top section of the tree trunk, he asked her, "Shall I turn around now?"
“Okay,” she said, adjusting her hands so she could wrap her arms around the thick branch and sit down. “All done.”
Jiang Jiaoming breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and looked up.
Liang Kongxiang looked relaxed and showed no fear whatsoever. She simply lowered her head and smiled slightly, praising him, "You're amazing."
“...Nonsense.” He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, took two steps back, and examined the length of the tree trunk. He estimated that if he sprinted a few meters, the chances of leaping up the tree were still high.
"Do you want to come up?" She could tell what he was thinking from his expression.
“Hmm,” Jiang Jiaoming stepped back a little more, “Sit tight and hug the tree trunk.” He aimed at the spot next to Liang Kongxiang.
Liang Kongxiang did as she was told. She was already thin, and clinging to the tree trunk looked like she was just wrapped in a layer of whitewash.
Jiang Jiaoming rushed over in a few steps, gripped the tree trunk tightly, and leaped up steadily with a push of his legs. With quick eyes and hands, he reached around to Liang Kongxiang's back and held onto the branch for support.
Liang Kongxiang felt a warm, sandalwood-scented breeze sweep across the grass. When the breeze stopped, Jiang Jiaoming sat down next to her.
"So?" Jiang Jiaoming asked again, raising his eyebrows as if it were a piece of cake, "Is it better to watch the sunset from the watchtower or to admire the moon from the tree?"
Why can't we get over this? Liang Kongxiang smiled and said, "You're the best."
Jiang Jiaoming stared at her blankly for two seconds, then awkwardly looked away, gazing at the half-hanging, damp full moon in front of him. "Oh."
"Um."
Suddenly, everything fell silent. Only then did Jiang Jiaoming hear the croaking of frogs in the grass, and the wind was quite cool. He squinted, and the moonlight gathered in the slits of his eyes, making them appear even brighter. When he opened his eyes again, the moonlight seemed like a large porcelain plate, quietly absorbing the darkness of the night.
After listening for a while, Jiang Jiaoming glanced at Liang Kongxiang out of the corner of his eye. She was staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
“At the end of the year before last,” Jiang Jiaoming suddenly spoke up. Liang Kongxiang came back to his senses and continued, “On the evening of November 20th of the year before last, when the VM magazine ceremony was about to end, you kept looking up at the moon in a daze. What were you thinking about?”
She had just become famous then, and they had already broken up for two years.
After Liang Kongxiang became famous, she received a steady stream of business and fashion opportunities. Towards the end of the year, she had to carefully consider participating in events that were a must to increase her exposure.
That year, VM organized an outdoor event where artists gathered under the starry sky on the grassland.
Through the live stream, Jiang Jiaoming saw them chatting in twos and threes. Liang Kongxiang was naturally in the center of the event, with Zhuo Qiyun whispering in her ear. On the other side was another female artist who seemed to know Zhuo Qiyun well, occasionally chiming in with a few words. Liang Kongxiang smiled and occasionally joined in.
Through the screen, Jiang Jiaoming couldn't hear what they were talking about because Zhuo Qiyun covered her mouth with her hand, and Liang Kongxiang, as always, just nodded without offering any comments.
As the live stream was about to end, Liang Kongxiang remained lost in thought, her head tilted back. She wasn't the type to reveal her personal emotions in front of the camera.
The computer light shone on Jiang Jiaoming's sharp features, and he frowned.
When the camera switched to other celebrities, Jiang Jiaoming glanced out the office window. A large electronic screen displayed an advertisement for Liang Kongxiang, the huge poster facing Jiang Jiaoming. He stared at her face for several seconds.
The bright moon hangs high behind the tall buildings, but it cannot shine into his narrow space.
Jiang Jiaoming was completely baffled. How come the entire Gongtai City was bathed in moonlight, but he was not illuminated at all, not even a little bit?
Coming to her senses, the camera switched back to Liang Kongxiang, who was still staring at the dark sky in the live stream. Zhuo Qiyun spoke in her ear, and she gradually came back to her senses with a lost look...
Jiang Jiaoming simply turned off the live stream. Immediately afterward, his phone beeped a few times, but he ignored it. He walked to the window, raised his fingertips, and gently rubbed the glass for two seconds.
The advertisement on the electronic screen features Liang Kongxiang, but it's not the real Liang Kongxiang.
He withdrew his hand.
The phone behind him was lit up; it was a WeChat message from Zhang San.
Happy birthday, Jiaoming! Qian Liu and the others are clamoring to play mahjong. How about it, are you coming?
That day was his birthday.
"What were you thinking at the time?" Jiang Jiaoming asked again.
He turned his head to look at Liang Kongxiang's face, lost in memories.
"I felt that the cloud was moving quite fast, and I counted the seconds to see when it would cover the moon."
That's it?
"Hmm," Liang Kongxiang nodded calmly, then asked knowingly, "What do you want to hear?"
"...That's all."
Jiang Jiaoming himself didn't realize that for those few seconds he looked like a big bad wolf with its tail held high, suddenly its tail swept to the ground—quite pitiful. Liang Kongxiang stopped teasing him.
"Actually, I was also thinking that you might feel a little lonely celebrating your birthday alone," she said, noticing his tail drooping as he always spun around, his eyes crinkling. "But since I can't see you, I wonder if you even remember your own birthday."
For several seconds, Jiang Jiaoming didn't speak, just staring at her intently.
It turns out they once shared the same second of longing for each other.
The leaves rustled in the wind, like downy feathers being turned inside out.
Liang Kongxiang's dangling legs swung freely in the air.
On this night in Sisa Port, amidst the faint chirping of insects in the distance and the gentle lapping of the lake, everything was peaceful, tranquil, and beautiful.
Jiang Jiaoming thought incredulously that Liang Kongxiang, who was only twenty-eight years old, was leaning on his shoulder.
He glanced down at her knees... She'd been sitting there for over ten minutes; weren't her calves uncomfortable from the blood pooling in them?
"Go on down," Jiang Jiaoming said thoughtfully. "We have to go."
It wasn't even dawn yet, and it looked like it would be a while before dawn, but Jiang Jiaoming patted her head and jumped down first, landing steadily on the grass. Then he scooped her up with both hands and said, "Aim at the spot and fall down, I'll hold you."
“No need,” she said, gesturing to the right, “it’s not very high here. Move to the side a bit.”
They thought he was blocking their way. Jiang Jiaoming sighed helplessly, his hands still raised. "My knees aren't fully healed. They can't withstand such a strong impact. If my old injury flares up and delays filming, who can I complain to?"
That's such a lame excuse. Liang Kongxiang chuckled and looked down: "Then catch it." After saying that, she aimed at the position of his hands, leaned to the side, relaxed, and fell down. With a muffled thud, her waist and the back of her knees were firmly caught by two hands. When she looked up, she met Jiang Jiaoming's deep eyes. He was looking at her.
Glug.
Liang Kongxiang's gaze moved down from his eyes and swept over his Adam's apple.
Jiang Jiaoming swallowed hard.
The next second, Liang Kongxiang was suddenly pressed against his chest by his hand, her face almost buried in Jiang Jiaoming's neck. He rubbed his chin against the hair on the side of Liang Kongxiang's head, took a deep breath, and then turned around and strode to the side of the boat.
This position forced her lips to press tightly against his Adam's apple, and Liang Kongxiang was unusually stunned, bewildered. What was he thinking about now...?
If Jiang Jiaoming hadn't been sighing, she would most likely have misunderstood that Jiang Jiaoming was taking advantage of her again.
The two boarded the boat, and Liang Kongxiang casually opened the wine that Jiang Jiaoming had brought. It wasn't very strong and smelled like fruit wine. She held the cold jar, tilted her head back, and took a few gulps. She poked Jiang Jiaoming, who was paddling hard, with her puffed-out lips, grunted twice, swallowed, and said, "Look at the water."
"What?" Jiang Jiaoming glanced at her moist lips and saw that she was looking to the right front with a fairly happy expression. Following the direction of her eyes, he saw the reflection of the waning moon curving on the ripples of the waves, like a chopstick poking half an egg yolk and sparsely scattering it in the egg white.
There were two shadows very close together in the water, but in the blink of an eye, one of the shadows disappeared.
With a splash, a loud noise suddenly rang in her ears, and a large splash of water rose up. Liang Kongxiang was startled to see a dark figure jump down beside her. Her T-shirt felt slightly cool on the front, and when she touched it, a small patch was wet.
She turned her head abruptly.
There was no sign of Jiang Jiaoming on the ship!
Looking into the water, apart from the circular ripples spreading out like boulders sinking to the bottom, everything was as usual. Jiang Jiaoming was completely submerged, doing nothing for over ten seconds.
Liang Kongxiang searched around but couldn't guess where he was. It was late at night, and the underwater area was so dark. He wasn't wearing any protective gear. Liang Kongxiang called out in a cold voice, "Jiang Jiaoming."
No one answered, and even the splashing water gradually subsided.
Liang Kongxiang's heart started pounding. She turned on her flashlight and shone it on the lake, trying to provoke him: "Don't even think about getting back together if you don't come out."
As soon as he finished speaking, with a splash, a person emerged from the water to Liang Kongxiang's right. He was soaking wet, quickly smoothed his hair with one hand, opened his eyes, his face covered in water, and clung to the hull of the boat with both hands. Lake water dripped from his fingers into the boat, and he breathed heavily. "So, you mean I can get back together with you once I get out?"
There's such a good thing.
Liang Kongxiang turned off her flashlight, but Jiang Jiaoming still stared intently at her, waiting for her answer.
Large beads of water clung to his forehead and slid down his forehead to his eyelids.
"Aren't you feeling unwell?" Liang Kongxiang gently rubbed his eyelids with her index finger. "Stop playing around and come up here."
As Jiang Jiaoming's eyes were being brushed by her fingertips, he suddenly thought of something.
Under her focused gaze, Jiang Jiaoming wanted to slow down and prolong the pleasure, but he ejaculated before he even started moving.
Knock knock knock knock.
Jiang Jiaoming's heart was pressed against the wooden boat, pounding violently up and down.
Some things are hard to say unless your brain is oxygen-deprived.
Jiang Jiaoming grabbed Liang Kongxiang's hand, which she hadn't had time to pull away, and held her wrist tightly, clinging to the hull and looking up.
Liang Kongxiang sat in the boat, and even with her head down, she was still much taller than him. She looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression, "Still..."
"Before dawn," the moon behind Liang Kongxiang gradually disappeared behind the hill, leaving only half of it visible, the sky faintly about to brighten. He gazed at Liang Kongxiang, his gaze so focused, and after several seconds finished speaking: "Before dawn, could you love me one more time?"
A thin, silvery-white canopy surrounds the area, and in the middle of the wide green space lies a pristine lake, where a young couple gazes at each other across the wooden hull of a boat.
Liang Kongxiang was stunned for a moment. Jiang Jiaoming looked up and stared intently at her, like a criminal awaiting final judgment.
What does it mean to not speak?
Suddenly, Liang Kongxiang leaned down, closed her eyes, and kissed Jiang Jiaoming's lips briefly before pulling away.
Jiang Jiaoming subconsciously stretched his body and looked up, trying to catch up, but he didn't touch anything. He felt like a million ants were crawling all over him, and he was panting heavily.
But Liang Kongxiang had already sat up straight, and looked at the bewildered Jiang Jiaoming with a smile: "I told you, you can come up first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Jiaoming immediately climbed on top of her, not caring that he was soaking wet and had dragged a lot of water into the boat. He went straight to Liang Kongxiang, hurriedly embraced her, and kissed her forcefully, not giving her a chance to react or refuse. His tongue directly invaded her mouth, hooking and entwining with Liang Kongxiang's tongue.
Caught off guard, Liang Kongxiang was pulled forward by his waist. Still stunned, she opened her mouth and made a soft "uh," which only made it easier for Jiang Jiaoming to kiss her passionately.
Her body reflexively went limp and slid down, but Jiang Jiaoming held her tightly. Her legs were slightly numb, her hands hung limply at her sides, and she closed her eyes and opened her mouth slightly.
Jiang Jiaoming sucked on the tip of her tongue, pulled it back a little, looked down at her, smiled, his voice a little hoarse, and his breath hit her lips as soon as he spoke: "So soft."
Liang Kongxiang glanced at him with a flushed face, trying to catch her breath. Jiang Jiaoming noticed this immediately and deliberately leaned in to kiss her again, wanting her to remember who was in front of her as she suffocated.
He got excited, his tongue moving to other places after he'd had his fill of sucking. First, he pressed down on her lips and corners of her mouth, like a bird pecking at them, just like she used to kiss him. Then he kissed her wet, numb lips, followed by gently sucking on her upper lip and licking her lips with his tongue. A few minutes later, he cupped her face and French kissed her, leaving Liang Kongxiang completely exhausted, her brain in a state of oxygen deprivation, her mind numb, and her eyes filled with Jiang Jiaoming's sharply defined face.
As dawn broke, Liang Kongxiang weakly pushed his shoulder and turned her face away. Jiang Jiaoming's lips brushed against her cheek. After a moment of hesitation, he improvised and gave her a loud "pop" on the cheek. He then pinched her chin, forcing her to turn her face back to him and stare at him. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you trying to get away from me, or are you rewarding me in some way?"
"Have some shame, Jiang Jiaoming." Liang Kongxiang chuckled helplessly, burying her head in his neck and gently bumping her forehead against his.
Jiang Jiaoming laughed so hard his whole body trembled. He wrapped his arms around her back and ruffled her hair vigorously, exclaiming, "How can you still be so cute..."
If you're shy, hide so he can't see you.
Liang Kongxiang breathed short, warm breath on his neck, ignoring him.
He pinched her red and hot ears, stopped laughing at her, closed his eyes and quietly held her, resting his chin on his head, and let out a satisfied sigh.
The whole world became clear; the moon had completely disappeared, and a red sun was about to peek out from the other side of the horizon.
"When will you answer my question?" Jiang Jiaoming's voice rang out from above.
"When did you become so timid?"
The red sun bursts forth, and ten thousand red streaks shoot out of the horizon like sharp swords.
Liang Kongxiang laughed at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.
I will love you even after dawn.
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Author's Note: Actually, Kong Xiang wasn't injured when she climbed the tree; she was just deliberately trying to provoke Jiang Jiaoming, hahaha. It's sweet and reassuring!
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