Crazy probing
"Tell me quickly!" Lin Tingyue immediately perked up, put down her cup, and leaned forward unconsciously.
“Just two days ago, I went to the community to help deliver things,” Xia Xiaoran said, leaning against the kitchen counter, picking up a slice of orange and eating it slowly, her eyes drifting to the window. “I happened to run into him there doing volunteer work, it seems to be a social practice required by the school.”
"And then? Did you say hello?"
“He hit me…” Xia Xiaoran’s voice became even weaker. “He was very polite. He even asked me… if I was still bothered by what happened last time, saying that he was too direct and didn’t consider my feelings, and he apologized to me.”
Lin Tingyue's eyes lit up: "Hey? Your attitude is really good! And what did you say?"
"What could I say?" Xia Xiaoran swallowed the orange and shrugged. "Of course I said it was nothing, that I was overthinking it, and told him not to mind. Then he smiled and said that was good, and even helped me move my things over."
"He seems like... a pretty considerate guy?" Lin Tingyue commented cautiously, carefully observing her friend's expression.
Xia Xiaoran didn't reply immediately. She silently washed her hands, dried them, and then walked back to sit next to Lin Tingyue. She picked up a cushion, rested her chin on it, and spoke in a muffled voice.
"He is quite polite. But Tingyue, don't you think it's even stranger? The more sensible he is, the more embarrassing it makes me look at the time... sigh, anyway, it's really embarrassing."
She leaned closer, touched Xia Xiaoran's shoulder with her own, and whispered, "Ranran, sometimes when a feeling comes, it doesn't have much to do with age or the occasion. What matters is how you feel. If... if you really care, don't let the fear of embarrassment hold you back."
Look at me, I was almost driven to death by Chi Zhuo back then, and I still get angry when I think about it now. But sometimes relationships are like that, they can experience some unexpected accidents that bring two people from parallel worlds together.
So, if you care, just give it a try. Even if you don't feel anything, it's still an experience, right? Besides, you're young, and life doesn't offer second chances, so you really won't know the outcome if you don't try..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Xia Xiaoran understood what she meant.
Xia Xiaoran buried her face in the cushion, sullen for a while, before finally raising her head and letting out a long breath, as if to expel all the turmoil in her heart: "We'll see... let nature take its course. Right now, I just hope that our Miss Lin's love life goes smoothly and that she's happy every day." As she spoke, she reached out and ruffled Lin Tingyue's hair, successfully earning a reproachful look from the other party.
After staying for three days, Chi Zhuo sent a message in the afternoon saying he would go back that night, but Lin Tingyue could go back whenever she wanted.
Although Lin Tingyue wanted to stay longer, she didn't stay for very long.
Before leaving, she hugged Xia Xiaoran and said earnestly, "Ranran, thank you. This place feels like my second home."
Xia Xiaoran hugged her back and patted her back: "Stop being so mushy, come anytime you want. But..." She paused, her tone teasing, "I think someone is missing you terribly, so I won't keep you any longer."
Lin Tingyue blushed and gently punched her.
-
When she arrived at her doorstep, she took a deep breath and just as she took out her key, the door was opened from the inside.
Chi Zhuo stood at the door, seemingly having just returned. He was still wearing a crisp shirt, but the top two buttons of his collar were undone, giving him a slightly weary look. However, his eyes instantly became clear and focused when he saw her.
"You're back?" His voice was a few decibels lower than usual.
"Mmm," Lin Tingyue responded softly as she changed into her slippers.
The apartment was the same as when she left, yet it seemed somewhat different.
His gaze lingered on her face, scrutinizing her carefully for a moment before he spoke: "Did you have fun at Xia Xiaoran's house?"
"I'm happy." Lin Tingyue looked up, met his gaze, and unconsciously smiled. "Ranran prepared so many surprises for me."
She was about to share the adorable cheese patterns and her beautiful new clothes with him when Chi Zhuo took a step closer to her.
He didn't ask any more questions, but simply reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.
I miss you so much.
The hug came suddenly yet naturally, carrying a longing that had been building up over the past few days, tight and warm.
Lin Tingyue was taken aback at first, then relaxed and pressed her cheek against his slightly cool shirt. She could hear the steady heartbeat in his chest responding to his words.
"Me too."
"Chi Zhuo," she called softly.
"I am here."
She reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. "We're good together like this."
Chi Zhuo's body seemed to stiffen for a moment, then he hugged her even tighter.
It was late at night when Lin Tingyue came out after taking a shower and found that Chi Zhuo was not in the bedroom. She walked to the door of the study and saw him still working. The light from the computer screen reflected on his face, outlining his slightly tired features.
She knocked gently on the door.
Chi Zhuo raised his head, the weariness on his face instantly fading. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I'll wait for you." Lin Tingyue walked into the study and stopped beside him. "Are you busy?"
"It'll be ready soon." As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tingyue came to him, turned around and sat on his lap.
The movement came suddenly, and Chi Zhuo instinctively reached out to support her waist, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against the bare skin exposed beneath her pajamas. Both of them froze for a moment.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice, his voice slightly hoarse.
Lin Tingyue didn't speak, but simply reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. Her freshly washed hair exuded a clean fragrance, and a few strands of damp hair clung to the side of his neck, cool and slightly itchy.
Chi Zhuo slowly withdrew his hand from the keyboard and gently placed it on her back. Through the thin nightgown, he could feel the warmth of her body.
"Are you tired?" he asked again.
Lin Tingyue gently shook her head on his shoulder, her hair brushing against his chin.
"That means you miss me." This time, the tone was affirmative.
She finally looked up, her eyes shining brightly in the dimly lit study: "Weren't you thinking of me too?"
Chi Zhuo didn't deny it, but tightened his grip on her waist.
The study was quiet, with only the faint sound of the computer tower running.
The work report on the screen was still open, but he had no interest in working at all.
Lin Tingyue's gaze fell on his face, from his slightly furrowed brows to his slightly tired eyes, and finally settled on his well-defined jawline.
She reached out and gently stroked the newly sprouted stubble on his chin.
“You should shave,” she said.
Chi Zhuo grasped her wrist: "We'll shave tomorrow."
Lin Tingyue tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.
"Don't move," he said in a low voice.
She indeed stopped moving, letting him hold her hand, his fingertips gently circling her palm. This subtle touch made her heart race even faster than a direct embrace.
"Chi Zhuo," she called him softly.
"Um?"
"Why did we meet? If it weren't for what happened that night, would we have remained on parallel lines, never intersecting?"
He looked down at her, his gaze deep: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
The study fell silent again, but this time there was something else in the silence.
Lin Tingyue could feel the rise and fall of his chest and hear his breathing gradually becoming heavier.
Her hand on his shoulder tightened unconsciously, gripping the fabric of his shirt.
Chi Zhuo suddenly shifted his position. This subtle movement caused Lin Tingyue to slide closer into his arms, bringing the two of them even closer together.
The things Lin Tingyue said at Xia Xiaoran's house this time were not only for Xia Xiaoran, but also for herself.
"That's what I wanted to ask."
Lin Tingyue didn't want to keep making up excuses; she just wanted to know the real secret.
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Chi Zhuo's hand around her waist tighten a little.
"Lin Tingyue." He rarely called her by her full name, and whenever he did, his tone was always restrained.
She looked up and met his gaze.
He lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers. "There are no 'ifs'," his voice was deep and certain, "We met, that's the only fact."
The computer screen went dark from being inactive for a long time, the last light source in the study disappeared, and the darkness amplified the other senses. The only thing that could be heard clearly was the sound of breathing intertwined.
Lin Tingyue moved slightly, her nose brushing against his cheek. This subtle movement was like a switch being turned on.
Chi Zhuo suddenly cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.
The kiss carried an undisguised longing, deep and lingering.
She tilted her head back to receive him, her hands around his neck unconsciously tightening, her knuckles digging into his slightly stiff hair.
He kissed her as he stood up, holding her in his arms.
The sudden suspension made her gasp softly, and she instinctively clung tightly to him.
Chi Zhuo then gently lifted her into his arms and placed her on the table.
He leaned forward in front of her, but didn't continue immediately. He simply looked at her using the dim light coming in from the window.
His gaze was calm, yet it seemed to conceal an undercurrent.
“Now,” he began, his voice even hoarser than before, “do you still think you need that ‘what if’?”
Lin Tingyue did not answer. She reached out, grabbed his loosened shirt collar, and pulled it down slightly.
He responded to the invitation with his actions, and his clothes were removed in a silent, tacit understanding.
The cool air touched my skin, only to be immediately enveloped by the warmth he brought.
After the storm subsided, only the two people's gradually calming breathing and the documents scattered all over the floor remained in the study.
Chi Zhuo did not leave immediately, but instead let her stay on his lap, burying his head in her neck, his lips unintentionally touching the throbbing pulse on her neck.
Lin Tingyue felt weak all over and was too lazy to even move her fingers. She just absentmindedly twirled his sweaty hair.
After a while, he propped himself up, covered her with a blanket, and carried her to the sofa.
He looked down at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips, before getting up and going to the bathroom.
When he returned, he was holding a warm, damp towel and carefully wiped her body with gentle movements. Lin Tingyue closed her eyes and let him take care of her, so comfortable that she almost fell asleep.
Chi Zhuo put down the towel, sat on the sofa, pulled her into his arms, and covered them both with a blanket.
“Now,” he said, gently stroking her lower back, “do you still feel like we’re parallel lines?”
Lin Tingyue adjusted to a more comfortable position in his arms, her cheek pressed against his warm chest.
"I don't know," she said deliberately, her voice languid and hoarse afterward. "We might need... more evidence."
A soft chuckle came from above, and my chest vibrated in response.
“Evidence?” he repeated, his voice rising slightly at the end.
The next second, he flipped over and once again covered her beneath him.
“Then,” he lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips, his voice lingering between their lips, “as you wish.”
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