Chapter 134 Love is enough for us, even water is not enough.
"Gurgle—" Her stomach protested at just the right moment, and Zhu Liushuang covered her cheeks in embarrassment.
The afterglow of their passionate kiss hadn't faded when He Ming asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you have for dinner?"
"Hmm... I haven't eaten yet."
"No matter how bad you feel, you still have to eat on time," the man said helplessly. "Otherwise, you're prone to gastritis."
"I ate a bit too much at lunch, and I wasn't hungry when I got home from get off work, so..." Zhu Liushuang couldn't help but defend herself, "When my senior gets busy, doesn't he always eat hastily too? You're the one with gastritis, not me..."
Hearing her unconvinced grumbling, He Ming quickly tried to appease her: "Yes...yes...we're both right! Health is the foundation of everything, so we should both eat on time from now on."
Zhu Liushuang only caught the first few words of his speech. When the affectionate term "Shuangshuang" appeared, all the rest of his words were automatically silenced.
Those close to her used to call her "Xiao Shuang." Only three people used to call her "Shuang Shuang," but now there's one more. It's just an ordinary nickname, but when he says it, it carries a hint of tenderness and affection.
"What...what did you just call me?" she asked, clenching her fingers.
"Shuangshuang..." the man said gently.
"Oh—" Her ears burned involuntarily, and she fell silent.
Even though it was pitch black all around, He Ming did not miss the subtle changes in her tone.
He gently took her hand and asked, "Aren't you used to me calling you that?"
"No..." Zhu Liushuang said stammeringly, her face flushed, "I just think... I think these two words sound especially nice when you say them."
"Hmm... so you like hearing me call you that." He Ming chuckled softly, then added with annoyance, "It's my fault for being so clueless; I changed my way of addressing you too late..."
A low tremor emanated from his chest as he spoke, like the gentle beat of a joyful drum quietly settling into her heart.
“Shuangshuang—” he called her again.
"Hmm?" Zhu Liushuang nestled lazily in his arms, showing no intention of getting up.
"Shouldn't you... change how you address me?" He Ming rubbed his stubble-covered chin against her forehead. "Always calling me 'senior' sounds a bit too formal."
His brush against my forehead left a prickly, slightly itchy feeling.
There was a hint of grievance in the man's words. Zhu Liushuang's heart stirred slightly, and she asked knowingly, "Then what should we call it?"
He Ming pecked her forehead in annoyance: "Didn't we already say that?"
"Oh... I remember now. Teacher He!" Zhu Liushuang chuckled. "Then I'll call you Teacher He from now on!"
The man chuckled, ruffling her hair helplessly, and said, "Whether you call me 'senior' or 'Teacher He'... call me whatever you like. We... have plenty of time." He understood that the girl was shy and embarrassed to change her address, so he didn't pressure her. He had plenty of time and patience; he would eventually wait for the day she would take the initiative to change her address.
The man remained unperturbed and unperturbed, appearing completely relaxed. This reaction bored Zhu Liushuang, and she pressed on, unwilling to give up, "You really want me to call you Teacher He?"
"Hmm." The man replied seriously, "Teacher He is also good, her voice is quite pleasant."
"Oh, Teacher He, Teacher He..." Zhu Liushuang called out to him several times in a row, like a little girl who was still quite naive.
The man holding her didn't find her childish at all; he couldn't help but chuckle softly, indulging her playful antics in his ear.
Laughing and joking, their faces drew closer and closer, and with a sudden increase in temperature, He Ming's lips bit hers once again.
Zhu Liu's pupils trembled slightly, but her body instinctively responded, letting him take whatever he wanted from her mouth. The man's hot breath sprayed onto her flushed cheeks, the air filled with the fragrance of camphor wood and the sweet scent of perfume…
Their lingering, passionate breaths continued to mingle as their bodies uncontrollably tilted to one side. He Ming shielded the back of her head, carefully lifting her and gently laying her flat on the sofa. Once their positions were adjusted, the man above her couldn't help but deepen the kiss.
His tongue roamed freely in her mouth, sometimes gently sweeping across her palate, sometimes deftly teasing the back of her tongue. Her nerves followed his movements, constantly relaxing and tensing. His fingertips dug into the fine creases of the sofa, and she let out a soft moan, her body arching uncontrollably until it was pressed tightly against his…
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They say love makes even water taste sweet, and when they were kissing so passionately on the sofa, they really forgot all about their rumbling stomachs.
As soon as the passionate kiss ended, Zhu Liushuang felt a surge of hunger, her heart pounding, and she felt completely drained of the strength to get up from the sofa. However, she couldn't really tell whether the culprit causing her dizziness was hunger, He Ming's overly passionate kiss, or perhaps both.
The living room lights came on softly, casting an orange-red hue on her face. Two buttons of her sweater were undone, the collar casually open, revealing a slender collarbone. Her gaze drifted further down, and with each breath, she caught a glimpse of a rosy blush blooming below her collarbone.
Her eyelids twitched, and Zhu Liushuang suddenly pulled up her collar, buttoning her chest up tightly.
“Very beautiful—” The man’s eyes were unfathomable.
Zhu Liushuang lowered her eyelashes, pretending not to hear.
He Ming was in a great mood. He pinched the soft flesh of her palm and said, "I'll go to the kitchen to cook some noodles, it'll be quick..." After saying that, the man turned over and got off the sofa, striding towards the kitchen.
Only when she heard the sound of gas ignition coming from inside the frosted glass door did Zhu Liushuang shyly raise her head. She touched her lips blankly, the lingering heat clearly reminding her of how they had just been entangled.
"Gurgle—" My stomach let out a pitiful howl.
Zhu Liushuang rubbed her cheeks, forcing herself to wake up. Her fingertips unconsciously reached into her pants pocket, where she pulled out two White Rabbit milk candies.
With a sparkle in her eyes, she peeled one open, popped it into her mouth, and chewed it slowly. The rich milky aroma filled her mouth, and even her heart was filled with sweetness.
Zhu Liushuang curled her toes, feeling some strength returning to her legs, and then got up and moved off the sofa.
She tiptoed to the kitchen door and peered inside through the narrow crack in the door.
The tall man was busy with his back to her, wearing a light blue striped apron, and his chopping movements were methodical.
The water in the pot was bubbling and boiling. The man put down the cleaver, took a handful of noodles, and put them into the pot. His broad back resembled a distant mountain, and wisps of white mist rose and swirled around him.
Her eyes stung, and her chest felt heavy and sore. She couldn't help but push open the door and call out to him, "Ah Ming."
Hearing her call, the man, who was focused on chopping vegetables, suddenly stopped. The sharp blade hovered above the cutting board, and the corners of his eyes slowly turned upward, followed by a slight upturn of his lips. As if struck by some immense joy, he silently grinned, even the fine lines under his eyes were filled with laughter.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and He Ming said in a low voice, "So hungry you can't wait?"
Zhu Liushuang quickly walked up behind him, hugged his waist, and said, "Hmm, a little."
As she spoke, she gently nuzzled her head against his back. He Ming had broad shoulders but a lean and strong waist; her arms were short, just long enough to wrap around his waist.
Zhu Liushuang had been thinking about doing this ever since she secretly watched him from the doorway. Now that her idea was being put into action, she felt incredibly satisfied.
"I'm so hungry! My stomach is practically empty! It's all your fault..."
"Okay, okay, it's all my fault..." The man picked up the cleaver again and started chopping vegetables, his movements noticeably slower than before. "Just stir-fry some side dishes and we can eat."
Zhu Liu puffed out her cheeks and mumbled, "Just add some soy sauce and sesame oil and mix it up, it's so fragrant, there's no need to stir-fry anything else." Suddenly remembering something, she let go of his waist and took out the last White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket.
With a rustling sound, she unwrapped the candy and walked to He Ming's side, softly saying, "Ming, open your mouth—"
The oil in the pan was hot and sizzling. The man didn't understand why, but he still obediently opened his mouth.
Zhu Liushuang stuffed the milk candy straight into his mouth: "Have something to fill your stomach first..."
A few dozen seconds later, the sound of teeth chewing was drowned out by the crackling sound of stir-frying.
"Shuangshuang, lean back a little, be careful of oil splashing on you."
"It's okay... Did you like the milk candy? Oh, I forgot you don't like sweets. If you really don't like it, just spit it out!"
There's no reason to spit out something that's been stuffed into your mouth, especially since Zhu Liushuang fed it to him. He Ming crunched the candy in his mouth with a "crunch" and mumbled, "It's pretty good..."
Why does he say yes to everything? Zhu Liushuang thought to herself that some people's answers were a bit perfunctory. But then she thought again that this was his way of showing his love for her. It's like the saying, "Love me, love my dog!"
“When my dad was alive, he often bought me White Rabbit milk candy. After he passed away, I started buying it for myself. Whenever I miss him, I eat one. Over time, I gradually developed the habit of keeping a few candies in my bag or pocket.” She said with a touch of sadness as she watched him cook.
Her mention brought up a memory from a very long time ago.
That was a mediation meeting for the victims' families, two months after the car crash.
At that time, he was still immersed in the grief of losing his mother. Although his grandfather took him to the mediation meeting, his soul wandered around like a lost ghost. He lay slumped on the back of the seat in front of him the whole time, never even lifting his face.
Perhaps his unusual behavior caught the attention of those around him, for a small hand reached out from under the table and quietly rested on his knee. The small hand hesitated for a long time before opening to him, and then a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz said to him, "Brother, eat a piece of candy and you won't be sad anymore."
But he didn't even bother to look up, so of course he didn't see what the little girl who gave him candy looked like. In fact—he even coldly pushed away the hand that was trying to be friendly to him.
Looking back now, he realized he had missed their very first encounter. A complex mix of emotions surged within He Ming; regret welled up like a tide, only to be washed away by the relief of having found what he had lost just as he was about to break free.
The candy he knocked over that year returned to him in another way; what did he do to deserve this?
"Ah Ming, quickly turn the heat down to low and plate it! The food is going to burn!" He heard an urgent call in his ear and was jolted awake. He quickly turned off the gas stove.
"You're so distracted even when you're cooking! That's dangerous! You might blow up the kitchen one day..." The voice continued in her ears. The timid and kind little girl from back then had now grown into a resilient and beautiful anemone. She snatched the spatula from his hand and, while ladling food, muttered grumbling at him.
He Ming felt that her voice was exceptionally beautiful.
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This year's lunar year was very long. When the calendar turned to the 27th of the year, the Gregorian calendar date was February 14th, Valentine's Day.
For Zhu Liushuang, who was only interested in making extra money, Valentine's Day meant business opportunities. A week before the holiday, she started posting holiday advertisements on her WeChat Moments.
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Author's Note: [Please!] Regarding Milk Candy, the connection was actually hinted at back when Shuangshuang met her senior during training. I wonder if any of you remember? (It's been so long, if you can't remember, it's definitely my fault for updating too slowly [crying])
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