·34｜Exclusive to Jinjiang·34
Soft bread, be my girlfriend.
When Hagiwara and the other person hung up the phone and returned to the barbecue restaurant, Yomi Laichuan was already slumped in his seat, patting his belly, looking completely satisfied.
"You're back, second-year graduate student!"
She squinted lazily, her happiness making the stars twinkle all around her: "I even saved the biggest piece of beef for you!"
Matsuda Jinpei snorted coldly: "What about mine?"
"You ate so much of my flesh, and you only left some for Hagi?"
“It’s different,” Lai Chuan Huang Quan said matter-of-factly, “The second-year graduate student voluntarily gave me the good food, but I snatched yours myself.”
Matsuda Jinpei: ? ? ?
He was so angry he laughed: "If I don't give in to you, do you think you can beat me?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan muttered to himself, "That's why I left one for you too."
Matsuda Jinpei frowned and forced an angry smile: "Well, thank you so much."
Yomi Lai knew Matsuda Jinpei wasn't praising her, but she still deliberately puffed out her chest, her face full of smugness: "You're welcome~"
Matsuda Jinpei: ?
How can there be such shameless people in the world?
Matsuda Jinpei's expression instantly turned fierce. Yomi Yorikawa blinked and skillfully darted behind Hagiwara Kenji like an eel before Matsuda Jinpei could grab her.
"Pfft, hahahaha!"
Hagiwara glanced at the woman who had already slipped behind him and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, revealing eight big white teeth.
"Kijinpei, I never thought you'd be so easily countered. Is this really the right way to deal with a straight-up player?"
Matsuda Jinpei glared fiercely at Raikawa Yomi, who peeked out from behind Hagiwara Kenji and stuck her tongue out at him: "This woman is just as annoying as you!"
He always manages to land precisely in his minefield.
Kenji Hagiwara grinned and said, "Yeah, I get it. Jinpei loves us."
That's why we can tolerate their audacity.
"Tch," Lai Chuan Huang Quan pouted, his face full of disgust: "I don't want Officer Gorilla's love."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...?"
With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Matsuda Jinpei stepped forward, grabbed Hagiwara Kenji by the collar, and pulled him away from Yomi Yorikawa.
Matsuda Jinpei glared at the woman who was completely exposed to his view, and threatened with a smile: "Do you still want me to take you to beat someone up? To beat up that bastard who called for help to touch your back?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan pursed her lips, looked at Hagiwara Kenji for help, and then pitifully lowered her head: "Alright then, I'll reluctantly accept Officer Matsuda's love."
Matsuda Jinpei: ...
Although I was accepted, I couldn't be happy at all; something just felt off.
Matsuda Jinpei stared straight at Raikawa Yomi, his deep blue eyes, as bright as the deep sea, subtly lost in a daze.
"Pfft..." Kenji Hagiwara puffed out his cheeks and forced back a laugh. He stepped forward and shoved Jinpei Matsuda's shoulder: "Alright, alright, we've eaten enough. Let's go back."
Matsuda Jinpei, belatedly realizing what had happened, exclaimed, "Wait a minute, Hagi, did you two just trick me?!"
Kenji Hagiwara chose to play dumb: "Let's go, let's go, it's time to go back."
Ignoring Matsuda Jinpei's protests, he pushed him away from his seat. As he brushed past Yomi Yorikawa, Hagiwara Kenji turned back, winked at her, tossed her a small star, and shoved a three-pack of Ferrero Rocher chocolates into her hand with a smile—he had just bought them at the convenience store next door while he was out answering a phone call.
Kenji Hagiwara whispered to Yomi Yorikawa with a smile, "Don't tell Jinpei, we'll eat it quietly."
But even the perceptive Matsuda Jinpei noticed the whispers behind him. He turned around, trying to look back, but Hagiwara Kenji pushed him forward, asking, "Hagi, what did you just say?"
"I said let's hurry back, it's getting late."
"That's definitely not what you just said!"
"This is it, let's go, let's go."
Lai Chuan Huang Quan clenched the chocolate in her hand and hid it behind her back. She picked up her small handbag and followed behind the two riot squad captains who were bickering, staring at the two police officers' broad backs without even realizing the smile spreading across her lips.
The gold foil wrapper around the chocolates made a soft sound as it was torn open. Yomi Lai followed behind them, stepping on their shadows. She held a chocolate ball coated with peanut crumbs and quietly took a small bite. The aroma of cocoa filled her mouth, the sweetness spreading on her tongue. Yomi Lai gazed at Kenji Hagiwara's figure, her smile widening.
...
Kenji Hagiwara, wanting to drive Yomi Raikawa back to her apartment alone, parted ways with the others early in the parking lot downstairs from the yakiniku restaurant. The moonlight illuminated their figures as Kenji Hagiwara parked his car two kilometers from the apartment.
"Soft bread, come with me to buy cigarettes, and I'll also buy you some new flavored bear cookies while I'm at it."
A box of cookies was enough to coax the person out of the car.
As Kenji Hagiwara paid the bill, he glanced furtively at Yomi Laichuan. The woman, who only reached his shoulder, was holding a bunch of bear-shaped cookies, her eyes crinkling into crescents with happiness.
With a smile and a sigh, Kenji Hagiwara picked up the plastic bag full of cookies and slowly walked home with Yomi Raikawa under the moonlight.
The sky was as dark as spilled ink, and the windless night was silent, except for Yomi Yorikawa, who was hopping around and humming an off-key song.
“Second-year police officer,” she smiled brightly, opening her palm towards Hagiwara Kenji, “candy!”
Kenji Hagiwara pulled out the last piece of candy from his pocket and placed it in Yomi Laichuan's palm: "Remember to brush your teeth properly tonight."
"Okay, okay," Lai Chuan Huang Quan peeled off the candy coating and happily fed it into his mouth: "Officer Yan Er, you're so long-winded. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Kenji Hagiwara smiled but didn't say anything. He realized he was being too long-winded, but it was all just a subconscious reaction; he always found himself rambling on.
After chewing and swallowing the orange-flavored hard candy, Yomi Laichuan once again held out her palm to Kenji Hagiwara: "Candy."
Kenji Hagiwara raised an eyebrow and reached into his pocket again, rummaging around. Under Yomi Laichuan's expectant gaze, he clenched his fist and reached into Yomi Laichuan's palm.
She opened her tightly clenched fingers, but the candy that should have fallen from her palm into Raikawa Yomi's body did not appear as she expected.
Kenji Hagiwara spread his five fingers apart, and before Yomi could react, he interlocked his fingers with Yomi's. He bent his fingers, firmly holding Yomi's hand, his palm pressed against hers, his fingertips resting on the back of her hand.
Suddenly having her hand grabbed, Yomi Laichuan was stunned for a full two seconds before she came to her senses. She felt like she was holding a hot potato, and tried to shake her hand off, but she couldn't escape from Kenji Hagiwara's burning palm.
"Hmm..."
Lai Chuan Huang Quan pressed her lips tightly together, lowering her gaze and not daring to look at Hagiwara Kenji. Her face was burning, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst into her throat, and her eardrums were thumping loudly.
Her mind was emptied, leaving only a vast blank. Like a music box whose spring had been unwound, Lai Chuan Huang Quan stopped humming her off-key tune and stopped hopping around. She stared intently at her toes, her bright red earlobes peeking out from her drooping hair. She curled her fingers and clasped them around Hagiwara Kenji's hand.
Under the bright moonlight, snowflakes drifted down from the horizon.
The evening breeze ruffled her hair. Kenji Hagiwara took off the scarf from his neck with one hand, wrapped it around Yomi Laichuan's neck twice, and let it hang loosely on her body.
The moonlight and the snow had both dimmed, and the person beside me was the only truly beautiful woman in the world at that moment. The evening breeze was cold, but my palms were burning hot.
Kenji Hagiwara held Yomi Rikawa's hand, remaining silent the entire way.
The short uphill stretch of road took on two completely different appearances in Kenji Hagiwara's eyes. At first, he blushed and complained that the road was too long, suppressing his inner restlessness and only wanting to get Yomi Yorikawa home as quickly as possible. But as he walked the second half, he regretted that the road was too short and that he couldn't hold her hand and walk a little further.
On the three-minute walk home, Raikawa Yomi kept her head down like an ostrich the whole time. When she was taken back to her apartment, Hagiwara Kenji smiled and held her hand for a little while longer before reluctantly letting go.
Just as Yomi Laichuan was about to push open the door, Kenji Hagiwara called out to her.
"Soft bread".
The action of pushing the door stopped, Lai Chuan Huang Quan gripped the doorknob tightly, his body stiff and frozen in place for a long time.
"Soft bread".
Kenji Hagiwara called her name again, his deep voice so gentle it could melt the snow blown into the corridor by the wind.
The woman, who had her back to him, hesitated for a long time before slowly turning around, her neck hunched.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan gripped the shoulder strap of her handbag tightly with both hands. She lowered her head, glanced at Hagiwara Kenji, and then quickly looked down again.
The tips of my ears, which had finally cooled down a little, started burning up again, much to my dismay.
"The Underworld".
Kenji Hagiwara bent down, his violet eyes reflecting Yomi Rikawa's shy, downcast expression.
His vocal cords trembled as he chuckled softly. The laughter, however, was like countless alluring hands, tickling Lai Chuan Huang Quan's eardrums and resonating deep within her heart.
Kenji Hagiwara softened his features, standing against the light, the moonlight casting a gentle silhouette around him.
He said, "Huang Quan, be my girlfriend."
At this moment, time seemed to stand still.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan did not answer; she simply looked up at the man in front of her.
Kenji Hagiwara's gentle smile was so close to Yomi Rikawa that she could even see her own blank expression through his bright eyes.
"The Underworld".
Kenji Hagiwara lowered his waist even further, his nose almost touching Yomi's. His gaze shifted, fixing on Yomi's slightly parted red lips.
The next second, a kiss sealed the seal.
Cool, thin lips explored soft, red lips. Kenji Hagiwara closed his eyes, savoring the taste of the kiss.
A masculine aura wafted over her, and Lai Chuan Huang Quan's eyes widened, even forgetting to close them. This was the first time she had been so close to Hagiwara Kenji. His trembling eyelashes, his heroic eyebrows, his high nose bridge... even when she first met him and was lying on top of Hagiwara Kenji, she had never seen him this close.
It was late winter, yet the air was gradually becoming hot and dry. Kenji Hagiwara's aura of heat enveloped Yomi Rikawa. A faint scent of citrus mixed with eucalyptus wafted into her nostrils—his unique fragrance.
"Hmm."
The fingers gripping Kenji Hagiwara's shoulders tightened, creating wrinkles in his white shirt.
The long kiss lasted a long time under the moonlight. When Kenji Hagiwara straightened his back, Yomi Raikawa's face was already flushed. She covered her wet lips with the back of her hand, her tongue numb.
A sweet and ambiguous scent filled the air, and Lai Chuanhuang lowered his gaze, not daring to look up. His blood was boiling, and his head was spinning, completely muddled.
When Kenji Hagiwara pulled her into his arms, Yomi Laichuan froze, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet. The man's strong heartbeat filled her ears. She rested her head on Kenji Hagiwara's chest, her fingers slowly curling and tightening around his chest.
His heart was beating very fast, but her heart was beating even faster than his.
Kenji Hagiwara lowered his head, the dim light overhead casting his shadow on Yomi Laichuan. Warm breath brushed against Yomi Laichuan's face, and Hagiwara's voice was hoarse, so gentle it could melt your heart: "You agreed?"
Only then did Lai Chuan Huang Quan finally snap out of her daze, as if a power source had been switched on. Her face flushed, she pushed Hagiwara Kenji away, saying, "I...I...I'll think about it! I'll give you an answer tomorrow!"
After saying that, Lai Chuan Huang Quan went into the room without looking back and slammed the door shut.
The change happened too fast. Kenji Hagiwara stood in front of the door, staring blankly at the closed door. But before he could even feel sad or make any other reaction, the tightly closed door was opened a crack from the inside again.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan leaned against the door frame, revealing half of her face. She frowned as she peeked at Hagiwara Kenji from behind the door, her wet almond-shaped eyes like spring rain falling into a peach grove.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan bit her lip, her blue eyes darting left and right. After hesitating for a moment, she opened the door and stood in front of Hagiwara Kenji.
An overwhelming surge of emotions coursed through her body. Lai Chuan Huang Quan repeatedly fiddled with the stray hairs by her ears, her breathing becoming erratic. After fidgeting for a moment, she raised her hand to place on Hagiwara Kenji's shoulders and quietly stood on tiptoe.
Kenji Hagiwara smiled and bent down, letting Yomi Rikawa leave a light kiss on his lips.
Her breathing slowed and softened, as if afraid of shattering the beautiful dream before her. The soft touch was fleeting; the next second, Lai Chuan Huang Quan darted back into the room as if fleeing, slamming the door shut again with a loud bang.
"Goodnight, you damn officer!"
The increased volume couldn't mask the restless emotions.
Kenji Hagiwara touched his lips, said "Goodnight" to the other side of the door, and turned to leave with a smile.
The footsteps outside the door faded into the distance. Lai Chuan Huang Quan's face was flushed, but her brows were furrowed. She leaned against the door and slowly slid down, tears suddenly falling silently.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan sat on the cold floor, her body curled up tightly, hugging herself: "Administrator, are you there?"
--"I am here."
Lai Chuan Huang Quan buried her head in her arms, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, her arms wet with tears, and her lower lip bitten until it turned white.
She spoke in a muffled voice, her tone trembling with tears, "Administrator, what should I do?"
[Author's Note]
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