Chapter 147 Just a Kiss
With desperate courage, or perhaps an impulse that could not be suppressed at all, Ren Limeng slowly closed her eyes, without looking at Chen Xingzhi at all. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her lips trembled but resolutely pressed against Chen Xingzhi's slightly opened thin lips.
Feeling the sudden softness pressing against his lips, Shen Xingzhi's pupils shrank in disbelief. The five senses of the two of them were completely entangled together at such a close distance. He felt Ren Limeng's reckless dominance.
Chen Xingzhi looked at Ren Limeng, whose expression could not be seen clearly. He raised his hands subconsciously, then froze in mid-air. His bony fingers curled up slightly, as if he wanted to embrace Ren Limeng in his arms, but also as if he was afraid of disturbing the warmth at the moment.
The intertwined breathing of the two was rapid and hot, and the suddenly accelerated heartbeat also carried the panic that could not be hidden in the endless darkness. The immature kiss seemed to be just a clumsy collision between the two lips, but the pure friction was enough to make people even more confused.
Unconsciously, Shen Xingzhi's body was no longer stiff. He narrowed his eyes, and his broad palms finally wrapped around Ren Limeng's slender waist, pulling her deeply into his arms, as if he wanted to rub Ren Limeng into every inch of his bones and blood. His slender fingers unconsciously stroked the skin under his palms, subtly and involuntarily confirming that this real touch was not a late-night fantasy.
Feeling Ren Limeng's slight avoidance, as if with some temptation to withdraw, Shen Xingzhi leaned forward quickly, and his lips changed from passively accepting to actively catering to him. His awkward movements gradually became skillful, hiding the eager and passionate power that Ren Limeng could not ignore. He slowly pried open Ren Limeng's warm lips and kept knocking on the door of her heart.
Ren Limeng's silent and tightly closed lips were firmly opened by Chen Xingzhi's tongue tip which stretched out lightly or heavily again and again. The domineering power that could not be avoided seemed to tell of the attachment and desire deep in Chen Xingzhi's heart. Through every inch of breath that was completely entangled with her, Ren Limeng could not help but feel it and had to accept it.
Until the emotions that surrounded her like a tide sank on the tip of her tongue, and all the emotions that had been hidden in time re-flowed into her heart, everything around Ren Limeng seemed to become blurred, leaving only the citrus-like fresh scent of Chen Xingzhi that roamed freely in Ren Limeng's five senses, evoking the deepest spiciness of the Huangmei wine.
Alcohol, like the perfect excuse, catalyzed all the unspeakable friendships. In the quietest night, Ren Limeng indulged in the panic of the moment, as if she could forget all the troubles and concerns, and only focus on the intertwined and disordered breathing in front of her. She finally put her arms around Shen Xingzhi's neck and slowly welcomed all of him.
The drunken panting sound echoed in the silent ancient alley, as if scaring away the breeze, adding to the ubiquitous dryness. The air around seemed to be shrouded by an invisible gauze, becoming sticky and warm, hot and strong.
It was not until the startled cold wind blew through the treetops that the rustling sound finally brought back Ren Limeng's blank thoughts.
“Shen Xingzhi, is this reward enough?… You promised that we would have a pleasant cooperation. If you want something else, then… I can’t afford it.”
Ren Limeng's voice was very soft, her chest kept rising and falling, and as she took deep breaths, her tone suddenly became calm.
She slowly and firmly pushed Chen Xingzhi away with both hands, feeling Chen Xingzhi's broad palm chasing after her fingertips and wanting to close it. Ren Limeng avoided all touches and firmly pushed forward to reject the person in front of her until there was no trace of warmth on her fingertips.
She slowly stood up and looked up at Chen Xing. Her eyes had regained their calmness, as if everything that had just happened was just a drunken dream, and when the wind blew, it was time to wake up.
"Ren Limeng...you..."
The coldness of the bluestone slab soaked with night dew spread over Chen Xingzhi's whole body. The soft touch of his knuckles in front of him still lingered. He stared blankly at Ren Limeng who suddenly retreated away from him. The joy in his eyes gradually cooled, and his Adam's apple rolled out a sluggish arc under his cold white skin.
As she spoke, Ren Limeng slowly turned around, lowered her eyes, and prepared to leave.
She has been here for too long, the night is long and dreams are many, she should wake up.
"Brother Xingzhi, I'll go back first."
The restrained voice carried a haziness that Ren Limeng herself had not noticed. She raised a smile, and the moonlight stretched the shadows of the two people very long, gradually distinguishing them clearly. Shen Xingzhi could not help but hold Ren Limeng's arm.
"What... do you mean? Ren Limeng, you just..."
"Brother Xingzhi, don't think too much about it. We are all adults. It's just a kiss."
Ren Limeng felt dizzy, she suppressed all the panic in her heart, looked directly at Shen Xingzhi, revealed a faint smile, and turned around quickly like a gust of elusive wind, only her cheeks flushed from drinking secretly revealed a hint of her thoughts.
"Just a kiss?"
Chen Xingzhi walked forward slowly, and gently lifted Ren Limeng's chin with his slender fingers, forcing her to only look at him. His deep and fiery gaze seemed to see through Ren Limeng, and he repeated Ren Limeng's careless words in a low and hoarse voice.
The atmosphere became ambiguous and charming again. Shen Xingzhi leaned over and said, laughing softly. His warm breath sprayed on Ren Limeng's face. Silently, their lips were almost touching again.
"Brother Xingzhi, you want too much, and we can't cooperate."
Ren Limeng's eyes flickered slightly, her heart beat like a drum, her slender white fingers blocked the last bit of space between the two of them, her fingertips trembled slightly, her tone of voice as she raised her eyebrows and chuckled was full of unruly and calmness.
The complex interweaving flickered in his eyes. Shen Xingzhi couldn't see how sincere Ren Limeng's words and smiles were at this moment, but it didn't seem to matter. He only knew that he had already fallen.
“It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
Chen Xingzhi raised his hand and took hold of Ren Limeng, holding her in his arms. He leaned over and kissed her recklessly. The scorching temperature swallowed up all the lingering sounds in the black night.
......
"Li Meng, are you still practicing this afternoon? I'm planning to check in at Gaota Park. How about we join?"
On Thursday, Shen Xingzhi's team returned to the Meixiang Theater. After practicing the performance repertoire together for half a day in the morning, the four of them made their own arrangements in the afternoon. Shen Xingzhi would practice the second performance captain's show, Chen Xi continued to learn the basics of Huangmei Opera with Li Chuyue, and Guan He looked at Ren Limeng and eagerly invited her to go to other optional sites suggested by the program team.
"Thank you, Brother Guan He. Chu Yue has already made arrangements for me this afternoon. I'm going back to the drama school."
Li Chuyue, who was talking to Chen Xi, was slightly stunned. She looked at Ren Limeng, who was smiling warmly. As their eyes met, she listened to Ren Limeng continue, "Chuyue is very thoughtful. She will accompany Sister Chen Xi to practice this afternoon and even arranged a tour guide for me. She is our mutual friend and an excellent Huangmei Opera actor at the Meixiang Theater. Thank you, Chuyue."
Thinking of the last private chat between Ren Limeng and Li Chuyue last night, everyone had a hint of realization in their eyes. Only Li Chuyue herself knew that every word Ren Limeng said at this moment was a lie. She smiled stiffly, but in the end she did not have the courage to refute a word.
“…It’s all what I should do.”
Looking at Ren Limeng's gentle and calm smile, Li Chuyue suppressed all her unwillingness in a low voice, as if she was just shy, and did not let anyone see the slightest bit of tension.
"Li Meng, are you going to the place where you used to learn opera? And there's a tour guide? It sounds very interesting!"
Guan He asked with great interest. He looked at Ren Limeng enthusiastically, his voice full of expectation that Ren Limeng would take the initiative to invite him.
"When I was learning opera, the school was right next to Meixiang. Now the school has moved to a new district. I heard they participated in the construction of the Huangmei Opera Museum next door, which is the seventh optional check-in point recommended in the guidebook. My friend and I just happened to go back to the school to visit our teacher."
In front of the camera, as Ren Limeng patiently explained, Guan He's eyes quickly flashed with annoyance. He suddenly remembered Ren Limeng's introduction in front of the theater on his first day in Meixiang. He anxiously added, "I remember you said you didn't expect your drama school to be so impressive. No wonder you were able to produce such an outstanding student like you."
Guan He understood the subtext behind Ren Limeng's explanation of a "private trip." Looking into her gentle, smiling eyes, he shamelessly asked, "I'm curious if your Huangmei Opera school is the same as the Peking Opera troupe I studied with. Limeng, can I go with you this afternoon?"
Ren Limeng didn't expect Guan He to be so persistent. She had already greeted Xu Kai last night. The drama school recording this afternoon would kill two birds with one stone. In addition to promoting Huangmei Opera and her alma mater, Ren Limeng mainly wanted to travel with Yan Fangshu. It would be redundant to bring Guan He along.
But in front of the camera, Guan He was so proactive that Ren Limeng couldn't refuse directly. She smiled faintly at Guan He, thinking in her mind, when Shen Xingzhi's half-smile voice sounded in the practice room.
"Guan He, you had repeated problems with the beat of 'Time and Space' this morning. Are you not practicing this afternoon?"
"Brother Xingzhi..."
Guan He lowered his voice inexplicably feeling guilty, feeling that Chen Xingzhi's deep black eyes seemed to see through his wavering feelings for Ren Limeng, and there was a hint of warning in his tone.
He didn't know whether Shen Xingzhi's interruption at this moment was simply due to his responsibility as the captain, or was it because of the concern of Ren Limeng's rumored boyfriend?
If it is the latter... and Shen Xingzhi competed, Guan He hesitated in his heart, he forced a smile, and didn't even pay attention to whether Ren Limeng replied. After a slight hesitation, Guan He finally avoided Shen Xingzhi's deep eyes, "I'd better practice again in the afternoon!"
"Chu Yue, who is the tour guide you found for Li Meng? How about I go with you?"
Han Tai couldn't help but look at Ren Limeng. Meixiang Theater, Huangmei Opera School, and even the Huangmei Opera Museum, seemingly independent Huangmei Opera sites, had very close personnel exchanges. As an actor of Meixiang Theater, he often participated in museum performances and would also regularly go to the theater school to carry out Huangmei Opera campus activities.
Han Tai had no schedule in the afternoon, so Ren Limeng went to the drama school and the museum. As the local guide arranged by the theater for the guests, Han Tai was willing to accompany Ren Limeng no matter what the considerations were.
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