85. First Kiss
This year's Christmas dinner ended in the snowy night.
On the way back in the car, Jiang Nan was still excitedly discussing the romance of the first snow, while Chen Yunsheng was a bit quiet. He would respond to her, even occasionally tilting his head to glance at her. But his gaze would linger briefly on her lips before quickly moving away, a hint of annoyance creeping into his expression.
Jiang Nan felt strange. She felt that Chen Yunsheng looked like he was trapped by something tonight, as if he was conducting an experiment but was not very sure about the result.
She tried to change the subject to something lighter.
However, despite Chen Yunsheng's efforts to respond, she could still sense his lack of interest. She wanted to ask, but was afraid to be abrupt. So, the two of them returned to the apartment, tangled up in their thoughts.
As soon as they entered the room, warmth practically hit them. Jiang Nan kicked off her shoes, changed into plush slippers, and trotted to the window to watch the snow. "It looks like it's going to accumulate," she said to Chen Yunsheng, her face filled with pure joy.
Chen Yunsheng stood in the entrance, looking at her face, illuminated by the snow outside the window, and the thought in his heart began to stir again. He took off his coat and hung it up, put on his slightly funny green cartoon slippers, and then slowly walked over to her.
"Yeah, it looks like it." He agreed softly, but he couldn't take his eyes off her, and his nose unconsciously caught her scent.
Like everything else in the world, Jiang Nan has her own unique scent. It's a scent reminiscent of spring, a blend of sunshine, grass, and streams, a combination of flower petals, spring breeze, and green mountains.
It smells fresh and pleasant, making people feel comfortable and relaxed, and even a little reluctant to let go.
Just as Chen Yunsheng was looking at Jiang Nan intently, she suddenly turned to him, wanting to say something to persuade him. But as she turned, she fell into his unusually deep eyes. The emotion in his eyes was so strong that she forgot her words for a moment.
At that moment, the living room was lit only by a few spotlights and the string of star-shaped lights she had bought earlier. The light was dim and ambiguous, so much so that when the snow shone through the glass, it cast a hazy yet clear silver glow around them, like faint moonlight, or a gray, all-illuminating celestial light.
"Nannan." He called her, his voice sounding a little deeper than usual.
"Hmm?" She responded subconsciously, feeling that the atmosphere was subtly different.
He didn't speak immediately, but took a small step forward, closing the already impossibly close distance between them. Then, his shadow loomed over her, bringing a sense of oppression yet strangely not fear. Instead, it filled her with a strange sense of anticipation.
His gaze locked onto hers, then slowly moved down, finally landing on her lips. His gaze was too direct, almost carrying an undisguised desire.
Jiang Nan immediately understood his intention, but she turned her eyes around and didn't dare to look at him.
Then Chen Yunsheng raised his hand, curled his fingers, and gently scratched her cheek. His movements were gentle and soft, yet contained a hint of temptation.
"Is it okay?" he asked in a low voice.
Warm breath brushed against her hair, and she could hear the restrained tension in his voice.
After a minute or two of silence, Jiang Nan finally raised her head and looked at his face, which was so close to her. She was surprised to find that his usually calm eyes were now filled with a complex emotion, like a turbulent sea undercurrent.
She understood the question and saw the attachment. She opened her mouth, but her throat was too dry to make a sound. Finally, she gently closed her eyes and nodded.
This silent acquiescence was like a joyful instruction.
So Chen Yunsheng no longer hesitated. He lowered his head and gently pressed his lips against hers.
At first, it was just a gentle touch, like snowflakes falling on skin, full of temptation and cherishment. His lips were a little cold, but very soft. Jiang Nan almost froze in place, her mind blank. She felt all her senses focused on those two lips pressed together, a strange and disorienting feeling.
Then, he suddenly increased his strength slightly, and began to caress her slowly and awkwardly. Then, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tighter in his arms. Jiang Nan instinctively reached out and grabbed the fabric of his clothes on his chest to steady herself.
The kiss was not passionate, even a little clumsy, but full of pure piety and throbbing. But Chen Yunsheng was like tasting a rare treasure, cautiously but uncontrollably exploring it deeply.
The two people's breaths intertwined and blended together, as if everything around them disappeared, leaving only the sound of heartbeats and the vague warmth between their lips and teeth.
It was unknown how long it took before Chen Yunsheng finally let go, panting slightly, but still holding her tightly. A simple kiss made both of them breathe a little disordered. Chen Yunsheng smiled and gently patted Jiang Nan's back.
Jiang Nan slowly opened her eyes and stepped back a little. Then, she looked up and met his eyes, which were filled with smiles.
But compared to the smile in his eyes, Jiang Nan was more concerned about his cheeks.
At this moment, his cheeks were a little red, like a ball of red clouds.
"Are you scared?" There was a hint of uncertainty and apology in his voice.
Jiang Nan shook her head. She pursed her lips, which still held his warmth, and whispered, "No."
She just felt a little unreal, like she was walking on clouds, her whole body was light and floating, as if she had no ground.
Chen Yunsheng looked at her shy and somewhat confused expression, and his heart softened. Then, he couldn't help but lower his head and place a gentle kiss between her eyebrows.
"Thank you." He said in a sincere tone.
Thank you for your permission, thank you for your presence.
And this Christmas Eve became unique because of this kiss under the first snow. Afterwards, the two of them said nothing more, just hugged each other quietly, watching the snow gradually getting heavier outside the window.
However, as the end of the year approaches, this beauty is gradually replaced by a vague sense of anxiety.
Jiang Nan began checking her calendar frequently and became distracted during video calls with her parents. Hong Qiuping and Jiang Youhua were already enthusiastically planning the New Year's Eve dinner menu and asking her when her holiday would be and whether she had bought her tickets.
The same thing happened today.
"Your dad bought some particularly good pork belly and is waiting for you to come back to make braised pork with it." Hong Qiuping said with a smile on the other end of the phone.
Jiang Nan replied vaguely, "Yeah, I know, Mom. I...I'll see what the company arranges. I'll let you know once it's finalized."
After chatting for a few more minutes, he hung up the phone in a hurry.
Then, Jiang Nan collapsed on the carpet and sighed softly. She turned her head to look in the direction of the study, staring at the light coming through the crack in the door, and sighed again.
She really wants to go home for the New Year, reunite with her parents and have a lively New Year's Eve dinner.
But now, her status was different. She was Chen Yunsheng's wife, the granddaughter-in-law of the Chen family. And for the first Spring Festival after her marriage, it seemed logical that she should stay in Jiangcheng, in the Chen family. Moreover, Mr. Chen was old, and he surely wished to have children and grandchildren around him.
In addition, Chen Minghui is eyeing her covetously. If the new daughter-in-law does not show up during the Spring Festival, who knows how much gossip will arise and how much trouble will it cause for Chen Yunsheng.
Intellectually, she knew she should stay. But emotionally, the longing for home and her parents entwined her like a vine. She could even imagine the disappointed yet understanding voices on the other end of the phone if she said she wouldn't go back.
This dilemma made her feel very uneasy.
When Chen Yunsheng came out of the study, he saw Jiang Nan slumped on the carpet, staring at the ceiling in a daze. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice him approaching.
"What's wrong?" He sat down next to her, picked up her half-empty glass of water, and took a sip naturally.
Jiang Nan came back to her senses and watched his natural movements, feeling a wave of mixed emotions. They were growing closer, but when it came to family and responsibility, the shadow of the agreement would loom large.
"Nothing," she shook her head, trying to sound nonchalant, "I'm just a little tired."
Chen Yunsheng studied her expression, not missing the hint of sadness between her brows. He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you thinking about the Spring Festival?"
Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected him to be so perceptive. She blinked and hummed softly.
"Want to go home?" he asked.
"I want to," she admitted honestly, and then hastened to add, "But I know I might have to stay here."
Chen Yunsheng looked at her cautious appearance, feeling a little uncomfortable. After a moment of silence, he turned around and lay down next to Jiang Nan, then hugged her gently.
"Don't think too much," he ruffled her hair, "If you want to go back, we'll go back."
Jiang Nan looked at him in disbelief: "Is it possible? What about Grandpa's family... and your family..."
"Our family's New Year celebrations are just like that. We just have a meal, nothing special," Chen Yunsheng said indifferently. Then he lowered his head and looked at her with gentle eyes. "I'll talk to Grandpa. He likes you and will understand."
"But," Jiang Nan still hesitated, "Wouldn't this be a bad idea? After all, this is our first year of marriage."
"I may not be able to stay in Jichuan all day, but I will try... At least you can have the New Year's Eve dinner at your house that day," Chen Yunsheng said softly. "Besides, you are my uncle and aunt's only daughter. It's natural for you to want to be with your family during the Spring Festival. There's no reason for me to tie you up here."
He paused, looked at her bright eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Besides, I haven't experienced what a normal family Spring Festival is like in a long time. It's a good opportunity for me to go back with you and share some of your good fortune."
His words were like a spring breeze, blowing away the haze in Jiang Nan's heart. Her nose felt a little sour, and then she hugged his waist tightly, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and said sullenly, "Chen Yunsheng, thank you."
Chen Yunsheng felt the warmth in his arms, patting her back gently as he said, "Is it settled then? I'll have Wei Yan book the tickets and see if we can buy more time."
"Okay!" Jiang Nan nodded vigorously and finally showed a bright smile.
Chen Yunsheng looked at her smiling face, lowered his head slightly and kissed her eyes.
Jiang Nan's face turned slightly red, and she looked a little embarrassed.
Chen Yunsheng was quite calm. He ruffled her hair, hugged her, and sniffed her scent lovingly.
Then, a thought suddenly popped into his mind for no apparent reason.
——He felt that Jiang Nan was a belated spring for him.
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