47. Zero Hour
"Chi Jin, I can't help but like you."
Chen Yisheng's voice was incredibly low and hoarse, and every word he said burned into her heart. He cupped her face, gently caressing her cheek with his fingertips, and then a restrained and gentle kiss followed.
The kiss was tentative and full of desire, yet cautious, as if afraid that even the slightest force would offend her and push her away.
"Chi Jin..." His forehead rested against hers, their breaths intertwined, and his warm breath brushed against her lips, "Give me a little response, okay?"
The two people's heads were close together and their eyes met. Chi Jin dodged and ran away, his eyes lingering on his soft and red lips.
The two of them were so close that Chi Jin could clearly see the surging emotions in his eyes. She lowered her eyelashes in panic, but her gaze was inevitably fixed on his lips that had become soft and red from the kiss.
"Just respond a little bit and let me know that you like me too, okay?"
Chi Jin felt her heart sinking little by little. She had lost all her rationality and could only act on instinct.
"Chi Jin..."
When he called her name gently again, Chi Jin tilted his head slightly, raised his face, and took the initiative to press his lips against hers.
There's a saying that people have three basic desires: food, sleep, and sex. If you satisfy two of these, you won't lose control. But they, exhausted from working through the night, are clearly overwhelmed by multiple, unsatisfied desires, their rationality gradually crumbling.
Chi Jin's hand gently caressed his earlobe, her fingertips slowly tracing along his jawline, and she awkwardly yet tenderly responded to his kiss. Many clear male faces flashed through her mind—her innocent first love, her lively ex-boyfriend, even the celebrity she'd been infatuated with in middle school, and the male internet celebrity dancing in short videos... But she couldn't focus clearly on Chen Yisheng, who was hugging her at that moment.
She didn't dare open her eyes.
Perhaps once she clearly sensed that the person opposite her was Chen Yisheng, she felt guilty.
"Is this a response?"
Her hands were still holding his face, her voice trembling slightly, but her eyes were looking elsewhere, not daring to look him in the eye.
"Do you like me?" he asked.
Chi Jin shook his head, but his hands slid down. The next second, he pressed down hard on his broad shoulders, and with an impulse of desperate efforts, he threw him onto the sofa.
She saw his cheeks flushed, and could even feel the scorching heat beneath his skin. Desire completely overwhelmed her mind, and she kissed him again without hesitation, without any gentleness or rules. Even if it was just once, even if it was just for a minute, she needed an outlet to vent and face her desire.
Chen Yisheng groaned, startled by her sudden ferocity. Then, with a slight push of his waist and abdomen, he easily regained control. He pressed her back against the soft sofa, his eyes swirling with anger at being rejected and unspeakable grievances. His voice was hoarse but persistent:
"Chi Jin... said you like me."
Chi Jin didn't say anything.
"Chi Jin, I want to hear you say."
Chi Jin still shook his head, closing his eyes and refusing to answer, as if as long as he didn't say it out loud, all this would be just a dream. She stretched out her arms, hooked them around his neck, and pushed herself deeper into his arms, using actions to replace all words.
Chen Yisheng gazed at her deeply, finally letting out a helpless sigh. All his complex and unspeakable emotions transformed into one extremely gentle, unwilling kiss after another, which fell one after another. This kiss was slow and lingering, so comfortable that Chi Jin's limbs relaxed, and the accumulated fatigue and sleepiness surged over her like a tide.
So tired... so sleepy... She just wanted to close her eyes, indulge in the tenderness of this moment, and sleep until the end of time.
Chen Yisheng's kiss deepened, carrying an undeniable tenderness that ignited a long-suppressed fire within both of them. The identities, concerns, and even guilt that stood between them were temporarily swept away and drowned by the surging desire.
Chi Jin's sanity finally struggled to regain control, having fallen on the brink of oblivion. She didn't dare to think about what would happen if this continued, nor could she bear the chaos that would follow. She tilted her head slightly, reaching out to gently press against Chen Yisheng's chest as he approached again, blocking the kiss that was about to fall. Her voice was broken and hoarse, "Stop... Chen Yisheng... Just let it go."
"I don't want to. You'll be a stranger to me again tomorrow."
Even as he said this, his movements stopped, but the desire in his eyes did not stop churning. He tried hard to restrain himself, and his heavy breathing brushed against her cheek.
"I'm leaving..." She sat up almost in a panic, tidying up her messy clothes with trembling fingers.
"Is there someone waiting for you in the hotel?" He also sat up, but held her wrist tightly with his hot palm, a little too hard, as if he was afraid that she would run away in the next second.
She remained silent and did not comment.
"...I'll take you there." Finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, his voice carried a resigned, resolute tone. He didn't ask any more questions, simply picking up his car keys and coat and reaching out to put his arm around her shoulders.
Chi Jin dodged to the side and pushed open the door of the editor-in-chief's office: "There are surveillance cameras outside."
"...You only thought of this now?" He almost laughed in anger, and asked with a hint of bitterness in his voice, "How do you know it's not here?"
"Sister Huan said that there are no surveillance cameras in the three editors' offices." She said in a low voice.
"...If you weren't sure if there was surveillance, you wouldn't do that, right?"
"Won't."
Chi Jin walked into the elevator first, tilted his head towards the cold metal wall, avoiding his sight, and said in a voice as light as a sigh: "Isn't your answer the same?"
The elevator descended, and in the cramped space, the two of them were silent, with only the sound of slightly rapid breathing intertwined. Chi Jin lowered his eyes, and could clearly feel the heat from his body and the tense muscles.
The car drove into the night again, with a clear destination - the nearby hotel she had originally booked for herself.
A certain tense, ready to explode, silently spread in the small space of the car.
Go to the front desk and check in. Chi Jin subconsciously wanted to take out his ID card to check in.
"Both guests checking in need to provide their ID cards and enter their information." The receptionist's voice was polite and formal.
Only then did Chen Yisheng become certain that there was no so-called "person" waiting for her in the hotel.
He silently took out his ID card and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Open another king-size room."
"Would you two like to book two rooms?"
Chen Yisheng nodded: "Preferably on the same floor, thank you."
The front desk staff was well-trained and quickly checked in the room and handed the room cards to the two people.
After getting the room card, the elevator went up, and the numbers kept jumping, and every jump seemed to knock on Chi Jin's heart.
She had her reasons, and he had no home to return to, so why did he follow her here?
Their rooms were adjacent. Chi Jin swiped her card to open the door first, and the sensor light came on. She felt the pressure brought by Chen Yisheng's tall figure follow closely behind.
"Are you going to come in with me?"
Chi Jin didn't turn around, his voice carrying a deliberately cold tone as he inserted the room card into the slot. The lights were bright, but she caught a glimpse of him following her in from the corner of her eye.
"Where is Sun Ting waiting for you?" He stood behind her, his voice dry, and he had to hear the answer with his own ears, which he already knew.
"I've blocked him for a while." Chi Jin whispered.
"So... can I come in?"
"I never said that."
"Chi Jin." He suddenly hugged her from behind, his arms around her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice filled with endless fatigue and struggle, "Why are you always hot and cold towards me? Give me a chance, okay? I'm seriously considering all the concerns you mentioned before. I can solve them, and I won't let you get hurt."
Their bodies were pressed against each other, and she could feel that it was not hormones that were at work.
But she was also completely calm: "Editor-in-Chief Chen."
The arm around her waist suddenly stiffened, then slowly and weakly loosened.
"I may like you, or I may not." Chi Jin turned his back to him, his voice low but clear, "But this answer has nothing to do with our relationship."
She paused, then finally turned around, only daring to stare at her toes. "Editor-in-Chief Chen, I might be more accustomed to being just your superior and your subordinate."
"Chi Jin," he said, his eyes red, a trace of fighting in his voice, "I am also someone who takes work very seriously. However, I can clearly distinguish between work and personal feelings. Personal feelings and professional growth are not in conflict."
"I know all the reasons."
He took a deep breath and asked the question that had been lingering for a long time and would determine his life or death: "I only ask this last question. Chi Jin, do you like me?"
Like it or not? She asked herself, but she already knew the answer. Subconscious actions can't deceive people, but she has no obligation to tell him the truth.
Chi Jin stared at his toes: "I don't like it."
"Look at me," he demanded, his voice trembling slightly.
Chi Jin forced himself to look up and met his red eyes. He looked very painful.
She bit her lip, digging her nails into her palms, and repeated with all her strength, "I don't like it."
"...I understand." He seemed to have lost all his strength. He turned his head abruptly, avoiding her sight. His voice was low and hoarse, with a kind of complete heartbreak and determination. "I'm sorry for disturbing you...I'm sorry."
Without even glancing at her, he turned around and quickly left the room, even stumbling a bit. The door closed gently, making a soft click, yet as heavy as a final verdict.
This is fine, Chi Jin thought numbly.
It was wrong in the first place, everything was wrong, it would be best to return everything to zero.
An overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over her like a tsunami. She didn't even have the energy to shower. She simply collapsed onto the soft bed, burying herself deep within the covers. Almost immediately, she fell into a sleep that sought to escape everything. Only a hint of moisture seeped silently into the pillow from the corners of her tightly closed eyes.
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