together
13
The elevator went directly to the second floor, where there were two suites. Zhao Xingcan took Lin Ju into one of them.
The door was mahogany in color. I turned on the light and pushed the door open. I saw light-colored walls, curtains hanging from the four-poster bed, and a large contrasting carpet on the original wooden floor.
Zhao Xingcan placed the suitcase against the wall and said, "This is the guest room. There are toiletries in the bathroom. It's too late now. You should get some rest."
Lin Ju turned her head, "You..."
She only said one word, and Zhao Xingcan seemed to guess what she was going to say, and said, "I live upstairs. Tell me if you need anything."
Zhao Xingcan closed the door gently when he left.
After he left, Lin Ju couldn't help but walk around the room, then she pushed open the balcony glass and leaned against the railing to look out.
The peninsula bordered the lake, surrounded by low hills. The moon, barely fuller than a sickle, shone through the mist, casting its pulsating light on the low hills, which were covered in spruce trees. In the dark night, they formed a black wave.
She took out the lighter Zhao Xingcan had just given her and played with it in her hands. Her fingertips pressed against the broken diamonds, rubbing them repeatedly. She accidentally flicked the fire away and lit a cigarette.
Lin Ju slept soundly at night. When she woke up and looked at the time, it was almost noon.
After washing up, she came out of the room. The sun was shining brightly outside the glass window at the stairs. She squinted her eyes, held the mahogany stair railing, and walked downstairs.
Last night, I took the elevator directly to the second floor, but I didn’t have time to take a look. Now that I was in the living room, Lin Ju couldn’t help but sigh.
The living room, with its 8-meter-high ceilings, retains its original wooden truss structure from the previous century. The exposed oak trusses create a warm and cool contrast between the dark brown wood grain and the ivory-white walls. In the center stands a long, log table that can accommodate 20 people.
Lin Ju walked downstairs and saw a fireplace in the corner. Hanging above it was a portrait, presumably of Zhao Xingcan's grandfather. Glass cabinets on either side held various porcelain pieces, some of which Lin Ju recognized and should be displayed in a museum.
Lin Ju was impressed by the power of capital. He looked up and saw Zhao Xingcan's reflection on the window glass falling behind him.
She was stunned and her ears turned red instantly.
Zhao Xingcan raised his hand, gently pinched her earlobe with his index and middle fingers and rubbed it a few times, then moved down along her jaw, pinched her chin, and turned it towards him.
She came down in such a hurry that she forgot to wear her hearing aid. She didn't even notice when Zhao Xingcan walked behind her.
Lin Ju looked at Zhao Xingcan and saw that his lips moved slightly, as if to say, "What a heartless person! I sat on that chair for more than ten minutes, and you didn't even glance at me."
I can only hear the lip shape but not the tone.
Is he accusing?
Lin Ju took out her phone and started typing.
As she was typing, she felt Zhao Xingcan approaching.
Her shoulders were hugged, Zhao Xingcan's face was close to her ear, and his eyes were fixed on the phone screen with hers.
【It was backlit over there, so I couldn’t see it. 】
The chair Zhao Xingcan was referring to was near a wall facing north, which was covered in large, leaded-glass windows. Twelve diamond-shaped panes of glass were joined together, and the ironwork in the frame was decorated with rose patterns. Through the glass, one could see the oak tree in the courtyard, its shadow swaying.
Beneath the French windows stood a grand piano, and beside it stood a long, old-fashioned European-style fabric bench, its cushions embroidered with roses. Sunlight filtered through the glass, shimmering with tiny particles, like tiny diamonds.
Just now, Zhao Xingcan was sitting in that halo.
Zhao Xingcan took Lin Ju to the dining table. Lin Ju had only seen such a long table in movies. Zhao Xingcan certainly wouldn't let her sit across from him. He pulled out a chair, and after Lin Ju sat down, he sat next to her.
There was a very white breakfast on the table, with ice milk, fried eggs, buttered bread and some blueberries.
Lin Ju had just woken up and had no appetite. After drinking a few sips of milk and taking two bites of bread, she felt full.
Zhao Xingcan asked her if it tasted good. She tilted her head to look at him, picked up a blueberry and handed it to Zhao Xingcan's lips.
Zhao Xingcan paused, lowered his head, and opened his mouth. His lips brushed against Lin Ju's fingers. She had clearly been the first to strike, and she had also flinched first.
She shrank back and Zhao Xingcan moved forward, and the legs of the chair made a rubbing sound on the wooden board.
It was a bit harsh and Lin Ju couldn't hear it. Zhao Xingcan frowned slightly and put his hands on Lin Ju's waist. The waist was too thin and his palms could just form a circle.
She was wearing a loose sweater today, which was so wide that the collar was also too loose. If she wasn't careful, half of her snow-white shoulder would slip out from the collar.
Lin Ju didn't dare to move. He opened his eyes wide and stared at Zhao Xingcan in a daze.
There was a gleam of light in those eyes, a hint of cuteness, and a sense that said, "You can do whatever you want to me."
Zhao Xingcan looked at her with a smile, brushed away the loose hair on her cheek, and rubbed her slightly hot eyes with his curled index finger.
He pulled her to the piano. He knew she couldn't hear anything, so he pressed her down with extra force on the piano that had held his entire childhood.
The piano keys that had worn his fingers out were hit hard, making a "bang bang" sound.
Lin Ju's breathing became rapid, and her hands, which had been against his chest, clutched his collar, her knuckles turning white.
She couldn't hear anything, and therefore became even more nervous. The kisses before were all short-lived, sheltered by the darkness, but now the sunlight penetrated the entire glass wall, revealing everything, including her heart, which might have already fallen.
Zhao Xingcan could feel her nervousness, that excessive nervousness.
He clasped his hand behind her neck and placed his other hand on her lower back. The piano continued to moan, and he felt faintly excited.
He lowered his head again, leaning his face towards hers, tilting his head slightly, and kissed her again.
Lin Ju's body was obviously so tense, but her lips were soft and comfortable in accepting him. She even raised her chin and trembled as she pressed her lips against his lower lip.
Zhao Xingcan was very satisfied. He helped Lin Ju up from the piano, sat her on the piano stool, then held her in his arms and sat her on his lap, hugging her slender waist.
They didn't kiss again, but slowly calmed their breathing, their eyes fixed on each other.
Under the glass wall, in the light and shadow that was swaying and uneasy because of the shadows of the trees, Lin Ju's eyes were sparkling with watery light, too bright, too moving.
Zhao Xingcan kissed her again.
Lin Ju was kissed so hard that she felt dizzy and her head felt woozy.
She tilted her head quietly, breathing softly. Zhao Xingcan slowly let her go, but did not let her get off his legs.
She didn't dare to look at Zhao Xingcan, so she buried her head in Zhao Xingcan's neck.
For some reason, Zhao Xingcan's body suddenly stiffened.
Then, the hand around her waist loosened.
She was put on the ground and Zhao Xingcan stood up.
Lin Ju subconsciously raised her eyes, but Zhao Xingcan covered her eyes with his hands.
She blinked, her eyelashes brushing against Zhao Xingcan's palm. The hand covering his eyes tightened, trembled, and then retracted.
Lin Ju narrowed her eyes and looked at him in confusion.
Zhao Xingcan opened his mouth and said, "Lin Ju, I have to take a shower."
She was not an ignorant girl who knew nothing. She tilted her head and took a step back after seeing what was happening, her cheeks flushed.
She picked up her phone and words popped up on the screen one by one.
I'm with you
Zhao Xingcan raised his eyebrows, "Hmm?"
Lin Ju didn't look up and continued typing.
I'm going to wear hearing aids
Zhao Xingcan let out a dull "tsk" sound, pinched Lin Ju's chin and lifted it up, raised his eyebrows slightly, and smiled meaningfully.
He said slowly, "Lin Ju, don't interrupt me like that. It makes me think that you want to take a bath with me."
Zhao Xingcan went back to his room, took a shower, and dealt with some work emails.
It was almost noon when he received a message from Lin Ju. The little girl asked him if he was hungry and if he wanted to have lunch.
He closed the notebook, tucked it under his arm and went downstairs.
When Zhao Xingcan went downstairs, Lin Ju was rummaging through the refrigerator with her butt sticking out.
His footsteps were so light that Lin Ju didn't hear them at all.
She changed her clothes and threw the sweater into the suitcase. The new set was a short slim cashmere sweater and smoky gray skinny jeans.
Zhao Xingcan felt that it was on par with the previous one and was quite to his liking.
He walked over and leaned close to Lin Ju's cheek, "What are you looking for?"
The egg in Lin Ju's hand slipped, and Zhao Xingcan hurriedly caught it with a smile in his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Lin Ju was stunned. After reacting, he turned sideways and closed the refrigerator. "Nothing. When did you come down?"
"Did I scare you just now?"
“No…no.”
Because she couldn't hear, Lin Ju had a hard time speaking. She didn't want any misunderstandings due to language, so she held Zhao Xingcan's hand, her knuckles turning white. She looked at him nervously and said, "Others... I would be scared, but you... I'm not afraid."
Lin Ju's fingers were cold. Zhao Xingcan pushed aside her bangs and looked into her covered eyes. "Do you like me so much?"
She remained motionless, letting him trace her features with his fingers. Light from the side window lingered between them.
He raised one arm and pressed it against the refrigerator behind her, blocking out the light and enveloping her in a vague way.
The problem is that I said it on a whim and it felt inappropriate the moment I said it.
But he was also secretly looking forward to Lin Ju's answer. This kind of confusing talk was really not his style. He let go of Lin Ju, and before she turned around, he was almost rolling the egg into a walnut in his other hand, rubbing it until it was warm.
He tilted his head to look at her and kissed her lips as she was about to speak.
There was a time in Beijing when they dated every day, eating three meals a day from morning till night. But back then, they were still free and had many activities to do, which always helped them digest their food.
Now in the house, after dinner, Lin Ju felt a little indigestion.
She curled up on the sofa while Zhao Xingcan found some digestive medicine and handed it to her. She took it but still felt groggy.
Zhao Xingcan sat down beside her, leaning close to her. He placed the tips of his four fingers on her upper abdomen, circling them. "Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"
It was approaching dusk, and the sunset glowed crimson. Lin Ju glanced out the window. Zhao Xingcan stretched out his hand and placed it on her shoulder, "Let's go out for a walk."
Zhao Xingcan lit a cigarette and took her for a stroll in the courtyard.
Deep in the courtyard was a rectangular swimming pool, its walls covered in ivy, long abandoned. To one side of the pool stood a four-poster pavilion, its dome entwined with vines, and wrought iron tables and chairs placed underneath.
Zhao Xingcan kicked away the dead vines on the ground, took off his coat and put it on the chair, letting Lin Ju sit there.
The evening breeze is not too cold.
The sky was covered with fish-scale clouds, which Lin Ju felt looked like pieces of pink marshmallows piled together.
They sat together for a while, watching the clouds, until the light in the sky slowly faded. He pulled her up, touched her cold face, and told her that the temperature was going to drop.
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