Chapter 36
At the very least, we need to wait until both of them are rational and clear-headed.
Josh remembered that during their last video chat, Chen Zhiyu had mentioned that there would only be one day off for New Year's Day, followed by final exams early the next morning, a short semester after the exams, and then he would have to immediately participate in the work assigned to him by Liu Weifeng. His schedule was very tight.
As for whether the two would meet on New Year's Day, Josh wasn't too concerned at first.
Therefore, when Josh heard Chen Zhiyu confirm that he couldn't come, he remained calm.
We'll meet sooner or later anyway, so there's no rush.
Josh has always taken this so-called companionship lightly, partly because he doesn't have any expectations for it.
However, a slight sense of regret may arise after the initial calm.
Now, when I actually see someone who was originally thousands of miles away standing in front of me, the joy that springs up in my heart is fully revealed.
This is something you can't lie about.
Just a door away.
Josh looked at Chen Zhiyu outside the door through the peephole, and he looked a little comical.
The person outside was wearing a thick down jacket, completely wrapped up, with a hat and scarf covering them up, so only their bright eyes were visible.
Josh knew those eyes all too well.
Affectionate, indifferent, timid.
The moment she saw it, in that instant, past memories began to surge, as if an invisible force was pulling her thoughts back, taking her back to the past.
She was startled awake when the second knock came at the door.
The moment the door opened, Chen Zhiyu, covered in the frost of the elements, squeezed into the room and quickly took off his coat. At the same time, he pulled the bewildered Josh into his arms.
In the dead of winter, Chen Zhiyu still carried a chill from the outside, his cool aura surrounding him. Qiao Xi was held tightly in his arms, yet she felt as if she were being burned through by scorching flames, her very soul trembling.
"Is this a surprise?" After a moment of confusion, Josh finally calmed down, placed his hands on Josh's waist and asked softly.
"It depends on your perspective." Chen Zhiyu tightened his embrace and asked her softly, "Are you surprised?"
Josh buried her head in his hard chest muscles, nodding vigorously upon hearing this, her joy still surging within her. She looked up, her eyes flashing with surprise, "Didn't you say there was an exam on the morning of the 2nd?"
"After thinking about it, I realized I missed you so much that I couldn't help but come to see you."
"I bought a ticket to go back tomorrow afternoon."
Is it too late to review?
"I'm confident about the remaining two, no major problems."
The two didn't stand at the door for long before Josh led Chen Zhiyu into the living room. Chen Zhiyu had already seen the interior during their video call, and that's when he learned the address.
Because Josh had just gotten off work and Chen Zhiyu had rushed over after finishing his exam in the afternoon, neither of them had had time to eat dinner.
It was getting late and the temperature had dropped sharply, so the two of them didn't want to go out to find food. They simply ordered takeout and stayed at home.
Josh chose the takeout. After all, she hadn't stayed here for nothing during those few months, so she knew a bit about the food in the area. She ordered quite a few things, and in the end, she still wasn't satisfied, so she also ordered a few bottles of wine.
The chill here is unbearable for most people. While waiting for their food, the two weary travelers took separate showers to warm up.
Just as the two finished packing, the takeout arrived.
Josh and Chen Zhiyu sat side by side, eating at the small coffee table in front of the sofa, as if they were back home.
I had a rare, hearty meal.
Josh hadn't had a proper drink in a long time, and now that she was with Chen Zhiyu, she was able to relax and have a few drinks. Not only that, she even persuaded Chen Zhiyu to have a couple more drinks with her.
In the end, they all drank quite a bit.
Josh was the worst affected; she was quite drunk and dizzy. When she reached for her glass again, Chen Zhiyu stopped her.
He took the glass from Josh, got up, and headed to the kitchenette to make her a ginger cola.
Chen Zhiyu noticed this while Qiao Xi was taking a shower. Although her kitchen was small, it was fully equipped with pots and pans, and there was half a piece of ginger left over from who-knows-when in the refrigerator, which Qiao Xi must have prepared herself.
The ginger cola was made quickly, and Josh took it from Chen Zhiyu and couldn't wait to take a sip.
Chen Zhiyu sat down next to Qiao Xi, his eyes fixed on her as he watched her sip her drink. He asked, "Is it good?"
"I found that it really helps prevent colds, would you like a cup?" After drinking ginger cola, Josh felt refreshed and looked at him with bright eyes, holding the cup in both hands.
His rosy face bore the dazed look of drunkenness, his eyes were unfocused, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.
Chen Zhiyu had drunk the wine a little too quickly, and his throat suddenly felt dry. He subconsciously cleared his throat and said softly, "No need."
He then took the empty cup from Josh and placed it on the coffee table, his gaze never leaving her rosy lips.
Josh was feeling dizzy from drinking, and when he suddenly saw the enlarged face in front of him, he didn't react for a moment until his cool lips touched him.
The familiar touch stirred up memories of the past, and Josh found himself instinctively placing his right hand on Josh's shoulder.
The two of them shared the same aura, blending together harmoniously. Josh could even smell the orange-scented shampoo in his hair, which she had casually picked up from a nearby supermarket when she first arrived in the city.
Perhaps driven by alcohol, Chen Zhiyu, in a state of extreme dehydration, was eager to find a water source in the desert, and his lips eagerly pried open the other's as they opened and closed.
Josh's mouth still held the lingering sweet and spicy flavor of ginger cola, a domineering spiciness accompanied by the stimulating sensation of bubbles bursting. This caused the kiss to lose its youthful innocence, becoming domineering and ruthless, imbued with the strength of a mature man.
Both of them had just showered and were wearing loose loungewear. Chen Zhiyu was half-lying on Qiao Xi, his knees sinking into the sofa. The leather sofa beneath him made a slight squeaking sound, and the rustling of the fabric was mixed with his heavy, intermittent breathing.
Unfamiliar surroundings combined with familiar physical contact can trigger deeper desires.
The kiss ended abruptly.
Josh's cheeks burned, the heat spreading from her ears to her neck. She felt short of breath and was about to get up, supporting herself on the sofa with one arm, when she was stopped by an arm that came across her with an irresistible force.
With his long, slender leg supporting him, Chen Zhiyu tilted his head and slightly raised his body, still maintaining the position of half-lying on Qiao Xi.
Chen Zhiyu pressed his face against the crook of her neck, his lips against her burning skin. His breath made her skin feel like it was being branded with a hot iron. His voice was deep, as if it resonated directly from his chest to her back. His palm, which was half-holding her, was burning hot. "Don't move, let me calm down."
The slightly elevated position cast his shadow completely over him, and Josh's gaze swept over his lower body as she looked down, revealing everything. Then, she shifted her gaze awkwardly, casually turning her head away, remaining silent and joining him in the silence, staring blankly at the boring ceiling.
The burning sensation on her face didn't stop there; instead, it spread upwards from the tips of her ears, quickly turning her entire earlobe red.
Outside the window, dark clouds gradually swallowed the moon.
The room suddenly fell silent, with the air conditioner unit humming outside the window.
Chen Zhiyu remained kneeling in the sofa for a long time without moving.
Josh grasped his wrist, his thumb unconsciously rubbing against his protruding wrist bone, the sofa beneath them creaking under the weight as he did so.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to go back by the end of this month," Josh suddenly said, his warm breath brushing against Chen Zhiyu, unexpectedly adding fuel to the fire. "When I get back..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt the arms around her waist suddenly tighten.
Chen Zhiyu suddenly rolled over and squeezed into the narrow sofa with Qiao Xi. Upon closer inspection, he could clearly see the bloodshot veins in Qiao Xi's eyes. "I don't want you to suffer with me."
He suddenly spoke without any warning.
But the next second, Josh struggled to get up from Chen Zhiyu's arms, sprang up, and made as if to walk out. Chen Zhiyu reflexively grabbed her wrist, and could even hear his heart pounding in his chest.
"Hey," Chen Zhiyu exclaimed anxiously, grabbing Qiao Xi's hand. "Where are you going?"
He spoke too quickly, and his voice cracked.
“Since you’ve said that,” Josh said, hooking one leg over the edge of the sofa as if to pull his hand away, “I need to hurry up and find someone else, right?”
Moonlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains, causing Chen Zhiyu's pupils to dilate. He opened his mouth, his fingers unconsciously tightening: "Won't you give me a chance to show myself?"
“I’d be doing a disservice to your mournful voice if I were even a second late.” Josh suddenly laughed, kneeling on one knee on the soft sofa cushion, propping himself up on one leg, and reaching out to him, “Come on, give me a hug.”
"Don't you remember what I said?" Josh asked, stroking his very short stubble with his palm.
Chen Zhiyu held her tightly, saying, "It wasn't easy for you to raise me. Now that I'm all grown up, I want you to have a good life." As he spoke, he tilted his head back, his lips searching for hers again.
Josh fiercely cut him off, her words muffled between her teeth, "Our lives will get better and better."
Josh ran her hand through his hair with a firm grip. "I believe you," she said, her lips brushing against his trembling eyelids. "It's okay, if things really get bad, I'll take care of you."
"Take it slow, don't put too much pressure on yourself." Soft whispers accompanied by warm breath entered his ear, and Chen Zhiyu's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
Sweet words are the most powerful catalyst.
Josh's knee shifted unintentionally, noticing the other person's situation. Once this kind of thing is out in the open, it's hard to back down.
This is a short-term rental apartment; everything you need will be provided. Josh noticed this the very first day she arrived. "If you're thinking about it, actually..."
It's in the bedside table.
“Josh,” Chen Zhiyu took a deep breath, his back teeth clenched tightly as he spoke, and the veins on his temples were clearly visible. When he looked up at her, his eyes were filled with mixed emotions, as if he was holding back his anger, and his tone contained a warning, “Please, shut up.”
Both of them had been drinking, and the alcohol fueled a surge of desire that rose like a tide. He didn't want to have sex with her under the influence of alcohol-induced passion.
At least wait until both of them are rational and sober.
[Author's Note]
There won't be any cliffhangers; there are still a dozen or so chapters left to finish. If you're interested, please add it to your favorites. Thank you.
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