Chapter 17
"Who is it?"
Ling Peng's familiar voice came from inside the door, with a hint of casualness as if he was interrupted, and it seemed a little muffled through the door panel.
Zhao Jinglu's heart leaped, nearly leaping out of her throat. With a deft, dodging motion, she quickly hid in the recessed area of the wall next to the door, a blind spot out of the peephole's view. She subconsciously held her breath, then rasped her voice, trying to sound like an impatient delivery driver.
“Your takeout!”
There were soft footsteps inside, followed by the sound of a door lock turning. With a click, the security door was pushed open from the inside.
At that moment, Zhao Jinglu suddenly jumped out from her hiding place like a light and impatient deer, opened her arms, and smiled the biggest and brightest smile on her face. Her voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement and pride:
“Surprise!!”
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Ling Peng, wearing a simple home T-shirt and sweatpants, was frozen in the doorway, holding what appeared to be a document. His eyes widened, his pupils clearly reflecting the girl who was supposed to be thousands of miles away, now standing in front of him with a smile as beautiful as a flower.
Shocked. Incredible. The immense impact seemed to have instantly shut down his brain, completely losing all ability to process information. He stared at her, his expression completely blank, even his breathing seemingly stagnant.
"Hey!" Zhao Jinglu looked at his dumbfounded expression and couldn't help but smile as she waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Are you scared? Don't you recognize me?"
Ling Peng seemed to have regained consciousness at the sound of her voice, but he remained silent. His reaction completely surprised Zhao Jinglu—he didn't shout in surprise, nor did he hug her excitedly. Instead, he suddenly took a small step back and then... began pacing back and forth in the narrow hallway!
He took two steps before suddenly turning back to look at her. His eyes were indescribably complex, like he was overwhelmed by shock, unable to process it, yet also like he was trying to confirm that this wasn't an illusion. His brows were slightly knitted, his lips tightly pursed. It was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry, just a look of helplessness in the midst of extreme confusion.
Zhao Jinglu watched his unusual behavior, her smile gradually fading. Her heart began to beat fast, her initial excitement replaced by unease. Cautiously, she peeked inside and asked jokingly, her voice tinged with nervousness, "Can I...can I go in? There's no one inside, is there?"
This sentence seemed to suddenly enlighten Ling Peng. He stopped abruptly and looked at her. A trace of panic flashed across his face, and he suddenly raised his voice and said, "Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Let me clean up!"
After saying that, he turned around almost in a panic, rushed into the room, and closed the bedroom door with a "bang"!
Zhao Jinglu was trapped in the entrance hall, completely bewildered. What was she packing? Why was she in such a panic? Could it be... that her unfortunate prediction had come true? The worst-case scenario she'd been conjuring up along the way... She stood there, her hands and feet cold. The anticipation and courage she'd felt along the way seemed to have been drained away in an instant, leaving only a bewildered feeling of helplessness and a creeping sense of grievance.
Time passed by minute by minute, and each second became extremely torturous. Just when Zhao Jinglu was about to turn around and run away, the bedroom door "clicked" open again.
Ling Peng came out again, his breathing seemed to have calmed down a bit, but his ears were flushed unnaturally. He didn't dare to look her in the eye, so he stepped aside to make way for her. His voice was a little dry, "Come in."
Zhao Jinglu stepped through the door hesitantly, her heart still pounding. She quickly, almost scrutinizingly, surveyed his "home."
It was a small, independent studio apartment with no kitchen, just a simple stove and small refrigerator in the corner. The furnishings were extremely sparse, almost model-style, with only a few practical pieces of furniture that looked like they came from IKEA—a bed, a free-standing sofa, a desk, a wardrobe, and a chair. The lack of decor gave it a somewhat desolate and makeshift feel. The air was faintly damp, a characteristic of southern cities. The window was closed, but she could see a large, unsettling insect nestling against the glass.
As she looked around, she pretended to be relaxed, trying to cover up her inner anxiety with a joke: "Let me check and see if there is any hidden beauty in the golden house?"
Ling Peng didn't respond, but silently took the backpack from her shoulder, and tried to find a suitable place to put it clumsily, and finally just put it on the only chair.
Then, just as Zhao Jinglu turned around and wanted to say something——
Ling Peng suddenly hugged her from behind!
His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, almost squeezing her into his body. His face buried deep in the crook of her neck, greedily and forcefully breathing in the familiar scent of her hair and body, a scent that had haunted him through countless nights of longing, a warmth and softness that he finally felt again after crossing thousands of miles.
His body trembled slightly, and his breath was heavy and hot on her skin, with an almost painful desire and an attachment that was hard to let go.
………………
Zhao Jinglu was practically breathless in his embrace, yet she could clearly feel his pounding heartbeat and the intense emotion that threatened to consume her. Her initial anxiety and suspicions vanished at that moment, leaving only a deep sense of heartache and pain. She turned to face him, gazing into his eyes, now filled with an inexhaustible longing and yearning. Ling Peng suddenly lowered his head and kissed her fiercely on the lips!
There was no tenderness or tentativeness in this kiss. It was like a volcano that had been suppressed for too long, finally erupting. It was hot, fierce, even a little rough, eagerly robbing her of her breath. There were too many emotions mixed in it - the immense ecstasy after the extreme shock, the deep longing brought on by the long separation, the endless gratitude for her sudden appearance, and the bottomless love that almost drowned him.
Zhao Jinglu only had time to let out a faint whimper before she was quickly swept away by the surging waves of emotion. She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and tried to respond awkwardly yet with unwavering determination. All the anxiety along the way, the longing she had felt for him for months, and all the touch and love she felt at this moment were poured out without reservation into this almost suffocating kiss.
………………
Outside the window, the neon lights of a strange city shone, while inside, the most intimate and close bond between lovers unfolded. In this moment, words felt pale and powerless. All the longing, waiting, grievances, and courage transformed into the most fervent warmth and the most intimate embrace. In the most instinctive way, they acknowledged each other's presence, drawing warmth and offering comfort, as if to make up for the lost time of the past and the potential separation of the future.
The night is deep, and in the humid air, only love remains, burning and colliding fiercely, and finally slowly settling down, turning into the peaceful breaths of sleeping in each other's arms.
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