Chapter 50: Teasing and Togetherness

“No sofa for you,” Jiang Yule turned away, lips betraying a smile.

Didn’t want Su Yubai to see.

“So heartless,” gazing at her profile, thumb rubbing her hand’s webbing.

Itching, “Su Yubai, don’t tickle me.”

Stopping, just holding her hand.

Glancing at their interlocked fingers, “You’re so good, Sister.”

Yet she’d been outplayed before.

“But you weren’t good when you tricked me.”

“Yup, I’m a bad woman,” low voice.

Admitting it without defense.

Wanting to cover her lips, hands full, “You’re not.”

“Okay, I’m not,” following her lead.

Giggling, slipping her fingers free, tickling her palm.

Instantly, Su Yubai gripped tighter, stopping her.

Turning, staring at her lips, noticing a slight upturn.

She’d said she smiled often, just unnoticed—restrained, hard to catch.

“Sister, your smile’s beautiful.”

Looking, “Is it?”

“No one’s said that?”

“Only you and… Teacher Su. Others probably never saw me smile.”

Mentioning Su Shuzhen again, Jiang Yule softened, “Did Teacher Su pick your birthday?”

Chosen for a family reunion day.

“No,” looking away.

Heart uneasy, maybe a bad topic.

Shifting, “Run with me tonight?”

Not answering, continuing, “I went to Wuzhou on Mid-Autumn.”

Realizing—heart aching.

Abandoned by parents on a reunion day, meeting her foster mother then, forming a family.

Breathing deeply, calmly, “Move in with me today?”

“Okay, I’ll take the sofa,” quick agreement, as if natural.

Pinching her hand, muffled, “My spare room’s not ready.”

Lips curving, “Then, my little girlfriend, where do I sleep?”

Cheeks warm, “Depends if you tidy it tonight.”

“Okay.”

Her “anger” crumbled under a few words.

Heart aching for Su Yubai since their snowy night meeting, despite her untouchable status now.

Finding her car, Su Yubai let go, unlocking it.

Hugging the lilies, Jiang Yule sat in the passenger seat.

Scent overwhelming in the closed car.

Standing, leaning to place them in the back.

Su Yubai, opening the back door for the gift and cake, took the flowers, “Like them?”

Lilies.

Blinking, “Love them, but too strong, better in the back.”

“Okay,” closing the door.

Under parking lot lights, watching her silhouette.

Door opened, Su Yubai slid in, oolong tea scent calming.

Realizing, during their kiss, she’d missed—or grown used to—her scent.

Noticing her staring, leaning closer.

Tea scent deepening, sniffing lightly, meeting her gaze.

Embarrassed, caught sniffing.

“Sister?”

Leaning near, hot breath clear in the quiet night.

Expecting a kiss, closing eyes.

Hearing the seatbelt, opening eyes—her half-smiling, buckling it.

Cheeks burning, turning away.

Belt fastened, no movement beside.

Glancing—still there, tea scent lingering.

Looking, eyes meeting, lashes trembling, “Sister…”

Noses touching, “Hm?”

Breath hotter, mixed with hers, indistinguishable.

Avoiding her eyes, drawn to her lips, throat moving.

Boldly, cupping her face, “Trying to kiss me while buckling my seatbelt?”

Lips curving, noses brushing, eyes locked, “You closed your eyes, wanting a kiss?”

Pouting, “You’re teasing me.”

“Teasing what?”

“Making me think you’d kiss me.” Then not.

Wronged.

Amused, “No, I was going to buckle you in, then…”

Breaths tangled, throat moving.

Holding back desire, “Then what?”

Lips met.

Her kiss raw, gentle, tongue hooking softly; hands on her face slid to her shoulders.

Pressed against the seat, her hand on Jiang Yule’s waist, warm.

In the dark, wet sounds, heavy breaths, and swallowing made her flush.

Her hand stayed still, but with tingling tongue and stolen breath, Jiang Yule craved more touch.

Breathing harder, Su Yubai pulled back.

Noticing a silver thread between their lips, Jiang Yule leaned, licking her lip.

Eyes darkening, watching her.

“Sister…” Hugging her, panting softly.

Her soft voice tightened Su Yubai’s grip, breath heavier.

“Yup,” voice husky.

Realizing, pulling back, grabbing tissues, wiping her lips.

Cheeks hot, avoiding her gaze, breath uneven.

Clearing throat, “Shy?”

“I’m fine,” eyes darting.

“Look at me.”

Forcing herself, seeing her pat her head.

“So shy, better when drunk.”

Recalling, laughing, “You’re clingy when drunk.”

“Not just then.”

“Huh?”

Eyes deep, “Home.”

Starting the engine.

Stealing glances at her profile, pondering her words.

She called her clingy… but Jiang Yule felt she was clingier.

At a red light, “No need to sneak looks.”

Caught, choking, “I…”

“You can openly look at your girlfriend.”

Cheeks hotter, “I’m… looking at the scenery.”

Turning to the window, pretending.

Eyes curving, watching the light, driving on.

Phone ringing—Jiang Huazhen.

Heart jumping.

Su Yubai driving, “It’s Mom.”

Nodding, “Answer.”

Picking up, “Mom, happy Mid-Autumn.”

“Have you eaten, Lele?”

“Yup.”

Not continuing, “Heard Yubai’s in Hong Kong, wished her happy Mid-Autumn?”

Glancing at her focused profile, smiling, “Mom, I ate with Sister Yubai tonight.”

“Oh, good…”

Realizing Su Yubai was near, softly, “Say hi to Yubai for me. Aunt Lin said she hasn’t contacted home lately.”

Heart trembling, changing topic, “What’d you and Dad eat?”

Chatting, back to Su Yubai, “Look out for each other, especially Yubai.”

“Got it, Mom.”

More advice, agreeing, hanging up.

Red light ahead, “Mom says I should look after you.”

Eyes amused, “Listen to her.”

“I’m the clingy one.”

Blinking, “I’m clingier.”

Looking, “It’s me.”

Not arguing, “Fine, you.”

Light green, driving on.

Nearing their street, “Let’s hit the supermarket.”

No questions, “Okay.”

Stopping at a nearby store.

Pushing a cart, Jiang Yule led to the home goods aisle.

“No snacks?”

Embarrassed, “Haven’t eaten the last ones.”

“Don’t like them?”

“Grew up not eating them, no big interest now.”

“Good.”

“Hm?”

“Junk food’s bad for you.”

Nodding, laughing, “Thanks to Mom’s strict rules.”

Stroking her hair, “Pros and cons, occasional treats might make you happier.”

Recalling her childhood lollipop, cherished beyond its value.

In the aisle, grabbing matching toothbrushes, cups, couple’s slippers.

Ears hot.

Hugging her, “No need to be shy.”

Nodding, muffled, “How’re you so natural?”

“Like you’ve rehearsed.”

Since they got together, every moment—holding hands, hugging, kissing, names—felt shy for her, but natural for Su Yubai.

Like they’d been together forever.

Patting her back, no words.

Lashes trembling.

“It’s normal to feel shy.”

Twisting, “Yup.”

Pulling away.

Grabbing more paired items—bowls, plates.

Checking out, carrying bags.

“I ordered online yesterday.”

“Can probably cancel now.”

Turning, “You knew I’d confess today?”

Smiling, “I planned to confess.”

Planned to move in, ordered couple’s items.

Always three steps ahead.

Heart racing, “Why not confess earlier?”

“Didn’t know your feelings.”

Surprised, “What if I said no?”

“You wouldn’t,” certain.

Laughing, “Professor Su.”

“Hm?”

“Too confident.”

“You gave me that confidence.”

She never fought losing battles, turning impossibles into certainties.

Smiling, loading bags into the trunk, getting in.

At the parking lot, carrying bags upstairs.

At her door, entering the code, turning, “Guess the password?”

Looking, “962464.”

Smile fading, “How’d you know?”

“You asked, so it’s not something I wouldn’t know.”

“It’s 962464.”

“Fine,” pouting, “You got it.”

Slightly disappointed.

Setting down bags, patting her head, “I’m happy.”

Answering the “I love you” password.

Cheeks warm, “I’m teetering on fever’s edge today.”

Fluctuating between hot and not.

No words, swapping slippers, heading to the bathroom.

Water running—washing hands?

Confused, changing shoes.

Walking to the bathroom, meeting her.

Pausing, Su Yubai approached.

Her cool palms on Jiang Yule’s cheeks, “Touch more, it won’t burn.”

Memories surging, cheeks heating more.

Too embarrassing.