“Huh?” Grandmother Qi raised her head and looked to her great-grandson. “You’re talking about your uncle’s girlfriend? You’ve seen her before?”
“Of course!” Qi Youxuan gobbled up the rest of the ham. With bulging cheeks, he nodded and mumbled incoherently, “Auntie’s really nice.”
Grandmother Qi became extremely happy when she heard that.
Qi Youxuan had always been wary of strangers. The outside world called him an illegitimate child because he had been motherless since young.
Things had improved much since then. No one dared bully him because his great grandfather had taken a more open stand on things.
Back then, however, when Qi Youxuan was still referred to as the illegitimate child. Many looked down on him. It was a shadow that had burdened him since a young age, and it led him to be particularly wary of outsiders, most of whom he would not accept so readily.
Jian Yi was one such example.
However, Qi Youxuan seemed to hold Qi Chengzhi’s girlfriend in high regard, and, because of that, Grandmother Qi began to slowly come to a resolution. She wanted to approve of her grandson’s future wife.
“But I’m sad that Elder Uncle doesn’t want her to become my stepmother.” Qi Youxuan grabbed another slice of ham. Upset by his elder uncle’s disapproval, his appetite grew more voracious.
Grandmother Qi was astonished! Qi Youxuan liked Qi Chengzhi’s girlfriend so much that he went from calling her auntie to wanting her as his stepmother! The only reason he would say something like that was if he really liked her!
Of course, the elderly lady did not take Qi Youxuan’s words too literally. She rubbed a small watermelon and told Aunt Liu to slice it up. She then gave half the melon, along with a spoon, to the little boy and allowed him to eat it in the kitchen.
As the anticipation for her grandson’s future wife grew, Grandmother Qi dug up some birds’ nests from the cupboard. “We’ll have this for our after-lunch dessert today!”
…
…
Song Yu stood all by herself at the exhibition entrance. When Ruan Danchen found out that Qi Chengzhi was coming, she did not want to be the third-wheel. She left Song Yu to wait outside while she continued having fun inside.
There, a few ticket sellers were flashing tickets for the exhibition. Whenever Song Yu passed them, they would ask, “Want a ticket? They sell for 80 inside, but I’m selling them for 60.”
Song Yu was so bored, she took out her phone to surf the web and scroll through her WeChat Moments.
As her head was bowed, someone hugged her suddenly from behind. She was startled for a moment, but a faint breeze carrying a scent allowed her to identify who it was. Her initial fear subsided gradually, and her heart grew calm once again.
Qi Chengzhi leaned over to kiss her cheek. His intimacy in a place so public and crowded made her feel nervous, yet, still, she did not shy away, greeting him with a blush.
“Why did you come from this side?” Song Yu asked. She was keeping a lookout for the Range Rover while on her phone.
“There are too many cars. The Range Rover couldn’t stop anywhere near, so I parked a bit farther away and walked here.” The warmth and richness of Qi Chengzhi’s voice was otherworldly. His tender gaze made her feel like she was melting to the floor.
His arms came to wrap themselves lightly around her waist, unconcerned with the idea of her struggling free. She allowed him to stroke his ego when they were outside.
Her eyes did not stray from him, a result of her submissive nature, even as her cheeks blossomed red. A sense of pride welled within him as he took her in, adoration burning deep. He knew that she allowed him his small victories because it was him; if had been anyone else, she would not have such patience. In light of that, he lowered his head, and his lips met hers.
Heat crept to her ears.
“There are so many people here.” She pushed at him gently. She would accept a kiss on the cheek, but a kiss on the lips was far too intimate for such a public sphere. The place was alive with children clamoring to see Doraemon. There were students from the junior and senior years of high school, too, so her embarrassment at being seen kissing grew tenfold.
Her struggles excited him, and he lowered his head once more, brushing her lips, finishing what he had started.
“Mommy, they’re kissing! They’re not ashamed!” A puerile voice called out. It was like a wall had wedged itself between them. She evaded his advances; through with indulging him. Not daring to meet the eyes of the parents, she burned with embarrassment. She was afraid that the mother would shoot her a criticizing look, as if to say that Song Yu had corrupted the public by ignoring the presence of adolescence.
Thankfully, the understanding mother simply dragged her son away, saying, “You don’t have to be rude.”
She then steered her son to the ticket counter.
Song Yu tugged on Qi Chengzhi’s jacket and pleaded softly, “Stop it, let’s go.”
Qi Chengzhi’s smiled a small smile, as he grabbed the hand tugging upon his jacket. His fingers glided between the crevices of hers, intertwining them.
It was only when they reached the car that realization dawned on Song Yu. “Since you came all the way out to get me, where are we going?”
“We are going to visit my grandfather.” Qi Chengzhi continued, “My initial plan was for me to meet my grandparents and inform them of us. Then to arrange a suitable date for you to meet them. That would have been the proper way of doing things, but I didn’t expect to see Yu Keyao the instant I set foot in my home. So, I thought I would just set the record straight today.”
Qi Chengzhi omitted the fact that Xia Wenna was playing matchmaker, and had already begun treating Yu Keyao like her daughter-in-law.
The decision to bring Song Yu home was for Qi Chengzhi to declare his intentions to his mother and to prevent her from further meddling behind his back.
He was afraid that Song Yu would feel stressed out if she knew all that information.
Nevertheless, worry had already set in Song Yu’s thoughts. The fact that Xia Wenna could welcome Yu Keyao home was confirmation that she was already very satisfied with Yu Keyao.
Meeting Yu Keyao on Song Yu’s visit to the Qi family’s residence would cause a tremendous amount of awkwardness for the latter, considering that Song Yu was not someone of high social standing. Furthermore, they were cousins, and Song Yu had also been the ex-fiancée of Qi Chengji. If Song Yu paid the family a visit, things might turn ugly.
The situation would become even messier because of Yu Keyao’s presence.
At the same time, though, she was adamant to go through with this plan, so she could tell Yu Keyao personally – and in no uncertain terms – that Qi Chengzhi belonged to her, and that Yu Keyao should back off.
Song Yu was disgusted with the thought of another woman lusting after him and trying to please his family.
Qi Chengzhi’s hands were gripping the steering wheel firmly, and, for the first time, Song Yu took the initiative and stretched out her hand to hold his.
He glanced briefly at her, seeing anticipation, determination, and nervousness in her face.
His right hand moved away from the steering wheel and grasped her left hand tightly. His thumb came into contact with the ring on her middle finger. He pulled her hand into his lap and began caressing her ring gently.
“If you’re ever nervous when we’re there, look at me.” Qi Chengzhi massaged her hand. His words were not too overbearing, and it made her feel calm. “I’ll always be by your side.”
Song Yu, too, massaged his smooth, sharp hand. She was grateful that he did not spurt out ‘Don’t be nervous’ or other similar platitudes.
With everything jumbling up in a confused heap, the phrase ‘Don’t be nervous’ was not one that would magically ease her worries.
She hated men who mouthed off empty sentiments. They were akin to telling someone ‘Drink more water’ when one was unwell, as if the water would miraculously be able to cure all diseases.
Not all of Qi Chengzhi’s words were filled with emotion, but every single one of them was genuine. On hearing them, Song Yu felt very calm.
Throughout the journey, their hands were constantly interlaced, and oddly enough, Qi Chengzhi was being exceptionally gentlemanly: he did not fool around by placing her hand on top of his nether regions and whatnot.
As the Range Rover parked at the entrance to the Qi family estate, Song Yu alighted and stared anxiously at the door.
She was no stranger to the house. Be it as the daughter of a family friend or as a previous wife-to-be, she had entered the house many times before.
Looking at the door made her feel as if the past was behind her.
As of then, she would be re-entering the home with a new status, one that made her feel exceptionally anxious.
Qi Chengzhi held her hand and stroked it, softly saying, “Let’s go in.”
“Wait!” Song Yu held his arm and took a few deep breaths. She paled.
She licked her lips and turned to look at Qi Chengzhi. “How do I look?”
“Other than a pale face, everything else is alright,” Qi Chengzhi said. His slender fingers then began rubbing her face until it was pinkish-red. “There.”
“I’m being serious. How did Yu Keyao dress up today? I don’t want to lose to her.” Song Yu exclaimed and frowned in annoyance. Recalling how lavishly Yu Keyao had dressed back at Dynasty, Song Yu firmly believed that Yu Keyao would have dolled herself up before coming all the way to the Qi family’s residence.
“I was so nervous just now that I didn’t think of going home for a change of clothes. I didn’t put too much thought into what I wore because I was going to the exhibition with Ruan Danchen.”
“Do you want to one-up Yu Keyao?” Qi Chengzhi raised an eyebrow, and his thin lips twitched almost-smilingly. All of a sudden, there was a hint of diabolicalness. “Simple.”
His voice was low as he drew closer to her, overwhelming her with his fresh fragrance.
Song Yu’s heart began beating faster. She took a few steps back and poked him. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t you know already?” Qi Chengzhi’s large and muscular hand wrapped around hers, and he pressed her palm gently to his chest, moving it up and down.
Song Yu’s breathing turned heavy and erratic. Breathing shallowly, her chest expanded as her stomach caved in.
Despite having a layer of cloth between them, she could feel the heat of his chest. Her hands trembled of their own accord, and, since he held them, she had no choice but to keep them on his chest.
Beneath her hands, Qi Chenzhi burned. She felt as if she were stroking the warm walls of a coal burner. His gradual coercion left her with no other option but to slowly step back.
Soon she found herself trapped between the door of his Range Rover and him.
The Range Rover was tall, much taller than her, in fact, and the back of her head was pressed against the car window. Her lips trembled, and her voice – anxious, soft, and faltering – uttered, “We’re in front of the house. Someone might see us.”
The Qi family’s residence was a classic house with a fully enclosed courtyard.
Sky-high prices of courtyard houses meant that not many people could afford them. Only locals with Mengyin ancestry and the richest of the rich could afford them.
However, the area was not entirely occupied by the upper class. There were a few houses – not many – that were owned by some proletarians who had lucked into an inheritance.
The presence of the middle class meant that the neighborhood was rather busy.
“So what if someone sees me kissing my girlfriend out in the open? It’s not a crime, and the police wouldn’t arrest me.” Qi Chengzhi’s thin lips were brushing against her ear as he said those words.
“You… Stop it. I’m already worried. If you keep doing this, how would I be able to face your family?” Song Yu could not break free and remained pressed against his chest. She pushed him away lightly, but half-heartedly, almost as if she was reluctant to leave his embrace.
“I’ll deal with my family; all you have to do is focus on crushing Yu Keyao,” he said, his voice like fine silk. It was an aphrodisiac, flowing through her heart, meandering down her stomach until it reached her delta. The carnality that filled her was not one that she could easily satiate.
As he spoke, his warm, attenuated lips planted kisses from her ear to her cheek, before finally meeting her lips. They had a softness that was akin to, but many times more tender than, soft candy.
He pushed against her until the back of her head was pressed against the car window. All Song Yu could do was mutter incoherently. It seemed as though he would not even allow her breath. He was so warm, so inescapable against her. His scent soaked her, filling her nose and mouth with a spice that made her knees tremble.
Eventually, after a long time had passed, he let her go. Her lips were moist with his kisses; glistening slightly. There was no doubt that there was no longer any trace of lipstick on her.
Song Yu was fuming! “Is he helping me or Yu Keyao?!”
It was bad enough that Song Yu’s clothes were too casual, his antics had stripped her of most of her makeup, especially her lipstick – which was the most important part. Not a single bit remained on her lips, and she was sure that she could no longer compare to Yu Keyao!
Her face was so inexplicably red that Qi Chengzhi could not hold himself back from kissing her again.
By then her lips were swollen, red and insanely beautiful.
His exquisite fingers touched her lips and caressed them. The roughness of his fingers sent goosebumps all over Song Yu’s body.
“If you go in like that, I guarantee Yu Keyao will go mental.” Anyone who saw Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu would immediately know what they had been up to.
As it turned out, Qi Chengzhi had never attended on defeating Yu Keyao through Song Yu’s beauty. To him, any method was a good method so long as it worked.
No other method was as effective as the method he had chosen.
Song Yu still had the capacity to think, despite the dizzying spell of his kiss. She had figured out his intentions. She could not resist when he guided her forward; she was still breathless and enervated from the kiss.
As they turned, they saw a lady who was in the midst of walking her Samoyed dog. The lady was staring at them in stupefaction.
Neither of them knew how long she had been staring.
Song Yu was thoroughly embarrassed and was unable to look up, because the lady might have seen how Qi Chengzhi kissed her. She felt a numbness in her brain, and perhaps that was the reason why she did not hide behind Qi Chengzhi.
Judging by the lady’s looks, she ought to be someone from around the neighborhood. Song Yu did not want the nearby neighbors to have the impression that Qi Chengzhi had a prudish girlfriend who only knew how to hide behind him when something happened.
“Auntie Chen,” Qi Chengzhi nodded and called out coolly.
“And I thought my eyes were seeing things. I thought you looked like the Qi family’s eldest grandson, but I wasn’t sure. Turns out it is you!” Aunt Chen brought the Samoyed over. The dog pressed its wet nose on Song Yu’s leg and sniffed her. After Aunt Chen scolded the canine, it sat obediently on the ground, stuck out its big tongue and began panting heavily.
“Your girlfriend?” Aunt Chen looked at the beet red Song Yu.
“Mm,” Qi Chengzhi replied monosyllabically, then continued, “A girlfriend whom I look forward to marrying.”
Surprised, Aunt Chen studied Song Yu from head to toe and chuckled happily. “Good, good. You finally have a girlfriend. You’re getting married soon, I guess? Your grandmother will be so happy!”
“I brought her over today to meet my grandparents,” Qi Chengzhi remarked.
“Is that so? Well, I won’t be holding you up anymore. Go on in!” Aunt Chen said her goodbyes and continued walking the dog. Barely a few steps later, she turned around and pondered at their silhouettes. She then decided to spread the word that the Qi family’s eldest grandson had brought a woman back to meet his elders – he was not a homosexual!
‘Then again, why did his girlfriend look so familiar?’
…
…
Reeling from the kisses, Song Yu had yet to come to her senses completely, and coincidentally, Qi Chengzhi’s intention of making her forget her anxiousness had been achieved.
He held her hand and walked toward the entrance, but a few steps before they reached the door, someone swung it open and stopped in astonishment upon seeing the two of them.
Qi Chengji stared at Song Yu in surprise. Then, he looked at Qi Chengzhi.
At that moment, Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu were standing very close together and their arms were interlocked. Song Yu, especially, was almost leaning against Qi Chengzhi, for she was still weak from his kisses.
Qi Chengji’s gaze then shifted over to their intertwined fingers.
Song Yu felt heat rise to her face. In the past, she and Qi Chengji had no feelings for each other. Their relationship was a platonic one – nothing else – there were no feelings of love between the two. Back then, they had even discussed how they would find a way to get out of the arranged marriage when they were adults.
In spite of that, he was still her ex-fiancé, and with that title hanging over his head, things were always going to be awkward between them.
However, Song Yu’s purpose on that day was to meet the elders. Song Yu did not simply bury her head in the sand by letting go of Qi Chengzhi’s hand.
She felt Qi Chengzhi hold her hand tighter, indicating that he was very satisfied with her actions.
Qi Chengji never expected Song Yu to be the girlfriend that Qi Chengzhi spoke of.
How had the two of them ended up together?
Qi Chengji understood Qi Chengzhi much more than other people because his elder brother had been his role model since they were children. He strove to be like Qi Chengzhi, so it was natural that he would understand his elder brother more than anyone else.
Qi Chengzhi was not the kind of person who would fall in love with someone at first sight. He must have had his eye set on her for a long time, pursuing her slowly and progressively until, finally, he had her all to himself, adamant to not let go.
In that respect, Qi Chengji was curious: How long ago did Qi Chengzhi begin eyeing Song Yu?
Looking at Song Yu’s appearance, Qi Chengji surmised that they had been kissing passionately just moments ago. Did Song Yu even know how red and swollen her lips were?
None of them said anything. Song Yu was quiet, filled with awkwardness, and Qi Chengzhi probably did not have anything to say. In the end, Qi Chengji coughed and said tensely, “Grandma was worried because you took a long time just to come in. She told me to come out and take a look.”
“Well, I think we shouldn’t let them wait too long.” Qi Chengzhi as he guided Song Yu in.
Once Qi Chengji got over the initial shock, he tried cracking a joke with a half-smile. “Awkward isn’t it? Now I’ll have to call my ex-fiancée my sister-in-law.”
Qi Chengzhi ignored his joke and asked, “Is everyone present?”
“Yes,” Qi Chengji affirmed but added after some thought. “And Yu Keyao is still there.”
Qi Chengzhi flashed a cold smile and was about to open the door. Qi Chengji then recalled Song Yu’s appearance and provided them with a kind reminder. “Don’t you want to wait a bit before going in? Song Yu, she looks…”
“You can go ahead and open the door,” Qi Chengzhi replied as if he was oblivious to what Qi Chengji was trying to hint at.
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“Huh?” Grandmother Qi raised her head and looked to her great-grandson. “You’re talking about your uncle’s girlfriend? You’ve seen her before?”
“Of course!” Qi Youxuan gobbled up the rest of the ham. With bulging cheeks, he nodded and mumbled incoherently, “Auntie’s really nice.”
Grandmother Qi became extremely happy when she heard that.
Qi Youxuan had always been wary of strangers. The outside world called him an illegitimate child because he had been motherless since young.
Things had improved much since then. No one dared bully him because his great grandfather had taken a more open stand on things.
Back then, however, when Qi Youxuan was still referred to as the illegitimate child. Many looked down on him. It was a shadow that had burdened him since a young age, and it led him to be particularly wary of outsiders, most of whom he would not accept so readily.
Jian Yi was one such example.
However, Qi Youxuan seemed to hold Qi Chengzhi’s girlfriend in high regard, and, because of that, Grandmother Qi began to slowly come to a resolution. She wanted to approve of her grandson’s future wife.
“But I’m sad that Elder Uncle doesn’t want her to become my stepmother.” Qi Youxuan grabbed another slice of ham. Upset by his elder uncle’s disapproval, his appetite grew more voracious.
Grandmother Qi was astonished! Qi Youxuan liked Qi Chengzhi’s girlfriend so much that he went from calling her auntie to wanting her as his stepmother! The only reason he would say something like that was if he really liked her!
Of course, the elderly lady did not take Qi Youxuan’s words too literally. She rubbed a small watermelon and told Aunt Liu to slice it up. She then gave half the melon, along with a spoon, to the little boy and allowed him to eat it in the kitchen.
As the anticipation for her grandson’s future wife grew, Grandmother Qi dug up some birds’ nests from the cupboard. “We’ll have this for our after-lunch dessert today!”
…
…
Song Yu stood all by herself at the exhibition entrance. When Ruan Danchen found out that Qi Chengzhi was coming, she did not want to be the third-wheel. She left Song Yu to wait outside while she continued having fun inside.
There, a few ticket sellers were flashing tickets for the exhibition. Whenever Song Yu passed them, they would ask, “Want a ticket? They sell for 80 inside, but I’m selling them for 60.”
Song Yu was so bored, she took out her phone to surf the web and scroll through her WeChat Moments.
As her head was bowed, someone hugged her suddenly from behind. She was startled for a moment, but a faint breeze carrying a scent allowed her to identify who it was. Her initial fear subsided gradually, and her heart grew calm once again.
Qi Chengzhi leaned over to kiss her cheek. His intimacy in a place so public and crowded made her feel nervous, yet, still, she did not shy away, greeting him with a blush.
“Why did you come from this side?” Song Yu asked. She was keeping a lookout for the Range Rover while on her phone.
“There are too many cars. The Range Rover couldn’t stop anywhere near, so I parked a bit farther away and walked here.” The warmth and richness of Qi Chengzhi’s voice was otherworldly. His tender gaze made her feel like she was melting to the floor.
His arms came to wrap themselves lightly around her waist, unconcerned with the idea of her struggling free. She allowed him to stroke his ego when they were outside.
Her eyes did not stray from him, a result of her submissive nature, even as her cheeks blossomed red. A sense of pride welled within him as he took her in, adoration burning deep. He knew that she allowed him his small victories because it was him; if had been anyone else, she would not have such patience. In light of that, he lowered his head, and his lips met hers.
Heat crept to her ears.
“There are so many people here.” She pushed at him gently. She would accept a kiss on the cheek, but a kiss on the lips was far too intimate for such a public sphere. The place was alive with children clamoring to see Doraemon. There were students from the junior and senior years of high school, too, so her embarrassment at being seen kissing grew tenfold.
Her struggles excited him, and he lowered his head once more, brushing her lips, finishing what he had started.
“Mommy, they’re kissing! They’re not ashamed!” A puerile voice called out. It was like a wall had wedged itself between them. She evaded his advances; through with indulging him. Not daring to meet the eyes of the parents, she burned with embarrassment. She was afraid that the mother would shoot her a criticizing look, as if to say that Song Yu had corrupted the public by ignoring the presence of adolescence.
Thankfully, the understanding mother simply dragged her son away, saying, “You don’t have to be rude.”
She then steered her son to the ticket counter.
Song Yu tugged on Qi Chengzhi’s jacket and pleaded softly, “Stop it, let’s go.”
Qi Chengzhi’s smiled a small smile, as he grabbed the hand tugging upon his jacket. His fingers glided between the crevices of hers, intertwining them.
It was only when they reached the car that realization dawned on Song Yu. “Since you came all the way out to get me, where are we going?”
“We are going to visit my grandfather.” Qi Chengzhi continued, “My initial plan was for me to meet my grandparents and inform them of us. Then to arrange a suitable date for you to meet them. That would have been the proper way of doing things, but I didn’t expect to see Yu Keyao the instant I set foot in my home. So, I thought I would just set the record straight today.”
Qi Chengzhi omitted the fact that Xia Wenna was playing matchmaker, and had already begun treating Yu Keyao like her daughter-in-law.
The decision to bring Song Yu home was for Qi Chengzhi to declare his intentions to his mother and to prevent her from further meddling behind his back.
He was afraid that Song Yu would feel stressed out if she knew all that information.
Nevertheless, worry had already set in Song Yu’s thoughts. The fact that Xia Wenna could welcome Yu Keyao home was confirmation that she was already very satisfied with Yu Keyao.
Meeting Yu Keyao on Song Yu’s visit to the Qi family’s residence would cause a tremendous amount of awkwardness for the latter, considering that Song Yu was not someone of high social standing. Furthermore, they were cousins, and Song Yu had also been the ex-fiancée of Qi Chengji. If Song Yu paid the family a visit, things might turn ugly.
The situation would become even messier because of Yu Keyao’s presence.
At the same time, though, she was adamant to go through with this plan, so she could tell Yu Keyao personally – and in no uncertain terms – that Qi Chengzhi belonged to her, and that Yu Keyao should back off.
Song Yu was disgusted with the thought of another woman lusting after him and trying to please his family.
Qi Chengzhi’s hands were gripping the steering wheel firmly, and, for the first time, Song Yu took the initiative and stretched out her hand to hold his.
He glanced briefly at her, seeing anticipation, determination, and nervousness in her face.
His right hand moved away from the steering wheel and grasped her left hand tightly. His thumb came into contact with the ring on her middle finger. He pulled her hand into his lap and began caressing her ring gently.
“If you’re ever nervous when we’re there, look at me.” Qi Chengzhi massaged her hand. His words were not too overbearing, and it made her feel calm. “I’ll always be by your side.”
Song Yu, too, massaged his smooth, sharp hand. She was grateful that he did not spurt out ‘Don’t be nervous’ or other similar platitudes.
With everything jumbling up in a confused heap, the phrase ‘Don’t be nervous’ was not one that would magically ease her worries.
She hated men who mouthed off empty sentiments. They were akin to telling someone ‘Drink more water’ when one was unwell, as if the water would miraculously be able to cure all diseases.
Not all of Qi Chengzhi’s words were filled with emotion, but every single one of them was genuine. On hearing them, Song Yu felt very calm.
Throughout the journey, their hands were constantly interlaced, and oddly enough, Qi Chengzhi was being exceptionally gentlemanly: he did not fool around by placing her hand on top of his nether regions and whatnot.
As the Range Rover parked at the entrance to the Qi family estate, Song Yu alighted and stared anxiously at the door.
She was no stranger to the house. Be it as the daughter of a family friend or as a previous wife-to-be, she had entered the house many times before.
Looking at the door made her feel as if the past was behind her.
As of then, she would be re-entering the home with a new status, one that made her feel exceptionally anxious.
Qi Chengzhi held her hand and stroked it, softly saying, “Let’s go in.”
“Wait!” Song Yu held his arm and took a few deep breaths. She paled.
She licked her lips and turned to look at Qi Chengzhi. “How do I look?”
“Other than a pale face, everything else is alright,” Qi Chengzhi said. His slender fingers then began rubbing her face until it was pinkish-red. “There.”
“I’m being serious. How did Yu Keyao dress up today? I don’t want to lose to her.” Song Yu exclaimed and frowned in annoyance. Recalling how lavishly Yu Keyao had dressed back at Dynasty, Song Yu firmly believed that Yu Keyao would have dolled herself up before coming all the way to the Qi family’s residence.
“I was so nervous just now that I didn’t think of going home for a change of clothes. I didn’t put too much thought into what I wore because I was going to the exhibition with Ruan Danchen.”
“Do you want to one-up Yu Keyao?” Qi Chengzhi raised an eyebrow, and his thin lips twitched almost-smilingly. All of a sudden, there was a hint of diabolicalness. “Simple.”
His voice was low as he drew closer to her, overwhelming her with his fresh fragrance.
Song Yu’s heart began beating faster. She took a few steps back and poked him. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t you know already?” Qi Chengzhi’s large and muscular hand wrapped around hers, and he pressed her palm gently to his chest, moving it up and down.
Song Yu’s breathing turned heavy and erratic. Breathing shallowly, her chest expanded as her stomach caved in.
Despite having a layer of cloth between them, she could feel the heat of his chest. Her hands trembled of their own accord, and, since he held them, she had no choice but to keep them on his chest.
Beneath her hands, Qi Chenzhi burned. She felt as if she were stroking the warm walls of a coal burner. His gradual coercion left her with no other option but to slowly step back.
Soon she found herself trapped between the door of his Range Rover and him.
The Range Rover was tall, much taller than her, in fact, and the back of her head was pressed against the car window. Her lips trembled, and her voice – anxious, soft, and faltering – uttered, “We’re in front of the house. Someone might see us.”
The Qi family’s residence was a classic house with a fully enclosed courtyard.
Sky-high prices of courtyard houses meant that not many people could afford them. Only locals with Mengyin ancestry and the richest of the rich could afford them.
However, the area was not entirely occupied by the upper class. There were a few houses – not many – that were owned by some proletarians who had lucked into an inheritance.
The presence of the middle class meant that the neighborhood was rather busy.
“So what if someone sees me kissing my girlfriend out in the open? It’s not a crime, and the police wouldn’t arrest me.” Qi Chengzhi’s thin lips were brushing against her ear as he said those words.
“You… Stop it. I’m already worried. If you keep doing this, how would I be able to face your family?” Song Yu could not break free and remained pressed against his chest. She pushed him away lightly, but half-heartedly, almost as if she was reluctant to leave his embrace.
“I’ll deal with my family; all you have to do is focus on crushing Yu Keyao,” he said, his voice like fine silk. It was an aphrodisiac, flowing through her heart, meandering down her stomach until it reached her delta. The carnality that filled her was not one that she could easily satiate.
As he spoke, his warm, attenuated lips planted kisses from her ear to her cheek, before finally meeting her lips. They had a softness that was akin to, but many times more tender than, soft candy.
He pushed against her until the back of her head was pressed against the car window. All Song Yu could do was mutter incoherently. It seemed as though he would not even allow her breath. He was so warm, so inescapable against her. His scent soaked her, filling her nose and mouth with a spice that made her knees tremble.
Eventually, after a long time had passed, he let her go. Her lips were moist with his kisses; glistening slightly. There was no doubt that there was no longer any trace of lipstick on her.
Song Yu was fuming! “Is he helping me or Yu Keyao?!”
It was bad enough that Song Yu’s clothes were too casual, his antics had stripped her of most of her makeup, especially her lipstick – which was the most important part. Not a single bit remained on her lips, and she was sure that she could no longer compare to Yu Keyao!
Her face was so inexplicably red that Qi Chengzhi could not hold himself back from kissing her again.
By then her lips were swollen, red and insanely beautiful.
His exquisite fingers touched her lips and caressed them. The roughness of his fingers sent goosebumps all over Song Yu’s body.
“If you go in like that, I guarantee Yu Keyao will go mental.” Anyone who saw Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu would immediately know what they had been up to.
As it turned out, Qi Chengzhi had never attended on defeating Yu Keyao through Song Yu’s beauty. To him, any method was a good method so long as it worked.
No other method was as effective as the method he had chosen.
Song Yu still had the capacity to think, despite the dizzying spell of his kiss. She had figured out his intentions. She could not resist when he guided her forward; she was still breathless and enervated from the kiss.
As they turned, they saw a lady who was in the midst of walking her Samoyed dog. The lady was staring at them in stupefaction.
Neither of them knew how long she had been staring.
Song Yu was thoroughly embarrassed and was unable to look up, because the lady might have seen how Qi Chengzhi kissed her. She felt a numbness in her brain, and perhaps that was the reason why she did not hide behind Qi Chengzhi.
Judging by the lady’s looks, she ought to be someone from around the neighborhood. Song Yu did not want the nearby neighbors to have the impression that Qi Chengzhi had a prudish girlfriend who only knew how to hide behind him when something happened.
“Auntie Chen,” Qi Chengzhi nodded and called out coolly.
“And I thought my eyes were seeing things. I thought you looked like the Qi family’s eldest grandson, but I wasn’t sure. Turns out it is you!” Aunt Chen brought the Samoyed over. The dog pressed its wet nose on Song Yu’s leg and sniffed her. After Aunt Chen scolded the canine, it sat obediently on the ground, stuck out its big tongue and began panting heavily.
“Your girlfriend?” Aunt Chen looked at the beet red Song Yu.
“Mm,” Qi Chengzhi replied monosyllabically, then continued, “A girlfriend whom I look forward to marrying.”
Surprised, Aunt Chen studied Song Yu from head to toe and chuckled happily. “Good, good. You finally have a girlfriend. You’re getting married soon, I guess? Your grandmother will be so happy!”
“I brought her over today to meet my grandparents,” Qi Chengzhi remarked.
“Is that so? Well, I won’t be holding you up anymore. Go on in!” Aunt Chen said her goodbyes and continued walking the dog. Barely a few steps later, she turned around and pondered at their silhouettes. She then decided to spread the word that the Qi family’s eldest grandson had brought a woman back to meet his elders – he was not a homosexual!
‘Then again, why did his girlfriend look so familiar?’
…
…
Reeling from the kisses, Song Yu had yet to come to her senses completely, and coincidentally, Qi Chengzhi’s intention of making her forget her anxiousness had been achieved.
He held her hand and walked toward the entrance, but a few steps before they reached the door, someone swung it open and stopped in astonishment upon seeing the two of them.
Qi Chengji stared at Song Yu in surprise. Then, he looked at Qi Chengzhi.
At that moment, Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu were standing very close together and their arms were interlocked. Song Yu, especially, was almost leaning against Qi Chengzhi, for she was still weak from his kisses.
Qi Chengji’s gaze then shifted over to their intertwined fingers.
Song Yu felt heat rise to her face. In the past, she and Qi Chengji had no feelings for each other. Their relationship was a platonic one – nothing else – there were no feelings of love between the two. Back then, they had even discussed how they would find a way to get out of the arranged marriage when they were adults.
In spite of that, he was still her ex-fiancé, and with that title hanging over his head, things were always going to be awkward between them.
However, Song Yu’s purpose on that day was to meet the elders. Song Yu did not simply bury her head in the sand by letting go of Qi Chengzhi’s hand.
She felt Qi Chengzhi hold her hand tighter, indicating that he was very satisfied with her actions.
Qi Chengji never expected Song Yu to be the girlfriend that Qi Chengzhi spoke of.
How had the two of them ended up together?
Qi Chengji understood Qi Chengzhi much more than other people because his elder brother had been his role model since they were children. He strove to be like Qi Chengzhi, so it was natural that he would understand his elder brother more than anyone else.
Qi Chengzhi was not the kind of person who would fall in love with someone at first sight. He must have had his eye set on her for a long time, pursuing her slowly and progressively until, finally, he had her all to himself, adamant to not let go.
In that respect, Qi Chengji was curious: How long ago did Qi Chengzhi begin eyeing Song Yu?
Looking at Song Yu’s appearance, Qi Chengji surmised that they had been kissing passionately just moments ago. Did Song Yu even know how red and swollen her lips were?
None of them said anything. Song Yu was quiet, filled with awkwardness, and Qi Chengzhi probably did not have anything to say. In the end, Qi Chengji coughed and said tensely, “Grandma was worried because you took a long time just to come in. She told me to come out and take a look.”
“Well, I think we shouldn’t let them wait too long.” Qi Chengzhi as he guided Song Yu in.
Once Qi Chengji got over the initial shock, he tried cracking a joke with a half-smile. “Awkward isn’t it? Now I’ll have to call my ex-fiancée my sister-in-law.”
Qi Chengzhi ignored his joke and asked, “Is everyone present?”
“Yes,” Qi Chengji affirmed but added after some thought. “And Yu Keyao is still there.”
Qi Chengzhi flashed a cold smile and was about to open the door. Qi Chengji then recalled Song Yu’s appearance and provided them with a kind reminder. “Don’t you want to wait a bit before going in? Song Yu, she looks…”
“You can go ahead and open the door,” Qi Chengzhi replied as if he was oblivious to what Qi Chengji was trying to hint at.
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