CHAPTER 94

So this is what kissing feels like?

The two separated slightly.

Xiaoyuan was breathing lightly, her hand still resting on Wei Zhuang's shoulder, still held in her embrace. Her breathing was still rapid as she stared at Wei Zhuang in a daze.

Wei Zhuang gazed at her, a flicker of indescribable light in her eyes.

Their eyes met for several seconds before Xiaoyuan shyly looked away, her heart still pounding.

She had a feeling she had never experienced before, yet it was also a sudden realization, along with a secret shyness of 'Wow, so this is what it feels like to be kissed by her.'

She wanted to say something, but no words came out. The scene was too delicate and too heart-fluttering.

Her long lashes fluttered up quickly, glancing at Wei Zhuang before lowering again. Unconsciously, she bit her lip, and the next second, her chin was gently held by Wei Zhuang.

They locked eyes again, the air thick with an ambiguous silence, something brewing within it.

Wei Zhuang's originally pale lips had gained a lot of color, contrasting with her cold, white skin, creating a breathtaking allure. Her slightly warm thumb gently brushed over Xiaoyuan's lips.

It was unclear who leaned in first, but they kissed again.

Drizzles of rain pattered against the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window, the light casting a hazy, swaying shadow.

The phone had long since fallen onto the wooden floor.

The cream-colored sweater lay on the carpet, the black satin bow undone, and the mint green camisole hung loosely on her slender arms, revealing a stretch of smooth, pale skin with its alluring curves.

Xiaoyuan felt as though the raindrops on the window had seeped into her body, turning into tiny flames that burned gently in her bloodstream.

The woman's hand slipped beneath her tank top, the hem of her green chiffon skirt clinging to her black suit pants.

Her arm wrapped around the woman's neck, realizing that a kiss was the key to unlocking all int!macy. Once initiated, it was hard to stop—at least she couldn't. Yet, Wei Zhuang's kiss, her caresses, and her low, husky breaths proved that she was equally immersed.

Xiaoyuan's consciousness sank into a soft, hazy chaos, more intense than ever before. Her legs grew weaker, and even while being held, she could no longer stand.

"Fra..." she murmured, trying to call her name, only to realize, as she regained a bit of clarity, that they were already on the nearby sofa.

The woman's soft body covered hers, making her unable to think. She whispered close to her ear, "Do you have work tomorrow?"

"No..."

The sound of rain.

Outside, the rain pattered like a symphony, a delicate orchestral piece.

Her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, only catching glimpses of the faint reflections of light on her damp eyelashes. Everything else seemed dark, the misty rain clinging to her eyes...

Like being in the seawater in the darkness, she drowned in the circling waves.

......

"Phew~" Xiaoyuan emerged from the bathtub, taking a deep breath before sitting up.

She bit her lip, her eyes filled with a shy yet sweet smile.

'Ah, how could this happen?'

'Right there on the sofa...'

Ah, why was she so defenseless this time? It was much worse than last time. At least then, she had managed to loosen her belt and catch a glimpse of her...

And Wei Zhuang was different tonight too. She could feel herself getting closer to her, moments where she softened and revealed her true emotions.

Though Xiaoyuan hadn't been in many relationships, she wasn't an inexperienced teenager. There was a pure attraction between her and Wei Zhuang—otherwise, they wouldn't have signed the contract in the first place, despite neither having any same-se.x experience, and then renewed it.

She had once calmly thought that this purely hormonal attraction might fade over time, but now she knew she had fallen for her—and she had fallen first. That much was clear.

She couldn't be sure of Wei Zhuang's feelings, always feeling that her inner world was unknown, mysterious, and unfamiliar.

But tonight, it seemed as if a door had appeared in Wei Zhuang's world—a door that had opened because of her.

Xiaoyuan hugged her knees, feeling a strong surge of emotion hit her, her eyes slightly moist.

Ah, she finally understood what it felt like to like someone.

She should be able to act in a romance drama now.

After showering, she glanced at herself in the mirror. There were a few faint red marks on her chest. Blushing, she recalled, 'Ah, no wonder Wei Zhuang asked if I had work tomorrow.'

Changing into her pajamas, she stepped out into the quiet room. Wei Zhuang must still be showering in the other bathroom.

She wandered around the suite, found something to drink, and eventually made her way back to the living room, where something on the table caught her eye.

'A script?'

'Why would there be a script here?'

Curious, she sat down and began flipping through it.

Wei Zhuang emerged from her shower and stood in the living room, watching her for a while.

Xiaoyuan was completely absorbed in the script, reading intently, her slender fingers unconsciously resting on her lips as she bit them lightly.

Wei Zhuang lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Just as she was about to turn away, a voice reached her ears, "You're done?"

She turned her head slightly. Xiaoyuan looked up at her and smiled, then glanced back at the script in her hands, her expression lingering with a hint of reluctance. Still, she set it down, stood up, and walked over to Wei Zhuang. In the blink of an eye, she had already taken hold of Wei Zhuang's arm, her delicate face nestling against the crook of her arm. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Her gaze was pure and sweet, and even the faint mole on the tip of her nose seemed alluring.

The corners of Wei Zhuang's lips slightly turned up, restraining herself. She said, "I'm not used to sharing a bed with someone."

Xiaoyuan let out a soft "Ah," her face filled with disappointment.

Wei Zhuang took a couple of steps, then paused and looked back at her. After a moment, she turned around and gently ruffled Xiaoyuan's hair.

Xiaoyuan pouted. Wei Zhuang had touched her head tonight—a gesture of comfort.

In the past, she would have obediently listened and found another room to sleep in. But tonight, she felt unsatisfied. After hesitating for a while, she eventually walked over to Wei Zhuang's bedroom door.

For some reason, she felt nervous. She took a few deep breaths and tried pushing the door.

It wasn't locked.

Her heart leapt with joy.

She pushed it open and stepped inside, calling out softly, "Frances..."

Wei Zhuang leaned against the headboard, the quilt draped around her waist, outlining a clear and beautiful curve. The bedside lamp was on, and as she heard the sound, she quietly turned her gaze toward Xiaoyuan. The faint glimmer in her eyes was indescribable. Xiaoyuan stopped in her tracks, not daring to move forward without clear permission.

"I'm not used to sharing a bed with someone either..."

"But this place feels so unfamiliar. I'm scared..."

But before she could finish her sentence, her originally high spirits suddenly deflated, her lips drooped, and her eyelashes lowered, a bit of light falling on them, echoing the faint, scattered sound of rain, creating an almost tangible sense of rhythm in the air.

Xiaoyuan was about to give up when she heard Wei Zhuang say, "Come here."

She blinked, looking at her in disbelief for a moment.

Wei Zhuang's voice carried a restrained emotion, low and seemingly tinged with a hint of gentleness. "I've changed my mind."

Xiaoyuan smiled at her and quickened her steps. Wei Zhuang had already made room for her, and she climbed onto the bed.

"Can I turn off the light?" Wei Zhuang asked her.

"...Mm." Xiaoyuan lay down, and the room darkened. The next moment, the bed dipped slightly as Wei Zhuang lay down beside her.

Though they had shared int!mate moments before, they had never slept together, never spent a night curled up beside each other.

This was something entirely new for both of them.

The 2-meter-wide bed felt like an endless expanse between them. Perhaps if she stretched out her hand, she could touch Wei Zhuang. Thinking of this, Xiaoyuan's heart began to beat erratically.

After a while, the room remained silent. Had Wei Zhuang fallen asleep?

Xiaoyuan quietly scooted closer, nestled against her, turned sideways, and gazed at Wei Zhuang's silhouette, looking at her in the very dim light and shadow, her gaze falling on her lips.

Her heart beat even faster, recalling the electrifying, trembling sensation of their kiss. When Wei Zhuang had kissed her, it had been soft, gentle, yet so...

She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but it definitely made her heart flutter.

At this thought, Xiaoyuan sat up slightly and leaned in, brushing her lips softly against Wei Zhuang's before lying back down, resting her head against Wei Zhuang's shoulder, trying to steady her breathing.

But being this close, Wei Zhuang's warmth and scent enveloped her, easily bringing back the vivid memories of their earlier int!mate moment on the sofa, causing her face to heat up again.

Here she was, lost in her thoughts, her emotions running wild, while the woman beside her lay with her eyes closed, perhaps already dreaming of the land of Java.

Xiaoyuan pouted, feeling a bit resentful. Maybe it was Wei Zhuang's repeated tacit consent tonight that had emboldened her. She reached out, gently playing with Wei Zhuang's hair that spilled over the pillow. The curve of her jawline was so beautiful that Xiaoyuan's fingers traced it lightly...

Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes shining as her fingers unconsciously found Wei Zhuang's lips again.

Her hand paused, and in that moment, Wei Zhuang's hand grasped hers firmly.

Xiaoyuan jolted, panic surging through her. She didn't even dare to look at Wei Zhuang, instinctively closing her eyes and surrendering. "...I-I'm going to sleep. I'm sorry, I was wrong."

She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling Wei Zhuang's breath brush against her face. She tried to pull her hand back, but Wei Zhuang didn't let go, instead saying softly, "Don't move."

Xiaoyuan froze, biting her lip and whimpering softly, "...I was wrong."

She kept her eyes closed, so she didn't see the woman above her gazing at her intently, a faint flicker of amusement in her eyes—a fleeting moment that even Wei Zhuang herself seemed surprised by.

Xiaoyuan opened her watery eyes, meeting Wei Zhuang's gaze directly.

Perhaps they could share another kiss.

That was what Xiaoyuan thought, and Wei Zhuang's eyes seemed to echo the same impulse.

Wei Zhuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and just as Xiaoyuan thought she was about to lean in for a kiss, Wei Zhuang's lips parted, but instead of a kiss, she asked, "Did you like the script you were reading earlier?"

Xiaoyuan blinked, her face full of disbelief. It took her several seconds to realize what she meant, and then several more seconds to answer, "...Huh?"

She had found it quite exciting while reading, but now when she answered, she lacked some enthusiasm. "It was... good."

Wei Zhuang didn't say anything more, just smoothed her hair as before and said, "Sleep."

Xiaoyuan: "..."

'What was this?'

'How unromantic!'

This woman! She left things hanging, and there wasn't even a goodnight kiss! Worse, she shifted slightly, as if she didn't want Xiaoyuan to lean on her.

Xiaoyuan glared at her, frustration bubbling up. She really wanted to pounce on her, demand a kiss, and then force her to confess what she was really thinking and why she was unhappy tonight.

The impulse surged infinitely at this moment, but another deeper calmness rose up to suppress it.

No, Wei Zhuang seemed to have built up an inner fortress over the years, which no one had broken through yet, and she had only shown herself a door.

If she pushed too forcefully, she might even tear down this door, leaving behind an impenetrable wall.

'Don't rush, don't rush.'

'Don't be greedy, don't be greedy.'

Xiaoyuan silently repeated these words in her heart and closed her eyes.

Wei Zhuang was beside her, so she didn't need to be afraid of the demons and ghosts in her memories. Xiaoyuan resisted the urge to snuggle into her arms and gradually cleared away the excess emotions.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but in the silence, she could feel the air filled with their shared breaths.

Shared.

They were together in the same space.

Her hand was close to hers.

Never had she been in such close proximity with someone for so long.

A gentle flutter softened her nerves, turning into inertia. Xiaoyuan's thoughts slowed down, and then she fell asleep.

When she woke up, she could still hear the pitter-patter of rain outside. Shencheng was a rainy city, so she wasn't surprised. What didn't surprise her either was that there was no one beside her.

Only she was in the quilt.

Her hand reached over and gently touched the quilt beside her.

After lying down for a while, she sat up and stretched. She got out of bed and ran outside to find her phone to check the time.

There was an unread message in her WeChat:

[I have to go on a business trip. The driver will take you back.]

Xiaoyuan let out an "ah" sound and squatted down. After a long while, she stood up, wiped her eyes, and exhaled.

She should go back too! She had rested enough, it was time to work!

The sunlight was thin, and the sky was drizzling with cotton-like rain. Fortunately, the visibility was still good, and it didn't affect the flight.

Wei Zhuang sat by the window, her pale hand holding her phone. There was no reply in WeChat. She lowered her eyes and opened the photo album.

When she had gotten up early in the morning, the curtains had been slightly opened, and a bit of light had shone on Xiaoyuan who was sleeping soundly on the bed. Her face was like a lily of the valley in the morning mist, nestled against the quilt, the corners of her lips curled in a sweet arc. Her black hair formed a natural shadow, like a quiet and tender oil painting.

At that moment, she heard something pounding loudly.

So, she took a photo.

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