Chapter 57: I Kissed You
Within the small space, the massive floor-to-ceiling window of the bedroom reflected the afterglow of the setting sun.
Ruan Zhimian’s shoulders and back rested against the edge of the mattress. The pink-and-white rabbit keychain slipped from his hand and fell onto the floor, but he didn’t pick it up. Only Shi He remained in his line of sight.
Ruan Zhimian tilted his chin up slightly, his voice soft and pleasant as his snowy-white fingers curled up. “You… just kiss if you want to…”
“It’s not like I’m stopping you.”
“We’re in a relationship, after all.”
For some reason, his glass still felt dizzy, and the closer he got to Shi He, the dizzier he felt.
It was likely his old ailments acting up, and because of the dizziness, his voice trailed upward at the end, sounding even more like he was acting spoiled.
A large hand suddenly clamped around his waist while the Alpha lifted his right knee, pulling him flush against his body into a tight embrace. Shi He slowly lowered his head, pressing his mouth against those soft lips.
At first, the kiss was gentle, but gradually, the underlying wildness could no longer be hidden.
Ruan Zhimian’s fingers pressed against Shi He’s shoulders, his eyes damp. He couldn’t help but try to push Shi He away, but it yielded the exact opposite result—the grip on him tightened further.
It wasn’t until ten minutes later that Shi He finally let him go.
Ruan Zhimian’s curled eyelashes fluttered, his eyes rimmed with red. Feeling utterly aggrieved from being bullied, he lowered his small head, burying it against Shi He’s shoulder as both his arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
“I… I’m not packing anymore. You do it.”
“Alright.”
“What are we eating today?”
“I want to eat beef noodles.”
Shi He answered again, “Alright, I’ll make it.”
Their brief first day of living together began.
Ruan Zhimian sat on a chair in the dining room. Propping up his arms, he watched the broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted Alpha extend his long, pale fingers to unhurriedly tie a greyish-blue apron. Picking up a knife, Shi He cut and prepared the ingredients with precise and practiced movements.
He actually looked quite handsome doing it.
A delicious aroma gradually wafted out from the kitchen. Ruan Zhimian watched for a long while before lowering his head, refusing to be outdone. He began searching for recipes on his phone, determined to make something tasty for Shi He too.
At ten in the evening, the night grew deep.
Ruan Zhimian curled up in the Alpha’s arms, wearing a black boyfriend-style shirt that was two sizes too big. His arms wrapped tightly around the other man, his soft cheek pressed against his chest, looking incredibly clingy.
In the darkness, Shi He slowly opened his eyes. He got up with exceptionally light movements.
“Baby, I’m going out to get a glass of water. I’ll be right back.”
Shi He pulled the bedroom door shut behind him, walked into the study to inject a dose of suppressant, and picked up his phone.
Shi He would investigate any abnormality thoroughly, including the issue with his susceptibility period this time.
He dialed a number back. “Assistant Chu, is it confirmed that there’s a problem?”
“Yes. The police found contraband at the Han residence, which might be related to your state over the past few days. We suspect that Han He’an premeditatedly targeted Young Master Ruan…”
Shi He’s voice was flat, his phoenix eyes a pair of bottomless pools. “Keep investigating. Don’t give Han He’an any chance to get out. Also, look into how the Han family arranged for Han He’an to deliberately approach Mianmian back then.”
“I want to ensure the Han family can never rise again.”
The call disconnected. Shi He tossed away the hemostatic cotton ball, pulled down his sleeve, and walked out of the study.
The lights in the living room were on. Ruan Zhimian, who had been sleeping just moments ago, was rubbing his eyes and standing dazed against the wall, looking all over for him.
Shi He walked up from behind him. “Mianmian, what’s wrong?”
Ruan Zhimian turned around, wrapping both his arms tightly around Shi He, his voice low. “You hadn’t come back for so long. I thought you were feeling unwell somewhere.”
“I just went to the study to reply to some work messages.”
Shi He held him, kissing his brow before walking slowly back with him. “It’s fine now. Let’s go back to sleep.”
Did Ruan Zhimian love him even just a little bit now?
Shi He placed Ruan Zhimian onto the bed, draping the pink rabbit blanket over him.
Lying down together, Shi He repeated, “I’m perfectly fine.”
If this was love, he could feel it. Even if it was faint, even if it could vanish at any moment, Shi He still wanted it.
…
At eight-thirty the next morning, Shi He and Ruan Zhimian appeared at the campus gates of Huajiang University. As their car drove into the parking lot, Ruan Zhimian rolled down the window and waved at Teng Yu, who was driving an incredibly flashy and cool red sports car.
Today, they were wearing matching couple outfits.
One black, one white—same brand, different colors.
Ruan Zhimian opened the car door. “A-Yu.”
“Mianmian, where on earth have you been these past few days?”
Teng Yu had been worried sick. “I asked Ruan Xubai, and he said you were with Shi He. I thought to myself, how could that be possible…”
The car door opened, and the black-clad, dark-eyed Alpha stepped out. Dangling his car keys, he stopped beside Ruan Zhimian and wrapped an arm around his waist, the distinct shift in the atmosphere between the two obvious at a single glance.
Teng Yu instantly changed his tune, saying with a bright grin, “I was about to say, how could you possibly not tell me! This is truly wonderful news worth celebrating.”
Ruan Zhimian blinked his soft, warm eyes. “How did you know we’re together?”
He pulled a bag of soft candies from his pocket and handed it to Teng Yu, saying softly, “Wedding candies.”
Handing out wedding candies just for starting a relationship.
Nothing wrong with that.
Holding the candies, Teng Yu felt like the Alpha was glaring at him again.
How on earth did Mianmian provoke this guy? It’s just a bag of candy.
“Mianmian, are you here for class?”
Ruan Zhimian shook his head. “I came to pick up some things.”
He didn’t come to school much anyway, and spending these next few days sitting through lectures would feel like a waste; he would rather spend his time properly with Shi He.
Teng Yu still had to get to class, so he took off at lightning speed.
Looking back, he saw Shi He grab Ruan Zhimian’s hand. Lowering his icy dark eyes, he actually embraced Ruan Zhimian’s shoulders from behind, interlocking their fingers.
He actually sounded somewhat pitiful. “Baby, the candy you bought for me.”
“When we go back later, I’ll buy you a whole box.”
“No, just give me a kiss instead.”
Huajiang University was planted with many four-season osmanthus trees.
It was currently blooming season, and after last night’s rain, the entire campus was saturated with a faint, enchanting fragrance.
Under an osmanthus tree, Ruan Zhimian stood by the trunk. He tilted his eyes up slightly, his thick, curled eyelashes catching tiny golden petals, looking as beautiful as an illusory dream.
Stepping up on his tiptoes, he gently pressed a kiss onto the Alpha’s cheek, his voice equally soft.
“I kissed you.”
Ruan Zhimian and Shi He went back to the dormitory to pack up his things. The hidden dresses and various other items were all placed into his suitcase. They also needed to go to the Academic Affairs Office to request leave.
It didn’t matter for him, but it wouldn’t be good if it impacted Shi He.
Ruan Zhimian pulled out his medical certificate. “Teacher, I’m requesting a week of leave.”
The teacher looked at Ruan Zhimian, let out a sigh, and took him over to sign the papers.
Lately, the news of Ruan Zhimian calling off his engagement with Han He’an and Han He’an entering the detention center had caused a massive uproar; you could hear people gossiping about it wherever you went.
It was just as well for him not to stay at school.
The teachers were well aware of Shi He’s condition, making his leave even easier to obtain.
Shi He stepped out first, waiting for Ruan Zhimian in the hallway. Across a pane of glass, he watched Ruan Zhimian sit at the desk, obediently lowering his head to sign his name while waiting for the teacher’s review.
An Omega suddenly came running down the hallway and nearly crashed into him. Shi He stepped aside, causing the other party to fall onto the floor clutching a stack of documents. Looking up at Shi He with a piteous expression, they said, “I almost ran into you.”
“My name is Su Ning.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
Ruan Zhimian happened to hear this just as he walked out to the doorway.
Su Ning… what a familiar name.
Su Ning was… the manga’s protagonist whom Shi He was supposed to end up with ten years later.
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