Chapter 9
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Sun Yutan’s heart was heavy with a sense of injustice, but she knew that there was no way for her to defend herself. His piercing gaze bore down on her as he asked in a cold, accusing tone, “Do you remember how many times we kissed?”
“Once.” In fact, when Chen Rui posed the querry, Sun Yutan already knew that he remembered everything. But she insisted on saying that there was only one time, so that he would think he had mistaken her for someone else as she didn’t want to admit it.
“You’re lying.”
“In my heart, there was only one time.”
“Then who was the second time with?”
“Whoever you say it was.”
“I can help you refreshed, to see if there really was only one time in your heart.” Chen Rui leaned in and captured her lips in a searing kiss.
Of course, she remembered.
The second time it happened was during junior year winter break. After entering college, they went their separate ways, one in the south and one in the north. As a result, their relationship became more distant, and they hardly kept in touch. It was only by sheer coincidence that they crossed paths again that winter, when Sun Yutan made a trip back to her hometown to celebrate the New Year, and he happened to be home as well.
Except for a brief glance when she entered, he never looked at her again. His cold demeanor was so palpable that it was as if he had completely forgotten that she was even there. Sun Yutan couldn’t help but wonder if he had truly forgotten about her, but she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Perhaps he was simply being more reserved now that he was in a relationship.
In fact, she herself was in a relationship with a senior who was one year older than her. He was a well-mannered guy who preferred calling to texting, and would often dial her number whenever he had something to share. Worried about being teased by her elders for talking on the phone, Sun Yutan would slip away to the balcony after dinner to have her conversations in private.
Little did she know, the elders were all very sharp. Zeng Xinyun quietly asked Su Nan, “Is Xiao Tan in a relationship?”
Su Nan replied, “Yes, they haven’t been together for long, but they talk on the phone every day. I don’t know where they find so much to talk about.”
Zeng Xinyun chuckled. “When young people are in love, just hearing each other’s voices is enough to make them happy.”
After finishing her call, the adults had dispersed into several tables, playing cards and chatting. Chen Ting stood by the stairs and waved at her.
She ran over, and Chen Ting said, “Xiao Tan, could you go upstairs and tell Chen Rui that I need to speak with him about something?”
“Oh.” Sun Yutan walked upstairs, and Chen Ting reminded her, “He’s been drinking, he might be sleeping. If he doesn’t answer, just go in.”
Sun Yutan walked to the door and knocked a few times, but there was no response. She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. As she stepped inside, the heavy curtains were drawn tightly shut, casting the room in a dim and eerie light. Squinting through the darkness, she could barely make out a figure lying on the bed.
“Chen Rui?” she called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was no response.
She raised her voice and called a few more times, but there was still no response.
She decided to go over and give him a push.
But as she bent down, a hand grabbed her, and Chen Rui pressed himself up against her. In an instant, his lips were on hers, and she felt his hold on her chin keeping her in place. In the darkness, they tangled together, lost in their passion, until Sun Yutan finally reached for the bedside lamp, illuminating the room.
Chen Rui stopped abruptly, seemingly realizing it was her. He looked annoyed as he released her and stepped back, muttering a flat apology. Sun Yutan was angry at his insincerity and retorted, “It doesn’t matter,” before leaning in to kiss him again.
Chen Rui, feeling guilty, didn’t resist much and even reciprocated. Sun Yutan couldn’t tell if it was just an illusion, but it felt as though Chen Rui was enjoying her aggressiveness. The back and forth between them was a far cry from what she originally intended. Sun Yutan felt uneasy and decided to break away from the enchanting atmosphere.
Chen Rui lay on the bed, his eyes and mouth glistening in the dim light. He stared at her intensely, his gaze unwavering. Sun Yutan’s heart skipped a beat as she mustered the courage to ask, “Chen Rui, do you like me?”
Chen Rui didn’t say anything, and Sun Yutan asked again, “Do you?”
Chen Rui closed his eyes and said, “What does it matter if I like you or not?”
Sun Yutan replied, “It doesn’t matter either way.”
Chen Rui asked, “Don’t you like me? Didn’t you even write me a love letter? You said that whenever you see me, you’d feel happy all day long.”
Sun Yutan was stunned. She frowned and thought for a moment. “How do you know? You didn’t keep it, did you?”
“You’re overthinking. I just have a good memory.”
“So you do read love letters. I thought you just throw them away.”
Chen Rui fell silent again. He felt like he had reached his limit and maybe the earlier kiss had opened some kind of gate. He played with her fingers, not wanting to let go. He said, “Will you go abroad with me?”
Sun Yutan replied, “I don’t want to go abroad.”
Chen Rui asked, “Do you like me then?”
Sun Yutan couldn’t possibly admit. “I don’t like you.”
Chen Rui simply said, “Oh.”
He released her hand. In fact, Sun Yutan felt a sweet sensation bubble up inside her, and even began to waver, but she was not reassured. Something about his behavior felt off – almost abnormal. Did he mistake her for someone else? Leaning closer to him, she searched his face intently. “Chen Rui, do you know who I am?”
Chen Rui’s mouth clamped shut, and he seemed almost drunk in his movements. Sun Yutan’s heart raced with anxiety as she asked again, her voice trembling slightly, “Do you know who I am?”
“Yes,” Chen Rui said, “Xiang Jiayu, can you stop bothering me?”
Like being poured with ice water from head to toe, Sun Yutan didn’t know where to place her hands for a moment. She left the room and only remembered why she came up when she reached the stairs. But she didn’t want to turn around and talk to him anymore.
Fortunately, Chen Ting didn’t ask much. She saw Sun Yutan coming down alone and only murmured, “What a brat.”
Several years had passed, and Chen Rui’s kisses had become even more aggressive. With every exchange, Sun Yutan found herself gasping for air, struggling to keep up with the passion of his embrace.
Chen Rui was equally consumed by the heat of the moment, and as they continued to kiss, it became harder and harder to catch their breath. At last, he pulled away from her lips and buried his face in the curve of her neck, seeking solace in her embrace.
Sun Yutan ran her fingers through his tousled hair, her heart racing with a restless energy that she couldn’t quite contain. The room was too bright, too stark in its illumination, and she felt a sudden urge to hide from the intensity of their intimacy.
But even as she longed to escape into the shadows, she couldn’t help but revel in the sounds of their shared pleasure.
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