Chapter 50

Under the fireworks, Wen Ci gently brushed her lips against Zhou Wu’s.

The group of college students nearby started whistling again. Zhou Wu didn’t respond, instead, he pressed his nose against hers and asked, “Shall we go back?”

Wen Ci gazed at his eyelashes, long and casting a shadow over his cheek, and the shadow of desire flickered faintly.

She replied, “The fireworks haven’t finished yet.”

Zhou Wu just murmured in response, but before he could say more, he heard her speak again, her voice secretive and hoarse, “…but I want to leave.”

The car was speeding dangerously, and Wen Ci lowered her head to send a message to Dou Yiqing. Although it was just a brief touch of lips and nothing else had happened, her fingers were already trembling slightly.

Arriving at the garage, going upstairs, stepping out of the elevator, and as the doors just closed, her phone rang—probably a reply from Dou Yiqing.

Just as Wen Ci’s hand was about to touch the edge of her jeans pocket, her chin was suddenly lifted and her head tilted back as Zhou Wu’s kiss overwhelmed her.

The heat of his breath, their lips and tongues entangled, Wen Ci was pressed against the wall outside the door, her head tilted back, exchanging heartbeats and saliva, her lips opening and closing irregularly. Her breathing, hot and entangled, made a muddy, ambiguous sound as they kissed. Wen Ci’s head tilted back again and again, rubbing against Zhou Wu’s palm that was pressing against the wall behind her, swallowing his breath and taste.

There were sounds from inside the door. It was Ye Ye, who had heard the noise and was responding. But no one paid any attention to it. Wen Ci was released, Zhou Wu raised his hand casually to wipe the water from the corner of her lips, then cupped her bottom and lifted her up onto his waist. He opened the door and moved the dog blocking the entrance with his leg.

Wen Ci’s breath was heavy, her soft body pressed against him through the clothes, rising and falling constantly, as if the kiss had left her a little breathless. Zhou Wu was about to ask, but before he could, his cheek was cupped by slender fingers, lifted up, and Wen Ci, with her hurried, still-unsettled breathing, bent down to continue kissing him.

They kissed for a long time, as if breathing was unnecessary and they could live off just kissing. For a moment, Wen Ci couldn’t tell if she was out of breath or if she had been kissed to the peak of pleasure. When released, Wen Ci was lying flat on the couch. She was too thin, and the couch was big, easily accommodating her. She breathed deeply, feeling Zhou Wu unbuttoning her jeans, thinking he was going to take a shower.

The pants were tossed onto the carpet, her legs exposed to the cool air. Wen Ci’s hand weakly rested on the back of the sofa chair. She was about to say that she could walk to the bathroom herself, but her left leg was lifted, and the next moment, Wen Ci shuddered violently, her waist lifted high, and her calf almost cramped.

Zhou Wu laughed, glancing at her with half-closed eyes, his hot breath landing on her most sensitive skin, his voice hoarse, “Just from a kiss and you’re like this?”

Wen Ci was almost going crazy, feeling a terrifying pleasure yet so ashamed she wanted to cry. Her knee helplessly rested on Zhou Wu’s shoulder, unable to speak. Before she could recover, he kissed her again. Desperately, she grabbed Zhou Wu’s hair, pleading, “Zhou Wu, don’t do this, please… it’s so dirty, please, I haven’t showered yet…”

Although it was a request, her voice exposed how she felt, sounding like she was enjoying it and almost coquettish.

If it were before, Zhou Wu would never have imagined he’d be serving someone this way. But when they were in Bincheng, he unconsciously did it for her without feeling anything wrong. He liked making her feel good and loved hearing her voice.

Wen Ci’s face was wet from tears, and it took a while before she came to her senses. She looked up and saw that Zhou Wu’s face was also wet. She really wanted to cry. She propped herself up, trembling fingers trying to wipe his face, feeling deeply guilty, “Sorry, I just said I—” She couldn’t finish her sentence, then said again, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Zhou Wu kindly forgave her, pushing her damp hair back and kissing her forehead. He softly suggested, “Hold your legs yourself, Teacher Wen.”

Wen Ci was a soft-hearted person, and maybe because of the guilt she felt toward Zhou Wu, she was willing to do almost anything. Later, in the bathroom, her legs were too weak to stand, and she had to be supported by Zhou Wu, almost floating in the air.

—-

In the end, Zhou Wu even helped her put on her clothes. Under the gray T-shirt, her fair, long legs were limp on the sheets, marked with kiss marks.

Wen Ci didn’t know how long it had been. Her head was numb, her tongue was numb, and other places felt sore and soft. She lay tiredly on the bed, thinking back on what just happened, feeling an absurd sense of having survived.

Zhou Wu leaned against the headboard, his fingers occasionally rubbing her soft, long hair. He enjoyed doing this, and Wen Ci liked it too.

Zhou Wu picked up a cigarette pack and then put it down.

“Don’t smoke?” Wen Ci asked weakly.

“Mm,” Zhou Wu, lost in contentment, said lazily, “Later, I still have to kiss you.”

“…”

Wen Ci couldn’t help but swallow again.

Outside, it had started to drizzle, and the raindrops hitting the window made a continuous, gentle sound.

Wen Ci felt drowsy, not fully asleep, and the sensation was strange.

Her phone, placed on the bedside table, rang once. Zhou Wu looked down and saw the calendar reminder: [6 days left until agreeing to Zhou Wu.]

“Teacher Wen,” Zhou Wu’s fingers moved down her hair, rubbing her ear seductively, “A countdown?”

Wen Ci paused for a moment before responding vaguely, “Because I want to get to know you a little more.”

Zhou Wu asked, “Then why did you agree now?”

Wen Ci closed her eyes, quietly admitting, “…I’m weak-willed.”

Zhou Wu laughed, his shoulders shaking as he hugged her. They were closely pressed together, Wen Ci’s cheek lazily resting on his shoulder. He held her tightly through the T-shirt, giving her a pure embrace.

“27 years old, currently unemployed, resting these days, occasionally submitting some projects. The recent business trips were to listen to project reports. I don’t remember the exact assets, but I’ll organize and give them to you in a few days.” Zhou Wu spoke slowly and steadily, “No bad habits, if you don’t like it, I can quit smoking and drinking.”

Wen Ci was stunned for a moment, then realized Zhou Wu was reporting his own situation to her.

“As for my family… my mom passed away ten years ago, the other one—you can consider him dead, he won’t meet you. The closest relatives are my grandfather and grandmother, both of whom are in Xiangxiang for retirement. My family environment isn’t great, so don’t mind it.”

Wen Ci sat up suddenly, staring at him blankly.

The last time they were by the sea, Zhou Wu mentioned that his mother loved tango, and she had thought…

Realizing she may have accidentally touched on a painful subject, and not knowing how to comfort him, Wen Ci could only say, “Sorry, I didn’t know before.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Actually, I was quite grateful at the time. It’s been a long time since anyone mentioned her to me,” Zhou Wu said, his brows half-closed, his expression calm.

But Wen Ci still sensed a hint of disappointment, so she lowered her head and, without any romantic intent, kissed him gently to comfort him.

Not long after, the door was suddenly banged on twice, and Ye Ye was calling from outside.

“What’s wrong with it?” Wen Ci asked, a little worried. “It seems like it’s been calling for a while.”

“I don’t know. It never used to be this noisy at night,” Zhou Wu said lazily. “Maybe it heard a sound and thinks it needs to come in to rescue you.”

“…”

“But before—” Wen Ci denied it, her ears turning red. “Could it be hungry?”

“No, Qin Yun has been coming over every day to feed it…” Zhou Wu paused, remembering meeting Qin Yun in the parking lot earlier today, and then going to the amusement park together. Qin Yun hadn’t even gone into the house. “Oh no.”

—-

The dog was let into the room.

Legs weak, unable to stand, Wen Ci lay on the bed, stretching half her body out and holding duck-flavored fries in one hand to feed the dog.

Ye Ye was eating happily, chewing and looking back at Zhou Wu with a glare.

Zhou Wu leaned against the wall. “Alright, I’ve already given you snacks, no need to keep giving me that look.”

It was already so fat that the vet suggested it lose weight, so what’s the harm in missing one meal?

Ye Ye immediately looked pitifully at Wen Ci. She couldn’t help but reach out to pat its head. “Don’t be so fierce. It was our fault for forgetting.”

Ye Ye agreed, “Woof!”

Zhou Wu laughed angrily. “You really found your ally, huh?”

After eating and drinking, Ye Ye immediately lay down on the floor, refusing to move no matter how much Zhou Wu called, staying there with the help of Wen Ci.

Wen Ci rested her chin on her hand, her other hand dangling by the bed, absentmindedly stroking Ye Ye’s fur while casually saying, “The little dog I brought home before was also white.”

Zhou Wu raised his chin and said to the dog, “Did you hear that? You’re a substitute.”

“…”

Wen Ci stared at him in shock. “No, that dog was very small, just the size of Ye Ye’s head.”

Zhou Wu said, “Did you hear that? He said you’re fat. Time to lose weight.”

“…” Wen Ci covered Ye Ye’s ears and lightly kicked Zhou Wu with her foot. “Stop saying nonsense.”

Zhou Wu laughed.

He lay next to Wen Ci, staying with her in this childish way, watching as she stroked the dog over and over again.

There was an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

After a while, Zhou Wu suddenly spoke up. “If we had known each other better back then…”

Wen Ci turned her head to look at him, her hair swaying, a scent reaching her. “What?”

“I would have helped you hide it,” Zhou Wu said. “That dog.”

Wen Ci froze for a long time before realizing what he meant. “…It’s fine. It’s doing well in its new home.”

She looked at him, silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but say, “And you did help me.”

In that stairwell, you gave me a cigarette-scented, careful, and gentle comfort.

Her voice was too soft, and Zhou Wu didn’t hear it clearly. He leaned closer. “What?”

Wen Ci smiled and shook her head, lifted her chin, and gently kissed the side of his face.