While showering, Jiang Yuekai's mind was still replaying the scene, intermingling with the "educational films" she had watched before. She couldn't help but wonder if Lin Jingchu would be even more terrifying if that day truly came.
After showering, Jiang Yuekai received a WeChat message from Zhou Nian, asking what had happened that evening.
Jiang Yuekai didn't hide anything and told Zhou Nian about kissing Lin Jingchu earlier.
Zhou Nian was incredibly excited upon hearing this. "How do you feel? Senior Lin is so outwardly reserved, he must have rehearsed it in his mind countless times!"
Jiang Yuekai wasn't coy. She replied, "I can't stand still anymore."
Zhou Nian: "Hehehe, that means you two are quite compatible in that regard. When he kissed you, did you feel anything else?"
Zhou Nian didn't specify where else, but Jiang Yuekai, quick-witted, immediately understood. She recalled the moment, and her face began to burn again.
Before she could reply to Zhou Nian, there was a knock on the door, followed by Lin Jingchu's voice, "Come eat."
Hearing Lin Jingchu's voice now gave Jiang Yuekai a strange sense of pressure. She quickly said "Oh," picked up her phone, and opened the door.
Lin Jingchu saw Jiang Yuekai wearing pajamas, his gaze lingering on her chest for a few seconds before moving away. Jiang Yuekai, on the other hand, felt uneasy under his gaze. She was wearing a bra, yet Lin Jingchu made it seem as if she was wearing nothing at all.
Natie, unaware of what had transpired between them, hadn't seen Jiang Yuekai for days. Upon seeing her, she rushed forward for a hug. Jiang Yuekai simply held Natie and went to the dining room.
The takeout Lin Jingchu had ordered, pan-fried buns and eight-treasure porridge, was already on the table. However, Natie clung to Jiang Yuekai, refusing to come down, which prevented Jiang Yuekai from eating.
Lin Jingchu asked a few times without success, then became serious. "Natie, get down now."
His tone had changed. Natie, being intelligent, was obedient this time and got down.
Lin Jingchu handed the chopsticks to Jiang Yuekai, signaling her to eat, and then sat down opposite her.
After what had happened, Jiang Yuekai, despite her thick skin, didn't know how to face Lin Jingchu and could only bury her head in her porridge.
Then, she heard Lin Jingchu opposite her ask, "Have you made it clear?" He was asking about her and the "messy" man from outside.
Actually, the man at the bar was someone Zhou Nian had found to act for her. He was Zhou Nian's childhood friend, a sports student, a bit rough around the edges, but a good person, and he hadn't actually done anything to her.
Jiang Yuekai wasn't familiar with him, so there was no question of "cutting ties." However, she didn't want to explain all this to Lin Jingchu, so she just said, "Oh."
This one-word answer was somewhat perfunctory. Lin Jingchu frowned, showing his displeasure. "Don't be perfunctory with me."
Jiang Yuekai: "..."
"What I said to you earlier, consider it." As he said this, Lin Jingchu's expression became a little unnatural, as if he were embarrassed.
"Which statement? Do you like me?" Jiang Yuekai knew exactly what he meant but didn't play along. "Mm, I know. Many people like me." The implication was that she didn't consider him special.
Lin Jingchu emphasized to her, "I'm different from them."
"How are you different? Because you kissed me forcefully?" Jiang Yuekai retorted.
Lin Jingchu paused for a second. "Are you angry? You can hit me, but I don't regret it."
Normally, if she had a little temper, Lin Jingchu would immediately try to appease her. But today, he was being firm. Seeing her anger, he didn't even say "I'm sorry."
Jiang Yuekai smiled. "Aren't you afraid I'll never talk to you again?"
"Even if that happens, I won't stand by and watch you get involved with those kinds of hooligans," Lin Jingchu said with a strong attitude.
Jiang Yuekai's kiss was light. "Oh, anything else?"
"Are you willing to be my girlfriend?" Lin Jingchu asked. "You know what kind of person I am."
He had finally gathered the courage to say the words.
"I used to know, but after tonight, I'm not so sure anymore." Jiang Yuekai teased, half-seriously, half-jokingly.
Lin Jingchu immediately understood Jiang Yuekai's meaning. She was startled by his previous actions and was about to promise it wouldn't happen again when he heard her say, "You actually look quite handsome when you're angry."
Lin Jingchu: "?"
For the first time, he doubted his own comprehension. Was Jiang Yuekai genuinely saying he was handsome, or was she being sarcastic?
Jiang Yuekai rarely saw Lin Jingchu look so bewildered. He was always mature, steady, and in control, rarely like this.
Come to think of it, he was quite cute when he was spaced out. Jiang Yuekai thought, this must be the legendary "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
She smiled, no longer in the mood to tease Lin Jingchu. She said to him, "I can give you a chance to pursue me. As for the rest, it depends on your performance."
Dating directly didn't seem that interesting. Jiang Yuekai somewhat enjoyed this push-and-pull dynamic. Besides, Lin Jingchu had a crush on her before, but he had never openly pursued her, so this was also an opportunity for him to experience life.
"You're not tricking me?" Lin Jingchu was already very satisfied with this answer, but his expression suggested he didn't quite believe it.
Jiang Yuekai: "If I were tricking you, would you still pursue me?"
Lin Jingchu: "No."
When he kissed her forcefully earlier, it had already sealed what was to come.
His expression was too earnest, and Jiang Yuekai was amused again. She hadn't realized before that he was so stubborn.
After dinner, Jiang Yuekai went to the living room to play with Natie. Lin Jingchu cleaned up the kitchen and brought her a cup of milk.
Jiang Yuekai took it and took a sip. Some white milk stained the corner of her mouth. Seeing that trace, Lin Jingchu's mind wandered again, and a wave of heat rose in his throat.
As desire surged, he felt a sense of self-contempt.
He had never been someone who thought with his lower half, but recently, he felt like he was possessed. Whenever he saw Jiang Yuekai, his mind was filled with dirty thoughts. No matter what she did, he felt it was a hint.
"What's wrong?" While Lin Jingchu was self-critiquing, Jiang Yuekai suddenly leaned in front of him.
The fragrance from her body invaded his nostrils, and Lin Jingchu instinctively took a step back, responding hoarsely, "Nothing."
That voice didn't sound like nothing; it was exactly the same as when he had kissed her forcefully before. Jiang Yuekai probably knew what was going on, so she started to play with fire recklessly. "Oh, I thought you weren't feeling well somewhere."
The milk stain on her lips hadn't been wiped off, and her words were even more alluring. Lin Jingchu had to remind her, "You have milk on your lips, I'll get you a tissue..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Jiang Yuekai stick out her tongue and lick the milk off her lips.
At such close proximity, with such an ambiguous action, coupled with her playful gaze, it was hard for Lin Jingchu not to suspect she was doing it on purpose.
"Don't do that kind of thing in front of men casually from now on," Lin Jingchu reminded her. Not everyone could be as restrained as he was.