Kiss You
I really want to kiss you.
Due to Jin Shuilan’s hand injury, everyone didn’t let her drink. Ji Zibo really went and ordered two glasses of milk. The server looked at their table curiously, and Ji Zibo said with a “hai”: “There’s a child.”
Only three years old.
The server didn’t ask much and gave her two glasses of milk. Jin Shuilan took a sip; it was sweet to the core of her heart. Lu Zhenqiu was drinking fruit wine, which was pale white with a peach fragrance. Ji Zibo said, “This is my favorite one, but the alcohol content is a bit high.”
Its alcohol content is double that of other fruit wines, and it has a strong after-kick. Usually, she only dares to order this wine when she comes with friends, afraid that if she gets drunk while alone, no one will take care of her.
Bai Mao said, “Wouldn’t it be fine if you just got a partner?”
“It’s not that easy.” Ji Zibo sipped the peach wine. “If it were really that easy to find a partner, I’d wholesale one to each of you right now.”
Bai Mao turned her head. “Are you drunk?”
Ji Zibo kicked her on the shin. “You’re the one who’s drunk.”
Watching them interact, Hua Luo asked, “Teacher Ji and Teacher Bai, when did you meet?”
Ji Zibo and Bai Mao thought seriously, then both shook their heads. “A long time ago.”
“Can’t remember.”
They only remembered that they also met because of a radio drama, with Jin Shuilan making the connection. Ji Zibo said, “When I first met Bai Mao, I really thought that since she writes such bold and heroic plots, she herself must be very talkative.”
“But as it turned out, she had even more social anxiety than now. The first time we communicated was a video call. I asked Bai Mao a few questions, and she was stunned for a long time. It’s funny to think back on it now.” Xiao Yu nodded. “I also thought Teacher Bai was very talkative.”
“Teacher Bai is quite talkative,” Hua Luo muttered. Usually, when she and Bai Mao had video or voice calls, they would sometimes talk for several hours straight. Although Bai Mao didn’t say much, they could still carry on a conversation.
Xiao Yu gave a “hei hei” laugh. “Of course Teacher Bai is talkative with you. By the way, Teacher Bai, did you buy that cat and bring it home?”
“No,” Bai Mao said. “The weather has been cold recently, and I don’t really know how to take care of one. I’ll wait until it’s a bit warmer to go look again.”
“It’s not easy to take care of them when it’s cold,” Hua Luo nodded and looked at Lu Zhenqiu. “What about you? What about Maomao?”
Lu Zhenqiu, who was drinking, was called out by name. She put down her glass and said, “I’ve already arranged a time with Miss Qi to send it over.”
“You’re really sending it over?” Hua Luo was reluctant. “Poor Maomao.”
Lu Zhenqiu: ……
Ji Zibo asked, “Where are you sending it?”
Hua Luo said, “To a pet store. Qiuqiu is going to the streamer’s annual conference at the end of the year and can’t bring the dog.”
“Oh, then why not let Teacher Jin take care of it for a bit?” Ji Zibo said. “Sending it to a pet store, so inconvenient.”
Before Lu Zhenqiu could speak, Hua Luo said, “Yeah, why not ask Teacher Jin?”
Xiao Yu nodded. “I think that would work too.”
Bai Mao chimed in, “I agree.”
Lu Zhenqiu: ……
Four pairs of eyes looked over. Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip and looked at Jin Shuilan. In front of Jin Shuilan were two glasses of milk, one of which was more than half empty. Her fingers were pinching the glass, and the crystal chandelier overhead shone on the side of her face, making her profile clear and distinct, her eyes deep and heroic. Lu Zhenqiu said, “But Teacher Jin is injured right now.”
It seemed to be the only reason she could find. Lu Zhenqiu convinced herself, “She’s injured, it wouldn’t be good for her to take care of it.”
“Then……” Ji Zibo was about to say more, but Jin Shuilan kicked the tip of her foot, and she shut her mouth. Xiao Yu put an arm around Lu Zhenqiu. “Then just send it to the pet store. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded, picked up the fruit wine in front of her, and drank a large glassful.
The few of them chatted idly. The lounge bar went from empty to full, as seven or eight o’clock was peak time. The atmosphere in the bar was also slightly different from the cozy feeling at the beginning. A large dance floor had been cleared, and many figures were dancing on it. Hua Luo stood up and said to Xiao Yu, “Want to dance a round?”
Xiao Yu pushed her. “Go ask Teacher Bai.”
Bai Mao frowned upon seeing so many people, then looked at Hua Luo, her brows furrowing even tighter. Hua Luo didn’t force her, instead grabbing Xiao Yu and getting up. The two of them slipped onto the dance floor. Xiao Yu had a good figure and decent dance skills, and she showed off a bit as soon as she got on. Other people stood near her and whistled. As if no one else was there, Lu Zhenqiu pulled Hua Luo into a duet. Ji Zibo was also a regular at bars and wasn’t shy, so she was pulled in by Xiao Yu and Hua Luo. Three people stood on the dance floor, and three people sat off the dance floor.
Jin Shuilan asked Bai Mao, “Not going?”
Bai Mao shook her head. Jin Shuilan said again, “Then we’re going?”
Lu Zhenqiu looked at the right hand Jin Shuilan extended toward her. She was curious. “Teacher Jin can dance too?”
“Not very well,” Jin Shuilan said. “You’ll have to bear with me.”
Lu Zhenqiu had drunk a few glasses of the peach wine, and the after-kick was setting in, making her head dizzy. She followed behind Jin Shuilan and slipped onto the dance floor. There were too many people inside; some were dancing energetically, some were absorbed in their own slow dances, and some were just shaking their heads and bodies, not appearing to dance to any particular style.
Jin Shuilan held Lu Zhenqiu’s hand, and the two of them stood face to face, leaning close together. The peach fragrance on Lu Zhenqiu was very rich, and the scent filled the air between her lips and teeth. Jin Shuilan’s palms began to sweat. Lu Zhenqiu asked, “Teacher Jin, are you very hot?”
“Yes,” Jin Shuilan said, her eyes lowered to Lu Zhenqiu’s thin lips. “There are too many people.”
There were indeed a lot of people. They were squeezed together, and beside them were two young guys who were headbanging wildly. Afraid someone would bump into her, Jin Shuilan turned around, putting her own back to those people. Lu Zhenqiu raised her eyes to look at Jin Shuilan’s clear features, which were right before her.
The lights flickered on and off. Their hands were clasped together, their bodies leaning against each other. Occasionally, Jin Shuilan’s softness would brush against her arm. Lu Zhenqiu only felt the skin that was touched grow hot, a spark burning to the bottom of her heart, igniting an indistinct flame. These flames made her face turn red, and her eyes, adorned with a watery sheen, were astonishingly bright.
“Qiuqiu.” Jin Shuilan lowered her head and suddenly called out next to her ear. Lu Zhenqiu replied in confusion, “Hm?”
The final sound rose, piercing through her eardrums to the tip of her heart. Jin Shuilan’s body trembled slightly. She gripped Lu Zhenqiu’s hands even tighter, then suddenly reached out to hug her, pulling her fiercely into her embrace.
The hug came so suddenly that Lu Zhenqiu was caught off guard, her waist was held tightly, causing her upper body to lean forward. Her softness pressed against Jin Shuilan’s, and when she lowered her head, her lips touched the hollow of Jin Shuilan’s neck. The soft, warm sensation left Lu Zhenqiu stunned.
Jin Shuilan was still holding her, her chin resting on Lu Zhenqiu’s shoulder. It was hot inside the bar, and Lu Zhenqiu had drunk a lot of alcohol, so she had taken off her coat and left it on her seat long ago. Now, she was only wearing a dark grey V-neck knit shirt. The neckline wasn’t very low, but Jin Shuilan’s scent was still all-pervasive, seeping through the thin fabric bit by bit, igniting Lu Zhenqiu’s body and blood like fire.
She suddenly felt very hot, her mouth and throat dry.
Jin Shuilan held her for several minutes. Only when a song ended did she loosen her grip slightly. Turning her head, she saw Lu Zhenqiu’s flushed face and said, “Are you drunk?”
Lu Zhenqiu was a little embarrassed. “I think so.”
Her head was dizzy now, and she couldn’t even stand very steadily. Lu Zhenqiu didn’t try to act tough. She said, “I want to sit down.”
“Let’s go outside and get some air?” Jin Shuilan said. “A little fresh air will feel good.”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Oh,” and was about to walk straight outside, but Jin Shuilan grabbed her wrist. With a slight pull, Lu Zhenqiu was drawn sideways into her embrace, her soft lips brushing past Jin Shuilan’s earlobe. Jin Shuilan suppressed the heat surging through her body, took a deep breath, then another, and finally led her back to their seats to put on her coat.
Except for Bai Mao, the other three were already having a blast on the dance floor. Jin Shuilan said a word to Bai Mao and picked up Lu Zhenqiu’s coat. Just as Lu Zhenqiu reached for it, Jin Shuilan used her outstretched arms to help her put it on. Finally, they were face to face. Jin Shuilan bent down slightly to fuss with the coat’s zipper for her. Lu Zhenqiu lowered her eyes and saw the swirl at the crown of Jin Shuilan’s head, flickering in the dim light.
Her hand, hidden inside her sleeve, slowly clenched into a fist. In a very quiet voice, she called out, “Teacher Jin.”
Her voice was drowned out by the loud music. Lu Zhenqiu didn’t know if Jin Shuilan had heard her; she only saw Jin Shuilan raise her head for a glance. Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip. Jin Shuilan had already finished zipping up the coat. Jin Shuilan said, “Let’s go.”
Lu Zhenqiu followed her out of the noisy bar.
The scene outside was also slightly different from when they had arrived. Several drunk people were leaning against the streetlights; some were looking at their phones, others were on calls, seemingly urging the person on the other end to hurry up. There were also a few young couples kissing as if no one else was there. As they passed, they could even hear faint murmurs. Lu Zhenqiu’s face grew redder. Jin Shuilan said, “Let’s go buy some sobering medicine first. You might have a headache when you wake up tomorrow morning.”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded. She also felt that the fruit wine had a strong after-kick. The last time she’d gotten drunk seemed to be at her graduation dinner; anyway, it had been a long time. She wasn’t exactly drunk now, just that her steps felt a bit floaty and her body was very hot.
Jin Shuilan led her into a pharmacy. After getting the sobering medicine and some warm water, Lu Zhenqiu drank it down. The snow had stopped, but there was a layer of accumulated snow on the road, a sheet of white. Jin Shuilan said, “Want to go up and take a look?”
Lu Zhenqiu didn’t understand. “Where?”
Jin Shuilan led her up to the bar’s rooftop and explained, “One time, Zibo drank too much, and we climbed up here.”
The rooftop was very large, with some tables and chairs on it, which were estimated to be abandoned and unwanted, all in varying states of disrepair. Snowflakes had fallen on them, coating them in a layer of white light. Downstairs was noisy and clamorous, but it was quiet and peaceful up here. Jin Shuilan asked her, “Are you cold?”
Lu Zhenqiu shook her head and took a breath. The chilly air seeped into her body, and she finally didn’t feel so hot. She took two steps forward to the edge of the rooftop, where there was a stainless steel railing. Lu Zhenqiu rested her hands on the railing, turned her head, and said, “Teacher Jin, the view here is quite nice.”
Jin Shuilan looked at her crimson face and the light in her eyes. The streetlight shone on the side of her face, her features a mix of light and shadow. Her beautiful hair danced with the wind, floating in the air. Lu Zhenqiu casually brushed her hair aside, and a faint fragrance wafted over. Jin Shuilan walked over and, just like her, rested her hands on the railing. The two of them were close, their arms touching. Jin Shuilan said, “The view is indeed nice.”
She looked up. “The moonlight is so beautiful.”1
Lu Zhenqiu also looked up. “Teacher Jin, there’s no moon tonight.”
Jin Shuilan was silent for two seconds, then said, “Then I might be drunk. I saw it wrong.”
Lu Zhenqiu was confused. “But you didn’t drink.”
Jin Shuilan couldn’t help but reply, “Aren’t you drunk?”
Lu Zhenqiu: “Not that drunk……”
Jin Shuilan cut in, “Then I’m still drunk.”
Lu Zhenqiu couldn’t help but laugh. “How are you drunk?”
“I……” Jin Shuilan hesitated for a moment, then turned her head. Under the streetlight, Lu Zhenqiu’s smiling face was clear and bright, her lips red and teeth white2. She looked at Lu Zhenqiu’s thin lips and said, “I really want to kiss you.”
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, memeda.
Lu Zhenqiu: You want to kiss me?
Jin Shuilan: I do.
Lu Zhenqiu: Thinking about it isn’t bad either.
Jin Shuilan: ……
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