For The Rest Of Our Life – Chapter 92

She took out her lipstick to touch up her makeup

The phone kept buzzing tirelessly, but Lin Xian’s hand clutching Xiao Wanqing’s waist didn’t loosen. She slightly lifted her head from Xiao Wanqing’s shoulder, turned her face to carefully scrutinize Xiao Wanqing’s expression.

Xiao Wanqing looked down, quietly, her eyes deep as she stared at the screen, her thoughts inscrutable.

A wave of inexplicable disappointment washed over Lin Xian, guessing that Auntie Xiao might not pick up the call.

Just as she thought the phone’s vibration would cease and Xiao Wanqing would avoid this call, against her expectations, Xiao Wanqing ultimately extended her fair, slender fingers, picked up the phone, and slid across the green answer button.

Lin Xian’s sunken heart suddenly leaped with joy. She felt seemingly more nervous than Xiao Wanqing, her hands embracing Xiao Wanqing tightened, wrapping around her waist, unconsciously intertwining and locking together.

Xiao Wanqing’s heart was heavy. There had been a moment of hesitation and struggle deep within her, yet in the end, she didn’t let Lin Xian go. Resting in the embrace of Lin Xian, she unconsciously took a deep breath and answered Zhou Qin’s call.

Zhou Qin’s hearty and concerned voice immediately transmitted from the other end of the phone.

Zhou Qin was inquiring whether Xiao Wanqing had time off during the May Day holiday and when her business trip might come to an end. Additionally, she discussed with Xiao Wanqing that if the business trip was to last for the near term, they shouldn’t extend the nanny’s contract after a month. Instead, they could have Lin Xian tidy up and move in to stay directly.

Lin Xian, standing close to Xiao Wanqing, heard Zhou Qin’s clear voice not at all concealed by the phone’s poor sound insulation. The proposal from her mother made Lin Xian stand up a bit straighter, looking at Xiao Wanqing with a mix of nervousness and trepidation.

These past couple of days, her emotions had been like a roller coaster with mighty highs and lows. Even though Xiao Wanqing had agreed to her, deep down, she still harbored a surreal sense of insecurity. She suddenly realized that she had forgotten to confirm with Xiao Wanqing the thing Zhou Qin mentioned about Xiao Wanqing being transferred next semester.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wanqing unconsciously turned to glance at Lin Xian. She captured the momentary hesitation and unease in the girl’s eyes. A prick of pain pierced Xiao Wanqing’s heart and her left hand, hanging by her side, clenched into a fist involuntarily. She managed a strained smile and answered Zhou Qin in an even tone, “Sister, I haven’t had the chance to tell you yet, my business trip has ended, I just returned yesterday.”

Feeling Lin Xian’s breath on her face, which seemed to be held back in nervousness, the nails of her clenched fist dug deep into her palm. Moments later, as if making up her mind, she spread open her hand and lifted it to cover Lin Xian’s hands that were clasped around her waist, gripping them slightly with force.

Then, with a slight furrow of her brows and a flicker of steadfast determination in her eyes, she struggled to regain her usual composed tone when speaking to Zhou Qin, informing her, “Sister, I should be staying in Anjiang City for the coming period. The company might indefinitely postpone the transfer. As for Xianxian…”

“If you don’t mind, sister, there’s no need for Xianxian to move to a dormitory…” at the end of her sentence, her voice inevitably took on the slightest quiver, barely perceptible. Yet, in the end, she persisted and finished.

She heard Zhou Qin burst into a resonant laughter over the phone, countering her with, “What’s there for me to mind? The one who should be concerned is you.” The warm and affectionate thanks and concern from Zhou Qin made her heart tremble.

How truly shameless must one be to act in such a way that hurts another, while still accepting their gratitude and appreciation? Zhou Qin’s every chuckle was like a slap in Xiao Wanqing’s face, causing such embarrassment and such guilt that her eyes reddened with the effort to hold back tears.

Yet her hand, as if drawing strength, never let go of Lin Xian’s.

This was a scenario she had envisioned countless times ever since she resolutely agreed to be with Lin Xian.

It was her, selfishly wanting to steal a warm summer day’s happiness, while rightfully deserving the prolonged torment of a harsh winter.

She owed Zhou Qin an apology; forgiveness was owed for entrusting her to someone unworthy…

Sorry, she really, inappropriately, liked Lin Xian very much.

Like death by a thousand cuts, with each passing second, sharp knives seemed to carve deep, vivid wounds into her heart. Five minutes later, unable to bear the pain any longer, she used the excuse of her phone running out of battery to hang up on Zhou Qin’s call.

The cruel punishment finally ended, and Xiao Wanqing took the phone away from her ear, her breathing heavy. She felt as if she had fought a great battle, completely mentally and physically spent. Lin Xian noticed this and embraced her even more intimately, holding her entire body against hers, and Xiao Wanqing did not resist.

Lin Xian’s heart, which had been wandering and sorrowful from being denied a kiss and from hearing Xiao Wanqing utter those words of distrust, was thoroughly soothed by the difficult yet resolute conversation between Xiao Wanqing and Zhou Qin.

She saw how Auntie Xiao panicked and became sad when facing her mother, and she also saw Auntie Xiao’s bravery and determination, difficult as it was, to do what she did for her.

Her heart settled but ached even more for her. Holding Xiao Wanqing’s sweat-dampened left hand, she gently kissed her cheek, softly comforting her, “Auntie Xiao, I remember so many things you’ve said; can you also remember that sentence I told you before?”

“It was I who started it. It was I who coerced you,” her voice was youthful, but the tone was exceptionally mature and serious.

Xiao Wanqing released the hand she held with Lin Xian and, staying in the embrace, turned around, looking slightly down, her gaze deeply locking with Lin Xian’s bright eyes. Her eyes were rimmed with redness, and beneath them, it seemed as if ripples were stirring.

After a moment, as if she had composed her emotions, she neither agreed with Lin Xian that it was good nor did she refuse by saying it was not. Acting as if nothing had happened, she curved her lips into a warm smile and affectionately rubbed her nose against Lin Xian’s, softly saying, “Are you hungry? Let’s go, let’s get ready and go have a meal.”

Lin Xian, dissatisfied with the lack of a definitive answer, clung to her tightly, pouting her mouth, and stubbornly pressed, “I’m not hungry, answer me first, do you remember?”

Xiao Wanqing gazed at her tenderly, the depths of her eyes held a liquid softness. She paused, blinked slowly, and said gently, “I remember.”

Only then did Lin Xian’s brows and eyes curve with satisfaction, and she let go of her.

As she helped Xiao Wanqing bring the dishes to the dining room, she consoled her in an innocent and optimistic tone, “Auntie Xiao, actually, even if my mother found out, she would be shocked and find it hard to accept at first, but over time, as she comes to understand it, she might even be grateful.”

Sitting down beside the dining table, she proudly praised herself with a loving spirit, “An in-law like your Auntie Xiao—try finding one with a lantern, could you possibly find any better?”

In-law?? Grateful??

Xiao Wanqing was ladling soup for her, and upon hearing these words, her hand trembled, nearly spilling the soup. The thought of Zhou Qin and those affectionate elders filled her with a sense of sadness. Yet, hearing Lin Xian’s exaggerated, offbeat words, which were both amusing and heartwarming, she couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth, revealing a trace of a smile.

She handed the soup bowl to Lin Xian, her brows and eyes gently unfurled, and she playfully scolded her, “Eat your meal, stop spouting nonsense.”

Lin Xian stealthily observed Xiao Wanqing, noticing that her mood seemed much improved, a relaxed smile dancing in her eyes. She continued with her banter, feigning distress, “Auntie Xiao, you didn’t use to talk about me with such words before, you’ve changed…”

Xiao Wanqing gave her a glance, the curve of her lips deepening. She picked up a small piece of fish, meticulously removed all the bones with bowed head, and then placed it into Lin Xian’s bowl, half-jokingly musing, “Then perhaps you’ll need to get used to it in the future.”

The word “future” was particularly pleasant to Lin Xian’s ears. She chewed on the delicious fish in her mouth, gazing intently across at the dignified and beautiful Xiao Wanqing, whose elegant features were like a painting, and felt the sweetness spread from her mouth straight to her heart.

Since the following day was Tuesday and Lin Xian did not have early classes, Xiao Wanqing left for work much earlier than her.

Lin Xian’s routine promptly returned to normal with Xiao Wanqing’s return. She, as usual, did not oversleep and wore a onesie with a little tiger design that Xiao Wanqing had not seen before, getting up at the same time as Xiao Wanqing for breakfast.

As Xiao Wanqing was leaving, Lin Xian reluctantly walked her to the door. Following old habits, Xiao Wanqing changed shoes, waved goodbye, and was about to open the door.

Suddenly, Lin Xian reached out and tugged gently at the corner of the blazer Xiao Wanqing wore over her dress, her eyes gleaming with a mix of slight grievance and anticipation as she softly asked, “Have you forgotten something?”

Xiao Wanqing looked at Lin Xian’s tender and radiant face nestled against the little tiger’s white belly and felt her heart melt instantly. The dimples on her cheeks appeared as she couldn’t help but reach out to lift the hood on Lin Xian’s back over her head, her smile growing deeper. She fondled the little ears on the hood and then playfully poked Lin Xian’s cheek, smiling knowingly, yet pretending ignorance, “Forgotten what?”

Lin Xian lowered her eyes, uncharacteristically a bit bashful, and said: “Isn’t it… isn’t it normal for couples to… when they go out…” Her voice trailed off to a whisper.

“Mmm?” Xiao Wanqing flicked some stray hairs beside her ear, patiently waiting for the rest. She thought hard, but it seemed like she hadn’t left anything behind, right?

Lin Xian raised her eyes to look at Xiao Wanqing’s warm and elegant face and her slightly curled enticing red lips, struggling to hold back. With a slight frown of determination, she puckered up, reached out both hands to grasp Xiao Wanqing’s blazer, and pulled, causing Xiao Wanqing to step closer, while she also stepped towards Xiao Wanqing.

Then, with a smack, her thin lips firmly kissed Xiao Wanqing’s moist red lips.

“People in love on TV always kiss like this before they go out,” she explained hastily, without time to savor the moment, defending her actions as if with a guilty conscience.

In reality, she felt a bit guilty—just yesterday, Auntie Xiao had said that she was still young…

But hugs and kisses are different, aren’t they? She vehemently argued in her own mind.

Moreover, she harbored a little ulterior motive.

She stealthily gauged Xiao Wanqing’s expression, only to see her staring back in a daze, blinking, as if she hadn’t quite caught up with the situation.

Her heart settled a bit.

Caught off guard, in the second that Lin Xian’s passionate lips pressed against hers, Xiao Wanqing’s heartbeat seemed to skip a beat. The next second, her earlobes, quicker than her thought process, flushed a sudden hot red.

Her eyes, moist, she looked on as Lin Xian, like a little fox who had stolen a taste of cream, struggled to keep the laughter in, convinced in her stealth that she wouldn’t be caught out. Xiao Wanqing’s heart melted further. Unconsciously, she pursed her lips and ran her tongue across them. The next moment, as if realizing what she had done, Xiao Wanqing felt her ears grow hotter.

Xiao Wanqing harbored no reprimand for Lin Xian’s surprise peck; her eyes were like still water, overflowing with indulgence. With fingers cool to the touch, she cradled Lin Xian’s chin, drawing closer to leave a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead, whispering tenderly, “Silly girl, a mark here looks much prettier.”

Having said that, Xiao Wanqing looked at Lin Xian, satisfied with a smile. Before Lin Xian could understand the meaning behind her words, Xiao Wanqing playfully stroked her nose and turned, leaving the room with ease.

Lin Xian watched her departing figure, dumbfounded, one hand touching her forehead, the other her lips, two thoughts flashing through her mind.

She isn’t angry!

It’s not that kissing is really not allowed!

Ah! Hahaha! The little tiger began to roll on the living room sofa.

In the elevator, Xiao Wanqing took out her lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup, her index finger gently caressing her lips, her gaze becoming all the more tender.

The author has something to say:

Lin Xian: One must create their own sweetness!