Teacher, did I do well in my studies?
Under the night sky shimmering like a canopy of stars, the black silhouettes of trees swayed gently. Xiao Wanqing and Lin Xian, almost equal in height, stood facing each other. The breeze tussled their long hair, causing ripples in their eyes like those in a serene pond—full of emotion and unspoken words.
With one hand, Xiao Wanqing clasped inside the palm of Lin Xian, while her other struggled to cradle a stack of boxes and gifts to her chest—a sight both comical and awkward.
Lin Xian was obstructed; she couldn’t get any closer to Xiao Wanqing. She glanced briefly at the objects hugged tightly in Xiao’s embrace, then, lifting her eyes sparkling like stars, asked her softly and with a smile, “Do you like the gift?”
Xiao Wanqing’s face relaxed into a gentle smile as she replied, “I like it very much. Lin Xian, thank you, you’ve put in so much effort and expense.” Her expression was sincere and straightforward. Lin Xian finally saw no trace of the difficulty and resistance that had once broken her heart, only the shy joy of a woman receiving a gift from her lover.
A sweet sense of relief washed over Lin Xian. Her gaze lingered on Xiao Wanqing, this woman who seemed more enchanting and gentle under the night sky. She looked at her with the usual tenderness and indulgence, but there seemed to be something more, something that inexplicably thrilled Lin Xian yet defied description.
Lin Xian savored the feeling in her heart.
It was admiration, affection, and perhaps, even passion…
The thought made her heart race unconsciously, a warmth spreading through her chest. She couldn’t help but probe further, looking deep into Xiao Wanqing’s eyes once more. Xiao Wanqing didn’t evade or flinch, calmly meeting her gaze. Lin Xian became increasingly certain—this was the first time Auntie Xiao looked at her with such a gaze without any disguise, or perhaps, it was the first time she faced her, even tempted her, in such an undisguised, lover-like manner.
Lin Xian’s gaze became intense.
She composed herself, releasing the hand she had been clasping with Xiao Wanqing’s. Under Xiao Wanqing’s watchful eyes, she nonchalantly lifted the lid of the enamel pot, and with a light laugh, she suggested, “How about we take advantage of the fact that everyone’s out and try the little cake’s flavor, see if it’s any good?”
The cake was petite, something she impulsively ordered when she saw its colors complementing the enamel pot’s palette while reserving a larger cake at the hotel. It probably would only give them a few bites each.
The woman graciously agreed with her.
Therefore, Lin Xian naturally extended her hands and took the largest box from Xiao Wanqing, along with the small one nestled inside it.
Taking a few steps forward, she placed the box on the chair where she had been sitting, and Xiao Wanqing followed her to the edge of the platform nearby.
Lin Xian found the tiny forks that came with the cake beside the box, delicately sliced a small piece of cake, speared it with a fork, stood up, and brought it to Xiao Wanqing’s lips, her eyes smiling as she playfully offered, “Why don’t you try and see if it suits your taste?”
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Xiao Wanqing swept the stray hairs tousled by the night wind behind her ears, and with slightly pursed red lips, she gave Lin Xian a slight curve. She didn’t refuse. Bowing her head slightly, she gently parted her teeth, and with Lin Xian’s movements, she elegantly took the small bite of cake offered to her.
Lin Xian stared intently at her fine, dense eyelashes, her straight nose, and those slightly upturned, beguiling red lips.
Xiao Wanqing lifted her head, and before she could meticulously chew the cake in her mouth, the girl unexpectedly closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms affectionately around Xiao Wanqing’s waist and giving her a playful wink.
“Let me taste it too, is that alright?” The girl’s voice was low and soft, carrying a teasing, seductive lilt.
The creamy sweetness slowly spread across her tongue, and Xiao Wanqing hadn’t yet grasped the girl’s implicatory words; she subconsciously thought to bite down onto the cake by slightly lifting her teeth. In the next second, the girl’s warm lips pressed against hers, still with a hint of cake crumbs, and lightly licked them. Then, taking advantage of Xiao Wanqing’s surprised posture—her teeth parted from the shock—her dominant and agile tongue barged in without any effort.
Xiao Wanqing felt as though all the blood in her body began to boil in an instant, her ears starting to burn. She cast her eyes downward towards her lover who was intimately kissing her with eyes earnestly closed, feeling the girl’s passionate, commanding, yet tender movements between their lips and teeth, as if something deeply satisfying was about to overflow from her heart.
The overly sweet cake had already melted away at some point…
Xiao Wanqing closed her eyes, which smiled, and extended her arms to gently but firmly embrace the girl’s slender waist.
The girl felt Xiao Wanqing’s response, and in that moment, her desire surged even higher. Her moist, scorching little tongue teased Xiao Wanqing agilely and fervently as if reluctant to give her a moment’s respite to breathe.
She had to admit, Lin Xian was a student with quite a talent.
Xiao Wanqing’s body went weak as she struggled to withstand the girl’s intense kiss. She tilted her head slightly, gasping for air, and loosened her grip around the girl’s waist, attempting to take a step back. Leaning against the railing for support, she hoped to create some distance, but the girl was not done yet. She pulled her back in without hesitation. Lin Xian playfully nibbled on Xiao Wanqing’s lower lip, followed by a series of teasing and seductive gestures.
Xiao Wanqing couldn’t retreat, nor did she want to, but she was reaching her limit. She gently pushed against Lin Xian, seeking a moment to catch her breath, and finally couldn’t hold back a soft moan.
Lin Xian held Xiao Wanqing’s waist with one hand and lifted and supported her back with the other. Affectionately and gently, she rubbed her cheek against Xiao Wanqing’s hair, her voice slightly husky as she teased, “Teacher, how well am I doing? Can you give me a score?”
Xiao Wanqing’s rapid breathing suddenly paused. Then, breaking the silence, came a mixture of embarrassment and coquettishness that Lin Xian had never heard before: “Lin Xian, you’re not allowed to speak!” The sentence was in the imperative form, but the tone lacked any hint of intimidation.
“Hahaha…” The girl burst into joyful laughter. She lightly kissed Xiao Wanqing’s hair and her eyes sparkled like a satisfied little puppy. She gratefully confessed to Xiao Wanqing, “By the way, thank you, Xiao Xiaowan, for buying me cherries recently. When I washed the cherries, I secretly kept all the stems. Although I haven’t successfully tied them in a knot, it seems like it’s been effective, right?”
Xiao Wanqing: ??!!…
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Who on earth had been leading her Lin Xian astray!
The next moment, as if on reflex, Lin Xian yelped “Ouch!” Xiao Panpan, in a fit of mortified rage, had bitten her ear!
Before she could soothe her embarrassed beloved, a stifled chuckle arose not far from them, followed by the sound of shuffling, nervous footsteps.
“Stop right there!” Lin Xian’s eyebrows furrowed as she released Xiao Wanqing and turned to face the shadows lurking in the corner of the platform below, who had been eavesdropping for who knew how long. She called out to them sharply.
Shi Man, Xia Zhijin, Chen Zhi, and Tang Mo, realizing they’d been caught, had no choice but to halt their steps, guiltily turning to face Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing.
“We just got here, didn’t hear or see anything,” Chen Zhi, eager to make amends, blurted out with a guilt-ridden yet beaming smile, trying to talk her way out of it. That chuckle had been an involuntary slip from her, too satisfied as a ‘CP-fan’ at what she had witnessed; the next moment after the laugh, she was brought back to reality by a painful pinch from Tang Mo. Busted indeed.
It’s like saying there’s no three hundred taels of silver buried here.
Xiao Wanqing’s eyes, already moist, filled hastily with even more water, as she lowered her head, cheeks and ears red-hot, her hands clasped together, biting her lip, the very picture of a thoroughly cooked shrimp from sheer embarrassment. Lin Xian’s heart ached for her.
Xia Zhijin, holding a large cake, had unwillingly been part of the wrongdoing, and even her cool composure was reddened with bashfulness. She bit her lip, sighed, and stepped forward to earnestly explain, “We came over according to what you had agreed on earlier, to deliver the cake to Auntie Xiao for her birthday celebration. It’s just, we seem to have arrived a tad early. But we really just got here, we only heard an ‘Ouch,’ seriously, we didn’t catch anything else or see anything at all.”
She lied, in fact, they still sneakily caught a glimpse of the kissing. As soon as she saw the two beautiful silhouettes entwined under the starry sky, she told her companions not to watch if it’s not proper, yet none of them wanted to leave, it was like getting on board with the thieves unwittingly.
Being the only honest person among this group, Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing were more inclined to believe Xia Zhijin’s words. Besides, the plan was prearranged by Lin Xian along with Shi Man, and their willingness to help was all in good faith—Lin Xian owed them a word of thanks.
Lin Xian wasn’t really angry; she was just worried that Xiao Wanqing would be too shy to back down gracefully.
Shi Man, best at reading the room, immediately found an opportunity to take out a lighter to ignite the candles placed atop the big cake, all the while endearingly saying, “Happy birthday, Auntie Xiao!”
Tang Mo astutely turned off the lights Lin Xian had prepared on the side and started clapping and singing, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday…” Chen Zhi and Xia Zhijin quickly joined in, harmonizing as they sang.
Lin Xian was really at her wits’ end with their mischief. Just as she was about to say something else, Xiao Wanqing gently hooked her pinky. Turning her head to look at her, Lin Xian saw the laughing ripples in her tender eyes. Xiao Wanqing gave her a gentle blink, signaling that all was well.
Hand in hand, Xiao Wanqing led Lin Xian forward to approach the group of young girls who, despite feeling a little embarrassed, were sincerely offering their blessings to her and to the romantic union with Lin Xian. Under the glow of the candlelight, the woman’s features appeared soft and ethereal, as if she were a figure from a painting. She lowered her gaze, gracefully and warmly expressing her thanks: “Thank you, everyone.”
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Lin Xian’s throat bobbed with emotion, her heart full of love. The sweetness lingered in her mouth, as if still moistening her taste buds.
“Now make a wish and blow out the candles,” Shi Man urged with a radiant smile in her peach blossom eyes.
Looking at the faces before her, young and lively smiles she had come to know because of Lin Xian, and turning to gaze at Lin Xian, who had captured her entire heart, Xiao Wanqing closed her eyes and brought her hands together.
As she faced the gentle breeze, the bright moon, and the stars of the universe, she prayed earnestly, “May we live long, sharing this beautiful moonlight even though a thousand miles apart.”
For the rest of her life, she had no expectations, no wishes left.
But now, she couldn’t help but be greedy again.
She wanted to accompany her a bit longer, just a little bit longer.
