She was tormented like this till eleven o’clock, when she eventually succeeded in making her escape from the interrogation of the lots.

When she took Mumu again to her faculty, she drove on to the dormitory constructing. Simply as Mumu obtained off the automobile, Jia He heard somebody calling her. Turning, Jia He noticed considered one of her previous highschool classmates, however she needed to briefly search onerous by her reminiscence for the title earlier than she was in a position to deal with him.

Critically, such a reminiscence like a canine’s and a mind like a pig’s. Just a few years in the past, she even went to this man’s marriage ceremony and chipped in for a bunch reward.

The person strode over and greeted her with a smile. “You’ve already forgotten me?”

Smiling sheepishly, Jia He opened the door, stepped out of the automobile, and replied, “How may I?”

That man was about to say one thing else when a reasonably woman popped out from the dormitory constructing, rushed over, and wrapped herself round his arm. “Who’s this?” After saying this, she eyed Jia He over, then additionally eyed her automobile over.

As she stared on the younger woman’s slender arms entwined round him, Jia He’s thoughts appeared to swim for a second. Then she comprehended.

Mumu, alternatively, hugged her schoolbag towards herself and mentioned nothing. Solely after these two individuals had left did she set free a “humph” and state, “That’s my classmate.”

Very calmly, Jia He nodded and mentioned to her as effectively, “That was additionally my classmate.”

Mumu threw her a really contemptuous look. “Simply what sort of individual is your classmate? Morally degenerate.”

Jia He gazed silently at her. Your classmate doesn’t appear to be any form of good woman both.

With this form of factor, you don’t actually really feel something whenever you merely hear about it taking place. Nonetheless, as soon as Jia He considered the truth that dangling off the arm of her previous schoolmate was a lady the identical age as Mumu, she felt so uncomfortable it was as if tons of of claws had been scratching at her coronary heart.

Mumu made one other disdainful remark. “However your classmate is sort of loaded. He simply randomly offers presents which have the double Clogo.”

Immediately, Jia He grew cautious. “Don’t you go doing one thing like that. If Granddad discovered, he’d undoubtedly have a coronary heart assault.”

Mumu nodded. “If I needed stuff like that, I’d simply go discover you. Why would I discover some uncle dude?”

It’s not like I’m a sugar daddy. Jia He’s coronary heart was dripping blood, however she nonetheless wanted to pressure herself to carry up and provides her cousin a great instructing. “Additionally, your mother informed me simply now to go the message on to you: it’s okay to have a boyfriend, however don’t so simply have… you already know, it.” Feeling that these phrases carried no energy, she added one thing from her personal experiences. “Out of all my associates, each one that was conservative in that side ended up marrying effectively. Not mendacity to you. It’s essential to grasp tight.”

Mumu gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Ol’ Sis, are you hinting to me that this was the way you caught Yi Wenze? Subsequent time, simply be a bit extra blunt. You don’t must say it in such a veiled manner.”

……

Positive sufficient, a five-year age distinction creates a technology hole and ten years makes a pure chasm.

Decisively abandoning the thought of giving any instructing, Jia He sped away from there.

Not many individuals had been taking late-night flights, so the parking storage was very quiet.

It was not till Yi Wenze had gotten into the automobile that she all of a sudden realized one thing: such an hour of the day was very awkward. Was she going to have to remain at his place once more? When she considered the phrase “keep,” her thoughts immediately related it with that night time… Each partof her felt just a little bizarre. After an extended silence, she lastly turned her head and requested him, “Are you hungry? Is there something to eat on the workplace?” If there wasn’t, they actually would wish to go to a comfort retailer and purchase some stuff to deliver again with them.

Yi Wenze didn’t say something, solely her and smiling.

Um, what did that imply?

After which… after which… The automobile was already driving into an unfamiliar neighborhood compound earlier than she began having the ability to course of any ideas by her thoughts. Gingerly, she requested him. “That is one other dwelling of yours?” Really, the wily rabbit has three burrows; the sly individual has a couple of hideout. However but, from the look of that bed room suite in his workplace, it must be that he supposed to remain there regularly, so even when he did have a spot in Beijing, it shouldn’t be for him to stay in, proper?

Giving an “mm,” he turned off the engine, obtained out of the automobile, grabbed his baggage, and went upstairs.

Jia He adopted him by the door. The whole lounge was so empty it felt like an auditorium. The explanation for this was that there was not a single piece of furnishings inside it. The sunshine shone on the mahogany-coloured flooring. It was too clear, as if nobody had ever stepped foot in right here earlier than.

She pulled open the entryway shoe closet. No slippers inside. “You’re positive you need to keep right here tonight?”

There was the sound of a suitcase being set down behind her. Then she felt her toes carry off the bottom—Yi Wenze had swept her up into his arms. “Do you prefer it?”

Do you prefer it? …

Jia He’s gaze landed on his collar. In her coronary heart, there was just a little angel flapping its wings and asking her time and again, “Do you prefer it, do you prefer it?” After which, touching his finger to her lip, Yi Wenze repeated the query. “Do you prefer it?”

With simply this one motion, her total sense of contact centered onto his finger and her personal lip. Her coronary heart was overcome with waves of weak spot, her “mm-hmm” seemingly solely ringing silently in it. In actuality, although, her reply had been audible.

His finger was nonetheless caressing her lip. Jia He felt that this motion was just too evocative, and bracing her coronary heart for an immediate, she nipped his finger. Forcing herself to hold in there, she joked, “Don’t inform me you’re giving this to me.” She didn’t discover till after she mentioned this that her throat was tight. Then, he was carrying her by the lounge, previous the eating room and fairly a number of tightly-shut room doorways, and into the master suite. “I’m giving it to you, however it’s for us to stay in collectively.”

Stay in collectively, aaaah…

Jia He heard buzzing by her ears, and romantic pink bubbles had been dancing and floating nonstop earlier than her eyes. She nonetheless didn’t overlook to retain her levelheadedness, although. “Then what ought to I do about my residence in Shanghai? How about I promote it and then you definately and I can every pay for half of this?” The query was already requested earlier than she realized simply how foolish it was. All she had was simply the one little property, and he or she reckoned that after promoting it, she would solely be capable to pay for one-third of this one.

Whereas her mind was quickly totalling up her property, he spoke up. “The standard instructing that Chinese language males have acquired since historical occasions is to purchase a home, marry a spouse, and have youngsters. Honey, you solely must deal with doing a great job of the final one, and that might be ok.”

“Oh,” she answered him, then fully ceased her aspect of the dialogue on this subject.

The bed room did have a mattress in it—and that was it.

Setting her down on the mattress, he lowered himself right into a crouch and requested her, “Would you wish to take a bathe first?”

Her eyes had been flitting this manner and that, wanting in all places. “Your house right here has nothing. Can we even bathe?”

It was two-thirty in the course of the night time. Have been they actually going to have go to the comfort retailer to purchase some every day requirements?

“All the mandatory rest room objects must be there.” He stood. “I’ve a change of garments for you in my suitcase, and likewise contact lenses.” Jia He was just a little shocked. Uttering an “oh,” she shuffled woodenly into the lavatory.

Certainly, every little thing that is likely to be wanted was out there. As she gazed in any respect the unopened bottles of physique wash and shampoo in addition to towels, and many others., she was much more dazed. She turned on the water. Earlier than lengthy, white steam rose up within the rest room. Yi Wenze knocked on the door and handed some clothes in to her, and thru the cracked-open doorway, Jia He took them from him. After one look, nevertheless, she misplaced it. Who may inform her simply who had been the one to go purchase all this underwear that also had the tags on them? …

The little white bunny had hopped herself proper as much as the door, the water was already boiling within the pot, the seasonings had been all ready, and the fork and knife had been in place—this was what Jia He was feeling at this second.

Going through that door, she wavered backwards and forwards for half a minute over even whether or not she ought to lock it or not. She felt that she was about to go loopy from all this torture.

Lastly, steeling herself, she swiftly washed herself clear. When she got here out, she very primly and correctly eliminated the tags of the clothes and even buttoned her prime to the final button earlier than dawdlingly stepping again exterior.

There have been no slippers, so she may solely stroll barefoot throughout the ground, abandoning a moist path of footprints.

She lifted her head, desirous to say one thing—however then noticed that Yi Wenze was within the midst of disrobing. The wonderful sights of his higher physique had been fully seen, and his denims, its waistband already unbuttoned, hung loosely on his hips. The lights had been neither too shiny nor too dim; they had been excellent. He took a take a look at Jia He. “Are you actually chilly?”

… Jia He blinked, and blinked some extra. Very self-consciously, she replied, “Somewhat.” Then, solemnly, she walked over to the one and solely stable object within the room—that giant mattress.

You’re completely doing this on function. On function!

May you not wait till you had been within the rest room earlier than you undressed?

Click on. Behind her, he had already shut the lavatory door.

Solely now did Jia He tearfully sit down on the mattress. Such a giant room. Such a giant mattress. However other than these, there was nothing. She was not even given the chance to observe TV to attempt to distract herself.

Even when Yi Wenze had completed showering and are available again out, she was nonetheless sitting there, well-behaved, her head bowed, her toes time and again brushing backwards and forwards towards the ground. In fact, her total physique was so tense she was about to die from exhaustion. This was totally not like their first time. That point had completely been an ambush, the place he had taken benefit of her toothache and made his transfer. This time, although, starting together with her bathe, she had very methodically… um, waited for it.

She watched Yi Wenze’s toes draw nearer and are available to a cease in entrance of her. “Tomorrow we’ll go purchase furnishings?”

“Purchase furnishings?” Jia He lastly lifted her head. She noticed him rubbing his hair together with his towel, after which… after which she felt so bashful she was about to faint. She was dressed so correctly she couldn’t get any extra correct. He, alternatively, mainly was not sporting something that didn’t have to be worn…

“We’ll discuss on the mattress. It’s actually late.”

With an “okay,” Jia He introduced her head down and really, very slowly started to undress.

She had solely simply eliminated the cardigan she had been sporting, however she was already sweating. Silently, she lamented that her bathe had mainly been a waste…Yi Wenze took in her expression, which was like that of a lamb to the slaughter; even her ears had grown crimson. The nook of his lips lifting ever so barely, he picked her up into his arms, set her instantly onto the mattress, and helped take away every article of clothes from her.

“I’ll do it myself…” Jia He felt that he was not merely undressing her; he was additionally subtly, unperturbedly doing different issues as effectively.

“You’re too gradual, honey.” He appeared to be grinning. “I’m actually drained.”

Did this appear like he was drained?

Resigning herself to her destiny, she held on to him. As soon as extra, she couldn’t management herself as quivers came to visit her, from the ideas of her fingers to the very tip of her coronary heart. It was autumn, but she quickly turned terribly scorching, virtually feeling drops of perspiration trailing down from her.

Till his palm coated her nape and he lowered his physique onto hers. Ultimately, Jia He blinked her eyes. “That. You forgot that.”

He purposely chuckled. “What?”

Jia He pulled again, making an attempt to evade him. “Don’t inform me you ready every little thing however forgot crucial factor.”

“Honey, I’ve a really cute nephew.” Gently, he fondled her earlobe together with his fingers. “He’s virtually two.”

Jia He gave an “mm,” a slight tremor her voice. Oh gosh, you may’t divert my consideration like that, aaaah…

“Simply take a look at me. I’m in my thirties already.” Bringing his face down, he fully enclosed her lips in his. Her jaw tingled, however nonetheless her thoughts dwelled on what his phrases to return is likely to be. Solely when he was deeply, completely inside did he end the second half of what he was saying. “It’s time to have a toddler.”

……

Ultimately, when he lastly carried her to have a shower, even Jia He’s eyelids had been glued collectively, unable to open. Curled up inside the bath, she mumbled that she wanted to go to him extra when he was filming and couldn’t allow them to go so lengthy with out seeing each other. It was too scary…

The following day, the solar was already excessive within the sky when she lastly crawled away from bed.

As a result of her eyes had been drained, they had been continuously watering when she placed on her contact lenses, and had been so crimson they appeared like a rabbit’s eyes. Perplexed, Yi Wenze requested her what was fallacious. Jia He instantly glared at him. She had not slept the entire night time and was virtually unable to even put in her contacts.

After they had been shopping for furnishings, the 2 intentionally break up up to go searching. If she noticed one thing she appreciated, she would name him and inform him the place to go to search out it and what model it was, after which she would transfer her battle to the following location. At first, she had needed to debate the alternatives just a little bit with him, however she ultimately found that he would merely, with none questions, purchase every little thing she talked about. Therefore, she may solely very fastidiously recollect what she had chosen and hope that the impact wouldn’t be a mish-mashed one.

After shopping for a bottle of water, she was standing within the mall atrium taking a relaxation when Xiao Yu’s telephone name all of a sudden got here in. “What are you doing?”

“Shopping for furnishings,” Jia He reported truthfully.

“You guys positive are transferring quick.” Xiao Yu sighed, “Don’t inform me the following time I name, you’re already going to be doing a prenatal examine.”

Jia He practically misplaced her maintain on her bottle of water. Out of the blue, she remembered final night time, and her coronary heart thumped and thumped. She actually was feeling a bit nervous.

“Simply this morning, I heard a couple of celeb couple who’re divorcing. Our consumer is livid, saying that the industrial solely simply began airing however now they’re divorcing. The consumer’s in discussions with their administration company and demanding compensation.” A faint sigh got here by from the opposite finish of the road. “Every little thing was nonetheless harmonious within the family once we shot the industrial half a 12 months in the past, however now issues are like this. I’m sweating in nervousness for you.”

Her arms on the railing, Jia He gazed down the atrium on the individuals strolling down beneath.

She noticed, within the distance, Yi Wenze stroll into a store on the second degree. He seemed to be wanting on the furnishings she had chosen. To keep away from arousing suspicions, he had purposely introduced alongside A-Qing and some others with him. The a number of gross sales associates had been secretly delighted and eagerly stepped ahead to introduce the objects to him whereas even leaving a accountable individual to face guard on the entrance and stop individuals from taking pictures.

As she merely watched from afar like this, it felt fairly like she was indifferent from all this, that she had nothing to do with any of it.

Jia He shook her head, shattering away that little little bit of unsettledness in her. “Even when courting or marrying an bizarre individual, you’ll encounter breakups and divorces in all places. Only in the near past, I ran right into a highschool classmate who’s married; he’s discovered himself a college scholar.”

Xiao Yu laughed. Then they hung up.

Right here on this predominant atrium, considered one of Jay Chou’s previous songs was enjoying. She sprawled her higher physique on the railing, nibbling on the mouth of the water bottle. Ultimately, just one line of lyrics drifted into her ear: I like this image wherein you, within the tides of individuals, belong solely to me[1].

[1]A line from the music 《爱在西元前》“Love within the B.C. Period.”