Chapter 104
...And just like that, she brought Zhuang Chi home.
Looking at Zhuang Chi sitting dazedly on the sofa, a belated sense of guilt surged within Gu Ximian. It felt very much like she was taking advantage of Zhuang Chi while she was drunk. After all, bringing a drunk person home was an act that sounded criminal no matter how you put it. And judging by the outcome, what Gu Ximian had just done was exactly that—the evidence was irrefutable.
...But she and Zhuang Chi were a couple. Thinking this with a slight lack of confidence, Gu Ximian tried hard to find some justification for herself in her heart. Besides, she wasn't going to do anything bad to Zhuang Chi! She just thought it would be more convenient to take care of Zhuang Chi at her house!
Of course, the fundamental reason was that Zhuang Chi's sudden confession in the car had thrown her into disarray. By the time she realized it, she had already, as if by some strange impulse, brought the person back with her.
She didn't know who to blame—forget it, no more excuses, she had only herself to blame. Gu Ximian closed her eyes in resignation. Since things had come to this, she decided to just throw caution to the wind. She would think about everything else later and explain it properly to Zhuang Chi after she sobered up. For now, she should focus on taking care of her.
Fortunately, Zhuang Chi was very obedient. When Gu Ximian told her to sit on the sofa and not move, she sat there obediently without the slightest objection. This allowed Gu Ximian to go and prepare two glasses of warm honey water with peace of mind. She took a small sip of half a glass herself to test the sweetness, then brought the other glass to Zhuang Chi. “Here, have some honey water. It'll help with the alcohol.”
Zhuang Chi turned her head sluggishly to look at her. She reached out and took the glass, but didn't drink it right away. Instead, she glanced at the cup a couple of times before looking at Gu Ximian. “What about you? You drank too.”
She remembered that clearly. Gu Ximian sat down beside her, gave her a reassuring smile, and said softly, “I've already had some. Don't worry about me.”
After hearing this, Zhuang Chi nodded. She seemed to think about it seriously for a moment, then asked politely, “Then can I have a taste?”
Gu Ximian couldn't help but laugh. She didn't know how this person had suddenly become even more polite than usual after getting drunk, asking for permission to drink even when the glass was already in her hand. Figuring she couldn't use common sense to guess the thoughts of a drunk person, she gave Zhuang Chi a firm, positive answer. “Of course, you can.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Chi seemed much happier. Her delicate features curved into a joyful smile. Watching her, Gu Ximian's heart felt soft and tender. However, she saw that Zhuang Chi had no intention of drinking the honey water in her hand. The next second, she placed the glass neatly on the coffee table, then turned to look at Gu Ximian, her eyes sparkling.
Just as Gu Ximian was feeling puzzled, Zhuang Chi leaned over without any warning and kissed her lightly.
It was a surprise attack, but the attacker knew to stop after a brief taste, only lingering fondly for a moment before pulling away. As their lips parted, Gu Ximian felt a soft, smooth sensation glide gently between her lips and teeth. She had, at least, some meager experience with kissing, and she instantly realized what Zhuang Chi had done. Her face flushed red in an instant.
“It's true,” Zhuang Chi pulled back, her smile utterly sincere. “It's sweet.”
Gu Ximian was speechless again. Only then did she belatedly realize that when Zhuang Chi said “have a taste,” she wasn't referring to the honey water.
Looking into Zhuang Chi's clear eyes, Gu Ximian almost began to suspect that this person was playing dumb to take advantage of her. But a moment's thought dispelled that suspicion—after all, this was Zhuang Chi. To doubt her for even a second would be to misunderstand her. It was probably just a reaction based on instinct. Gu Ximian thought, she didn't know if Zhuang Chi suspected her of lying about drinking the honey water or what, that she just had to come and taste it for herself...
...Sigh, most likely, this person hadn't thought that much at all.
Knowing that trying to understand a drunk person's logic would only confuse her more, Gu Ximian could only swallow this silent grievance. Yet she felt a little unwilling, feeling that it was a loss of face for a relatively sober person like her to be led by the nose by a drunk one. So, she tried to put on a stern face and pushed the glass of honey water back into Zhuang Chi's hands. “...Hurry up and drink.”
But a drunk person is just drunk, not stupid; she could notice the change in her expression. Zhuang Chi drank the water slowly, sneaking glances at Gu Ximian's expression as she drank—she probably thought her peeking was subtle, but her movements were actually very obvious. After finishing the honey water, she probably felt she had behaved quite well. Seeing that Gu Ximian's expression had softened, she gained the confidence to lean a little closer, her voice soft. “Gu Ximian, are you unhappy?”
Asked this way, Gu Ximian found it hard to maintain her stern expression. But she didn't know what to say to Zhuang Chi, so she responded with a light hum, intending to brush it off. She reached for the empty glass, ready to go wash it, but was pulled back by Zhuang Chi as soon as she stood up. When Gu Ximian looked over, she saw that Zhuang Chi's expression had become a little uneasy, as if her ears were drooping. She asked in a small voice, “Is it... because I just kissed you?”
Gu Ximian immediately regretted it. She put the glass down again, reached out to soothingly stroke Zhuang Chi's face, and rubbed the corners of her lips, which were pressed tight with anxiety. “...No, how could I be angry about something like that? I'm just...”
Having said this much, there was no room for concealment. Gu Ximian sighed silently in her heart and said in self-abandonment, “...Just shy.”
Zhuang Chi blinked, then confirmed again as if still not reassured, “Really not angry?”
At this point, Gu Ximian started to think it would have been better if she had gotten drunk with Zhuang Chi. Then she wouldn't have to suffer this torment. But faced with the current situation, she could only continue to reply in a small voice, her ears red, “...Mmm. Not angry.”
Zhuang Chi's mood, however, was easy to coax. It went from cloudy to sunny in an instant. And not just sunny, she had to push her luck and pull others into her sunshine too, asking Gu Ximian forthrightly, “Then can I kiss you again?”
...How could she ask that!
Gu Ximian now felt that a surprise attack would have been better. A drunk Zhuang Chi being too polite was actually a hassle. To think she even had to ask for permission for something like this...
Gu Ximian's feelings were extremely complicated; she felt that any response to this question would be improper. And perhaps because her silence lasted a bit too long, Zhuang Chi gradually started to look dejected again. Seeing this, Gu Ximian hesitated, then cast aside her own chaotic feelings, gritted her teeth, and said in shy annoyance, “If you're going to kiss me... hurry up!”
It was an awkward permission, but Zhuang Chi was very obedient and quickly leaned in. And perhaps because she felt justified this time, having received permission, the kiss lasted longer than before. Gu Ximian tasted a mixture of red wine and honey, sweet and alluring, which made her mind gradually go blank. Her waist grew weak, as if losing its strength, and it seemed as if the drunkenness was being transmitted through the kiss, leaving her dazed even after their lips parted.
Zhuang Chi, on the other hand, seemed more at ease than Gu Ximian. She no longer looked anxious or dejected at all. Instead, she stuck out the tip of her tongue slightly and smiled at Gu Ximian. “I'm sweet too after drinking the honey water, right?”
...Damn it, this drunkard!
Gu Ximian, flushed with shame and anger, decided to let this drunkard cool down—or rather, to give herself some time to cool down as well. In any case, she fled with the glass, washing it back and forth in the sink for a full ten minutes. Only when she felt her heart wasn't pounding so violently did she stop, dawdling as she returned to find Zhuang Chi. But when she saw the person slumped dazedly on the sofa, looking like she was about to fall asleep, anger flared up in her heart again. She woke her up unceremoniously, “You haven't showered yet. Can you wash yourself?”
Zhuang Chi opened her eyes again, showing no temper at being woken up. She rubbed her eyes and said, “I can. I've always showered by myself.”
She said it as if everyone didn't shower by themselves. The two of them were not on the same wavelength at all. Gu Ximian decided not to bicker with her over such things. She hurried upstairs to find a change of clothes she hadn't worn before and a towel for Zhuang Chi, then led her into the bathroom. Before leaving, she still felt a little worried, so she turned back to remind her, “Don't make the water too hot, or you might get dizzy. And don't take too long. If anything happens... call me.”
But it's best if nothing happens, Gu Ximian thought. Otherwise, she really would be...
She didn't dare to go too far, afraid she wouldn't hear Zhuang Chi call for her, so she paced back and forth near the bathroom door, pretending to be calm as she listened to the sound of the water inside. And perhaps because her prayers were sincere enough, Zhuang Chi's shower was indeed relatively uneventful. It just took a little longer, but at least when she came out, her clothes were on neatly, without the kind of situation Gu Ximian had worried about most—buttoning them wrong. The Pheromone Blocking Collar on her neck had either not been taken off or had been put back on. It was fastened above the looser collar of the pajamas compared to her usual school uniform, revealing a hint of ambiguity that made one's mouth go dry.
Gu Ximian forced herself to look away after just one glance. She noticed that Zhuang Chi's hair was still dripping water; a clear sign she hadn't dried it properly. Gu Ximian took a deep breath, suppressed her flustered feelings, and took the towel to gently help Zhuang Chi dry her hair. Zhuang Chi lowered her head obediently. She seemed a little more sober after her shower than before. At this point, she suddenly remembered to ask seriously, “Gu Ximian, what time is it? If it's almost time for the dorm curfew, then I have to leave right away.”
...The moment she sobered up a little, she was already thinking about going back. Gu Ximian's hands paused. She looked at the person in front of her, who had already showered and changed into pajamas, and knew that Zhuang Chi wasn't actually that sober. Still, she felt a little displeased and deliberately teased her, “But the curfew has long passed. What are you going to do?”
Zhuang Chi was startled, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. After pondering for a moment, she said sullenly, “Then I can only see if I can get the dorm matron to open the door for me... I'll have to apologize first...”
Gu Ximian snorted inwardly and nonchalantly blocked her path. “What if the dorm matron won't open the door for you?”
Zhuang Chi became even more hesitant. After racking her brains for a long time, she finally came to a conclusion: “...Then I'll just have to find a hotel outside and stay for the night.”
Hearing this made Gu Ximian feel stifled with anger.
...How come “staying over here” wasn't one of the options? Gu Ximian vented all her anger on Zhuang Chi's hair, messing up her already slightly wavy, medium-length hair. Seeing her innocent eyes as she looked up still didn't appease her. She viciously pinched her cheek and said with a cold face, “Not allowed. You're staying here tonight.”
But speaking of which, the guest room wasn't prepared, Gu Ximian thought silently. She hadn't originally planned to have Zhuang Chi stay over tonight. If Zhuang Chi were to stay, then she would have to... sleep in the same bed with her.
As she thought about it, her heart began to pound, and her gaze darted away evasively. Of course, Zhuang Chi didn't know what she was thinking. Her reaction to Gu Ximian's words was surprisingly calm. She just nodded. “Oh, okay. Thank you.”
It was like punching cotton. Gu Ximian sighed deeply, feeling that most of her troubles tonight were because she was too sober. She thought that sleeping in the same bed with Zhuang Chi in this state probably wouldn't be a problem—after all, a drunk person should fall asleep quite quickly. As long as things like the “it's sweet” incident from earlier didn't happen again, there was nothing to worry about... Stop thinking about it! This is just looking for trouble!
Pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, Gu Ximian made up her mind. She first said to Zhuang Chi, “I'm going to take a shower too. Don't wander off, and especially don't go outside, you hear?”
Even though she knew Zhuang Chi wasn't that drunk, she still gave the instruction. Only after seeing Zhuang Chi nod obediently did she feel at ease. Gu Ximian then entered the bathroom—not the one Zhuang Chi had just used. But it was enough to make her shower distractedly. She couldn't stop thinking about having to sleep in the same bed with Zhuang Chi tonight. As she thought about it, her face grew hot, and she didn't know if it was from the steam of the hot water or something else.
By the time she came back to her senses, a long time had passed. It seemed she had unconsciously washed herself very thoroughly. This discovery made Gu Ximian blush again. She took a few deep breaths, mentally prepared herself, then put on her pajamas and walked out, only to not see Zhuang Chi on the second floor.
Gu Ximian's heart panicked. She hurried downstairs. Fortunately, as soon as she got downstairs, she saw Zhuang Chi—she was lying on the sofa, curled up slightly, looking like she was sleeping soundly.
“...”
Speechless for a moment, Gu Ximian didn't know what to say. In any case, she tiptoed over. Zhuang Chi was indeed already asleep. The heating in the house was strong. She had casually pulled a thin blanket from the side of the sofa over herself and was using a cushion as a pillow. She looked to have expertly arranged her “bed” into a decent setup—it was almost as if she was already used to sleeping on the sofa.
Wasn't she used to it? Gu Ximian thought with a dawning realization. Although it wasn't in this house, Zhuang Chi had slept on her sofa for a month before.
No wonder she proactively came down to sleep on the sofa after hearing she was to stay here. What a subconscious reaction. As Gu Ximian thought about this, her heart suddenly softened. While she found it both funny and exasperating, she also felt a little self-reproach for making Zhuang Chi sleep on the sofa three years ago—sigh, it had come back like a boomerang.
And now, Zhuang Chi was sleeping so soundly. The way her eyes were closed made her look very well-behaved. It wasn't the first time Gu Ximian had seen Zhuang Chi sleeping, but compared to back during Zhuang Chi's susceptible period, the person in slumber now was undoubtedly more peaceful. It was as if she was in a reassuring environment, willing to sleep soundly without any guard up. Even when Gu Ximian walked right up to her, it didn't disturb her sweet dreams.
Gu Ximian let out a soft, silent sigh. She reached out her hand, stopping just before Zhuang Chi's delicate nose. In the end, she couldn't bear to wake her up, and thus gave up on the decision she had agonized over for so long—to share half her bed with Zhuang Chi.
This was fine too. Just let her sleep. It was no loss to her anyway. A bed was, of course, more comfortable for one person to sleep in. Otherwise, it might have been a case of Zhuang Chi sleeping soundly while she herself lay beside her with insomnia, not even daring to turn over for fear of waking Zhuang Chi. What a torment that would be. Really.
Honestly. Gu Ximian thought, silently chanting Zhuang Chi's name in her heart.
...To think she fell asleep just like that.
Post a Comment