The cinema was screening a recently released film.
Though the content was exciting, Tan Qinyin couldn’t focus on it at all.
Song Qinghe noticed her absent-mindedness: “Yinyin, what’s wrong?”
Tan Qinyin moved her lips slightly and lowered her eyes: “It’s nothing. Maybe I didn’t sleep well, so I’m not in good spirits.”
Song Qinghe reached out to touch her forehead, concerned: “Are you sick? How about we skip the movie and I’ll take you back to rest?”
Tan Qinyin shook her head: “No need. I’m just a bit distracted. I’ll be fine after a while.”
“Really, nothing’s wrong?” Song Qinghe was still somewhat worried.
“Really, nothing,” Tan Qinyin held her hand and leaned against her shoulder, “Let me lean on you for a bit.”
Song Qinghe gently patted her shoulder: “Alright, then lean on me for a while.”
Leaning against her best friend’s shoulder, the feeling of blockage in Tan Qinyin’s heart eased slightly.
After the movie, the two went home for dinner. Auntie Liang had prepared a delicious mushroom chicken soup for the evening.
Chu Nanyu had a business dinner that night and didn’t return until almost ten o’clock.
The TV in the living room was playing a random program, and Tan Qinyin curled up on the sofa, pretending to watch.
In reality, she had been waiting for Chu Nanyu all along.
When he entered, Tan Qinyin didn’t greet him warmly as usual. She just watched the man with her gaze.
“What are you watching?” Chu Nanyu sat down beside her.
“Just watching whatever.”
Tan Qinyin casually asked, “Husband, why did you change your clothes?”
Chu Nanyu’s expression remained normal as he replied calmly, “I accidentally spilled coffee on them, so I changed.”
Tan Qinyin joked, “Were you drinking coffee with some pretty girl and accidentally spilled it?”
Chu Nanyu was slightly taken aback, then reached out to ruffle her hair: “What are you thinking about?”
He still wouldn’t admit it.
Tan Qinyin’s face instantly turned cold. She pursed her lips, stood up, and without another glance at the man, turned and headed straight upstairs.
Chu Nanyu’s hand, extended mid-air, froze. Watching her retreating figure, a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
The bedroom door was closed by Tan Qinyin with a dull thud. After the sound, she buried herself in the bed, pressing her face into the pillow.
…
“Knock, knock, knock!”
“Miss Song.”
Song Qinghe was applying a face mask when she heard Chu Nanyu’s knocking and responded, “Just a moment!”
After checking her appearance, she got up to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Chu Nanyu asked, “Miss Song, did you and Yinyin watch a movie near Haixi Road this afternoon?”
Song Qinghe adjusted her mask: “Yes, why?”
Chu Nanyu asked again, “Was she in a bad mood this afternoon?”
Song Qinghe nodded: “Yes, a little.”
His suspicion confirmed, Chu Nanyu’s eyes darkened: “Thank you.”
With that, he quickly headed downstairs.
Song Qinghe: “?”
What’s going on?
…
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Chu Nanyu gently knocked on Tan Qinyin’s door.
“Yinyin, could you open the door, please?”
Hearing his voice, Tan Qinyin slowly raised her head but remained silent and motionless.
Chu Nanyu knocked again, “Don’t be angry, Yinyin.”
Tan Qinyin turned over and sat up but still didn’t respond to him.
After a while, the commotion outside the door completely stopped.
Tan Qinyin pouted slightly, her fingers gripping the bedsheet tightening imperceptibly.
Did he leave so quickly?
Her eyes silently grew slightly warm.
Just as tears were about to fall, Chu Nanyu’s deep voice sounded again.
“Yinyin, I’m sorry.”
“This afternoon, I was indeed at the café on Haixi Road, but it’s not what you think.”
“It was He Wenzhou’s family who arranged for him to go on a blind date. He didn’t want to go, so he dragged me along to help him out for a while. I just sat in for him and wasn’t familiar with that lady at all.”
“The coffee was spilled accidentally when it got knocked over. I wasn’t lying to you, I just didn’t explain in detail earlier because I was afraid you might overthink it.”
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
The lock clicked softly, and the door was pulled open a narrow crack.
Tan Qinyin stood behind the door, her eyes red at the corners, looking at him with a pitiful expression: “Really?”
Chu Nanyu gazed at her reddened eyes, his throat tightening slightly, his icy voice unusually gentle: “Mm, really.”
He leaned down slightly, raised his hand, and gently touched the corner of her reddened eye with his fingertip, his movements restrained and careful.
“It was inconsiderate of me, making you feel wronged.”
Tan Qinyin’s heart softened at his gentle touch, and the little resentment she had been holding onto earlier dissipated mostly.
She stepped out from behind the door, raised her arms to wrap them around his waist, and pressed her face against his chest.
The fabric carried a clean, snow-like scent, and the body warmth she felt was steady and warm.
The woman mumbled, “I was jealous just now, and thought you were lying to me.”
Chu Nanyu’s body stiffened, his hand paused in mid-air before slowly lowering to gently rest on her back, his fingertips tightening slightly.
He could clearly feel the shallow breaths of the person in his arms, brushing against his chest one after another. His throat moved heavily, his voice low and hoarse: “It’s all my fault.”
Tan Qinyin, like a soft little bunny, rubbed her cheek against his chest: “Then from now on, no matter what happens, you have to tell me the truth.”
A wave of warmth surged in Chu Nanyu’s heart, his breathing gradually deepened, but his tense shoulders completely relaxed, his palm pressing a little more firmly.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Oh my…
Song Qinghe steadied her own little heart.
This… this… is this scene even allowed?
And why does it seem a bit… captivating?
Ah, ah, ah, my thoughts are straying!
Should I go out and stop them?
After a moment of hesitation.
Forget it, forget it.
Chu Nanyu is just trying to comfort Yinyin.
It’s just a hug, nothing more.
I’ll just pretend I didn’t see it.
Having convinced herself, Song Qinghe tiptoed upstairs.
After a while, Tan Qinyin slowly raised her head and looked at Chu Nanyu.
The woman blinked her clear, lake-like eyes, her gaze falling on those sensual lips, her arms tightening slightly around his waist.
“Husband,” she called out softly.
Chu Nanyu’s large hand rested gently on her back, his pupils dark and deep, his voice escaping through his nose: “Hmm?”
Tan Qinyin’s lips moved slightly, hesitating for a moment before voicing the thought that suddenly popped into her mind: “I want to kiss you.”
Chu Nanyu’s eyes trembled violently.