After speaking, she voluntarily withdrew from his lap.
Sitting back on the bed, she turned her face away, not looking at him.
So nervous, so nervous!
Qin Qing clenched her small fists tightly.
This was already the furthest she could go.
Her original plan was to simply pounce on him if necessary.
But in the end, she had the desire but not the courage…
However, when she was sitting on his lap just now, he definitely had a reaction.
His body was too tense, too abnormal…
Zhou Yansheng felt the sudden emptiness in his embrace and the warmth on his legs that quickly faded as the girl left…
A piece of his heart felt hollow.
Snap—
The light suddenly went out.
“Ah—!” Qin Qing instinctively gasped.
The next second, she was already pulled into the man’s arms.
“It’s fine. Power outage.” He patted the girl’s back. “Electricity usage is high at night, and blackouts happen often. I’ll go find candles.”
“No!” Qin Qing grabbed the man’s hand in return. “Don’t go!”
As soon as she spoke, Qin Qing regretted it. She had wanted to say gently: Could you not go? I’m scared…
How did it come out as such a willful remark?
He probably won’t like it again…
“Alright, I won’t go.” Zhou Yansheng comforted her, somewhat unaccustomed to it.
In the darkness, it was so quiet they could hear each other’s breathing and heartbeat.
A bit awkward, neither spoke.
Perhaps because she had maintained the same position for too long, Qin Qing unconsciously shifted slightly in the man’s arms, trying to adjust.
Her elbow, however, inadvertently brushed against the tightly fastened belt buckle at his waist, producing a faint, soft sound.
In the silent darkness, it was amplified infinitely.
Both froze simultaneously.
Qin Qing felt the man’s tense chest…
She really wanted to kiss him.
No!
Stop!
Be reserved, be patient.
While Qin Qing was busy with her internal struggle, she unconsciously snuggled closer into the man’s embrace.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yansheng, who was already holding back, broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead and couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
After all, he was a vigorous young man, holding his rightful wife in his arms.
In pitch darkness.
It was too agonizing.
But there were too many unresolved issues between them; he couldn’t let things get muddled again…
Yet, the little girl was too sensitive. If he pushed her away now, who knows how much she might cry.
But holding her like this wasn’t a solution either.
“Um… Qin Qing,” he tried to speak.
“Hmm?” The little girl looked up from his chest.
Her lips brushed against his chin.
Like an electric shock.
“I’ll go find candles!” Without any explanation, Zhou Yansheng fled in panic.
The door opened, bringing in a draft, and only then did Qin Qing snap back to reality.
She had kissed him!
Even if it was just… his chin.
Hard, was that… his stubble?
She touched her lips dazedly.
It felt unreal.
Happy.
…
Zhou Yansheng didn’t let out a breath until he ran outside the door.
He took out a cigarette and lit it.
He took a drag, but it still couldn’t suppress the restlessness in his heart.
The little girl had always been bold since childhood, acting without considering the consequences.
This time, she was determined to stay.
Inside the room, seeing that Zhou Yansheng hadn’t come back in for a while, Qin Qing grew a bit panicked. Without even putting on her coat, she felt her way out in the dark.
She happened to run into Zhou Yansheng, who was coming back in after finishing his cigarette.
“Go inside, it’s cold out here.” Contrary to his usual self, Zhou Yansheng took the initiative to hold her and bring her inside.
This left Qin Qing stunned for a moment, following the man back to the room in a daze.
“If you want to stay, then stay.” Zhou Yansheng said casually, then added, “I’ll go boil some water. Wash up and get to bed early.”
Qin Qing: …
Had Zhou Yansheng been possessed?!
So you gave in that easily??
……
No lights, pitch black.
After washing up, Qin Qing came out of the bathroom holding a candle and was startled to see the man sitting in the living room.
She almost dropped the candle.
“Ah—!” Another startled cry.
Zhou Yansheng hurried over to check. “What’s wrong?”
“It hurts…” Qin Qing shoved the candle into the man’s hands.
Holding up her own hand, she was almost whimpering.
By the candlelight, Zhou Yansheng saw a drop of red wax on the girl’s snow-white hand…
Exceptionally glaring and conspicuous.
He instinctively swallowed.
Then he said sternly, “Go rinse it with cold water.”
So harsh.
Qin Qing pouted.
He couldn’t stay nice for long before scolding her again.
It really hurts, you know!
Turning around with a pitiful look, she said sulkily:
“Hold the light for me, I can’t see!”
Zhou Yansheng didn’t say anything but followed her.
In the cramped space, with two people standing there, it was indeed crowded.
Zhou Yansheng dripped a few drops of wax onto the mirror cabinet to secure the candle, then prepared to leave.
But the girl had turned on the faucet and was hesitating to rinse her hand.
“What are you waiting for?” He frowned.
“The water’s too cold…” the girl muttered, unwilling to put her hand under the faucet.
Zhou Yansheng stared at the red wax on the girl’s hand, licking his back teeth.
He directly grabbed her wrist.
The next second—
“Cold—” Qin Qing yelped.
But her hand was in the man’s grip, unable to break free.
Tears welled in her big eyes as she watched the man somewhat roughly peel off the wax and hold her hand under the cold running water.
“Gently… these are piano-playing hands…” she mumbled.
“You still remember you play the piano!”
Qin Qing: …
The cold water was bone-chilling, and she couldn’t help shivering.
Zhou Yansheng held the girl’s wrist, and as she shivered, his thumb instinctively rubbed over the reddened hand.
As if wiping away the leftover wax, but more like comforting.
He never let go, staying with her as they both endured the freezing winter water.
Qin Qing gradually got used to the cold water, but the man’s warm breath on the back of her neck stole all her attention.
He was so close to her…
Almost trapping her in his embrace.
He really cared about her…
Qin Qing held back her tears, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
They rinsed for a full five minutes.
Only then did Zhou Yansheng turn off the faucet.
He took the towel hanging on the rack and helped the girl dry her hands.
“It’s not serious, probably doesn’t need medicine.” He picked up the candle and hurriedly walked out. “Apply some hand cream yourself, don’t take it lightly.”
“Oh.” Qin Qing followed the man out of the bathroom.
Zhou Yansheng really rarely stayed in this apartment; there wasn’t even a kerosene lamp.
They could only rely on candlelight.
Qin Qing checked her watch—only eight o’clock.
“Will the power come back on?” she asked him.
“Hard to say.” Zhou Yansheng sat back down in the living room.
“Then… could you stay tonight?” Qin Qing said, then immediately ran back to her room without even taking the candle.
Kicked off her shoes, took off her coat, got into bed, pulled up the covers, and burrowed under the blanket.
Her movements were swift, but her heart was pounding wildly.
She buried her head under the covers, breathing heavily.
By the bedroom door, Zhou Yansheng held the candle, smiling silently.
In the end, he still entered the bedroom and secured the candle on the desk.
Under the covers, Qin Qing listened to the sound of the man entering the room, her heart pounding like a drum.
But then she heard his footsteps leaving.
She abruptly threw off the covers.
“Don’t go!”
The man holding the change of clothes paused in his steps.
“That… I’m just scared… um, scared.” After saying this, Qin Qing pulled the blanket back over himself again.
How embarrassing!
He was holding the change of clothes, but he wasn’t leaving!
Qin Qing felt his heart was about to leap out of his chest.
Where would he sleep tonight?
The small one-bedroom apartment couldn’t magically produce a second bed.
There wasn’t even a sofa.
The bed was quite large though…
Just thinking about it made Qin Qing feel his face burning hot!