Zhu Qingjia was being shaken so hard by her friends gripping her shoulders that she could barely hold her phone steady. Fortunately, the waitress walked in with their food, forcing them to finally behave themselves and snap back to reality.
“Little Sister Gu, do you know about our Jingda campus forum?” Jingjing asked, smoothly adopting the new nickname. “Someone posted a confession to Jiajia there. After getting rejected, they wrote an 800 words essay about it. There was an even more tragic one who didn’t even get the chance to confess before finding out she already had a girlfriend. I checked that thread earlier, it hasn’t been updated in a while. They’ve probably given up. If they find out her girlfriend is you, they’ll definitely lose all hope.”
“Can I take a look at the forum?” Gu Ruoling asked, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
“Sure! I’ll send you the link. You can log in using Qingjia’s student ID.”
Gu Ruoling pulled out her phone to wait for the link, but Zhu Qingjia was faster, she had already texted over her student ID and password.
So completely transparent with me?
Looking up, Gu Ruoling saw that Zhu Qingjia had already set her phone down and was helping stick candles into the birthday cake. She suddenly felt like she didn’t need to look at the forum anymore or at least, it could wait until later.
A Sweet Celebration
After singing the birthday song and blowing out the candles, they snapped a flurry of group photos. Knowing there was a second round of plans waiting for them, they held off on drinking at the dinner table.
Once they finished eating, Xiao Tong announced she was treating everyone to karaoke and declared they were going to pull an all-nighter.
Zhu Qingjia turned to Gu Ruoling. “Are you tired? If you are, we can head home first.”
Perhaps because the private dining room was a bit warm, Gu Ruoling’s cheeks were flushed with a soft pink, though she still seemed quite energetic. She shook her head. “I actually want to go.” Leaning closer, she lowered her voice and whispered, “I took my medicine before coming out.”
She meant she wouldn’t suddenly feel unwell like last time.
Zhu Qingjia took her hand. “Then we’ll stay for just a little bit, and then we’ll go home.”
“Hey, you two lovebirds lagging behind, stop whispering secrets and catch up!” Yinzi shouted back at them. The others had already walked six or seven meters ahead.
Serenades and Subtle Gestures
At the KTV, Gu Ruoling sat back and watched them pick songs and belt them out. She had to admit, Jingjing actually had some serious vocal talent. She could sing, she could perform, she was a whole one woman show, even nailing Cantonese songs with decent pronunciation.
When the microphone was passed toward Gu Ruoling, however, she waved her hand and said through the loud reverb, “I’m happy just listening to you guys sing.”
Because she had barely spoken during their previous barbecue outing, she had successfully established a shy image in front of them, so they didn’t press her further.
On the other hand, the moment she looked away, Zhu Qingjia was dragged up by Xiao Tong.
The melody that started playing was romantic and sweet. Gu Ruoling cupped her face in her hands, watching as Zhu Qingjia held the mic and began to sing along with the rhythm of the chorus:
“I guess you want to get closer too,” “Until my eyelashes gently brush against your cheek,” “Until you bow your head and breathe in the scent of my hair,” “This thought…” “Needs only a single word from you,” “To get even closer.”
Gu Ruoling listened intently. The KTV sound system wasn’t top-tier, but Zhu Qingjia’s voice was exceptionally beautiful. It felt like she was murmuring sweet nothings, even though Gu Ruoling had rarely heard her say such romantic things in person.
Zhu Qingjia’s vocals were clear and her breath control was steady, with a uniquely captivating tone at the end of each line. Gu Ruoling hadn’t expected the first time hearing her sing would be under these circumstances. For a fleeting moment, she even thought that if Zhu Qingjia ever chose to become a singer, she would surely bless the ears of countless listeners.
Halfway through, Gu Ruoling felt thirsty and reached for a can of beer, but it was easily snatched away by Zhu Qingjia, who replaced it with a cup of warm jasmine tea.
Because Gu Ruoling chose to remain a dedicated listener, Zhu Qingjia only sang two songs before stepping down. The other three sang, acted, and danced until they completely exhausted themselves. By the time they left, any thoughts of an all-nighter were gone, and two and a half out of the three voices were completely hoarse.
The Trick in the Bamboo Grove
Zhu Qingjia hailed a cab for them. Xiao Tong was the last to get in, gripping the car door and refusing to let it close as she rasped, “You’re not coming back to the dorms again.”
“Right, I’m staying with my girlfriend,” Zhu Qingjia replied, a trace of smugness in her expression.
Yinzi poked her head out from the passenger seat, forcing out a few croaky syllables, “Whatever! Stay safe, and watch out, don’t go creating any new lives out there!”
Zhu Qingjia slammed the door shut with a loud thud, turning to the driver. “Sir, please take them to Jingda. The faster, the better.”
Turning around, she saw Gu Ruoling looking at her while holding her phone. “Uncle Li said it’ll take him a little while to get here.”
“Let’s take a stroll nearby then.” Zhu Qingjia led her to a neighboring park. They didn’t venture deep, choosing to walk along a bamboo grove right next to the public square.
“Are you tired?” This was probably the countless time Zhu Qingjia had asked her tonight.
Gu Ruoling shook her head. Truthfully, she was a bit tired, but she didn’t want to lose this rare opportunity to be out together, so she forced herself to keep walking.
A gentle evening breeze blew past, leaving them feeling refreshed.
Zhu Qingjia suddenly stopped in the shadows. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing.
Gu Ruoling, who had been waiting for a conversation starter, took the bait flawlessly. She leaned in closer to look at where she was pointing. “There’s nothing there…”
The moment she lifted her head, her lips gently brushed against the corner of Zhu Qingjia’s mouth, carrying a faint sweetness from the jasmine tea.
When did she lean down?
Gu Ruoling’s exhaustion vanished instantly. Adrenaline rushed through her, leaving her brain entirely lucid and her senses hyper aware. The softness against her lips and the fresh scent in her nose all pointed to one undeniable reality.
She had kissed her.
Gu Ruoling blinked, her limbs freezing completely. Fortunately, Zhu Qingjia wrapped her arms around her, gently cradling her cheek to guide the imperfect brush into a deep, fulfilling kiss.
Their warm, soft lips pressed and molded together. It felt like a silent declaration of love even though Zhu Qingjia’s hands weren’t doing anything inappropriate, Gu Ruoling still felt her knees go weak as her heart hammered wildly.
Zhu Qingjia kissed her with utmost care. Afraid of giving Gu Ruoling a bad experience, she had done her homework in advance, reading through numerous anonymous forums to extract the essence of real experiences just to apply it to this very moment. A top-tier student with an incredible capacity for learning could still achieve a perfect score through thorough preparation, even if she wasn’t naturally gifted in certain areas.
Gu Ruoling was kissed senseless. When it finally ended, she leaned against Zhu Qingjia’s shoulder, resting for a long time to catch her breath. The kiss hadn’t been long, but it was sweet to the core.
Zhu Qingjia stroked her back, holding her tight. “There were so many times tonight when I wanted to do that,” she murmured softly. “I finally got the chance.”
Clinging to her arm, Gu Ruoling couldn’t help but replay the moment in her head. Zhu Qingjia had been incredibly gentle and not a bit frivolous, it was a flawless first experience.
“But the ambiance here isn’t even that good,” Gu Ruoling murmured, remembering how she had been rejected back in the bedroom.
Zhu Qingjia stroked her hair, intentionally teasing her, “I think it’s great. Look, people are even walking past us. It’s quite thrilling.”
Sure enough, the noble young lady’s face flushed bright red instantly. Right as Zhu Qingjia finished speaking, a mother and daughter walked right past them, casting a curious glance their way. In the dead of night, a couple hugging each other this tightly would make even a passing dog look twice.
People really can see us here!
Gu Ruoling buried her face directly into Zhu Qingjia’s chest, refusing to come out for anything. If Uncle Li hadn’t called, they probably would have stood there like that all night.
Secrets Behind the Privacy Partition
Even when they got into the car, Zhu Qingjia couldn’t help but bite her lip to hide a smirk. Catching sight of it, Gu Ruoling swatted at her blindly but because she didn’t look where she was aiming, her hand landed right below Zhu Qingjia’s lower abdomen.
Realizing what she had just touched, Gu Ruoling blinked frantically and practically scrambled into the car to escape the embarrassment.
Looking through the rearview mirror to check if they were settled, Uncle Li was startled to see his young mistress’s face so flushed it looked ready to drip blood. He repeatedly asked if they should drive straight to the hospital. Having never seen her look like this before, he genuinely thought she was falling ill.
Once Zhu Qingjia sat down properly, she explained, “It’s fine, Uncle Li. It’s just too hot outside. She’ll be fine in a moment.”
Gu Ruoling rummaged through the car for an ice pack, pressing it firmly against her burning face.
But Zhu Qingjia clearly had no intention of letting her off easy. She leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I couldn’t tell before, but you’re quite impatient.”
“You’re the one who’s impatient! And you’re calculating!” Gu Ruoling scolded her from behind the ice pack. “Everything tonight was part of your scheme.” The young heiress had never been played like this before, she was only realizing it after the fact.
Zhu Qingjia helped smooth out her tangled skirt, quietly reminding her, “Keep your voice down. Don’t let Uncle Li hear you.”
Gu Ruoling snapped her head up to look. Liar again. Uncle Li was focusing intently on driving. When young couples flirted, Old Li knew better than to look, he strictly followed traffic regulations and kept his eyes glued to the road.
Dropping the ice pack, Gu Ruoling hid her face in her hands. She still felt burning hot, and her heart was in utter chaos.
Initially, she had merely harbored a desire for her body out of curiosity for the unknown. Now that she had tasted it for the first time, that curiosity hadn’t faded at all, if anything, it was expanding uncontrollably.
Zhu Qingjia leaned back against the seat, her gaze fixed tenderly on her, while the young lady kept her chin tucked, not daring to meet her eyes. The kiss just now had been a mere taste without going deeper, yet it felt like honey left at the edge of a trap, radiating an irresistible temptation.
As Gu Ruoling’s thoughts swirled, a lock of long hair slid off her shoulder. A fair hand gently tucked it back, warm fingertips brushing against her sensitive, flushed earlobe. A tingling sensation washed over her, making her look up.
Zhu Qingjia leaned into her ear, her voice a mere whisper of air, “What should I do? I want to kiss you again.”
They weren’t alone in the car, but such subtle provocation was incredibly effective at making one’s heart race.
Gu Ruoling’s fingers twitched. Soon after, Old Li noticed that the privacy partition, which hadn’t been used in years, was slowly sliding down, completely cutting off both sight and sound.
With the partition down, a private space meant only for the two of them was sealed.
Zhu Qingjia wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Just as she was about to lean in, the young lady hurriedly blocked her, frantically setting a condition. “No tongues allowed.”
“I wasn’t going to,” Zhu Qingjia let out a low chuckle, but quickly followed up with, “Then when can I?”
Before she could answer, a scorching kiss fell upon her lips. The young lady’s voice came in broken fragments, completely swallowed up by the heated kiss: “…Next… next time.”
Satisfied, Zhu Qingjia closed her eyes, her fingertips reaching up to gently pinch and massage her earlobe.
This time, her lips didn’t just stop at her mouth, they traced down to her chin, her cheeks, her ears, and even her neck. By the end of it, half of Gu Ruoling’s body had gone completely numb. Cradled in her arms, she yielded to her completely, yielding and sweet.
Zhu Qingjia’s movements were precise and deliberate, carrying a gentle weight. Every touch left the young lady on the absolute verge of letting out a soft moan.
This attempt at restraint was quickly noticed by Zhu Qingjia. She gently pulled away the hand Gu Ruoling had been biting down on, distinct teeth marks had already formed, standing out vividly against her soft, pale skin.