After saying that, she still wasn’t satisfied. Blushing furiously, she couldn’t help adding in a small voice, “Right now… can I kiss your mask?”
Gu Wujin’s long, thick black lashes trembled. “Kiss… kiss what?”
Ji Huaixiang reached out a finger and tapped the black mask. “Here. I want to kiss it. Do you allow me?”
Her fingertip was cool as it landed right over his lips. Gu Wujin immediately pulled her hand down, brows furrowed, eyes serious as he looked at her. “I know you’re drooling over my good looks, but we’re in public right now. You can’t just do whatever you want.”
“Oh.”
Ji Huaixiang obediently withdrew her finger, feeling a little disappointed.
The girl simply stared at him quietly like that. Gradually, both of Gu Wujin’s ears turned red. “Even if you stare at me like this, you still can’t kiss me.” He turned his head away awkwardly. “And no matter how irresistible I am, you have to resist.”
“I can’t resist. When it comes to my boyfriend, I don’t want to resist at all.” She wished she could just raise the white flag and surrender—why would she resist?
Ji Huaixiang withdrew her burning gaze, turned around, and went back to looking at the perfumes. If she couldn’t kiss or even look, then she might as well focus on the exhibition.
The crowd in the venue grew thicker, and all kinds of fragrances floated through the air.
Ji Huaixiang walked over to the new-release section. Her attention was immediately caught by one particular perfume. The bottle design was stunning—a hemispherical shape studded with sparkling deep blue and silver-white rhinestones, like a vast universe filled with stars, mysterious and unfathomable.
There was an informational flyer on the display stand. Ji Huaixiang skimmed it. The perfume was called Dark Wind, a work by the perfumer Jiang Xingmo, part of his Dark Knight series. What surprised her was that it actually incorporated the scent of sweat.
She knew of Jiang Xingmo—he was quite famous domestically. Unlike traditional perfumers, he loved going against the grain with a rebellious style, creating very unconventional fragrances. If she remembered correctly, his most shocking creation was one that blended in the smell of semen—a highly sensual perfume that caused quite a stir when it launched. But such extreme, avant-garde creations… she personally couldn’t accept them.
There were so many products in the exhibition, and Ji Huaixiang took it all in very seriously. It was a rare learning opportunity, and she cherished every moment. For familiar classics, she mostly skipped over them. Her focus was on the rising stars—fragrances full of imagination and romance.
Around the venue, quite a few people noticed this eye-catching pair.
The beautiful, delicate girl was earnestly studying the works in the glass cases, even picking up samples and sniffing them with proper technique. Behind her followed a tall man wearing a black mask, silent, limping slightly as he trailed after her. Every time she finished looking at a display case, she would turn back to the man, say something to him, her eyes shining so brightly—so very bright.
Ji Huaixiang sniffed almost every perfume she liked on the displays. By the time they left the exhibition hall, it was nearly closing time.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing Gu Wujin sitting motionless in the driver’s seat, Ji Huaixiang asked in confusion.
Gu Wujin turned to face her. His long lashes fluttered lightly a few times; his chin lifted slightly. “There’s no one else around now. You can kiss me.”
Ji Huaixiang blinked, looking at him in surprise.
“There were too many people at the exhibition earlier—that’s why I told you to hold back.” Gu Wujin’s dark gaze softened a fraction. The tips of his ears under his short black hair turned red. He was very generous about it: “Now you don’t have to hold back, or suppress anything, or go against what you really want. Go ahead and kiss me.”
“Pfft!”
Ji Huaixiang couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
What was she supposed to do? Her boyfriend was explosively cute.
Looking at the man in front of her—still cool and aloof with that black mask on, yet openly asking to be kissed—her heart pounded hard, thump thump thump. She really, really loved this kind of boyfriend.
“Are you very happy?”
Gu Wujin’s neck stiffened; under the mask, his handsome face was already flushed. “Opportunity knocks but once. Hurry up and kiss me.”
The smile on Ji Huaixiang’s lips grew wider and deeper. She unbuckled the seatbelt she had just fastened, slowly leaned toward Gu Wujin, their faces drawing closer. She paused for a moment, then gently pressed her soft, rosy, glossy lips against the black mask.
Even through the mask, the girl’s sweet, seductive fragrance reached him—faint but unmistakable. His whole body instantly tensed. Suddenly, a soft touch landed on the tip of his nose—her lips had kissed his nose. Gu Wujin’s ears began to burn. Before he could fully savor it, the sensation vanished.
He felt a little dissatisfied.
But the next second, those soft lips pressed against his own through the mask. Gu Wujin’s heart jolted; every muscle in his body tightened rapidly.
His eyes were deep black like thick ink, as beautiful as an ink-wash painting—stunningly so. He had never known kissing could feel this good, enough to make his heart tremble.
No—they were only indirectly kissing.
Even with a layer of fabric between them, the soft sensation on his lips was still vivid. Just as Gu Wujin began to sink into it, the girl pulled back slightly. He met her dark eyes, a little unhappy, only to find them burning with intense heat.
Her scorching breath sprayed against the mask; his own breathing was loud and obvious. Ji Huaixiang’s fair face was already flushed deep crimson. Her eyes sparkled. While he was still dazed, she leaned in again. Her pearly white teeth parted slightly, and with perfect precision, she bit down lightly on his lower lip through the mask—using her front teeth.
“Mmm…”
A faint sting shot through him like an electric current—tingling and numbing. Caught off guard, Gu Wujin let out a low, sexy hum. His Adam’s apple quivered; his lashes trembled violently.
The air inside the car seemed thin, thick with stifling heat, making it hard to breathe.
Ji Huaixiang looked at the stunned man and smiled. She wrapped both arms around his waist, tilted her face up, and reported softly: “I’m done kissing.”
Her bright, crystalline gaze seemed to hold the most dazzling light; her pink, glowing little face was radiant and vivid. Her voice was soft, shy yet straightforward as she asked, “Jin-jin, do you like it when I kiss you?”
Like it?
He was practically going insane with how much he liked it, okay!
His heart clenched and expanded, as if gripped by cardiac spasm—completely out of control, pounding wildly. Her body’s fragrance filled his nose; the tingling numbness on his lips hadn’t faded. His whole body felt like it was about to explode.
How could she be this good?
Gu Wujin lowered his head. Thin red flushed both sides of his ears; the black in his eyes grew even deeper and denser. His voice came out low and hoarse: “I like it.”
Ji Huaixiang smiled, her eyes shimmering. Classic case of taking advantage and still acting coy. “This kiss doesn’t count. Just now I only kissed your mask—I didn’t get to taste you.” She hugged him tighter, boldly making her demand: “Next time, I won’t kiss the mask anymore, okay? I want to kiss you directly.”
Gu Wujin’s face burned. Hearing her words, he tugged at his thin lips. So earlier she hadn’t kissed the tip of his nose? Hadn’t kissed his lips? Hadn’t bitten his lip?
The man didn’t respond.
“Okay?” Ji Huaixiang rubbed the tip of her nose gently against his tall, straight bridge—even through the mask.
Gu Wujin quickly pulled her into his arms, pinning her so she wouldn’t move around anymore. “Okay, okay—don’t move.” He was still rock-hard and tense all over.
Pressed so close together, the mask did nothing to block the scent. Breathing in the fragrance from her body, he felt like he was about to explode down there. And yet here she was, still innocently seducing him—her soft, plush body and warm, scented skin clinging to him. His self-control was facing its most severe test yet.
After dinner, by the time they returned to the dormitory building, night had already fallen. The black car parked under a tree; a few strands of yellow streetlight filtered into the vehicle.
All evening, Ji Huaixiang had been smiling like a blooming flower. This was her first time celebrating a birthday—and with the person she liked by her side. The satisfaction in her heart was so full it was almost overflowing.
“Jin-jin, thank you.”
She stretched out her hand and shook her wrist lightly. The sea-blue diamond fragments on the bracelet sparkled brilliantly, making her slender, jade-like wrist look even more luminous and beautiful.
This bracelet was the gift Gu Wujin had given her during dinner. Remembering how clumsily he had fastened it onto her wrist, she let out a soft laugh. “How can you be this good? I really, really like you.” She paused for a moment, then added, “I like you the most—the very most.”
Under the dim yellow light, Gu Wujin’s refined and handsome face looked even more striking. The tips of his ears twitched once. His hand resting on the steering wheel unconsciously tightened. “You’re my girlfriend. Giving you gifts is only natural. And of course you should like me.”
Ji Huaixiang nodded in agreement, her brows curving into happy crescents.
……
Hearing the door open, Ji Dongqing—who was in the middle of applying a face mask—turned her head. “Huaixiang, you’re back.”
“Mm.” Ji Huaixiang walked to her own spot, set her bag down, and prepared to take a shower. After being out all day, she felt a little tired.
“Xiaoxuan and Yongtian went out for late-night snacks. Want anything? I can call and ask them to bring something back for you,” Ji Dongqing said, peeling off her mask.
“No need. I just ate before coming back.” Ji Huaixiang slipped off her high heels. Even though they were wedges, walking around all day still left her feet aching.
Ji Dongqing’s gaze landed on Ji Huaixiang. A strange glint flashed through her eyes. Today, instead of a long-sleeved jacket, Ji Huaixiang was wearing a dress. It wasn’t any recognizable brand—probably just something ordinary from a small shop—but she wore it with such refined elegance and charm. The two bare sections of her fair arms were exposed, beautiful yet somehow grating to the eye.
“Huaixiang, were you out on a date with your boyfriend?”
“Yeah, why?”
“No wonder. You look really good dressed like this—your boyfriend must love it.” Ji Dongqing smiled and casually added, “Xiaoxuan is dating my cousin now, and you’ve got a boyfriend too. Why don’t we find a time to all go out for a meal together? You can introduce him to us roommates, and we can celebrate both of you finally being off the market. What do you think?”
Ji Huaixiang thought of her boyfriend Gu Wujin’s proud, tsundere little attitude. Her heart trembled sweetly. She couldn’t bear to show him off to anyone—she only wanted to keep him all to herself, hidden away like a treasure. “We’ll see.”