Chapter 52: Intimacy

Hearing—Jiang Ya gentle eyes on Qi Yu’s thin lips—pink color—pretty shape—even thin—full—soft like tofu.
Stared—dazed to shocked—eyes wide—shy lowered—hands light on shoulders—small protest. “What kind of punishment… unreasonable.”
“How unreasonable?” Raised brow—hands down—palm under chin—cheek pinch—soft flesh squeezed—lost eyes—cute.
Eyes darkened—between eyes and lips. Loved this shy look—more hide—more conquer urge—want “bully” her.
Light laugh. “Teacher Jiang—we’re dating—I’m your girlfriend—reasonable. Not one kiss—even if want other things…”
Not finished—Jiang Ya hand covered lips. Glasses off—even glaring—soft cute.
“You… don’t say. How improper…” Saw pleasure in Qi Yu eyes—wanted scold—tone no threat.
Smile deeper—took hand—matter of fact. “We’re dating—not class—how proper need?”
“Then… get up—don’t press—too close—hot…” Heart like deer—dared not look Qi Yu long.
“Kiss me once—I’ll get up.” Still asking.
Jiang Ya head down—pressed lips—push stopped—silent—breath messy from pressing.
Since together—close often—shyness eased—but sober and clear-headed, taking the initiative—still shy.
Bodies tight still—air heating—Qi Yu watched lowered brows—restlessness faded in silence.
A while—no answer—disappointed—eyes down—about rise—neck grabbed hard.
Next second—soft sealed lips.
Light shallow—seconds—Jiang Ya let go.
Watery eyes low—heart drum—body shook—afraid Qi Yu heard.
Bit lip light—careful look at silent watcher. “This… enough… mm!”
Last word—chin lifted—Qi Yu kiss fell.
Urgent—no skill—instinct held lower lip—moved light—more sweetness—then slow—gentle tangle.
Only lips no deeper—Jiang Ya still weak. Breath mixed—arms around neck tight—only safety.
Long—panic to enjoy—eyes closed—necks turned—hard to part—wet sounds in quiet room.
Qi Yu on fire—body hot—did not know release—kissed lips again and again.
Hard—Jiang Ya soft hum—teeth parted—Qi Yu tried in—cat meow wrong time.
“Meow~” Zaizai somehow out—on coffee table—curious at sofa pair.
……
Meow shattered mood. Qi Yu distracted—Jiang Ya pushed—hand over wet lips—coughed awkward—red to neck.
Qi Yu no better—red—dazed on sofa at Zaizai—not back from long kiss.
Zaizai cute—ignored—meow again—jumped—scratching post.
Qi Yu eyes followed—licked numb lips—low. “When did it get out… perfect timing.”
Seconds—no answer.
Turned—Jiang Ya also looking.
Four eyes—Jiang Ya pale weak face now peach—especially lips—swollen red—strange alluring.
Jiang Ya fast away—picked computer—tight red lips—silent screen.
Forced calm—funny—secret smile.
Kettle—two cups—drank—offered Jiang Ya.
Hand near—Jiang Ya flinched—away—“You said—you can’t…”
“Can’t what?” Saw shock—laughed—closer—“Drink water.”
Pause—eyes on cup—took. Kissed how long—five minutes? Unclear—numb—dry throat—but pouring water felt like meaning…
Finished—Qi Yu took cup—sat close—arm around waist behind.
Sensitive—sudden touch—itch hum—shrunk into arms.
“Stop—I really work—late wash.” Shame not gone—held—restless—cannot focus.
“I’m not.” Leaned shoulder—quiet lesson plans together. Half watch computer—looked up. “Can I stay tonight?”
Stopped typing—blinked several—“Stay?”
“Mm—okay?” Hot eyes—Jiang Ya eyes flickered.
Silent—thought. Used to sleep alone—another person—might not adapt. But lover now—same bed… normal?
Brief hesitation—nodded—“But no clothes for you here…”
“Small thing—I’ll wash at mine—come back.” Smile—excitement hard hide.
“Won’t that… trouble you?”
“No—not at all.”
Pillow on shoulder again—face rubbed—low eyes. “If I hadn’t rented—I’d move in—daily Chef Jiang food.”
Jiang Ya smiled soft—free hand patted head. “Close enough already—so clingy—like puppy.”
“Puppy?” Eyes smiling—hand on hers on keyboard—fingers interlocked.
“Puppy then—only your puppy.”
“Childish.”
Jiang Ya laughed—turned met eyes—tightened held hands.
……
Late night.
Midsummer heat—even night no cool.
Thirties outside—sweat soon—but in room—quilt on—held tight unwilling part.
“AC too low? So cold?” Hand out of quilt—chill—back in Qi Yu arms.
Qi Yu proper—tucked quilt. “Not cold—outside hot—lower better sleep.”
“…You did it on purpose?” After while Jiang Ya.
“Did what on purpose?” Asked—smile unstoppable—lights off—dark hid teasing.
“You…” Before bed asked hold sleep hot—now cold must cling—she feared cold—any heat source.
“Hm? Me what?”
“…Nothing.” Maybe unfair suspect. Besides deliberate or not—they did intimate things—just holding sleep—fine.
Soft voice at ear—smile would not stop—held tighter.
Quiet—only AC hum. Cold air—but bodies together warm enough.
Face in shoulder—almost asleep—Qi Yu asked. “Wanted ask long—never did.”
Jiang Ya opened eyes—shifted in arms—awake bit. “Ask what?”
Deep breath—hand on head—slow gentle hair stroke.
“From when?”
“You said… no matter how good—only friends?”
Question long confused inside—calm out.
No security—doubted—hid—dared not ask—dared not show lowliness.
In love—who was not lowly.
Lowered many lines for Jiang Ya—year unrequited—gave up—picked pride piece by piece.
Fate joked.
Heart barely whole—reunion—meteor hole again.
Jiang Ya—fate entanglement—more destiny than fate.
Asked—silence in arms—then. “If exact time—I don’t know.”
“Because… you were always special.”
“That special—sometimes uneasy. Afraid lose you—unconsciously held distance—maybe you didn’t notice.”
“Then I… only friends—only could be friends—sorry—in my view then I couldn’t accept… kept escaping—didn’t know how keep you.”
“Thought long—tired of thinking—went to find you—you deleted me—could not reach.”
Qi Yu stopped stroking—chin on forehead—broke mood—laughed. “Now—what am I to you?”
“What feeling?” Jiang Ya looked up—dark blur face—hand on belly pinched. “Why ask what you know?”
“To you… of course serious.”
Voice at ear—not love words—but honey in Qi Yu’s ears—heart trembled—bloom sweet.
Smiled deep sigh—kissed forehead. “Unbelievable—dazed—unreal.”
Jiang Ya: “Why?”
Qi Yu: “Year ago did not think see you again—less think… other relationship.”
“Then you—buried deep—forgotten—unwilling dig. Sometimes fate—if destined—I accept—tried run—could not.”
“Only…” Pause—stared dark—complex. “Jiang Ya—us in a year?”
“Thought much—year later shop better—or closed—new job. Maybe live together—or still apart…”
“Maybe family support—or still not said.”
“You? Future—thought?”
Looked down—could not see face—still soft eyes on her.
Jiang Ya silent—unconsciously gripped Qi Yu’s clothes—weak moon through curtain—brow knit—eyes unclear.
Strange—thinking future—sour trace sudden in heart.