After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Cheng Zhanxi temporarily ignored these messages and clicked on the pinned chat.
[Yu Qingtang]: Are you home yet?
[Yu Qingtang]: I'm sitting in my room
The two messages were five minutes apart, the previous one sent three minutes ago.
Ding—
Cheng Zhanxi walked into the elevator on the basement level, lowered her head, and typed: 【What are you doing sitting there?】
[Yu Qingtang]: Waiting for you
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Just waiting?
[Yu Qingtang]: Mmm
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Are you missing me so much you can't focus on anything else?
[Yu Qingtang]: Mmm
Cheng Zhanxi's chin was lifted by a hand, and she saw Jin Siyue's sighing gaze.
Cheng Zhanxi: "?"
Jin Siyue said, "If I brought the current you in front of everyone, they definitely wouldn't recognize you."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "Why is that?"
Jin Siyue said, "You're smiling so much your eyes are almost gone, it's too different from usual."
Cheng Zhanxi lowered her head to type a few words to Yu Qingtang, put away her phone, and shrugged, "What can I do?" Ostensibly helpless, but actually showing off.
Jin Siyue clenched her back teeth hard and pinched her cheek.
The elevator reached the 21st floor.
Cheng Zhanxi led Jin Siyue towards 2102. As she was entering the door lock code, Jin Siyue glanced across and casually asked, "You have neighbors? Who lives opposite?"
Cheng Zhanxi also replied casually, but with a clear smile on her face, "My girlfriend."
Jin Siyue: "So you're hiding a beauty in a golden house, huh? Why not hide her in your own place? Speaking of which, you two are together but still live separately, are you... not up to it?"
This long string of questions amused Cheng Zhanxi again. She answered methodically, sentence by sentence: "She's the landlord; this whole building is hers. I'm currently living in her apartment. We are living together now, right here in my place. As for whether I'm 'up to it,' my girlfriend knows clearly, and such private matters are not convenient to tell you."
With every sentence she spoke, Jin Siyue's mouth opened a little wider.
Cheng Zhanxi opened the door, went into the entryway to get her slippers. Jin Siyue was still looking back at the closed door of 2101, exclaiming, "Goodness, this is not what I imagined."
Cheng Zhanxi pointed to her own slippers on the floor and said, "Change your shoes."
Jin Siyue closed the door, shutting that apartment door from her sight, changed her shoes, and walked in.
Cheng Zhanxi, wearing Yu Qingtang's slippers, went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water.
Jin Siyue didn't sit down. She took the water glass and started wandering around, diligently carrying out her stated purpose: to see how Cheng Zhanxi was doing.
Flowers and plants, a princess-pink hanging chair adorned with white feathers, clear signs of two people living there. The windows were bright and the furniture spotless. Because it was night, the scenery outside the window couldn't be seen, but the view was expansive. The myriad lights of the old city district were like fireflies in the night, complementing the Milky Way in the sky—a paradise on earth.
Jin Siyue withdrew her gaze from the window, took a sip of water, and commented, "Not bad."
Cheng Zhanxi was nestled in the hanging chair, swaying gently.
Jin Siyue put down the water glass and said, "I originally thought you two had a Princess Charming and Cinderella script." She pursed her lips towards the main door and said, "What's the deal with the landlord?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I'm not too clear either. Her family is quite wealthy, I think, but she has a scumbag father."
Cheng Zhanxi didn't go into detail with her, only saying that her dad didn't care about her and things like that, and that her family relationships were not good.
Jin Siyue had weathered many storms in the entertainment industry and had seen all sorts of bizarre parents. She didn't press further and said, "And then?"
Cheng Zhanxi tapped her foot on the ground, giving the hanging chair a swing, and smiled, "Then what?"
Jin Siyue winked suggestively, "Did she pursue you? A scheming, abstinent, cool older sister type, seducing her wife step by step, something like that? That's too shippable."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Cheng Zhanxi laugh again, the kind where she laughed out loud.
Jin Siyue: "?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "To tell you the truth, I met her last March, started pursuing her in September, and we only officially got together two weeks ago."
Jin Siyue was stunned for a moment, feeling it was illogical. After careful thought, she added, "That makes sense. Fairies don't partake of the mortal world's food. If she were that easy to pursue, how could she be called a fairy?"
Cheng Zhanxi expressed her agreement, "You're right."
Jin Siyue suddenly said, "Wait, wasn't it love at first sight for her with you?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "She's never been in a relationship, she's shy."
"You're her first love?"
"Mhm."
"This..."
Jin Siyue couldn't help but let out a low "Damn."
Cheng Zhanxi raised an eyebrow, "Envious?"
Her answer was a pillow flying through the air. Cheng Zhanxi raised her hand and caught it precisely, saying, "It's getting late. I'll take you to the hotel. Any later and you won't be able to get up tomorrow. I've arranged your itinerary for the next two days."
Jin Siyue replied, "Okay."
The two went downstairs and got back into the car, chatting as they drove. Most of the time, Jin Siyue was talking—about playing around for another two years before going home to inherit the family business, about gossip in the industry. Cheng Zhanxi listened. She didn't initiate many topics because her mind was full of Yu Qingtang, but she didn't want to talk about her treasure with others.
After seeing Jin Siyue into her hotel room, Cheng Zhanxi drove home.
At an intersection, the white Audi A4 swerved its rear, made a U-turn, and sped off in another direction, leaving a trail of silvery moonlight scattered behind it.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in an alley on a street behind the old town in Lipu District.
The wooden gate was tightly closed. Red flowers, blooming to their fullest, peeked over the courtyard wall, exuding fragrance in the deep night.
Cheng Zhanxi pushed open the car door and got out. She stepped back a few paces and saw the light on in the second-floor window.
Cheng Zhanxi couldn't help the corners of her mouth curving up. She dialed Yu Qingtang's number.
Yu Qingtang: "Hello."
"What are you doing?"
"Just got into bed, about to sleep."
"Sleeping already?"
Yu Qingtang detected something unusual in her tone and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I'm at your doorstep."
As soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Zhanxi saw a shadow flicker quickly in the window, gone in an instant.
Elderly people are light sleepers. Fang Wenjiao was awakened by the sound of footsteps on the stairs, followed by what seemed to be the sound of a door opening from the entryway.
The courtyard gate in front of Cheng Zhanxi opened. Still holding her phone, she opened her arms towards Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang ran over and threw herself into her arms.
The force of her embrace pushed Cheng Zhanxi back two steps, her back hitting the wall. She chuckled twice, pleased.
Yu Qingtang deeply inhaled the mixed scent of flowers and her natural body fragrance, then looked up in pleasant surprise, "Why did you come?"
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and gently ruffled the top of her hair, "I missed you, so I came to see you."
Yu Qingtang looked up at her, her eyes sparkling and clear.
Cheng Zhanxi kissed her eyes.
Yu Qingtang's eyelashes became damp from her kisses.
Cheng Zhanxi switched positions with her, pressing her against the base of the wall, and lowered her head to kiss her lips.
Yu Qingtang raised her hands to wrap them around her neck.
The two embraced and kissed in the alley. The streetlight above cast their lingering, poignant shadows beside them.
Yu Qingtang panted in her arms. Cheng Zhanxi cupped her cheeks, still kissing her intermittently, drawing her into her own domain, a moist, hot entanglement, not letting her leave.
Until Yu Qingtang, her voice tinged with tears, began to beg for mercy, saying "don't."
Only then did Cheng Zhanxi hold her tightly, their two hearts pressed close in their chests, beating violently.
"Baby..."
Feathery kisses landed on her cheeks and temples, the woman's low, soft murmurs sounding in her ear.
Yu Qingtang felt weak all over, clinging to her like driftwood floating on the sea, lost in her tender and affectionate tone.
After a long while, the two finally calmed down.
Yu Qingtang had come out without even bothering to put on a jacket, wearing only thin pajamas. Cheng Zhanxi unbuttoned her long trench coat and enveloped Yu Qingtang in it, warming her with her own body heat.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, once again scattering its light.
Night insects chirped from unknown places.
Yu Qingtang nestled against the woman's shoulder and asked softly, "Are you going to rest here?"
Cheng Zhanxi hadn't originally planned this, but from the moment she changed course midway, tonight was destined not to be one where she could peacefully return to an empty room alone. Having seen her beloved, and kissed her beloved, how could she bear to be separated from her again?
At worst, she would get up early tomorrow, go back to Mingmen Residence to change clothes, and then pick up Jin Siyue.
Cheng Zhanxi hummed in agreement, then asked knowingly, "Will this be alright? I haven't even told Grandma and Grandfather."
"There's nothing wrong with it." Yu Qingtang pulled her hand and led her inside, as if afraid she would leave.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled.
Parting the beaded curtain, they entered the entryway.
With a click, the living room lights suddenly turned on, as bright as day.
Fang Wenjiao, wearing a jacket, stood at the doorway of her room. After seeing the two of them, her defensive posture relaxed, replaced by a puzzled scrutiny.
Yu Qingtang said, "She was just passing by for some business."
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
Fang Wenjiao: "..."
Fang Wenjiao turned her head to glance at the inky black night outside. Passing by in the middle of the night?
Fang Wenjiao said, "...Rest early."
She turned and went back to her room.
Yu Qingtang took Cheng Zhanxi to her room on the second floor, helped her take off her trench coat and hang it up, got her a bath towel, a face towel, and pajamas, bustling about.
Cheng Zhanxi watched her busy figure, her heart overflowing, her gaze soft.
Yu Qingtang adjusted the water temperature for her, looked at Cheng Zhanxi standing outside the bathroom door, and said, "You can wash now."
Cheng Zhanxi unbuttoned her shirt, one button at a time, in front of her and asked, "Will you wash with me?"
"I..." Yu Qingtang looked at her well-defined, curvaceous figure and couldn't help but swallow. "I've already washed."
Cheng Zhanxi puffed out her chest slightly, took a step forward, allowing Yu Qingtang to see certain details very clearly, and enticed in a low voice, "Can't you wash again if you've already washed?"
Yu Qingtang's face turned bright red, "I..."
Cheng Zhanxi felt like teasing her, took another step forward, placed her palm on the back of Yu Qingtang's head, and pressed her into her embrace.
The angle was just right, allowing Yu Qingtang's face to be buried in an extraordinary softness.
Yu Qingtang only let out a startled "Mmph!" at first due to being unprepared. Then, her hands involuntarily wrapped around Cheng Zhanxi's waist, motionless, her nostrils flaring, continuously exhaling rapid, hot breaths.
Cheng Zhanxi stroked the back of her head dotingly.
After quite some time, Yu Qingtang found it hard to breathe and straightened up. Cheng Zhanxi's cheeks were faintly flushed. She asked her, "Do you like it?"
Yu Qingtang was red-faced and flustered, stammering, "L-like it."
"As long as you like it." Cheng Zhanxi was also a little shy and managed to control her own stammer.
Yu Qingtang pointed outside.
"I-I'll go out first."
"Go on."
Yu Qingtang closed the bathroom door.
She walked a few steps towards the bed, covered her burning cheeks with both hands, and thought, half shyly, half savoring the memory: So comfortable.
When Cheng Zhanxi came out after her shower, Yu Qingtang had already prepared the hairdryer and was waiting for her by the bedside.
Cheng Zhanxi dried her dripping long hair with a large towel herself and sat down in front of her.
The hairdryer blew air at a steady pace. Yu Qingtang lifted Cheng Zhanxi's long hair from her neck, revealing skin as white as cream. Her delicate fingertips inadvertently brushed across it, and Cheng Zhanxi shivered subconsciously. Yu Qingtang tilted her head slightly, a blurry, indistinct image seeming to flash through her mind.
The clock ticked past one in the morning. The two lay side by side under the soft quilt.
Yu Qingtang turned her head to look at Cheng Zhanxi, whose eyes were closed, and asked, "Are you going to sleep?"
Cheng Zhanxi hummed in affirmation and opened her eyes, "I have to get up early tomorrow."
Yu Qingtang reached out and turned off the light.
When she lay back down, she nestled into the crook of Cheng Zhanxi's arm. Cheng Zhanxi lay on her side, one arm resting on Yu Qingtang's waist, her breathing light and shallow.
Yu Qingtang moved her legs under the covers, but ultimately decided to let Cheng Zhanxi rest well.
They didn't make love that night.
The first breeze of early morning blew through the window. Yu Qingtang opened her eyes. The room lights were off. By the faint morning light, she saw a hazy figure sitting on the edge of the bed, and her hand was being held by that person.
Cheng Zhanxi was surprised, "Why are you awake so early?"
Yu Qingtang saw she was fully dressed and said, "Are you going back?"
"Mmm." An idea struck Cheng Zhanxi, and she said, "If you don't mind Jin Siyue, why don't you come with me? I'll bring you back tonight and sleep with you."
Yu Qingtang didn't hesitate long before agreeing.
Since they got together, the two of them hadn't been apart for more than a day. It was conceivable that she would be restless and distracted the entire day Cheng Zhanxi was away.
Cheng Zhanxi lifted her out of the bedcovers, bent down to put on her shoes for her, and said, "I'll wait for you to wash up, then we'll go find Jin Siyue for breakfast."
At the crack of dawn, the two drove away from the old city district.
When Fang Wenjiao got up in the morning, porridge was simmering on the stove. Yu Qingtang had left a note with neat handwriting on the coffee table, saying she had gone out and would be back in the evening.
Fang Wenjiao recalled the scene of bumping into Cheng Zhanxi downstairs in the middle of the night.
Grandfather wheeled himself over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Fang Wenjiao said, "Nothing." After a pause, she asked, "Has Tingyu said anything about when Momo's wedding date is arranged?"
Grandfather said, "No, why?"
Fang Wenjiao's tone carried a hint of complaint, "How can he, as a father, be so unconcerned about his daughter? Such a big event as marriage, and he doesn't even come personally to take her to the Capital City to see."
Grandfather said, "His daughter is just like him, six of one and half a dozen of the other. She doesn't answer his calls either. If they met, they'd probably end up fighting. A pair of bad tempers, neither willing to back down."
Fang Wenjiao sighed.
Grandfather turned his wheelchair towards the dining table and said, "Let's eat. Don't worry about so much. Maybe the two of us can live a couple more years."
Fang Wenjiao put down the note and went to the kitchen to ladle porridge.
Yu Qingtang had stayed in Sicheng for so long, but apart from the areas she frequented for daily activities, she rarely visited other places—even less so than Cheng Zhanxi, an outsider who had lived there for a year. Cheng Zhanxi took Yu Qingtang and Jin Siyue to quiet, scenic places known only to locals, wandering through streets and alleys, tasting all kinds of delicacies.
Especially when Cheng Zhanxi introduced local delicacies to Jin Siyue, she would attach legendary stories—nine parts false and one part true—leaving Yu Qingtang, the local, listening in stunned silence beside them.
The dishes arrived. Cheng Zhanxi exchanged the scalded tableware for the two of them. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, Jin Siyue, opposite her, raised her phone.
Cheng Zhanxi understood and put her arm around Yu Qingtang's shoulder, smiling at the camera.
Click—
Cheng Zhanxi reached out, took it, glanced at it, and said with satisfaction, "Not bad, send it to me."
Jin Siyue sent it to Cheng Zhanxi's phone. Cheng Zhanxi glanced at the lit-up screen and said, "Don't send it to anyone else, and definitely not in the group chat."
Jin Siyue made an "OK" gesture and looked at the usually quiet Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang was looking at Cheng Zhanxi, her gaze focused, her tenderness like water.
Jin Siyue: "Tsk."
The delicious food in front of her suddenly lost its appeal.
Their designated photographer, Jin Siyue, took many photos for them, both posed and candid. Once, when a light drizzle had just started, they walked to a stone bridge. Cheng Zhanxi was on the bridge looking at the scenery, while Yu Qingtang stood under a willow tree by the lake. Amidst the drooping willow branches, the slanting wind, and fine rain, she held a transparent umbrella, standing quietly beneath the bridge, looking at Cheng Zhanxi on the stone bridge.
The river water flowed through the arch of the bridge, meandering into a narrow stream. A black-canopied boat was moored in the center of the lake. The eaves tiles on both banks had been washed by the rain until they were black and gleaming.
Heaven and earth were connected by the misty rain.
Viewed from afar, it was as beautiful as an ink wash painting.
The most vibrant stroke in the ink wash painting moved. Yu Qingtang lifted her umbrella slightly, her eyes holding a gentle, faint smile. She raised her voice a little, "Xixi." She said, "The rain is getting heavier."
Hearing her voice, Cheng Zhanxi turned around, braved the rain, and quickly came down from the bridge, stepping under Yu Qingtang's umbrella.
Yu Qingtang raised her hand to smooth Cheng Zhanxi's drenched long hair, tucking it neatly behind her ear.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her, her eyes curving into a smile involuntarily.
Jin Siyue, in a pavilion sheltering from the rain, took more than ten photos in quick succession, mentally regretting not bringing a professional camera as she snapped away.
Jin Siyue left on Sunday afternoon. She didn't take anything with her, but she did leave Cheng Zhanxi with a pile of photos.
Cheng Zhanxi had the clear, high-resolution ones printed, bound them into a photo album, and placed it on the TV cabinet in the living room. She also picked one, had it framed in glass, and put it on their bedside table, where they could see it day and night.
A new week began. Yu Qingtang, as arranged by the school, went with several other teachers to a key high school in another province for an exchange study and to attend meetings, for a period of one week.
Yu Qingtang had been unhappy ever since the news came. The thought of being separated from Cheng Zhanxi for a week almost made her want to find Director Tao and give her spot to someone else.
The day before her departure, Cheng Zhanxi didn't sleep until the latter half of the night.
Yu Qingtang pressed the back of her head, her waist, as supple as a willow branch, swaying and undulating, panting incessantly. Cheng Zhanxi's eyes were red.
Exhausted, Yu Qingtang finally fell asleep.
The next day, Cheng Zhanxi took a taxi to send her to the high-speed rail station, calmly following her to the entrance gate. Nowadays, high-speed rail stations all require real-name verification; it's not like before when you could accompany someone all the way to the platform and watch them board the train. Yu Qingtang turned around, took the suitcase from Cheng Zhanxi's hand, went through the ticket check first, and stood inside waving to her, "Go back."
Her voice was calm, with no discernible abnormality, but her eyes were filled with an indescribable sadness, making Cheng Zhanxi suspect that she might burst into tears the moment she turned around.
Cheng Zhanxi took out her ID card from her pocket, tapped it on the sensor area of the entrance gate turnstile. The camera scanned Cheng Zhanxi's face, confirmed it, and the turnstile opened to let her through.
Cheng Zhanxi walked in openly and stopped in front of her.
Yu Qingtang: "???"
Yu Qingtang: "!!!"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Yu Qingtang looked at her and asked in astonishment, "When did you buy a train ticket?"
Cheng Zhanxi replied, "The minute after you bought yours."
A nameless anger flared up in Yu Qingtang's chest. She restrained herself and said, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Cheng Zhanxi said in a normal tone, "You didn't ask me."
Yu Qingtang's eyes reddened.
These past two days, she didn't know how many times she had secretly cried after Cheng Zhanxi fell asleep. Was it fun to play tricks on her?
Cheng Zhanxi first took her through security, sat down on a chair in the waiting room, and took her hand. Yu Qingtang struggled angrily but didn't use much force, allowing her to hold it.
Cheng Zhanxi sighed, "Look at you, you don't even dare to get truly angry with me."
Yu Qingtang lowered her head, not looking at her.
Cheng Zhanxi cupped her face, turned it towards herself, and saw her slightly red-rimmed eyes, feeling both pity and heartache.
"I didn't mean to deceive you."
"Then what were you doing?" Yu Qingtang's voice couldn't help but betray a hint of grievance.
"You wanted me to accompany you, why didn't you tell me?" Cheng Zhanxi retorted.
"You have work."
"What work? Teaching PE class? If your main subjects can have substitute teachers, can't I find a teacher to help with my two PE classes?"
"I... I don't want to delay your work." A layer of mist welled up in Yu Qingtang's eyes. "Besides, I can't have you accompany me everywhere I go. I have to be alone sometimes."
"Even if it means hiding in the living room alone at night, crying?"
Yu Qingtang looked up.
Cheng Zhanxi gently scraped her reddened nose tip and said softly, "Are you wondering how I knew?"
Yu Qingtang looked at her without speaking.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and said, "Did you think that when I sleep at night, I'm really like a log, and nothing can wake me up?"
Yu Qingtang lowered her gaze.
After the school assignment came down, Yu Qingtang's state was very strange. Even though she finished work very late, she would still cling to her, wanting her. The two of them had been intimate many times, and Cheng Zhanxi knew very well what Yu Qingtang liked. When the atmosphere between them was good, she preferred gentleness, letting Cheng Zhanxi slowly please her, extending the overall time, where the tenderness of intimate caresses outweighed the passion of fireworks. But those two days, Yu Qingtang just clung to her, blooming again and again. Later, even when Cheng Zhanxi felt she couldn't take it anymore, she still refused to stop, pressing herself forward until she collapsed from exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
Her enthusiasm in this matter wasn't about indulging in pleasure, nor was it due to deep desire. Rather, she wanted to gain a sense of security from their intimate entanglement, to confirm the fact that they were together. So, the more unstable her emotions, the more uncharacteristically proactive and bold she became.
Cheng Zhanxi lifted her chin, looked at her lowered eyelids, and said softly, "Didn't I tell you, if you want something, just ask me for it? Don't hide it in your heart."
Yu Qingtang remained silent.
After a long while, she finally spoke in a low voice, "I don't want you to think I'm being unreasonable."
"You're not being unreasonable; on the contrary, you're being too sensible." Cheng Zhanxi said softly, "I hope you can be a little unreasonable, but only with me."
Yu Qingtang's long eyelashes trembled.
"I'm a teacher at No. 1 Middle School for you. Don't you understand the importance of work versus you?"
Yu Qingtang finally lifted her eyelids, as if having made a decision, and said, "You can't follow me around for a lifetime. You have your own life."
She didn't want Cheng Zhanxi to lose herself for her sake; she didn't want to harm her. This was the real reason.
Cheng Zhanxi wasn't rendered speechless by her words. Instead, she smiled faintly, "Then do you think you can never leave me and go out alone for your entire life?"
Without even thinking, Yu Qingtang shook her head and said, "Of course not."
She just needed a little time to adjust.
Cheng Zhanxi hummed and said, "So why can't we spend this time together? Why do you have to hide and cry secretly, and bear it all alone? Am I not your girlfriend? Hmm?"
Yu Qingtang looked at her for a moment, her voice softened, and she tugged at the corner of her clothes, "I know I was wrong."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled broadly, "I'll give you another chance. What do you want? Tell me."
Yu Qingtang opened her mouth, finding it hard to speak.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her encouragingly.
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and said, "I want you to accompany me on my business trip."
"And?"
"I want you to never leave me."
"Anything else?"
Yu Qingtang spoke more and more fluently, raised her eyes to look directly into Cheng Zhanxi's, and voiced her heart's desire word by word: "I want you." The complete Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled.
Ge Jing, who was on the business trip with them, walked to a spot a few steps away. Just as she was about to greet Yu Qingtang, she heard Yu Qingtang's earth-shattering sentence, "I want you."
Ge Jing thought, dazed and mesmerized: The high-speed train hasn't even started yet, how did I get thrown out by the exhaust fumes already?
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