ORCBRB – Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Sang Shi'an froze completely.
Jian Cenyu leaned close to her ear and laughed softly, her lips brushing almost imperceptibly against the side of her neck. “Alright?”
Sang Shi'an: ...
The soft touch tugged at her nerves, making Sang Shi'an chicken out again.
Their car was parked on the roadside in an area with almost no people. It felt like a scene from a Western movie where some thrill-seeking young ladies, tired of their comfortable lives, go out looking for excitement. Sang Shi'an's hands slowly curled into fists, her heart raced, and she avoided eye contact.
She surrendered first. “I was wrong. I won't say I'll support you anymore. I can't afford it, and Cenyu Jiejie is so capable, she's not the type to be a kept woman. I was wrong, I repent.”
Sang Shi'an tried to pull her hand back, but after moving it only a few centimeters, it was gripped by Jian Cenyu again.
The weather was probably just too hot; her held wrist began to burn. But that was nothing compared to the way Jian Cenyu looked at her. The scent of jacaranda mixed with a woody perfume note was almost enough to numb her thoughts.
Jian Cenyu said, “I don't mind.”
“No, I mind.” Sang Shi'an was on the verge of tears, wishing she could swallow back her words about ‘eloping and supporting you’.
Jian Cenyu still held her tight, clearly not agreeing.
Sang Shi'an didn't dare to meet her gaze, looking down with a flustered expression.
After a few seconds of silence, Jian Cenyu also lowered her head. The restless ends of her hair brushed against Sang Shi'an's shoulder, and the smile on her lips was both helpless and meaningful. “You like looking that much? No wonder you got handsy just now.”
Sang Shi'an's vacant gaze suddenly focused, and she realized she was staring straight at the pearl button on Jian Cenyu's chest. She immediately felt her chest tighten and her breath shorten. “I did not.”
Jian Cenyu continued to tease her, “Mm, it's fine. Nothing to be ashamed of. After all…”
After all, on Tuesday night, without any clothes in the way, Sang Shi'an had touched her for a long time.
Sang Shi'an stammered, “I-I-I,” for a while before saying, “If you say another word, I'm going to get angry.”
Jian Cenyu: “I'm so scared.”
Her calm tone clearly held no fear at all. Unhappy, Sang Shi'an cupped Jian Cenyu's face and gave the corner of her mouth a fierce yet quick bite. Taking advantage of Jian Cenyu's momentary lapse in vigilance, she quickly retreated to the driver's seat, fastened her seatbelt, and slammed on the accelerator.
After driving about thirty meters, Jian Cenyu's laughter drifted in on the wind. She leisurely pulled on her seatbelt and gave Sang Shi'an directions, “Turn right at the fork ahead.”
Sang Shi'an made the turn and said, protesting a bit too much, “You kissed me three times before. I don't like being at a disadvantage. Now we're even.”
Jian Cenyu gave a faint “Oh.”
When Jian Cenyu's expression didn't change as expected, Sang Shi'an grew even more frustrated.
For the rest of the drive, the two tacitly refrained from idle chatter. Jian Cenyu's voice was only heard when a turn was needed.
It wasn't until the wheels rolled over pale gravel that Jian Cenyu, knowing Sang Shi'an's habits as a novice driver who stared straight ahead without the slightest distraction, deliberately reminded her, “To your right.”
At first, Sang Shi'an thought there was a vehicle on the right. She glanced over, and her gaze froze for a second before she hurriedly slammed on the brakes.
“It's pink! How can it be pink!” There were no cars behind them, so Sang Shi'an put the car in park, got out, and took out her phone to snap several photos.
The road was flanked by two completely different bodies of water. On one side was the clear blue water of the Australian sea, while the other was a stretch of completely pink waves.
The minerals in the water created this unique color. The boundless pink inland sea shimmered, like a pink gemstone an angel had lost on earth.
After taking a few landscape shots, Sang Shi'an seemed to remember Jian Cenyu was there. She turned and waved at her. “Jian Cenyu! Jian Cenyu! Come take pictures of me!”
Jian Cenyu was just parking the car on the side of the road. As if she had anticipated Sang Shi'an would get all excited upon seeing the lake, she took out a prepared DSLR camera. “You were calling me Cenyu Jiejie just a moment ago. Is this your attitude when you're asking for a favor?”
Sang Shi'an grabbed Jian Cenyu's arm and shook it back and forth several times. “Cenyu Jiejie, Cenyu Jiejie, please hurry. The color might change when the sun's position shifts.”
Sang Shi'an had many requirements for her photos: she wanted the natural light and the pink sea in the shot, but no other scenery in the background.
Most importantly, she was too lazy to go back to the car to change her shoes, so her ankles absolutely could not be in the picture.
Jian Cenyu devoted herself to the beauty's cause. Wearing an over-the-knee skirt, she squatted up and down, busy for a long time. Finally, when Sang Shi'an pushed her luck and asked her to stand on the car seat for a high-angle shot, Jian Cenyu walked over, grabbed Sang Shi'an by the shoulder, and quickly pressed the shutter before Sang Shi'an could react.
A photo with no regard for lighting or posture was captured. Sang Shi'an froze for a moment, and after seeing the silly-looking version of herself in the camera, she immediately reached out to snatch it.
“Give me the camera! Give it to me! Delete it now!”
Jian Cenyu let go of her, took a few steps back, and hid the camera.
Sang Shi'an was relentless, absolutely refusing to let such a photo exist. “Jian Cenyu, give it to me!”
As Jian Cenyu spun around again to avoid Sang Shi'an's hand, Sang Shi'an missed and crashed straight into Jian Cenyu's arms.
The scorching heat of the sun, mixed with the dampness from the lake, all transformed into the clean and crisp scent on Jian Cenyu.
Jian Cenyu took the opportunity to wrap her arms around her. Sang Shi'an let out a startled “Ah!”—not from pain, but from shock. “What are you doing? Hurry up and delete the photo.”
Jian Cenyu said, “I bought this camera, and I took this picture. Why should I give it to you?”
Stared at by Jian Cenyu's deep and gentle gaze, Sang Shi'an's voice immediately softened. She wheedled softly, “...Please delete the photo, okay?”
For once, Jian Cenyu didn't go along with Sang Shi'an. “No.”
Sang Shi'an was speechless with indignation. Jian Cenyu admired her deeply resentful expression for a moment before adding unhurriedly, “But I am pursuing you, after all. I need to score some points. Deleting our one and only selfie together isn't out of the question.”
Sang Shi'an wanted to argue that they had taken many photos when they were little, but on second thought, she realized Jian Cenyu must be referring to their adult years. They had never taken a picture together; the only photos of them were candid shots taken by others, like the ones on the forum or the one taken by the senior at the movie theater.
Suddenly, Sang Shi'an felt the photo was significant and didn't want to delete it anymore.
She pushed the reason onto Jian Cenyu. “Didn't you say you didn't want to delete it? Then let's not.”
Jian Cenyu observed her expression, tightening the arm around her waist and leaning closer. “Are you unhappy?”
Sang Shi'an averted her gaze. “...No.”
Compared to the task of pursuing Sang Shi'an, this little bit of awkwardness was nothing in Jian Cenyu's eyes. She tilted her head and said into Sang Shi'an's ear, “I'm keeping the photo to console myself on the nights when I still haven't won you over. But compared to keeping the photo, making you happy is more important. I'll just delete it.”
Her heart felt like it had been struck, burning hot. Sang Shi'an could barely hold back her answer.
Such a blue sky, such a pink sea—what a perfect setting to accept a confession.
Just like the blooming jacarandas along the road, every place seemed perfect to be a commemorative spot for when they got together.
Unfortunately, it hadn't been ‘two years’ yet.
Jian Cenyu's kiss landed on the tip of Sang Shi'an's burning ear. “Take it.”
The camera was thrust into Sang Shi'an's hands.
Sang Shi'an's hands were trembling. The moment the camera was pushed into them, she gripped it tightly, pushed Jian Cenyu away, and walked forward. “Then I'll delete it. Don't you regret it.”
Jian Cenyu watched her back and smiled silently. Sang Shi'an had never been in a relationship; she didn't know how to hide her emotions like a seasoned player. Everything was written plainly on her face. She even had to find an excuse to secretly keep an imperfect photo like this. It was excessively cute.
“Do you want me to take a few more for you?” Jian Cenyu walked towards the car, calling out to Sang Shi'an in an unhurried manner.
Sang Shi'an was just opening the car door. She stuffed the camera into the center console compartment, turned, and strode quickly towards Jian Cenyu, saying fiercely, “You've lost all your impression points! You're in the negatives, hopelessly bad!”
Jian Cenyu let her threaten her, guiding Sang Shi'an into the car. “Alright, then. How pitiful I am.”
The sun rose to its highest point at noon. Lunch was from a convenience store near the sea. It was a bit unappetizing, but in the end, Jian Cenyu coaxed her into eating two small cakes, which finally filled her stomach.
The car was back on the road. Sang Shi'an started to feel drowsy in the gentle, warm breeze, so she switched places with Jian Cenyu and leaned back in the passenger seat for a nap.
The silver-gray Bentley drove slowly along the country road, as if everything had slowed down with time.
It was half an hour later when Jian Cenyu drove the car to the actual coastline.
Jian Cenyu unbuckled Sang Shi'an's seatbelt and gave her a couple of gentle pushes, but Sang Shi'an just slumped over as if she had no bones.
Given Sang Shi'an's history of playing pranks, Jian Cenyu didn't believe her at first. Not until Sang Shi'an, finding the center console uncomfortable, shifted a couple of times and mumbled a name in her sleep: “Jian Cenyu…”
Her voice was soft, but more than that, it held a dependence reserved only for Jian Cenyu.
If Sang Shi'an were awake, she would never show such weakness.
Jian Cenyu relaxed, letting Sang Shi'an lean against her. She closed the convertible top, shutting out the salty smell of the sea mixed with the dry heat of the beach. Jian Cenyu gazed at the groups of foreigners on the distant beach, stroking Sang Shi'an's long hair again and again in silence.
Sang Shi'an was finally woken up by a vendor selling beach gear. She opened her eyes to a strange face outside the window and almost thought she'd been trafficked.
Fortunately, Jian Cenyu patted her on the back and explained, “She's a vendor. It's not easy for a young girl in this heat. See if there's anything you like.”
Sang Shi'an hadn't paid attention to what the person outside looked like. Her just-woken brain was overly direct. Hearing Jian Cenyu call her a ‘young girl’, she immediately turned her gaze that way.
Light golden curly hair, blue eyes, a high nose bridge, and deep-set brow bones. Foreigners blossom early; it was hard to tell if she was an adult, but she was probably old enough to be dating.
So how could she call her ‘young girl’ so affectionately?
Sang Shi'an said coolly and irritably, “Then why don't you just buy everything? That way the ‘young girl’ won't have to suffer in the wind and sun today.”
As she spoke, she deliberately emphasized the words ‘young girl’.
Even if Jian Cenyu hadn't noticed before, she understood now. “I can't do that. I just lost all my impression points. I have to listen to you and earn a few back.”
Sang Shi'an mocked Jian Cenyu coolly, “Your impression score wasn't just deducted to zero. So many points were deducted that it can only display zero for now.”
Jian Cenyu: “I only took one candid photo of you, An'an. Do you have to be so harsh with me?”
Sang Shi'an leaned over, said a few words in English to the girl outside the window, then took out a large bill she had prepared beforehand and handed it over.
When she leaned back, she switched back to Chinese and said coldly and ruthlessly, “I didn't have a reason before, but now I do.”
Jian Cenyu was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Don't hurt me anymore. If you keep hurting me, I'll have to go jump in the sea.”
But where was the genuinely hurt expression on her face?
She was clearly playing the victim again.
Sang Shi'an kept a straight face, but when Jian Cenyu tugged at the hem of her skirt, she couldn't help but let the corners of her lips curl up. “Alright then, you'd better not jump in the sea. Who would play with me then?”
Jian Cenyu played along, “An'an, then don't deduct so many of my points. Like me a little.”
The young girl passed the snacks and drinks Sang Shi'an had ordered through the window. Sang Shi'an helped Jian Cenyu take them. It was a large, full bag, and the chilled drinks made her palm cold.
Then she touched her own face. What was going on? It was so hot again.
Sang Shi'an couldn't stay in the car any longer. She pushed the door open into a gust of hot wind, raised a hand to shield her face, and was immediately led away by Jian Cenyu.
Both of them were exceptionally striking. Even among foreigners with their deep-set features and tall figures, they were not outshone. Walking on the beach, they frequently attracted attention.
They passed a half-naked young couple sunbathing. They heard the foreign woman closer to them say unabashedly to the other woman, “Darling, look how pretty her girlfriend is, and so considerate. You weren't even willing to buy me a bottle of water just now, and I'm still so thirsty.”
At that exact moment, Sang Shi'an's gaze met the speaking woman's. Her body tensed, and she quickly looked away, like a student caught in a puppy love romance by a teacher.
Then she hurriedly took two bottles of water from the bag and placed them by their lounge chairs.
Behind them, the woman's cheerful laughter rang out again. “Oh my god, that little sweetheart is so cute. Darling, can I invite her to spend the night with us?”
Sang Shi'an wasn't born yesterday. She knew exactly what the woman was implying. She pulled Jian Cenyu along faster, rejecting the offer with her actions, until they were out of earshot.
Jian Cenyu stopped at this point. “My hand's getting a little sore. Can my girlfriend help carry this for a bit?”
Sang Shi'an looked at the bag of snacks held out to her, glared at Jian Cenyu's hand, and corrected her, “They were just talking nonsense. Don't you try to take advantage.”
Jian Cenyu held back a laugh. “Alright, then I'll just have to suffer and carry it a while longer.”
Sang Shi'an wasn't sure where Jian Cenyu was taking her. After walking a bit further, she silently took the snack bag. It was mostly filled with junk food, which looked bulky but was actually very light.
As she took the bag, Jian Cenyu's fingertips lightly scratched her palm. Her heart, which had been fluttering since hearing the word ‘girlfriend’, was now stirring restlessly. She flusteredly changed the subject, “Where are you taking me? We're almost off the beach.”
“I'm taking you to the ends of the earth, and then I'll lock you up.” Jian Cenyu's other hand continued to hold hers, her pace even slower than before.
The tide ebbed and flowed on the shore, and Sang Shi'an's heart beat along with it. That sounds pretty good, actually, she thought.
Jian Cenyu waited for two seconds, but the expected rebuttal never came. She was a little surprised. “You really think so?”
Upon being found out, Sang Shi'an immediately went on high alert. “You're not an idiot. If you really locked me up, you'd just be waiting for my family to hunt you down. I'm not going to reply to such a low-IQ statement.”
“It seems I was overthinking it.”
Sang Shi'an shot her a look, speechless. “But it's fine for these two days, as long as you can fool Auntie Luo.”
Although she knew Sang Shi'an was joking, Jian Cenyu's heart still felt a searing heat when she heard those words. The teasing tone vanished from her voice, which slowed as she said seriously, “Just keep tempting me.”
Her steps faltered for a moment. Sang Shi'an suddenly became flustered and hurried forward, saying, “Are we there yet?”
“It's just around the corner.”
Around the corner, there were indeed beach staff waiting. Sang Shi'an listened quietly as Jian Cenyu spoke with them. Soon, a brand-new speedboat was brought out, its pointed bow bobbing as if in invitation.
Sang Shi'an was led aboard by Jian Cenyu. Speedboat instructors drove two other boats, escorting them from the left and right.
They drove out from the coastline to admire the scenery of the sea, and were even lucky enough to encounter a pod of small dolphins leaping from the water's surface.
Unfortunately, the DSLR camera had been left in the car. On a whim, as the dolphins entered the frame, Sang Shi'an suddenly pulled Jian Cenyu over without any warning. The phone's camera froze, and with a click, she took their second photo together.
Sang Shi'an held the phone in one hand to admire the photo, while her other hand reached out to play in the water. “Compared to the one you took, how is it?”
Jian Cenyu leaned over to look. It was six of one, half a dozen of the other compared to the one she took. There were no particularly silly expressions, but both of their faces were a bit blurry—the kind of photo that would make the dolphins who had just leaped from the sea want to spit at her.
“Why take a photo of us?”
Sang Shi'an said lightly, “It's a bit awkward.”
Looking at Jian Cenyu made her unable to resist the urge to kiss her, so she had to find something else to do to get close.
She was the one who pretended to be Kitty to have an online romance with Jian Cenyu. She was the one who faked a sprained ankle to steal a kiss when Jian Cenyu was still engaged to her brother. And now that the misunderstanding was finally cleared up, she was the one insisting on waiting for that damned ‘two years’ to prove their love was everlasting.
And now, the mood was right, but she couldn't even come up with a suitable reason to take a photo together. How could it not be awkward?
Sang Shi'an glanced at the time on her phone: 4:30 PM.
Seven and a half hours until the New Year.
She had to endure for another seven and a half hours.
So annoying.
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