ORCBRB – Chapter 57
Chapter 57
New couples were the easiest to please. They agreed to anything and liked any gift. Sang Shi'an took photos all the way of the bouquet of red roses, the kind you could buy at any flower shop on the street.
Even the Lamborghini Sang Shiyue had given her didn't have this honor.
The car finally stopped near St. Peter's Church. A golden full moon hung between the two towering spires, adding a sense of ancient simplicity and mystery to the church.
Perhaps God was magnanimous, as the sound from the open-air music festival nearby was deafening. After getting out of the car, Sang Shi'an was almost swept away by the crowd several times. Jian Cenyu reached out her hand, and they naturally held hands.
Both had long, slender fingers. Their clasped hands looked exceptionally well-matched, as if they were meant to be this way.
The people at the music festival had various skin colors. The two of them were pushed along by the crowd, gradually squeezing into the area near the stage. Indeed, when one is lucky, everything seems to become wonderful.
The passionate rock music stirred the crowd's emotions. An excessively feverish mood floated in the air, making one feel dizzy and immersed.
Their clasped hands never let go, and gradually, their palms became a little damp. Sang Shi'an and Jian Cenyu's appearances were eye-catching at school, and it was the same in Australia.
After being sized up so many times, Sang Shi'an started to feel a little uncomfortable and wanted to let go. But just as she had this thought, Jian Cenyu gripped her hand even tighter.
Their eyes met without any explanation, just a sense of it being natural.
Amidst these scrutinizing gazes, Sang Shi'an gradually got used to the fact that she was no longer single.
Jian Cenyu suggested, “There are still over three hours until the New Year. If you're not used to this kind of music, I can take you for a walk around the area?”
The feeling of being constantly pushed and squeezed was not pleasant. Even when clubbing in a bar, Sang Shi'an didn't like to be too close to others, let alone now.
She nodded. “Okay.”
Twenty meters away from the stage, breathing finally became easier. Jian Cenyu led her towards St. Peter's Church and asked, “Do you believe in Jesus? If you do, I can accompany you for a look inside.”
Sang Shi'an glanced at the magnificent cathedral under the night sky, illuminated by the occasional red lights from the music festival. Her imagination ran wild, and she suddenly said, “It looks like a medieval European vampire's castle.”
Jian Cenyu's lips curved slightly as she mercilessly shot her down. “Giving God's home to a vampire? You'll have nightmares tonight.”
Sang Shi'an was fearless. “Foreign gods have no jurisdiction over me. Unless it's Cupid, then I might pay Him some attention.”
Jian Cenyu squeezed Sang Shi'an's hand and said, “Only paying attention to Cupid will turn you love-obsessed.”
“An'an, don't be so cute.”
The church's two spires stood tall and majestic. The ancient outer walls were covered with the marks of time, and the stained-glass windows depicted exquisite paintings. Sang Shi'an went closer to take a few photos and said matter-of-factly, “I'm telling the truth. I don't have any plans to study abroad, so I don't need to believe in foreign deities.”
Jian Cenyu nodded and said in an exaggerated tone, “You're right.”
Sang Shi'an hadn't thought much of it at first, but after being praised like that by Jian Cenyu, she suddenly felt embarrassed. She used to live as she pleased, but now that she was in a relationship, she had to care about her partner's feelings.
Sang Shi'an put her phone away, moved closer to Jian Cenyu, and asked, “Do you want me to go to graduate school?”
After all, Jian Cenyu had a master's degree from Oxford and had returned to Yanjing University for a second master's, her learning seemingly endless. In comparison, Sang Shi'an felt that her own academic qualifications, which she had been proud of, weren't that impressive anymore.
Jian Cenyu thought for a moment and said very objectively, “That depends on your own interests. If there's a major you want to study or pursue further, then you should. If not, it would just be a waste of time.”
Sang Shi'an slowly repeated, “A major I like, huh? I thought you'd want me to continue studying finance.”
Jian Cenyu pointed at her phone and said, “Of course not. Even if you suddenly fell in love with taking pictures and decided to study photography, that would be fine. Life should have many choices, not be confined to a certain persona.”
Sang Shi'an finally understood what Jian Cenyu meant. She tilted her head and asked, “Wouldn't that be neglecting my proper duties?”
Jian Cenyu paused for a few seconds and said, “I can support you.”
More than the sweet words, what Sang Shi'an cared about was the hesitation before Jian Cenyu said them. “We just got together, and you just said you'd always like me. Do you really need to think for so long about supporting me?”
Jian Cenyu ruffled the top of Sang Shi'an's head soothingly. “I can't help it. The young lady of the Sang family has to eat the best and use the most expensive things. A new seasonal wardrobe costs a few million, not to mention all the gifts for holidays and festivals. Tallying it up for a year, it's actually quite a handful.”
Sang Shi'an coldly slapped Jian Cenyu's hand away. “You haven't even given me my Christmas and New Year's gifts. Where are they? Don't tell me it's just a plane ticket and a bouquet of flowers?”
This pushiness, taking a mile when given an inch, made Jian Cenyu laugh. “I'll make it up to you. I'll give you everything, alright?”
Sang Shi'an hummed in satisfaction. When they circled back to the front of the church, she spoke as if she had thought it over. “Then I'll have to make it up to you too, otherwise it'll look like I'm bullying you.”
Jian Cenyu laughed out loud. “You're not going to give me a diamond ring the size of a pigeon again, are you?”
Sang Shi'an vaguely found this familiar. After thinking for a few seconds, she dug up a sentence from the depths of her distant memory: ‘Cenyu Jiejie, when I grow up, I'll definitely give you a diamond ring the size of a pigeon's egg. No, bigger than a pigeon's egg. I'll give you a diamond the size of a pigeon!’
Sang Shi'an: ...
Sang Shi'an fell silent.
But Jian Cenyu didn't let her off. “An'an was so generous to me when she was little. She promised to give me all sorts of good things. Not just a diamond the size of a pigeon, but also high heels carved from pure crystal, a sports car studded with gems, and—”
Jian Cenyu looked at Sang Shi'an's increasingly evasive gaze, paused for two seconds, and continued in a leisurely tone, “—and yourself, dressed as a bride to marry me.”
This was the downside of dating an older sister figure you've known for years. All the ridiculous things you said in your youthful ignorance would one day come back to you like a boomerang.
Sang Shi'an endured it and endured it, until she could endure it no more. “Jian Cenyu!”
Jian Cenyu laughed out loud, pulling Sang Shi'an into a tight hug to prevent her from escaping, while finally starting to coax her patiently. “How can An'an be so cute and so smart? You had the foresight to give gifts even as a child, and you even predicted our fated relationship. Truly a prophet.”
Her bright, obsidian-like eyes were filled with anger and annoyance, yet when she spoke, her tone was incredibly coquettish. “Your gifts are all gone!”
Her voice was a bit loud, and nearby tourists waiting for the New Year glanced over at them.
Sang Shi'an bent over again, turning into a quail and burying her head in Jian Cenyu's shoulder.
Jian Cenyu kissed the top of her head and took her hand again.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Sang Shiyue.
It should have just been after dinner time in China. A day like New Year's Eve wasn't suitable for just checking in on his sister. Before even answering, Sang Shi'an guessed that Sang Shiyue was having dinner at home.
That meant her parents were also on the other end of the video call.
Given that she had just gotten out of being single four hours ago, Sang Shi'an was unusually nervous. “Don't you dare give us away later.”
She instructed Jian Cenyu.
Jian Cenyu looked very calm, perhaps having anticipated this situation when she broke off the engagement with Sang Shiyue. She smiled slightly and said, “The music is loud here, they won't be able to hear clearly. Don't be nervous.”
Sang Shi'an didn't refute the word ‘nervous’. Her heart pounded. As she answered the video call, Jian Cenyu moved to her other side and took her hand under the camera's view.
Sang Shi'an stiffened for a moment, and then the nervousness miraculously dissipated.
Sang Shiyue had been waiting for a long time. As soon as the call connected, his tone was a bit annoyed. “What were you doing? You took so long to answer. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were on a date with a foreigner.”
Sang Shi'an said guiltily, “What foreigner? Cenyu Jiejie is here too.”
The camera panned slightly to bring Jian Cenyu into the frame.
Jian Cenyu nodded at Sang Shiyue and gently explained for Sang Shi'an, “I brought her to the church to celebrate the New Year. There's a music festival event here, and the sound system is very loud.”
Jian Cenyu took the phone and switched the camera to face the music festival. The moment Sang Shiyue saw the chaotic open-air rave scene, he frowned. Restraining himself because Jian Cenyu was there, he said, “Only you would accompany her to fool around in a place like this. Thanks for taking care of her these past few days.”
Jian Cenyu's gaze shifted to Sang Shi'an, who was off-camera, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. “It's no trouble.”
Sang Shi'an's heart was racing. She snatched the phone back, wished her parents a happy new year in advance, and quickly hung up.
She nervously pushed Jian Cenyu's hand. “Why were you looking at me like that just now? Are you crazy?”
Jian Cenyu caught up and took Sang Shi'an's hand again, asking, “Scared?”
Of course she was scared. In all her years, she had never seen the children of any prominent domestic entrepreneurs publicly come out.
Sang Shi'an wrapped her arms around Jian Cenyu's neck and sighed softly. “It's not about being scared or not, it's just…”
She thought for a moment and found a descriptor: “There's no need to actively seek death, right?”
Before Jian Zhenyang was kicked out of Jian Corporation, she didn't want to be kicked out of her own home.
Jian Cenyu was amused by her tone. She turned her head and kissed her on the ear. “That makes sense.”
In the final hour of the countdown to the New Year, they returned to the area around the music festival. Every hour on the hour, there was an interactive event to liven up the audience's atmosphere.
At eleven o'clock sharp, it was a passionate Kiss Cam.
Anyone caught on the LED screen, regardless of gender or skin color, had to kiss the person next to them. Before the host announced the start, those who didn't want to participate could stay in the outer circle.
Sang Shi'an and Jian Cenyu happened to be standing right on the boundary line of the circle. When their eyes met, neither had any intention of moving out, a tacit understanding between them.
The moment the host announced the start, the camera connected to the LED screen began a slow pan. Countless people, upon seeing themselves on the screen, kissed passionately. At first, the couples were more reserved, just pressing their lips together, but then, starting with some unknown pair, it evolved into passionate, deep kisses.
Whenever the camera landed on a particularly good-looking couple, it would always linger for a moment longer.
Five minutes later, the camera focused on Sang Shi'an and Jian Cenyu.
The moment their eyes met, they moved closer to each other and kissed. Countless scrutinizing gazes fell upon their faces. This time, Sang Shi'an did not shrink back. All her hidden emotions dissolved into the thick air.
The two kissed lingeringly, yet with restraint. By the time the camera moved away, their lipstick was still intact.
After they separated, Sang Shi'an teased Jian Cenyu, “Good thing we made it official early. Otherwise, what would you have done if the camera landed on us?”
Jian Cenyu's lips curved. She said in a casual tone, “I've already overdrawn my credit several times anyway. I could just apply for one more.”
The brilliant lights of the music festival swept across the scene. Sang Shi'an leaned on Jian Cenyu's shoulder, found a comfortable position, and said, “You're lucky you met me. If it were anyone else, they would have called the police long ago.”
Jian Cenyu smiled silently. “Yes, only you can tolerate me.”
Sang Shi'an loved being praised. She said proudly, “Of course. You've hit the jackpot.”
Jian Cenyu hummed softly and asked, “Then when will you tolerate me a little more?”
At first, Sang Shi'an didn't react, not until Jian Cenyu suddenly took the tip of her ear into her mouth. Her pupils instantly constricted, her back tensed, and her previous bravado vanished. “I... I, I, I…”
Jian Cenyu's voice was a little low, right against Sang Shi'an's ear, and very moist. “Hmm?”
Amidst the increasingly heated atmosphere of the festival, Sang Shi'an recalled certain films she had seen and came to a new realization about having a girlfriend—it turned out you had to do those things.
She took a few deep breaths, trying hard not to get stage fright, and then asked in a small voice, “Does it have to be tonight?”
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment