ORCBRB – Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Leaving the hotel in her original clothes, Sang Shi'an held the bouquet of roses in the car. Amidst a gentle Cantonese song, her mood gradually calmed down.
The scenes from the hotel replayed in her mind. Sang Shi'an bit her lower lip, unable to stop herself from being a little dramatic.
Staring ahead, Sang Shi'an tightened her grip on the roses and pouted. "If we go back this late and wake up Auntie Luo, how are we going to explain it?"
Jian Cenyu said, "We'll just say we went to the music festival and watched the fireworks. Mom will understand."
Sang Shi'an gently twirled a petal still dewy with water droplets, turned sideways, and asked thoughtfully, "Did you watch the fireworks? Were they beautiful?"
The red light came on. Jian Cenyu also turned and gave Sang Shi'an a very brief kiss. "Of course they were beautiful. They were the most beautiful fireworks I've ever seen."
Did Jian Cenyu watch the fireworks? Obviously not.
When the fireworks were at their most brilliant, Sang Shi'an was crying her hardest. Jian Cenyu naturally chose the latter.
Sang Shi'an understood her underlying meaning, froze for two seconds, and then burst out laughing. "Jian Cenyu, why do I get the feeling that you really, really like me?"
The light was about to change. Jian Cenyu pinched Sang Shi'an's ear and pushed her back. "Sit properly."
Sang Shi'an looked down at her seatbelt. "Aren't I sitting properly? My seatbelt isn't even loose."
"It's not for your safety." Jian Cenyu turned her head and gave Sang Shi'an a light glance. "I'm afraid you'll distract me."
Sang Shi'an laughed even louder, burying half her face in the soft rose petals. "Then your self-control is really terrible."
Jian Cenyu looked at her, amused. "If it were terrible, you'd probably still be in the hotel right now."
She asked with a smile, "Should I turn back?"
"No, no, no, getting a room is too expensive. We can't waste money like that." Sang Shi'an felt her face flush again and buried it deeper. "If Auntie Luo wakes up in the middle of the night and doesn't see us, she'll worry."
Jian Cenyu: "Stop always using my mother as an excuse."
"Fine, then you can come sleep with me tonight." Sang Shi'an coolly presented Jian Cenyu with a difficult proposition. "I couldn't adjust to the jet lag last night and didn't sleep well."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"That would be so dramatic." Sang Shi'an added, "If Auntie Luo found out, she would definitely tell my mom, and then the whole family would know how useless I am—"
She paused, suddenly remembering something, and looked down with a smile. "But when I was little and you slept over with me, I used to fantasize about marrying you."
"Back then, I didn't understand anything about love or legality. I just thought it would be great if you could always be by my side."
Jian Cenyu knew she was talking about the games of house little girls like to play, but she was still moved. "You wanted to devote your life to me after just a few sleepovers?"
"What else could I do? You were the one who stayed at my house for more than twenty days a month. Oh, I just remembered, one time my brother came back to the country, and I told him I liked you and wanted to marry you when I grew up." When Sang Shi'an was still in elementary school, Sang Shiyue was already studying abroad. The eight-year age gap meant they had almost nothing in common.
One could imagine what a shock those innocent childhood words must have been to Sang Shiyue.
Jian Cenyu asked, "And how did your brother respond?"
Sang Shi'an: "He took me to the movies to see a romance film and even lectured me that girls can't have babies with or marry other girls. The people sitting next to us were probably so annoyed with him."
"You were so young then, did you understand?"
"I didn't understand, so I fell asleep." Sang Shi'an said honestly. "Later, when I started high school, he became quite concerned about my love life. Maybe because he was older and we really had nothing in common, he could only ask about that to pass the time."
Jian Cenyu was curious. "You probably didn't have any romantic inclinations towards girls before, right?"
That's right. It wasn't just girls; Sang Shi'an was so narcissistic she felt no one in the world was worthy of her.
"No." Sang Shi'an's voice was muffled. "It was only after... um... that thing... that I realized I really... um... girls."
Jian Cenyu pretended not to understand. "What?"
Sang Shi'an mumbled, "I like girls, and I like you the most. Happy now?"
Jian Cenyu's heart was about to melt. If she weren't driving, she would have pulled Sang Shi'an into her arms and kissed her again.
She mimicked Sang Shi'an's tone and said, "I only like girls, too. And I like you the most."
That night, Sang Shi'an still restrained herself and didn't knock on Jian Cenyu's door in the middle of the night.
First, she had to be restrained because an elder was present. Second, she felt it wasn't quite safe to sleep with Jian Cenyu.
The next morning, Sang Shi'an opened her eyes, and the thought that Jian Cenyu was now her girlfriend made the very air feel sweet.
She went downstairs and heard Jian Cenyu talking with Luo Wei in the dining room. Sang Shi'an waited for a moment until they finished before walking over. She first greeted Luo Wei, then sat down next to Jian Cenyu. "Good morning, Cenyu Jiejie."
There was a smile in Jian Cenyu's eyes. "Morning."
Luo Wei asked about their plans. "Have you bought your plane tickets for tomorrow? Try not to take a red-eye flight; they're exhausting."
"I want to spend more time with Auntie Luo in Australia." Sang Shi'an wheedled Luo Wei. "That way, when winter break comes, Auntie Luo can support me during my internship."
Luo Wei wasn't present when this was mentioned at the Sang family home last time. After a moment's thought, she guessed, "An'an, are you going to intern at Jian Corporation?"
She glanced at Jian Cenyu. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Jian Cenyu was about to answer, but Sang Shi'an cut in first. "Because I haven't decided whether I want to go yet. Cenyu Jiejie is too fierce. I'm a little scared."
As she said 'too fierce,' she deliberately brushed her calf against Jian Cenyu's, rubbing it gently twice.
Jian Cenyu held her breath and cast a faint glance at Sang Shi'an.
A tingle went down Sang Shi'an's spine, and she immediately tattled to Luo Wei. "Auntie Luo, look, she's being fierce to me right in front of you. I've been living with her these past few days, and I'm about to be scared to death. If we're together for winter break too, won't I be doomed?"
"Cenyu." Luo Wei's tone sounded stern, but her face was smiling as she played along with Sang Shi'an. "You're three years older than An'an. You should act like a big sister. It's one thing to be fierce with outsiders, but what's this about being fierce with An'an?"
"An'an and I might have had a little misunderstanding before. If she's willing to intern at Jian Corporation, I would naturally welcome her." Jian Cenyu put down her glass of milk and said softly to Sang Shi'an, "How about Jiejie apologizes to you?"
Only the two of them knew what this apology was for. The tips of Sang Shi'an's ears instantly turned red.
At that moment, Jian Cenyu's hand reached over. The pad of her finger pressed against Sang Shi'an's palm and traced two meaningful circles.
Sang Shi'an lost her nerve. "Auntie Luo, actually, Cenyu Jiejie is pretty nice. You don't know, last time I went to my brother's place, he locked me in his office the entire weekend and made me read documents nonstop. He even found an accountant from PwC to quiz me on the side. It was terrifying."
Luo Wei asked, amused, "And you didn't voice any objections?"
Sang Shi'an shook her head pitifully. "Who told me to be the youngest and know the least? Anyone can order me around. I don't want to be a younger sister in my next life."
After breakfast, Luo Wei went out for a walk as per her doctor's instructions. Jian Cenyu accompanied her, so Sang Shi'an deliberately didn't disturb them.
The cocoa powder from the tiramisu had spilled on her pajamas, so Sang Shi'an went upstairs to change.
Who knew that just as she took off her clothes and was about to put on her bra, the bedroom door was pushed open. In her panic, Sang Shi'an only had time to cover her chest.
"Who is it?"
The maids here wouldn't make the mistake of entering without knocking. Obviously, the person who came in was Jian Cenyu.
At home, she would respect privacy and knock before entering, but now she just skipped it.
Being watched like this, Sang Shi'an obviously couldn't get dressed. "Weren't you accompanying your mom on her walk?"
"She was afraid you'd be bored alone and asked me to take good care of you." Jian Cenyu stood in front of Sang Shi'an, her gaze sweeping over the clothes in Sang Shi'an's hands. She added, "Lest a certain someone goes and tattles on me again."
Sang Shi'an finally understood. Jian Cenyu was here to settle the score from the breakfast table.
"Cenyu Jiejie." When she needed a favor, Sang Shi'an was always very well-behaved. "When I came downstairs, I heard her worrying about you at Jian Corporation. I represent the Sang family, so I deliberately mentioned the internship for her to hear."
Jian Cenyu said calmly, "Mm, I know."
Sang Shi'an whispered, "Then... can you turn around first? I need to change."
The moment Jian Cenyu reached out to her, Sang Shi'an turned and ran.
Sang Shi'an had never succeeded, and this time was no exception.
Jian Cenyu caught her by her smooth, delicate waist and pulled her back. Her warm breath tickled Sang Shi'an's ear. "Didn't you say I was fierce? Let me serve Miss Sang while she changes, to earn some brownie points."
Sang Shi'an immediately shivered, feeling as if her whole body was about to melt from the heat.
"Not fierce, not fierce at all. You're the gentlest and the best." Sang Shi'an changed her arrogant tune and begged for mercy in a low voice.
Jian Cenyu held Sang Shi'an with one arm with ease, while her other hand opened the closet door to help her choose. "But I've already taken it to heart. Which outfit do you want to wear?"
Sang Shi'an didn't speak.
Jian Cenyu's lips curved slightly. "If you don't want to wear clothes, I have no objection either."
Ahhh!
Sang Shi'an's expression changed. She felt that the version of herself who had provoked Jian Cenyu under the table was a complete idiot.
She angrily lifted her arm. "That one will do."
Jian Cenyu raised an eyebrow, unhurriedly took out the clothes, and placed them in Sang Shi'an's hands.
Just as Sang Shi'an let her guard down, thinking Jian Cenyu would let her dress herself, a finger hooked the bra from her hand and took it away.
Sang Shi'an: ...
"Raise your arms."
Sang Shi'an was practically trapped between Jian Cenyu and the closet, with nowhere to run. She reluctantly raised her arms.
"A little higher. And move your hair to your back, otherwise I can't see."
Sang Shi'an raised her arms but didn't move the hair covering her chest. "Isn't there only one spot?"
Jian Cenyu threatened her, "If I can't see, I'll just have to find the spot with my hands."
Sang Shi'an immediately lifted her hair. The sudden contact with the cool air in the room was a bit chilly, but the thought of Jian Cenyu watching her from behind made her blush and feel hot again.
"This should be fine, right?"
After Sang Shi'an's arms were through the straps, Jian Cenyu's long fingers held the edge of the bra and calmly fastened the clasp at the bottom. Her expression was focused, and her long black hair brushed against Sang Shi'an's shoulder as she lowered her head.
Perhaps something had been grazed. Sang Shi'an frowned slightly, quickly bit her lip, and managed to keep from making a sound.
Jian Cenyu's voice sounded by her ear again. "Which hook do you like?"
Sang Shi'an: "The second one in the middle is fine."
Jian Cenyu acknowledged with a sound, and the metal clasp made a soft clicking noise. "Let me help you adjust it."
Sang Shi'an's hands tightened, and a trace of panic flashed in her clear eyes. "I can do it myself."
Adjusting it after putting it on often involved arranging her entire chest. Wouldn't that be delivering herself right into Jian Cenyu's hands?
"Don't move, or it'll start to hurt if it's pressed for too long." Jian Cenyu held Sang Shi'an's hands, clearly intending to do it herself.
The gentle touch of a palm fell upon her. Sang Shi'an closed her eyes, her breathing quickening.
After both sides were adjusted, just as Sang Shi'an was about to hand the clothes to Jian Cenyu, Jian Cenyu held her by the shoulders, turned her around, and a kiss pressed down.
The belated good morning kiss was exceptionally sweet. The two kissed passionately. If not for their reservations, Sang Shi'an felt Jian Cenyu would have definitely preferred to press her onto the bed.
When the kiss ended, Sang Shi'an heard Jian Cenyu ask her, "Is your mood any better?"
Sang Shi'an wouldn't admit it. "You just forced me to change my clothes. How could I possibly be in a good mood?"
Jian Cenyu looked at the smile leaking from the corner of Sang Shi'an's mouth and said slowly, "Then what should I do? It seems I've made my girlfriend unhappy again."
The word 'girlfriend,' Jian Cenyu said it extremely softly, as if deliberately holding it on the tip of her tongue, making it sound exceptionally gentle to the ear.
When you like someone, you don't need to say too many sweet nothings. Even a simple affirmation of their status could make Sang Shi'an happy.
Her whole body was like a machine controlled by emotions, completely unable to think rationally. "Forget it, I forgive you."
Jian Cenyu was slightly surprised. "Oh?"
Sang Shi'an bit her lip, her gaze wandering. "I heard from others that you can't be too dramatic when you're in a relationship, or you'll scare your girlfriend away. So I have to try to be a little more restrained."
But to keep Jian Cenyu from getting too smug, Sang Shi'an added fiercely, "But only a little bit!"
Jian Cenyu wrapped an arm around the nape of Sang Shi'an's neck and pulled her into her embrace.
The nine o'clock morning sun bathed the two in a golden glow, casting an intimate silhouette on the wall.
Jian Cenyu said, "But I happen to like a girlfriend who's a little dramatic and has a bit of a temper."
Sang Shi'an mocked her, "Jian Cenyu, are you a masochist?"
"No," Jian Cenyu said softly. "Only when it comes to you."
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