BSS - Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Deng Chuan stood in her room, took off the clothes stained with alcohol and colored spray, and tossed them into the washing machine. She then stepped into the bathroom, grabbed the metal shower hose, closed her eyes, and turned on the faucet.

It was summer, so she didn't set the water temperature too high. There wasn't much steam in the bathroom. But when she came out of the shower, her skin was still flushed red. Deng Chuan put on her clothes, dried her hair, and meticulously patted moisturizing toner onto her face in front of the mirror. She performed this task with extreme seriousness, almost methodically.

After finishing with her face, she opened her eyes and looked at her reflection. Unsurprisingly, she saw the naked, undisguised smile in her eyes.

The one-year exchange period ended with the exams. Some classmates suggested a group road trip around Europe before returning home. But Deng Chuan couldn't wait. She was desperately eager to go back, like an arrow straining for the bow. Standing in the excited, restless crowd with colorful ribbons all over her hair, she politely declined her classmates' invitation and promptly booked a flight.

She would be returning home soon.

Faced with this fact, the seventeen-year-old Deng Chuan would have surely cheered and thrown herself onto the bed. But the current Deng Chuan was already twenty.

The twenty-year-old Deng Chuan demurely fell onto the bed, hugged her beloved blanket, and rolled back and forth several times.

Packing was a major undertaking, but Deng Chuan streamlined her luggage for the trip home. Aside from some essential items, she wasn't taking anything else back. She gave the floor lamp to Lao Lin and the rug to the red-haired Spanish girl. As for the mattress, bed frame, and single sofa, she packed them all up and gave them to a junior from her school at P University who was about to come over on exchange.

The junior was also participating in the same program. Deng Chuan left the items with Lao Lin for her, sincerely wishing the two of them would become good roommates for the new year.

Lao Lin leaned against the doorframe, watching her pick through her suitcase. He was munching on a sandwich Deng Chuan had made for him, humming a tune intermittently as he ate.

Lao Lin's presence was so strong that Deng Chuan, who was on the phone with Xu Wei, looked up at him. "Aren't you guys going out?"

Lao Lin said, "We're leaving later."

Deng Chuan said, "Oh," and lowered her head to arrange the various bottles and jars she was bringing back for Xu Wei.

Lao Lin hovered around her, nagging her to make sure she turned off the water and electricity and closed the doors and windows before she left. Deng Chuan listened with one ear while listening to Xu Wei with the other. Finally, his friends' voices shouting his full name echoed from downstairs, and he scurried off.

Deng Chuan heard Xu Wei's light laughter on the other end of the line.

The climate here was mild. The summer sun slanted in through the bay window, warming Deng Chuan's back. She stretched out her legs and sat on the floor, propping herself up with her hands behind her, and spoke to Xu Wei. "I should land around eight tomorrow evening, but my family is picking me up from the airport, so we might have to meet a little later."

"Mm," Xu Wei said softly. "No rush. Get some rest when you arrive."

"No, no." Xu Wei hadn't understood her meaning. Deng Chuan anxiously clarified, wanting to cut off the magnanimous words she expected Xu Wei to say next. "I mean, a little later, after my family is asleep, I'll sneak out so we can meet."

Xu Wei was quiet for a moment, then said, "That's fine too. It's up to you."

Deng Chuan felt her response was too calm. She childishly puffed out her cheeks and muttered, "Why that reaction? Isn't it romantic to sneak out to see you after everyone's asleep?"

"It is romantic." As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Wei replied without hesitation. She paused, then added with a smile, "So good."

Xu Wei said, "Be good. Don't tire yourself out. You don't have to run over here. I'll drive over. You just need to come downstairs."

She was surrounded by half-packed luggage, with clothes yet to be put into vacuum bags piled messily to the side. But at this moment, Deng Chuan had no intention of tidying them up. Coaxed by Xu Wei's words, she squinted in the British summer sun, stretched out her limbs, and lay down lazily on the floor like a big cat basking in the sun.

The wooden floor, now bare without the rug, was hard against her back. Deng Chuan savored this subtle pain. She slowly rolled over, resting her head on her arm, and wheedled Xu Wei, "It's okay. I can sleep on the plane. I won't be tired."

Xu Wei hummed in agreement, then asked how her packing was going and if her departure arrangements were set.

The Little Friend looked at the mess around her and sat up straight, feeling a little guilty. "It's half-packed. It'll be done soon."

"Mm." Xu Wei replied softly again. She seemed to be at a loss for words. Soon, the sound of the Little Friend huffing and puffing as she stuffed clothes into a vacuum bag and sucked the air out came through the phone, followed by some patting sounds. Then, it seemed she stood up, took a few steps, and let out a small cry of pain, probably from kicking her foot on something.

The lights were on in the room, illuminating everything clearly. A stack of open exam papers lay in front of Xu Wei, halfway turned through.

As the night deepened, Xu Wei's hand holding the pen rested to the side. The curve of her lips had unknowingly lingered for a long time.

---

The next morning, Deng Chuan dragged her packed suitcase, carefully checked the doors and windows one last time, took a final look at the room she had lived in for a year, and closed the door. The car she had booked was already waiting in front of the apartment building. Perhaps because she was in such a good mood, Deng Chuan felt the weather was exceptionally fine today, almost the best day she'd had since arriving in the UK.

Lighthearted British country folk music played in the car. Deng Chuan even heard a few lyrical Russian songs, all quite pleasant. The driver was a bit quiet, and she didn't speak either. They drove the whole way in silence, listening to a nice selection of music.

As the car pulled into the drop-off area of the terminal, they arrived at the bustling airport. Deng Chuan tied up her hair, popped the baseball cap she'd been holding onto her head, and gripped the seatbelt, ready to release it. The driver, while braking, glanced over at her. Deng Chuan's grip on the seatbelt was restrained, but he could see the impatience in it. Her fingers were slightly curled, as graceful as a spring about to uncoil.

With that thought, the driver unlocked the doors. As expected, the beautiful black-haired girl fluidly unbuckled her seatbelt, briskly opened the door, and got out. She took the suitcase he helped her with, thanked him in a clear, bright voice, and even said, "The music in your car is great. I hope you have a wonderful day, every day." The driver was still a bit dazed as he watched her wave and walk away.

She reached the airport and entered the terminal. It was quite crowded. Deng Chuan waited in line for a while, finished the check-in process, went through security, and bought a cup of coffee before looking for her gate. She hadn't slept much the previous night, and waves of drowsiness were now washing over her.

Fortunately, the return journey was long enough for her to catch up on lost sleep, get her state of mind in order, and calm her restless heart a little.

Calming it completely was impossible. During her layover in Hong Kong, Deng Chuan ate a bowl of cart noodles, and the hand holding her chopsticks trembled unconsciously.

Deng Chuan slept for a long time on the plane.

She was woken by the vibration of the plane landing. She opened her eyes to the familiar night sky outside the window. The dim yellow lights of the tarmac resembled dusk, and the soft, pleasant announcements were in familiar Chinese. The plane was still taxiing on the runway. Passengers, after their long journey, began to fold their blankets, close their laptops, and make calls to their families.

Deng Chuan rubbed her eyes and, in a daze, texted Xu Wei: I've landed.

Xu Wei replied quickly. Seeing Xu Wei's message appear right under hers, Deng Chuan finally, truly realized that there was no longer a seven-hour time difference between them.

Xu Wei replied: Are you tired?

Deng Chuan texted: Not tired.

She sent the message without hesitation, and her spirits lifted with it. Deng Chuan rubbed the bridge of her nose, composed herself, and followed the crowd off the plane and onto a packed shuttle bus. The summer air was stuffy, but Deng Chuan found it reassuring. It was the feeling of having her feet on solid ground. It was as if she had been flying in the sky all this time and had finally landed.

Deng Chuan followed the flow of people down a long corridor, collected her luggage, and headed for the exit. From a distance, she saw her big family. Her Little Aunt, Lao Deng, her mom, her uncle, her cousin, and her little nephew, who was holding her Little Aunt's hand and muttering something-everyone was there.

As she got closer, she was a bit speechless. "Why did so many of you come?"

The moment they met, her mom thrust a bouquet of flowers into her arms, her face beaming. "Baby!" Deng Chuan smiled and let her mother embrace her, listening as she was hugged and kissed repeatedly. "You've worked so hard..."

"Alright, alright." Lao Deng placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Let's go. We can talk more at home."

Her Little Aunt took the bag Deng Chuan was carrying, which contained gifts she had bought for the family at the duty-free shop. Taking it, she was surprised. "Why is this so heavy?"

A smile played on Deng Chuan's lips as she placed the bag in her aunt's hand. "It's a secret."

The group drove from the airport back to Deng Chuan's house. Deng Chuan took her luggage to her room and came out to see the dining table in disarray. It turned out everyone had gathered at her house for a meal before going to pick her up together.

After Deng Chuan took a shower and came out, the living room curtains were drawn, and the air conditioner was gently blowing cool air. Her cousin was watching cartoons on the sofa with her little nephew. She looked around but couldn't find her Little Aunt. When she went to the kitchen, she saw three people squeezed inside: her parents and her Little Aunt were making noodles for her.

Lao Deng was tall and saw her as soon as he turned his head. "Finished your shower? Are you hungry?" He glanced at Deng Chuan's long, wet hair draped over her shoulders and nodded. "Your hair has grown. It looks good."

Her Little Aunt also turned to look at her. "It's beautiful."

Hearing this, Deng Chuan let out a silly laugh. Her Little Aunt couldn't help but smile, turning her face away for a moment before saying, "Alright, you must be hungry. Come and eat your noodles."

The noodle soup was steaming hot and filled with ingredients. Everyone had a bowl, and Deng Chuan ate a large one. Understanding she was tired from her journey, her family told her to go rest and thoughtfully turned off the light in her room for her.

They never would have guessed that Deng Chuan stayed up chatting with Xu Wei for half the night in her pitch-black room. Only when the sounds outside gradually subsided, the lights went out, and the clock showed three-thirty did she change her clothes and tiptoe out the door.

Deng Chuan took the elevator down. The night was exceptionally quiet. As she walked through the residential complex, the night breeze brushed against her face, and she unconsciously broke into a run, her heart beating faster and faster.

Deng Chuan ran all the way to the complex gate in one breath. She stood there, glanced around for a moment, and quickly spotted the familiar car parked by the roadside.

From Xu Wei's perspective, Deng Chuan only paused for an instant before running toward her.

Deng Chuan ran to the car and yanked open the driver's side door.

A faint floral scent wafted from the car, mingled with the perfume Xu Wei always wore. The fragrant mist rushed out to meet her, and Deng Chuan was nearly overwhelmed the moment she opened the door. Without a word, she reached out to embrace Xu Wei's shoulders.

The car's interior light was off, with only the scattered glow from the streetlights filtering in, casting a unique, sunset-like tenderness on Xu Wei's face. Xu Wei was wearing a bohemian maxi dress, its tie cinching her slender waist. Her bare collarbones and shoulders were exceptionally delicate. Her slightly curled, long hair was draped behind her as she looked up. Deng Chuan, having opened the door and leaned in, perfectly cupped her face.

Deng Chuan's palms were hot, and Xu Wei's face began to heat up as well. Their eager breaths mingled instantly, and their lips met and stuck together... In the close quarters, the car door was closed, and their positions were reversed. Deng Chuan was in the driver's seat, and Xu Wei was sitting on her lap.

The Little Friend seemed to be burning up all over, the heat between their lips and tongues enough to melt them. Xu Wei was left breathless by her urgent kisses. Deng Chuan's hand rested on her waist like a red-hot iron brand, while her other hand cupped the back of her head, rubbing gently but firmly. Xu Wei closed her eyes, feeling her entire being fall into Deng Chuan's grasp.

In another pause for breath, Xu Wei couldn't catch hers in time, and a gasp escaped her throat. Deng Chuan caught this small signal and applied even more force. Her passion forced Xu Wei to tilt her head back, stroking the nape of her neck and breathing out as if panting, "Slower..."

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