Offense - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

At eight or nine in the morning in Pingchuan Town, the number of pedestrians on the streets was gradually increasing. Students on summer vacation were sent out by their families to buy breakfast. Tofu pudding, drizzled with sauce, hung from bicycle handlebars, swaying with the movement of the bike.

In the passenger seat, the little girl seemed to be riding in a big truck for the first time. The whole way, she timidly pressed against the window, watching. When she saw Lian Wan make a turn and park in front of the store, she even froze for a moment, her bright, dark eyes quietly sizing up the surroundings.

Lian Wan parked the truck, picked up the noodle soup that had been placed at the girl's feet, then turned to open her door and walked around to the other side to lift her out.

The little girl was short and not heavy, and she obediently wrapped her arms around Lian Wan's neck. Lian Wan could hold her steady with just one arm.

But this combination drew quite a few assessing glances the moment they entered the store.

For once, business in the store was good, and a line had formed at the register. When Lian Wan came in holding the little girl, everyone glanced over, their faces seeming to light up as if they'd seen something novel.

Lian Wan mentally prepared herself, organizing her answers to the inevitable questions in advance.

As expected, the gossip from Auntie Zhang's son from downstairs arrived right on cue: "Xiao Lian! Where did you get such a big daughter? Is this a relative of yours or what?"

Lian Wan expressionlessly hoisted the little girl up a bit higher and enunciated each word as if reciting from a script, "She's the daughter of a colleague from the Vehicle Team. Brother Zhang, you know I don't have any relatives."

"Oh, is that so," the man said with a teasing smile. "You look pretty good holding her. You should hurry up and have one of your own."

His words were harsh. Hearing them, Lian Wan finally looked up. She had never been good-tempered, and her expression was now so dark it looked like she could devour someone. The people around them all subtly took a few steps back. But at that very moment, the woman behind the counter happened to look over. Past the smug man and the curious onlookers, Lian Wan clearly saw her eyes curve into a smile just for her, a smile that paid no mind to anyone else. Her soft hair caught the morning sun in a captivating way, as if she had transformed from her nighttime self.

Don't be angry. She mouthed the words.

Lian Wan's heart suddenly softened. The harsh words turned to gentle whispers, stuck in her chest, unable to be spoken.

From the bottom of her heart, she didn't want Zhou Yanqian to see her aggressive side.

She was even willing to show weakness, to become a cat lying on the ground, rolling over to expose its belly at the slightest push. Even when bullied, it would only turn back to its owner for help, never showing its sharp claws until given the command.

She gave a barely perceptible nod.

"Eat it while it's hot."

So, in the eyes of the others, the notoriously short-tempered Lian Wan, faced with provocation, merely put on a cold face and pretended not to hear. She walked closer, placed all the noodle soup she was holding onto the table, and spoke to the proprietress as if nothing had happened.

The beautiful proprietress's eyes crinkled. "Okay."

As she spoke, she raised a hand and patted the back of Lian Wan's hand, the touch light and gentle, like an accidental caress. But she wasn't looking at Lian Wan; she smiled at the little girl in her arms. "Little one, what would you like to eat? How about I get you some snacks?"

The child gnawed on her fingers when she got nervous, her little brow furrowed as she looked at Zhou Yanqian. Zhou Yanqian pulled out a tissue to wipe the girl's hand, subtly signaling for Lian Wan to put her down.

"Come over here," she said. "Don't keep holding her. I'll keep you company."

The little girl was naturally passed into her arms. The customers paying at the counter dispersed one by one. It wasn't until the store was empty that Lian Wan realized she had been standing frozen in place.

"Come here," Zhou Yanqian said, handing a tablet playing cartoons to the girl. She looked up, gave Lian Wan a light glare, and then smiled. "Why are you so dazed?"

Lian Wan looked at her, her mouth dry, not knowing what to say. After a long pause, all she could manage was, "...Are you hungry? Hurry and eat your noodles."

"Okay-" Zhou Yanqian replied, as if speaking to a child. But she didn't move, instead focusing on talking to the little girl. For some reason, Lian Wan's heart began to feel displeased again because of that tone.

This displeasure showed on her face as a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Zhou Yanqian noticed and chuckled to herself, nudging her with a finger. "What's wrong? Come here."

Lian Wan didn't move. She lowered her head to untie the knot on the plastic bag, carefully placing the steaming noodle soup in front of the woman and the child. She said sullenly, "Eat."

Zhou Yanqian openly hooked Lian Wan's wrist with her finger on the tabletop. "You're not allowed to leave."

The little girl had already warmed up to her in a short time. Copying her, she chimed in with her high-pitched, childish voice, "Not allowed to leave!"

Lian Wan's lips moved, and she finally grasped Zhou Yanqian's hand, only then noticing its weakness.

"Does your stomach still hurt?" she asked.

"A little," Zhou Yanqian said nonchalantly, then, as if regretting it, she drew out her words playfully, "It hurt a lot when I woke up this morning. You weren't here, and the air conditioner was too cold. The pain woke me up."

Hearing this, Lian Wan was filled with guilt. She lowered her head thoughtfully. "I'll turn the AC up before I leave next time."

"Mm," Zhou Yanqian said with a beaming smile. She patted the head of the little girl, who was making a mess eating her noodles, and urged again, "Come here."

For some reason, Lian Wan felt that Zhou Yanqian was being particularly clingy today. It wasn't enough that she had to sit next to her; she also kept touching her. She only settled down after Lian Wan grabbed her hand and didn't let go, no longer fidgeting and obediently using her other hand to eat her noodles.

But once they had all eaten and drunk their fill, she pulled her hand free from Lian Wan's, put an arm around the little girl's shoulders, and announced generously, "She can stay here with me. You should go get busy."

Having her hand suddenly released and then hearing those words, Lian Wan froze. She stared at Zhou Yanqian for a long time, so long that Zhou Yanqian was about to speak first, before she finally heard Lian Wan say in a low voice, "...I want to buy a bottle of water."

"Hm?" Zhou Yanqian tilted her head, staring at her with a half-smile. "Which brand do you want?"

"Mm," Lian Wan nodded, her gaze fixed on her. "The kind... kept in the back."

A confident smile played on the woman's lips, and her tone was leisurely. "Is it really that good?"

Lian Wan's throat moved, as if she had swallowed.

"...It's very sweet," she said dryly.

Zhou Yanqian glanced down and saw the little girl looking at them with curiosity, her gaze exceptionally innocent. Being watched by such eyes, her own face began to burn without her realizing it. "...Okay."

She agreed, turning her head away in a bit of a fluster. "Then come inside with me to get it."

Zhou Yanqian walked faster and faster. Lian Wan followed slowly behind her, watching the woman's figure sway in the sunlight.

In the familiar storeroom, the closed door was opened once again.

"You're so beautiful, Sister." As soon as the door closed, the light from outside vanished, and her vision suddenly went dark. Lian Wan's hand, hot against her waist, made Zhou Yanqian tremble sensitively. She heard Lian Wan lean in and murmur next to her ear.

Zhou Yanqian was finally lifted up by her. She couldn't help but laugh, feigning a push. "Mmm..."

The next second, she was kissed, finishing her sentence between breaths, "I don't think it's the water that's sweet, it's your mouth that's sweet..."

"They're both sweet." The little puppy who'd been longing for this all morning affectionately nuzzled her lips and nodded with certainty.

The two of them kissed among the shelves. The air was thick with floating dust, enough to make one's nose itch after a while. But neither of them cared. They only wanted to hold each other tightly, to get as close as possible, and then closer still.

"...When you left this morning, I was very sad when I woke up," Zhou Yanqian said softly, burying her head in Lian Wan's neck.

Warm breath puffed against her ear, and Lian Wan tightened her arms uncontrollably. She panted lightly, holding the woman's warm body, and finally understood the feeling that had made Zhou Yanqian want to cling to her all morning. Hugging, kissing, caressing, sharing a bed—in the face of such intimate power, all her previous fears of being controlled by Zhou Yanqian were finally overturned and reshaped. Lian Wan finally understood that the object of her fear wasn't actually Zhou Yanqian; she was just afraid of losing her agency, of ending up with nothing.

But only Zhou Yanqian could make her understand herself anew.

So, Lian Wan thought hazily.

Now, everything had an answer.

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