Offense - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Warm white light fell on her eyelids, as gentle as a woman's hand stroking her back.

As Zhou Yanqian spoke, she reached past Lian Wan's hair and wrapped her arms around her arched back. She pressed her forehead against hers and, as if acting spoiled, nudged her lips closer to Lian Wan's face.

Her warm breath puffed against Lian Wan's skin. Lian Wan instinctively tried to dodge, but it was unavoidable, and she was kissed on the corner of her mouth.

"Sometimes..." she drew out the word, "I really think you're like a high school student."

"Thirsty for knowledge..." She pressed against Lian Wan's lips. "You want to know everything, don't you?"

Instinctively, Lian Wan felt a knot of tension, as if her heart were being squeezed tight, even though Zhou Yanqian's tone was light, her ambiguous whispers merely playing between their lips and tongues.

"That's not it." She opened her mouth, refuting instinctively. "I'm not always thinking like that."

The rebuttal was weightless. Zhou Yanqian paid it no mind, simply leaning in her arms and laughing to herself. Restlessly, she gently bumped Lian Wan's chin and tilted her face up to kiss her.

In the midst of the kiss, the woman's features took on a languid air, like unfurling flora. The closer she got, the more obvious the attraction became. Lian Wan restrained her impulse, knitting her brow as she denied, "I don't want to know everything, either."

A frowning Lian Wan looked uniquely sincere, but unfortunately, the corners of her eyes were still damp, betraying their owner's vulnerability. This turned her firm sincerity into a kind of endearing coyness. Zhou Yanqian held her, reaching up to cup her face, unable to resist teasing her a little more.

She pressed her body forward, a soft armful that Lian Wan couldn't ignore. The hand on her face applied a bit of pressure. As Zhou Yanqian kissed her incessantly, she slowly asked in return, "So why are there so many whys?"

"Liking someone is just liking them." Her eyes were captivating. She tilted her head, aware of her own charm at that moment, and smiled again. She deliberately brushed her lips against Lian Wan's earlobe, a warm sensation that sent a numbing shiver through her with each spoken word. "What reason do you need?"

The reserved Little Puppy stared at her, stunned, just as expected.

When Zhou Yanqian said this, her pupils shone, and the corners of her lips held a smile that was composed from start to finish. Her eyes always had a watery sheen, but at this moment, they were as deep as the dark universe. The distance was too close; in her focused gaze, Lian Wan could read too many possibilities. There was so much honesty, and even more, a blatant, pure desire. Clearly reflected within that desire was Lian Wan's own image. From the beginning until now, it was this desire that made her seem otherworldly, passing through the morning mist of the small town to meet the same little puppy. It was as if the heart-stopping, breathless feeling of their first meeting had returned, enough to fuel countless sultry summer night dreams. Lian Wan stared, mesmerized, until Zhou Yanqian's smile grew wider and wider.

She wound herself around her with surprising strength, biting Lian Wan's lip with a relentless energy. She asked smugly, "Zoning out? What are you thinking about now?"

Her lip was caught between the woman's teeth, a clear sting of pain that wasn't unpleasant. Lian Wan was silent for a long moment before she nodded and turned her head away.

But Zhou Yanqian pursued her. Lian Wan was at a loss, her lips trembling, but the anticipated pain never came. Instead, she was immediately given a soft kiss.

It was as if all her unspoken words and awkward hesitation were gently sealed away along with it.

Her expression could no longer be hidden, betraying everything she was thinking with perfect clarity.

The woman understood. Her eyes curved as she spoke in a voice both coquettish and soft, like a tempting morsel dangling from on high: "You like me that much, huh?"

Lian Wan's face was stiff; she had absolutely no idea what to do. She could never figure out Zhou Yanqian's actions or thoughts. Now they were so close. She could hear her heartbeat and her breath, feel her warm body nestling against her. She bit her, then kissed her. Both the pain and the tenderness were gifts from her, and Lian Wan could only accept what she was given.

But she didn't want it to be like this.

"Alright, let's not dwell on it. I just like you." Seeing the Little Puppy fall silent, Zhou Yanqian raised a hand and gently pinched her cheek, coaxing her sweetly, "Are you still hungry? How about we shower and then go eat? You have to drive tomorrow."

As Zhou Yanqian tugged at her cheek, Lian Wan mumbled, "Sister."

She gestured for her to back away a little, then took a deep breath.

Zhou Yanqian let go, looking somewhat surprised as she studied her.

"I don't want to know everything."

"I just..."

Lian Wan heard herself say with difficulty, "...want to know if you love me."

---

Billowing steam followed the flow of water, taking on the light, fluffy texture of ribbons in the air. When Zhou Yanqian came in, she reached out and switched on the light. It wasn't bright, just a dim glow. The bathroom's blinds were drawn shut, and their shadow, cast by the light, was reflected on the wall. It was bisected by the shadows of their figures, like a spoken but unfinished answer.

"Do you have a job tomorrow?" Zhou Yanqian poured shower gel into her palm. Just as Lian Wan had finished speaking earlier, a call had come from the Vehicle Team. Lian Wan had been busy answering it, and when she returned, it was as if her courage had been depleted. She had clammed up and said nothing more.

"I have to go." Lian Wan's gaze landed everywhere except on her. "I might be pretty busy for a while. If you need anything, just send me a message. I'll read it when I'm free."

As she spoke, water streamed down her face, trickling into her mouth and down her neck. Zhou Yanqian watched her, then turned her face forward and reached through the water to sweep her hair back, from her crown past her lips. It revealed her entire, well-defined face: deep-set brows, thin lips, a straight nose. Despite being in the sun all day, her skin was so fair it seemed to glow, taking on the texture of white jade in the dim bathroom light. As Zhou Yanqian watched, she closed her eyes. Lian Wan lowered her head and pressed her cheek against hers.

Amid the sound of the water, her voice was muffled. "So tired."

This undisguised dependence made Zhou Yanqian almost cherish the moment. She cradled the back of Lian Wan's head, feeling the water slide through her fingers. Lian Wan's gaze finally fell back on her, moist and clear, looking pitiful. Zhou Yanqian wanted to smile, but when she moved her lips, only a subtle curve formed.

"I'm so tired, too," she finally said.

Lian Wan straightened up slightly. Her lips were only a short distance away-close enough to lean down and kiss her.

Above them was the ceiling. Zhou Yanqian looked up and saw a tangle of intertwined shadows. The shower was turned off, and the surrounding sounds gradually faded. Lian Wan stared at her intently, leaning in as if to listen, as if she would bear anything Zhou Yanqian said. Suddenly, Zhou Yanqian no longer wanted to speak. Nothing needed to be said. This truck driver from a small town might not understand the things she could say, but right now, they were together, so intimate that even their strands of hair were tangled. The steam in the air settled, enveloping their bodies. They used the same brand of shower gel and shampoo, as if everything had blended together.

"Lian Wan."

Zhou Yanqian's lips parted, and she said clearly, "I think I love you."

After she spoke, she paused for a moment.

"I want you to love me, too."

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