Offense - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

The days were short now, and the sky would darken before many people even got home.

Leaving the parking lot, Lian Wan walked along the potholed road by the old residential buildings. The cold air carried all sorts of aromas from evening meals, and the shadows of lights flickered in window after window.

She stared at those windows, a little lost in thought.

As she watched, her steps led her into a small alley. A few bare branches reached out from the wall, nearly snagging the corner of her clothes. From somewhere, the sound of a lighter clicking carried far through the vast, quiet night. A click as it was pressed, then a hiss as it went out. Unhurried, once, then again. The rhythm and duration of the sound were like the echo of an old grandfather clock's pendulum, easily reminding Lian Wan of sleepless nights spent counting sounds with her eyes open, waiting for dawn.

The weather was cold, and the streets and alleys had long since emptied. It wasn't until Lian Wan walked straight to the small convenience store downstairs that she seemed to see the source of the sound. Behind the familiar glass door was a familiar light. Brightly lit, a woman was cupping her hands at the doorway, lighting a cigarette.

She tilted her head, the curve of her neck beautiful. Her gaze was fixed on the dancing flame at her fingertips with a captivating focus. On such a cold day, she wore no scarf or jacket, and her form-fitting sweater looked thin. The streetlight cast her shadow on the ground, a faint and fleeting thing that seemed like it would dissipate if you reached out to grab it.

Lian Wan should have been annoyed. After all, the woman's health was already poor, and she wasn't taking care to stay warm. But now, everything around them fell silent. The wind blew through the bare treetops and through the woman's hair. The black ends of her hair swayed, falling on her narrow shoulders. Lian Wan walked over, stared at the hand holding the lighter for two or three seconds, and then asked, "...Why are you standing out here? Aren't you cold?"

It was the first thing she had said all afternoon, all the way here. The moment the words left her mouth, a strange, happy tremor ran through her heart. It was as if everything before her suddenly told her that, compared to worrying about other things, simply being able to wait for someone's response was such a fulfilling thing.

Zhou Yanqian looked up and saw Lian Wan's face, her expression clearly stunned for a moment. But it was only for a brief instant. The next second, a smile bloomed in her eyes.

Her hand, however, made a subconscious move to hide something, but she quickly stopped herself. The woman held the cigarette, took a small step back, and replied nonchalantly with a beaming smile, "...You're back."

She then put out the cigarette, discreetly tossed it into the nearby trash can, and hugged the arm that reached for her. "You're so early today."

When she smiled, her eyes curved, instantly bringing the cold, harsh winter night to life. It made Lian Wan draw closer. Face to face, they could feel the chill on each other. Lian Wan subtly blocked the wind before asking, "Why aren't you inside?"

Hearing that her tone was no longer so heavy, Zhou Yanqian hummed and leaned toward her, and was pulled into a familiar, warm embrace. "I've been inside all day. Just came out for some fresh air."

Their gazes intertwined. Zhou Yanqian leaned against her, hugging her arm tightly.

The streetlight flickered slightly. The wind scraped against their faces, a biting pain. Lian Wan put her arm around Zhou Yanqian and guided her inside, finally giving in and taking off her own jacket to drape over her. "Hurry, put this on."

She paused, then asked, "How was today? Was the store okay?"

Perhaps because she was tired, her voice softened, her tone exceptionally gentle, as warm as the jacket that had been wrapped around her own shoulders without room for argument.

Zhou Yanqian squinted, took her hand, and swung their linked fingers, replying as she always did, "Today was great, too."

The person holding her hand also replied as usual with an "Mm," "Good, that's good."

The two of them walked into the store together. Lian Wan let her go, and Zhou Yanqian leaned on the table, watching her. She watched as Lian Wan went straight to the kitchen, gathered the bowls and chopsticks she had lazily left on the table, stacked them neatly, and put them in the sterilizer cabinet.

She didn't rest after that. The leftovers from lunch were still on the table, and the trash was half-full. Compulsively, she immediately carried it all out to the trash can outside.

There weren't many people in the store. After ringing up a few customers buying water and cigarettes, Lian Wan was still busy inside. The incandescent light made the place feel empty. Zhou Yanqian tidied up a bit, then leaned against the table, waiting for her to come out.

It was about the time they usually closed the store and went home together. If they didn't feel like cooking, they would grab a stir-fry outside and then take a walk back.

The woman leisurely swung the tips of her feet, staring at a point in the air.

Meanwhile, Lian Wan bustled about. When she came back in from taking out the trash, the wind was strong. The moment she pushed the door open, Zhou Yanqian shivered from the blast. She came to her senses and watched as Lian Wan washed her hands, pushed the outdoor display cabinet inside, locked it up, and finally walked over to her.

Zhou Yanqian turned and switched off the light. Her vision instantly went dark. She leaned against the table, opened her arms, and, as she had wished, was pulled into a full embrace.

The face that lowered to press against hers was cool. Zhou Yanqian felt the chill but still couldn't help but nuzzle against it. "Going home?"

Unexpectedly, she didn't get an immediate reply.

The person in her arms was subdued, burying herself deeper into her.

She rubbed her; her ears were so cold. "What's wrong?"

Lian Wan tightened her arms. The clamor of the cold outside was still present, but in the suddenly darkened space of the store, even their breathing was exceptionally clear. The shelves stood like silent shadows, watching them, as if she were being watched by the familiar, bustling masses-only the warm body in her arms was real. The woman's lips brushed against her neck, asking if she wanted to go home.

The recent flurry of activity seemed to have exhausted the last of her strength for the day. Lian Wan's shoulders slumped, finally able to rest. The heart that had been adrift in her chest throughout the journey home seemed to settle along with them, no longer needing busyness to distract from the panic.

"It's nothing. Let's go home," she said, hugging her tightly again. She then turned her head to kiss the woman's soft cheek, her voice full of attachment. "Let's go."

Nothing? Zhou Yanqian stared at Lian Wan for a long moment, then snorted softly and turned her head away.

It didn't matter. Just a clingy little thing who had to hold hands even while locking the door.

The thought had barely surfaced when a scarf was wrapped snugly around her.

"What are you doing?"

"Button up your clothes."

"I'm not cold."

"Your hands are ice-cold." The person before her frowned, earnestly helping her with the buttons, then leaned in to take her hand. "And you say you're not cold."

In the midst of their playful struggle, she was already being held in an embrace, having walked quite a distance.

To be honest, before they started dating, Zhou Yanqian never expected Lian Wan to become so clingy and fussy. She was still quiet, always silently following you with her gaze, but the moment you lifted a hand, she would immediately rush over and hover around you.

Zhou Yanqian liked it. She liked clingy kisses and hugs, liked having someone look after her. At first, it was Lian Wan who wasn't used to it, but later she learned to respond in kind. Day after day, she became like a pot of melting syrup, bubbling sweetly. She needed a kiss before leaving, needed to be held to sleep. When she had free time at work, she'd ask what Zhou Yanqian was eating or wearing. She'd come home in the evening and ask how her day was, if it went well, all while holding her hand tightly. In their relationship, Lian Wan was softer than she had ever been before, so soft that Zhou Yanqian would sometimes stare at her sleeping face in the middle of the night and wonder in a daze: Did I really have the love of such a good person?

Or rather, if Lian Wan had become so soft because of her, then how could she possibly bear such good fortune?

This dazed feeling of insecurity intensified the emptiness in Zhou Yanqian's heart. But in contrast, her life had become all the more fulfilling.

Like a berry that had finally received the rain and dew, gradually growing plump.

And so, Zhou Yanqian could only tell herself to cherish the present.

With a few words exchanged, they had already reached the entrance to their building. The corridor was short and narrow; a few turns and they were at their front door.

The moment they were inside, Lian Wan pulled Zhou Yanqian into a tight hug. Her kisses urgently grazed the woman's neck. Zhou Yanqian felt the soft warmth of her cheek against her lips, and then she froze.

The room was dim as dusk settled. Lian Wan looked down at her, her eyes shimmering with an affectionate, watery light. She looks like she's about to cry, Zhou Yanqian thought. Like a little puppy rolling over to show its belly. The thought made her want to smile, want to stroke those eyes that inspired both love and pity. Lian Wan lowered her head, her damp eyelashes drawing near. She kissed her preciously, pouring all her strength into it, as if entrusting her very soul.

In that kiss, Zhou Yanqian remembered her first meeting with Lian Wan. Back then, her eyes were wary and resistant, her profile a hard, cold curve. These traits, so contrary to her young face, seemed to be a conditioned reflex she used for self-preservation.

Her Lian Wan was such a contradiction-so hard, yet so soft. A fruit that had ripened too soon.

And she was the one on whom such love was poured.

At this thought, Zhou Yanqian's heart melted completely. A warm current surged through her, threatening to drown her, making her want to stretch out all her limbs. "Were you unhappy outside today?"

"I wasn't unhappy," Lian Wan's voice was muffled. She held Zhou Yanqian, murmuring against her neck. The woman's body was filled with a warm fragrance, so different from the cold wind, as if carrying the faint, soothing scent of laundry, giving one an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Really?"

"No."

"Alright." Zhou Yanqian said with a smile, holding the head that burrowed deeper into her embrace with every word. "Then, did anything happen outside today that you want to tell me about?"

Lian Wan was quiet for a long moment before finally saying, "A friend's nephew is getting married."

"Why?" Zhou Yanqian's heart stirred. "Did they invite you to the banquet? Can you bring a plus-one? I want to go, too."

...

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zhou Yanqian seemed to know what was making her awkward and decided to tease her. "So, can I or can't I?"

The room was silent. The sounds from outside the window seemed very, very far away. Lian Wan kept her head down, able to hear the breathing of the woman in her arms. Her tone was full of amusement. Lian Wan held her, an armful of rich laughter and warmth.

This moment, just like that moment.

Both told her that she had her.

Summer had departed without a sound, and winter was long, but the future held a brand-new spring.

"You can."

Lian Wan heard herself say softly.

What followed was the faint scent of damp water vapor in the dry air.

For a moment, it was as if she had returned to that distant summer. In the boundless swimming pool, the woman surfaced and pulled her completely into the water.

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