"Is it sour?" Fu Jichen’s voice was low, his gaze a bit hazy, as if he was also drunk. He had clearly only had a glass of red wine, and he had knocked over the second glass.
"Taste it yourself." Shen Jianian grabbed a slice of lemon from the cutting board and pretended to stuff it into Fu Jichen’s mouth.
Fu Jichen tilted his neck back, a smile on his face, his expression politely declining.
While she wasn’t paying attention, he grabbed her wrist, lowered his head, and kissed her lips, tasting thoroughly. In this mont, he really couldn’t control himself, had to cross the line.
Shen Jianian’s hand trembled, and the slice of lemon fell to the floor.
Surrounded by the scent of oranges, lemons, apples, and various spices, their lips and tongues intertwined, but all they could taste was sweetness.
Bai Changxia was worried Shen Jianian couldn’t handle it alone, so she got up from the sofa and walked to the kitchen door, unexpectedly running into the scene of the two kissing, her expression frozen.
Without thinking, she quickly turned around and fled the place filled with a romantic atmosphere, returning to the living room.
Zhao Shunyi’s gaze moved from the TV to Bai Changxia’s face, seeing her strange expression, she asked, "What’s wrong? Can Jianian handle it alone?"
She put down the bag of corn chips she’d just torn open and got up to take a look. As she passed by Bai Changxia, her arm was grabbed.
Bai Changxia gave her a wink, shaking her head slightly, signaling her not to go.
A question mark popped into Zhao Shunyi’s mind.
Ni Yiqiong was sitting on the sofa, too close for Bai Changxia to explain, so she gestured with her thumb towards the direction of the floor-to-ceiling window. Zhao Shunyi followed her indication and looked over, the man who had been on the phone there was gone without notice.
"Huh—"
Zhao Shunyi took a breath, pointed to the kitchen, "Is Fu Jichen inside?"
Bai Changxia nodded.
Zhao Shunyi didn’t make a fuss and went back to the sofa, munching on a bag of corn chips.
The dating reality show Jianian had picked was quite interesting. Ni Yiqiong, who hadn’t watched it before, was engrossed and didn’t notice the exchanged glances and gestures. During a comrcial break, she remarked, "Is it alright to let Jianian be busy in the kitchen by herself since it’s her birthday today?"
You know it’s her birthday, huh. Bai Changxia thought to herself, today could have been more perfect if it wasn’t for the unexpected guest being so oblivious.
"It’s fine." Bai Changxia didn’t want Miss Ni to get involved now, "Warming mulled wine is easy, she can handle it."
In the kitchen, the ingredients for mulled wine were still piled up and hadn’t been put in the pot. Fu Jichen reluctantly withdrew, his fingertips brushed over Shen Jianian’s lips, leaving a sparkling sheen.
Lips bright red, as if freshly applied with gloss.
Fu Jichen’s dark eyes grew more obscure, his voice hoarse as he answered her earlier question, "I don’t think it’s sour, it’s quite sweet."
After a long kiss, Shen Jianian’s already woozy mind beca even dizzier from lack of oxygen, with no awareness of being taken advantage of.
Frowning, she thought this person had sothing wrong with his mind, "Aren’t lemons sour?"
Is he taste-blind?
Shen Jianian picked up another slice of lemon from the cutting board, tasted it herself, and found it really sour, squinting her mouth into twisted lines as saliva pooled.
"Aren’t you silly?" Fu Jichen laughed softly, pinching her earlobe lightly, enjoying the feel.
Wine really is a good thing.
Fu Jichen thought this, dismissing all notions of being a gentleman. He lowered his head, capturing her lips again, teasing her playfully, whispering against her lips, "It’s sweet."
Shen Jianian: "It’s sour."
Fu Jichen conceded, "Alright, it’s sour."
Shen Jianian was finally satisfied, pushing him away lazily, "Move aside, don’t block my way."
She shook her head, feeling her brain heavy, her vision blurry. She couldn’t find the fruit knife anywhere, muttering, "Where’s my knife? I just put it here..."
Fu Jichen was helpless, she was this drunk and still thinking about making mulled wine?
Shen Jianian turned in place twice, her vision darkened suddenly, and with a thud, she fell into Fu Jichen’s chest.
Fortunately, Fu Jichen had been watching her, and when she fell over, he reached out to embrace her so she wouldn’t slip to the ground.
He knew that once she was drunk, she’d talk nonsense for a while and then fall asleep.
Just like hitting the power off button, asleep in a second.
Fu Jichen remained in that position without moving, his heart warm, his hand brushing over her head, feeling her breath’s warmth penetrate the thin sweater, landing on his skin, like branding an imprint.
In the living room, Ni Yiqiong finally noticed the man by the floor-to-ceiling window was gone, scanning the room for him. Not finding his figure, she stood up, "Where’s Mr. Fu?"
She hadn’t seen him leave.
Bai Changxia and Zhao Shunyi exchanged a look, neither saying a word.
Ni Yiqiong thought about Shen Jianian in the kitchen, prepared to go take a look, Bai Changxia urgently stopped her, "Hey, Miss Ni..."
Before she could finish, Fu Jichen ca out holding Shen Jianian, in a princess carry, with Shen Jianian asleep in his arms.
Ni Yiqiong stood frozen, unable to muster a smile on her face. Her voice was a bit muffled: "What’s wrong with Jianian?"
Fu Jichen didn’t look at her but instead gazed at the person in his arms: "She’s drunk."
He carried Shen Jianian to the bedroom, laid her on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, and gently kissed her forehead before closing the door behind him as he left.
"She might need soone to take care of her tonight," Fu Jichen said.
Bai Changxia: "I’ll stay and look after her."
Zhao Shunyi: "I don’t have anything to do either."
"...Alright."
Fu Jichen thought that if they had to leave, he could stay here with Shen Jianian.
Bai Changxia was the first to notice the unusual tone in Fu Jichen’s voice, and suddenly she realized his underlying ssage was that he wanted to take care of Jianian himself.
However, she had already spoken and couldn’t take it back.
Fu Jichen paused for about three seconds and then left.
"Mr. Fu!" Ni Yiqiong chased after him.
In the deserted hallway, the wind seed to blow even colder. Ni Yiqiong, without a coat, wrapped her arms around herself, looking up with eyes full of eagerness yet hesitation.
"Is there sothing else?" His tone was as cold and indifferent as ever.
Ni Yiqiong’s throat tightened, unable to voice her thoughts. She really had acted too hastily today and didn’t perform well. If given another chance, it wouldn’t be like this.
The main issue was the crowd at the dinner table, which interfered with her judgnt, especially Shen Jianian, who seed gentle and easygoing but had a presence that couldn’t be ignored. She was the biggest obstacle tonight.
"It’s nothing; let’s talk next ti when there’s a chance." Ni Yiqiong held back, not revealing her heart.
She watched Fu Jichen enter the house next door and close the door.
The large, dark gray door was as cold and unyielding as the previous tis she had co to find him, shutting her out.
Ni Yiqiong rubbed her temples and turned back to Shen Jianian’s house. The person she wanted to see had left, so she wouldn’t stay here: "I’m a bit tired, I’m going back to sleep first, sorry I can’t stay for New Year’s."
"No worries, no worries." Bai Changxia maintained a courteous deanor and got up to see her out, "We’ll stay a bit longer and then head to bed too."
Ni Yiqiong left, and in the living room, the two remaining people stared at each other, ready to vent.
Bai Changxia, hands on hips: "I’m truly amazed. I’ve never seen soone so oblivious. Fu Jichen might as well have had his thoughts written all over his face. He’s here for Jianian, but this Miss Ni either played dumb or believed in her own charm, completely lost in her own performance, disregarding others entirely."
Zhao Shunyi: "I had my bout of secondhand embarrassnt."
Bai Changxia: "During dinner, she even blad Jianian. My short temper... if Jianian hadn’t hinted at to hold back, I would’ve lost it."
They complained back and forth until Zhao Shunyi suddenly changed the topic: "I’m still curious about what Mr. Fu and Jianian did in the kitchen."
At that ti, Bai Changxia had blocked her view, so she saw nothing.
Bai Changxia’s indignant expression suddenly turned into a grin: "Guess."
"If I could guess, I wouldn’t be asking you."
Bai Changxia touched her two thumbs together, and Zhao Shunyi understood, covering her mouth with surprise in her eyes: "No way, were they kissing?"
"I saw it clearly with both eyes, how could it be fake?"
"Uh, wasn’t Mr. Fu pursuing Jianian? How co they suddenly..." Zhao Shunyi fumbled for words, paused for a mont, and then continued, "Mr. Fu wouldn’t take advantage of Jianian being drunk, would he?"
Jianian was indeed drunk; it’s hard not to think otherwise.
Bai Changxia didn’t seem worried: "They’re actually a couple."
*
Shen Jianian woke up from the heat, wearing a sweater under the blanket. The house had good heating, and a layer of sweat had ford on her back. She threw off the blanket and got up.
The electronic clock on the bedside table showed it’s 7:15.
It’s 7:15 in the morning the next day.
She had no recollection of when she fell asleep last night, and as she opened the curtains, bright light flooded in. It wasn’t a clear day, though; it was snow-covered, like stumbling into a fairy tale world.
Did it snow last night?
Shen Jianian, feeling a bit groggy, walked out of the room. The living room was sowhat ssy, with several cushions scattered across the sofa and carpet, and the coffee table piled with lon seeds and various snacks. The guest room door was open.
She usually never entered the guest room, puzzled as she went over. Bai Changxia and Zhao Shunyi were sprawled out asleep on the bed, with a humidifier gently puffing out white mist.
Shen Jianian quietly closed the door for them, went back to her own room, and then washed up in the bathroom before heading to the kitchen to make breakfast.
On the cutting board lay sliced oranges, apples, lemons, and various spices, with an unopened bottle of red wine quietly resting on the countertop.
Sothing quickly flashed through her mind, and Shen Jianian froze in place.
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