Chapter 31

She moved a little closer to him, lowered her head, and sniffed. "Did you change your perfume?"

Chen Lüli lowered his gaze as she drew near. Her breath as she sniffed and her features were right in front of him. She was different tonight, less inclined to retreat. Though she wasn't exactly uninhibited, there was a teasing quality to the way she came close, then pulled away. Leaving aside the time her lips brushed his chin, he had seen her clearly when she pressed against him by the car.

And now she had taken the initiative to ask about his perfume.

"I'm not wearing any tonight," he said. "It's the fragrance in the car."

"Is that so?" Lin Yu felt even dizzier, her mouth drier. Chen Lüli looked at her and replied, "Yes."

He raised a hand and held her chin. "I'd like to know what perfume you're wearing."

Lin Yu met his gaze, her eyes bright and dewy. She blinked. "Then come and smell it."

Chen Lüli's Adam's apple bobbed. A second later, he pulled Lin Yu onto his lap, wrapped an arm around her waist, and buried his face in her neck. A delicate fragrance filled his nose.

It smelled wonderful.

He thought he didn't need to check anymore. He really was attracted to her.

Only today did he understand that the memories that had rolled through his mind, their interactions as friends, had been tending toward something more than friendship.

He called softly, "Lin Yu."

Hearing his voice, Lin Yu tilted her head slightly, her eyes still shimmering. Chen Lüli looked into them and said, "Whatever I do tonight, I won't regret it."

"But when you wake up tomorrow, I hope you'll forgive me this once, just a little, for Xiao Diu's sake."

Lin Yu's eyelashes fluttered. She looked at him without moving.

Without waiting for her to respond, Chen Lüli held the back of her neck and kissed her. Lin Yu's mouth was parched. He nibbled her lips, and she instinctively opened her mouth. His tongue slipped inside, bringing a sweet coolness. Lin Yu instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing in the freshness he brought and the tremor at the tip of his tongue.

He held her waist tightly and drew her into his arms. Lin Yu clung to his neck, her hair falling loose as she gradually began to respond. Feeling her response, he kissed her deeply. All Lin Yu could feel was heat. Her coat slipped off, and later, at some point, the chain came off too. Lin Yu held on to his neck.

Everything before her was burning hot. The place he sucked so deeply made her even dizzier, and she bit her lip, trembling lightly.

In her drunken haze, she gazed deeply at him, her eyes full of boundless love.

Chen Lüli held her waist tightly, his breath falling against her collarbone. He saw her limpid eyes too. So this was how beautiful she was when desire took hold of her.

He drew close and kissed her lips gently, while her straightened body pressed against his. His collar hung slightly open, brushing against her, and Lin Yu shuddered again.

She wanted more.

She reached out and tugged at him. Chen Lüli caught her hand and said softly, "This isn't a good place."

Lin Yu's drunkenness mingled with everything else, her eyes part innocent, part unwilling. Chen Lüli sighed softly, covered her eyes, lowered his head, and continued to attend to her.

A long time passed.

Lin Yu's phone rang.

Her father's sternness came rushing in, and Lin Yu's body stiffened abruptly. Holding on to Chen Lüli's neck, she said, "The phone... is it my dad?"

Chen Lüli paused.

He fished the phone out of her coat pocket. It wasn't her father, but it was her mother. He said quietly, "Auntie Zhong."

Lin Yu swallowed and said dizzily, "I won't answer, but I have to go back."

"All right."

He chuckled softly.

When Lin Yu heard him laugh, she thought it sounded lovely, and her body grew restless again. But she knew she was experiencing this feeling for the first time, and having tasted the marrow, she wanted more.

She reached for the zipper on her dress, but it was hard to pull up. A hand reached over and zipped it for her, then put her disarranged underclothes right in the same way.

Lin Yu's face was scarlet. All she wanted was to pretend to be unconscious.

Chen Lüli picked up her long coat and gently slipped it over her shoulders. Lin Yu quickly got off his lap and leaned against the seat, arranging her hair.

Chen Lüli tugged lightly at his suit trousers. His overcoat was draped over her. "I'll get in the driver's seat," he said.

Lin Yu didn't answer.

She didn't really need to pretend to be unconscious; she was a little dizzy. She watched him sit in the driver's seat, his sleeves pushed up a little, his hands on the steering wheel as he started the car.

Reversing would have been difficult, but they could go around the fountain ahead and drive down the mountain.

This time, the black Brute didn't stop at the bottom of the slope but drove into the residential compound; showing the Li University access card was enough. The car stopped outside the small building.

Chen Lüli got out, intending to go over and help Lin Yu.

Lin Yu had already opened her door. Holding her coat closed, she hurried inside using facial recognition.

Then, to the sound of the next-door neighbor's dog barking, she climbed the steps and went through the second door. Chen Lüli raised an eyebrow. Did I bully her too much?

The house was brightly lit, but only Zhong Lixin was there, drinking water at the counter and talking to the housekeeper. Hearing the door open, she looked over. Lin Yu came in holding her coat closed, her cheeks flushed and her nose red too.

"What friend did you go to see?" Zhong Lixin asked. "Why are you back so late?"

Lin Yu's throat was still a little dry. Trying to stay calm, her hair loose around her shoulders, she walked to the table and poured herself some water. "A friend came over here to see the fireworks and dragged me along. We were at the park on top of the mountain."

Zhong Lixin watched her daughter gulp down the water. "Did you drink too much tonight? Is that why you're so thirsty?"

Lin Yu murmured assent.

She put down the glass. "I'm going to bed. My head's spinning."

"Go on." Zhong Lixin nodded.

Lin Yu didn't take the elevator. She went straight up the stairs, reaching the third floor in a few steps. As soon as she entered her room, she threw herself onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow.

But her chest, pressed against the bed, felt a little numb.

Zhong Lixin was still chatting with the housekeeper when the doorbell rang. She put down her glass and went to answer it. A delivery driver handed her a cup of milk tea, still warm.

"Who's it for?" Zhong Lixin asked.

"For Lin Yu."

"Oh." Zhong Lixin took it, assuming Lin Yu had ordered it. She went upstairs and knocked on Lin Yu's door.

Lin Yu had intended to pretend to be asleep and ignore her.

But Zhong Lixin said, "Your milk tea. Ordering milk tea this late-luckily your dad's gone to bed, or he'd have had something to say about it again."

Lin Yu heard that.

Milk tea?

She sat up and went to open the door. Zhong Lixin looked disapproving, but still handed her daughter the milk tea. Seeing her with her hair all tousled, she said, "Once you've finished it, take a shower and get to bed."

Lin Yu took the milk tea and said, "Okay."

The door closed.

Lin Yu glanced at the receipt on it. Both the phone number and name were hidden. She sat down by the bed, but the smell of the milk tea drew her in, and she took it out.

Judging by the packaging and brand, it was the same as the cup of milk tea she hadn't had time to drink tonight. Only this one was hot; the other had probably gone cold long ago.

Lin Yu's face turned red again.

She guessed he had ordered it.

She remembered how, toward the end of the night, she had even wanted to undo his belt. She covered her face and fell backward.

Just then,

her phone vibrated.

It rang.

She reached for it and looked.

A message had arrived from the black profile picture.

Chen Lüli: That cup went cold, so I ordered you another one.

Chen Lüli: Did you get it?

Lin Yu gripped her phone tightly and rolled over onto the bed without replying.

Chen Lüli had driven to a traffic light. He lowered the window, rested his elbow on the frame, and picked up the phone beside him. All was quiet; she hadn't replied in the chat.

He raised an eyebrow and typed: Asleep?

Still nothing.

He stared at the chat and laughed in exasperation.

Either she really had fallen asleep,

or she was deliberately ignoring him. But with her temperament, the latter was more likely.

Lin Yu was indeed awake. She held down her phone as it vibrated again and again, refusing to reply to the messages. Lying on her stomach, she wanted to forget everything, but her mind was full of his lips, his hands, and the sensation as they slid over her navel. She pulled the quilt over herself once more.

In her dream, she had kissed him when he was young.

In reality, she and he had already come this far.

Lin Yu.

Look at you now.

"Happy New Year, Yuyu!" At that moment, midnight arrived, and the fireworks outside grew even more spectacular. Drone fireworks filled the sky. Jiang Zao excitedly sent Lin Yu a voice message, along with a Year of the Horse greeting sticker.

Jiang Yan'an also tagged Lin Yu and the others in the group chat.

Jiang Yan'an: Happy New Year! Yuyu!

Her phone vibrated.

Another message came from the black profile picture.

Chen Lüli: Happy New Year

Here it is.

Another 100 red envelopes for this chapter. See you tomorrow.

Chapter 31

The fireworks outside had already changed to a new round, crackling and popping to herald the arrival of the new year. Even the drone fireworks burst into New Year's greetings.

Lin Yu lay on her stomach for a good while. Once her emotions had settled, she sat up against the headboard and picked up her phone to reply to her messages.

She replied to Jiang Zao first.

Lin Yu: "Happy New Year, Jiang Zao. In the new year, I wish you everything your heart desires and a smooth road wherever you go."

She knew very well what Jiang Zao wanted. Jiang Zao's wish never budged, year after year: to earn heaps of money to spend as she pleased. Buying a car, bags, and a home were all dreams of hers.

Jiang Zao happily replied to Lin Yu: "Thank you, Yuyu. I definitely will. The same to you."

Lin Yu sent a head-patting sticker.

Then she replied to Jiang Yan'an in the group: Happy New Year, and may you enjoy good health year after year!

There were also the store manager and the others. Lin Yu sent a big red envelope in their small group chat, and they had a great time snatching it up. Finally, Lin Yu tapped on his profile picture.

Lin Yu pursed her lips: Happy New Year!

Chen Lüli quickly replied: Finally willing to answer my messages?

Lin Yu's ears burned red again, and she told a small lie: I accidentally fell asleep just now.

Chen Lüli: Oh, is that so?

Lin Yu: Mm.

She picked up the milk tea from the table, took a photo, and sent it to him: I got it. I'm drinking it now.

Chen Lüli: Good.