Chapter 41

As Xiao Diu was growing drowsy, Lin Yu bent down and called, "Xiao Diu."

Hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Diu sprang up from the table. Through those feline eyes, a gentle figure approached against the light, with those familiar features and that familiar smile.

Xiao Diu meowed and jumped straight from the table toward Lin Yu.

Lin Yu hurriedly reached out and caught Xiao Diu, who landed in her warm embrace.

Xiao Diu gave a contented meow, then settled down, the next meow catching halfway. Those golden cat eyes swept toward the male owner, while the front paws rested on Lin Yu's arm.

"Meow..."

Had those cat eyes seen right?

Had they just been holding hands?

The pet groomer breathed a sigh of relief when the owners arrived. "Xiao Diu just had a bath and was very unhappy about it. Still protesting."

Lin Yu looked down at Xiao Diu and rubbed the still-damp fur.

Xiao Diu couldn't be bothered with the groomer, lying limply in Lin Yu's arms and not wanting to move.

Chen Lüli glanced at the fur dampening Lin Yu's coat. He said to the groomer, "I'll do it."

The groomer hurriedly handed Chen Lüli the hair dryer.

Chen Lüli took Xiao Diu by the scruff, intending to lift the cat onto the table, but Xiao Diu curled those claws and clung tightly to Lin Yu, refusing to go. Chen Lüli's voice was low. "Xiao Diu."

Lin Yu held Xiao Diu close. "You can dry the fur like this. Don't pull."

Chen Lüli glanced at her. "Your coat."

"It's fine, it's fine... It's just a coat. Hurry up and dry the fur. It's not that wet, just a little." Lin Yu gave him a kick.

Chen Lüli raised an eyebrow and looked at her. Resigned, he stepped closer, rubbing Xiao Diu's fur as he brought the dryer over. The warm air blew over Lin Yu too, and she found it comfortable. She helped smooth Xiao Diu's fur, though it shed as they stroked it.

The two stood close together beside the table.

With a cat in her arms, they drew a second look from everyone who passed. They really were a perfect match.

Chen Lüli's gaze fell on her face. From this close, the tenderness in her eyes as she stroked Xiao Diu was utterly intoxicating. His voice was low and lazy. "Have you heard the saying, 'A doting mother spoils her child'?"

Lin Yu looked up at him. "Yes. My dad says it all the time."

Chen Lüli met her gaze. A few seconds later, the corners of his lips rose. "Mm. Raising a daughter like you isn't spoiling her. It should be a joy."

Lin Yu's face grew warm.

After drying Xiao Diu's fur, they gathered the pet leash, basket, towels, and other things. Then the two left the pet store. Lin Yu's sleeve had actually been blown half dry too, but Xiao Diu was nestled against it, warm and cozy, so she paid it no mind. Once they were in the car, Chen Lüli started it and drove home.

Xiao Diu sprawled drowsily in her arms. Lin Yu stroked the cat's back and put a little hat on that head.

Chen Lüli had bought it for Xiao Diu. It was black.

This time Xiao Diu didn't protest, simply lying there and rubbing against the curls in front of Lin Yu's shoulder.

Lin Yu was a little worried. "Is Xiao Diu all right?"

Chen Lüli glanced over. "Fine. Just sleepy. Probably didn't sleep at the pet store and spent ages scratching at the groomer."

Lin Yu felt reassured.

She knew all too well how afraid Xiao Diu was of baths. At first, upon entering the water, Xiao Diu would always put up a life-or-death struggle, only gradually relaxing once it began to feel comfortable. But by then, every last scrap of feline energy had been used up, so of course Xiao Diu was tired.

They arrived at the residential complex and went upstairs.

When Chen Lüli opened the door, Tray was crouched in the entryway to greet them. At the sight of Xiao Diu and its owner returning, along with Lin Yu, whom it hadn't seen in a long time, Tray was overjoyed. It spun in circles on the floor, and a ring of brushes extended from underneath to sweep the ground. Its big round eyes blinked.

Lin Yu was surprised. "Tray can sweep now?"

Chen Lüli opened the shoe cabinet to get her slippers. "I added a ring of brushes a while ago, to try it out."

Lin Yu smiled. "So cute."

"Is that so?"

There was a hint of a smile in his voice too.

Lin Yu freed one hand and patted Tray on the head.

Chen Lüli took Xiao Diu from her arms, found the cat bed, and put Xiao Diu in it. Lin Yu crouched down and covered Xiao Diu with a blanket. Lying there, Xiao Diu opened and closed those eyes, then opened and closed them again, looking as though struggling terribly between sleeping and staying awake. Tray turned toward the bed and swept up the fur Xiao Diu had shed.

It really did sweep it all away.

Chen Lüli poured Lin Yu a glass of water.

Lin Yu took it and cradled it in her palms. Leaning against the cabinet, Chen Lüli looked down at her. "You have to go home tonight?"

The glass warmed Lin Yu's palms. She looked up. "Mm."

She was crouching, and the line of her neck was beautiful as she lifted her gaze. Chen Lüli watched her for a few seconds, then suddenly bent down and kissed her.

Lin Yu instinctively tightened her grip on the glass.

Tray turned beside them, still sweeping. Chen Lüli reached out and pressed its head. Whatever button he pressed, it stopped turning and stayed obediently beside Xiao Diu.

Chen Lüli drew Lin Yu in by the waist, and she leaned against the cabinet, setting her glass on it without thinking. After kissing her for a while, he took her wrist and said in a husky voice, "Your sleeve still isn't dry."

Breathless, Lin Yu lowered her eyes. "Mm."

"Let's go into the bedroom," he said softly.

Lin Yu agreed.

The two entered the master bedroom and closed the door. Her coat fell to the floor, and he lifted her onto the cabinet with one arm. Lin Yu's heart raced. She was completely sober this time.

The chain slipped down her back, and one shoulder strap slid aside.

Her skin met the air, cool and hot at once. Chen Lüli tilted his head and kissed her, their tongues entwining. Lin Yu hunched her shoulders, her taut collarbones like a bright moon. Chen Lüli took her lip between his and sucked, gradually moving away, then lower, kissing and nibbling her inch by inch.

Lin Yu's body jolted, and a sound escaped her reflexively. She instinctively shrank back, but his hand pressed her forward again.

Chen Lüli drew back a little, his distinctively jointed fingers undoing his collar. He raised his eyes and claimed her lips again, swallowing her sounds. Lin Yu trembled lightly, her tongue touching his.

Her fitted dress had slipped off only one side, and the sight spoke for itself.

Chen Lüli bit her lip, his voice low and husky. "You're completely sober today, right?"

Lin Yu looked at him, her eyes glistening. At the sight of her like this, Chen Lüli's gaze darkened further and further. "Are you?" he asked.

Lin Yu was terribly shy. She raised her slender arms and wrapped them around his neck. Chen Lüli chuckled and claimed her lips again. In a husky voice, he said, "I also wanted to ask you whether you like me more, or my body."

Lin Yu burrowed into his embrace.

He lowered his head and bit her again.

Lin Yu immediately bit down on her arm.

Every time he bit her, she nearly went mad.

Chapter 41

Eventually Lin Yu couldn't take any more and pushed at him, her voice growing from faint, fragmented sounds into broken ones. Droplets clung to her eyes and lashes as she looked at him through them.

Chen Lüli had always preferred simplicity. His decorating style was all black mamba, what Jiang Yan'an and the others called a cold, austere style. He had never imagined that such a gorgeous scene would unfold in his home, on his austere turf. Perhaps he had, though, on the occasions when Lin Yu had come to his home.

Deep in his heart, the delicate fragrance she left behind had faintly foretold that this day would come.

He bent over her again, claiming her lips and pressing her broken sounds against the cabinet.

Her light-colored dress slipped down, and with that shoulder strap of hers hanging halfway off, she was so beautiful it was impossible not to lose oneself.

Chen Lüli lifted her out of the dress.

Lin Yu was in a daze and only wanted to press close to her. He laid her on the bed, bent down to kiss her again, and lifted her waist with ease.

Lin Yu gave a moan, which he caught with his tongue.

He kissed her lips, advancing again and again.

Later, while she was still dazed, he changed positions. Lin Yu looked at him in confusion, but obediently stayed up. As she collapsed limply in his arms.

Chen Lüli stroked her long hair, turning over to kiss her gently by the ear.

He held her waist, refusing to let her retreat. Unable to bear it, Lin Yu whimpered twice and grabbed his shoulders. He claimed her red lips, and droplets fell onto her abdomen.

Lin Yu sought his lips too, seeming to beg for mercy amid her fragmented sounds.

He tilted his head and asked, "What did you say?"

Lin Yu turned to look at him and repeated herself.

Chen Lüli chuckled softly and buried his face in her neck. "There's still plenty of afternoon left."

Lin Yu: "..."

┭┮﹏┭┮

He was fiercer than he had been that night, though it might also have been because she had been tipsy then and hadn't felt it as deeply as she did today.

Meanwhile.

The phone left in the living room rang.

After going home and dealing with his parents for a day, Jiang Yan'an finally remembered why he had wanted to have a long talk that night.

He sent a message.

Jiang Yan'an: Brother Lü, I suddenly remembered something.

Jiang Yan'an: Haven't you and Yuyu been a little too close lately?

Jiang Yan'an: That's not good, is it? We're all at the age to get married, after all, and men and women should keep their distance. Be more careful next time, okay?

And in the bedroom at that moment.

Lin Yu held tightly to Chen Lüli's neck, her long legs braced against the soft bedding, her long hair spilling down her back. She buried her face in his shoulder and bit his muscle.

Chen Lüli pressed his large hand against her waist, feeling only slick wetness.

Drip, drip.

A long time later.

Xiao Diu woke up and jumped out of the bedding, immediately spotting Tray blocking the bed like a pillar, a little silly as always.

Xiao Diu meowed at it, gave it a kick, and walked a circle around it. When it didn't move, Xiao Diu thought its battery had run out.

So Xiao Diu scampered off on short little legs toward the master bedroom, put a paw against the door, and meowed twice at those inside.

But Lin Yu had lost all awareness and could no longer hear.

Chen Lüli strode toward the bathroom with her in his arms, paying no attention to the meows outside the door. Once they were inside, hot water streamed down.

Chen Lüli pressed her against the wall and spoke softly to her.

Dazed, Lin Yu held him and watched the hot water run down his face. The face she had loved for years, now tinged with desire, was so seductive.

Stirred in that moment, she rose on her toes and kissed him.