It makes people feel comfortable, feel at ease. As long as Xu Ruobing is still in front of her, no matter how cold the situation, she always feels reassured.
Jiang Lai was pushed slightly backward by Xu Ruobing’s sudden embrace, her back pressing into the soft seat cushion, the faint chill of the other woman’s scent instantly surrounding her.
She reached up and gently wrapped her arms around Xu Ruobing’s waist. Her fingertips, separated only by the thin fabric of the shirt, could clearly feel the curve of her spine first tense, then gradually relax. Even her own breathing softened in response.
“Of course you can.”
Jiang Lai’s voice was as soft as melted cotton candy, landing close to Xu Ruobing’s earlobe, warm breath brushing against her chilled ear.
Xu Ruobing felt Jiang Lai’s burning warmth and whispered softly into her ear, “Don’t hold back. It’s just us here, and the manager is outside. No one will disturb us.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Xu Ruobing lifted her head slightly. Her eyes were still red, her lashes seemingly still wet, but she stared straight into Jiang Lai’s eyes.
There was so much hidden in that gaze—the surprise of seeing her, the exhaustion from forcing herself through the shoot, and the naked dependence and craving she no longer bothered to hide.
Before Jiang Lai could speak again, Xu Ruobing leaned in slightly, her cool lips brushing across the corner of Jiang Lai’s mouth, a tentative, cautious little touch.
Her movements were light, afraid that after Jiang Lai had proposed to Chi Yingyu, she would no longer accept such intimacy. Only when she felt Jiang Lai’s arm tighten around her waist did she dare to press harder, fully claiming her lips.
Jiang Lai could clearly feel the cold on the other woman’s lips spreading from where they connected. She lifted a hand to cup the back of Xu Ruobing’s neck, her fingertips gently rubbing her chilled earlobe, warming it bit by bit with her own heat.
Emboldened by the warmth, Xu Ruobing tightened her arms, pressing her whole body against Jiang Lai’s. The movement of her mouth gradually softened, carrying the longing she had held back for so long, tracing Jiang Lai’s lip shape stroke by stroke.
Only when both were breathing unevenly did Xu Ruobing pull back slightly, her forehead resting against Jiang Lai’s, her nose brushing lightly against hers. Her voice came out hoarse from the kiss.
“Still so cold… It’s only warm when I’m holding you. My mouth is cold, my hands are cold, and even my heart feels hollow.”
Her fingers lightly clutched the hem of Jiang Lai’s shirt, her eyes full of grievance.
Hearing this, Jiang Lai immediately took Xu Ruobing’s hand, wrapping her chilly fingers in her own palms, breathing warm air onto them, and rubbing them repeatedly, trying to transfer more warmth.
“I’ll warm you up.”
She looked at Xu Ruobing’s reddened fingertips, her heart both soft and aching.
“It’s freezing outside, and you’re wearing so little, shooting all day. You’re really pushing yourself.”
“I wanted to finish early so I could see you sooner.”
Xu Ruobing pursed her lips and buried her face in the hollow of Jiang Lai’s neck, her nose nuzzling the warm collar of her shirt, her voice muffled. She had wanted to say something about Jiang Lai’s proposal, but in the end, she kept her mouth shut.
“I missed you so much.”
As she spoke, her finger traced small circles on Jiang Lai’s back, as if acting spoiled, as if pouring out her feelings.
“During the break, when I saw you, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. It wasn’t until you called my name that I dared to believe it was really you.”
Jiang Lai raised a hand to smooth Xu Ruobing’s hair, her thumb brushing over the soft strands at the crown of her head, her voice growing even softer.
“I should have come to find you sooner.”
She paused, then gently kissed the top of Xu Ruobing’s head.
“And I missed you too. I really did.”
At these words, Xu Ruobing jerked her head up, her eyes sparkling as if filled with starlight, staring straight at Jiang Lai. Though she was overjoyed, she couldn’t quite believe it.
“Really? You think of me every day?”
She couldn’t believe it. Her finger hooked lightly around Jiang Lai’s, squeezing a little. After all, how could Jiang Lai have time to think about her? Her mind was always on someone else—how could she spare so much for her?
Even though she knew the truth of things, it didn’t matter anymore.
Xu Ruobing’s eyes reddened again, but she smiled, her mouth stretching wide. She looped her arms around Jiang Lai’s neck, pressing her entire weight onto her, her cheek against her chest, clearly hearing the steady, powerful heartbeat.
As long as Jiang Lai was still willing to stay with her now, that was enough.
“Jiang Lai.”
Her voice was soft, tinged with a sob.
“It’s so good to have you. If I didn’t have you, I think I’d be in so much pain.”
Jiang Lai let Xu Ruobing’s weight push her deeper into the seat, but she hugged her even tighter in return. Her palm pressed against the skin of her nape, rubbing slowly to chase away the chill.
Hearing the choked words from the woman in her arms, her throat tightened slightly. She rubbed her chin against the top of Xu Ruobing’s head, her voice dripping with tenderness.
“Ruobing… I’m not leaving you. No matter when, as long as you need me, I’ll be here.”
Xu Ruobing’s fingers stealthily slipped into Jiang Lai’s palm, her fingertips hooking between her fingers, locking them together bit by bit, as if to confirm that this warmth wouldn’t slip away.
She buried her face deeper into Jiang Lai’s chest, her breaths filled with the other woman’s scent. The fabric tickled the tip of her nose, but she couldn’t bear to move away even a little.
After a long moment, she lifted her head slightly. Her eyes were still rimmed with red, but the moisture clinging to her lashes shimmered brightly. She stared at Jiang Lai’s lips, her voice carrying a timid eagerness.
“Jiang Lai… can you kiss me again? Like before, just a little longer.”
Jiang Lai saw the undisguised anticipation in her eyes, and her heart felt as if a feather were brushing against it.
Before she could even nod, Xu Ruobing had already leaned in.
When her cool lips touched hers, Jiang Lai could clearly feel her trembling slightly. Her lashes brushed against Jiang Lai’s cheek like tiny brushes, so soft they made her heart itch.
This time, there was no cautious hesitation—only an urgent, desperate dependence.
She raised a hand to cup Xu Ruobing’s chin, her fingertip gently stroking her reddened lips, passing her own warmth to her bit by bit.
Xu Ruobing, in front of her, was sometimes just like a little cat.
Sometimes very aloof, but other times so soft and clingy that one couldn’t help but pull her into an embrace.
The appearance Xu Ruobing showed her now was something no one else could ever imagine.
Jiang Lai understood very well that Xu Ruobing had given her almost all of her favor.
But faced with such favor, she herself couldn’t respond perfectly.
All she could do now was hold her tightly like this.
Jiang Lai tightened her arms, pressing Xu Ruobing’s body completely against hers, her chin resting on the top of her head, rubbing gently.
“Ruobing, do you want to be with me?”