Jiang Lai tried to turn her neck, but Xu Ruobing’s hand, wrapped around her waist from behind, gently held her in place, not even allowing her that small evasion.
Xu Ruobing’s nose tip was still brushing against Jiang Lai’s reddened ear. As she spoke, the warm air carried her voice into Jiang Lai’s ear canal, making Jiang Lai involuntarily shrink her neck.
“How bad is it?”
Jiang Lai grabbed the hem of Xu Ruobing’s clothes, her voice sticky from just having been kissed, her fingers unconsciously tightening.
Xu Ruobing didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked down at Jiang Lai’s hand clutching her fabric.
Her knuckles were still white from the strain of the moment, but her fingertips pressed softly against the cloth, like a kitten holding a marshmallow and refusing to let go.
Her thumb gently brushed over the back of Jiang Lai’s hand, slid between her fingers, and interlaced with them, her palm wrapping securely around Jiang Lai’s fingertips.
“Bad enough that… in this short time today, I want to do all sorts of things to you. I promise, I’ll do everything I have in my head.”
“Even though I don’t know what you do when you’re intimate with Chi Yingyu, or what games you like to play. I know that even if I asked, you’d definitely be too shy to answer and wouldn’t say.”
“Actually, if you don’t want to talk about it, you could video call me the next time you do it and let me watch from the sidelines to learn. But you definitely won’t agree.”
“So on this matter, I can only rely on guesses. But my luck has never been very good, so even if I guess, it’s hard to get it right.”
Xu Ruobing’s voice was very low, as if she was telling a secret, yet it carried an unguarded frankness.
“So I’ve decided to do to you everything I have in my heart. That way, I’m bound to get it right once. I believe that when that time comes, Jiang Lai will definitely find it familiar and will definitely think of me. When that happens, remember to compare carefully—whether I feel better, or your Miss Chi…”
Jiang Lai’s fingertips trembled. She wanted to say something, but Xu Ruobing gently shook her head, cutting her off.
She was led by Xu Ruobing toward the bed, a gentleness that didn’t allow her to break free, leaving her unable to stop or retreat.
When they reached the bed, Xu Ruobing didn’t let her sit down. Instead, she gently wrapped her arms around Jiang Lai’s waist from behind, her chin resting on Jiang Lai’s shoulder hollow, her breath falling on her neck.
“If you’re worried about forgetting today’s feeling, I’ll allow you to record a video with your own phone. You can record until we separate, I allow you…”
For a star like Xu Ruobing, if such a recording appeared on her phone, it would be a complete and absolute leverage over Xu Ruobing.
How much Xu Ruobing trusted her, to even let her film this.
“I don’t want to…”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Lai’s refusal was like a small needle, gently pricking Xu Ruobing’s heart, but it didn’t hurt; instead, it brought a tingling warmth.
“Is it because you think it’s bad for me that you said no?”
“Yes, and it’s unnecessary. I won’t forget you. I’ll remember everything about you firmly in my heart, so I don’t need such a video.”
Xu Ruobing seemed to sense her emotional loosening. Her fingers gently pinched Jiang Lai’s waist, with a hint of comfort.
“I know this isn’t good, but sometimes I really do get scared. I’m afraid you’ll forget me, and I worry that I’m not actually that important to you.”
Jiang Lai looked into Xu Ruobing’s eyes. The warm light in the room fell into Xu Ruobing’s eyes, holding tiny fragments of light and a vulnerability Jiang Lai had never seen before.
The Xu Ruobing of before was always confident and composed, like someone standing in the spotlight, who would never show such an expression.
Jiang Lai opened her mouth, wanting to say she didn’t mean it, wanting to say she also cared about Xu Ruobing, but the words died on her lips as Xu Ruobing gently covered her mouth.
“Ruobing, I…”
“I don’t want your apology, and I don’t need you to prove how important I am to you right now.”
Xu Ruobing’s thumb gently brushed over her lower lip, her eyes so serious that Jiang Lai’s heart skipped a beat.
“I’m saying these words not to blame you, but to let you know that I also have possessiveness, I get jealous, and I’m afraid of losing you. Right now, I just want to be with you and be happy.”
Xu Ruobing’s palm was still against Jiang Lai’s lips, her thumb gently rubbing her soft lips, the seriousness in her eyes slowly melting into an inextricable tenderness.
She didn’t speak anymore, only leaned in and gently nuzzled Jiang Lai’s forehead with her nose, as if confirming that the person before her was truly by her side and not a fleeting illusion.
Because now Jiang Lai belonged to someone else; she herself was at most a thief, secretly sampling Jiang Lai’s goodness.
Jiang Lai’s breathing grew uneven. The cedar scent of Xu Ruobing lingered around her nose, making her involuntarily tilt her head up, her nose brushing against Xu Ruobing’s chin.
Xu Ruobing noticed her small movement, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth. Her palm slowly moved away from Jiang Lai’s lips, then gently cupped the back of her neck, her fingertips brushing through the soft hair at her nape.
“Not dodging now?”
Her voice was very light, with a hint of laughter, her breath landing on Jiang Lai’s lips, burning them until they tingled.
Jiang Lai didn’t speak, only gently shook her head, her fingers instead clutching Xu Ruobing’s clothes even tighter.
“Right now, I just want to feel you properly.”
Jiang Lai’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t pull back; instead, she tilted her head up and actively responded to the kiss.
Xu Ruobing didn’t wait for her response. She slowly lowered her head, her lips gently covering Jiang Lai’s.
Feeling her response, Xu Ruobing’s fingers tightened slightly, pulling Jiang Lai closer into her arms. Her other hand slowly moved up along Jiang Lai’s waist, gently wrapping around her back, bringing their bodies closer.
Jiang Lai’s arms slowly encircled Xu Ruobing’s waist, her palms pressed against the fabric of her back, feeling the warmth of her body underneath.
Xu Ruobing’s fingertips traced circles on the back of Jiang Lai’s neck, the soft hair winding around her fingertips like tangled silk threads.
She slowly deepened the kiss. Jiang Lai’s breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away; instead, she parted her lips slightly, allowing the tenderness to enter and intertwine with her own breath.
After who knows how long, Xu Ruobing gently pulled back half an inch, her nose touching Jiang Lai’s, their breaths mingling, both carrying a burning heat.
She looked at Jiang Lai’s reddened lips, her eyes holding tiny lights, her thumb lightly brushing over her lower lip to wipe away the moisture.
“Between me and Miss Chi, whose kiss feels better?”
“Which one?”
At this question, Jiang Lai suddenly froze. In her mind, the sensations of all kisses suddenly surfaced.
This included too many people. There was Chi Yingyu, whom Xu Ruobing mentioned, as well as Xiaoxue, and even… others.