Chapter 56 p1
Qin Qianrou felt weak, managing to eat most of the rice porridge before losing her appetite completely. Shen Yiqiu bustled about, and she didn’t even have the energy to pay attention to what she was doing.
When she finally put down her chopsticks, Shen Yiqiu placed a glass of warm water beside her hand.
“It’s not too hot, drink some.”
Qin Qianrou looked at her weakly and softly said, “The porridge was watery enough.”
“That’s not the same. And you’re sick, you need to drink more water.” Shen Yiqiu’s voice became increasingly gentle, almost like she was coaxing a child.
Qin Qianrou couldn’t refuse her and took a few sips from the glass. Shen Yiqiu quickly cleared the table.
“Rest for a bit, then take your medicine and go back to bed.”
Qin Qianrou thought to herself, It’s just a minor illness, Shen Yiqiu is acting like it’s a life-or-death situation.
After waking up and realizing she wasn’t feeling well, she had immediately messaged Li Wan and Lin Shuangzhi to inform them. The team was busy recently, and she felt guilty about taking leave, but she knew that going to work in her current state would only burden others.
The team leader and Li Wan had naturally expressed their concern, repeatedly telling her to rest and not to worry about work. But no one was as attentive as Shen Yiqiu, her lips pursed in a worried frown, her expression so serious that Qin Qianrou didn’t even dare to joke with her.
Half an hour later, Qin Qianrou felt her symptoms worsening, her head spinning even more. She held onto the table and tried to stand up, but a gentle yet firm hand steadied her.
“Take your medicine first.” Shen Yiqiu supported her, letting her lean against her, then reached for the fever medication on the table with her other hand.
The water in the glass had been replaced at some point, the temperature still just right, warm but not scalding.
After taking the medicine, Qin Qianrou gently pulled away from Shen Yiqiu’s embrace and avoided her gaze. She slowly walked towards her room. “I’m going back to sleep, you should focus on your studies after you’re done tidying up.”
Shen Yiqiu followed her, worried. Qin Qianrou lay down, and she stood by the bed, her concern evident.
“You keep following me, is there something you’re worried about?” Qin Qianrou sighed helplessly, did this child intend to watch her sleep?
Shen Yiqiu leaned over and carefully tucked her in, smoothing out every wrinkle in the blanket. Although the room was warm, she still meticulously checked every corner.
“You’re sick, of course I’m worried.”
Her focused gaze, her sincere words, warmed Qin Qianrou’s heart.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if the sudden rise in her body temperature was from the fever or from the warmth spreading through her chest.
Qin Qianrou turned over, avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s gaze. She felt even dizzier now, this illness was more severe than she had thought. Last night’s chill must have just been a trigger, her recent exhaustion being the main culprit. Seasonal changes often led to illnesses, and after prolonged periods of overtime, even her usually resilient body couldn’t cope.
The medication started to take effect, and with the rice porridge settling her stomach, she felt more comfortable. As she drifted off to sleep, Qin Qianrou vaguely heard retreating footsteps and the soft click of the door closing.
After some time, the door opened again, and Shen Yiqiu quietly walked over to her bed, first checking if she was still properly covered. Seeing her sleeping peacefully, Shen Yiqiu finally relaxed a little.
Jiejie looked so frail and vulnerable when she was sick, her usual sharp and capable aura diminished. Lying there, her face slightly flushed, she resembled a sleeping princess. Shen Yiqiu couldn’t tear her gaze away; even in her sleep, Qin Qianrou captivated her completely.
Afraid of disturbing her, Shen Yiqiu squatted beside the bed, not daring to sit. She stared at her for a while, a warmth rising within her, urging her closer, and closer.
Heartache and affection intertwined; Qin Qianrou was a special presence in her life. Shen Yiqiu knew this wasn’t right, yet she couldn’t resist the pull. Until her face was almost touching Jiejie’s, she held her breath, just quietly watching her.
Finally, she moved a little closer. Just as she was about to suffocate, she tremblingly placed the softest of kisses on Qin Qianrou’s cheek. This was the first time she had kissed Jiejie, her heart filled with tenderness and concern, wishing she could take on Jiejie’s illness, her suffering.
The moment her lips touched Qin Qianrou’s cheek, Shen Yiqiu froze, as if struck by lightning, her body trembling even more violently, her breathing almost out of control. She quickly pulled back, finally able to breathe normally again.
After a brief moment of savoring the feeling, she anxiously looked at Qin Qianrou, who was still sleeping peacefully, seemingly unaware of her presence or her kiss. What had just happened felt like a one-sided fantasy, a solo performance.
But even so, Shen Yiqiu felt a sense of contentment. This kiss, to her, was still deeply moving.
So this was what it felt like to kiss someone you loved. No wonder her father and mother used to embrace and kiss whenever she wasn’t looking. She had occasionally caught glimpses of them, feeling only envy and curiosity at the time.
Now, she understood.
After the initial excitement and joy, Shen Yiqiu was even more reluctant to leave. Congee was simmering on the stove, ready for Qin Qianrou when she woke up. She would probably have no appetite when she was sick, but not eating would only weaken her further.
With Qin Qianrou asleep, Shen Yiqiu actually felt more relaxed than usual. Without Jiejie’s probing gaze, she could openly admire her. The more she looked, the stronger her feelings grew, and she was no longer satisfied with just a kiss on the cheek.
Shen Yiqiu leaned closer again, calmer than before, but still nervous.
This time, her gaze lingered on Qin Qianrou’s lips, slightly less rosy than usual, but still alluring. When you love someone, you can’t help but want to be close to them, to touch them, to be with them always.
Shen Yiqiu desperately wanted to kiss Jiejie’s lips, to convey all her love, but she didn’t dare. She was afraid Jiejie would be angry, disgusted, and never speak to her again.
Overwhelmed by emotions, with a gentle, trembling movement, she placed another feather-light kiss on the corner of Qin Qianrou’s lips. Just a hair’s breadth away from touching her lips directly, Shen Yiqiu didn’t move any closer.
Just this, to Shen Yiqiu, felt like an eternity.
She didn’t dare to ask for more.
Lingering a little longer than before, her soft breaths brushed against Qin Qianrou’s smooth skin, sending shivers down her spine.
Shen Yiqiu’s eyes widened, frozen in place, her inexperience making her forget to move, her heart pounding, afraid Jiejie might wake up and catch her in the act. But her heart didn’t regret it.
She loved Jiejie, and she wanted to be close to her.
Reluctantly, Shen Yiqiu ended this hasty yet memorable kiss. She unconsciously licked her lips, tasting a hint of sweetness, the soft and delicate sensation lingering in her mind.
As she was savoring the feeling, she suddenly heard a soft moan, startling her. Qin Qianrou seemed to be waking up, no longer the quiet sleeping beauty, but stirring slightly. However, her eyes remained closed.
Shen Yiqiu waited for her to open her eyes, but Qin Qianrou simply turned over, her back towards Shen Yiqiu, as if falling back asleep.
Shen Yiqiu mentally berated her own timidity. She slowly stood up and gently adjusted Qin Qianrou’s blanket. She touched the glass of water on the nightstand, checking the temperature, then quietly left.
The moment the door closed, the person on the bed opened her eyes.
Qin Qianrou stared blankly at the thick curtains, blocking out all the light from outside. The room was dim, only a small wall lamp by the door providing a faint glow. She had actually woken up when Shen Yiqiu came in, but her body felt heavy and weak, her mind still foggy from sleep, so she had simply continued lying there with her eyes closed.
She hadn’t expected that child to kiss her.
Not once, but twice.
If the first kiss had been unexpected, unavoidable, then the second kiss had truly unsettled her.
She had felt Shen Yiqiu’s slightly erratic breaths, the intense presence as she leaned closer. She had thought her emotions, her kisses, were silent and unnoticed, but Qin Qianrou had known.
However, she couldn’t respond, she couldn’t even avoid it too obviously.
Qin Qianrou, with her eyes closed, had clearly felt Shen Yiqiu’s gaze lingering on her cheek, her lips, the warmth spreading through her skin from that affectionate gaze, although Shen Yiqiu hadn’t realized it at the time.
Until that kiss, finally landing on the corner of her lips. Qin Qianrou had breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a sense of inexplicable melancholy.
But Shen Yiqiu, after the stolen kiss, hadn’t left immediately but had lingered by her side, and Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but picture the child’s shy yet content expression, her own ears feeling warm.
If this continued, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her pretense any longer. She had no choice but to turn over, preventing any further “sneak attacks.”
However, when Shen Yiqiu had carefully tucked her in, when she had meticulously checked every detail before leaving, Qin Qianrou’s annoyance at the stolen kiss vanished, replaced by a deep sense of confusion.
There was no doubt now, Shen Yiqiu’s two awkward yet sincere kisses had revealed her true feelings. Qin Qianrou’s suspicions were confirmed; this child truly liked her.
It was a love filled with admiration, a love tinged with desire, a love she should avoid, should correct.
The medication was wearing off, but the drowsiness remained. Qin Qianrou, unsure how to face Shen Yiqiu, simply let herself drift back to sleep in the dimness.
Shen Yiqiu, unaware that her actions had been noticed, was still basking in the afterglow of her excitement and joy. She wasn’t a naive and innocent child; even if she hadn’t experienced it herself, such things were common topics of conversation among university students.
But she considered herself traditional; she liked Jiejie, she had kissed Jiejie, so naturally, she had to take responsibility. Shen Yiqiu had already made up her mind to seriously pursue Qin Qianrou, yet she was still worried about her impulsive actions.
Thankfully, Jiejie didn’t know. She couldn’t just steal kisses from Jiejie anymore.
Right, no more stolen kisses, if I want to kiss her, I have to do it openly!
Shen Yiqiu lifted the lid of the clay pot, gently stirring the fragrant congee, a warmth spreading through her heart. She imagined a future where Jiejie was her girlfriend, she would cook delicious meals for her, hold her close and ease her burdens, kiss her every day, and love her always.
Just imagining this made her heart flutter. Shen Yiqiu felt the love within her blossoming, growing stronger with each passing day, unstoppable.
Just a simple kiss had been enough for Shen Yiqiu to realize she truly liked Qin Qianrou, only then could she have such an impulsive and heartfelt desire.
**
Qin Qianrou rested at home for three days, returning to work as soon as she recovered. Shen Yiqiu had been sent back to school the second day, not allowed to stay home any longer. Knowing Jiejie was doing this for her own good, she was still worried and sent several messages throughout the day. Qin Qianrou only replied twice, once at noon and once in the afternoon.
And her replies were concise, almost like code: I’m fine, don’t worry.
After recovering, Qin Qianrou returned to her busy schedule. She still picked Shen Yiqiu up after class, but she no longer brought her work home, returning to the station after dropping her off. It was as if Shen Yiqiu was an elementary school student, requiring parental pickup.
“Jiejie, if you’re busy with work, you don’t have to pick me up.” Shen Yiqiu didn’t understand this arrangement; if she hadn’t finished her work, why make a special trip?
Qin Qianrou, focused on driving, hesitated slightly at Shen Yiqiu’s suggestion.
“You can go home by yourself later.”
Why “later?” Shen Yiqiu was even more puzzled.
Qin Qianrou tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her fingers rubbing against the leather cover, then, after a moment, she said, “I’ll be on a business trip later.”
A business trip?
“Where to?”
“Hai City.”
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