Chapter 20: Vow
The trees lining the street were bent sideways by the fierce wind, their leaves swirling in the turbulent air, disappearing into unseen dark corners.
The old bus was packed, every available space occupied. The vehicle seemed like an ark in the apocalypse, sustaining everyone’s lives.
Water dripped from hair and clothes, pooling on the metal floor, mixing with dirt to create a dirty, slippery mess.
Su Yu gripped the handrail, securing a small space in the cramped bus. Xia Qian Ge stood inside, her back to him, gazing at the apocalyptic scenery outside, lost in thought.
Her hair smelled fragrant. Water dripped from the ends of her wet hair, occasionally brushing against Su Yu’s nose. The familiar scent, the dim, crowded bus, their close proximity—it created a strangely intimate atmosphere.
The bus suddenly lurched violently, catching everyone off guard. Some passengers lost their footing on the slippery floor and fell, women screaming, men groaning. The already crowded bus became even more chaotic.
Su Yu instinctively moved forward, wanting to protect Xia Qian Ge. But his feet slipped, and he fell against her. His chin rested on her delicate shoulder blade, his cheek close to her slender neck. The fragrance was stronger now, his rapid breaths brushing against her fair, translucent skin. The moment was charged with an ambiguous intimacy.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Su Yu tried to apologize, struggling to get up, but the press of bodies behind him held him in place. He tried a few more times, but he couldn’t break free. He watched as a blush spread across her delicate, transparent skin, reaching the tips of her ears.
“It’s… it’s okay.”
Xia Qian Ge’s voice was muffled, a mixture of whimpers and moans. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, suppressing… suppressing something. She had dreamt of such intimacy countless times, and now it was happening in reality. The excitement touched every nerve, making them spasm uncontrollably.
The bumpy road finally smoothed out after a chorus of complaints from the passengers. Su Yu took the opportunity to stand up, a flustered expression on his face. He didn’t dare to look at Xia Qian Ge.
But Xia Qian Ge turned around, her gaze fixed on the boy’s gentle, jade-like face, the shy redness of his ears making her heart tremble. A smile played on her lips, and she swallowed, her throat bobbing.
“This is my stop.”
Su Yu looked out the window at the familiar bus stop sign. His stop was approaching.
Reluctance… reluctance. Don’t go, stay. Every cell in her body screamed.
The lingering warmth of their brief contact hadn’t faded yet. The warmth spread like vines across her skin. His hot breath on her neck teased what little reason she had left. But it wasn’t time yet… her fingers, hidden behind her back, clenched into white fists. How much longer did she have to endure?
“Do you want me to walk you home?” Xia Qian Ge’s long, curled eyelashes fluttered, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. “I have an umbrella.”
“Oh, no need. One umbrella isn’t enough for both of us. And… someone’s picking me up.”
“Someone… is picking you up?”
The gentle smile on Xia Qian Ge’s face froze. She glanced towards the bus stop up ahead. Many people were waiting under the shelter, but she still spotted the girl at once—the girl who had brought him water that day.
She held a yellow umbrella, standing out in the crowd. One… why only one umbrella? Were they going to share an umbrella? Doing the same thing he had just done with her?
Xia Qian Ge lowered her head, her wet bangs falling over her eyes. Her eyes widened, bloodshot and ugly, looking as pathetic as a forgotten ghost. She had been the proud queen of Yangming High for three years, but now she had lost to a girl who had suddenly appeared, a crushing defeat.
“Her name is He Mu Qing, right? She’s quite famous in Grade 11. What’s your relationship with her?” Xia Qian Ge looked up, a bright smile still plastered on her face.
The girl’s terrifyingly deep composure wouldn’t collapse so easily. She held the mask firmly in place.
“Childhood friends. I haven’t told you before. Not many people at school know.”
Xia Qian Ge smiled sweetly, making seemingly casual conversation. “Childhood friends? She seems to like you a lot. She’s willing to pick you up in such heavy rain.”
“I guess. Well, I’ll be going then. Goodbye.”
“Mm-hmm, goodbye.”
Before Xia Qian Ge could finish speaking, she could only watch as Su Yu got off the bus, the smile on her face instantly shattering.
…
There were several residential buildings near the bus stop. Many people got off at this stop, the crowded bus quickly emptying out, leaving many seats available.
Xia Qian Ge leaned against the railing, the boy’s receding figure still in her mind, the emptiness in her eyes terrifying. Her hand, gripping the railing, was white and frightening. Blood rushed back to fill the void, her mind slowly returning to her body.
She had finally seen a glimmer of hope, only to watch it slip away, powerless to stop it.
He was clearly shy… his face so red, even though they had barely done anything. If there wasn’t affection mixed in his thoughts, where did that intimacy come from? Why would he be shy?
With his recent coldness, Xia Qian Ge had almost thought her charm no longer held any sway over him. But just a brief touch, and he had become so flustered.
But the intimacy between that girl and Su Yu still drove her mad with jealousy. Childhood friends? No one, absolutely no one, could share an umbrella with him, or be so close to him!
She hadn’t lost yet. Even if it meant resorting to any means necessary, if her body could make Su Yu look at her twice, she wouldn’t hesitate to offer it, along with her soul, on a silver platter.
Her red lips were bitten almost to the point of bleeding. The brief physical contact had almost broken her resolve. Xia Qian Ge didn’t want to admit it, but she had sworn to herself that her love for him would have nothing to do with his physical body.
Her love for him shouldn’t be just skin-deep, it shouldn’t be like this. She loved his soul. But just now, she had actually… reacted, just like him.
The warm wetness between her legs made her rub her thighs uncomfortably, like a little mouse that had tasted the sweetness on the master’s table, unable to forget the delicious flavor. She hadn’t expected his body to evoke such an uncontrollable desire within her.
The sticky wetness between her legs throbbed with a dull ache, a feeling like needing to urinate, but with an added soreness.
Her wet tongue traced her palate, drawing out a thin strand of saliva. She huddled in the shadows of the bus, her wet hair covering her flushed face.
“Su Yu, I’m sorry… I’m afraid I’ll have to break my vow.”
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