Chapter 70
The door was still open. The moment she saw Qin Qianrou, all the words Shen Yiqiu had prepared along the way vanished from her mind. Overwhelmed by emotion and joy, she impulsively embraced Qin Qianrou.
Qin Qianrou, recovering from her surprise, gently patted her back. “Let me close the door first.”
The implication being that Shen Yiqiu should let go and come inside.
The person embracing her readily agreed, but after a soft “Okay,” she didn’t move. The embrace continued, and Qin Qianrou only felt her legs moving, as if she was being pulled into the room.
She was led inside, thankfully, Shen Yiqiu’s pace wasn’t fast, and she was careful not to bump into her, so Qin Qianrou didn’t feel uncomfortable.
However, in this position… it was difficult to close the door.
“Shen Yiqiu, let go.”
“No.”
“Let go, I need to close the door.”
Shen Yiqiu’s steps stopped, but she didn’t release her hold. She was now completely inside the room, and with a gentle nudge of her leg, the door slowly closed.
The click of the lock signaled that Qin Qianrou’s request had been fulfilled.
“Hugging you and closing the door aren’t mutually exclusive, I can do both.”
Her soft voice, her warm breath against Qin Qianrou’s ear, finally confirmed this wasn’t a dream.
The person she had been longing for was right here in her arms.
However, this embrace had lasted quite a while.
“You can’t just hold onto me forever, let go.”
Shen Yiqiu was reluctant, this brief embrace couldn’t possibly alleviate all the longing she had been suppressing.
However, Jiejie’s voice had turned cold, and she was afraid that if she continued, Qin Qianrou would get angry.
Her hands gradually loosened their grip, sliding down to Qin Qianrou’s waist.
She was still wearing her coat, while Qin Qianrou was only in a thin sweater.
“Why are you suddenly here?”
Shen Yiqiu looked at her, the face that haunted her dreams every night, a face she could never tire of looking at.
She stared, mesmerized, and mechanically replied, “I missed you, so I came.”
Qin Qianrou’s ears felt warm. She gently pushed Shen Yiqiu’s hands away and turned to pour her a glass of water.
“Take off your coat, you can put your bag in the closet.”
Shen Yiqiu quickly did as she was told, then went to the bathroom to wash her hands, making sure she was presentable.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Qin Qianrou was just bringing over the water. Shen Yiqiu was wearing a shirt and a light V-neck cashmere sweater, a classic preppy style.
Coupled with her fair skin and slender figure, she had to admit, she was quite attractive.
Qin Qianrou paused slightly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and handed her the glass.
“Just water, I hope you don’t mind.”
Shen Yiqiu took the glass with a smile, took a few sips, and exclaimed, “It’s sweet, so delicious.”
Qin Qianrou looked away, not responding.
The atmosphere in the room was a little strange, the initial joy of their reunion gradually fading, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou sat on the sofa, neither of them speaking.
Shen Yiqiu thought for a moment, then explained her reason for coming. “I don’t have any homework this weekend, and my Monday class was cancelled, so I thought I’d come see you, Jiejie.”
“Mm, thank you for your effort.”
Shen Yiqiu’s heart sank slightly, a cold and distant response, as expected.
Her intuition hadn’t been wrong, Jiejie was indeed angry with her.
But why?
She couldn’t understand, but as a good student, she had to get to the bottom of this.
So, she moved closer, sitting right next to Qin Qianrou.
“Jiejie, did I do something to upset you?”
Qin Qianrou, still struggling with her own internal conflict, hadn’t expected Shen Yiqiu to be so direct, and she suddenly felt embarrassed to answer.
She looked at Shen Yiqiu for a moment, then sighed softly. “No, I’m just… a little tired lately.”
Shen Yiqiu, however, didn’t believe her, “You’re lying.”
Qin Qianrou rarely felt so exposed, being called out like this, it was truly awkward.
But she had always been composed under pressure, she maintained her calm demeanor, simply avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s gaze.
Whenever she looked into those clear eyes, her heart would race uncontrollably, her carefully constructed walls crumbling.
Sensing Qin Qianrou’s attempt to create distance again, Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Qin Qianrou, preventing her from moving away.
“Jiejie, tell me what’s wrong, okay?”
Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, her gaze lowered in thought, as if considering whether to tell her.
Shen Yiqiu’s heart pounded like a drum, as if awaiting a life-altering verdict, yet she was completely clueless about its nature.
“Shen Yiqiu, I’m not sure…” Qin Qianrou slowly looked up, taking a deep breath. “I think, we should… perhaps…”
Shen Yiqiu didn’t want to hear anymore, perhaps from watching too many dramas, but whenever such dialogues appeared, the outcome wasn’t usually good, and coming from Qin Qianrou, it was likely a rejection.
This meant that all her waiting, all her anticipation, would be for nothing.
She couldn’t accept this, Shen Yiqiu wouldn’t allow it.
She cupped Qin Qianrou’s face, gently but firmly, preventing her from avoiding her gaze.
Her thumb gently caressed Qin Qianrou’s cheek, the warmth spreading through her skin with each touch.
Qin Qianrou felt her face burning.
Shen Yiqiu’s love and affection were unconcealed, clearly and unmistakably expressed, further intensifying the heat in Qin Qianrou’s cheeks.
Shen Yiqiu slowly leaned closer, her lips brushing against Qin Qianrou’s, whispering, “Jiejie… Jiejie…”
Qin Qianrou held her breath as a soft kiss landed on her lips.
A gentle touch, just their lips brushing against each other. Memories of the past few days flooded back, the turmoil in her heart surging, making it impossible for Qin Qianrou to escape.
“You asked me to give you time, and I’m willing to wait, no matter how long. You said you would give me the freedom to choose, and I would accept any outcome. But you can’t just… shut me out like this, without any explanation.”
Shen Yiqiu pulled away from her lips, but she didn’t move away.
Her breaths, the warm scent from her mouth, brushed against Qin Qianrou’s face.
It was… ticklish, and also… stirring.
Qin Qianrou’s eyes softened, gazing at her, slightly dazed.
Then, a kiss, even more intense than before, arrived as expected. Shen Yiqiu, no longer cautious and hesitant, pressed her lips against Qin Qianrou’s, her heart filled with love.
Without a sliver of space between them, she kissed her deeply, yearning for a complete fusion.
Qin Qianrou, seeing her fervor and her persistence, slowly closed her eyes, parting her lips slightly, offering a response.
After the initial nervousness and excitement, she surrendered to the sweetness of the kiss.
The soft touch against her lips made Qin Qianrou instinctively open her mouth, and then there was no turning back.
Shen Yiqiu’s hands moved, but lacking experience, unsure where to place them, she could only nervously caress Qin Qianrou’s back.
Even this was enough to make Qin Qianrou dizzy.
No one had ever made her feel like this.
She heard the steady rhythm of her own heart, surrendering, bit by bit.
As her rationality returned, Qin Qianrou gently pushed Shen Yiqiu away, signaling her to stop.
Shen Yiqiu, lost in the moment, reluctant to let go of this rare opportunity, her eyes half-closed, didn’t move.
Qin Qianrou, however, was now fully alert, and she pushed her away more firmly.
A flicker of confusion, then hurt, flashed across Shen Yiqiu’s eyes.
So Jiejie, are you rejecting me after all?
Qin Qianrou closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and smoothed her slightly dishevelled hair.
Shen Yiqiu was still very close, her arms loosely around her, and Qin Qianrou tried to compose herself.
The lingering flush on her cheeks made her even more beautiful, adding to her allure.
“Shen Yiqiu, before I give you my answer, I need an explanation.”
She hadn’t intended to delve into this, she hadn’t wanted a confrontation with Shen Yiqiu, it seemed petty.
But the person who had captured her heart was… different.
Qin Qianrou understood the logic, but her heart wouldn’t accept it.
That subtle unease lingered, yet she couldn’t deny the pleasure of that kiss. So, she decided to get to the bottom of this, so they could start anew, without any reservations.
Shen Yiqiu, instead of feeling worried, was overjoyed; Jiejie had finally brought it up.
She had come all this way, not just out of longing, but to seek an answer.
Zhang Meng had told her that if a woman took the initiative to address the issue, it was a good sign.
“Ask me anything, Jiejie, I’ll tell you everything.”
Anything you want to know, I’ll lay my heart bare for you.
Qin Qianrou tried to stand up, and Shen Yiqiu, anxiously grabbing her wrist, didn’t want her to leave.
Qin Qianrou blushed slightly and said softly, “I’m just getting something, wait for me here.”
She reluctantly let go, thankfully, the room wasn’t large, and she could still see Jiejie.
She watched as Qin Qianrou walked over to her desk, took out a manila envelope from the drawer, and paused, holding it, seemingly lost in thought, before slowly walking back towards her. She clutched the envelope tightly, as if it contained a top-secret document.
Qin Qianrou sat back down, creating a slight distance between them, but not too far.
“There are some things I don’t quite understand. I’m not trying to pry, but I hope you can offer an explanation.”
Qin Qianrou’s tone was calm and restrained, without any hint of anger or accusation.
But Shen Yiqiu still sensed something amiss. What’s wrong with Jiejie?
Hesitantly, she opened the envelope, took out the photos, and saw they were from her visit to her cousin’s apartment.
As Senior Zhang Meng had suspected, Jiejie knew about this.
Qin Qianrou had been observing her since she took the envelope. She wasn’t sure what kind of explanation she was hoping for, but she couldn’t help but watch her, wanting to capture every nuance of her expression.
But what was with that faint smile after Shen Yiqiu saw the photos?
Whatever it meant, Qin Qianrou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
There was no trace of guilt or panic, Shen Yiqiu’s reaction hadn’t made her feel foolish.
“Jiejie, how did you get these?”
Qin Qianrou composed herself. “Someone gave them to me.”
Shen Yiqiu looked at the photos again, wondering who would be so bored as to follow her even while grocery shopping, she wasn’t a celebrity.
Then, she realized these photos were clearly taken for Qin Qianrou. But Jiejie wasn’t one to pry into others’ private lives, and she certainly wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics.
Could it be Shao Qidong? Trying to sabotage their relationship, to destroy the trust between them, to isolate her again, turning her back into that helpless orphan?
The thought of that villain made Shen Yiqiu curse him a thousand times in her heart.
But right now, the most important thing was to explain.
It could be cleared up with a simple sentence, but her cousin seemed to be afraid of Jiejie, should she tell her?
Shen Yiqiu’s hesitation made Qin Qianrou’s anxiety resurface.
It seemed Yuan Qi and Shen Yiqiu’s relationship wasn’t ordinary; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so hesitant. If she hadn’t known Yuan Qi before, if she didn’t trust his character, Qin Qianrou wouldn’t be so calm right now.
“I think, before our relationship is clearly defined, there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings between us. Even if it’s just a misunderstanding, it should still be explained, shouldn’t it?” Qin Qianrou’s tone remained calm and restrained, but her breathing was slightly uneven.
Shen Yiqiu finally looked up from the photos and met Qin Qianrou’s gaze.
Beneath Jiejie’s usual composure, there was a hint of unease.
Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached, this wasn’t the kind of love she wanted to give Qin Qianrou. Loving her meant not making her worry, not making her doubt.
She put down the photos and gently took Qin Qianrou’s hand, which was resting on her lap.
Only after touching it did she realize Jiejie’s palms were slightly damp with sweat.
Her heart stirring, Shen Yiqiu lifted Qin Qianrou’s hand and kissed the back of it.
A shiver ran down Qin Qianrou’s spine, a different sensation from a kiss on the lips, yet equally stirring.
“Jiejie, don’t misunderstand, my relationship with this man is very simple.” Shen Yiqiu looked up at her, her eyes filled with an intensity deeper than ever before, her tone unusually serious. “He’s my cousin, he’s been traveling the world, which is why he wasn’t around when I was in the hospital.”
Qin Qianrou had considered many possibilities, even a close friendship between people of different generations. She wasn’t worried about Shen Yiqiu having feelings for someone else, but she still minded, she minded Shen Yiqiu being so close to someone else, even if it was just simple admiration for an elder.
Her possessiveness was growing, which made Qin Qianrou feel uneasy, no one had ever made her lose her composure like this.
But she still wanted to hear it directly from Shen Yiqiu, who this person was, and their relationship.
She even wanted to ask directly, Am I the most important person in your heart?
Cousin, the usually quick-witted Reporter Qin mentally repeated the term several times before finally understanding.
This was something she hadn’t expected at all, and Yuan Qi had never mentioned it either.
“Jiejie, you don’t believe me?” Shen Yiqiu’s eyes dimmed slightly, it seemed some things couldn’t be kept secret for too long.
Hidden for too long, the truth also became less believable.
“I believe you, I believe everything you say.”
Shen Yiqiu had never seen Jiejie so gentle, and the gradually decreasing distance between them, the rising temperature, made her feel like she was dreaming.
Shen Yiqiu stared at her, slightly dazed, until Qin Qianrou’s face was almost touching hers.
“Jiejie, I…”
“I’ve had enough time, I can give you my answer now.”
Before Shen Yiqiu could even process her words, a firm hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer.
Qin Qianrou’s kiss was different from Shen Yiqiu’s, just like her personality, slightly cool, yet firm, even a little dominant.
Shen Yiqiu’s eyes widened, seeing Qin Qianrou clearly before her, the subtle pores on her skin, her slightly trembling eyelashes, her heart racing uncontrollably.
She reached up and embraced Qin Qianrou, minimizing the distance between them, yearning to fuse into one.
Their breaths mingled, their scents intermingling, Qin Qianrou’s hand sliding down from the back of Shen Yiqiu’s head to her neck.
Her slender fingers caressed Shen Yiqiu’s skin, drawing a soft moan from her. Qin Qianrou, however, didn’t relent, for the first time, asserting her dominance in their interaction.
She deepened the kiss, prolonging it, then, just as Shen Yiqiu was about to run out of breath, gently pulling away slightly, allowing her to breathe, then returning for another passionate kiss.
Shen Yiqiu couldn’t remember how long they kissed for, she only knew her heart felt like it was about to burst, her love, finally finding a place to belong, yet still not enough.
She had so much love, overflowing from her heart, all for Jiejie.
Between kisses, during a brief moment of respite, Shen Yiqiu whispered, “Jiejie, I love you.”
They kissed until they were breathless, reluctantly parting, yet unwilling to truly separate, their foreheads touching.
Qin Qianrou, only now realizing her own impulsiveness, couldn’t quite believe how proactive she had been. Perhaps it was the release of all the pent-up emotions she had been suppressing, the lingering unease instantly dissipating, and she had simply followed her heart.
She liked Shen Yiqiu, she wanted to accept her feelings, she was willing to embark on this undoubtedly difficult path with her, her hesitation and doubts erased by Shen Yiqiu’s simple explanation.
Shen Yiqiu, I trust you.
Shen Yiqiu, catching her breath, a constant smile on her lips, pulled Qin Qianrou closer, settling her into her embrace.
She adjusted their position, letting Qin Qianrou lean against her, half-reclining.
Qin Qianrou’s eyes were closed, as if resting, or perhaps… savoring the moment?
Shen Yiqiu smiled and whispered in her ear, “Jiejie, you’re so sweet.”
Qin Qianrou’s ears burned, but her lips curved into a smile.
She didn’t respond to Shen Yiqiu’s words, but simply nestled closer, finding a more comfortable position in her embrace.
Shen Yiqiu’s other arm wrapped around her, holding her securely.
This time, Qin Qianrou’s silence didn’t make Shen Yiqiu feel sad, her smile widening. She thought for a moment, then leaned closer again, this time not just whispering in Qin Qianrou’s ear, but gently nibbling on her earlobe.
As expected, the person in her arms trembled.
Before Qin Qianrou could open her eyes, she heard a sweet, soft voice, laced with double the usual affection, by her ear. “My girlfriend is so sweet.”
Qin Qianrou’s cheeks flushed, and she opened her eyes slightly, seeing a beaming face before her.
A face that made her heart race.
Suppressing her shyness, she reached up and wrapped her arms around Shen Yiqiu’s neck, pulling her closer.
“From now on, you have to listen to your girlfriend.”
Shen Yiqiu responded without hesitation, “As you command, my dear girlfriend.”
Qin Qianrou’s lips, redder and fuller than usual, captivated Shen Yiqiu, and at such close proximity, she couldn’t resist leaning in for another kiss.
Qin Qianrou, however, turned her face slightly, letting the kiss land on her cheek instead.
“My lips are swollen.”
Shen Yiqiu gently kissed her cheek, then her gaze returned to her lips.
“Then I’ll kiss you again tomorrow.”
**
They lingered on the sofa like this, one sitting, one half-reclining, until night had completely fallen. Shen Yiqiu, looking up at the starry sky outside, realized they hadn’t closed the curtains.
Thankfully, they were on a high floor, and it hadn’t been completely dark outside earlier.
Wen Shao Ze had called Qin Qianrou several times, but she hadn’t answered. He had also sent Shen Yiqiu a few messages, but there had been no reply. He had been worried at first, then, as if realizing something, he had simply shaken his head and smiled helplessly.
He had received a call from Wen Yirong that morning, informing him that the weekend dinner with the Cheng family had been cancelled, and he had immediately guessed it was Qin Qianrou’s decision.
Wen Yirong hadn’t been surprised, after all, her daughter’s stance had always been clear.
“Shao Ze, find a chance to talk to Qianrou, ask her about her plans.”
“It’s normal to decline a blind date, don’t worry.”
Wen Shao Ze had also rejected many such arrangements, although it always led to arguments with his father.
Wen Yirong, however, wasn’t as calm as before. “You don’t understand, this time, Qianrou was unusually firm, she even told me she has her own arrangements.”
Previously, Qin Qianrou had always said she wasn’t ready for a relationship, but this time, she had said she had her own plans.
A mother knows her daughter best, and the moment Qin Qianrou said those words, Wen Yirong knew this time was different.
Qin Qianrou didn’t want to avoid relationships, she simply didn’t want to be in a relationship with someone her family had chosen, she had someone else in mind.
Wen Shao Ze didn’t dare to say anything, afraid of ruining Qin Qianrou’s plans.
“I understand, I’ll talk to her.”
Wen Yirong sighed, then chatted about some family matters, and just before hanging up, she added, “Come home for dinner more often when you have time, your grandfather hasn’t been doing well lately.”
Extreme heat and cold were always difficult for the elderly, especially for someone who had been through war. Although Grandfather Qin had retired and was enjoying his later years, he was still vulnerable to the effects of aging.
Birth, old age, sickness, and death, an inescapable cycle for everyone.
“I understand, I’ll tell Qianrou.”
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