A trace of astonishment flashed through Ji Xu'an's eyes. She stared unblinkingly into Jiang Jiang's eyes, her long eyelashes trembling twice in the wind, like a butterfly spreading its wings, ready to fly.
Jiang Jiang also silently gazed at Ji Xu'an. A faint flush still lingered on her cheeks, yet her expression was very serious, clearly not joking.
Their breathing intertwined, warm air blending together until it was no longer possible to distinguish one from the other.
After the wordless eye contact, Ji Xu'an was the first to move. She covered the back of Jiang Jiang's hand with her palm and pressed Jiang Jiang's hand against her own heart.
Jiang Jiang let her move. Her gaze traveled from Ji Xu'an's eyes downward, passing over the lips she had just kissed, until her line of sight slowly settled on her own fingers.
The sensation beneath her palm was so distinct. Even through two layers of clothing, Jiang Jiang seemed to clearly feel Ji Xu'an's heartbeat—intense and distinct—so strong that the tips of Jiang Jiang's fingers seemed to grow slightly numb from the vibration.
The atmosphere at that moment was so ambiguous and heated that both of them were stirred. Jiang Jiang licked her lips, just about to say something, when Ji Xu'an's low voice suddenly sounded by her ear.
"Older sister."
A sudden buzzing filled Jiang Jiang's ears. Her pupils dilated in that instant, and her pale fingers subconsciously tightened around Ji Xu'an's collar. The expression on her face was a mixture of confusion and helplessness.
Ji Xu'an had originally felt somewhat nervous and ashamed, but after calling out, her emotions gradually calmed instead.
Moreover, Jiang Jiang's reaction was truly interesting. Clearly, she was the one who had made the request, yet she looked even more shy than Ji Xu'an.
The flush on her face had only just faded for a brief moment, and now it climbed back up, covering Jiang Jiang's cheeks once again.
In truth, this was not the first time she had heard such a form of address. Back at the Duke's residence, Xie Wanwan had also called her that.
But at that time, Jiang Jiang had felt only annoyance and disgust. Not once had her heart pounded like it did now—so fiercely that she almost felt unable to breathe.
Jiang Jiang realized with absolute clarity that it had nothing to do with the form of address. It was simply because the person was Ji Xu'an. No matter what the other woman did, her heart would race.
She really did seem to like Ji Xu'an very much.
Even more than she herself had thought.
Seeing Jiang Jiang remain silent, Ji Xu'an leaned in closer of her own accord. Their lips were now only about a finger's width apart. Her lowered voice made the atmosphere even more subtle.
"The way I called you just now…" Ji Xu'an paused. "Was it what you wanted?"
Jiang Jiang came back to her senses. Looking at the soft lips so close at hand, she simply leaned forward and pecked them again before softly replying, "Yes."
Ji Xu'an had already lost count of how many times Jiang Jiang had surprised her tonight. Yet no matter how many more times it happened, she still could not help sighing inwardly—she liked this bold Jiang Jiang so much!
She pressed her lips together, her tone carrying a faint trace of coaxing temptation. "Then… from now on, I'll call you that every time?"
Jiang Jiang, however, shook her head. "No."
The more she liked something, the more she wanted to savor it slowly. Perhaps if it were said too often, the feeling of her heart racing would no longer be so intense.
After being rejected, there was not much disappointment on Ji Xu'an's face. She wrapped both arms around Jiang Jiang's body and lowered her head to lightly kiss Jiang Jiang's cheek. "Baby, I really like you so much."
In fact, saying what was in her heart was not that difficult.
Ji Xu'an continued in a low voice by Jiang Jiang's ear, "I always get jealous over strange, inexplicable things. Maybe this behavior of mine puts a lot of pressure on you."
"I'm sorry, Jiang Jiang."
Ji Xu'an took a deep breath. "Because I like you too much, I'm always afraid of losing you."
"But I'm very clear that you don't like being restrained, and I don't want to confine you either."
"What I need is only the right to know."
As long as Jiang Jiang was willing to tell her the truth, Ji Xu'an could sort out the rest of the problems by herself.
Jiang Jiang's brows knitted slightly. "Hm?"
Ji Xu'an explained, "Right now the enemy is still hiding in the dark. We don't know what methods she might use. I'm worried that she'll take advantage of the kindness and softness in your heart to hurt you."
These words had practically laid bare the fact that she did not trust Liu Xiaobao, yet when Jiang Jiang heard them, there was not much surprise or displeasure on her face.
It had to be said that her reaction truly reassured Ji Xu'an.
"So I think, if you're willing to tell me, perhaps I can help you think of a countermeasure."
Ji Xu'an pressed her cheek closer to Jiang Jiang. Her voice was so soft while speaking that it was almost impossible to hear clearly.
Jiang Jiang tilted her head slightly and examined the expression on Ji Xu'an's face from the corner of her eye. "If I really wanted to hide it from you, I wouldn't have told you just now."
Ji Xu'an stuck close and kissed Jiang Jiang's cheek again. "It's still not enough."
Perhaps because her posture was too gentle and clingy, even though she was making a request of Jiang Jiang, it did not make Jiang Jiang feel the slightest discomfort.
Jiang Jiang seemed to laugh very softly. She raised her hand and patted Ji Xu'an's back, promising, "I understand."
At this moment, their personalities seemed to have reversed. Compared to Jiang Jiang's steadiness and composure, Ji Xu'an seemed more like the younger, inexperienced girl.
But Ji Xu'an did not mind at all.
Acting spoiled toward her wife was nothing embarrassing, and besides, no one else could see.
She laughed as well and hugged Jiang Jiang even tighter.
After that, neither of them spoke again, yet the atmosphere did not feel stiff. Instead, a faint warmth and ambiguity flowed quietly between them.
They stood by the lakeside, embracing one another. In the trees across the shore, however, there came a very faint clicking sound.
Before that slight noise could travel far, it had already dissipated into the wind.
Ji Xu'an seemed not to notice, but Jiang Jiang tilted her head slightly and glanced in that direction without drawing attention. Soon after, she withdrew her gaze, the smile on her face unchanged in the slightest.
—
For Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an, the events of that night counted as no small breakthrough. But for Zhou Zisuo, every minute and every second was agony.
Sending a friend request to Jiang Jiang had been a decision made on impulse. In fact, Zhou Zisuo also felt she should not have been so anxious. After all, she had already waited three years.
But for some reason, her heart was in a panic, as if some voice in the dark was reminding her that if she did not do something now, she would truly never have the chance to be with Ji Xu'an again.
That was why Zhou Zisuo had said those things to Jiang Jiang.
It was, after all, what had happened three years ago that gave her confidence. Combined with the fact that after becoming explosively popular she had constantly been flattered and praised, Zhou Zisuo had developed immense confidence in herself.
She believed that as long as she did not go too far, Ji Xu'an would not do anything to her. But reality dealt Zhou Zisuo a heavy blow.
The recent continuous exposure of black material and several consecutive terminated endorsement contracts had left her restless and anxious. Zhou Zisuo, furious, smashed the things in her room yet again. She was sitting on the sofa, panting heavily, when her phone suddenly chimed.
She picked it up and saw that a person without a remark had sent her a message. The content was simple—only a few pictures.
With trembling fingers, she tapped into them. The scene that met her eyes caused the color to drain instantly from Zhou Zisuo's face.
In the photo, the slender, tall woman was holding a slightly shorter girl in her arms, devoutly and tenderly kissing her lips.
Even though from this angle only the woman's profile could be seen, Zhou Zisuo could still feel her care and cherishment toward the girl in her arms.
Knowing was one thing. Seeing it with her own eyes was another.
Zhou Zisuo sat blankly on the sofa. In that instant, her eyes reddened with moisture.
As if trying to escape, she slid to the next picture, and her breathing suddenly grew heavy.
In this photo, Ji Xu'an's brows and eyes were still lowered, her gaze fixed entirely on Jiang Jiang's face.
But Jiang Jiang's posture was no longer as obedient as before. Her fingers were gripping Ji Xu'an's collar, her neck slightly raised, yet her eyes seemed to look intentionally—or unintentionally—toward the direction of the camera.
As though it were a silent provocation.
—
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