Warm air blasted them as they entered the house. Gu Ningzi unwrapped Chi Nuan’s scarf and helped her out of her coat. Chi Nuan asked, “Did Secretary Su take Cat Cat?”
“I took it back to North. I’ll bring it back after school starts for you to play with.” Gu Ningzi hung up their outerwear. She’d sweated from archery that afternoon and needed to shower first. Chi Nuan’s phone rang—it was Chi Qingchuan. It was her birthday, and he wished her a happy one.
Chi Nuan: “Thanks, Brother. Is everyone doing well? Give my New Year’s greetings to Sister-in-law and Little Wutong’s grandma too.”
Chi Qingchuan said, “Everyone’s good.”
Gu Ningzi’s mobile phone buzzed on the table edge. Chi Nuan glanced at the caller ID: Spoon. She didn’t touch it and walked away to continue chatting with Chi Qingchuan.
Chi Qingchuan said Little Wutong had learned to sit up today and did it perfectly. He’d send a video over shortly. The siblings talked for about ten minutes before hanging up.
During that time, calls from Tang Siru hadn’t stopped.
Chi Nuan thought for a moment, picked up the mobile phone, and knocked on the bathroom door. “Gu Ningzi, Tang Siru keeps calling you.”
The door opened soon after. Gu Ningzi leaned against it in a towel, a thick wave of fragrance wafting out from behind her. Chi Nuan inhaled it unexpectedly, her ear tips turning red instantly.
Gu Ningzi’s lips curved slightly. Damp strands of hair clung to her face, water droplets trailing from the ends down her skin.
Her exposed shoulders and neck gleamed dazzlingly white against the dark towel.
The shower still ran with a steady patter. Chi Nuan stared, dazed, until the mobile phone rang again, snapping her back. She handed the mobile phone to Gu Ningzi. “…Tang Siru. You taking it?”
Gu Ningzi smiled, circled Chi Nuan’s slender wrist, and pulled her inside!
Chi Nuan gasped. “You…”
Her back pressed against the sink. Gu Ningzi leaned down and blew gently on her face. “I’m in the middle of a shower…”
Her tone brimmed with indulgence. Now it wasn’t just her ears—Chi Nuan knew her face was burning red too…
The mobile phone went quiet. Chi Nuan stammered, “Th-then I won’t disturb your shower… You… continue.”
Chi Nuan wrenched free and bolted out, head down, nearly running. Gu Ningzi watched with a smile and closed the door again.
Chi Qingchuan sent the video of Little Wutong. Chi Nuan watched it, but her mind replayed that bathroom scene over and over. By the time Gu Ningzi emerged from her shower, she couldn’t even meet her eyes.
They were already so close, yet she still got this shy. Chi Nuan covered her face and curled up on the sofa. A few minutes later, Gu Ningzi’s voice came from the bedroom: “Chi Nuan, help me out.”
Chi Nuan shyly went to the door and peeked in.
Gu Ningzi had stripped the bedsheets and was laying down fresh ones.
Chi Nuan went to help, smoothing out the wrinkles. Suddenly realizing this was the bed they’d share, it hit her like a gulp of sweet wine—her heart pounded, head spun.
Gu Ningzi folded the old sheets neatly and turned to see Chi Nuan frozen at the foot of the bed. “Not going to shower?”
Chi Nuan: “…Okay.”
Chi Nuan took a long time in the shower before emerging. The main lights were off, leaving only soft nightlights. She dawdled back to the bedroom, which was dimly lit too.
Chi Nuan tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up for Gu Ningzi.
…Huh? Not there? Where’d she go?
Chi Nuan turned—and immediately collided into Gu Ningzi’s arms.
Gu Ningzi held a glass of water, swallowing the last of the warm liquid slowly. She asked Chi Nuan, “All done? Want some?”
Chi Nuan took the glass, sipping while gazing at her.
In the dim light, Gu Ningzi was still breathtakingly beautiful. Chi Nuan drank, growing thirstier. She finished half the glass, her face flushing red again.
Gu Ningzi took the empty glass away. When she returned with a towel, she leaned down to wipe the water splashed from their collision.
Chi Nuan stood by, unsure where to put her hands or feet, barely able to breathe. Her heart raced; she felt drunk, mind adrift.
Gu Ningzi went out and came back, closing the bedroom door. Seeing Chi Nuan still rooted in place, she asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”
She swayed closer. “Why so dazed?”
Chi Nuan said nothing. She reached out, her finger lightly hooking Gu Ningzi’s. In the faint light, she tiptoed up to kiss her.
Finger to finger, each gentle touch felt like wings brushing her heart, electric, quickening her blood.
Chi Nuan captured the peak of Gu Ningzi’s lips, sucking softly, tenderly.
The mobile phone rang somewhere. A window cracked open, wind stirring the curtains into ethereal swells.
Gu Ningzi drew a breath.
The next second, she cupped Chi Nuan’s flushed cheeks and fiercely claimed the sweetness within her lips.
Chi Nuan’s eyes fluttered shut instinctively. Her heart thundered like fireworks exploding in her mind. She surrendered to her desires, kissing back recklessly.
They kissed while retreating until Gu Ningzi steadied Chi Nuan’s waist. They tumbled onto the bed together. Amid ragged breaths, Gu Ningzi propped herself up slightly, locking eyes with Chi Nuan below. “Is this what you want?”
“I…” Chi Nuan clutched her sleepwear, throat hoarse with nerves.
Gu Ningzi sealed her words with another kiss.
…
First love, first kiss, first night… Everything tied to “first” carried special meaning.
Especially when it involved Gu Ningzi.
Lips and fingers explored clumsily. Chi Nuan felt pain, yet trembled uncontrollably. Lost in passion, she learned for the first time how senses could overpower reason.
Utter surrender.
