Chapter 18

Lu Yao walked over with a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She slipped behind Shen Zhirou and wrapped her arms around her, resting her chin on Shen Zhirou’s shoulder and nuzzling it coquettishly. “Stop overthinking it. My mom and the others aren’t going to eat anyone. I’m a little hungry—feed me a piece of beef so I can taste it.”

Lu Yao’s eyes were locked hungrily on the beef simmering in the pot, her lithe, boneless body clinging to Shen Zhirou like she had no intention of letting go.

Shen Zhirou’s ear tips flushed a faint pink. With Lu Yao holding her like this, she couldn’t dwell on her anxiety about meeting the parents tomorrow. “Alright, then loosen your grip a little. I’ll scoop a piece for you to try.”

“No need. I’m just hugging your waist—I haven’t touched your hands. You can scoop it just like this.” As Lu Yao spoke, the tip of her nose brushed lightly against Shen Zhirou’s shoulder, and her slender fingers weren’t exactly well-behaved.

But this was precisely the kind of Lu Yao that Shen Zhirou had no defense against. With good-natured patience, she placed one hand over her waist to still the restless arms around her. She shuffled forward a few steps, still carrying the person latched onto her back, scooped a piece of beef onto a small plate, and turned to feed it to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao nuzzled Shen Zhirou’s shoulder a couple more times, clearly reluctant to release her, but this position made it impossible for Shen Zhirou to feed her. With a touch of annoyance, she finally let go.

Seeing the expression on Lu Yao’s face, Shen Zhirou smiled tenderly with her eyes. She picked up the piece of beef, blew on it gently, and held it out.

That single glance from Shen Zhirou left Lu Yao frozen in place. She only snapped out of it when the beef reached her lips. Her heart felt like it was being tickled by a little brush—a sensation she hadn’t experienced in ages.

Seeing Lu Yao daze off for a moment, Shen Zhirou reminded her softly, “Didn’t you want to taste it? Why are you staring at me?”

Lu Yao came back to herself, a blush creeping across her cheek. She hadn’t expected Shen Zhirou to tease her like that?

Feeling a bit unconvinced, she snapped at the meat Shen Zhirou offered and chewed for a few moments before retorting, “Now I kind of want to taste Jie Jie’s flavor instead. Besides, Jie Jie is my fiancée—it’s only right that I look.”

Lu Yao took the small plate and chopsticks from Shen Zhirou’s hand and set them on the counter. Then, with natural ease, she looped her arms around Shen Zhirou’s neck and buried herself in her embrace.

Shen Zhirou’s heart pounded wildly—”thump thump thump”—from Lu Yao’s antics. Of course, Lu Yao could feel it too. She leaned in to kiss the corner of Shen Zhirou’s lips, then deliberately pressed her ear to the left side of Shen Zhirou’s chest. Listening to the heartbeat quicken with every beat, she asked on purpose, “Jie Jie? Your heart’s racing so fast. What’s got you like this?”

As she spoke, Lu Yao’s hands didn’t stay still. Her left hand slipped into Shen Zhirou’s palm, her fair, slender fingertips gliding down from Shen Zhirou’s wrist until their fingers interlaced. Meanwhile, the fingertips of her other hand traced lightly along Shen Zhirou’s arm, sending itchy tingles across her skin—and straight to her heart.

Shen Zhirou swallowed unconsciously, her ear tips burning red as she replied softly, “Maybe it’s just because the kitchen’s too hot.”

Lu Yao rubbed her cheek against Shen Zhirou’s chest a few times before lifting her sly eyes to meet Shen Zhirou’s gaze. Her right fingertips slid back up Shen Zhirou’s arm to her chest, where she poked once before starting to draw lazy circles, asking all too knowingly, “Just the kitchen heat? Here I thought it was because of me.”

Teasing glints danced in her brows and eyes as she leaned in even closer to Shen Zhirou, her hand never pausing.

Shen Zhirou’s heartbeat thundered like war drums. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, desperate to steady herself, but Lu Yao nestled in her arms had no plans to let her off the hook. Her sly eyes narrowed playfully as she leaned in to kiss the corner of Shen Zhirou’s lips again, murmuring, “Why won’t Jie Jie look at me? Am I not pretty today? Don’t you like it?”

Her words came out muffled against Shen Zhirou’s lip corner, her thin, pink lips brushing against Shen Zhirou’s now and then. Her left hand stayed tightly interlaced with Shen Zhirou’s, while her right fingertips continued to caress the spot over her heart.

Shen Zhirou drew in two deep breaths, her mouth filled with the taste of Lu Yao. Lu Yao’s lips lingered near hers, grazing sporadically. Pushed beyond endurance by the teasing in her arms, Shen Zhirou reached over and shut off the gas stove simmering the beef brisket, then hoisted Lu Yao onto the counter.

Lu Yao’s lips curved into a sly smile, her arms winding around the back of Shen Zhirou’s neck as she asked innocently, “Why’d Jie Jie stop cooking? Why put me up here? It’s not comfortable—feels kinda hard.”

Lu Yao had only been perched there for a few seconds before she grew dissatisfied with the cabinet countertop. It was far too hard. She was starting to regret teasing Shen Zhirou in the kitchen, but Lu Yao figured that if she just played a little coy, Shen Zhirou would surely take pity on her and carry her back to the bedroom.

Just as Lu Yao prepared to amp up the coquettishness, Shen Zhirou had already grabbed the remote for the electric blinds. She drew the kitchen curtains shut, her eyes faintly reddened. Without giving Lu Yao a chance to speak, she leaned in and kissed her.

The two of them had only ever gotten intimate on the bed in the bedroom or in the bathroom; nowhere else yet. It wasn’t long before Lu Yao’s legs turned to jelly under Shen Zhirou’s kiss. She slumped limply against the counter, her arms looped around Shen Zhirou’s neck as she surrendered to the onslaught.

Shen Zhirou had been holding back for what felt like an eternity. She’d intended to eat first, but eventually, she just couldn’t anymore. She gave in completely. It wasn’t their first time, after all, and the embarrassment had faded considerably. Still, the fire Lu Yao had kindled in her heart was Lu Yao’s to put out.

This kiss from Shen Zhirou was more forceful than usual, carrying a hint of something new that Lu Yao found surprisingly thrilling. She actually enjoyed it—though the unyielding cabinet digging into her back was another story.

Finally, Shen Zhirou pulled back just enough for Lu Yao to catch her breath. She melted into Shen Zhirou’s arms with a soft whine. “Jie Jie, can we go back to the bedroom? It’s too uncomfortable here. I’m probably all red and marked up already.”

“Red?” Shen Zhirou asked, her breath coming in quick bursts.

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Yao’s response was a breathy murmur. The intense kiss had left a flush lingering at the corners of her eyes, giving her a heartbreakingly alluring look. Her dark, feather-like lashes fluttered gently, each one like a feather-light stroke against Shen Zhirou’s heart.

But the scenario Lu Yao had pictured—Shen Zhirou scooping her up and heading to the bedroom—didn’t materialize. Instead, she watched, wide-eyed, as Shen Zhirou dove back in for another kiss. To prevent any escape, Shen Zhirou cradled the back of her neck, her lips brushing Lu Yao’s tenderly while her hands roamed freely.

After that kiss, with no sign of Shen Zhirou relenting, Lu Yao ramped up the pleading. If the bedroom was off the table, the living room sofa had to be better than this rock-hard kitchen counter. “Jie Jie, if you don’t want the bedroom, what about the sofa? Or the bathroom? Please?”

Shen Zhirou let out a soft chuckle, her gaze locking onto the woman in her arms—the one who’d sparked the flames and now wanted to flee. She brushed a gentle kiss against Lu Yao’s earlobe. “Thinking of switching spots now? Too late.”

Her voice had turned husky. Before Lu Yao could react, Shen Zhirou claimed her lips once more.

It was Shen Zhirou who eventually carried a boneless Lu Yao to the bathroom for a bath. After washing her up and tucking her into bed for a rest, Shen Zhirou returned to the kitchen. She straightened the counter where the pajamas had been discarded, then resumed stewing the tomato brisket. The brief interruption in cooking might affect the texture a little, but she couldn’t fault herself for that. With her Yaoyao acting like that, how was she supposed to hold back?

Meanwhile, Lu Yao had sunk lazily into the plush bedding, a touch exasperated with herself for actually going through with it right there in the kitchen. She prided herself on her self-control, yet what had just happened far exceeded the boundaries she’d set for herself and Shen Zhirou. Shen Zhirou had crossed the line, no question.

Yet as she burrowed into the covers, Lu Yao couldn’t summon even a spark of real anger. If anything, the novelty of it all intrigued her. There was something intoxicating about her fiancée taking charge like that—a whole different flavor from their usual dynamic. She liked it, plain and simple.

Her thoughts a jumble, Lu Yao pushed aside the nagging question of boundaries. What was done was done; no point dwelling. Far better to scheme about how Shen Zhirou might sweet-talk her way back into favor. As these ideas danced through her mind, a subtle smile crept into her usually cool gaze.

Shen Zhirou, too, felt she’d gone overboard in the kitchen. Vowing to make it up to Lu Yao properly, she plated the brisket and ladled out the fish fillet porridge before heading back to the bedroom.

Lu Yao spotted her entering and promptly rolled over, presenting her back in a clear show of sulkiness.

Shen Zhirou’s ears warmed at the memory of their earlier escapade. She perched on the bed’s edge and scooted closer, her voice coaxing and gentle. “Yaoyao? Dinner’s ready. Come eat, okay? You can nap more afterward.”

“No thanks. Eat without me.” Lu Yao’s tone was cool and distant.

Shen Zhirou panicked, thinking she’d truly upset her. Her fingers twisted together nervously as she pressed on. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone ahead without asking you. It won’t happen again, I promise. Whatever you say goes. Please don’t be mad.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lu Yao’s lips, but she quickly suppressed it. That cabinet had dug into her painfully just moments ago—she needed Shen Zhirou to coax her a little more to make up for it.

“Or how about I scoop some porridge and feed it to you?” Shen Zhirou asked softly, her voice several degrees gentler than usual.

Hearing this, Lu Yao’s shoulders twitched slightly as she smoothed the disheveled brown locks of hair by her ear. “No. Do you really know you were wrong?”

“Mm-hmm, I won’t do it next time.” Seeing that Lu Yao was finally paying attention to her, Shen Zhirou hurriedly promised in a soft voice.

Only then did Lu Yao reluctantly turn around, her gaze drifting lazily toward Shen Zhirou. “Fine then. Since Jie Jie took off my clothes, Jie Jie should come over and help me put them back on.”

Shen Zhirou’s ear tips flushed red at Lu Yao’s words, and she didn’t dare meet her eyes.