Friend(GL) 134

Chapter 134: What

You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, used to her usual boldness, this cautiousness was unfamiliar, yet because of their separation, this newly rebuilt Zhou Tianzui, both familiar and unfamiliar, the unfamiliarity a strange novelty that made You Ruxu’s heart race, her gaze lingering.

Zhou Tianzui, not receiving a reply, just You Ruxu staring at her intently, looked down at her lips, and just as she was about to kiss her, there was a noise at the door, followed by a knock, “Anyone there?”

You Ruxu didn’t want to occupy the restroom for too long and moved away from Zhou Tianzui, the intimate atmosphere instantly dissipating. Zhou Tianzui turned and washed her hands, hearing You Ruxu open the door.

The person outside thanked You Ruxu, then seeing Zhou Tianzui, exclaimed, “Dr. Zhou? Just the person I was looking for, I have a question for you.”

It was a doctor from the City Hospital, seemingly familiar with Zhou Tianzui. You Ruxu said, “Then I’ll be going.”

Zhou Tianzui could only watch her leave. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but You Ruxu’s demeanor seemed different, her back still straight, but more relaxed, a light and airy confidence.

You Ruxu was gone before Zhou Tianzui could reply. She waited for the doctor, then messaged You Ruxu, [Why did you leave?]

You Ruxu: [Do you need something?]

Zhou Tianzui: [Five minutes.]

You Ruxu didn’t reply, just stared at her phone, her face flushed, her complexion much better. The cameraman, seeing her return from the restroom, looking like a different person, couldn’t help but stare. The people at the TV station were perceptive, both in their observation skills and intuition, but she and You Ruxu weren’t close enough for her to pry into her personal life, so she didn’t ask, just commented, “Reporter You seems to be in a good mood.”

You Ruxu turned to her, smiled, and asked, “Do I?”

“Yes.” The cameraman said, “Did something good happen?”

You Ruxu said, “I just figured some things out.”

Things that had been weighing on her for years, the hatred and guilt now replaced by a grateful warmth, thanks to Yu Qiao’s unexpected kindness. Thinking about it, her eyes reddened slightly. The cameraman said, “Good to hear that.”

You Ruxu nodded.

The conference hadn’t started yet, and everyone was chatting. She also started talking to the cameraman, “Is there any progress on the fishing boat case?”

A month ago, a body was found on a fishing boat, all the organs harvested, even the corneas missing. Two more bodies were found later, in similar conditions. Because the bodies were found on fishing boats and near the river, the cases were referred to as the “fishing boat cases.”

The TV station had been following the story, the Criminal Investigation Department also working on it. You Ruxu knew some details, from Captain Zhou.

“Nothing yet.” The cameraman said, “It’s been twenty days since the last body was found, even with Jindu’s assistance, there’s been no progress.”

You Ruxu nodded.

She noticed people entering the conference hall, Zhou Tianzui among them, and instinctively straightened her back. The cameraman also looked around. The conference officially began.

They didn’t move from their seats for the entire morning. During the break, Han Shuang came over, offering You Ruxu a piece of bread, which she declined. The cameraman had bought some coffee and handed a cup to Han Shuang, who yawned, “I never thought I would have to attend lectures even after starting work.”

You Ruxu chuckled.

Han Shuang said, “Are you free for lunch?”

You Ruxu said, “Why?”

“Well…” Han Shuang glanced at her colleagues, “That editor I mentioned before, she wants to invite you to lunch.”

She didn’t try to hide it, stating it directly. Just then, someone stood beside You Ruxu, a familiar scent. She turned; it was Zhou Tianzui, when did she arrive?

Han Shuang smiled and greeted her: “Dr. Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui smiled faintly and asked, “Is something the matter?”

Han Shuang said, “Nothing much, just a colleague of mine who wants to meet with Ruxu.”

Zhou Tianzui turned to You Ruxu, “Teacher You is quite popular, it seems.”

You Ruxu immediately said, “I’m not.”

Han Shuang chimed in, “She is, many of my colleagues want to meet with her, not just my colleagues, but also people from other departments, you have no idea, Dr. Zhou, everyone’s talking about Ruxu.”

Zhou Tianzui’s voice was soft and even, “Really?”

You Ruxu could hear the gritted teeth behind the seemingly casual tone.

She looked at Zhou Tianzui. The cameraman was in the restroom. You Ruxu was sitting in his seat, next to Zhou Tianzui, Han Shuang on her other side, making it impossible to avoid facing Zhou Tianzui. A faint blush colored You Ruxu’s cheeks, and she lowered her head, wanting to shift her position, when she felt a nudge in her side. She looked at Zhou Tianzui, who was also looking at her, their eyes meeting. You Ruxu felt a strange sense of guilt.

She wanted to appear calm and composed, but with Zhou Tianzui sitting beside her, it was difficult.

And Han Shuang, oblivious, continued to chat with Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui responded with a faint smile, being so close, You Ruxu could see her features clearly, her light makeup accentuating her sharp jawline and high cheekbones, her eyes bright and clear, her lips, coated with a slightly brighter shade of lipstick than usual, making her skin seem even paler, her smile captivating.

You Ruxu suddenly regretted not kissing Zhou Tianzui earlier.

Even a fleeting peck, even for just a second.

“Ruxu…” Han Shuang called her name. You Ruxu returned to her senses, realizing what she had been thinking, and bit her lip, looking away, her expression slightly flustered. Zhou Tianzui asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.” You Ruxu’s reply was quick, a little too quick.

Zhou Tianzui leaned closer, chuckling softly.

The familiar sound sent a shiver down You Ruxu’s spine, a tingling warmth, a suppressed longing rising within her, threatening to spill over.

A longing for Zhou Tianzui.

You Ruxu couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing here?”

Zhou Tianzui turned her head slightly, taking advantage of Han Shuang looking down at her phone, and whispered, just loud enough for You Ruxu to hear, “I missed you.”

Her voice was low, but to You Ruxu, it echoed, filling the world, deafening. She lowered her head, a blush spreading from her ears to her cheeks, then down her neck.

Zhou Tianzui’s gaze darkened, her eyes fixed on You Ruxu’s flushed face, and then she suddenly said, “I should be going.”

You Ruxu responded with a soft “oh.”

Her voice betraying her.

Zhou Tianzui stood up and quickly returned to her seat. Her heart was still racing as she sat down. She took out her phone and messaged You Ruxu, [Having lunch with your admirer?]

You Ruxu then remembered she hadn’t replied to Han Shuang yet. She put away her phone and said, “Han Shuang, tell your colleague I have something to do at noon.”

“Aw,” Han Shuang said, “I knew it, I knew you wouldn’t go.”

You Ruxu didn’t reply, then after a pause, she said, “Han Shuang.”

Han Shuang turned to her, “Yes?”

You Ruxu said, “From now on, if anyone asks, just tell them I have a partner.”

“Huh?” Han Shuang said, “You have a partner? Since when?”

She looked completely bewildered, the same reaction as last time. You Ruxu, suddenly remembering her own reaction, wanted to laugh, “Remember my ex…?”

“Oh!” Han Shuang exclaimed, “You two are back together?”

You Ruxu nodded, “Yes.”

“Who is this amazing person?!” Han Shuang was excited. “The one who finally tamed you.”

“Tell me, tell me, who is this god, or goddess, so lucky?”

You Ruxu thought for a moment.

Zhou Tianzui had a bad temper, a sharp tongue, easily jealous, petty, was she—good?

You Ruxu smiled, “She’s not a god, or a goddess.”

“But to you, she must be!” Han Shuang said, “For you to still be thinking about her, even agreeing to get back together.”

You Ruxu lowered her head, listening to Han Shuang’s barrage of questions, she was a bit like Chen Xiang, but more extroverted, more forward, her questions more difficult to deflect.

Like, “When are you getting married?”

You Ruxu choked slightly, took a sip of her coffee, and stammered, “It’s, it’s still early.”

Just then, Han Shuang was called away by a colleague, and You Ruxu breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up, meeting Zhou Tianzui’s gaze, and although she knew Zhou Tianzui couldn’t have heard their conversation, she still felt strangely flustered, and she quickly looked away.

The morning session ended at eleven. The attendees could have lunch at the hospital or at a restaurant. The cameraman’s home was nearby, so she said she was going home, asking You Ruxu if she wanted to join her. You Ruxu said, “I have plans, you go ahead.”

She carried her bag and stood at the entrance, waiting. Zhou Tianzui soon emerged.

Zhou Tianzui was carrying her notebook, wearing a light blue trench coat, a pen in her pocket, her figure tall and slender, her hair loose. You Ruxu noticed she had dyed her hair.

The first thing she noticed was the slightly different hair color, although similar to her natural color, You Ruxu just knew. She remembered the few gray strands at Zhou Tianzui’s temples, the last time they met in Jindu, and You Ruxu looked down.

Zhou Tianzui asked, “Where’s your colleague?”

You Ruxu said, “She went home.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded: “What do you want for lunch?”

You Ruxu asked, “What do you want?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Anything is fine, I’ll eat whatever you’re having.” Then, after a pause, she said, “Let’s buy something and eat back at the hotel, I have some emails to send.”

You Ruxu said, “Should we order room service then?”

Zhou Tianzui agreed. They went back to the hotel together. This time, it was a single room, smaller than before, a bed, a beanbag chair facing a TV on a wooden cabinet, and Zhou Tianzui’s open suitcase with her clothes beside it. The curtains were drawn, the room dim. You Ruxu turned to ask Zhou Tianzui to turn on the lights, when she was pulled into an embrace.

The door closed with a soft click, neither of them speaking, a silent understanding. You Ruxu turned her head slightly, looking at Zhou Tianzui, her hand resting on Zhou Tianzui’s arm, where it was wrapped around her waist. The moment their skin touched, Zhou Tianzui turned her around, their faces now close, You Ruxu’s back against the bathroom door, her back straight, her head tilted back slightly, and just as Zhou Tianzui was about to speak, You Ruxu leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.

Just a quick peck.

Just for a second.

The desire from earlier, at the conference hall, fulfilled, You Ruxu was content, her lips lightly brushing against Zhou Tianzui’s, but just as she was about to pull away, Zhou Tianzui’s arm tightened around her waist, her eyes closing as she deepened the kiss.

You Ruxu’s arms also tightened around Zhou Tianzui’s waist, the kiss stealing her breath, her head spinning, her lungs burning, the emptiness within her filled with Zhou Tianzui’s presence, a soft moan escaping her lips. Zhou Tianzui, also lost in the kiss, her lips moving from You Ruxu’s mouth to her cheek, her earlobe, her teeth gently grazing the sensitive skin, threatening to break the surface, You Ruxu’s arms around her waist, her hand, beneath the thin fabric of Zhou Tianzui’s shirt, touching the patterned skin.

She looked down.

And asked, “You have a tattoo?”

Zhou Tianzui, following her gaze, looked down and said, “Yes.”

She took You Ruxu’s hand and slipped it beneath her shirt. You Ruxu looked at her, her usual cool and aloof demeanor gone, replaced by a fiery intensity.

Zhou Tianzui, fanning the flames, whispered in her ear, “Want to know what it is?”

You Ruxu, captivated, “Yes.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Then take off my clothes.”

Zhou Tianzui: I have no redeeming qualities?
You Ruxu: Like what?
Zhou Tianzui: The kind that keep you in bed all day.
You Ruxu: …