Chapter 21: World One【21】 Part 2

“I think… we could try being together, like a normal couple, and see how it goes?” Shang Siyu tentatively took a step forward.

Shang Siyu continued, “If, after three years, we’re still together, then we’ll hold a wedding, invite friends and family, and make a promise to be together for life. How about that?”

“I don’t demand you be responsible for only me, but while I’m alive, you can only be my partner, and only my spouse.”

“Okay.” Jing Ke agreed crisply. “Then from this moment on, you are my girlfriend.”

Seeing the slight upward curve of Shang Siyu’s lips, Jing Ke quickly added, “And I am also your girlfriend. I look forward to your guidance from now on.”

“Alright. I look forward to yours too.” Shang Siyu’s eyes curved like crescent moons. Her features, free of their usual coolness, appeared incredibly gentle.

“Girlfriend, may I kiss you?” Jing Ke asked with wide eyes, seeming to adapt to the shift in their status very quickly.

Jing Ke continued, “Data shows that engaging in a certain degree of intimate behavior after defining a relationship helps maintain a more stable and long-term bond. I want us to be stable and long-term.”

The direct attack stunned Shang Siyu for a moment. After a brief spell of shyness, a hint of anticipation rose in her eyes. “Okay, yes, you can kiss me.”

Jing Ke recalled certain pieces of knowledge she had stumbled upon while looking up information. She imitated the gesture, placing one hand on the back of Shang Siyu’s head, cradling it.

Noticing Shang Siyu looking at her somewhat nervously, Jing Ke covered her eyes with her other hand and experimentally pressed her lips to Shang Siyu’s full, red lips.

What was a kiss between humans supposed to be like?

Was it just simple contact between lips and lips? Or something more in-depth?

A lick, a gentle bite, a soft suction?

Jing Ke put every action she could think of into practice. After three minutes, she slowly pulled her head back and removed the hand covering Shang Siyu’s eyes.

“How was my performance? Are you satisfied with this kiss?” Jing Ke asked, her amber eyes fixed intensely on Shang Siyu.

Shang Siyu, who had kept her eyes closed the whole time, only reacted when she sensed the faint light. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Jing Ke’s slightly nervous expression and, for the first time, a blush coloring her cheeks.

“Sa-Satisfied.” Shang Siyu blinked, subconsciously swallowing.

It was just a kiss, why did it need a satisfaction rating? How was Jing Ke acting like a customer service rep asking for a good review?

Before Shang Siyu could continue, a knock came from outside the door.

“Little Yu, Little Jing, you’re not asleep yet, right? I’ve prepared some fruit for you.” Mother Shang’s voice followed closely from outside.

“No, we’re not asleep yet.” Shang Siyu answered instinctively, then realized the compromising position she and Jing Ke were in. Flustered, she hastily put some distance between them.

Rubbing her face, Shang Siyu tried hard to steady her expression before opening the door.

“Why is your face so red? Were you drinking at that gathering?” Mother Shang handed the fruit platter to Shang Siyu, pressing the back of her hand against her daughter’s cheek.

“Ah, I drank a little, just a little.” Shang Siyu leaned back slightly, trying to dodge her mother’s touch. “Mom, it’s getting late, you should sleep. If we want anything else to eat, we’ll get it from the kitchen ourselves.”

“Do you feel unwell now? Do you want some honey water?” Mother Shang asked.

“I’m fine. I really only drank a little. I just flush easily.” Shang Siyu coughed lightly, hoping to end the conversation quickly. “Jing Ke didn’t drink. Even if I were uncomfortable, she can take care of me. Mom, you go rest.”

“Auntie, rest assured, I’ll look after Little Yu,” Jing Ke chimed in.

Mother Shang couldn’t possibly guess what had just happened. She simply nodded. “Then I’ll leave Little Yu in your hands. Remember to sober up and go to sleep early.”

“Yes, Auntie, please rest assured,” Jing Ke responded swiftly.

Once the door was closed again, Shang Siyu let out a soft breath. Placing the fruit platter on the table, she touched her still-blushing face.

“Is my face very red?” Shang Siyu asked quietly.

The honest Jing Ke nodded. “A bit redder than usual. Your skin is fair, so it’s more noticeable.”

After speaking, she touched her own face and added solemnly, “My cheek temperature is also higher than usual. I should be blushing too. I read that this is a normal post-kiss reaction caused by an accelerated heartbeat…”

“Okay, I get it. Let’s eat fruit.” Shang Siyu had no desire to hear Jing Ke earnestly analyze why they were blushing. She directly stuffed a piece of cut fruit into Jing Ke’s mouth.

Jing Ke bit into the fruit, her cheeks puffing out slightly. “Okay, you eat too. This fruit is very sweet.”

After spending five minutes demolishing the fruit, Jing Ke and Shang Siyu brushed their teeth and washed up together. Close to ten o’clock, they turned off the light and lay down on the bed.

“Good night,” Shang Siyu said first, pulling the blanket up to her chin and lying flat on her back.

“No goodnight kiss?” Jing Ke asked with a hint of confusion, proactively turning on her side to look at Shang Siyu.

Shang Siyu was quiet for three seconds. She reached out, touched Jing Ke’s face, then cupped it.

Swiftly leaning over to plant a kiss on Jing Ke’s lips, Shang Siyu returned to her original position.

“Good night,” Shang Siyu said, her face slightly flushed.

“Good night,” Jing Ke closed her eyes, satisfied.

–

What was the difference before and after confirming a relationship?

If Shang Siyu were to answer that question, she would tell you: After confirming the relationship, Jing Ke became incredibly clingy.

Specifically, at regular intervals, Jing Ke would ask Shang Siyu, with a completely serious face, if she could kiss her.

And the kissing locations weren’t limited to lips. The cheek, forehead, earlobe, neck, collarbone—all were places Jing Ke would peck, then gently nibble.

Jing Ke acted like she had Skin Hunger. She loved physical contact with Shang Siyu, most often holding her hand and interlacing their fingers.

It was the same even in front of Mother Shang. Jing Ke simply didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘restraint’.

At first, Mother Shang didn’t pay much attention. In her eyes, Shang Siyu was still a child. Children being close with their friends, living and eating together, liking to hold hands—nothing wrong with that.

But on the night before they were due to leave, Mother Shang, who went for a walk every evening, came home earlier than usual because of the weather.

Opening the door, Mother Shang didn’t witness anything overly stimulating. She just saw Jing Ke hugging her daughter, her face buried in the crook of her daughter’s neck, nuzzling from side to side.

“Mom, you’re back from your walk?” Shang Siyu was the first to notice the figure by the entryway and spoke up.

Meeting her mother’s gaze, Shang Siyu’s body stiffened. Her already unsteady heart beat even faster.

Her mother’s look seemed a bit strange. Had she heard something?

“Hm, there was a little drizzle outside, so I came back early.” Mother Shang’s gaze was complex as she watched Jing Ke lift her head from the crook of her daughter’s neck.

“Auntie, did you get caught in the rain? Do you want to take a shower?” Jing Ke hadn’t noticed anything amiss. Slowly raising her head, she even smiled at Mother Shang.

Mother Shang forced a somewhat strained smile. “I saw the drizzle and came right back, so I didn’t get rained on.”

After a moment of silence, Mother Shang’s eyes fell on their hands, which were still interlaced.

“What were you two doing just now?” Mother Shang voiced the question. “Did something happen, or did you suddenly feel unwell?”

Jing Ke, showing not the slightest intention to hide anything, shook her head and prepared to answer truthfully: “No, I just thought Little Yu smelled very good…”

“Nothing happened. Jing Ke just wanted a hug.” Shang Siyu interrupted Jing Ke’s words.

It wasn’t that she feared her mother discovering her relationship with Jing Ke. It was simply that Jing Ke’s way of phrasing things was far too blunt. For the sake of whatever shred of image Jing Ke had left, she’d better not let her finish that sentence.

“I see,” Mother Shang said, seemingly having thought of something. Her expression returned to calm. “It’s windy tonight. Remember to close the windows properly when you sleep, so you don’t catch a cold.”

“Yes, Mom,” Shang Siyu responded.

“Yes, Auntie. I’ll check the windows before bed,” Jing Ke responded seriously, as if accepting a mission.

Mother Shang opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out. She simply nodded and then returned to her room.

Glancing at the utterly oblivious Jing Ke, Shang Siyu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

A girlfriend who was dependable and would never betray her was indeed great. It was just that occasionally, she was too straightforward and needed Shang Siyu to smooth things over in time.

“Did I say something wrong just now?” Innocence filled Jing Ke’s amber eyes. “Little Yu, why did you interrupt me?”

“Some overly intimate words are suitable to say only when it’s just the two of us. They’re not suitable… to be said in front of anyone else,” Shang Siyu carefully chose her words, unsure how to explain.

“Do you understand what I mean?” Shang Siyu looked at Jing Ke, hope in her eyes.

Jing Ke frowned in thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. “I think I understand. I’ll be careful from now on. In the future, I’ll only say those words to you.”

Shang Siyu had her doubts about Jing Ke’s so-called ‘understanding,’ but she didn’t know how to verify it. She could only choose to trust her for now.

They always moved together anyway. If Jing Ke got a little too ‘candid,’ she’d just have to patch things up then.

–

The next day, Mother Shang acted as if nothing had happened. When Jing Ke and Shang Siyu were getting ready to leave, she crammed a mother’s love into every corner of the car’s trunk and back seat. The amount even exceeded the gifts the two had brought when they arrived.

“Mom, there are only two of us. We can’t eat all this. Enough, enough, stop stuffing things in there.” Shang Siyu had lost count of how many times she’d said this.

“You have two people; I only have one. It’s even harder for me to finish alone at home.” Mother Shang displayed extraordinary fighting spirit, forcefully packing the items into the car and slamming the door shut.

“If you can’t finish it, share it with your friends and colleagues. Build good relationships with them,” Mother Shang said. “If work isn’t busy, come back and see me. If you’re busy, a phone call works too.”

“Alright, that’s enough. The roads might be congested today. Drive slowly.” Mother Shang’s actions were smooth and efficient, leaving no room for Shang Siyu or Jing Ke to refuse.

“We’re off then, Mom. Call me if anything happens,” Shang Siyu couldn’t win against her own mother and could only obey.

“Auntie, if Little Yu has any issues, you can call me too. My phone is on twenty-four hours a day,” Jing Ke promptly added.

Hearing this near-confession of their relationship, Shang Siyu felt an urge to facepalm.

Meeting her mother’s meaningful gaze, Shang Siyu could only maintain a smile and bid a polite farewell.

–

By the time they got home and put all the packages away, the last day of the holiday had passed. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the bid opening.