Chapter 57: New Year’s Kisses

Sang Ning hugged the person in her arms tightly, tilting her head to kiss Shen Tingwan’s lips tenderly and preciously.

The timely embrace was warm, and when the soft lips pressed over, it surprised Shen Tingwan even more. She lowered her head to meet them with her own lips.

It was the first time Sang Ning had tried being so proactive. After a few light kisses, her ear tips flushed red. She quietly held Shen Tingwan, gently stroking her back.

Shen Tingwan just smiled, sweetness filling her heart. Being coaxed like this relaxed her completely.

Sang Ning was still too embarrassed, thinking about the hotpot smell on her clothes. She didn’t hold on too long before releasing Shen Tingwan. “I’ll get you some water.”

With that, she headed to the kitchen with her head down.

Shen Tingwan pursed her lips and smiled. After the kiss, Sang Ning had turned serious again.

Sang Ning took off her outer coat, wearing a fitted thin sweater underneath. She found lemons and honey in the fridge, preparing to make a hangover remedy.

Shen Tingwan also took off her coat and slowly strolled toward the kitchen.

Sang Ning rolled up her sweater sleeves and stood by the island counter to wash the lemons. Lifting her eyes, she saw Shen Tingwan approaching in a wrap dress. Her gaze froze straight on her.

Shen Tingwan noticed that Sang Ning had been staring at her all evening. She smiled and asked, “Does it look good?”

Sang Ning’s breathing grew heavier as she stared and nodded. On the surface, she looked calm. She held the lemon in her hand and lowered her head to wash it, but her movements suddenly paused.

Shen Tingwan hugged her from behind.

They returned to an embrace. Sang Ning glanced back slightly and hummed distractedly, “Are you drunk?”

Shen Tingwan tightened her arms around Sang Ning’s waist from behind, leaning close to her right ear and whispering softly, “That wasn’t enough just now…”

Sang Ning understood the implication in her words. She momentarily lost her grip on the lemon, and it rolled into the sink, but she didn’t care anymore. Shen Tingwan’s nose tip rubbed against her own, and she offered her lips again.

Teasingly close yet not quite touching—the person she’d liked for years was doing this to her. Even if Sang Ning was reserved, she couldn’t hold back. She eagerly captured Shen Tingwan’s approaching lips, pecking at them one after another.

Shen Tingwan’s breathing was thrown into disarray by these messy, clumsy kisses. While returning them, she lifted her hand, her slender fingers cupping Sang Ning’s cheek.

Sang Ning turned her head back, closing her eyes to respond delicately.

After kissing for a bit, hugging from behind wasn’t convenient. Shen Tingwan lightly nipped her lip, and Sang Ning opened her eyes to meet Shen Tingwan’s gaze. Understanding dawned, and she turned around on her own.

Facing each other, they hugged tightly, shifting their noses aside as the kiss continued. This embrace made Sang Ning’s heart race even more. Their fitted clothes pressed close in the tight hold—softness rubbing against softness, stomachs against stomachs.

A faint alcoholic scent lingered. Sang Ning repeatedly sucked on her upper lip, kissing messily and stickily, greedily reluctant to part. She’d dreamed of this scene countless times.

Shen Tingwan’s arms hooked around her neck, one palm pressing the back of her head, offering her lips for Sang Ning to kiss. Sang Ning might have been shy, but she was enthusiastic and serious when kissing, not holding back at all. It set Shen Tingwan’s heart ablaze.

They kissed shallowly and deeply for a few minutes before Shen Tingwan nipped her lower lip.

Sang Ning pursed her lips and paused, opening her hazy eyes to look at her. She thought maybe she’d been too forward and kissed too long, and Shen Tingwan didn’t like it…

Shen Tingwan saw her eyes already softened beyond measure. Unable to stand being stared at like that, she rubbed the back of Sang Ning’s head with her palm, her fingertips brushing her scalp. As she kissed again, she sighed softly, “Open your mouth.”

Sang Ning’s face burned as she understood. When their lips met again, she parted hers, tentatively extending her tongue tip to tangle with Shen Tingwan’s soft one. The wine flavor in her mouth intensified instantly, making her even dizzier.

It was an impure kiss—deep and sweet, lips and tongues entwining, sucking on each other, delicate and lingering.

Sang Ning pressed her lips and tongue closer, wandering and lightly sucking, instinctively craving more sweetness.

Shen Tingwan hummed lowly in her throat. Sang Ning wasn’t as clumsy as she’d imagined. She rubbed Sang Ning’s nape and opened her lips to respond even more fervently.

Sang Ning could barely stand steadily, but fortunately, she had the island counter behind her. She tilted her head back slightly, soon kissing until she could hardly breathe. Even hugging Shen Tingwan made her breathing quicken, let alone this urgent deep kiss.

Shen Tingwan’s breathing was also disordered. She released the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, chuckling softly, “Breathe…”

Sang Ning touched her waist and hummed an “Mm,” her lips, tongue, and body all tingling numbly, her mind fuzzy. It wasn’t long before her lips heated up again.

Shen Tingwan hooked her chin, smiling as she kissed intermittently, occasionally glancing at her. She loved teasing her until her face turned red.

Sang Ning’s heart was captivated by that smile. She’d been in a state of lovesick daze all evening. She pulled Shen Tingwan’s waist closer, her face flushed with embarrassment as she kissed her again. Moments later, their breathing grew heavier, and the shallow kisses between their lips quickly deepened in tacit understanding…

They kissed for a long time that night.

When it ended, Sang Ning saw that Shen Tingwan’s lip makeup was completely smudged. Their lips were swollen and reddened from the sucking, the corners wet.

Shen Tingwan touched her cheek. “Did you miss me tonight?”

Sang Ning stared at her face and admitted honestly, “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan smiled and rubbed noses with her. “Me too.”

Fireworks boomed lively outside the window—it was past midnight. They were still holding each other. Sang Ning looked at Shen Tingwan and said first, “Happy New Year.”

Shen Tingwan stroked her hair and replied gently, “Happy New Year.”

Sang Ning’s smile bloomed instantly like flowers.

Shen Tingwan kissed her dimples as she smiled, and Sang Ning lightly kissed her cheek in return.

In previous New Year’s Eves, Shen Tingwan had only thought plainly that another year had passed. This year was different. She held the person in her arms tightly, enveloped in warm, comfortable happiness.

A light rain still fell outside, giving this year’s fireworks show a unique flavor.

Sang Ning naturally stayed over that night. She discovered that Shen Tingwan had prepared new bath supplies for her, along with a set of skincare products suited to her, and even matching couple’s pajamas and slippers—everything provided, as if they were already living together.

She asked Shen Tingwan, “When did you prepare these?”

“A few days ago.” Shen Tingwan pinched her cheek. “You can come over anytime. You know the code.”

It was late, so Sang Ning urged her to shower and rest.

Shen Tingwan dragged out her tone helplessly, “Fiiine—”

Shen Tingwan had drunk quite a bit that night, so Sang Ning was a little worried. She waited until she finished showering, then helped blow-dry her hair.

Shen Tingwan stared into the mirror and smiled. Though she was the senior, Sang Ning was even better at taking care of people—thoughtful to no end.

After blow-drying her hair, Sang Ning set down the dryer and saw Shen Tingwan smiling at her nonstop. “What’s up?”

Shen Tingwan gazed into her beautiful eyes and coquettishly whispered, “Let me be your junior instead.”

Sang Ning smiled quietly. Teasing herself again, but she loved hearing Shen Tingwan talk like that.

Shen Tingwan wanted to hug her again.

Sang Ning dodged back. “I haven’t showered yet.”

Shen Tingwan urged softly, “Go shower quick. Then let me hug you.”

Sang Ning’s face flushed with embarrassment. She admired how Shen Tingwan could say such embarrassing things without batting an eye. Despite her shyness, she nodded. “Mm, you rest first since you’re tired.”

Shen Tingwan smiled.

It was nearly one by the time Sang Ning finished washing up. Shen Tingwan had fallen asleep on the bed. She climbed in carefully, not wanting to wake her.

After lying down, Sang Ning reached to turn off the light. At that moment, Shen Tingwan rolled over and pulled her into her arms.

Sang Ning’s heart pounded like a drum. “…Not asleep yet?”

“Mm,” Shen Tingwan hummed sleepily, her voice thick with drowsiness. “Let me hold you.”

Sang Ning obediently snuggled closer to hold her. After a while, she asked again, “Lights off?”

Shen Tingwan: “Mm.”

In the pitch black, Sang Ning lay awake for a long time, still thinking about their deep kiss. She hadn’t expected Shen Tingwan to be so passionate—maybe because of the alcohol? The more she thought, the more restless she felt. She closed her eyes, leaned over to burrow into Shen Tingwan’s neck, unable to get enough of her scent.

Shen Tingwan wasn’t fully asleep either. Her neck itched from the rubbing, and she quietly drew in a breath, wanting her to behave.

Sang Ning stopped moving and just held her quietly.

*

New Year’s Day turned sunny. Sang Ning had the day off, so she went with Shen Tingwan to her grandmother’s house. Jiang Yunchun had been nagging them to come for a meal, but they hadn’t found the time before.

After some rest, they met again, and the old lady looked much more spirited. Sang Ning brought a pretty figurine as a small gift. “Grandma, Happy New Year.”

It was a favorite game character, and Jiang Yunchun laughed happily. “Grandma likes Little Ning the most.”

Sang Ning smiled brightly too.

Shen Tingwan suddenly interjected from the side, “How about she becomes your granddaughter?”

Jiang Yunchun’s eyes lit up. “That would be perfect.”

Sang Ning glanced at Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan smiled. “You unwilling?”

Jiang Yunchun chimed in, “Little Ning, take Wanwan as your god-sister.”

Sang Ning: “…”

Shen Tingwan: “…”

Once said, the old lady took it seriously. She winked at Shen Tingwan and suggested, “Do you think Little Ning would like Kaikai? They seem pretty compatible…”

“Teacher Jiang,” Shen Tingwan immediately cut her off, “She has a girlfriend already, so don’t worry about it.”

“Oh? Our Little Teacher Sang is dating?” Jiang Yunchun perked up with gossip interest. “What’s she like? Got a photo? Let Grandma see.”

Sang Ning was stumped by Jiang Yunchun’s barrage of questions. She looked to Shen Tingwan for help, but Shen Tingwan was chuckling with her head down.

“She’s shy.” Shen Tingwan helped out. Though Jiang Yunchun was an open-minded little old lady, it wasn’t good to spring it on her too suddenly.

Seeing this, Jiang Yunchun dropped it and smiled. “Let’s eat.”

After lunch, Sang Ning accompanied Jiang Yunchun as usual, playing with the camera in the courtyard and photographing Pi Pi basking in the sun.

Shen Tingwan glanced at Sang Ning several times. Sang Ning was enthusiastically chatting photography with Jiang Yunchun, not sparing her a look. Sure enough, once she got into cameras, she forgot all about her.

The phone on the coffee table rang.

Shen Tingwan walked to the living room, picked it up, and paused at the caller ID.

Sang Ning was still in the courtyard sunning herself.

“Sang Ning, phone call.”

Hearing Shen Tingwan’s reminder, Sang Ning realized and took the phone from her. It was Liu Yang calling. “Grandma, I’ll take this call first.”

After greeting Jiang Yunchun, Sang Ning stepped aside to answer. Liu Yang mentioned a few things, and they chatted for a few extra minutes.

When the call ended, Shen Tingwan saw the smile lingering on her face. “That happy, huh?”