Chapter 36: Heart Stirred

“Mm.” Rong Si held Cheng Jinzhi, lifting a hand to gently massage her temples.

The pressure of Cheng Jinzhi’s drunkenness seemed much relieved. She obediently burrowed deeper into Rong Si’s arms.

“Miss Rong, back to school or to Dongchuan Road?”

Cheng Jinzhi’s villa was on Dongchuan Road.

“East Dongchuan Road. I’ll request leave for her when I go take my exam tomorrow.” Rong Si said. Cheng Jinzhi still seemed uncomfortable, rubbing against Rong Si’s embrace twice. Her nose was red, her breathing slightly unsteady. Rong Si held her, smoothing the stray hairs from her forehead, her voice soft, as if afraid of waking her. “Let her rest too.”

Rong Si had glanced at Cheng Jinzhi’s schedule before and knew she had two classes tomorrow.

“Very well.” Watching Rong Si get in the car, Ah Wei felt reassured. This Miss Rong always looked like a thorough, dependable person. Compared to Miss Gao before, the boss’s taste had improved dramatically.

Arriving home, Ah Wei quickly got out and trotted around to open the door for Rong Si. Rong Si picked up Cheng Jinzhi in her arms and gently carried her out. “Is there any hangover medicine at home?”

“Yes.” Ah Wei said. “I’ll have the maid cook the boss a hangover soup.”

Rong Si looked at the night, carrying Cheng Jinzhi inside. “No need. Everyone’s about asleep at this hour.”

Rong Si carried Cheng Jinzhi to the great bed in the bedroom. Knowing she was uncomfortable, she wanted to undress her and give her a bath. She’d just pulled off Cheng Jinzhi’s pants when Cheng Jinzhi started acting “misbehaved,” very nimbly hooking her leg around Rong Si’s waist. Her calf rubbed restlessly against Rong Si’s waist. Her face flushed, her small mouth open, breathing out. Rong Si held Cheng Jinzhi’s upper body and slipped off her top, then slowly removed her black bra. The moment it came off, her snowy white chest sprang loose.

Whether truly drunk or not, Cheng Jinzhi hooked her leg around Rong Si’s waist and sat up halfway into her, her soft chest rubbing against Rong Si’s. Rong Si’s ears turned red; she could hear Cheng Jinzhi’s unbearable nasal sounds by her ear.

Once in the water, Cheng Jinzhi finally “quieted down” a little—though whenever Rong Si’s fingers touched her skin while washing her, she would emit soft whimpers, like a kitten in heat. Cheng Jinzhi’s skin really was beautiful, like solidified cream. That’s what that phrase meant, probably.

Skin like congealed cream, teeth like broken jade, apricot eyes and moth brows, cherry lips and peach cheeks.

When she wasn’t talking, she was like a little demon.

Cheng Jinzhi—clearly a demure, gentle name—yet someone had taken that name and made it alluring. When the Cheng family gave her that name, they’d probably hoped she’d be an obedient, sensible lady of virtue. Rong Si brushed aside this strand of Cheng Jinzhi’s hair. Her hand slid down. When it touched Cheng Jinzhi’s lips, her fingers paused.

Cheng Jinzhi’s lips were a bit hot. Probably because of the hangover soup Rong Si had just brewed a small bowl of.

Just then, Cheng Jinzhi extended a pink tongue, gently licking her finger—perhaps dreaming of something delicious; even the corners of her mouth curled up as she licked. Rong Si’s gaze deepened. She held the back of Cheng Jinzhi’s neck. Rong Si could feel her own heart… pounding…

Rong Si lifted Cheng Jinzhi from the water, dried her fair body, and carried her to bed. Skin against skin, Cheng Jinzhi’s body still slightly cool. Rong Si’s breathing grew heavier.

Cheng Jinzhi really was gorgeous. When she pressed down on her, when she moved above her, Rong Si had wanted… to flip this demon over… and enter her deeply… make her pant in her ear, even moan.

Rong Si’s fingers traced Cheng Jinzhi’s cheeks, her lips. Before Rong Si could lower her head, Cheng Jinzhi’s leg hooked up again.

Completely natural.

How many times had she done this with that woman?

By the water last time, during her two-second pause, Rong Si had wondered the same: if she went in, would it only prompt Cheng Jinzhi to cry out another’s name?

Rong Si still remembered—Cheng Jinzhi, crying beneath her, screaming another person’s name, crying so miserably for another person.

If the body was beyond reach, at least the heart had to be guarded. On this point, Rong Si was somewhat in awe of Cheng Jinzhi. She could make love to one person while thinking of another. To Rong Si, such a person was too “dangerous.” Rong Si wasn’t willing to make her own situation even “worse.”

This sleep, Cheng Jinzhi slept quite comfortably, warm and soft. Her brain stem didn’t hurt much either. She drowsily opened her eyes and found herself encircled in someone’s arms, the other pressed against her back. A familiar perfume—should be Rong Si. At the same time, the back of Cheng Jinzhi’s neck stiffened. No way… This reminded her of the day of her rebirth, when she’d also been drunk, and then with Rong Si…

Cheng Jinzhi cautiously slid a hand down to feel her body. Good, she was dressed, and no “unusual soreness.”

“Awake?” The other held her, speaking into her ear. She seemed to have just woken too, with a nasal tone.

“Ah… mm, awake.” Cheng Jinzhi’s ears reddened. Rong Si’s lips seemed to brush her ear.

“I’ll make you breakfast. You sleep a bit more.”

Cheng Jinzhi was indeed still sleepy—maybe from being so tired lately. “Mm, okay…”

She dozed a little more before Rong Si called her up to wash. After washing, she bit into half a fried egg, still dazed. Then she was enveloped in a soft embrace. Rong Si encircled her, feeding her congee.

“I’ll get you excused for the classes. You rest at home a little more.”

“You’re going to school?” Cheng Jinzhi leaned against Rong Si’s slender arm, looking at the time listlessly.

“Mm. I have an exam today.”

Ever since Cheng Jinzhi paid off the debt for her, Rong Si no longer fobbed her off with “mm, mm.” When in a good mood—like now—she’d tell her what she was doing. Checking the time again, Cheng Jinzhi hurriedly swallowed the congee. “You’re going to be late.”

“Being late for a bit is fine.”

“If you’re half an hour late, they won’t let you in.”

“Mm. finish your congee.”

Rong Si’s tone remained perfectly calm.

Cheng Jinzhi, holding Rong Si’s hand around the bowl, gulped down the last of the congee. Her throat was small, her cheeks puffed out. “Good luck on your exam!”

“Mm.” Rong Si unhurriedly pulled out a tissue to wipe Cheng Jinzhi’s mouth. “Review at home today. I’ll be back in the evening to cook dinner.”

“Great.” Cheng Jinzhi said. “Now hurry to your exam. Don’t waste time.”

Rong Si was so unhurried that Cheng Jinzhi felt more anxious than her. When Rong Si got in the car, Cheng Jinzhi still waved to her from the window. Rong Si’s reaction was as “cold” as usual—just a glance, a nod.

With a rare day off, Cheng Jinzhi leaned into the soft sofa and turned on the TV. Before long, she was asleep again. She slept until noon, when Ah Wei knocked to call her down for lunch.

Even when Rong Si wasn’t home, she’d instruct the chef on what to make for her, afraid she’d miss a meal.

“Hey? These dishes seem… more and more to my taste?” Cheng Jinzhi took a bite and felt the flavor was different from before—more refined.

“This dish.” Ah Wei checked his notes. “Mm-hm, this fish was specially bought by Miss Rong at the morning market. Very fresh.”

“You wouldn’t know when you’re not home, Boss. Every time Miss Rong cooks, she has the chefs watch. She has them adjust.”

“She’s that free?”

“Who told you not to be home?”

“…Ah Wei, you’ve learned to tease me along with DC now, have you?” Cheng Jinzhi raised an eyebrow, setting down her chopsticks.

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.” Ah Wei quickly pressed his palms together. “Me and my big mouth. Boss, you eat. I’ll wait outside. Call me if you need anything.”

Cheng Jinzhi ladled herself a full bowl of fish soup. Halfway through, she felt something was off. She remembered Rong Si’s preferences. God damn it! Was Rong Si raising her like a pig!?

The next day, Cheng Jinzhi went to class. As soon as the bell rang, Gou Yu and Xia You leaned in. Xia You got hands-on with Cheng Jinzhi, her tone ambiguous. “Your body feeling better?”

“Don’t touch.” Cheng Jinzhi swatted Xia You’s hand away.

Xia You blinked, “innocently” rubbing the back of her hand. “If I can’t touch, who can?”

“The Tibetan Mastiff.” Gou Yu, playing straight man to Xia You, winked. “Xia You, be careful—the Tibetan Mastiff is the most ‘protective of her food.'”

“You two want to die, right?” Cheng Jinzhi rolled her eyes.

“The Mastiff requested leave for you yesterday. We all know. Tsk tsk, young people, exercise restraint.”

“Mentioning that actually makes me feel a bit lost.” Cheng Jinzhi said.

Although she said it as a joke, after saying it, she actually felt a small pang of loss. Drunk as she’d been yesterday, Rong Si hadn’t taken advantage. It seemed Rong Si really wasn’t interested in her.

Gou Yu and Xia You exchanged a look. Finally Xia You spoke. “How long has it been since you two did… that?”

“Over twenty years.” Cheng Jinzhi said.

Indeed, over twenty years. After that, she and Rong Si had no more intersections—let alone mating.

“That is quite a while.” Xia You nodded, thinking it was a joke. “Does she have feelings for you?”

“Why don’t you ask if I have feelings for her?”

“How could you have feelings for her?” Xia You “horror”-faced, scanning Cheng Jinzhi top to bottom. “Do you not think you’ve been obvious enough?”