BSS - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Deng Chuan felt her heart give a sudden leap.

She squeezed Xu Wei's hand and asked in a low voice for her to repeat what she had just said.

Xu Wei smiled and turned her head away, feigning intransigence, but she couldn't help but soften. When she turned back, she was met with Deng Chuan's eyes, which were extremely close.

A secret flame burned in her beautiful eyes, a black flame. It was moist and tender, silently enveloping Xu Wei.

Even though they were sitting in the car, Xu Wei still felt hot. The tips of her ears were burning. High summer flew past the window. Staring into Deng Chuan's eyes, Xu Wei once again recalled the feeling of having so naturally expressed her love just moments before.

She simply felt a sense of peace. Life was like water, flowing gently. Deng Chuan sat beside her, quietly watching the bustling evening outside the window, half of her profile exceptionally clear. As a matter of course, Xu Wei had taken her hand.

In that moment, she had no hesitation or worries.

The Deng Chuan before her blinked.

That small movement made Xu Wei's heart grow exceptionally soft. They saw their own reflections in each other's eyes at the same time. As their gazes met, it was as if something was flowing between them, like a gentle evening breeze, like a flowing stream, like all the things in the world that could conquer this summer.

The air slowly began to burn, thick and swirling.

After looking at each other for a moment, Xu Wei leaned close to Deng Chuan's ear and lowered her voice even more. "I said, I love you." She pulled back a little, admiring Deng Chuan's blush, and put on an expression as if she thought Deng Chuan was overreacting. "What's wrong?"

Deng Chuan shook her head, her lips pressed together, having even forgotten to smile. She could only clearly feel the warm current surging in her chest and her pounding heart. This was the feeling of knowing she was loved by Xu Wei. Remember this feeling, she thought to herself earnestly.

At some point, the driver and Yang Jing had finished their conversation. Xu Wei and Deng Chuan fell silent as well, holding hands the entire way. The car's air conditioning was on full blast, but it was as if the warmth in their palms was their only summer.

After arriving at the airport, the three of them collected their tickets, checked their luggage, and went to the security checkpoint to line up.

A staff member at the security entrance was verifying their identities. Deng Chuan's bangs had grown long, hanging down and covering her eyes a little. The staff member, holding Deng Chuan's ID card, gestured for her to lift them to see her face.

Deng Chuan reached up and swept them aside, revealing her dark eyebrows and eyes. The movement was crisp and neat. The masked staff member was visibly taken aback for a moment before handing back the ID card and gesturing for her to proceed.

Deng Chuan fiddled with her bangs again, pushing the long strands to the side as she took her ID and walked forward.

Past security, there was a vending machine by the boarding gate. Yang Jing bought a bottle of mineral water, found a seat, and complained about how hot it was as she twisted it open for a drink, saying the walk had made her break out in a sweat.

Xu Wei asked her, "So why are we going to Chongqing at this time of year?"

Yang Jing's eyes widened. "Oh, right!" Then she asked, "Why are we?"

Xu Wei calmly took the hair tie from her wrist, gathered her hair into a ponytail, and answered nonchalantly, "It's fine. We'll just avoid outdoor attractions."

Yang Jing thought for a moment. "We should have gone to Sanya."

"We'll go another time," Xu Wei replied casually. After tying up her hair, she turned to look at Deng Chuan.

Deng Chuan was drinking coconut juice from a slender black can, which made her fingers look even paler. She took a few sips, her throat moving as she swallowed, then naturally offered the can to Xu Wei's lips.

Xu Wei shook her head, indicating she didn't want any.

She looked at Deng Chuan's bangs, which were messy from being pushed aside, and reached out to tidy them for her.

"Your hair has gotten long."

Yang Jing looked over as well. "You should let it grow a bit longer. You'd look good without bangs, too."

Xu Wei agreed, studying her closely for a moment while idly toying with the hair on Deng Chuan's forehead.

Deng Chuan wasn't flustered, letting them look at her openly.

Yang Jing watched Xu Wei's actions and joked, "Teacher Xu, we're in public. Could you please rein in your hooligan tendencies?"

Xu Wei raised an eyebrow and hooked Deng Chuan's chin with her fingertip. "Come on, give us a smile. Show her what a real hooligan looks like."

Deng Chuan gave Yang Jing a very sheepish smile.

Yang Jing rolled her eyes, speechless. "I'm going to file a complaint with your school," she said.

As the boarding time drew nearer, the crowd grew larger. When someone took the seat next to her, Xu Wei leaned closer to Deng Chuan. Much of the time, Xu Wei's physical gestures were subconscious. Realizing this, Deng Chuan's heart softened uncontrollably.

An announcement came over the speakers that their flight was now boarding. Yang Jing was the first to stand up and head toward the gate.

A stream of passengers from their flight surged forward. Deng Chuan quickened her pace, following behind Xu Wei and Yang Jing, intentionally or not blocking the path of those who were rushing ahead.

When Xu Wei stopped and turned around, she saw Deng Chuan standing behind her, smiling at her nonchalantly.

She smiled back and restrainedly touched the kid's wrist. Tied around Deng Chuan's wrist was the hair tie Xu Wei had used to tie up her hair after doing her makeup last time. She had been wearing it ever since.

After getting off the shuttle bus, they were on the vast, open tarmac. A wave of outdoor heat washed over them, instantly causing a thin layer of sweat to form.

A slight night breeze stirred through the muggy air. Deng Chuan walked behind Xu Wei, who was chatting intermittently with Yang Jing. Their voices drifted over on the wind.

The deep black sky reflected the dim yellow lights of the tarmac. People moved in twos and threes. Deng Chuan stepped on Xu Wei's shadow, vaguely recalling the countless times she had followed behind her just like this.

Thankfully, she had thought back then, time was like a flowing river, creating a distance between them, teaching her to be patient and to pursue. But in the end, time did not flow forever. A line from Woolf's poetry says that time is more like dewdrops, dripping from the eaves of the soul. Deng Chuan understood this impressionistic line; the day when dripping water wears away the stone was perhaps not far off, or perhaps it had already arrived.

Deng Chuan looked up and met Xu Wei's backward glance.

They followed the crowd up the boarding stairs, found their seats, and sat down. After the pre-flight procedures, the plane taxied down the runway and finally leaped into the sky.

The announcement indicated that the plane had reached a stable cruising altitude in the stratosphere, and the flight attendants began distributing yogurt and small snacks. Since it was past mealtime, no full meals were served.

"Thank you. I don't need any."

Xu Wei rarely smiled at strangers. She declined the drink offered by the flight attendant, took a sip of water from Deng Chuan's cup, and leaned on her shoulder to rest.

Outside the cabin window, it was pitch black. Xu Wei had only meant to lean on her and rest, but as she counted Deng Chuan's breaths, drowsiness gradually crept in, and she fell asleep without realizing it.

Xu Wei was jolted awake by the plane's landing. Yang Jing and Deng Chuan were watching a movie on a tablet—a very old musical. Seeing that Xu Wei was awake, Deng Chuan leaned over and spoke to her in a hushed voice, "You were sleeping so soundly."

Xu Wei was still a bit groggy from sleep. She took a couple of seconds to process Deng Chuan's words, then raised a hand to rub her eyes but stopped herself.

Seeing her expression, Deng Chuan helped wipe the corner of her eye. "We've arrived. You can get some proper rest at the hotel later."

"Mm," Xu Wei dodged Deng Chuan's hand. "Don't touch, you'll smudge my eye makeup."

"It's pretty," Deng Chuan coaxed. The movie was halfway through. Yang Jing, still wanting more, put away the tablet and said to Deng Chuan, "We'll finish it when we get back."

Deng Chuan agreed. The plane gradually came to a stop on the runway. An announcement reminded passengers to take their personal belongings. Xu Wei obediently stood up and let Deng Chuan check their things. They didn't have much carry-on luggage; Deng Chuan had a shoulder bag where most of their items were stored.

Outside the airport, Chongqing's brilliant nightscape was wrapped in a rolling heat wave, making the three of them feel the full force of summer almost immediately. The guesthouse they booked was near Jiefangbei. It was around ten at night now. By taking Line 3 and transferring to Line 2, if they hurried, they could still catch the last train on Line 2.

Even the last train on Line 2 was crowded. Xu Wei pushed Deng Chuan's hair to the side and looked up at her. "Are you hot?"

Deng Chuan looked at her without speaking and pressed her neck against Xu Wei's palm. She was sweating a lot, but she didn't look greasy; it was as if her skin was coated in a soft, glowing glaze. Xu Wei's palm became damp. She frowned and wiped it on Deng Chuan's clothes. "You're all sticky. You should go shower first when we get there."

Deng Chuan laughed. "Okay."

Yang Jing was already looking at what takeout to order. She very seriously wanted to discuss the possibility of ordering hot pot delivery with Xu Wei, but Xu Wei ignored her.

Due to Xu Wei's lack of cooperation, Yang Jing could only follow a guide and order a can't-go-wrong bowl of Wanza Mian (pea and minced meat noodles), a serving of Lao Ma Chaoshou (numbing-spicy wontons), a spicy cold salad, and two portions of ice jelly.

The three of them left the subway station and followed the navigation toward their guesthouse.

The large black fans of a roadside barbecue stall hummed, sending steam and fragrant smoke diffusing into the night air. Having slept on the plane, Xu Wei didn't feel mentally tired. She offered to carry Deng Chuan's bag, but Deng Chuan refused.

A tall streetlight stood on the street corner, making Deng Chuan's eyes look very bright. "I'm not tired," she said, while looking at the road ahead.

After many twists and turns, they arrived at the residential complex where the guesthouse was located. The owner was waiting for them at the entrance, helped them register for entry, gave them an access card, and even threw in two bags of hot pot base. "Have a great time!"

After thanking the owner, they walked into the complex and finally reached their place. Once inside, Yang Jing turned on the air conditioning and helped put the suitcases in the rooms. There were exactly three bedrooms. Xu Wei was checking the kitchen and utilities when she turned around and saw Deng Chuan looking at her with pleading eyes. She couldn't help but laugh. "You want to stay with me?"

Deng Chuan nodded immediately, and Xu Wei gave a nod in return. "Then move your things in yourself."

When Xu Wei entered the room, Deng Chuan had already unpacked her suitcase. Toiletries and various bottles and jars of sunscreen and skincare products were arranged on the bathroom counter, while chargers and electronics were placed by the bed. Xu Wei glanced around and asked in surprise, "You even brought a Kindle?"

Deng Chuan, who was gathering her clothes to take a shower, nodded blankly upon hearing the question.

"It's nothing. Go take your shower." Xu Wei also crouched down to unpack her things. Chargers and a tablet on the other nightstand, makeup and sunscreen on the bathroom counter... She felt a daze come over her. It was just a short trip, yet she had the illusion that they were starting a life together.

Thinking of the word 'life,' Xu Wei couldn't help but sigh softly.

Deng Chuan came out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair. It wasn't the first time Xu Wei had seen her in pajamas, but it was the first time not through a screen.

The soft cotton pajamas, with the collar slightly open, gave off the scent of shower gel, making her face look exceptionally young, like a little blue rabbit.

The little rabbit held a hairdryer and dried her hair.

By the time all three of them had showered, the takeout had arrived. Deng Chuan brought the food to the coffee table in the living room and cast the movie they had been watching on the plane onto the TV.

Xu Wei, wearing a nightdress and still steamy from her shower, sat down next to her and poured a glass of water for each of them.

Yang Jing opened the takeout containers one by one. She had ordered a variety of dishes, but not large portions. Since none of them minded sharing, they decided to eat directly from the containers to save trouble.

She was the first to try a numbing-spicy wonton, and her Cantonese genetic code was instantly activated. Without exaggeration, Yang Jing burst into tears, downed the glass of water Xu Wei had poured for her in one go, and asked for more.

Xu Wei was stunned for a moment. "No way. Is it really that dramatic?"

Not quite believing it, she followed Yang Jing's lead and tried one. Deng Chuan watched her expectantly, only to see Xu Wei's eyes turn red the very next second.

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