BSS - Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Xu Wei's eyes were closed, her breathing soft. She sat on Deng Chuan's waist, head lowered, kissing her with single-minded focus, as if to calm some turbulent emotion.

Deng Chuan sensed this. She obediently wrapped her arms around Xu Wei's back, tilting her face up to receive the kiss.

It was an unbearable summer night, yet Xu Wei's lips were cool, perhaps damp with her tears. Deng Chuan's tongue slid over them, and soon they grew wet and warm. Her hands followed, moving down to encircle Xu Wei's waist, and with a surge of strength, she lifted her up.

The feeling of weightlessness wasn't pleasant, but Xu Wei showed no alarm at being lifted. It seemed she had gradually and successfully calmed down. She cupped Deng Chuan's face and opened her eyes, gazing at the nose and lips that were just inches away, her fingers tracing lightly, almost imperceptibly, over the skin.

Beautiful, upturned corners of the eyes, which always seemed exceptionally focused when looking at someone. A nose bridge more defined than a typical girl's, one they had to be careful not to bump during kisses. And thin, moist lips, always warm, as if they could melt something.

As Xu Wei watched, a slow smile spread across her face. Deng Chuan's lips and tongue caught the curve of her smile, and she opened her eyes as well, looking back with a hazy gaze that could stir one's soul. Xu Wei raised a hand to cover her eyes. Deng Chuan propped herself up, and somewhere along the way, their dominant and submissive roles had reversed. By the time Xu Wei realized it, she was already lying down. Fine. She raised her arms and held the little friend's head. The apartment was quiet, with only the sound of their breathing in each other's ears.

This sofa. They were kissing on this sofa again. Deng Chuan's kissing technique was far more skilled than when she had first kissed her. Xu Wei cradled the back of her head, soothing her. But the little friend's breathing still grew ragged, like a tangled ball of yarn rolling aimlessly on the floor, waiting for someone to guide it. Getting impatient again. Still the same impatience. The corners of Xu Wei's lips curled up as she thought, she's still captivated by me.

Naturally, Xu Wei's subsequent response was one of immense enjoyment and satisfaction. She had always been proud, aware of her own charm and how to make someone utterly infatuated. Of course, only Deng Chuan was privy to this particular skill of hers.

Xu Wei raised a hand and pinched the little friend's burning hot ear. Then she pulled her closer.

The sweltering summer night returned. The bright white light left nothing hidden. Beads of sweat glistened on Deng Chuan's forehead, trickling down the bridge of her nose and dripping onto Xu Wei's face. She reached out and wiped it away for her. Xu Wei steadied her breathing and opened her eyes.

They looked at each other, and both of them smiled.

Deng Chuan smoothed the hair stuck to Xu Wei's face, her voice low and gentle. "You must be tired. I'll go run you a bath."

Xu Wei grabbed her hand and propped herself up, burrowing into her embrace to keep her from leaving. She wanted to talk with her a little longer, not wanting to face a tub of clear water alone. Even though a bath would relieve the heat, that wasn't what Xu Wei wanted. She found that she was also starting to like summer, to like cuddling after being drenched in sweat.

"Where did you go just now?" Her voice was also low and a little hoarse, brushing against Deng Chuan's ear like her breath.

"I went for a walk around the supermarket," Deng Chuan said. She remembered the bag of snacks and fruit she had left by the door and couldn't help but smile. What was she smiling about? She didn't know either.

Xu Wei asked the question for her. "What are you smiling at?" As her rationality returned, Xu Wei began to recall her earlier behavior and pinched Deng Chuan's cheek with a mix of shyness and annoyance. "I was waiting for you at home, and you had the leisure to go stroll through a supermarket."

Deng Chuan smiled even more brightly under her hand. "I was thinking that since I was out, I should bring something back for Teacher Xu, so I went to the supermarket to have a look."

"What did you buy?"

Deng Chuan answered truthfully, "Grapes, oranges, pears, and those chips you said were good last time. I forgot which flavor, though, so I bought a little bit of everything."

"Alright," Xu Wei said. She hooked an arm around Deng Chuan's neck, her voice as soft as her movement. "You're forgiven. Now carry me to the bath."

"And what are we doing after the bath?" Deng Chuan asked deliberately.

Xu Wei shot her a completely harmless glare. "Watching a movie from your cloud drive that isn't a horror film."

In the end, the two of them took a bath together, letting the cool, misty water wash everything clean and fresh. It was only when Xu Wei was getting dressed that Deng Chuan remembered an important question. Lying in the tub, she asked, "Did you eat dinner tonight?"

Xu Wei lowered her head to tie the belt of her robe, her voice very soft. "No."

The air instantly fell silent.

Deng Chuan stood up and stepped out of the bathtub. The water sloshed, making Xu Wei's heart tremble. She felt a rare sense of guilt and didn't quite dare to meet Deng Chuan's eyes.

"Sigh." After a long wait, a warm palm landed on her head, stroking it gently. The little friend had already quickly wrapped herself in her clothes. "I was going to dry Teacher Xu's hair. But since Teacher Xu wasn't a good girl and didn't eat dinner, now she'll have to dry her own hair."

Xu Wei felt a little disappointed but didn't let it show on her face. She just pursed her lips and hummed in acknowledgment, turning to get the hairdryer.

"What do you want to eat?" But Deng Chuan followed right behind her, leaning in and chattering nonstop. "Why didn't you tell me you hadn't eaten? And you still spent so much time with me." Her hand roamed naughtily onto Xu Wei's leg. "Are your legs weak? What if you fainted?"

Her tone was like she was coaxing a child, and it was relentless. It made Xu Wei's heart feel both soft and annoyed, but mostly embarrassed. She finally stopped walking and grabbed Deng Chuan's hand to still it. Deng Chuan waited patiently for her reply. After a long moment, she heard Xu Wei say, "I don't want to dry my hair alone."

"Hm?"

Xu Wei's voice was quiet but stubborn. "You dry it for me."

Deng Chuan was silent. She reached out and hugged her, nuzzling the back of her neck, letting Xu Wei's unique scent envelop her. Xu Wei didn't turn around. Her heart was suspended in mid-air by Deng Chuan's close breathing. She too remained silent, fully aware of what she had just said. It wasn't like her, but the words had come out anyway.

Deng Chuan's voice came with her breath, very light, just like the kiss she placed by her ear. "Sigh." Her voice, originally clear and bright, had softened from the steam in the bathroom.

"Weiwei," she said, "I like it when you're willful."

Deng Chuan dried Xu Wei's hair and then cooked her some plain noodles. All they had at home were simple dried noodles and eggs. The seasoning was just soy sauce and salt. But Xu Wei said it was delicious, so Deng Chuan believed that her cooking skills had genuinely improved after a year in the UK.

The two of them finally lay down in bed and turned off the lights. Xu Wei snuggled into Deng Chuan's arms, and they watched a movie together, something they hadn't done in a long time. Neither of them was really paying attention to the film's content. In the flickering light, they talked about other things: this apartment's lease was ending this month, Deng Chuan's resume, accommodations in Beijing, commuting, and meals. What to do about Zhou Liu and Juzi. They disclosed their savings to each other, and Deng Chuan handed over the entire stash she had saved up over the years to Xu Wei.

"I've given you all my wife-fund money," Deng Chuan whispered, nibbling on Xu Wei's ear.

Xu Wei hummed in response. "I accept."

A few days later, on Saturday, Lao Deng and Tang Lijuan both made a point to stay home from work so Deng Chuan could bring Xu Wei over for a meal. Lao Deng was open-minded and not rigid; once he had come to terms with things, he had let it go completely. Not only did he plan to cook himself, going to the market early in the morning to buy groceries, but he also tidied up the entire house from top to bottom.

Tang Lijuan, who loved beauty, spent the whole morning agonizing in front of the mirror over what to wear.

Around noon, Deng Chuan finally arrived with Xu Wei. When Tang Lijuan opened the door, she was so focused on taking the things from Deng Chuan's hands that all three of them were nervous. In her nervousness, Tang Lijuan didn't even get a good look at Xu Wei's face, simply ushering her to change into slippers and sit on the sofa to eat some fruit.

As soon as they entered, they heard Lao Deng on the phone. "Deng Chuan's girlfriend is coming over today… I won't be able to make it. If you guys catch any big fish, be sure to let me know. We have a guest at home, so it'll come in handy."

A smile involuntarily spread across Deng Chuan's lips.

During the meal, the TV in the living room was on, showing the midday news. Tang Lijuan, afraid the atmosphere would be awkward and that Xu Wei would feel uncomfortable, started making conversation based on the news. Unexpectedly, it opened up the conversation right away.

Xu Wei chatted with Lao Deng about the central bank's policies and recent industry regulations. Xu Wei had a knack for numbers, and her data-driven analysis offered many perspectives that Lao Deng found enlightening. Lao Deng liked smart people, and with Deng Chuan studying abroad in recent years, he rarely had the chance to discuss these things with her. As they talked, Lao Deng began to see Xu Wei as more than just his daughter's girlfriend; she was a friend worth knowing.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Deng Chuan remained silent, busying herself with peeling shrimp for them, not letting anyone else lift a finger. Lao Deng, Tang Lijuan, Xu Wei—everyone got a share. When only one was left on the plate, she gave it to Xu Wei.

Xu Wei's expression didn't change as she continued to listen intently to Lao Deng's enthusiastic discourse, but under the table, she discreetly touched Deng Chuan's leg. The two of them exchanged a quiet glance, a gentle warmth spreading across their faces.

Tang Lijuan saw it all. Xu Wei was gentle toward Deng Chuan, and Deng Chuan had learned to take care of others, seeming to have grown up by several years overnight. When they were together, you couldn't really see an age gap.

The family atmosphere was harmonious, and Tang Lijuan's gaze softened involuntarily. She stared at Xu Wei's face, and gradually, she couldn't look away. She hadn't looked closely when she first came in, but now she realized that Xu Wei was exceptionally beautiful. Her lips were rosy and full, her demeanor was graceful, and when she tucked her hair back with her slender fingers, she revealed an ear adorned with a delicate earring. It was an incredibly lovely sight.

Now this is what a girl should be like.

It wasn't until after the meal, when they were sitting on the sofa, that Tang Lijuan finally asked, "Little Xu, where did you buy these earrings?"

Deng Chuan's earlier worries seemed to have been unnecessary. Xu Wei handled herself perfectly. After winning over Lao Deng, she had effortlessly captured her mother's heart as well. Tang Lijuan had finally found someone at home with whom she could discuss makeup, outfits, bags, and necklaces. She even pulled Xu Wei into her room, asking for her opinion on how to style a new dress she had recently bought. She even said to Deng Chuan, who was trailing behind them, "Mom doesn't need you right now. Go clear the dishes from the table."

Deng Chuan grabbed Xu Wei's hand, trying to keep her. "I can give Mom my opinion too."

Tang Lijuan gave her no face. "I've never seen you give me any opinions."

Xu Wei smiled discreetly and gave Deng Chuan a reassuring look, signaling for her to be good and listen to her mother. Then she turned and followed Tang Lijuan into the room.

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