TGSS - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Birthday

Whether she was happy or not was hard to tell, but when Chu He was ripped out of bed she was so startled she felt as if she were floating in midair. Liang Zhouyi had her arms around her waist, half holding and half pulling her up to stand, and she wobbled as if she were stepping on cotton.

"Get up. We're celebrating your birthday."

Chu He's breathing was unsteady. She scratched her head, truly unable to muster any temper when it came to Liang Zhouyi.

"Classmate Liang Zhouyi, I remember my birthday is tomorrow, right?"

These past two days, in order to shorten the handover period, Chu He had forced herself through several all-nighters, compressing all the offline handover work that needed to be done into just a few days so she could leave with Liang Zhouyi this Friday. Sleep-deprived, Chu He had thought she could finally catch up on sleep today, but that plan had fallen through.

Chu He opened her sore eyes to look at Liang Zhouyi and found that although Liang Zhouyi's face showed some fatigue, she seemed to be in a state of excitement.

"Look at what time it is now." Liang Zhouyi's unreadable gaze fell on the woman whose clothes were in disarray and who was still hazy with sleep, and she could not help licking the corner of her lips.

Upon hearing that, Chu He grabbed the watch on the bedside table and glanced at it. It was already four in the afternoon.

"Why didn't you wake me up for lunch?" Chu He immediately turned the accusation around, lamenting the missed lunch with heartfelt regret.

Liang Zhouyi did not take the bait. This cute, slightly annoyed look of Chu He's dispelled some of the gloom in her heart, and she laughed, "Because someone couldn't be woken up."

After saying that, Liang Zhouyi pushed Chu He toward the walk-in closet to change. A delicate square box tied with a red ribbon lay there quietly. Chu He glanced suspiciously at Liang Zhouyi beside her, then gave the ribbon a tug with her slender fingers; it slipped smoothly open.

Inside was a pure-white knitted dress. Chu He picked it up in surprise. The soft, snow-white fabric settled against her palm. She frowned and shook out the dress, and with a sidelong glance saw that the box also held other intimate apparel. Chu He's mind buzzed. This... was a little too thorough, wasn't it? She felt a strange flush of shame and used the dress to cover the small garments.

"What's wrong?" Liang Zhouyi glanced openly at the box. "Change. Didn't you say you never care about these things?"

Chu He was a little bewildered. She recalled what she had just seen, then looked again at Liang Zhouyi's calm, placid gaze and twitched the corner of her mouth, "This thing you're giving me... doesn't really match your taste, does it?"

It was a little too heart pounding and face reddening. She had never realized Liang Zhouyi liked such provocative styles.

"This is exactly my taste." Liang Zhouyi's eyes traveled down a few inches from Chu He's face, her smile suggestive.

In the past, Liang Zhouyi had mostly met her intimate advances with evasion and resistance, but now her gaze always held something Chu He could not quite read. Puzzled, Chu He also felt an inexplicable wariness. She gave a light cough and tried to push her out of the room.

But before she could act, Liang Zhouyi obediently closed the door.

Chu He frowned and began to change, feeling that Liang Zhouyi had been acting strangely lately, as if she had become... more aggressive. No, it was a sharpness without malice. If she had to describe it, it was better called invasiveness.

When she came out after changing, she was dressed from head to toe in what Liang Zhouyi had chosen. Liang Zhouyi held a pair of emerald jade earrings set in plain gold, the gold and green complementing each other perfectly.

Liang Zhouyi wore a gentle smile. As she moved close to Chu He she tilted her head up slightly, her gaze focused and a little fervent. She carefully stood on tiptoe to help Chu He put them on.

Chu He lowered her eyes slightly and actually tasted a hint of reverence in Liang Zhouyi's movements. She swallowed, her voice low and a little hoarse, "Who starts getting dressed up the day before their birthday? Is this the surprise you prepared for me?"

Liang Zhouyi gave her soft, pale earlobe a gentle pinch and withdrew her cool fingers before Chu He could protest. She smiled, "Part of it."

Chu He gave her a sidelong glance. Thick lashes cast a shadow beneath her eyelids, and even with light makeup that exquisitely beautiful face still showed its lush allure. A single look carried a breathtaking beauty.

Only after finishing the meal Liang Zhouyi had cooked did Chu He follow her downstairs. All the streetlights were on. The cold of many days seemed to have thawed a little today, and the air held some of the warmth left by the daytime sun. In the dim night, Chu He did not feel cold even with only a thin coat draped over her.

"Where are you taking me?" Chu He smiled teasingly. The air was full of the leisure of evening, and she was clearly in a very good mood.

Liang Zhouyi was somewhat silent. Today she wore a very plain black hoodie, and compared to Chu He in high heels and finery, she looked as plain as a recent graduate.

She took Chu He to a large amusement park. It was very far away, almost in the suburbs, so that Chu He, looking down at the view from the Ferris wheel, found it a little funny, "You brought me just to ride this?"

Liang Zhouyi sat beside her, her expression a little hazy, "I used to work a summer job here. At that time I stood under the blazing sun, sometimes even wearing a mascot costume, and every time I watched them play, I would often think that one day I would come back as a visitor, and bring someone I like with me."

After speaking, Liang Zhouyi nervously placed her hands on her knees, her clear eyes fixed intently on Chu He, as if even her slightest response was extremely important at this moment.

Chu He's breath caught. Half her body went numb with nervousness. She held her breath as she looked at the woman opposite her, whose posture was relaxed but whose gaze burned. Her blood ran hot all over, but she just evasively turned her head away as if she had not heard the words. In the cramped cabin there was no sound at all. Chu He was as anxious and restless as if awaiting some kind of verdict. Fortunately, Liang Zhouyi did not say anything she would be unable to answer.

Seeing Chu He so ill at ease, Liang Zhouyi's heart went hollow for an instant. She could not tell whether it was pain or relief at finally being able to make a decision after this last test. She quietly looked at the deep blue night sky without saying a word.

When the Ferris wheel slowly reached the highest point, it came to an abrupt stop. Chu He frowned, panicked for a moment.

"Chu He. Happy birthday."

Along with Liang Zhouyi's almost inaudible words, the night sky suddenly lit up. Colorful fireworks burst in the air. Chu He stood up and pressed against the glass window. The fleeting beauty scattered across the sky like a rain of flowers, and Chu He's face was made gorgeous by the firelight.

Liang Zhouyi did not look at the night sky, only at the fireworks reflected in Chu He's eyes. Watching the smile at the corner of her lips, she suddenly felt a little sad. She was like these dazzling fireworks, so stunning it took one's breath away yet impossible to hold, so brief she vanished in an instant. When the splendor faded, only a desolate emptiness remained in the heart.

"You prepared this?" Chu He was very excited. It was not that she had never been pursued before, but no matter how much money or time someone threw at her, no one had been able to pry open the defenses in her heart. It turned out it was just a matter of the person.

Liang Zhouyi gave a faint hum, her brows carrying a lingering tenderness, her voice betraying little emotion. Her hand clenched inside her sleeve. Chu He's eyes were too bright, and, as if possessed, Liang Zhouyi still wanted to try one last time. She quieted and asked her seriously, "Chu He, what are we to each other?"

"Is that question so important?" Chu He looked puzzled. "I said, no matter what you want to do, I will be with you. Why do you have to fixate on this?"

Her expression looked both evasive and faintly impatient. Chu He unconsciously bit her lip, smudging some of her lipstick. Her amber eyes seemed to cloud with a mist that made her hard to read.

"Alright, I understand." Liang Zhouyi's emotions were very stable. She even took a deep breath and could still manage a smile. Her fair, delicate face held a subtle strangeness, but Chu He was completely immersed in her own emotions and did not notice.

The subtle atmosphere only eased a little when they got home. Chu He hung up her coat. The long white dress accentuated her graceful figure even more beautifully, the curve of her long legs perfect, straight all the way to her slender ankles. Wearing fluffy slippers, Chu He turned to look at Liang Zhouyi.

She sighed and pulled the dazed person closer. Liang Zhouyi walked obediently to her side and suddenly remembered something and smiled, "I'm fine, I was just thinking I need to get the cake."

Liang Zhouyi took the cake she had made from the refrigerator and placed it in front of Chu He. The pink hand-painted cake looked very girlish, with a single heart-shaped candle. Liang Zhouyi got up and turned off the lights. The flickering candlelight softened Chu He, as if she had nothing to do with the usually imposing woman.

Chu He sat in the chair looking at the cake in front of her and burst out laughing, as if she found it childish, but she still closed her hands together as Liang Zhouyi wished and closed her eyes to make a wish.

Then let it be that Liang Zhouyi has a bright future ahead, with a brilliant tomorrow.

The dancing candlelight was blown out. Liang Zhouyi turned the lights back on. She laughed softly as she watched Chu He fiddle with the cake to take pictures.

"Here."

After busying herself for a while, Chu He looked up and found Liang Zhouyi holding a transparent glass. She did not know when she had gone to pour wine. The orange-yellow liquid swayed with the movement of Liang Zhouyi's wrist, like a translucent gem.

"What is this?" Chu He was a little surprised, as if she had not expected Liang Zhouyi to invite her to drink.

Liang Zhouyi lifted her chin and somewhat forcefully pressed the glass into Chu He's hand. She sat beside Chu He and gulped down a large mouthful. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, its spicy, stimulating taste making her want to cough, but she forcibly held it back.

Chu He's eyes grew hot for an instant. Liang Zhouyi would soon understand that what she felt now as liking might just be due to closeness and familiarity. There were many things that were actually more important than this kind of feeling. Liang Zhouyi should not limit herself to this.

Her lips touched the glass. Chu He took a sip of wine, then looked at Liang Zhouyi and clinked glasses with her, drinking the liquid in her cup in one gulp.

It was clearly not a strong wine, yet Chu He quickly felt a wave of dizziness, and then her limbs slowly went soft. The cup in her hand fell onto the table. Chu He's arm slid onto the table, her head resting on her hand. She seemed to sense something was wrong and wanted to shake her head. With her tolerance, she should not be a one drink lightweight no matter what. As if thinking of some possibility, a storm surged in her heart.

"Liang Zhouyi... what do you want to do?" Chu He's voice was halting with shock.

From where she looked, Chu He could see that Liang Zhouyi's face was covered in tears. When Liang Zhouyi leaned down close to her, a scalding teardrop even fell onto her face.

She bit the tip of her tongue hard, as if regaining a little strength, and tried to push herself up from the table, but the weakness made her wrist slip and her whole face hit the table.

Liang Zhouyi watched all of this with great indifference. She even took a sip of wine, crossing her legs, as if Chu He's disheveled state was very much to her satisfaction.

She reached out and dabbed a bit of cream from the cake, her fingertip sliding gently across Chu He's lips. The sweet, soft stuff smeared on Chu He's lips and brushed past the ridge of her teeth. She wanted to clench her teeth, but could only barely close them, unable to spare any extra strength. Fortunately, that finger soon withdrew.

Chu He had just breathed a sigh of relief when warm, soft breath fell on her face, and the cream at the corner of her lips was completely licked away by a tongue. She was so shocked it was as if several bombs had gone off in her head. Her pupils constricted, and she even forgot to breathe.

It was clearly a dense, sweet flavor, but Liang Zhouyi still tasted bitterness between Chu He's lips and teeth. She sucked those two lips until they completely lost their color before reluctantly letting go.

"You asked what I wanted to do. Now you know." Liang Zhouyi's delicate face was stained with desire and allure, and every gesture carried obsession and abandon.

Chu He seemed to come back to herself. Her consciousness was very clear, she just could not summon any strength. She was a little flustered, but still tried to keep her reason and persuade her, "Liang Zhouyi, calm down."

"I am too calm." Liang Zhouyi cupped her face, meeting Chu He's eyes. The fire in her eyes seemed about to set Chu He ablaze. "I know what I want."

Chu He's voice trembled a little, but she continued, "Liang Zhouyi, just as photography may have been the most important thing to you in the past, but now you feel my love is important, then in a few months or even a few years you will meet more people, you will go to a broader world, and then I won't be so important anymore. You're only falling into obsession now because I'm the only one by your side. But I shouldn't become your obstacle."

"Ha, you make it sound so noble. In the end you just want to abandon me now." Liang Zhouyi did not buy it. A trace of hatred even appeared in her eyes, very faint but extremely stubborn. "Chu He, what do you know? Can you stop always acting as if you understand me so well, hmm?"

Chu He froze, her heart aching a little at those words. She drew a sharp breath, until Liang Zhouyi seized her by the throat and pinned her to the sofa, and Chu He finally began to feel angry, "Liang Zhouyi, when I helped you, have you forgotten everything I did for you? How can you..."

Liang Zhouyi suddenly laughed, her face full of mockery. She lowered her voice close to Chu He's ear, "Since you wanted to help me, why help only halfway and then leave? Do you think you're a savior sent to rescue me? Have you ever thought that I don't need your so-called help at all!"

She had already grown accustomed to that kind of life, and could even accept it with calm numbness. It was her choice, and she did not feel pain or regret for it. She was willing to spend the rest of her life that way.

But Chu He, she had burst into her life with such momentum, so she was willing to retrieve her former self for Chu He. But now it seemed Chu He only intended to rescue and not to see it through. What kind of logic was that?

"I..." Pain seized Chu He's heart, and she felt as if she had been struck with a club. Her clear thoughts dissolved into chaos. She seemed to have been wrong, everything was wrong, absurdly wrong, and the worst part was that she did not even know when she had gone wrong. What had she actually brought to Liang Zhouyi, the help she had imagined, or harm?

She stubbornly refused to admit that love of hers, causing Liang Zhouyi so much pain, so what was the point of her staying in this world a little longer?

Liang Zhouyi's ink-dark eyes held an unreadable look. She smiled, her heavy gaze scraping over every part of Chu He, and she said softly, "It doesn't matter, I will forgive you..."

"No! Liang Zhouyi, you've misunderstood." Sweat beaded on Chu He's forehead. She had never been more clear-headed than at this moment. There had never been a moment when she thought more clearly. Chu He stared wide-eyed at Liang Zhouyi and said firmly, "I like you, I have always liked you. Not the liking between friends..."

"It's too late, I don't believe you."

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