He dared not move, overwhelmed by a surge of unfamiliar and impulsive feelings that he struggled to contain. His mind was a whirlwind of excitement, erupting like a volcano, forgetting where he was or even to think, desiring only to grasp the delicate body in his arms and hold tight…
The tumultuous thoughts embarrassed him and left him unsure of what to do next.
Xue Ling, initially stunned by the fall, slowly realized she had plunged into Brother Yuan’s embrace, her cheek resting against his neck, her lips… had touched him.
With her above and him below, his body stiffened beneath her, his neck tensely coiled; she didn’t need to guess to know his reaction. Her face instantly flushed with embarrassment.
Oh, how mortifying!
What should she do now?!
She had accidentally fallen onto Brother Yuan and even kissed him!
Oh heavens! Such a romantically perfect first kiss, so sudden, so unexpected, left her clueless on how to proceed…
Neither dared to move, after the initial shock, they both maintained this accidental intimacy, silently savoring the awkward sweetness.
Time passed, and a faint sound of footsteps from the next room startled the “hopelessly entangled” pair back to reality!
Cheng’s eyes still burned with intensity. He took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and his voice came out hoarse, “…Are you alright?”
Blushing, Xue Ling bit her lower lip and murmured back, “…Yeah.”
She hurriedly scrambled up, flustered and nervous. Her hand slipped in her haste, and with a “yelp,” she tumbled back into Cheng’s arms!
“Umm…” Cheng grunted, feeling embarrassed as he sensed his body’s indiscretion. In a mix of shame and haste, he held her up, helped her to stand, then swiftly dashed out of the room.
Xue Ling, stunned, watched his hurried retreat and called out, “Brother Yuan!”
But Cheng had already rushed downstairs and into the bathroom, where the sound of running water soon filled the air.
Xue Ling, disregarding her embarrassment, followed him down. The bathroom door was firmly shut, only the sound of water running could be heard.
She waited, fretting, then finally called out, “Brother Yuan…”
His muffled response, mixed with the water, was unclear, but she sensed a change in his tone.
She pouted slightly, a tinge of disappointment welling up, making her heart ache.
Did he dislike her forwardness?
Truthfully, it wasn’t intentional.
She liked him, but she knew he hadn’t fully opened his heart to her yet. She wasn’t the type to initiate things, so couldn’t he have misunderstood her actions? His abrupt departure, without a word, was a clear sign of his displeasure.
Head bowed, she sighed softly.
In that era, rural courtships were scarce. For them, modern concepts of dating and cohabitation were scandalous. Growing up in the city, Xue Ling had seen classmates exchange secret love letters and gifts. Even holding hands was a cautious, private affair.
Her sudden embrace and unintended kiss must have seemed overly passionate, too forward for him…
No wonder he fled.
What should she do now?
How could she explain?
As she hesitated, Cheng’s voice came from behind the closed bathroom door, “Xue Ling, you go upstairs first; I’ll be up later.”
“…Okay! Sure!” She replied stiffly.
His tone seemed less angry.
Relieved, she decided to let the incident pass without further explanation. Confessing such a thing as a girl was too embarrassing!
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself and returned to her room to continue tidying up her clothes.
After a while, Cheng’s footsteps echoed downstairs.
Xue Ling wanted to rush out but hesitated, instead slowly folding clothes, listening intently, waiting for him to enter.
However, Cheng didn’t come in; he went straight to his room and soon silence returned.
Xue Ling’s heart felt bittersweet, the emotions indescribable. She continued her tasks, focusing on the messy bed.
It was much later when Cheng finally opened his door and approached her room.
But by then, Xue Ling had turned off the light, her room dark and silent.
He walked back, treading lightly, and returned to his room.
That night, Xue Ling tossed and turned, struggling to sleep.
She consoled herself, blaming the unfamiliar surroundings for her restlessness, yet knowing well why she couldn’t find peace.
“Sigh…” She exhaled softly, turning over once more.
Unable to sleep, she turned on the light and took out an English book from Xiao Jiaxue, immersing herself in it.
Initially distracted, the quiet around her gradually calmed her mind, and she focused on the book.
Suddenly, a gentle knock on her door startled her!
Cheng’s familiar, deep voice followed, “I can’t sleep well in new places, came out for a drink. Are you awake too? I saw your light off earlier.”
Xue Ling paused, hearing his concerned tone… it seemed he wasn’t blaming her.
With this realization, her heart felt lighter.
She grinned and replied, “I couldn’t sleep either, just reading a bit.”
Cheng’s voice was warm, “Don’t come out; the living room window hasn’t been fixed, and the night breeze is chilly. It’s past midnight, stop reading, try to get some sleep; we have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Okay, Brother Yuan, you should sleep too,” she quickly added.
He hummed softly, took his water, and returned to his room.
Xue Ling inhaled deeply, stretched, and mustered courage for herself before turning off the light and settling down to sleep.
This time, sleep came almost instantly, lasting until morning.
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