Those words, "I'm not afraid," were like a switch—once flipped, there was no turning back.
A fire seemed to ignite in Su Qingyu's eyes, and the last shred of restraint melted away. Without another moment's hesitation, she lowered her head and seized Lin Weiwei's lips with precision.
This kiss was worlds apart from their first encounter at the psychiatric hospital—that kiss tinged with punishment and a sense of declaration.
It was still forceful, carrying Su Qingyu's inherent desire for control, yet it held a greater depth of tender exploration and unmistakable longing. Warm lips brushed against each other, gentle nibbles, a tongue tentatively tracing, then penetrating deeper, entangling. The faint, sweet scent of chestnut cake mingled with her uniquely crisp, cool aura, weaving together into a dizzying intoxication.
Lin Weiwei's mind went completely blank; every thought was scattered by this kiss. She passively received it, responding awkwardly, feeling as though all her strength had been drained from her body. She could only slump limply against the sofa, letting Su Qingyu guide her through this unfamiliar tide of passion.
At some point, Su Qingyu's hand had slipped around the back of her head; his fingertips tangled in her hair, gently massaging her scalp and sending shivers through her body. His other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
The air grew scorching hot; in the silent living room, only their ragged breathing and the suggestive sound of water remained.
She didn't know how long it had been, but just as Lin Weiwei felt she was about to suffocate, Su Qingyu slowly released her. Their foreheads touched, their noses brushed against each other, and their hot breaths mingled.
Lin Weiwei's face was flushed so deeply it seemed it might bleed; her lips were slightly swollen, glistening with moisture, her eyes hazy with lingering passion and a hint of bewilderment.
Su Qingyu looked at her like this, the darkness in his eyes deepening as his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He ran his finger gently over Lin Weiwei's swollen lips, his touch carrying an unprecedented tenderness and… possessiveness.
"Now," Su Qingyu's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with the languid satisfaction that comes after the act, "do you still think I was just 'cooperating'?"
Lin Weiwei's heart was pounding so hard it felt as though it might burst through her chest. She opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound; she could only blush and shake her head slightly.
Su Qingyu seemed pleased with her reaction and let out a low chuckle—a laugh that felt like a feather tickling the very tip of Lin Weiwei's heart.
"The cake," Su Qingyu finally stepped back slightly, though the hand wrapped around her waist remained in place. Her gaze drifted toward the refrigerator. "Do you want some?"
Only then did Lin Weiwei remember the chestnut cake she'd forgotten about. She nodded awkwardly. "Yes…"
Su Qingyu released her and stood up to fetch the cake. Lin Weiwei watched her slender figure walk toward the kitchen, feeling the heat on her cheeks still lingering. She raised her hand to touch her lips, which still tingled slightly, her mind in a whirl, yet strangely filled with an unfamiliar sweetness.
Su Qingyu returned with the cake, set it on the coffee table, and fetched two small spoons. She sat back down on the sofa, this time very close to Lin Weiwei—their legs were almost touching.
She scooped up a spoonful of cake, but instead of eating it herself, she naturally held it up to Lin Weiwei's lips.
Lin Weiwei paused, staring at the golden, tempting chestnut paste on the spoon before her, then glancing at Su Qingyu's eyes, which held an air of unquestionable certainty. Her ears flushed even redder. She hesitated for a moment, but then opened her mouth slightly and took the spoon into her mouth.
The sweet, sticky aroma of chestnuts melted in her mouth, tasting unbelievably good.
"Is it sweet?" Su Qingyu asked, his gaze still fixed on her face.
Lin Weiwei nodded, feeling the sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue all the way to her heart.
Only then did Su Qingyu use the same spoon to scoop a spoonful of cake into his own mouth. He savored it carefully, then nodded: "It is quite good."
And so they sat there, sharing the same piece of cake with the same spoon. The atmosphere was intimate and suggestive, as if that earlier kiss had been the most natural thing in the world, propelling their relationship into a whole new, unspoken phase.
After finishing the cake, Su Qingyu glanced at the time. "It's getting late. You should go get some rest."
"Mm-hmm." Lin Weiwei stood up, feeling as though her legs were a little unsteady.
She walked toward her room, paused at the doorway, and mustered the courage to turn back and look at Su Qingyu, who was still sitting on the sofa. Su Qingyu was looking at her too. In the lamplight, her gaze was no longer cold, but held a soft, warm glow.
"Good night," Lin Weiwei said softly.
The corners of Su Qingyu's mouth turned up slightly. "Good night, Weiwei."
That single "Weiwei" was spoken with more tenderness and affection than ever before.
Lin Weiwei fled into her room as if escaping, shut the door, and leaned her back against it, her heart still pounding wildly. She raised her hand to cover her flushed cheeks, her mind replaying the kiss and the moment they shared the cake over and over.
Was she afraid? It seemed she really wasn't anymore.
Was she confused? A little.
But more than anything, she felt a sense of settled certainty and… a secret joy.
She knew that from this moment on, the relationship between her and Su Qingyu could never return to a simple "partnership" or "alliance."
That boundary had been completely crossed.
And the night outside the window seemed to grow gentle and endless, as if in response to this quietly blossoming affection.