Water and Fire~Chapter 74.1: Young and Beautiful

 

Chapter 74.1: Young and Beautiful

A Porsche carrying Tan Shen appeared before Chu Qianmiao. The car's body shone in the moonlight, and Tan Shen, stepping out of the car, seemed to be shimmering as well.

Tan Shen looked very different from the last time he appeared in front of the barbecue restaurant. It was summer, and he was wearing only a white T-shirt, exuding a youthful air. Now, he seemed a completely different person, dressed in a suit that fitted him well and exuded a businesslike demeanor.

Qin Qianyu was momentarily unrecognizable, but he felt the man before him was exceptionally handsome. His appearance, height, voice, and demeanor perfectly qualified him as a suitor for Chu Qianmiao.

Qin Qianyu instantly let go of his fatherly fear.

It wasn't until Chu Qianmiao introduced him again, saying he had met this handsome young man before, that he suddenly remembered the boy he had glimpsed at the barbecue restaurant on a hot summer day. He was the handsome man in front of him.

Qin Qianyu uttered an "ouch" and said to Chu Qianmiao, "That's your boyfriend, right? I'm going back to play cards with them. Don't bother you."

Chu Qianmiao sighed and tried to explain, but Tan Shen got there first and called out, "Brother Qin, wait a minute." He ran to the car, pulled out a bottle of red wine, and handed it to Qin Qianyu. "Brother Qin, this is for you and everyone else to cheer you up. Thank you and everyone for taking care of Qianmiao. Please give everyone a thumbs-up and tell them I'll treat you all to dinner when you're free."

He finished his polite remarks thoroughly. Qin Qianyu accepted the wine, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Okay, brother, I won't refuse then." Before leaving, he winked at Chu Qianmiao and said, "Not bad."

Chu Qianmiao...

She watched Qin Qianyu take long strides that seemed to stretch three meters, trying his best to distance himself from them as quickly as possible, leaving her no time to explain.

She and Tan Shen were the only two people left in the open space. Tan Shen leaned against the car, a bit happy and a bit lazy, smiling at her without saying a word.

Chu Qianmiao asked him, "Didn't you just get off the plane? Why are you here all of a sudden?"

Tan Shen continued to smile, his features tinged with moonlight, his smile appearing especially bright.

"I missed you, wanted to see you, and it was hard not to see you, so I came." He expressed his longing and feelings directly, unabashedly.

Chu Qianmiao was touched, and stood face to face with him for a while, chatting. He leaned against the car, and she stood across from him. Tonight's moonlight was surprisingly fulfilling, shining like a spotlight, falling straight down, enveloping the car and the two people in the empty space.

Under the moonlight, Tan Shen told Chu Qianmiao that his department leader was leaving. He needed to finish the project he was working on quickly, so that he could have a chance to be promoted to department head after his leader left. That's why he's been so busy with his current projects and business trips lately that he hasn't had time to visit her.

Chu Qianmiao sensed how dedicated Tan Shen was. The feeling of gratitude that had once been thinning in her heart grew thicker.

After chatting for a while, Tan Shen asked, "Have you finished the project in Shanghai?"

Chu Qianmiao replied, "It's done."

"Then you won't have to travel to Shanghai anymore. You'll be in Beijing all the time," Tan Shen asked.

Chu Qianmiao said, "I don't think I'll be traveling much before Spring Festival. If I have a new project after Spring Festival, I'll have to go back."

Tan Shen looked at her lovingly and asked, "When will your department event end?"

Chu Qianmiao replied, "Tomorrow afternoon."

"Then I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon. Let's go to the movies tonight." Tan Shen's voice and eyes were filled with anticipation.

Chu Qianmiao felt a little reluctant, but still said, "I promised my childhood friend I'd help her resolve a renovation dispute tomorrow."

A hint of disappointment crossed Tan Shen's face. "After tomorrow, I won't be able to go for a while. I have to go on a business trip." But he immediately cheered up and said with a smile, "Then wait until I come back next time. Okay? I'll treat you to a movie then, okay?"

He asked "Okay" twice, and Chu Qianmiao's heart softened. The former young master of Shen University would never be so humble. His vocabulary was always "If I say yes, it's okay," never asking questions like "Is it okay?"

He has truly changed a lot.

With such a constantly improving person, Chu Qianmiao wanted to knock her head and ask herself why she was still only moved by him.

She met Tan Shen's pleading and expectant gaze, nodded, and said "Okay."

Tan Shen was delighted. He reached out, grasped her wrists, and led her towards him.

She was caught off guard by the pull, her footing unsteady, and she stumbled into his chest.

Suddenly, two fingers pressed against her chin, slightly cool, squeezing her firmly but not painfully.

Her chin was lifted. In her vision, Tan Shen was lowering his head and pressing down on her lips.

Her eyes widened, and when she realized what was happening, she pushed him away, but his lips had barely brushed hers. The subtle touch sent a shock through her mind.

He attacked her again.

She released his grip on her chin, her eyes wide with anger.

His waist was braced against the car, his upper body thrown back by her push. He laughed heartily as he leaned back, celebrating his successful sneak attack with his laughter. Even if she were to explode in anger later, he would still be laughing like a ghost beneath the peony flowers.

Chu Qianmiao was a little angry. He clearly hadn't taken her last words seriously. Last time, he'd attacked her face, and this time, her lips. She angrily wondered if he'd just drag her straight to the bed next time.

Chu Qianmiao sternly told Tan Shen, "If you ever act like this again, if you're so casual with me, we won't see each other again."

Her voice was cold and serious. Tan Shen's smile faded, a hint of loneliness and desolation emerging in his expression.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just want to kiss you so badly." He looked Chu Qianmiao in the eye and said, "I miss the feeling of your kiss when we were together. I miss it so much." He carefully took Chu Qianmiao's hand again, kneading it. Chu Qianmiao struggled to get away, but couldn't. He held her hand and said, "I was just thinking, let's just give it a go, just a kiss, just one, even if you slap me in the face." He looked into her eyes, a deep, indissoluble intensity in them. His voice was hoarse as he whispered, "Even just that one kiss would have saved my life."

His voice was so enchanting, and the moonlight tonight was so moving. For a brief moment, Chu Qianmiao's heartbeat quickened.

She came to her senses, pulled her hand away, and said to Tan Shen, "No matter what, I don't like you kissing me so readily. Maybe it's a technique you use to win over other girls: a domineering kiss, and they'll half-heartedly give in. But it doesn't work on me." She raised her palm to show him, "Next time you do that, I'll definitely slap you in the face."

Tan Shen smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, okay," and then apologized solemnly.

Then he patted the car body, motioning Chu Qianmiao to come over and sit next to him.

"Just watch the moon with me for five minutes, just five minutes. I'll be leaving after that." His pleading looked a little pitiful in the moonlight.

Chu Qianmiao sighed and leaned closer, keeping a half-foot distance between them.

Tan Shen slipped his arm around her, intending to put it on her shoulder. She glared at him, and he immediately withdrew his arm with a smile, pointing upwards instead.

"Look how round the moon is today, classmate! I'm telling you to keep an eye on me. Maybe Teacher Shen will turn into a werewolf while the moon is full, and then I'll bite your neck and suck your blood. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Chu Qianmiao: "..."

"Brother, sucking blood isn't something werewolves do. That's what vampires do. Thank you."

They leaned side by side against the front of the car, looking up at the moon and chatting.

Not far away, where the winding mountain road met the villa courtyard, a Mercedes-Benz sat in the shadows.

Ren Yan sat in the car, gazing at the beautiful couple in the courtyard's open space. His knuckles, gripping the steering wheel, paled in the moonlight.

He wondered why he had turned back.

He had almost driven down the mountain.

On the winding mountain road, the moonlight washed over him like water. For a moment, he thought, why not get an extra room in the villa courtyard? It wouldn't be a problem for him to stay there for the night.

For some reason, he turned the car around and headed back toward the top of the mountain.

He wasn't going fast, and a Porsche passed him. He watched the Porsche accelerate, revving up the mountain like a blast.

He stepped on the gas, speeding up too.

But when he reached the top, he couldn't tell if he was a step too late, or if returning to the top was completely unnecessary.

The person who got out of the Porsche was Tan Shen. He saw Qin Qianyu wisely leave, and saw Tan Shen chatting intimately with her.

He saw Tan Shen suddenly pull her in for a kiss. His grip on the steering wheel subconsciously tightened. He saw her irritated, but she was quickly soothed.

Then they leaned side by side against the Porsche, looking up at the moon and chatting.

He watched them, his grip on the steering wheel tightening and loosening, loosening and tightening again. Finally, he raised one corner of his mouth and smiled.

This was fine. Perhaps it was meant to be this way.

He started the engine and put the car into gear. Without turning on the lights, he turned the car around again in the darkness, floored the accelerator, and drove down the mountain.

He drove home without hesitation.

When he got home, he didn't turn on the lights. Tonight, the moonlight was as bright as a magic mirror, revealing the hidden secrets of one's heart.

He lit a cigarette, poured a glass of wine, and settled into the rocking chair by the window, his heart as calm as water. Accompanied by the moonlight, he quietly spent a sleepless night.