Chapter 85
On New Year’s Eve, Wen Yan took Mi Tang and Jin Zijin back to the old family estate.
By the time the car slowly pulled into the Jin family manor, night had already fallen completely. The streetlamps along the road glowed with warm yellow light, and strings of red lanterns hung on both sides, swaying gently in the breeze, bright with holiday cheer.
Wen Yan and Jin Zijin had both changed into new clothes—the New Year “battle robes” Liang Auntie had prepared for them earlier.
They were the same soft, bright red: understated, but unmistakably auspicious. A tiny embroidered horse was sewn onto the chest of each garment, the stitching dense and exquisite, clearly made with great care.
Wen Yan lowered her head and touched the embroidery over her chest, her fingertips brushing lightly over the soft yarn. Warmth spread through her heart.
She had rarely worn such thoughtfully prepared new clothes in all her life; even more rarely had she had the chance to sit peacefully in a place that truly deserved to be called home and spend a complete New Year there.
Jin Zijin turned to look at her, tenderness filling her eyes. She reached out and gently took Wen Yan’s hand, interlacing their fingers. “Nervous?”
Wen Yan shook her head, her eyes curving. “Going home. Why would I be nervous?”
According to Jin Zijin’s earlier description, Wen Yan had thought the Jin family would be bustling and noisy on New Year’s Eve, with the house packed full of guests.
But the moment she opened the door, she realized it was nothing like she had imagined.
The spacious old residence was lit with warm lights; the underfloor heating was turned up high, and the air carried the scent of food and a faint hint of tea.
No extra relatives were there. No polite socializing either. Only Dad, Mom, and Grandma were waiting for them at home.
Simple, yet safe and warm.
Probably because of the last time that great-aunt’s branch had gone on and on, and because Wen Yan liked quiet, they had arranged it this way.
A wave of happiness—of being taken seriously—rose in her heart.
The moment Zhang Lijun saw them enter, she smiled and hurried over. Her gaze fell on the red sweaters they were wearing, and her brows and eyes softened. “So pretty. Liang Auntie really is talented. Our Zijin and Yanyan look especially festive in them.”
Then she noticed the Mi Tang Wen Yan was holding and immediately teased, “Oh? So this is my granddaughter, Mi Tang? Look at that little tiger face; how adorable.”
Mi Tang was also dressed in a tiny red New Year outfit today, with an even more delicate little bow at her neck. Held in Wen Yan’s arms, she looked around with bright, round eyes and showed no fear of strangers at all.
Zhang Lijun loved animals, but since she was always on the move, she couldn’t keep one herself; so she asked tentatively, “Can I touch her?”
“Of course,” Wen Yan said.
Zhang Lijun extended a fingertip and tapped Mi Tang’s head, drawing a string of meows from the cat.
Jin Linglong came over at that moment and stood beside Zhang Lijun, looking at the cat in Wen Yan’s arms with a gentle smile. “She’s pretty obedient. No wonder Zijin wanted to raise her.”
After praising her, Jin Linglong was very careful not to touch her. Instead, he called to Wen Yan and the others, “Come sit down; dinner will be ready soon.”
Wen Yan smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mom and Dad.”
Wen Yan and Jin Zijin carried Mi Tang and walked inside.
Grandma was sitting on the sofa. The moment she saw Wen Yan, her smile spread so wide it nearly disappeared. She waved her over. “Yanyan, come here; let Grandma take a good look at you.”
Wen Yan obediently walked over with Mi Tang in her arms and sat beside Grandma, who took her hand gently. The old woman’s palm was rough but warm, slowly soothing the softest part of Wen Yan’s heart.
She asked whether Wen Yan had been eating and sleeping well lately, why she seemed a little thinner, and worriedly wondered if she had been too busy.
Wen Yan said it was fine; the end of the year was always like this.
The old lady held her hand and sighed. “You’ve worked hard, child.”
Just a few simple words. No questions about Wen Yan’s unpleasant matters, only reminders to eat properly.
At the end, she patted Mi Tang and said this little thing was her great-granddaughter now, and oh, what a festive-looking child she was.
“Come here, let Great-Grandma hold you.”
Wen Yan naturally passed Mi Tang over. Mi Tang was much bolder now and no longer afraid of people. She curled up in Grandma’s arms and rolled onto her back, meowing sweetly.
——————
After the family chatted for a while, the New Year’s Eve dinner began.
After the meal, Jin Linglong cleared the table, and the family gathered in the living room for a group photo.
Wen Yan was led by the hand by Jin Zijin and stood beside the elders; the red sweater she wore made her look especially gentle.
Grandma sat in the center, Zhang Lijun and Jin Linglong stood on either side, and Jin Zijin stayed close to Wen Yan, one arm lightly around her waist.
Mi Tang was held in Grandma’s arms, tucked there obediently, her round eyes fixed on the camera.
“Smile,” someone said.
Click. The camera froze that calm, warm moment in time.
In the photo, everyone wore a genuine smile, all of them shining with the joy of reunion.
Wen Yan looked at herself in the frame and found her lips curving higher without meaning to.
So this was what it felt like to be surrounded by love; even smiling came so easily.
After the New Year’s Eve meal came the tradition of staying up past midnight.
Zhang Lijun enthusiastically suggested playing mahjong. Grandma immediately agreed with a smile, and Jin Zijin held Wen Yan’s hand and sat down with her.
There were just enough people for one table: Grandma, Zhang Lijun, Jin Zijin, and Wen Yan.
Jin Linglong pulled up a chair and sat steadily beside Zhang Lijun, quietly keeping her company. Every so often he reached out to straighten her tiles, his gaze gentle beyond words.
The mahjong tiles rattled across the table with crisp, lively sounds. The television was showing the Spring Festival Gala, and the host’s voice, the skit actors’ laughter, and the singing all mingled together. The rich New Year atmosphere was wrapped in warmth, filling the entire living room.
Mi Tang was the best at choosing where to settle. She jumped down from Grandma’s arms and, in a few quick steps, climbed onto Jin Zijin’s lap. Curling into a fluffy little ball, she would occasionally lift her head and meow twice, her voice soft and sweet as if she were joining in the fun.
Jin Zijin lowered her head to stroke the cat’s head, her mouth curved and her eyes full of indulgence.
Wen Yan sat at the mahjong table, her fingers lightly touching the tiles, but she didn’t have the slightest competitive spirit.
She didn’t often play mahjong to begin with, and with everyone in the room being the people she cared about most, her mind had drifted far away. All she could think about was the rare peace and stability in front of her.
After three rounds, the scene became especially amusing.
Wen Yan didn’t win a single hand; she lost cleanly to all three others.
Grandma’s eyes narrowed into happy slits as she pointed at Wen Yan, her tone full of affection. “Our Yanyan is clearly letting the old folks win on purpose. So good.”
Zhang Lijun was also laughing. She pushed her tiles forward and said cheerfully, “This child Wen Yan, she’s just kindhearted.”
Jin Zijin lowered her head to look at the cat in her arms, then at Wen Yan, who wore an innocent expression. A faint smile was hidden in her eyes, but she didn’t expose her.
No one at the table cared who won or lost. They only wanted the noise and the happiness.
Time passed bit by bit, and at last midnight drew near.
The television began its countdown; everyone stopped what they were doing and counted softly along with the screen.
“Three—two—one—”
“Happy New Year!”
The manor was out in the suburbs. At the very moment the bells rang out, fireworks rose faintly outside the window. Brilliant bursts of light reflected on the glass, flashing again and again; gentle, yet dazzling.
“Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year, and good health!”
“May everything go smoothly in the new year!”
The family exchanged New Year greetings, their faces full of laughter.
Grandma smiled so hard her mouth would not close. She took several red envelopes she had prepared long ago from her pocket and handed them out one by one.
Thick stacks. Heavy in the hand. Anyone could tell they were packed full.
“Here, New Year money. May my children be safe and sound, and may everything go smoothly.”
Zhang Lijun and Jin Linglong accepted them with smiles. Jin Zijin took Wen Yan’s hand, and the two of them bent down together to receive theirs.
Wen Yan held the thick red envelope in both hands, her fingertips slightly warm. Her heart was soft and glowing; in all her life, this was the first time she had received New Year money so formally, with such obvious love behind it.
Even sweeter, Grandma had actually prepared a tiny red envelope for Mi Tang too, placing it gently on the table in a red pouch.
As if she understood, Mi Tang immediately jumped down from Jin Zijin’s lap, walked to Grandma’s feet, and rubbed her head lightly against the old woman’s trouser leg, meowing sweetly. The sound was soft enough to melt into water.
Grandma smiled until her eyes almost disappeared, reaching out to tap the cat’s little head. “You little clever thing; you’re quite good at acting cute.”
“Oh my, no wonder you’re Grandma’s great-granddaughter. Just as likable as your moms.”
As she spoke, the old woman bent down carefully and took Mi Tang into her arms, gently stroking her soft fur.
Mi Tang lay obediently in Grandma’s arms, eyes half-closed, dozing off. She looked as well-behaved as could be.
The family laughed and chatted for a while longer. When they saw that it was getting late, they dispersed and returned to their own villas on the estate to rest.
The road back was quiet, the streetlights soft.
Jin Zijin held Wen Yan’s hand as they walked along the path. Then she suddenly reached out and lightly poked Wen Yan’s side, her tone carrying a little teasing mischief.
“Oh, someone here is really something. Lost three houses in one night and still managed to make the elders so happy.”
Wen Yan trembled slightly at the poke, her earlobes turning faintly hot. She pressed her lips together and smiled softly, the corners of her eyes curving with warmth. “No way. I really just don’t know how to play.”
Jin Zijin snorted three times in a row, the sound full of victorious amusement, yet still carrying unspoken indulgence. “Hmph, hmph, hmph. I don’t buy it.”
Wen Yan didn’t argue. She simply tightened her grip on Jin Zijin’s hand and walked on slowly with her.
——————
Back at the villa, after washing up, the two of them sat side by side on the bed.
Only a warm bedside lamp was on in the room; the light was soft, wrapping both their outlines in tenderness.
Outside, fireworks occasionally flashed, leaving a brief burst of brilliance.
Leaning against the headboard, Jin Zijin reached out and hooked an arm lightly around Wen Yan’s neck, drawing her a little closer. Her eyes held a shallow smile, and her voice was low, carrying a teasing softness.
“We’re staying up for New Year’s Eve, so we can’t sleep all night.”
“Why don’t we find something to pass the time?”
Wen Yan looked at her; her gaze lingered on the corners of Jin Zijin’s eyes, on her gentle lips, then sank into the eyes that held only her reflection.
Her eyes darkened.
Ever since the incident with Lin Weiwei, Wen Yan’s nerves had been stretched tight.
Even though the two of them saw each other every day, slept in each other’s arms every night, and passed one peaceful night after another, neither of them had felt any desire to do anything intimate.
Because the moment they got close, her mind would flash to all those aggravating matters, all those to-do items, all those unresolved things.
But now that everything had finally settled, the string in Wen Yan’s mind had loosened completely.
Lying in the warm blankets now, with the occasional distant crackle of fireworks outside and the noise of the new year all around them, the room only felt calmer by contrast.
The warm yellow light from the bedside lamp spread softly over them, wrapping the two of them in tenderness and making one’s thoughts sway.
Wen Yan turned to look at the person beside her.
Jin Zijin was looking at her too.
The woman’s eyes were bright, filled with the warm glow of the lamp and with Wen Yan’s complete reflection.
Nothing needed to be said; everything had already been said.
Her gaze was so soft it seemed to drip water, like a pool of spring rain waiting for someone to leap in.
Something that had been suppressed in Wen Yan for too long suddenly caught fire.
She reached out, cupped the back of Jin Zijin’s neck, and pulled her into her arms.
When the kiss fell, another firework burst outside the window.
With a boom, light and shadow slipped through the crack in the curtain, flashing over the two of them in quick succession, bright and dim, like someone secretly watching.
Wen Yan heard nothing and saw nothing.
In her eyes there was only Jin Zijin’s trembling lashes; in her nose, only the clean scent of citrus on her; in her mouth, only her soft, warm lips.
She kissed her hard.
Very hard, even fierce, with a strong sense of possession.
Her tongue pressed through her lips and teeth, swept across the roof of her mouth, and tangled with hers.
Jin Zijin was kissed until she could barely breathe, lifting a hand to hit Wen Yan’s shoulder as muffled sounds escaped her.
But Wen Yan refused to let go; instead she held her tighter, kissed deeper, as if she meant to press every feeling she had built up over these days into this single kiss.
Jin Zijin went completely weak.
Very soon her breathing went ragged, her chest rising and falling sharply, tiny whimpers slipping from her throat.
Her whole body was hot, soft beyond words, like a pool of spring water melted down by heat, left to be stirred at will.
Wen Yan pulled back slightly and stared at her face.
Jin Zijin’s lips were kissed swollen and wet, the corners of her eyes faintly red, her gaze hazy.
She panted and looked up at Wen Yan, her expression soft and burning, like a silent invitation.
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed her again.
This time it was her chin, her earlobe, the side of her neck. With every kiss she landed, Jin Zijin trembled slightly, soft little hums spilling from her throat like a cat’s mewl.
In her panic, Jin Zijin grabbed Wen Yan’s hand and guided it downward, slipping it beneath her sweater.
Wen Yan’s fingertips touched a patch of smooth, soft skin.
Starting from her waist, she kneaded upward inch by inch.
Jin Zijin’s skin was burning hot, like warm jade roasted over fire; slick, soft, and smooth.
Wen Yan’s palm pressed along her waistline, feeling the subtle ripples each tremor brought.
Jin Zijin shivered lightly in her arms, the sounds escaping her throat growing more urgent. Her whole body was burning.
Kisses were no longer enough.
Not nearly enough.
Jin Zijin held her hand and stubbornly pulled it farther down. Wen Yan followed along, her fingertips sinking into that wet, soft heat.
The sensation was slick and searing.
Wen Yan’s pupils shook slightly.
She lowered her head, gave Jin Zijin’s lips a heavy suck, and then reached in.
Jin Zijin’s whole body went taut.
She tipped her head back, a soft cry slipping from her throat, her voice tender and husky, the end of it still trembling.
Wen Yan lowered her head and sealed it back inside, swallowing every sound into herself.
With one arm around Jin Zijin’s shoulders, Wen Yan held her firmly in her embrace; her other hand did not stop.
She kissed Jin Zijin’s face, licked at the furrow between her brows, then pried open her bitten lips and went deeper.
With each motion, Jin Zijin shuddered and a muffled sound escaped her.
“Feels good?” Wen Yan asked against her ear, her voice low and rough.
Jin Zijin nodded desperately, unable to speak.
The wave came fast and fierce.
Jin Zijin was completely soaked, shaking uncontrollably; at the final peak she tightened all at once, then suddenly went slack and collapsed into Wen Yan’s arms.
Panting hard, her forehead beaded with sweat, her face flushed red and her eyes a little unfocused, she still chased Wen Yan’s lips in a flustered need for more kisses.
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed her.
Softly, one kiss after another, as though soothing a frightened little animal.
She kissed the corner of her mouth, the tip of her nose, her eyelids, and the damp strands of hair stuck to her forehead by sweat.
Only when her breathing finally evened out did Wen Yan pull back a little and pat her waist. Her voice was low. “Sit up a bit and take off your sweater.”
Jin Zijin obediently propped herself up and raised her arms.
Wen Yan caught the hem of the sweater and lifted it. Jin Zijin shrank into her arms, but Wen Yan pressed her down.
“Don’t move.”
Wen Yan simply looked at her.
Warm air brushed over Jin Zijin’s bare skin; she flinched slightly, but didn’t hide anymore, only looked quietly at Wen Yan.
Her eyes glistened with moisture, full of dependence, like a cat waiting for its owner’s affection.
Wen Yan’s gaze slid downward from her face.
Collarbone, shoulders, chest, waistline. Every inch of skin was faintly pink, the color of being lit up.
Her chest rose and fell gently, and there was still a trace of sweat in the hollow of her collarbone, sparkling under the light.
Wen Yan reached out, brushed that bit of sweat with her fingertip, then brought the finger to her lips and licked it lightly.
Jin Zijin’s face turned bright red at once.
“What are you doing…” Her voice was soft and embarrassed; she raised a hand to swat at her, only for Wen Yan to catch her wrist and pin it at her side.
Wen Yan leaned down and kissed her collarbone.
Then lower.
Inch by inch, one kiss after another.
Jin Zijin’s breathing became uneven again, her chest rising and falling heavily, soft hums spilling from her throat.
She lifted her hands to hold Wen Yan’s head, fingers sliding into her hair and lightly scratching.
When Wen Yan kissed a certain spot, Jin Zijin shuddered all over and clutched her head tightly.
“Here?” Wen Yan lifted her head and looked at her.
Jin Zijin bit her lip and turned her face away, the tips of her ears red enough to drip blood.
Wen Yan curved her lips and lowered her head again.
She took it in, suckled, and teased with the tip of her tongue.
Jin Zijin was shaking all over; the sounds escaping her throat were already disordered, like crying and laughing at once.
Only after she had had her fill of kissing did Wen Yan finally look up.
She reached out and gave Jin Zijin’s butt a light pat.
“Lie down.”
Jin Zijin obediently turned over and lay on the pillow, her face buried in the soft cotton.
Her back rose and fell faintly; the curve of her shoulder blades was stunning, her waist sinking inward below them, her hips lifted slightly. She was unbelievably cooperative.
Wen Yan knelt on either side of her thighs, lifted her waist, and bent down to bite her ear.
“Kneel up a little.”
Jin Zijin listened and propped herself up, moving her knees forward until she was kneeling on the bed.
Wen Yan was no longer polite.
She reached in from behind, and Jin Zijin trembled violently, a sharp cry escaping her throat, only for her to bite her own lip and swallow it back.
Wen Yan’s movements were measured and unhurried.
She lowered her eyes, watching every reaction Jin Zijin made.
She watched her bury her face hard in the pillow, both hands clutching the edge until her knuckles turned white.
The woman’s back was taut, the line of it beautiful beyond words. Her waist kept trembling; her hips would unconsciously rub backward, then shyly shrink away.
Jin Zijin had her whole face buried in the pillow, and the sounds in her throat were muffled by it into fragmented hums.
It was too much.
Her body was completely restrained; she could not move at all.
Every muscle was tight, waiting uneasily, not knowing when the next wave would come.
Her skin was so sensitive that the moment Wen Yan’s palm pressed against her, she trembled uncontrollably; every touch became an unbearable torment.
Much less that deep, swollen place.
And yet Wen Yan would not let her off.
“Do you like it?” The voice came from behind her with a laugh, asking what she already knew the answer to.
Jin Zijin bit her lip and refused to speak.
So Wen Yan stopped.
After waiting a few seconds, Jin Zijin twisted her waist and let out a wronged little whimper.
“I like it…” she murmured into the pillow, her voice tiny as a mosquito’s, “I like it…”
Only then did Wen Yan continue, asking as she moved, “Like this?”
Jin Zijin nodded desperately.
“Is it here?”
Another frantic nod.
Wen Yan chuckled softly and increased the force.
Jin Zijin went stiff all over. Just as she seemed about to reach the edge, Wen Yan suddenly pulled out.
Jin Zijin froze.
She turned her head back, eyes red, her gaze full of confusion and grievance. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know what.
Wen Yan bent down and murmured in her ear, “Beg me.”
Jin Zijin bit her lip and refused to speak.
Wen Yan wasn’t in a hurry; she just waited.
Her fingertips traced lightly across Jin Zijin’s back, over and over, from the shoulder blades down to the small of her back, then further to her hips, like teasing an indignant cat.
Jin Zijin’s breathing became faster and faster; her body hotter and hotter.
After a few seconds of stalemate, she finally gave in.
“Please…” Her voice was soft and trembling, carrying a crying note. “Please…”
Seeing her like this, Wen Yan’s eyes darkened.
This time, she did not stop again.
The pleasure kept building, layer upon layer, as though it would never reach an end.
The sheets beneath them had long since been soaked through with sweat; water ran across the floor, leaving behind dark patches.
The room was filled with a heat-soaked, overly intimate scent, mixed with the faint fragrance of wintersweet, making one dizzy.
Jin Zijin could no longer think of anything.
She only knew to twist her waist and chase after Wen Yan, only knew to open her mouth and beg her to pity her.
She even took the initiative to draw her in, to clamp down around her, using every method she could think of, all for the sake of getting release.
“Wen Yan…” Her voice broke with tears, halting and trembling. “Wen Yan… please…”
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed her sweat-damp shoulder, her voice low. “Beg me for what?”
“Please give me…” Jin Zijin had long since lost any concern for shame. “Give it to me…”
“Give you what?”
“Give me…” Jin Zijin turned to look at her, her eyes red, tears hanging on her lashes. “Give me…”
Looking at her like this, Wen Yan’s heart softened completely, then burned just as fiercely.
Only when she completely unraveled did Wen Yan finally press harder and send her soaring in one breath.
Jin Zijin’s reaction was astonishingly intense.
Her whole body trembled without end, tightly wound together, drenched in sweat.
The sounds coming from her throat were no longer in tune; broken little whimpers escaped her, making one’s heart quiver.
She clutched the pillow so hard her knuckles went white, her body arching up, then falling back, like a fish washed ashore.
It lasted a very, very long time before she finally came down from the clouds.
Softly, she collapsed into the pillow, not even able to move a finger.
Wen Yan reached out, pulled her up, and turned her to face her.
Jin Zijin’s bangs were completely soaked through with sweat, clinging to her face in wet strands.
Her whole body was flushed, her eyes were red, and tears still clung to her lashes; she looked so pitiful it made one ache for her.
Her lips were slightly parted, and she panted, the tip of her tongue faintly visible.
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed her forehead, brushing the damp hair aside. “So pitiful; your eyes are all red from crying.”
Jin Zijin no longer had the strength to hit her, nor the strength to scold her for going too far.
She only lifted a leg and hooked it around Wen Yan’s thigh, rubbing against her. The woman’s movements were soft and clingy, like she was acting spoiled, or begging.
Jin Zijin’s voice was full of tears, soft beyond words. “Wuuu… it’s so uncomfortable… hurry up… get in…”
Wen Yan froze.
She looked down at the person in her arms.
Jin Zijin was looking up at her, eyes shimmering with water, full of dependence and desire, not a trace of her usual composure left.
Her lips were slightly puckered, as if begging for a kiss, yet also as if she were wronged.
They had gone too hard.
She had been opened up completely.
Wen Yan’s gaze deepened. She lifted her and settled her on top of herself, letting her straddle her waist.
She kissed Jin Zijin’s ear, her voice low. “If you want it, then come up on your own.”
Jin Zijin didn’t hesitate.
She propped herself up, one hand braced against Wen Yan’s chest, the other holding Wen Yan’s hand, then slowly sat down.
A sigh of satisfaction slipped from her throat, content and lazy.
Wen Yan watched her, watched the way she braced her hands on her waist and rose and fell against her.
Sweat slid down Jin Zijin’s collarbone and dropped onto Wen Yan’s chest, scorching hot.
Her hair spilled loose and swayed gently with the movement; a few strands stuck to her face, and she lifted a hand to brush them away, revealing ears flushed red.
Wen Yan raised a hand, caught Jin Zijin’s waist, and increased the force.
Jin Zijin threw her head back, a sharp gasp spilling from her throat, her voice high and seductive.
Wen Yan pulled her down and sealed her lips, swallowing all her sounds into herself.
The bed began to sway again.
Jin Zijin had already lost all strength. In the end she was lying across Wen Yan, who held her at the waist and lifted her in rhythm, again and again.
Her face was buried in Wen Yan’s neck as she clung to her chest, tiny whimpers escaping her throat like a kitten’s mewl.
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed the crown of her hair, her ear, her shoulder.
“Almost there…” she whispered in her ear. “Almost there…”
Jin Zijin nodded and clung to her even tighter.
At the final moment, Jin Zijin’s whole body tensed; she held Wen Yan in a death grip, a long, trembling sound spilling from her throat.
It lasted a very long time before she finally softened, collapsing against Wen Yan like a pool of water.
The two of them held each other like that, neither moving.
The room was incredibly quiet, with only their mingled breathing and the occasional distant burst of fireworks outside.
After a long while, Jin Zijin finally stirred and her voice came out rough and scratchy. “Water…”
Wen Yan curved her lips and kissed her on the mouth. “Wait.”
She gently set her down on the bed, slipped on a robe, and went to the living room to pour a cup of warm water.
When she came back, Jin Zijin had already wrapped herself in the blanket, leaving only a pair of eyes visible, looking at her pitifully.
Wen Yan laughed and handed over the cup.
Jin Zijin took it and drank in small sips. Wen Yan sat by the bed and watched her drink.
Her eyelashes were still damp, trembling lightly; her lips had been moistened by the water and were glossy.
After she finished the first cup, she looked up at Wen Yan and said in a hoarse, tear-worn voice, “More.”
Wen Yan went to pour another cup.
After the second cup, Jin Zijin let out a long breath and handed the cup back to her, then shrank back into the blanket again.
Wen Yan set the cup aside and returned to bed, pulling her into her arms.
Jin Zijin hung soft and bonelessly against her, her chin resting in Wen Yan’s shoulder hollow, her eyes nearly closed.
“Exhausted?” Wen Yan asked.
Jin Zijin nodded, then shook her head, her voice muffled. “It’s okay.”
Wen Yan couldn’t help laughing. She lowered her head and kissed the top of her hair.
The two of them held each other and stayed quiet for a while. By the time the fireworks outside grew sparse and the night deepened further, it had become very late.
After quite a while, Wen Yan finally spoke. “Go take a shower? I’ll change the sheets.”
Jin Zijin gave a soft “mm,” but didn’t move. Instead, she burrowed a little deeper into Wen Yan’s arms.
“I don’t want to move…” Her voice was soft, sleepy. “Hold me a little longer.”
“Okay.” Wen Yan indulged her and held her even tighter.
After another while, Jin Zijin finally shifted and looked up at her. “Sleep in the guest room after we shower. The sheets in the master bedroom are all wet.”
Wen Yan nodded. “Okay.”
She picked Jin Zijin up and carried her to the bathroom.
Jin Zijin hung limply in her arms, chin resting in Wen Yan’s shoulder hollow, eyes half-lidded like a lazy cat.
The bathroom was full of mist, with warm yellow light spreading softly across everything.
Wen Yan placed Jin Zijin into the bathtub, adjusted the water temperature, and then used the showerhead to rinse her from head to toe.
Jin Zijin sighed in comfort, leaning against the tub and letting Wen Yan do as she pleased.
Wen Yan squeezed some body wash into her palm, worked it into foam, and spread it over Jin Zijin’s body.
From her shoulders to her arms, from her chest to her waist, from her legs to every inch of skin, she washed her carefully.
Jin Zijin was so comfortably pampered by her that her eyes were nearly closed.
Halfway through, she suddenly said, “Wen Yan.”
“Mm?”
“You were a little too much today.”
Wen Yan’s hand paused, and she looked up at her.
Jin Zijin was looking at her too. Her eyes were still red, but there was no accusation in them; only a trace of coquettish complaint.
“But…” She paused, her voice dropping a little. “I really liked it.”
Wen Yan’s lips curved. She leaned down and kissed her. “Next time I’ll still do it like this.”
Jin Zijin glared at her, but didn’t refute it.
After the bath, Wen Yan wrapped Jin Zijin tightly in a towel and carried her toward the guest room.
At the guest room door, Jin Zijin suddenly spoke up. “Wait.”
“Hmm?”
“Get me a pair of underwear first.”
Wen Yan blinked and looked down at her. “You usually don’t like wearing anything to sleep, do you?”
Jin Zijin glared at her, her eyes still red; the glare had little force behind it and instead sounded a bit like a coquettish complaint. “Whose fault is that, anyway!”
“There’s still a reaction now; sleep pants would just get wet.”
Wen Yan laughed and lowered her head to nudge her nose. “But baby, if you wear underwear, it’ll still get wet. And it’s easier to get stuffy. Better not to wear any.”
Jin Zijin’s face turned bright red.
She raised a hand to cover Wen Yan’s mouth, her voice shy and frantic. “Stop talking nonsense! Go get the underwear!”
Wen Yan laughed out loud, kissed her palm, and turned back to the bedroom to get it.
When she returned, Jin Zijin had already tucked herself into the guest bed, leaving only a pair of eyes visible, like a lazy cat waiting to be fed.
Wen Yan slipped under the blanket and helped her put on the underwear with rustling sounds before lying down beside her.
The two of them curled together, bodies pressed close; warm, soft, like two cats squeezed into one place.
Jin Zijin buried her face in Wen Yan’s chest and rubbed against it, finding the most comfortable position.
Wen Yan lowered her head and kissed the top of her hair, her fingers gently smoothing through her long hair.
Another firework burst outside the window, distant and muffled, like a sound from another world.
“Sleep,” Wen Yan said softly.
Jin Zijin gave a quiet “mm” and closed her eyes.
In less than a few minutes, her breathing had become even and long.
Wen Yan held her and listened to her steady heartbeat; her own heart felt full to the brim.
This night was ridiculous, truly ridiculous; and exhausting, truly exhausting.
But for some reason, she still felt that even a few more nights like this would never be too many.