Endless Fall

188 As Long As You Are Here, Everything Is Worth It

Pei Zhi put his arm around her waist.

The silky fabric was pressed against his palm. He felt like he was touching fire. Even his fingertips were burning.

Under Lin Jiao’s guidance, he took a few steps forward and back, finishing the dance move she created.

“Can we go back now?” He stared at that beautiful face, his voice hoarse.

!!

“You haven’t learned it yet.”

“I know it already.”

Lin Jiao did not believe him at all. “Let’s dance again.” She taught him like a strict teacher, getting closer and closer to him.

Every time she got close to him, Pei Zhi’s mouth would go dry.

He couldn’t stand the racing heartbeat. After dancing twice, he stopped. “It’s cold outside. Can we dance next time?”

“I want to play hide-and-seek.”

Dancing without music was already strange enough, and she still wanted to play hide-and-seek.

“You seek.” Lin Jiao asked him to close his eyes. “Don’t peek.”

“Don’t go far.”

“Not far. I’ll hide under the table.”

Pei Zhi looked up and laughed.

He paced back and forth at the table with the warm lights. On the count of five, he squatted down.

“I found you.” Lin Jiao, who was playing with her fingertips, looked up and smiled when she heard the voice.

She reached out to grab him and pounced into his arms without warning, making Pei Zhi lean back.

Her soft lips brushed past his chin the next second. Like a flame, it brightened up his entire summer and stirred his heart.

Lin Jiao, who was lying on top of him, was still moving around. Her red lips opened and closed, as if she had a lot to tell him.

The moment Pei Zhi looked her in the eyes, his brain received a message that it had never received before.

He was in love.

#

“Do you like it when I embarrass myself?” Her voice was filled with embarrassment and anger, covering the faint sound of the television.

“You were very cute back then.”

Lin Jiao took a sip of water and asked, “How was I cute?”

“You’re cute in every way.” Pei Zhi chuckled. “When you hid under the table and waited for me to come looking for you, you looked like a ragdoll.”

“I don’t even remember.”

“Drunk kittens have poor memory.” He tickled her waist with his fingertips. “I understand.”

Lin Jiao, who was ticklish, laughed.

She covered her lips that were about to kiss him, her eyes still sparkling. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“How could I tell you when you were that drunk?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Pei Zhi kissed her palm and passed his right hand under her leg, easily carrying her to his knee.

He stroked her long hair. “I originally wanted to wait for you to graduate before confessing, but in the end…”

In the end, she got together with Gu Quan.

Lin Jiao could not imagine how he would feel when he saw her in a relationship with someone else, nor could she imagine his disappointment.

She hugged his waist tightly. For some reason, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat and her voice became choked. “It’s very hard, right?”

“Not at all.”

“Liar.”

Pei Zhi patted her back comfortingly. “As long as you’re by my side, everything is worth it.”

He was smiling, but Lin Jiao couldn’t help but cry.

She leaned close to his chest and cried until her shoulders were slightly hunched. Pei Zhi could feel the wetness of his sweater.

He had always known that she was very empathetic, but at this moment, he felt that it was not a good thing to be too empathetic.

“Jiaojiao.” He rubbed her slender waist through the thin layer of pajamas. “Do you want to cry somewhere else?”

“Where… where?”

“Where do you think?”

Lin Jiao looked at him with tears in her eyes. When she saw the darkness in his eyes, she stopped crying.

“No.” She glared at him and let him wipe away the tears. “We’re not in a relationship yet. We can’t do that.”

“Then can I kiss you?”

“No.”

A trace of hurt flashed across Pei Zhi’s eyes.

He threw the crumpled tissue into the trash can and asked again, “Can I kiss you just once?”

Lin Jiao’s heart softened.

...

She grabbed his collar and touched his thin lips. “Now you have it.”

Pei Zhi did not give her a chance to retreat. He held the back of her head with his palm and pulled her back.

He was still not satisfied after stalling the kiss for more than ten minutes.

“Pei Zhi!” Lin Jiao, who had come back to her senses, retreated. “You’re pushing your luck.”

Her breathing was still unstable, and the corners of her eyes were red. Just looking at her made one want to bully her.

Pei Zhi swallowed. “I only kissed you once.”

“Then call that once.” She pursed her lips. “From now on, you’re not allowed to kiss me without my permission. Do you hear me?”

“Where exactly am I not allowed to kiss?”

“Everywhere.”

Pei Zhi agreed reluctantly.

He picked up the glass and fed her two sips of fruit juice. “Jiaojiao, do you like me?”

...

“I do.”

“Since when?”

“After I started working in Sheng Heng.” Lin Jiao did not know when exactly. “Anyway, I liked you before we went to Paris.”

However, she did not face her feelings seriously.

“That’s a long time.” Pei Zhi felt like his heart was filled with joy.

Perhaps there was nothing in this world more joyful than having his love reciprocated

Lin Jiao thought of what he had once asked. “Jiaojiao, can you like me more?”

She whispered into his ear, “Not long enough. I’ll like you every day from now on, even more than before and now.”

Pei Zhi had never heard such touching words.

He pressed his forehead against hers, and the love and joy in his eyes seemed to be about to surge out. “Me too.”

His love for her was like the mountain range that remained consistent for every spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

“You’re not allowed to kiss me.” Sensing his intentions, Lin Jiao turned her head.

“Then can you kiss me?”

“No.” She grabbed his collar. “Don’t go back on your word. I’ll let you kiss me in the future.”

Afraid that she would be angry, Pei Zhi could only give up.

He looked up at the clock. “Jiaojiao, can I sleep in the guest bedroom tonight?”

“Sure.” Lin Jiao let him sleep here for once on account of him taking the initiative to ask for it. “I’ll go take a shower first.”

The sound of running water could be heard.

The night was as dark as ink.

As time passed, the lights in Unit 9 went out one by one, enveloping the area in darkness.

Pei Zhi, who was lying in the guest bedroom, could not fall asleep.

He counted the time and only opened the door when it was about time. He quietly climbed onto the bed in the master bedroom.

“Jiaojiao,” he called out tentatively. After making sure that she was in a deep sleep, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Under the faint moonlight, he stared at those lips that he had not tasted enough. His heart was itching as he leaned closer to her, enjoying the unfinished kiss