Chapter 31: Hot Spring Trip – Confession Under the Meteor Shower

The meteors were still falling.

One, two, three.

Golden-red tails streaked across the ink-blue sky, like someone had drawn a glowing line between the stars.

But I wasn’t watching the stars.

I was watching Xiao Yan.

Her eyes were full of light.

The light of the meteors.

Her own light.

“Xiao Yan… I…”

My voice caught in my throat.

I wanted to say I like you.

Those four words had spun around in my head a hundred times.

They’d been spinning since the day I first saw Xiao Yan.

Spinning in the club room, spinning in the changing room.

Spinning in the hot spring, spinning right to this moment.

But my mouth opened, and the words wouldn’t come out.

They were stuck behind the tip of my tongue, like they were glued by something.

I opened my mouth again, my throat tight, not a single word could be squeezed out.

I was so anxious my eyes felt sore.

My fingers clutched the hem of my yukata, gripping until my knuckles turned white.

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of my throat, thump-thump-thump-thump, making my ears ring.

Xiao Yan looked at me.

She didn’t rush me.

She just stood there, waiting for me.

The night breeze blew over, brushing stray hairs across her face.

She didn’t reach up to push them away.

Her eyes stayed fixed on me, her gaze sweeping over my slightly flushed cheeks, bright and soft.

Then her ears turned red.

From the tips all the way down to the lobes, like someone had lit them with a lighter.

She pressed her lips together, her throat moved as she swallowed something.

“You,”

Her voice trembled a little, not as bold as before.

“Are you,”

She didn’t finish either.

Her fingers curled at her sides, then relaxed.

Two meteors streaked across at the same time.

One to the east, one to the west, like two parallel stellar orbits.

The starlight reflected in her eyes, flickering.

Xiao Yan took a step forward.

Close.

So close I could smell the orange candy scent on her, so close I could see her eyelashes trembling, so close her breath hit my forehead, warm.

She reached out, her fingertips lightly touching my cheek.

They slid slowly from my cheekbone to my chin, her thumb pad brushing over the damp tear tracks.

Her fingers were cool against my feverish skin, like a leaf falling into hot water.

“Don’t say it.”

Her voice was hoarse, carrying a slight tremble.

“I understand.”

Her thumb pressed against my lower lip, applying a gentle pressure.

My lips were pressed slightly apart, my breath escaping through my teeth, hurried and ragged.

She didn’t hurry to kiss me.

Her face slowly drew closer, close enough for me to see the curve of her eyelashes, close enough for the tip of her nose to brush against mine.

She stopped there, her lips just a finger’s width from mine.

Her breath fanned over my lips, warm, carrying the sweetness of orange candy.

Her eyes looked at me.

Inside them was a very, very small question mark.

Is this okay?

My fingers tightened on the hem of her clothes.

I didn’t pull away.

The corner of her mouth lifted a little.

She tilted her head slightly, and her lips touched mine.

Very slowly, bit by bit, as if afraid of startling me.

Her upper lip touched mine first, giving a light brush.

Then her lower lip gently captured mine, so very light, as if tasting something.

But I didn’t know what to do.

My lips were stiff, my teeth chattered slightly, my whole body was like a stone.

Her hand slid from my chin to the back of my head, her fingertips threading into my hair, holding me gently, but my neck was still rigid.

She felt it.

She pulled back just a little, her nose still brushing mine.

Then she smiled.

Her eyes curved, the corners of her mouth lifted, that kind of smile that made her whole person glow.

Her lips brushed the corner of my mouth, her laughter muffled against my skin, ticklish.

“Silly.”

Her voice was soft, laced with laughter.

“The President is a first-timer.”

I nodded.

My ears burned as if on fire.

She laughed again.

This time it was lighter, like a feather brushing past.

“Relax.”

Her thumb stroked my cheekbone.

“Don’t bite your lips so tight.”

I tried to relax my teeth, but my lips were still stiff.

She lowered her head and gave my lower lip a light peck, like a chick pecking at rice.

“Follow my lead.”

Her lips touched my upper lip, slowly brushing against it.

Then she pulled back, looking at me.

I copied her, touching her upper lip, brushing against it.

My movement was clumsy, I brushed off-center, bumping her nose.

She didn’t pull away, she just smiled again.

“Mhm, that’s it.”

Her voice was very soft.

“Again.”

Her lips parted slightly, capturing my lower lip, giving it a gentle suck.

Then she pulled back, looking at me.

I copied her, giving a gentle suck. She didn’t move, letting me finish.

“You learn so fast.”

She laughed, her nose rubbing against mine.

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would explode, but she praised me.

She said I learned fast.

Her tongue lightly touched the seam of my lips.

I was startled, my lips parting a little.

She didn’t push in, just stayed there, waiting.

“Want to try?”

Her voice was low, close to the corner of my mouth.

I nodded.

Her tongue slowly ventured in, very light, very soft, carrying the sweetness of orange candy.

I didn’t pull away.

She touched the tip of my tongue, then withdrew, as if teasing me.

“Your turn.”

She smiled.

I copied her.

Her lips parted slightly, I ventured in, touching the tip of her tongue.

“Mmm.”

Her voice was muffled in my mouth, carrying laughter.

“You learn so fast.”

Her hand slid from the back of my head to my nape, her fingertips pressing gently.

Her other hand slid from my waist to my back, her palm flat against me, her thumb pad slowly tracing up my spine.

I kissed her again.

This time without her guidance, I leaned in on my own.

Her lips were soft, pressed against mine, motionless, letting me kiss her.

When I finished, she looked at me, her eyes bright.

“Learned?”

She smiled.

I nodded, my face red.

“Then practice more in the future.”

Her lips brushed my ear.

“With me.”

Her fingers laced with mine, interlocking.

“I like you too. I’ve liked you since the day you were changing in the club room. Back then I thought, how wonderful if this person could be mine.”

Her voice was muffled near my ear, carrying laughter.

“Later I found out, you really are mine.”

I buried my face in the crook of her neck, smelling the orange candy scent on her, my heartbeat slowly steadying.

In the distance, Song Tao finally couldn’t hold back and let out a “Mmph.”

Li Li whispered, “Don’t make a sound.”

“I can’t hold it in anymore…”

“You have to hold it.”

I buried myself in Xiao Yan’s embrace, my ears burning hot.

She lowered her head and nuzzled the top of my hair, her lips brushing my hair, her voice very soft:

“They got a picture.”

“What?”

“Just now.”

Her lips brushed my hair.

“A photo.”

“A picture of what?”

“You learning how to kiss.”

She laughed, her chest vibrating slightly.

“Clumsy, very cute.”

“…Delete it.”

“Won’t delete.”

“Xiao Yan!”

“Won’t delete.”

She tightened her arms, resting her chin on top of my head.

“Keeping it as a memento.”