Lin Jianzhi had not been drinking, nor was she dreaming; this was the real Zhu Liheng!
She didn't even know why things had developed to this point when they had barely exchanged a few words.
Yet they were...
And what had he just said?
Ah!!!
Lin Jianzhi's first instinct was to flee.
But it seemed Zhu Liheng already knew she wanted to escape, beating her to it by grabbing her head first and pulling her towards him.
Lin Jianzhi felt she was about to lose control, the feeling right then like her soul was being sucked away, robbing her of her ability to think for herself.
She leaned back against the wall, Zhu Liheng blocking her way forward.
He had sealed off her exits to the left and right too.
She was forced to look him in the eye, their faces just centimeters apart.
"Do you want to be with me or not?" he asked.
Lin Jianzhi's legs instantly turned to jelly!
Zhu Liheng reached out and hoisted her by the waist, kissing her again.
"If you don't answer, I'll take that as a yes."
He murmured this as their lips locked.
It sent tingles through her body.
Lin Jianzhi found herself unable to speak, forcibly pried open.
This time, Zhu Liheng kissed her with particular force.
The air was thick with heavy breathing. Lin Jianzhi felt she was drowning in the sea.
Not until she could no longer stand steady, barely able to keep herself upright, did Zhu Liheng finally stop his reckless attack. He dropped his chin onto her shoulder.
His breathing was a little ragged.
Lin Jianzhi's mouth hung partly open, the taste of Zhu Liheng still lingering on the corners of her lips.
Her heart pounded - 'thump thump thump' - filled with indescribable joy.
So did this mean they were together now?
Zhu Liheng stroked her hair. "Do you like it?"
The post you made on Weibo.
Lin Jianzhi had no idea how red her face was, only that Zhu Liheng was so close in this atmosphere, she had lost count of how many times or for how long he had kissed her.
She was spellbound!
Their eyes met, the air growing hotter.
"Let's go eat," Zhu Liheng said suddenly, letting her go and opening the door.
The rush of fresh air instantly dissipated the mood between them.
Lin Jianzhi gasped for air, her ears bright red.
It took her some time to regain her composure. She tidied her mussed hair and followed him out.
Zhu Liheng held out his hand to her from outside the door.
Lin Jianzhi hesitated briefly before placing her hand in his palm.
The corners of Zhu Liheng's lips turned up as he led her out.
Both their hands were hot.
In the elevator, she didn't dare look at the man beside her.
Zhu Liheng leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "Calm down a little. Old Chen will be able to tell."
Lin Jianzhi gave a start!
The sensation of heat coursing through her body instantly receded by half. She slapped her own cheeks with her other hand.
She even shook her head vigorously, trying to shake the thoughts from her mind.
Just now, she had almost believed something might happen between them.
The elevator doors opened.
Zhu Liheng gave her hand a little squeeze as he led her out.
Old Chen was waiting by the car outside the hotel. Seeing them emerge, he got out and opened the door.
Sure enough, Lin Jianzhi noticed Old Chen size her up briefly.
Frightened, she immediately ducked into the car and retreated to the furthest corner.
Old Chen stared at Zhu Liheng again.
Zhu Liheng met his gaze expressionlessly.
Old Chen gave a little cough and pointed to Zhu Liheng’s clothes. "Young Master Zhu, your shirt tail is wrinkled."
Lin Jianzhi’s face instantly turned beet red!
Yet Zhu Liheng remained composed. He straightened out his shirt without a word and sat down next to Lin Jianzhi.
Old Chen grinned brightly and hopped back into the driver’s seat, starting the car.
For dinner, Zhu Liheng took her to a Western restaurant with dim mood lighting, which nicely concealed her blushing face.
After they were seated, Lin Jianzhi glanced towards the entrance.
Knowing what she was thinking about, Zhu Liheng explained, "Old Chen is occupied. It's just the two of us."
Lin Jianzhi wouldn't pry. She nodded obediently.
Western cuisine set a romantic mood.
In truth, Lin Jianzhi couldn't tell good from bad. She didn't understand, only knowing that the shadowy restaurant had many tables with couples.
Each table was secluded, affording good privacy.
She secretly took out her phone and looked the place up.
Sure enough, it was a hot dating spot for lovers!
Zhu Liheng was also looking at his phone, reading the Weibo posts of user "Zhu Jian Zhi Heng" [Zhu + Jianzhi + Forever].
He had fulfilled most of what she wrote there.
When the meal ended, Zhu Liheng asked, "Want to catch a movie?"
Lin Jianzhi quickly shook her head. "Oh, no no! You must be very busy, right?"
He should have been at the lab at this hour instead of here dating her.
Zhu Liheng said, "I'm not busy. Whatever you like, I'll accompany you."
In a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, Lin Jianzhi answered, "You."
The restaurant music was loud. In the distance, a table of guests conversed and laughed boisterously.
Her voice was so soft it would normally be inaudible.
But Zhu Liheng didn't listen with his ears. His eyes were fixed on her lips.
He could make out what she said.
Zhu Liheng promptly shifted to sit beside her, their shoulders almost touching at a distance of less than 10 cm. In an overbearing tone, he demanded, "Say it again. What do you like?"
He wanted to hear it.
Lin Jianzhi's face reddened intensely!
Zhu Liheng leaned in even closer, his voice gentler now. "What do you like? Tell me. I'll give it to you."
Staring into those eyes less than 10 cm from her own, as if bewitched, the words slipped from Lin Jianzhi's lips: "You."
Zhu Liheng: "Good."
He reached out and placed his hand behind her head, fingers threading into her hair, giving it a gentle tug.
He pecked her on the cheek.
Then he moved to her ear and murmured, "I'm yours."
Lin Jianzhi's mind went blank!
He was giving himself to her?
Was it what she thought?
Zhu Liheng further tempted her. "What else do you want? I'll give you anything."
I'll give you all of me.
Lin Jianzhi was utterly overwhelmed by those few short sentences.
What's more, as soon as Zhu Liheng finished speaking, he started kissing her again.
From her ear to the corner of her mouth.
His hot breath against her skin.
Lin Jianzhi squirmed away a little. In a voice as soft as a mosquito's whine, she pleaded, "Don't...there are so many people."
Zhu Liheng glanced around and asked, "So it's okay if no one's looking?"
His words were ambiguous!
Lin Jianzhi blushed furiously!
One touch was enough to make a person think she had a fever.
Zhu Liheng gave her a tug, pulling her deeper into the shadows in the corner.
He grasped her chin, kissing her once more.
Slightly off-balance, and with Zhu Liheng deliberately tugging at her, she half-collapsed against him.
Her hair was mussed, a few strands falling by her ear. In the dim light, the sight was vaguely tempting.
Coupled with her shy, flushed face, the scene was surprisingly impactful.
Zhu Liheng's kisses were gentle, but the way he held her was forceful and overbearing.
It instantly drained Lin Jianzhi of her strength.
She clung tightly to Zhu Liheng’s shirt with both hands, her whole body taut yet instinctively yielding.
Zhu Liheng: "You like it?"
Lin Jianzhi: "Mm-hmm."
