The Only Choice - 54

In the end, they didn't go all the way that night, although they hadn't originally planned to anyway.

They woke up early the next morning to catch their return flight. They had initially thought about staying in Haishi for a couple of days, but something came up at Zhou Fanfan's university, forcing them to rush back.

Pressed for time, they only managed to eat breakfast in the departure lounge.

[On your way back yet?]

Mid-breakfast, Xu Xiaoqian sent her a WeChat message in the 'Stepmother Group'.

Zhou Fanfan ate while replying: [At the gate now, arriving this afternoon]

Xu Xiaoqian: [Coming straight to campus?]

Zhou Fanfan: [Yeah, my advisor summoned me. Can't ignore it.]

Xu Xiaoqian: [Alright, we can still have dinner together tonight then.]

Zhou Fanfan: [OK!]

Qiqi also popped up: [By the way, Fanfan, saw the pics of you and our 'son' last night. That gown of yours was stunning! No wonder he's completely smitten.]

Liu Liu: [Gotta say, Baibai knows how to be in a relationship. Wuwuwu, no one ever gave me a band-aid when I wore high heels.]

Qiqi: [So jealous! Fan, is our son always that gentle in private?!]

With so many people present last night, Zhou Fanfan had expected some chatter online.

Zhou Fanfan thought about their time together and replied: [Well... he is quite gentle.]

Qiqi: [Is he gentle when doing that too?]

An unexpected risqué question.

But in their group chat, such topics weren't unusual. Their chat history often reached mutually-assured-destruction levels if leaked.

However, since it involved Guan Yuanbai this time, Zhou Fanfan immediately sent a "Shut up!" sticker.

Qiqi: [Look at you, getting all flustered at the mention of sex! What's the big deal! We're all adults, no topic is off-limits!]

Liu Liu: [Exactly!]

Qiqi: [So, not the gentle type? More of the rough and domineering type?]

Zhou Fanfan: [No...]

Xiaoqian: [What do you mean 'no'?]

Zhou Fanfan stated bluntly: [We haven't even done it, how would I know what type he is?!]

The trio simultaneously sent shocked sticker faces.

Xiaoqian said: [But, shouldn't you have shared a room on your trip?]

Zhou Fanfan: [We did... share a room yesterday.]

Xiaoqian: [And nothing happened between you?!]

Qiqi: [What a saint! I'm shocked! But I think it's because he's too good to you, that's why he didn't make a move!]

Xiaoqian: [I think so too. Guan Yuanbai is really a gentle, good man!]

Zhou Fanfan, her face red, typed: [That's enough now, bye!]

Qiqi: [Don't go! Tell us more!]

Liu Liu: [How could he stay so gentle with a beauty like you right there. Damn! Is Guan Yuanbai... incapable?!]

Zhou Fanfan, eating one mini tangyuan after another and eager to change the subject, perfunctorily replied: [Yeah, yeah, right, maybe he is]

"Oh, so that's what you think."

Suddenly, a low, ominous voice sounded by her ear.

Zhou Fanfan was so startled she nearly dropped her phone. She turned her head to find Guan Yuanbai leaning over, looking down at her screen.

Zhou Fanfan immediately flipped her phone face down. "Why are you behind me! You were snooping!"

Guan Yuanbai hadn't intended to snoop. He had just gotten up to fetch a coffee. Returning, he saw her with her head down, juggling her phone and breakfast, multitasking to the point of spilling her soup.

He had merely come over to remind her to focus on eating when he glanced down and saw the glaring line: 'Is Guan Yuanbai incapable?!'

Even more "interesting" was her reply: 'Yeah, maybe he is'!

"Only afraid of being caught because you were talking behind my back, right?"

Remembering the group chat content, Zhou Fanfan felt a pang of guilt and quickly added, "We just joke around like that in our group chat, it's always been that way... Don't take it seriously! None of it's meant seriously!"

"None of it's meant seriously?"

"Yeah! I didn't mean to speak ill of you! I don't really think you're incapable!"

"……"

"…………"

"Oh." Guan Yuanbai looked at her for another moment, then walked around and sat back in his seat.

He didn't say anything more, but his entire demeanor had turned gloomy and intimidating.

Zhou Fanfan kept her head down, eating quietly, not daring to make a sound. He couldn't... really be angry, could he...

Five hours later, the plane landed in the capital.

Since Zhou Fanfan had matters at her university, Guan Yuanbai had He Zhi drive her to campus first before leaving himself.

For the next three days, busy with tasks assigned by her advisor, she stayed on campus. Guan Yuanbai only came to find her once during that time, and they just had lunch together.

As the "incapable" topic wasn't brought up again, Zhou Fanfan assumed Guan Yuanbai wasn't actually angry.

Well... he wasn't that petty a person.

After a few busy days, she finally wrapped up her tasks on Friday afternoon.

Originally, Zhou Fanfan planned to have dinner with Xu Xiaoqian, but her friend had a date with Song Li.

Not wanting to eat alone at the university, she decided to head straight home. But as she was driving, Guan Yuanbai called. He said he was already home after his meeting and asked if she wanted to have dinner together.

They hadn't spent proper time together for days, so Zhou Fanfan naturally agreed. She turned the car around and headed for Xinghe Bay.

"Something smells amazing! Is it that steak from last time?!" Zhou Fanfan walked towards the dining area as soon as she entered, recognizing the scent.

Guan Yuanbai was in the kitchen pan-searing steaks, timing it perfectly for her arrival.

"Your nose is sharp."

"Because it really is delicious." Zhou Fanfan walked into the kitchen and sidled up next to him. "I'm starving today. Give me extra pasta."

Guan Yuanbai: "Alright, got it."

After finishing dinner prep, Guan Yuanbai carried two plates of steak out and stood by the table untying his apron.

"Come here."

Zhou Fanfan had already picked up her fork, ready to twirl some pasta. She looked back at his outstretched hand. "What is it?"

Guan Yuanbai: "What do you think? A hug."

"Oh..."

Zhou Fanfan smiled secretly, put down her fork, and scurried over. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his embrace.

It was only after being in this relationship that she discovered how comfortable and soothing hugs could be.

If possible, she felt she could happily stay glued to Guan Yuanbai's chest forever.

"You smell like steak now," Zhou Fanfan said, looking up at him after a moment.

Guan Yuanbai chuckled. "Isn't it a nice smell?"

"Your usual scent is nicer."

"What's my usual scent?"

Zhou Fanfan said, "I don't know, just... your scent."

Guan Yuanbai's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm?"

Zhou Fanfan also felt her words suddenly sounded suggestive and corrected herself, "Your natural scent!"

Guan Yuanbai let out an "Oh," then suddenly lowered his head and lightly sniffed her neck. "Well, you have one too. Very nice."

Zhou Fanfan shrank her neck slightly, feeling ticklish.

She extricated herself from his embrace and said, "I'm a girl. Girls are supposed to smell nice!"

"Is that so."

"Of course! But right now, the steak smells the best~" Zhou Fanfan quickly sat down at the dining table. "Can I eat now?"

Guan Yuanbai ruffled her hair. "Sure, dig in."

"Great! Let's eat!"

Zhou Fanfan had a big appetite today and cleaned her plate completely.

After dinner, they didn't go out. Instead, they sat on the sofa at home and picked a movie to watch together.

It was an old film, a romance with a literary, artistic feel.

Zhou Fanfan wasn't usually very interested in such movies, but perhaps because she was in love herself now, she found herself deeply relating to the portrayal of heart-fluttering moments in the film and watched with great interest.

"Want some red wine?" Guan Yuanbai asked her midway through the movie.

They had opened a bottle with the steak earlier, but she had been too hungry then, focusing mostly on eating and only having a little sip. Now, watching the movie, it seemed like a good time to have some more.

"Sure! Your red wine is really good!"

Guan Yuanbai said, "A friend gave it to me as a housewarming gift. If you like it, I can give you a couple of bottles to take home."

"My grandma rarely drinks red wine. There'd be no one to drink with me if I took it back."

Guan Yuanbai: "Alright then. Come over whenever you want to drink. I'll have some with you. With your alcohol tolerance, it's safer to drink at home."

"Okay."

He got up, brought the wine and glasses over, poured some for both of them, and she leaned back against his chest to continue watching the movie.

The movie wasn't very long, about two hours. Sipping wine while watching, she didn't realize how much she was drinking until the film ended and the effects of the alcohol began to kick in.

"Just occurred to me, we both drank. I'll need to call a driver to get home."

Guan Yuanbai's chin gently brushed against her cheek as he said in a low voice, "You could just not go home."

Zhou Fanfan was momentarily stunned. Then she heard him continue, "Stay here tonight."

Perhaps it was the wine rising to her head, the slight tipsiness making her feel both excited and dazed.

She didn't shake her head or nod, just leaned against his shoulder—a silent acquiescence.

"More wine?" Guan Yuanbai asked her.

Zhou Fanfan shook her head. "No more."

"Mm."

Guan Yuanbai took the glass from her hand and placed it on the coffee table, then turned his gaze back to her.

The screen was now playing soft, lyrical music as the end credits began to roll. They hadn't turned on the main lights, and in the dim, flickering light, the alcohol seemed to act as an aphrodisiac, heightening the ambiguity and affection to its peak.

Later, Zhou Fanfan couldn't quite remember how they ended up tangled together.

Holding each other, cheeks flushed, sucking and nibbling.

Maybe it was the red wine, or maybe it was his body heat, but Zhou Fanfan felt utterly drained of strength from his kisses, soft and pliant, as if melting into a puddle.

"Shall we go upstairs?" Guan Yuanbai cupped her cheek with one hand, his thumb gently stroking her skin.

Zhou Fanfan made an affirmative sound, her eyes watery, both innocent and alluring.

Guan Yuanbai let out a soft, shaky breath and kissed her again.

"I'll carry you up."

Later, everything proceeded naturally.

At first, Zhou Fanfan remembered Qiqi's earlier question about what 'type' Guan Yuanbai was.

She recalled being unable to answer then, but now she secretly felt that Guan Yuanbai was probably the gentle type in this regard...

Unexpectedly, that conclusion was completely overturned not long after.

"It hurts..."

A faint, plaintive murmur, similar to last time.

But this time, it was ruthlessly met with a low, firm response.

"Bear with it.”

---

← Previous | Table of Contents | Next →

0