Starlight Descends - 48
Echo
The security door that had tormented them for so long finally opened, then shut again just soon after.
The sound woke the motion-activated light in the hallway once more, but all it illuminated was an empty stairwell.
The ambiguous darkness drifted indoors instead.
Caught completely off guard, Qi Yao was pulled inside. Her back hit the hard, cold metal door. One of Yu Jiashu's arms came up across her side, trapping her in a deliberate cage of an embrace as he lowered his gaze to her.
His pupils were black, startlingly bright in the dark.
They held each other’s gaze for a long moment.
Unable to bear it, Qi Yao looked away first. Pressing her lips together, she asked softly, "...You're not drunk?"
Yu Jiashu just looked at her.
The alcohol had hit a little hard earlier, but not to the point of being drunk.
His head had felt fuzzy at first, but the cold night air had sobered him considerably. Watching her fuss over him, so concerned and attentive, he hadn't had the heart, nor the desire, to admit he'd already regained his senses. So he simply just shifted his weight off her without a word.
If she hadn’t pushed his tolerance, touching him like that, he probably never would have let her realize the truth. He was perfectly content to continue playing the role of a drunken man being cared for.
Yu Jiashu didn't answer. He only lowered his gaze and changed the subject.
"Who did you write on that paper?"
The paper…
First love.
He was asking about the topic they had both tacitly avoided in that noisy bar.
Qi Yao fell silent for a moment. She didn’t answer either. Her lashes fluttered as she asked back, "What about you?"
Her answer was obvious, they both knew it. At sixteen, a single heartbeat had become a lifetime's worth of longing.
Silence settled between them.
The night outside the window was hazy, the wind came and went.
Yu Jiashu bent his head to study her quietly.
After a long while, his lashes lowered slightly, as if considering his words.
Then he spoke. "I've honestly never liked anyone before. I've never clearly experienced what people call falling for someone, or anything like that."
His voice was calm, but serious.
Just like it had been when he'd asked her that question on the winter night not long ago. Quiet, yet solemn.
Sensing that what followed wouldn't be his usual teasing, Qi Yao paused for two seconds and lifted her eyes to him.
Yu Jiashu continued. "It feels like everything’s always come easily to me. School, work, every part of life. I cut paths through mountains, built bridges over water. Never met an obstacle I couldn’t get past.”
"If I had to name something that ever confused me..."
He bent lower, meeting her eyes. After a long pause, as though conceding defeat, he said softly, "It would be why that girl stopped writing to me."
A girl who was so kind and resilient, clever and perceptive. Born into hardship but never crushed by it. Untouched by the mud around her. Someone who sincerely reached toward the light.
He had actually written to her again afterward.
Only, after three months, the letters were stamped “addressee unknown” and returned.
Later, when Yu Chongshan started his philanthropic sponsorship program, his secretary had brought over a thick stack of candidate files. Among them, Yu Jiashu immediately noticed a kid from the same orphanage she'd come from. The boy's id photo showed a round-faced kid who looked honest and simple.
A big boss tangled in a hundred affairs doesn’t have time to scrutinize details for such matters. It was mostly for the optics of social responsibility, he flipped through a few pages, and a handful of kids’ futures were decided, just like that.
Unfortunately, a boy named Zhou Qi wasn't one of the lucky ones.
Leaning against a hallway wall at the time, Yu Jiashu had thought to himself that perhaps there was something wrong with the luck of that orphanage. Maybe good fortune simply never found its way there.
The secretary passed by carrying the files, greeted him, and kept walking.
It felt strangely like a crossroads of fate.
Just before the woman in business attire disappeared around the stairwell corner, Yu Jiashu let out a slow breath, straightened, and spoke.
Maybe this would be the last thing he could do in return for the way that girl’s spirit had moved him.
As for how Zhou Qi later became determined to study electronic information engineering, and how every school break he pestered Jingfan's reception desk asking for an internship, that was a story for another day.
"If I have to name something I regret," Yu Jiashu said after a pause, "it's you."
He used to read everything he could get his hands on.
Once, he'd come across a passage: Can there be a love like this, which one can keep alive in the heart even without any hope; which, even as life blows against it every day, can never be extinguished.
Yu Jiashu hadn't believed it.
Not until now.
Not until the sincere, kind-hearted girl from back then was standing right in front of him.
"The reason I said we weren't dating," Yu Jiashu said quietly, looking down at her, "was because I didn't want you to think I treat it lightly."
"At the very least, I wanted to wait until you could answer confidently when someone asked." His gaze never left hers. "'Yes, we're dating. And he was the one who pursued me.'"
His voice was light, calm. Yet it crashed through her like a tidal wave.
A sudden ache flooded her chest. It felt as though someone's hand had closed around her heart, squeezing until it swelled with unbearable emotion.
The man lowered his head, reached into his coat pocket and slowly unfolded a piece of paper.
On it, written stroke by stroke in the middle of all those flashing lights and noise earlier, was her name.
The handwriting was as bold and effortless as she remembered, appearing before her eyes, as if it were telling her: those ten years without an answer had never been her regret alone.
Her first love.
His first love.
Separated by so many years.
Her nose stung. Qi Yao lowered her eyes to hide it, her lashes trembling twice.
"Qi Yao."
He didn't give her a chance to look away. Bending slightly, Yu Jiashu looked directly at her. His dark eyes carried the faintest trace of a smile. His tone was almost coaxing.
"Give me a chance."
There seemed to be starlight hidden in his eyes. Looking at her, he asked softly, "Let's date. Okay?"
Her heart soared high, then crashed back down. A feeling she couldn't describe swept through her, like a river of years rushing over her and smoothly washing away that past without echoes.
Her boy was just too good. Ten years ago, he had run through three streets of the old city for someone he'd never met. Ten years later, for the sake of her sensitive and fragile pride, he insisted on being the one to confess first.
The wind sounds gradually faded. Only quiet remained between them.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly.
At last, Qi Yao's lashes fluttered. Her voice carried a faint nasal tremble as she answered softly.
"...Okay."
The drifting dust motes, and the suspended, unresolved state of their relationship, both settled at her reply.
Yu Jiashu's lips curved upward. He looked at her for a while longer, then laughed.
Pulling out a tissue, he folded it twice and gently pressed it beneath her eyes, teasing her for being such a crybaby.
Qi Yao couldn't be bothered arguing. Sniffling pathetically, she muttered, "...I thought you'd wait until after you'd written me a reply to ask."
Yu Jiashu arched one brow slightly. "Is that what you want?”
As he spoke, he actually turned as though intending to fetch a pen.
"Hey."
If he wrote it right now, it couldn't possibly be any good.
Qi Yao grabbed his sleeve. Pressing her lips together, she said softly, "You can owe me one for now."
Yu Jiashu paused for two seconds, then let out a sudden laugh. "A probationary period, huh? If the letter isn't good enough later, you'll kick me to the curb?"
His voice was cool and clear. The lazy amusement in the tail end of it scattered softly through the air.
Qi Yao's ears immediately reddened. Remembering how he'd pretended to be drunk and made her laboriously help him all the way home, she shot him a fierce glare. "That's right! You'd better watch yourself."
"If you make me unhappy, you'll regret it."
Her eyes and nose were still red. Because of the height difference, she had to tilt her chin up to look at him. Her peach blossom eyes still shimmered with moisture in the dim light.
She looked anything but fierce, more like she was pouting.
...Too cute. Almost like she was acting spoiled.
That restless heat surged up in him again.
Yu Jiashu swallowed.
Still towering over her with one arm around her, he looked down at her for a long moment. Calling her softly,
"Qi Shiyi."
The voice was deep and slightly hoarse, magnetic, each syllable landed directly in her ear.
"Hm?"
Yu Jiashu’s Adam’s apple rolled gently. Quietly, he said,
"I want to kiss you."
"..."
Her breath caught instantly.
Qi Yao went blank. In that split second, a thousand thoughts flashed through her mind. The tough act she'd just put on collapsed immediately.
She stammered, “Y-you... how can you give advance...”
...warning.
The last word was swallowed, lost.
Yu Jiashu leaned down, and his lips met hers.
Qi Yao forgot how to breathe. She could feel his breath brushing lightly across her face.
Their lips touched, their noses brushed.
Soft. Warm. Breaths intertwining.
He lingered for only a second before slowly deepening the kiss.
The scent of cedar and mint amplified like never before, surrounding her until it seemed woven into her every breath. Heat spread from the point where they touched, flooding through her entire body. Her mind drifted weightlessly as her slender fingers gripped the fabric at his waist in nervous confusion.
His tongue slipped inside, exploring, carrying all the desire he had been holding back.
Her head spun, legs going weak.
Yu Jiashu kissed her, not with gentleness, but with restraint, holding back a raw edge of aggression.
She had absolutely no experience with kissing. All she could do was brace herself against the wall and endure the overwhelming intimacy.
Her breathing grew uneven. Her chest rose and fell.
She was going to faint.
Qi Yao felt weightless, unable to stand steady. The intertwined tip of her tongue was kissed to a slight numbness. When she finally ran out of air, she could barely think straight.
...How was he so good at this?
Was this really his first love?
Still clutching his clothes, she drifted off into a daze.
Suddenly, a slight sting tugged at her lower lip.
Yu Jiashu bit her lower lip gently. He pulled back just a fraction, his dark lashes lowered. His hand tightened on her slender waist in a punishing squeeze, as he said low, “Focus.”
He stopped holding back the aggressiveness, and his kiss descended again.
Qi Yao felt herself being pulled into a snow-covered cedar forest in the middle of winter.
By the time they finally separated, her cheeks were red from lack of oxygen, the corners of her eyes even redder. Her breathing was completely wrecked.
The mirror beside the entryway reflected a blurred image of them.
Only moonlight illuminated the room. Their silhouettes nearly overlapping, intensely suggestive.
Qi Yao took small, desperate breaths, her chest heaving, the tip of her nose still touching his.
Then she suddenly thought of something. Her brows drew together. "...Can someone in the probation period kiss me?"
"Hm." Yu Jiashu laughed lazily and praised, "Good question."
"Put it on credit." Looking down at her, he couldn't resist stealing another kiss from the corner of her mouth. "I'll pay it back after I become official."
Qi Yao paused two seconds, then said “Oh,” dumbly.
She clearly hadn’t quite processed it yet, still a bit dazed. Yu Jiashu was about to laugh at her when, abruptly, the sound of the door lock turning came.
Qi Yao jumped. Instinctively shoving him away, she grabbed his arm, her eyes widened. "What do we do?"
Yu Jiashu: "..."
"?"
"That's weird. Why isn't the lock working?"
Outside, Zhou Qi had been messing with the door for ages, trying the fingerprint scanner, punching in the code, even squatting down to study it. The lock was completely unresponsive. So weird. He had no choice but to knock.
"Ge! You home? I forgot my key! Open up for me!!"
No answer.
Pulling out his phone, he checked the time.
Eleven-thirty.
He should be home. Was he in the shower?
"GE!!!" Zhou Qi pounded on the door again, loud enough for the whole building to hear, and started doing his dumb drama imitation: “Open the door! I know you're in there!”
"If you've got the guts to sneak someone inside, you've got the guts to open the door...!"
This time, movement finally came from within.
One minute later, the door opened.
The apartment was dark. The hallway light illuminated Yu Jiashu's face. His narrow eyes drooped slightly beneath pale lids. His expression was lazy and cold, a faint hint of impatience between his brows.
"What is it?" he asked.
Even his voice sounded like it was suppressing annoyance.
Zhou Qi: "..."
"...?"
The question completely threw him.
The little buzz-cut actually took a step back and checked the apartment number to make sure he hadn't gone to the wrong unit, then looked back, mouth opening and closing. He said hesitantly, "...I wanted to stay home tonight."
So hesitant, Zhou Qi even added a careful, "Can I?"
Silence.
Expressionless, Yu Jiashu stared at him for several seconds. Then he let go of the doorknob, turned around, and walked inside. As he went, he casually flicked on the living room lights.
Bright light instantly flooded the apartment.
Zhou Qi: "..."
Weird.
Did this guy just sit at home in the dark alone?
Baffled, and with no clue why Yu Jiashu was in such a mood today, he carefully came in and changed his shoes. While doing so, he watched the man walk into his bedroom and shut the door behind him.
A man’s heart is as deep as the ocean floor, impossible to understand.
Zhou Qi shook his head and went to his own room too.
Yu Jiashu’s expression did not improve after returning to his room.
Standing by the door, he locked it and lifted an eyebrow.
Looking at the person sitting stiffly on the edge of the bed, he asked, "Am I some kind of secret?"
Qi Yao: "..."
"No."
"Then do you have another boyfriend outside?"
Qi Yao: "...?"
"No." She answered in a tiny voice.
Yu Jiashu stepped in front of her and looked down from above. There was a definite note of interrogation in his expression.
"Then why were you hiding like we were having an affair?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Qi Yao lowered her eyes and searched for excuses.
"You didn't turn on the lights. It was really dark, pitch black. And we just started dating, you're still in the probation period, and you suddenly just kissed me...”
Her voice got quieter and quieter.
Yu Jiashu lifted one eyebrow. “?”
So it’s his fault for moving too fast, alright.
"Fine." He lowered his chin slightly and crossed his arms. "I couldn't help myself. That's on me."
"..."
That wasn't what she meant.
Qi Yao bit her lip, thought for a moment, and admitted honestly, "It’s just, he’s still a kid, and he’s my fan. I just thought, wouldn’t it be a bit weird?”
Zhou Qi was pretty clueless, just happy-go-lucky every day. Not nearly as perceptive as Da Bai or Fang Qian, who had seen through them immediately.
She felt they had to ease the kid into it, break the news slowly.
Yu Jiashu looked down and made a sound of assent.
He wasn’t really angry. He knew exactly how stubborn Zhou Qi could be. Anyone who insisted on studying electronic information engineering, spent every spare moment pestering Jingfan's reception desk, and stayed devoted to Qi Yao for all these years clearly wasn't flexible.
But he was still a little annoyed.
He had to figure out a way to get Zhou Qi to move out.
Yu Jiashu clicked his tongue, looked down at her, and mentally drafting countless reasonable, unsuspicious schemes in his head. He didn’t speak for a moment.
Qi Yao interpreted the silence as lingering anger.
After hesitating for two seconds, she tilted her head up and reaches out. Her fingertips traced slowly up the side seam of his pants, then hooked around his finger.
Her slender fingers were pale and soft. curled gently around his. Then, fatally, gave a little tug.
Qi Yao blinked twice and said softly, “Don’t be mad, okay?”
“Boyfriend?”
---
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