Starlight Descends - 52
The Hem of Her Skirt
Pressed against the door by Yu Jiashu, Qi Yao still had no idea how things had spiraled into this.
Okay, so she’d forgotten she wasn’t wearing a camisole under her dress and had, with total nonchalance, asked him to help unzip her. Surely that wasn't a crime?
How had it turned into “she assumed he wouldn’t touch her”?
Her back was pinned. One of his hands rested at her waist, long fingers tracing the shallow dip of her lower back, sending a ticklish shiver through her. Qi Yao pressed her lips together and forced herself not to retreat or squirm away.
Then, in the middle of her struggle to endure it, Yu Jiashu suddenly spoke.
"That kid today," He lowered his gaze to her, eyes narrowing slightly. Calmly, he continued, "was he the same one calling you ‘jiejie’ last night?”
"..."
She'd thought he hadn't heard it. After all, he'd shown absolutely no reaction yesterday.
Trapped against the wall by him, Qi Yao looked away uneasily and gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
Yu Jiashu’s expression was unreadable. He wound a lock of her hair around his index finger twice before he asked casually, "He added you on WeChat?"
"...Mm." Qi Yao bit her lip. Her lashes fluttered twice as she rose onto her toes, reaching for her phone. "Only because we're in the same cast. I haven't replied to a single message."
She opened the chat window and turned the screen toward him as if presenting evidence of her innocence.
In truth, Yu Jiashu wasn't all that interested in the guy. He only glanced over it briefly, noting the by-the-book contact name: [Dust Melody - Wen Chuan], and the massive walls of one-sided conversations the guy had sent.
Then something caught his eye. His gaze stopped, he narrowed his eyes and began reading aloud.
"'Yaoyao-jie, the forecast says it's getting colder tomorrow. Make sure you dress warmly~ Though I guess it's okay if you don't. I'll bring extra clothes for you.'"
By the end of the sentence, Qi Yao could practically hear the scoff in his voice. Her scalp tingled in embarrassment. She tried to snatch the phone back, but he caught her wrist, holding her still.
His dark lashes lowered as he continued in the same level, emotionless tone.
"'Can’t sleep, what do I do, Jiejie? Do you have any good cures for insomnia?'"
"'Good night, Yaoyao-jie. Sweet dreams.'"
"'Good morning! I'm up and heading to work. Is there anything you'd like for breakfast, Jiejie?'"
"..."
Qi Yao hadn’t really read these closely before. Just hearing him recite those few lines was enough to make her skin crawl.
The corner of Yu Jiashu’s mouth tugged. He plucked the phone from her hand, tossed it onto the bed with a clean, efficient motion, and let his gaze drop back to her.
“You sure are a magnet for this, don't you, Qi Shiyi."
His tone was mild. His expression even milder. Those black eyes revealed nothing.
Qi Yao blinked slowly. For a moment, she had no idea what to say.
She’d never been in a relationship. These new situations always left her awkward. Part of her felt she should deny it. Another part thought that what he'd said wasn't exactly wrong.
After hesitating for a while, she cautiously replied with an uncertain, "Mm."
That was a compliment, wasn't it?
“Did you just ‘Mm’ me?” Yu Jiashu arched a brow, almost laughing out of sheer disbelief. He lifted a hand and tickled her waist a few times.
"...It tickles." Qi Yao immediately curled inward and hid against his chest.
She was laughing despite herself, but she'd always been sensitive to emotions. After studying him for a moment, she declared with certainty, "You're not actually upset."
Her arms slipped around his neck. She blinked, considered it for a moment, then added, "Or at least, not about this.”
Who was Yu Jiashu? The young master who'd grown up with everything in his hand. Someone who'd always been admired, who could always have whatever he wanted. He was approachable and never put on airs, but that didn't change the fact that very few people ever truly entered his field of vision, much less reached the level of being considered a ‘threat’ by him.
Wen Chuan didn’t even come close.
"So why are you upset?" Qi Yao rose onto her toes and leaned closer.
Yu Jiashu paused for two seconds. Lowering his eyes, he answered naturally, "I'm not upset."
So calm, it sounded almost forthright and completely convincing.
"Really?" Qi Yao narrowed her eyes, examining him carefully. "You're not upset because I hugged that kid over a dozen times today?"
The hand on her waist visibly tensed, then relaxed again.
After a long pause, Yu Jiashu said lightly, "No."
"That's your job. I understand." His tone was calm, his expression faint, like he truly didn’t care.
Qi Yao stared at him for a moment before dragging out a long, thoughtful, "Oh."
"All right, then." She slowly withdrew her arms from around his neck. "And here I was, thinking that if you were jealous about that kid hugging me, I could make it up to you.”
"But apparently I worried for nothing." As she spoke, she pushed him aside and headed toward the wardrobe. "My boyfriend is a paragon of reason and understanding.”
She had barely taken two steps.
Suddenly.
A hand closed around her wrist, a sharp pull dragged her backward.
The scent of cedar and mint flooded her senses. Caught completely off guard, Qi Yao stumbled back into the embrace she’d just left.
Warm, solid, familiar, and impossibly close.
Yu Jiashu wrapped both arms around her slender waist and lowered his eyes at her. "How were you planning to make it up for me?"
"..."
Qi Yao blinked. Her chin rested against his chest as she processed the question. Color slowly crept up from the tips of her ears. Finally, she managed, “Kiss you?”
Yu Jiashu raised an eyebrow, repeating without inflection, “Kiss me?”
His expression and voice were both flat, yet every inch of him seemed to be saying, That's it?
Arrogant beyond belief.
"..."
The room was already warm, yet somehow it grew hotter. Qi Yao’s face was now fully crimson. After a long, long pause, she whispered, so faint it was like a mosquito’s buzz.
"...Other things are fine too."
The zipper at her back was already half-undone. His hand rested against the shallow curve of her waist. If his fingers extended just a little further forward, they’d touch the bare skin of her lower back.
Silence stretched between them.
Yu Jiashu tilted his chin up and laughed softly.
"Fine."
Lowering his lashes, he stepped back half a pace, dark eyes fixed directly on hers. He drew a deep breath and, as though making a reluctant surrender, said,
“Then coax me.”
His voice was deep, threaded with helplessness. The final syllable lingered in her ears.
"I'm fucking dying of jealousy here."
***
Downstairs at the hotel.
"Hey, hey, where are you going?"
Lizi was sitting in the courtyard eating oden. Seeing Wen Chuan about to head upstairs, she scrambled to block him. “Isn’t your room on the first floor?”
"Yeah." Wen Chuan said, looking at her like her question was bizarre. Holding up the milk tea in his hand, he said, "I'm going to see Yaoyao-jie."
"...Don't!"
Lizi's eyes widened. She practically dove for the staircase to block his path. After fumbling for words for several seconds, she finally managed, "She’s probably not… available right now.”
"What happened?" Wen Chuan frowned immediately. "Was it too cold during filming this morning? Is she feeling sick? Good thing I brought medicine. Let me go check on her."
Then he pushed past Lizi and started upstairs without waiting for permission.
"...Hey!" Lizi couldn’t physically stop him. She tried to follow, but her foot froze on the first step.
A moment later, she pulled her foot back, stamping the ground in frustration. "God, this guy is so annoying!"
“Whatever, I’m not going up there to interrupt them.” Lizi watched the retreating back, rolling her eyes hard, and shook a fist at Wen Chuan’s back.
"Perfect chance for the handsome guy to teach him a lesson."
"Green tea little brother. Ptui!”
***
The room was dim.
The curtains blocked out the brilliant winter sunlight, leaving everything shrouded in a hazy glow.
Warm air drifted steadily from the heater, its vents clicking softly with a faint hum.
And other sounds mixed in with it.
Soft, broken little noises. Appearing and disappearing. As though someone were trying very hard to hold them back.
The girl's lower lip had been bitten pale. Her slender fingers clutched his forearm so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
"Don't..."
Her back pressed against the door. Qi Yao furrowed her brow helplessly and spoke in a small voice.
It sounded almost like she was about to cry, the final syllable trembled weakly.
All the cool restraint had melted from her voice, only softness and sweetness remained.
Like a feather brushing lightly across the heart.
Like a hook catching somewhere deep inside.
Dangerously tempting.
"Don't?" Yu Jiashu lowered his gaze, his expression hidden from view, he kissed her. "Wasn't this your idea?"
His tongue slipped into her mouth, pushing deeper, again and again, tangling with hers.
The kiss was fierce, fiercer than he ever had before.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Right now, with a brief absence and newly confirmed relationship combined, Qi Yao felt like he was about to devour her whole.
One of his arms stretched across her waist and braced against the door, enclosing her completely within his embrace. Veins stood out along his lean forearm.
She left unconscious marks on his skin with her grip, but he didn’t seem to notice or care.
His other hand remained out of sight.
Perhaps it was the heater vent she stood on top of, the hem of her skirt rose and fell gently.
His breath brushed against her ear, carrying heat with it as wave of tingling numbness spread through her.
Qi Yao’s breathing turned ragged, unable to take it, she shrank back instinctively.
Every part of her felt overheated, all strength gone.
Filled, then emptied.
She pushed at him. Her brows knit together, one hand braced against his shoulder. Again and again it fell away, only to lift once more with effort.
Her peach-blossom eyes were glazed with a shimmering, misty light. She looks almost pitiful.
The hotel’s soundproofing was poor. Soon, movement sounded outside the door, getting closer.
Qi Yao grabbed his hand, her body arching back against the door, panicked as she whispered, "Someone's here."
Her lips still glistened, her eyes blinking slowly, cheeks flushed, expression a little dazed.
So damn adorable.
Yu Jiashu lifted his eyes.
Holding himself back through sheer willpower, he responded with a casual “Mm,” stilling his movement.
Qi Yao caught her breath, letting out a long sigh. But the second she relaxed, a knock and a voice outside made her entire nervous system snap taut all over again.
"Yaoyao-jie? Are you there?"
The familiar male voice came from the other side of the door. It took her several seconds to recognize it.
Wen Chuan.
Qi Yao's heart stopped. She instinctively glanced at Yu Jiashu.
The man arched a brow, very slightly, his dark pupils fixed on her with a cold, impossible-to-fool expression.
"..."
Great.
The fur she'd just painstakingly smoothed down had puffed right back up.
With no other choice, Qi Yao forced herself to answer. "...I'm here."
Wen Chuan's voice came through the door. "Lizi said you might not be feeling well. I happened to have some cold medicine in my room, so I brought some for you."
Yu Jiashu’s fingertip traced slow, idle circles on her waist. The touch was feather-light, but it tickled, maddeningly distracting.
"...No need. Thank you," Qi Yao said.
"Do you not want to see me, Jiejie?" Wen Chuan asked after a brief hesitation.
No response came for a long while.
Waiting awkwardly, he thought he heard faint noises inside but nobody spoke again.
Assuming she was angry with him, he fell silent and quietly explained.
"I was in terrible shape today. That scene in the cold wind dragged on forever because of me. You might even catch a cold because of me. It would make sense if you're upset."
He paused and let out a breath. "Sorry, Jiejie. It's my fault. I was just really nervous because I've liked you since college..."
"Getting the chance to act with you…even though I have to beg Xiaoman for it, I'm just really grateful."
"When I was in school, I watched so many of your projects. Over and over again. I even made edits and compilations..."
Wen Chuan rambled for a while before finally realizing there was still no response from inside.
He knocked again. Tentatively, he asked, "Yaoyao-jie, can I come in?"
This time, there was an answer.
Knock.
A crisp, muted sound echoed from inside, like knuckles hitting a door.
Qi Yao's voice was soft and weak. As though every word had to be forced out through clenched teeth.
"...Don't."
It was hard to tell whom she was answering to.
A vague noise stirred inside the room.
From outside the door, Wen Chuan couldn't identify it. It sounded like the friction of fabric, slight and brief, but continuous.
"Jiejie, are you not feeling well?" Wen Chuan asked anxiously, pacing outside before knocking again. "Do you need help?"
"..."
Another long while passed.
Inside the room, Yu Jiashu bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth. Then he pulled out a tissue and casually wiped his fingers clean.
In a low voice, he asked, "Are you not feeling well?"
"Yaoyao-jie?”
---
are they actually doing it? or just...
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