The two of them were still chatting back and forth when her little nephew suddenly fell asleep in her arms, one hand naturally resting on her chest. Yi Wenze finally acted nonchalant, taking over the sound asleep child and carrying him into the house. Jia He watched him walk back out and was about to ask if he wanted to go for a walk outside when she saw him come over and half crouch down: “Let me take you out for a walk.”
Jia He looked at him, completely dumbfounded: “What for?”
He made a gesture, his voice gentle enough to intoxicate: “There’s a lot I can’t do in China, but here, I have to at least give you some memories.”
Under the night sky, the lamplight in the courtyard stretched his shadow long.
She was quiet for a good while before reaching out to put her arms around his neck. He hooked her legs and very easily lifted her onto his back. The weather was hot and their two bodies stuck together, soon becoming sweaty. She reached out to touch his face: “Where are we going?”
“The seaside.” His words were concise and astonishingly he wasn’t even short of breath.
“Idol, are you thinking of practicing loaded marches?” She felt hot but couldn’t bear to get down, propping her chin on his shoulder. “If it was the past me seeing you giving a woman a piggyback like this, I’d probably bite my computer screen out of heartache.”
A simile like this… only someone always facing their computer screen like her could come up with it.
She had assumed he was joking but very soon the sea appeared before them.
“Wen Run’s house is right by the seaside. Whenever I walk over it’s very convenient,” he finally set her down to explain. “She’s someone who really enjoys life. Sister Mai had wanted to sign her as a model in the past but unfortunately she had zero interest.”
Jia He smiled, using her forefinger to poke his arm. “Very envious right? It was just one careless step that led to eternal regret.”
The sound of the waves was at their ears. Not far away was also a group of youths having a party, extremely cozy.
He looked at her with a smile, not speaking, only using his hand to support the nape of her neck. He had just leaned in close when she directly dodged to the side, softly saying: “Even without reporters here I’d still feel shy.”
After she spoke she quickly took half a step back, but her foot was cut by the gravel.
Because of his sudden whim, she hadn’t worn any shoes and her feet were bare like this. She looked at the not very fine sand apprehensively, as well as the many broken seashells. Just standing here like this made the soles of her feet feel a little uncomfortable already.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Yi Wenze very naturally put his arm around her waist to lift her slightly. “Step on top of my feet.”
Jia He oh-ed and followed his words, stepping onto the backs of his feet and putting her arms around his waist.
“Yi Wenze.”
She suddenly called his name softly. He mmm-ed.
Or, why don’t I propose… She tried hard to pump herself up. It would also shake the heavens and make the ghosts and gods weep. Who said only men could propose, it was just registering the date anyway. Actually, from the bottom of her heart, it was like the two of them were already married. A very peaceful life, every little detail was so real.
But how to say it? What to say?
I really am inexperienced…
“Want to listen to music?” He suddenly asked.
The courage she had just worked up was blown away by his short question, completely dissipated. Her face was against his chest as she listened to the steady beats of his heart, very proudly confirming that even her husband’s heart rate was the most perfect…
“Come with me,” he set her down on the beach sand, leading her by the hand to stand in front of that group of youths and very politely said in English: “May I borrow your guitar for a bit?”
The one hugging the guitar immediately stood up and enthusiastically handed it to him. The few people sitting around seemed to recognize who he was, conversing softly. Then one of the girls asked shyly: “Are you Yi Wenze?” Yi Wenze smiled and nodded, “Yes.” He pulled Jia He to sit down. “This is my fiancee.”
Jia He hadn’t expected him to be so candid. Somewhat silly, she could only smile at everyone.
For a time, the youths sitting around were very excited, continuously asking if he was back to get married. Or if he had already secretly gotten married. Although they asked the same questions reporters would, this environment and their enthusiastic attitude instead put her more at ease. She merely sat by his side somewhat embarrassedly, watching as his fingers lightly plucked a few times.
This melody was too familiar.
Everyone quieted down. He looked at her, casually humming that song “With You”. The single that topped music rankings for two months, this was her first time hearing him sing it in person. That tranquil gaze only looked at her. He started singing in Chinese before someone beside them softly asked if there was an English version. He smiled and actually very quickly switched to English.
When this song was released it only had Chinese and Cantonese versions. She didn’t expect there to also be an English one.
Yi Wenze turned his head slightly. At the last line he suddenly went silent, gently capturing her lips for a deep kiss that swiftly pulled back. Jia He was caught unprepared. By the time he let her go she dumbly looked at him, her heart nearly stopping…
On the way back those youths were very reluctant to part, offering all sorts of blessings. Yet no one took out their phone to secretly snap pictures or asked to take commemorative photos. Once home, she followed behind him as he casually flicked off the lights.
He turned around to look at her.
“Why didn’t they ask to take pictures together? Looks like two of them are your fans.” She walked over, reaching out to lightly undo the first button of his shirt. Her fingers were very soft.
He smiled knowingly, saying gently: “They really like you and were probably afraid you’d feel embarrassed.”
She undid the second button. For some reason her hands even trembled a little.
Truly… they had been living together for so long yet opportunities for her to take the lead were rare. She sighed inwardly again, vacations really did make people impulsive. And he had done so much tonight, for a full few hours seemingly wanting to finish everything he could do. Every single action, every subtle detail, was like he was holding her heart carefully on the tip. Yet he didn’t say a single word.
He was definitely doing it on purpose.
Jia He sighed again. She cupped his face in both hands: “Yi Wenze.”
Alright, I’m ready. I refuse to believe you won’t want to…
He lowered his head to look at her, seeming to smile.
Suddenly, knocking sounds came from the door. “You guys are back?”
It was Wen Run.
Jia He looked at Yi Wenze innocently. He was also very helpless, calling out to the door: “We’re back, about to sleep.”
There was a moment of silence outside before Wen Run’s voice carried grievance: “My son refuses to sleep unless it’s with his anut. He pestered me for hours. Older brother, do a good deed and help get him to sleep…” After speaking, she started mumbling, seeming to be coaxing the child.
Yi Wenze lightly flicked Jia He’s nose, saying softly: “There are some things I need to handle.”
Jia He’s face flushed slightly as she watched him go open the door. Wen Run carried her young nephew whose eyes were bleary from fatigue, very apologetically looking at Jia He. “Auntie Yi, you’re like catnip to kids. He doesn’t even want his mommy now.”
Jia He reached out to take over the half-asleep half-awake child, speaking gently: “It’s fine, I really like him too.”
Wen Run said some more and tottered back on unsteady feet to her room.
Jia He hugged the child. Feeling him rub against her, his hand even slid to her chest again… She looked at Yi Wenze on the verge of tears, softly saying: “He’s definitely going to grow up a playboy.” Yi Wenze was also quite helpless, using his forefinger to pry open the boy’s hand and successfully shifting his attention away. Though even more pathetic was that the small hand gripped his finger tightly, absolutely refusing to let go.
The two of them stood there like that, somehow at a loss for what to do next.
After some time they silently mouthed words to communicate, with great difficulty getting him onto the bed. They took turns carrying him and the other person went to shower. By the time both had washed up cleanly, the child finally burrowed into Jia He’s embrace and fell deeply asleep.
Jia He hugged the person in her arms, lying on her side watching him. She said softly: “How come you’re not sleeping yet?”
Gazing at his side profile and eyes in the moonlight from the window, it truly was blissful. Unfortunately there was a “third party” lying between them this first night in New Zealand.
His smile reached his eyes. “You started a fire but didn’t put it out. How do you expect me to sleep?”
Jia He shushed him. “Don’t teach your nephew any more bad habits.”
After a short quiet moment the child suddenly stirred a little.
Yi Wenze noticed and lightly reached out to carry him, bringing him to the bathroom. When he came back the little nephew had actually been coaxed back to sleep again by him, placed into Jia He’s embrace once more.
She watched him do everything in the darkness, suddenly feeling emotional. “You’ll definitely become a great dad in the future.”
He gave a soft laugh. “Go to sleep.”
The child kept very healthy hours. Jia He was still sleeping deeply when she felt movement in her arms. She blearily opened her eyes to the innocent stare he gave her. “Auntie.”
She continued hazily staring at him. One second, two seconds…
Finally realizing who was in her arms, she immediately jolted awake and sat up hugging him while checking if there were any traces of bedwetting. After groping all over and finding everywhere nice and dry, she finally breathed out in relief.
“Awake?” Yi Wenze walked in holding milk and fruit.
She mmm-ed. “So amazing how this less than 2 year old kid doesn’t wet the bed.”
Yi Wenze passed the milk to her lips and blandly said: “I brought him out three times last night but you didn’t notice?” Jia He had just swallowed a mouthful and nearly spat it out. “No way?”
He fed her fruit: “Sleep more?”
This was usually when she slept the deepest. She closed her eyes, eating the fruit and very embarrassedly said: “At your sister’s place, I can’t bear to sleep in.” The slight chill in her arms told her the child had been picked up by him already. “It’s fine, she’s still sleeping. I’ll bring him to his dad and come back to accompany you.”
She mmm-ed and immediately fell back asleep.
Previously when sleeping hugged up against Yi Wenze, his embrace was wide so it was very comfortable. But having to hold up a child all night meant nearly curling her whole body protectively around him. Now relaxing, she felt back pain and her waist was sore while even her arms couldn’t lift up.
She was half dreaming when she felt softness on her lips, lightly held.
She grunted twice and his tongue had already slid straight into her mouth for a gentle good morning kiss, deeply affectionate before swiftly pulling back. That kiss was too long, leaving her nearly breathless and unconsciously swallowing some saliva. That tiny movement actually stilled him. Jia He opened her eyes puzzledly: “What’s wrong?”
He smiled and embraced her in his arms. “Go back to sleep.”
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