Top-Tier Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Awakening
Huo Yichi knew she was lost in the moment.
Her mind was hazy, almost forgetting where she was.
She’d read countless descriptions of kisses in novels and seen kissing scenes in movies and dramas.
But nothing compared to the real thing.
Not even her most vivid dreams could capture the intensity of this moment.
Pei You’s lips were soft and yielding, making her lose all control.
Her hand moved to the back of Pei You’s head, her wrist brushing against Pei You’s hair.
It tickled.
But the real tickle was in her heart.
Huo Yichi’s eyelashes fluttered.
Pei You was kissing her back, their tongues entwined in a playful dance, one kiss melting into the next.
Their breaths mingled, indistinguishable.
But neither of them was experienced; the kiss didn’t last long. Pei You moaned softly, and when Huo Yichi pulled back, she turned her face away, burying it in the crook of Huo Yichi's neck.
Huo Yichi was half-lying on the bed, her upper body leaning over Pei You.
Pei You’s closeness made Huo Yichi’s heart race. After a few seconds, she pulled her hand away from Pei You’s hair and placed it on the blanket.
But they were still close.
Pei You’s warm breath against Huo Yichi’s neck sent shivers down her spine.
But Huo Yichi knew she shouldn't push it any further.
She’d already gotten more than she’d ever dreamed of tonight: holding hands with Pei You, kissing Pei You.
Yet, it wasn’t enough.
Pei You, her eyes closed, tried to steady her breathing, her thoughts a jumble, yet a certain clarity was emerging amidst the chaos.
But it was fleeting; she couldn’t grasp it.
After a while, Pei You finally calmed down. Still nestled against Huo Yichi's neck, she called her name. "Huo Yichi.”
"Hmm?" Huo Yichi responded instantly.
Pei You pursed her lips. "Let's go to sleep.”
"Okay," Huo Yichi said, understanding.
She rolled over, moving back to her side of the bed.
Pei You also shifted slightly, creating a small space between them.
Their hands, which had been intertwined, were no longer touching.
Huo Yichi discreetly rubbed her fingers together, the warmth of Pei You's touch lingering.
But how could she possibly sleep now?
Neither of them had an answer.
The memory of the kiss replayed in their minds, whether their eyes were open or closed.
It hadn’t been passionate or intense.
But it had been gentle and… lingering.
Recalling it made Huo Yichi thirsty. She sat up and reached for the water bottle on the nightstand, taking a few sips.
Just as she was about to put the bottle back, she heard Pei You cough softly.
"Wait," Pei You said, "I’m thirsty, too.”
"I’ll get you some," Huo Yichi said, about to get out of bed.
Pei You reached out and stopped her. "Aren’t you cold?" she asked, then, in the darkness, found Huo Yichi's wrist and took the water bottle from her.
Huo Yichi's hand was empty now.
She swallowed nervously.
Only when they were putting on an act in public would Pei You share a drink or use the same things as her.
They’d never done so in private.
Pei You took a few sips, then handed the bottle back. "Here.”
"Thanks," Huo Yichi placed the bottle back on the nightstand. "Go to sleep now; you’re not thirsty anymore.”
Pei You lay back down. This was the umpteenth time tonight.
Huo Yichi pulled the covers up.
But she still couldn't sleep.
If she could fall asleep so easily after what had just happened, she’d be disgusted with herself.
But Pei You was quiet now, seemingly facing away from her.
Huo Yichi tried to calm her racing heart.
After what felt like an eternity, perhaps half an hour, perhaps an hour, she finally drifted off.
When she woke up, Pei You was still asleep.
Looking at Pei You’s sleeping face, Huo Yichi’s cheeks flushed as she recalled what had happened last night.
She’d been anything but experienced, acting purely on instinct and feeling.
Huo Yichi, afraid her gaze was too intense, looked away, picking up her phone to check for messages.
Her Moments post from last night had many likes and comments; she couldn't reply to them all, so she just picked a few.
Cai Xianyu had commented: 【Whoa!】
And Lin Fang had replied to his comment: 【Whoa what?】
To which Cai Xianyu had replied: 【Nothing. Just… adorable.】
Huo Yichi chuckled at their exchange.
She returned to her messages and texted Lin Fang: 【Don’t forget to feed the cat.】
【I’m feeding her right now,】 Lin Fang replied instantly, sending a video of Xiao Xing.
Huo Yichi lowered the volume before playing the video.
Xiao Xing was grooming itself.
After watching the video, Huo Yichi glanced at Pei You.
Pei You was awake now, looking at her sleepily.
Huo Yichi quickly put away her phone. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, pretty well," Pei You cleared her throat, rubbing her eyes. "Aren't you going to work?”
"I told my colleague I wouldn't be in this morning, and she’ll take tomorrow morning off," Huo Yichi said, holding up her phone.
Pei You nodded. "Okay. What time is it?”
"11 am," Huo Yichi glanced at the time.
"Time to get up then," Pei You threw off the covers, her hair tousled from sleep. "I’ll book a ticket back to Yuncheng after lunch.”
As Pei You went to the bathroom to wash up, Huo Yichi’s eyes widened slightly.
In her excitement, she'd forgotten Pei You was leaving today.
A wave of disappointment washed over her. She sat on the bed, clutching her phone, for two minutes before walking over to the bathroom door and knocking.
Pei You opened the door, toothbrush in hand, her eyes questioning.
"I'm going back to my room to get ready. Let's have lunch together before I take you to the station.”
"Okay," Pei You said.
Xiao Yin was still at the hotel; otherwise, Huo Yichi wouldn't have any clothes to change into.
When Huo Yichi knocked on her door, Xiao Yin opened it immediately, finding Huo Yichi looking a little… dazed.
"Chi-jie, did you not sleep well last night?" Xiao Yin asked.
Huo Yichi forced a smile. “I slept fine." She pointed towards the bathroom. "I’m going to shower.”
"Okay, I'm going to the stall. Are you taking your classmate to the station later?”
"I am."
"Come find me when you’re done then.”
"Okay.”
Xiao Yin left, closing the door behind her.
Huo Yichi looked at herself in the mirror, not reaching for her toothbrush just yet.
She felt a pang of sadness.
It felt like she’d finally made some progress with Pei You, only to be faced with another separation.
And…
She seemed to be the only one who felt this way.
At 11:30 am, Pei You knocked on her door.
They took the elevator together, Pei You going to the front desk to check out.
It was still snowing in Liucheng. They were both wearing down jackets with their hoods up, only their eyes visible.
"There's a good restaurant nearby; I'll take you there," Huo Yichi said, keeping her voice even, hiding her reluctance.
Last night felt like a dream.
But dreams weren't this real.
"Okay," Pei You said. "You can go to work after lunch. I want to go shopping; I told my grandma I'd buy her something.”
"Do you… need me to go with you?" Huo Yichi asked, stopping.
Pei You declined. "No, thanks," she glanced at Huo Yichi. "We’re in Liucheng; we won’t run into anyone we know. We don't have to keep up appearances.”
"Aren't we friends?" Huo Yichi asked.
"We are, but I don't want to waste your time.”
Huo Yichi frowned, her voice serious. "Anything involving you isn't a waste of time.”
It was a simple sentence, yet it made Pei You's heart skip a beat.
She didn't know how to respond.
She had lain awake for a long time last night, thinking about her and Huo Yichi.
She thought she knew who Huo Yichi liked.
It was her.
Realizing this had kept her awake.
What about her?
Did she like Huo Yichi?
Pei You didn’t know the answer; she just felt confused.
She didn't mind being close to Huo Yichi, didn’t find her annoying, and she’d even felt… something during their kiss. A flutter of excitement, a warmth in her chest.
But was it physical or emotional?
She didn’t know.
She needed time to sort out her feelings.
That was why she was being a little distant.
Pushing aside her confused thoughts, Pei You smiled at Huo Yichi. "Okay then, come with me.”
With both of them lost in their own thoughts, the meal was quiet.
But Huo Yichi, wanting to break the awkward silence, tried to make conversation. She showed Pei You a video Lin Fang had sent. "My cousin is feeding Xiao Xing.”
Pei You watched the video several times. "She's so cute! I haven't seen her in a while; I miss her.”
Huo Yichi: "..."
She asked tentatively, "You miss a cat you haven't seen in a while. So…”
"I’ll miss you too, of course. We’re friends, aren't we? Don't you miss me?" Pei You interrupted.
Huo Yichi’s smile faltered. "Yes," she said, "of course I’ll miss you, too. We’re friends, after all.”
Once they reached the shopping district, Pei You went into shopping mode.
Yuncheng and Liucheng were similar in terms of development, but there were still differences. Pei You had never been to Liucheng before, and now that she had the time and opportunity, she indulged herself.
Huo Yichi patiently accompanied her, answering her questions and offering suggestions.
By the time they returned to the car, Pei You had several shopping bags in hand.
"I only brought a backpack," Pei You said as she arranged the bags, "and now I have all this stuff to carry back."
She had bought some skincare products, cosmetics, and a massage device for her grandmother.
She could have easily bought these things in Yuncheng.
But Pei You felt that if she didn't buy anything…
Then she would have to part ways with Huo Yichi sooner.
Thinking this, Pei You realized she was reluctant to leave Huo Yichi.
She hadn’t felt this way before.
What was happening to her?
Had their kiss last night truly affected her this much?
Pei You didn’t know.
She just felt… confused.
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