Top-Tier Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Again

Pei You’s question was so direct, so unlike her, that Huo Yichi was stunned.

She even wondered if she’d misheard; she’d never imagined Pei You would ask her something like this.

How should she answer?

She hadn't been crying because she missed Pei You, but because she’d thought Pei You didn't even want to be friends anymore.

The carefully suppressed vulnerability she’d kept hidden had crumbled, and the tears had come, unexpectedly.

She only allowed herself these moments of weakness when she was alone, like when Xiao Yin was in the shower.

And Pei You had walked in on her.

"No," Huo Yichi shook her head, stubbornly refusing to admit it. "Of course not.”

Pei You gently blew on Huo Yichi's chilblains, chuckling at her denial. "Of course not," she echoed sarcastically.

Huo Yichi looked away, then, unable to help herself, glanced back as Pei You continued to blow on her fingers.

It was a strangely intimate gesture.

It had happened last night, too, but tonight felt different, a pleasant warmth spreading through Huo Yichi.

Especially as she watched Pei You’s slightly pursed lips.

It reminded her of their kiss last night.

Lips, tongues.

Intimacy, desire.

Huo Yichi, inexperienced as she was, couldn’t hide her reaction; her expression betrayed her.

"What are you thinking about?" Pei You asked, having finished blowing on one hand, picking up the ointment.

Huo Yichi shook her head. "Nothing."

"This feels strange," Pei You suddenly said, referring to herself.

"What? What feels strange?" Huo Yichi asked, confused.

"Thinking about our kiss last night… it feels strange," Pei You was surprised by her own boldness, casually mentioning it, and right in front of Huo Yichi, too.

Huo Yichi's face immediately flushed.

Trying to appear nonchalant, she raised her hand and touched her ear.

It was burning hot.

"What’s strange about it?" she asked, lowering her hand, trying to regain her composure.

Pei You’s tone was casual, businesslike, just like when they’d first discussed their fake relationship.

No hint of emotion.

So, to Pei You, the kiss had probably been just… part of the act.

Even if it was fake, they were supposed to be a couple, after all.

Pei You didn’t look at Huo Yichi, her fingers carefully applying the ointment.

She didn’t answer immediately.

Huo Yichi’s nervousness grew. As Pei You was applying the ointment to her last finger, she couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Did you… not like it?”

It sounded like they were discussing a scientific experiment.

Pei You shook her head. "No, it’s because I… liked it very much," she said, then looked up, her eyelashes fluttering, her gaze lingering on Huo Yichi’s still-flushed lips before meeting her eyes.

"Perhaps because I’ve never… done it before," she said softly. "It was my first kiss. It was… nice.”

Huo Yichi mumbled in response, "Okay, that's… good. It was my first kiss, too," she added.

There had been a brief, almost-kiss last night, but it had been negligible, both of them too caught up in the moment.

Pei You suddenly smiled. "Your other hand.”

"Oh, right," Huo Yichi obediently held out her other hand.

Pei You diligently blew on her fingers and applied the ointment.

After finishing, she even asked, her voice gentle, "Do they still hurt?”

"They’re fine now," Huo Yichi shook her head.

Her heart was pounding.

She wasn't used to this kind of conversation with Pei You.

They rarely talked about such things. Their most intimate conversation had been about their respective crushes.

They’d never discussed anything… physical.

Even though, for adults, a kiss wasn't exactly a taboo topic.

She had to admit, she was excited. Pei You hadn't rejected her, and judging by her words and actions, she’d even… enjoyed it.

But what did that mean?

Huo Yichi didn’t know.

If Pei You didn’t like her but was still willing to… be intimate with her, then…

It would be strange.

The kettle had finished boiling. Pei You rinsed two cups, filled them with hot water, added some bottled water to cool them down, and handed one to Huo Yichi.

Huo Yichi sat up straight. "Thank you," she said, taking the cup and gulping down the water in one go.

She'd thought it would calm her nerves, but now, with the empty cup in her hand, she realized it hadn't worked, especially with Pei You staring at her in surprise.

Huo Yichi: "Uh…"

She explained, "I was thirsty.”

"I’ll get you another cup," Pei You said, about to stand up.

Huo Yichi, who was no longer thirsty, quickly grabbed Pei You's wrist. "No, thanks, I'm good.”

The sudden pull brought Pei You closer.

They had been sitting a little apart, but now they were practically touching.

Huo Yichi suddenly felt warm, perhaps from the water, a pleasant warmth spreading through her body, and…

An urge.

Their eyes met.

Pei You’s lips looked soft and… kissable.

Huo Yichi had thought this before, had wanted to kiss her before, but their kiss last night had been in the dark.

What about now? Huo Yichi’s mind raced.

She placed her hands on either side of her, but her head moved closer to Pei You’s.

Pei You’s eyes were closed, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

Huo Yichi could see them trembling slightly.

Wasn’t this a silent invitation?

An invitation for another kiss?

Huo Yichi swallowed, her hand reaching out to gently cup Pei You’s chin as she leaned in.

No words were needed.

Her movements were slow and deliberate.

The lights in the room weren’t bright, but a soft lamp illuminated the area around the sofa.

The moment their lips touched, the memories of last night flooded back.

Vivid and clear.

And this time, it was Pei You who took the lead, gently pushing Huo Yichi against the sofa cushions, blocking the light from the lamp.

Still inexperienced, but curious and eager to explore.

Pei You couldn't deny the growing desire within her.

Last night had been a blur, a spontaneous act, but this time was different. They were both awake, aware of what they were doing.

Huo Yichi's lips were soft, a softness unlike anything Pei You had ever experienced before. There were no words, no comparisons, that could capture the sensation.

She kissed Huo Yichi, her kisses sometimes light, sometimes deep, a mix of gentle nibbles and passionate exploration, their tongues tangling in a dance of desire.

The kiss seemed to last forever.

When it finally ended, Huo Yichi was almost lying down on the sofa, having shifted several times during the kiss, her feet still on the floor.

Pei You, as she had last night, buried her face in the crook of Huo Yichi’s neck.

Her breathing was still uneven, her heart still racing.

One of them, or perhaps both, swallowed nervously.

"Huo Yichi," Pei You finally said, breaking the silence.

Huo Yichi blinked, pulled away from the lingering scent of Pei You’s hair, and looked at her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"When I watched you leave at the train station today… I felt… a little reluctant. I thought you should know.”

Huo Yichi smiled. "Thank you," she said.

She understood what Pei You meant.

Even though Pei You knew about her feelings, she hadn’t distanced herself; she was trying to… get closer.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have come all the way here, wouldn't have blown on her chilblains and applied the ointment, wouldn't have kissed her.

Huo Yichi mentally slapped herself. Why hadn't she realized this sooner?

Pei You hummed softly, pulling away from Huo Yichi’s embrace and taking a sip of water from the glass on the table.

She avoided looking at Huo Yichi, aware that her face was probably burning red.

For the past few years, especially after graduating high school, Pei You had thought she would never love again.

The girl she’d loved had been… too perfect.

So, she hadn't been interested in relationships. All the talk about how everyone should experience love in college had been meaningless to her.

But there had always been people pursuing her, some even after being rejected.

It had been exhausting.

And then Huo Yichi had appeared.

Pei You didn’t know when Huo Yichi’s feelings had developed, but even after their two-year separation, she felt more comfortable around Huo Yichi than anyone else.

It had been a long time; Pei You knew she shouldn't dwell on the past anymore. She needed to move on.

She hadn't expected that the person who would bring color back into her world would be Huo Yichi, someone she'd known for so long.

Even though…

Pei You still wasn’t sure what those colors represented, at least it wasn’t black and white anymore.

Xiao Yin’s takeout finally arrived. They could hear the knock on the door from next door.

Shortly after, Xiao Yin knocked on their door. “Chi-jie, I ordered too much food. Do you guys want some?”

She’d said "you guys," not "you.”

"No, thanks, Xiao Yin," Huo Yichi replied.

"Okay," Xiao Yin said, returning to her room, feeling like a third wheel. But she really had ordered too much food.

Pei You refilled their glasses, this time filling them to the brim.

Sitting down on the sofa again, she asked, "Are there any videos of Xiao Xing today?”

"I’ll ask Lin Fang," Huo Yichi said, unlocking her phone.

"I…," Pei You pursed her lips, "when I come back to Liucheng tomorrow, I can feed Xiao Xing. I get off work early, and Lin Fang is still in school, so it would be easier for me.”

Huo Yichi looked at her, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Do you really want to feed my cat? Her food is in the cabinet above the bar. She…”

Seeing Huo Yichi’s serious expression, Pei You chuckled.

"It’s not just about the cat. Maybe… I just want an excuse to message you every day, like Lin Fang.”

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