There was nothing beside me.
Xu Qingzhu tried to call out to Liang Shi, but found that her voice was hoarse, so hoarse that she could barely make a sound.
My vocal cords hurt from the vibrations when I speak, and my mouth also hurts.
Her tongue was completely numb. She even tried to touch her lips with the tip of her tongue, but found that she couldn't even do such a simple action.
That's a bit excessive.
But she was certain that she hadn't done it last night.
So she was even more curious about what had happened last night.
She had no recollection of who she came back with.
My memory only goes back to going downstairs with my secretary to see our business partner off; I remember nothing after that.
Xu Qingzhu leaned wearily against the headboard, pressed her temples, and squeezed her throat. There was a glass of warm water on the bedside table. She picked it up and drank a few sips, which finally made her feel a little better.
She has keen hearing and can hear even the faintest sounds coming from outside.
So she was certain that Liang Shi was at home, but she didn't know what he was doing there.
There was the sound of running water, so it was unclear whether Liang Shi was washing up or cooking in the kitchen.
She was desperately trying to recall what had happened last night.
The more I try to remember, the less I recall.
Later, she stopped torturing herself and put everything behind her.
The main issue is the red marks on my wrists, which look like they've been strangled by something.
A while later, Xu Qingzhu found a black tie next to her pillow. It was the kind that came with one of her shirts; it was a half-tie that you could just pull up.
The reason she remembers it so clearly is because she bought the shirt when she was close to graduation, thinking she would wear it to work.
I never went to work, but I kept the shirt.
It's been sitting unused in the closet for a long time.
But this tie was suddenly taken out, and it showed signs of use, looking wrinkled.
Xu Qingzhu frowned, and some unpleasant scenes began to appear in her mind.
It was all in her imagination, but the more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became.
I feel that if I actually did that, I'd probably have to escape from the satellite today.
Xu Qingzhu felt her ears burning. She pinched her earlobes, stared at the black tie for a long time, and finally threw it aside and got out of bed as if she were escaping.
But to her surprise, her legs went weak as soon as she stood up; she was wearing silk shorts.
My knees throbbed with pain the moment I was about to stand up.
Xu Qingzhu sat back on the edge of the bed and looked down to find bruises on her knees.
Elbows, knees... bruises.
It's really hard not to overthink it.
But no matter how much she thought about it, it was all about sex. Xu Qingzhu didn't think any sexual activity could have injured her like this.
She lowered her eyes and tried again to remember, but found she couldn't.
We had no choice but to give up.
She rubbed her knees, but the bruises wouldn't go away anytime soon.
Seeing this first thing in the morning, Xu Qingzhu wasn't in a good mood.
What bothers her most is that she can't remember how she made the marks.
Just as she was feeling unwell, the door was gently pushed open. Without even turning her head, she knew it was Liang Shi and just kept rubbing her knees in silence.
Seeing that she was awake, Liang Shi stopped being so cautious and went into the room to stand in front of her. "Awake?"
"Hmm." Xu Qingzhu continued rubbing her knees without looking up.
Liang Shi went to draw back the curtains, bent down and squatted down to examine her wound, "How did it get so serious?"
Xu Qingzhu frowned, "How dare you ask?"
Liang Shi: "?"
"Teacher Liang," Xu Qingzhu questioned her, "Tell the truth, did you abuse me after I got drunk?"
Liang Shi: "..."
"You really don't remember any of it?" Liang Shi asked.
Xu Qingzhu didn't react, she just stared straight at her.
Before Liang Shi could speak, Xu Qingzhu suddenly reached out and poked her lips, "What happened to your lips? Why is your lip cut?"
Liang Shi: "..."
It's quite unpleasant to feel like only one person remembers you.
The main problem is that everything that happened last night was too embarrassing to talk about.
First, during a break from kissing, Xu Qingzhu went to the bathroom. When she came back, Liang Shi thought she was going to rest, but she excitedly rummaged through the closet and found a shirt.
She simply tossed the shirt aside, leaving only the tie, and placed her hands together above her head.
Liang was taken aback, thinking, "Are they really going to go this far?"
Xu Qingzhu said, "I heard that...it sounds like a lot of fun."
Liang Shi: "..."
He even used that tie to blindfold himself later.
When the eyes cannot see, all other senses are magnified infinitely.
However, Liang Shi felt sorry for her wrist and put the tie aside, coaxing her to sleep.
But she kept provoking Liang Shi, saying that Liang Shi's physical strength was not good.
As a result, Liang Shi kissed her so hard she almost suffocated.
But she laughed and said in a very sweet voice, "So it's because I'm not good enough."
Liang Shi pressed her head into his arms and said irritably, "Good to know, go to sleep."
Unexpectedly, Xu Qingzhu said, "Then I need to work hard and get fit."
Then she rolled over and sat up, supporting herself on Liang Shi in a plank position.
Liang Shi was puzzled and asked her what she was going to do.
Xu Qingzhu said with a serious expression, "Plank exercise."
"Then why are you leaning on me?" Liang Shi asked.
Xu Qingzhu pursed her lips, leaned down and kissed her, "This gives you motivation."
So whenever she couldn't hold on and was about to collapse, Liang Shi would cushion her fall.
When she couldn't hold on any longer but was unwilling to give up, she would put her legs up on either side and kneel on the bed to do a plank.
That's pure self-deception.
But she was having a blast.
Liang Shi had no choice but to play along with her.
Let her have a great time.
She was so outrageously crazy last night, she should be so glad she forgot about it today.
After some hesitation, Liang Shi decided to let her forget about it.
"How could I dare to abuse you?" Liang Shi said. "Baby, promise me you won't get drunk again, okay?"
Xu Qingzhu puffed out her cheeks, paused, and said, "I want to hear more."
She spoke without much confidence.
When I'm sober, I can't even make such a request properly.
Liang Shi didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?"
"What did you just say?" Xu Qingzhu asked back.
Liang Shi said, "I told you not to get drunk."
Xu Qingzhu nodded: "And then? How should I address you?"
Liang Shi hesitated, then, remembering her obsession last night, his heart softened for a moment, and he said, "Baby."
"Oh." Xu Qingzhu smiled broadly, no longer bothered by the bruises on her body. She raised her hand, still a little dazed and spoiled, "Teacher Liang, come and hug your baby."
The cold winter sun shone in, making all the beauty seem as vibrant as late winter.
When Xu Qingzhu finished speaking, her palms were covered in cold sweat.
This is the first time I've said this, and the first time I've gone so far as to push my luck.
She was afraid of being rejected.
Fortunately, after hesitating for a moment, Liang Shi leaned over and hugged her tightly, his hand resting on her hair, his voice both helpless and doting, "Baby, what am I going to do with you?"
Xu Qingzhu wrapped her legs around her waist and twirled her fingers in her hair, trying to negotiate, "Can I spoil you?"
With one hand supporting the bed, Liang Shi, a regular gym-goer, easily stood up while carrying the slender Xu Qingzhu, and carried her out of the room like a child, readily agreeing, "Okay."
//
Xu Qingzhu ran into Lin Luoxi again on her way to work that day.
Lin Luoxi stared at her lips for a long time, then said in surprise, "They're a little swollen."
Xu Qingzhu touched the corner of her mouth. "I'm alright."
Seeing her lovestruck expression, Lin Luoxi helplessly poked her forehead, "Little sister, you really are something, your love is written all over your face, tone it down a bit."
Xu Qingzhu's face immediately turned cold, but she couldn't help but smile again after mentioning Liang Shi, "It seems like she suddenly had an epiphany."