Yi Jinbai had a brain fart and blurted it out.
Jiang Shuiyun smiled, put down the slippers, stood up, and tapped Yi Jinbai on the forehead. "Put them on. Do you even have shoes on?"
Realizing he had made a foolish mistake again, Yi Jinbai really wanted to slap himself. Had he forgotten his brain tonight? Why did he keep doing such stupid things?
After Yi Jinbai put on his shoes, Jiang Shuiyun reached out and wiped away the faint tear stains at the corners of Yi Jinbai's eyes. "Why are you crying when you see me?"
Jiang Shuiyun shouldn't have come back today. She has indeed completed her mission, and there is no problem handing everything over to others. Around the Lantern Festival, she will be able to officially reveal her identity, because that will be the time when the whole of China announces that it has entered the holographic era.
Perhaps it was a twist of fate, but when Jiang Shuiyun heard her colleague talking about going home for the Chinese New Year, the image of Yi Jinbai suddenly appeared in her mind.
In Jiang Shuiyun's memory, the New Year was not very important. In her previous life, there was war and no such thing as celebrating the New Year in space. She almost never even knew when the New Year was. Occasionally, she would be lucky enough to have a holiday, but she would most likely be researching new mecha technology with her teacher. Her teacher never celebrated any holidays, not even birthdays, which led Jiang Shuiyun to be the same way.
Since arriving in this world, nothing seems to have changed. Jiang Shuiyun has no plans for this year's New Year. But when she thinks of Yi Jinbai, she can't help but recall that Yi Jinbai seems to spend every New Year alone.
On this day of family reunion, there are very few people like them, so they seem out of place in the lively atmosphere.
Unsure of what nerve her thought had touched, Jiang Shuiyun inexplicably applied to her superiors to go home for the New Year. It was a rather absurd excuse, but her superiors still approved it and immediately dispatched people to protect her, escorting her all the way back.
Because the application was submitted a bit late, and despite rushing, it was already late at night when Jiang Shuiyun finally arrived. Standing at the door, she had originally just wanted to call Yi Jinbai to wish him a Happy New Year, but upon hearing Yi Jinbai's tearful voice, she changed her mind and was glad that she had made this impulsive decision. At least, at this moment, she could say that she was here, instead of offering a pale comfort from thousands of miles away.
When Jiang Shuiyun saw Yi Jinbai rushing out, she admitted that she regretted her impulsive decision to leave.
Sitting in the warm house, under the cozy lamplight, Jiang Shuiyun looked at the person in front of her and was once again glad that she had chosen to come back. Although her behavior seemed a bit foolish, it proved that it was all worth it.
Yi Jinbai didn't know why she cried when she heard Jiang Shuiyun's voice or saw Jiang Shuiyun. She had experienced spending the New Year alone many times before, so it was nothing to her. She could have been fine on her own before Jiang Shuiyun was around.
Looking at Jiang Shuiyun in front of him, Yi Jinbai's eyes reddened again.
Jiang Shuiyun panicked and realized she had said the wrong thing. Looking into those wet, clear black and white eyes, she quickly pulled the person into her arms. "Don't ask anymore, don't ask anymore, I'm here."
"I don't want to cry, I don't want to cry at all."
As Yi Jinbai spoke, he watched his tears fall drop by drop onto Jiang Shuiyun's hand, feeling both anxious and aggrieved.
Perhaps Yi Jinbai didn't know that people can be very strong and endure a lot of grievances, but this kind of strength melts into water in an instant when they meet someone they rely on, just like ice and snow meeting the warm sun.
Jiang Shuiyun hurriedly wiped away Yi Jinbai's tears and coaxed him for a long time before finally calming him down. She dared not say another word, because if Yi Jinbai cried like this again, she would be heartbroken.
"You left without saying a word to me. You just left without saying anything."
Perhaps because he had already lost face enough tonight, Yi Jinbai stopped caring about anything else. Wiping away his tears, he leaned against Jiang Shuiyun and began to settle old scores, starting from the very beginning and counting them one by one.
Jiang Shuiyun felt quite helpless when she thought about it. "I'm really not good at handling these kinds of things. At the time, I thought you and Shen Xian might be good choices. Since that's the case, I..."
Jiang Shuiyun was interrupted by Yi Jinbai before she could finish speaking, "Shen Yunyi was right after all. You just naively believe that Shen Xian and I are a couple, so you can just leave me behind? Don't you even want to ask me?"
Yi Jinbai's unusually firm tone left Jiang Shuiyun speechless. "This was my fault. Don't be angry anymore, don't be angry anymore."
Jiang Shuiyun's show of weakness dissipated much of Yi Jinbai's anger, but he still felt wronged. "Teacher Shen and I are not what you think at all. I admire him very much and regard him as my role model on my musical path, but it has nothing to do with love or anything like that."
Yi Jinbai looked at Jiang Shuiyun and nodded, his tone softening, "I know it's my fault. I didn't explain things clearly to you at the beginning, which caused you to misunderstand. So it's my fault too."
"Let's not argue about who's at fault, okay?" Jiang Shuiyun was both amused and exasperated. She remembered that before she left, she and Yi Jinbai had both felt that it was their fault because of Shen Xian and Shen Yunyi. They kept taking the blame, and in the end, there was no resolution.
Jiang Shuiyun looked into Yi Jinbai's eyes and said, "Who is right and who is wrong is not always important. What is important is to solve the problem. You see, now that we've talked it out, the problem is solved, and everything is fine. Who is at fault is not important."
Yi Jinbai nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Jiang Shuiyun looked at Yi Jinbai, waiting for her to say something next, but Yi Jinbai also looked at Jiang Shuiyun, waiting for her to say something next. The two stared at each other, and the air fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Shuiyun raised an eyebrow slightly. "So?"
"That's all."
Yi Jinbai blinked. She felt like she had said everything she needed to say. Was there anything else she wanted to say? No, right?
Jiang Shuiyun sighed and said, "Alright, Happy New Year then, I'll head back now."
After saying that, Jiang Shuiyun actually went to get her coat, as if she was really about to leave.
Yi Jinbai reached out and grabbed Jiang Shuiyun's arm. "Why are you leaving so soon?"
"I told you, I snuck out." Jiang Shuiyun draped her coat over her arm, turned around to look at Yi Jinbai, and said this nonsense with a straight face.
Yi Jinbai felt that he would be a complete fool to believe Jiang Shuiyun's words again, and snorted, "You lied to me again."
"Alright, I won't lie to you," Jiang Shuiyun rubbed Yi Jinbai's head. "I just came back to see you. Things over there aren't really over yet, and I really have to go back again. It's getting late, so you should get some rest."
Yi Jinbai looked at Jiang Shuiyun, his hand still gripping her arm. "Are you really leaving?"
"Well, is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"
Jiang Shuiyun nodded. Actually, she didn't need to be in such a hurry. She really did want to go back, but it wouldn't be too late to leave tomorrow morning. However, she was wicked and wanted to hear Yi Jinbai say what he should have said a long time ago.
Yi Jinbai seemed to see that Jiang Shuiyun had made a great decision, and finally, when Jiang Shuiyun was not paying attention, he pulled her arm and tilted her to his side, and then quickly kissed Jiang Shuiyun's lips.
The fleeting kiss left Jiang Shuiyun a little dazed. She belatedly pursed her lips, then looked at Yi Jinbai, who was trying to run away after the kiss, and pulled him back. "That's it?"
Yi Jinbai felt that she had mustered up the most courage she had in her life. Although she had rehearsed countless times in her mind how to explain her relationship with Shen Xian to Jiang Shuiyun and how to make her true feelings clear to Jiang Shuiyun before Jiang Shuiyun returned, now that the person was standing in front of her, those words seemed to have vanished from her mind.
She had already explained, but she selectively forgot the rest of what she had said. It wasn't until she heard that Jiang Shuiyun was leaving again, and this time she didn't know how long she would be gone, that her burning passion took the most effective action in the shortest amount of time.
Yi Jinbai's face was flushed. Although she really wanted to raise her head and explain things to Jiang Shuiyun, there was always a gap between ideals and reality. She was practically roasted alive.
Jiang Shuiyun looked at Yi Jinbai, who was curling up like a little turtle, and felt helpless, but it didn't matter, it was enough.
Jiang Shuiyun tossed her coat aside, scooped up Yi Jinbai's head which was bowed low, and kissed him.
The kiss caught Yi Jinbai off guard, but the pounding of her heart had rendered her brain incapable of thinking. She could only rely on the truest choice in her heart, reaching out to wrap her arms around Jiang Shuiyun's waist and closing her eyes.
Yi Jinbai's expression was simple, and Jiang Shuiyun's response was equally simple. When their lips met, all their feelings were self-evident. This most primitive form of communication meant that these two emotionally clueless people no longer had to worry about their lack of words.
A huge firework exploded in the sky, and its colorful light shone through the window, enveloping the two of them. Jiang Shuiyun released Yi Jinbai, but this time Yi Jinbai did not lower his head. Instead, he raised his eyes to meet Jiang Shuiyun's gaze.
Jiang Shuiyun and Yi Jinbai intertwined their fingers. "Let's be together."
There were no sweet words in her mind; Jiang Shuiyun's mind was completely blank. She even had the equation for a firework explosion in her head. In such a chaotic state, it was a miracle that she could still find such a line.
Yi Jinbai nodded vigorously. This was an opportunity given to them by heaven. She felt as if she couldn't speak, but fortunately, their gestures could still express their feelings.
After confirming their relationship, Jiang Shuiyun and Yi Jinbai sat in the room, watching the fireworks exploding outside. They were both a little nervous, and they needed time to adjust to this sudden change in their relationship.
Suddenly, Jiang Shuiyun remembered something: she had left the flowers she bought for Yi Jinbai at the door. "I brought you flowers."
Yi Jinbai watched in confusion as Jiang Shuiyun hurriedly left, only to reappear a moment later carrying a large bouquet of red roses.
"I came across a rose farm on the way here, and bought you a bouquet of flowers."
Jiang Shuiyun placed the flowers into Yi Jinbai's arms, her ears secretly turning red. She had given flowers before, but this time it felt particularly different.
"Just on the side?"
Yi Jinbai held the flowers, his face beaming with an undisguised smile. On such a cold day, what a coincidence that he happened to pass by a manor with such flowers.
Jiang Shuiyun's ears turned bright red. It wasn't just a coincidence; she went to the flower shop, but it was already closed. So she deliberately took a detour to the suburbs and found the manor the florist had mentioned. She selected the best-blooming flowers, wrapped them up herself in the car, and originally planned to leave them at the door, but now that was even better.
"It wasn't by chance."
Jiang Shuiyun admitted it. Yi Jinbai sniffed the fragrance of the roses in his arms with satisfaction. After sending flowers so many times, he finally got red roses.
Taking advantage of Jiang Shuiyun's inattention, Yi Jinbai reached for the phone next to him and said, "Jiang Shuiyun."
"Um?"
Jiang Shuiyun instinctively looked at Yi Jinbai beside her. At the same time, Yi Jinbai tiptoed and kissed Jiang Shuiyun, then pressed the shutter, capturing the moment on his phone.
Jiang Shuiyun then realized that the photo wasn't very clear, but the timing was perfect. Behind the roses were a pair of lovers kissing, and outside the window behind them, fireworks were exploding.
Yi Jinbai, satisfied, ran upstairs with his phone and flowers in his arms. Jiang Shuiyun's eyes softened into a pool of water. Sure enough, having a formal title made all the difference.
Jiang Shuiyun helped Yi Jinbai put the flowers in a vase and placed it in front of the bedroom window. The fireworks outside had stopped, and the Spring Festival Gala had long ended; everyone should be resting.
A note from the author:
My perfect attendance record is gone! [Frustrated and throwing a tantrum] Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2022-06-15 23:59:04 and 2022-06-17 00:23:04!
Thank you to the little angels who threw landmines: Pei Er and Zhen Mulin (1 each);
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 陌影疏涵丶, 为风, and 衫儿宝宝 (1 bottle each);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 72
Jiang Shuiyun returned home travel-worn. When she finished washing up and changing her clothes and came out of the bathroom, Yi Jinbai was still awake. He walked over, took the towel from her hand, and dried her wet hair.
"It's almost 2 a.m., aren't you sleepy yet?"
Jiang Shuiyun glanced at the time; in a few more hours, it would be dawn.
"I'm not sleepy. I feel like this is a dream. When I fall asleep and wake up, I won't be able to see you anymore."
After drying her hair, Yi Jinbai wrapped her arms around Jiang Shuiyun from behind, resting her chin on Jiang Shuiyun's shoulder. Looking at the reflection of their overlapping figures in the window, she didn't even dare to pinch herself, afraid that she would wake up from this dream too soon.
Jiang Shuiyun understood Yi Jinbai's unease. She got up, drew the curtains, picked him up, and placed him on the bed. "This is not a dream, but I really am leaving tomorrow. Wait for me for another half month. After the Lantern Festival, I will have a long vacation, and then I can stay at home with you every day."
"Really?"
Leaning against Jiang Shuiyun, Yi Jinbai tightened her arms around her. Even if it was only for half a month, she didn't want to be separated again. However, she knew Jiang Shuiyun's special circumstances, which couldn't be changed by her own willfulness.
"I promise."
Jiang Shuiyun gently patted Yi Jinbai's back, "Go to sleep."
With her beloved in her arms, Jiang Shuiyun slowly closed her eyes; she actually had trouble falling asleep.
"I'm having trouble sleeping."
Yi Jinbai's voice was muffled. She raised her head and looked at Jiang Shuiyun, feeling as if the person in front of her would disappear in the blink of an eye.
With her eyes closed, Jiang Shuiyun instinctively and precisely covered Yi Jinbai's eyes, "I don't want things to progress too quickly."
Yi Jinbai was stunned for a moment, then pulled Jiang Shuiyun's hand down. Just as he was about to ask something, a faint scent of cedar wood wafted through the air, carrying a hint of coolness. "What's that smell? It smells so good?"
Jiang Shuiyun suddenly opened her eyes, released her hand from covering Yi Jinbai's eyes, and pinched her nose, "You can't smell it."
"For..." With his nose pinched, Yi Jinbai's voice was thick with nasal tone. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly remembered something, his face turned red, and he obediently shut his mouth.
Omega pheromones have a fatal attraction for Alphas, easily causing Alphas to lose their minds. Similarly, Alpha pheromones have an irresistible attraction for Omega, and can cause Omega to enter their fertile period earlier, at which point the situation becomes uncontrollable.
"I'm going to sleep next door."
There was an air purifier in the room, and the faint fragrance from before was no longer noticeable. Jiang Shuiyun released Yi Jinbai and tried to get up.