She led him to the kitchen and poured him a cup of milk tea. He picked up the book she had casually left on the counter: "Your English isn't a problem now, is it?"
"It's alright."
"How are your classmates treating you?"
"Most of them are very friendly. I'm the only Chinese student in the whole school, so it's understandable they're a bit curious about me."
"What about your studies?"
"Also fine. Though I don't get straight A's, it's enough for the teachers here to praise me to the skies."
"I knew you could do it."
She hesitated, then finally couldn't resist asking: "Why did you come to Portland? It's November—way past the season for tourists to come see the lighthouses and eat lobster. Maine winters are famously long and bitterly cold."
"I happened to have some business in New York."
"If you had business in Boston, I'd believe you were just dropping by to see me."
He looked at her and smiled, admitting frankly: "I got your address from Jingjing. I came specifically to see you."
Joy rose bit by bit from the depths of her heart, spilling from her eyes, yet she still tried to control it, saying in a calm voice: "I told you, no one would mistreat me. You just wouldn't stop worrying."
He studied her carefully again. She was wearing a red plaid shirt, a blue-gray pullover sweater, blue jeans, and snow boots, her hair still tied in a ponytail. Feeling slightly uneasy under his gaze, she suddenly said: "Gao Xiang, let's go."
"Where to?"
"I'll take you out for a drive."
Gao Xiang had rented a Ford. Zuo Si'an insisted on driving, and he handed her the keys. She started the car skillfully and drove to the Old Port, the downtown area of Portland. It had beautiful historic buildings but was quite empty, with only occasional pedestrians on the red brick-paved streets.
"Is it always this quiet here?"
"It's like this after the tourist season. I wasn't used to it when I first arrived, but now I quite like the peace and quiet."
She stopped in front of an Italian bakery, which also had few customers. She ordered coffee and a long, rectangular pastry. When Gao Xiang reached for his wallet, she stopped him: "My treat. I earned a lot of money from my summer job."
He was amused by her slightly boastful and proud expression and let her pay. They sat at a corner table. "They say the espresso here is very authentic. Try it."
Gao Xiang took a sip and nodded in agreement: "It really is good."
She smiled happily: "I came here for ice cream once in the summer. It was delicious, but a tiny cup cost four dollars—way too expensive. Oh, and this pastry actually has ice cream inside. Try it."
She brought the pastry to his lips. He wasn't particularly fond of sweets, but under her eager gaze, he took a bite. Watching her eat the rest without any hesitation, he felt indescribably happy.
"You really should come in the summer. I could treat you to lobster. This state's slogan is: 'We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster.'" She gestured with her hands, "Each one is this big, freshly boiled. One is enough to fill you up completely. And lobster rolls are delicious too."
"You're treating me like a total foodie now."He suddenly raised his hand, using his index finger to wipe the cream from the corner of her mouth, pausing briefly on her lips. Her face flushed crimson instantly, and she masked her fluster with a cheerful tone, saying, "Come on, let's go see the lighthouse. It's kind of a symbol of Portland—it'd be a shame to miss it."
Portland was indeed a small city, and within just over ten minutes by car, they arrived at Williamsburg Park, where the lighthouse stood. They got out of the car and looked around; the park's visitors consisted only of the two of them. The sea wind blew so fiercely it was almost hard to stand steady, waves crashed violently against the shore, and the sea was shrouded in thick fog that spread everywhere, leaving the surroundings all gray and hazy. Leaden clouds churned restlessly, and a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky.
"In this kind of weather, no wonder there are hardly any tourists."
"Yeah, it's actually quite beautiful when the weather's clear, but it's always like this in winter. This is Stephen King's hometown—have you read any of his novels?" He shook his head, and she said, "He's a horror writer born here. I think the eerie atmosphere in his novels has something to do with the local climate."
They braved the wind and walked to the foot of the famous lighthouse, looking up at the white tower flanked by several classical buildings with red roofs, white walls, and porches, all elegantly arranged. Zuo Si'an was already shivering from the cold, her voice trembling as she played tour guide: "Maine has a long coastline with many lighthouses, but this one is the most famous, built in 1791..."
"Alright, alright," Gao Xiang interrupted her, pulling her into his embrace and wrapping his trench coat around her. "You've already done your duty as a host, but if you keep giving me a tour in this weather, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."
Her eyes lowered, she said nothing. He suddenly felt the urge to kiss her quivering eyelashes but struggled to control himself. Just as he was about to speak, she suddenly looked up, pressing her icy cheek against his: "I've missed you so much, Gao Xiang."
He could no longer hold back, holding her tightly in his arms.
Dark clouds gathered all around, the world felt vast and empty, and the surroundings were a blur of gray. The howling sea wind mingled with the sound of surging waves, creating a sense of grandeur that seemed to break free from all constraints, as if they were in a world beyond reality—a primordial chaos just beginning, with only each other's embrace to hold onto.
Zuo Si'an suddenly said, "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
Gao Xiang had no interest in sightseeing and was someone who never gave up on plans and control—wherever he went, he had to know the purpose and direction. But at that moment, he suddenly felt willing to ask nothing and follow her anywhere in this unfamiliar country.
Hand in hand, they quickly ran out of the park and got back into the car. She drove a few blocks away and stopped in front of a house, asking Gao Xiang to wait in the car. She got out, knocked on the door, and spoke a few words with a tall, brown-haired girl. The girl laughed heartily, glanced toward the car, and quickly fetched a key, handing it to Zuo Si'an.She got back into the car and continued driving, soon turning onto the coastal highway. Maine’s coastline stretched long and rugged, with dark gray jagged rocks covering the beaches. Ahead, mist swirled among the trees, and typical New England-style houses dotted the roadside, a scene that should have been pleasing to the eye. Yet under the gloomy weather, everything in sight appeared stark and desolate.
After driving for no more than 20 minutes, she reached a small town. Along the way were bars, restaurants, and gift shops, but nearly all were closed, as empty as downtown Portland. The town was devoid of people, its silence almost unsettling. Zuo Si'an passed through the town and arrived at a standalone cottage by the sea. She opened the door and stepped into a small living room.
"That was my classmate Sarah earlier. This is her mother’s B&B—short for Bed and Breakfast, a small family inn that offers lodging and breakfast. It’s really tiny, with only five guest rooms in total. It operates until the end of October each year and reopens to guests the following spring."
As she explained, she deftly drew back the curtains, opened the inner blinds, and then fetched firewood from the small storage room next to the kitchen. She arranged the logs in the fireplace, struck a match, and lit them. Bright red flames leaped up instantly, filling the room with warmth.
They sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace. She seemed slightly uneasy and pointed out the window. "Over there is Old Orchard Beach. Most of Maine’s beaches are rough with too many rocks, but here it’s a flat sandy shore. In the summer, it’s crowded with tourists sunbathing. I worked in this town all summer this year…"
He suddenly interrupted her, pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly. He lowered his head and kissed her. It was the first time he had kissed her without any restraint—a deep, lingering kiss that left them both breathless and oxygen-deprived. When he finally released her, she was in a daze.
Outside, the sky was overcast with dense clouds, and the sea, shrouded in thick fog, surged and receded. Beside them, dry pine logs crackled softly in the fireplace, occasionally emitting faint pops. He looked down at her, studying her intently. She lay in his embrace, her eyes shifting restlessly, her lips moist and slightly swollen, her face flushed, and her chest rising and falling gently. She raised her hand, tracing his eyebrows, eyes, and nose, then stroking the stubble on his chin before slowly moving down to his throat. He caught her hand and bit the fleshy part between her thumb and index finger. She let out a sharp cry, scrambled up, and bit his lip hard in retaliation, making him gasp in pain before she released him. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Did you miss me?"
"Of course I did. I’ve been thinking of you all along. I didn’t come all this way just to see lighthouses."
"It took you so long to say you missed me. I hate you."She sat on his lap, her warm breath tickling him, stirring his desire until he was intoxicated. He kissed her again, savoring her sweet scent and the tremors of her body. Gently, he removed her sweater, and she obediently raised her arms to assist him. Continuing to kiss her, he fumbled to unbutton her blouse. Beneath it, she wore a plain, unadorned white bra, conservative in style. Her slender neck led to delicate collarbones, and the flickering firelight cast a glow on her youthful skin, making it appear exceptionally smooth and soft. The gentle curve of her slightly rising breasts entranced him further. He laid her on the sofa, trailing fiery kisses downward while caressing her, only to suddenly notice her hands tightly covering her lower abdomen, refusing to move. He paused, realizing then that her eyes were tightly shut, her body tense—no longer the passionate, entranced woman from moments before, nor simply shy or nervous, but gripped by a profound fear.
Slowing his pace, he gently kissed and caressed her, trying to ease her tension, but she abruptly broke free, sat up, grabbed her blouse, and hastily put it on, fumbling with the buttons before curling into a ball, clutching her head.
Stunned, he reached out and held her trembling body. "I'm sorry, Xiao An. If you don't want to—"
"I do want to. Otherwise, why would I bring you here? I want to give myself to you, but…"
"Shh, you don't have to explain. It's okay, I understand."
Yet she couldn't stop. "I can't do it. I'm sorry, really sorry. I thought I could, but… I didn't mean to." She broke into sobs.
He held her from behind, waiting for her to calm down, then gently touched her abdomen. She was so weakened by crying that she couldn't resist. His hand found the raised, tangled scar on her smooth skin and rested there.
"I know what you're afraid of me seeing, and I know what you're scared of. It's alright, Xiao An."
She cried until she could barely breathe, gasping between sobs. He buried his face in the nape of her neck and whispered, "We can take it slow."
She remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, her voice steadied with effort. "How can we take it slow? You're only here to visit and will leave soon."
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."
"I know."
He turned her face to his, looking directly into her eyes, and said softly, "I have matters to attend to in New York. I can't stay longer this time, but I'll be back soon, Xiao An."
Tears welled in her eyes as she forced a faint smile. "You don't have to comfort me. I was too emotional just now; it's really fine. I mean, I hope you'll visit again, but you don't need to trouble yourself traveling back and forth. New York isn't exactly close."
"Xiao An, I'm not just here for an occasional visit. I mean, I'll try to stay in the U.S. and be with you."
She stared at him in disbelief, processing his words. The fire in the hearth flickered unpredictably, and a similar light danced in her eyes.Oh wow, if you find 52 Book Lake great, remember to bookmark the URL https:https://www.52shuku.net/ or recommend it to friends~ Please (>.<) Portal: Ranking List | Book Finding Guide | Green Shirt Falling
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