Senior Brother Chen Shuyang was the first to react. He had a rather deep impression of Li Wu's sister.
First and foremost, it was because of her appearance and figure. Another point was that they rarely encountered such women at school - dressed simply, efficiently, and boldly, with her delicate chin and red lips hidden beneath a distinctive white French-style round hat, like a supermodel exclusively walking for luxury brands, exuding an aloof, high-end aura.
If he encountered a similar woman on the street, he'd probably can't help but stare, but would have no desire for any interaction.
In one word: difficult; more colloquially speaking: hard to handle.
Back then, Chen Shuyang thought she was Li Wu's biological sister, so he didn't ask further. Today, hit by this bombshell news that left him dumbfounded, he laughed incredulously: "You said she's your sister, I thought she was your biological sister."
Li Wu showed slight embarrassment: "No, she's the sister I like."
The senior sister who wasn't present that day was quite curious: "Is she pretty?"
Chen Shuyang summarized with one word: "Stunning."
The senior sister's tone carried a hint of jealousy: "Li Wu, you've been hiding this well—"
"Exactly," Chen Shuyang punched his shoulder: "How did you manage to get her? Didn't expect you to be something special."
Li Wu leaned forward slightly, smiling without speaking, but his eyes shone like mirrors, completely unable to hide his thoughts. That affection and pride were practically overflowing, noticeable to everyone present.
After being teased back and forth for a while, everyone went out to eat together. Li Wu also locked the lab door and hurried to the school gate to wait for Cen Jin.
In the 36-37 degree heat, the young man didn't feel any warmth at all, nor did he notice the passage of time. Standing there, the mere thought of soon seeing Cen Jin made him smile to himself.
Cen Jin, afraid of keeping Li Wu waiting too long, seized every opportunity to speed up along the way. In less than half an hour, she braked to a stop in front of F University's main gate.
The first thing she saw was her little boy - clean, handsome, outstanding among others, just a bit silly standing under the noon sun without seeking shade, as if afraid she wouldn't spot him immediately.
Seeing her car, he squinted slightly, then jogged over.
Cen Jin rolled down the window, waving to hurry him: "Get in quickly, aren't you afraid of heatstroke?"
"Not hot." The young man said seriously, opening the passenger door and getting in.
Had this guy's senses been stolen by his lovesick brain? Fortunately, Cen Jin had prepared in advance. Smiling secretly, she pulled out an ice-cold bottled water she brought from home and handed it to him.
Li Wu unscrewed it, tilted his head back halfway, and drank half the bottle in one go. His Adam's apple was clearly defined, bobbing several times.
Cen Jin watched somewhat mesmerized. Only when he put it down, exhaled, screwed the cap back on and returned it did she shift her gaze back to his slightly flushed face, cupping it with both hands: "Look how sun-kissed you are."
Li Wu's eyes shone brightly: "Did I get tanned again?"
Cen Jin shook her head, her gaze sticking to him: "The sun makes you look so cute."
Li Wu, unsettled by her stare, felt his recently moistened throat dry up again. He leaned forward recklessly to kiss her.
In broad daylight, he didn't dare be too bold, so he only gave a quick peck.
Her lips warmed briefly, then her hands were left empty again. Cen Jin held them in place, asking lightly: "Are you taking every opportunity to sneak attack me now?"
Li Wu replicated her earlier motion, pressing her hands back against his cheeks. Lowering his eyes, a lazy smile played on his lips, mixed with a hint of triumph."So well-behaved—"
Cen Jin couldn't resist, pouting her lips as she rewarded him: "Then one more kiss."
……
After nearly half an hour of intermittent kissing and cuddling in the car, Cen Jin finally shifted back into gear and sped off to find a nearby restaurant.
After driving for a while, Cen Jin looked left and right, sighing in confusion: "I've forgotten what good food there is around our school."
Li Wu glanced at her, thought for a moment, and suggested: "There's a noodle shop that's pretty good. Have you eaten there before?"
Cen Jin paused her hand on the steering wheel: "What's it called?"
Li Wu told her the name.
Cen Jin's eyes lit up, "I have! Is it still open?"
Li Wu hummed in agreement: "The environment is just average. I was worried you might think it's not clean."
Cen Jin chuckled: "I know what the place is like, little junior."
Li Wu also curled his lips: "Oh."
Having received her approval, Li Wu tentatively offered: "Let me treat you, okay?"
Cen Jin shot him a sidelong glance and granted him the opportunity: "Sure."
It was summer vacation and not yet mealtime, so the shop wasn't very crowded. The two found a clean table to sit at, and Li Wu immediately began rinsing Cen Jin's cup and chopsticks with hot water, then asked what drink she wanted.
Cen Jin propped her chin on her hand, scanning the surroundings like a rotating camera until her gaze finally settled on the refrigerator in the corner.
She pointed with one finger, "I want a soda, Sprite."
After speaking, she blinked at the young man across the table.
Memories exclusive to the two of them came flooding back. Li Wu exchanged a smile with her and immediately stood up to order food and buy drinks at the counter.
After getting her own bottle of soda, Cen Jin took a few sips, picked up her phone to check the time, then looked at Li Wu: "It's almost one o'clock. Aren't you hungry?"
"Not hungry." Li Wu hadn't touched his soda at all, his eyes constantly on her as if he could never get enough of looking.
Cen Jin stared straight back at him, even adding a hint of a glare to challenge him. Ginger grows hotter with age—the young man eventually grew shy under her gaze and lowered his eyes to drink his soda.
Only then did Cen Jin call his name contentedly: "Li Wu, do you know the most important rule in a relationship?"
Li Wu put on an attentive expression, ready to learn: "Hmm?"
Cen Jin pulled up her straw and poked it back down: "No lying. Be honest."
Li Wu looked innocent: "But I'm really not hungry." He had just realized that happiness could not only take your breath away but also leave you feeling completely satisfied.
Cen Jin hummed skeptically: "Then I'll eat both bowls of noodles later. I'll have two portions all by myself, and you won't get a single bite."
Li Wu didn't mind at all: "Okay."
Cen Jin shrugged, her heart screaming inwardly—damn it, how could she feel so "pampered" by a little kid?
Remembering how he had fasted and waited downstairs for her all day yesterday, Cen Jin grew even more guilty and softened her tone: "I was joking. You should eat properly. You're so young—starving yourself isn't good for your health."
Hearing this, Li Wu rubbed his face helplessly: "Can you stop always saying I'm young?"
"Then what should I say? That I'm old?" Cen Jin widened her eyes in feigned confusion.
Li Wu surrendered immediately: "I'm young, I'm the one who's young."
Cen Jin smiled faintly, then muttered self-consciously: "But your partner is thirty years old today. Did your childhood criteria for a partner include this—'I want to find a woman so much older than me'?"Hearing this, Li Wu looked at her for a moment, his gaze deepening. His voice was steady yet sincere: "Back in Yunfeng Village, I never even had such modern concepts in my mind, and after coming to Yishi, I still didn't. I only like you, just one person—it doesn't really count as some kind of 'concept'."
Cen Jin nearly drowned in his dark, profound eyes but snapped back to reality. She couldn't resist asking the question every girl in love loves to pose: "Why do you like me?"
Li Wu froze, just like last summer, still unable to give a precise answer.
Cen Jin raised her Sprite, sipping as she waited, completely at ease.
Under her gaze, Li Wu grew restless, scratching his head and fidgeting.
Cen Jin laughed, answering for him without blushing or skipping a beat: "Because I'm pretty."
"Oh," Li Wu chuckled softly. "You are very pretty."
Cen Jin scoffed, "Little brat."
"..." Li Wu didn't argue. Little brat it was—however she saw him or thought of him, from today onward, he was her boyfriend.
―
After the meal, Cen Jin drove Li Wu back to his school, then took her laptop from the back seat and headed to a nearby café to work.
The atmosphere in the shop was lovely, the music like sun-warmed water, soothing to the ears.
As soon as she connected to the Wi-Fi and logged into WeChat, the pinned chat was blinking. Cen Jin slid the touchpad to open it.
Li Wu: Have you found a place to sit?
Cen Jin thought to herself, "Is worrying contagious? They really are a family of worriers," then took out her phone and sent a photo of her current surroundings.
A moment later, he replied: Do you have to work even on your break? It's your birthday today.
Cen Jin typed: And you're doing experiments even during your vacation.
Li Wu was left speechless: ...
The thought of it made Cen Jin annoyed: Did you stay on campus during the summer because you didn't want to see me?
Li Wu denied it: No, I was afraid you didn't want to see me.
Cen Jin curved her lips, speaking against her true feelings: I didn't want to see you, but you insisted on standing in front of me and even forced a kiss to make me yield.
Li Wu didn't play along with her teasing; instead, he apologized: I'm sorry, sister.
As if she could feel the remorse and sincerity in his words, Cen Jin's heart softened: What's wrong now, little brother?
Li Wu seemed to have carefully chosen his words: I should have asked you back then, instead of presuming and misunderstanding you. I swear I wasn't intentionally giving you the cold shoulder—I was just afraid of bothering you, and worried that if you really had someone you liked, you'd end our one-year agreement early. These past few months have been painful for me too, but now it feels like nothing I say can make up for it.
Afraid he'd sink into negativity, Cen Jin continued joking: There's still a chance to make it right. Tell me how painful these months have been—let your sister have a good laugh.
Li Wu: ...
Cen Jin had always been easygoing with those she cared about, unwilling to dwell on the past: Let bygones be bygones. As long as I know you still like me, that's enough.
Li Wu said: I like you.
Cen Jin: My ears are going to callus from hearing that.
Li Wu: Then I'll still say it, every day.
Cen Jin: You'd better.
Li Wu: I like you.
Li Wu: I really, really like you.
Cen Jin couldn't stop smiling at the screen: Saying it every day is one thing, but now it's every second? Don't you have experiments to do? Are you some kind of love-declaring machine? Shut up.
The young man was extremely obedient: Oh.
Cen Jin replied: I'll pick you up at 4:15, and then we can find a place with good road conditions to practice driving? Li Wu: Okay.
―
After 5 p.m., Li Wu began practicing driving in loops around the sports center area.During the break, Li Wu recalled Cen Jin's "dating standards" from earlier in the day and couldn't help but feel grateful. As a child, he could never have dreamed of dating a woman like Cen Jin, nor could he have imagined that the first proper test drive in his life would be of such quality and value.
Cen Jin's willingness to entrust her car to Li Wu for practice was a testament to her genuine trust in him and her treating him like family. Even though she had initially criticized his somewhat clumsy driving with sharp, witty remarks—sometimes even more harshly than a driving instructor—Li Wu had cherished every moment, smiling the entire way.
By a little past eight in the evening, after having dinner downtown, Li Wu drove Cen Jin home.
This time, he had reached an understanding with the car and could handle various road conditions with ease. Cen Jin remained quiet, letting him take the wheel without comment.
The night breeze swept into the car as the glowing streets rushed past on either side. Cen Jin couldn't resist glancing at Li Wu. Even from this angle, she could sense his focus and dedication—his eyes sparkling as if filled with a galaxy.
Cen Jin felt both proud and smug.
But beyond that, another emotion stirred: he was incredibly handsome. His posture was always impeccable, his profile divinely sculpted, flawless in every way.
Less than twenty-four hours into their relationship, every time they met, her young boyfriend seemed to redefine her standards of attractiveness.
Even in a simple white T-shirt, he stood out with exceptional grace, perfectly complementing the car's aura and shining brilliantly. He could easily be a brand ambassador, rivaling the advertising stars her company had worked with in the past.
But she couldn't blurt out her praise. The boy was easily excitable, and distraction could lead to accidents, so she held back the entire ride.
Back in the residential complex, Li Wu furrowed his brow, carefully reversing into the parking space. Only after turning off the engine did he relax and turn to the silent woman beside him, his expression eager for praise.
Cen Jin blinked, cupping his endlessly captivating face in her hands. Admiring him, she poured out her heartfelt thoughts: "You were amazing. You looked so handsome while driving—I couldn't take my eyes off you the whole way. Did you notice?"
Her praise was unabashed, like honey poured over him. Li Wu's ears grew warm, and he couldn't suppress a smile, pressing his lips together as he gazed at her, his eyes burning like flames in the dark.
Cen Jin's heart itched with desire. Her hands slowly traced his jawline, then drifted downward, resting on either side of his neck as she began gently stroking his Adam's apple with her thumbs. She had wanted to do this since earlier in the day, back when he was drinking water.
Li Wu's body stiffened. He swallowed twice, uncomfortably tilting his head aside. Suddenly, he felt unbearably thirsty, his throat parched.
"What are you avoiding?" she teased, releasing him to pinch his cheek instead. Her voice then softened, laced with temptation: "Can I kiss you?"
Without waiting for an answer, she leaned in and pecked his Adam's apple, producing a crisp, audible sound before pulling back with a satisfied, beaming smile.
Li Wu gasped sharply, his entire body aflame. He hastily unbuckled his seatbelt, cupping her cheek with one hand as he responded to her provocation with action.
The confined, limited space seemed to make the kiss even more electrifying—at least, that's how both of them felt.
Cen Jin was left dizzy and breathless from the entangled kiss.The young man panted heavily, like a fledgling wolf tasting meat for the first time, no longer content with nibbling in one place as he began to ravage and advance toward the edges.
He ignited her with his heated breaths, and Cen Jin instinctively arched her neck, allowing him to suck and bite.
Their clothes rustled, but the chill outside could do nothing to stop the temperature inside the car from soaring.
Cen Jin’s arms wrapped around his neck, her eyes misty as soft, involuntary moans escaped her lips—sounds she couldn’t hold back.
Li Wu paused near her collarbone, his voice hoarse as he murmured, "Sister, you smell so good."
Cen Jin’s heart trembled, and she froze for a moment. She had rushed out today, keeping her makeup minimal and not bothering with perfume.
Yet she couldn’t help but feel pleased by his sincere compliment. It seemed her boy had awakened a long-dormant fragrance deep within her. A smile touched her lips as she tightened her embrace, leaning close to his forehead and whispering encouragement, "Really? Then kiss me more, okay?"
Li Wu pressed closer, his lips and teeth growing fiercer in their assault. Cen Jin arched her back to keep from falling backward.
Soon, she could no longer hold herself up and slumped weakly against the car door, cradling his restless, nuzzling head.
His hair felt like newborn pine needles—not exactly hard, yet not soft either, with a slight dampness to it. She couldn’t resist running her fingers through it, stroking and kneading, and found herself experiencing a kind of joyful satisfaction akin to nursing.
When that nursing sensation grew more tangible, Cen Jin bit her lower lip, grateful that they were inside their own garage.
...
There was no better way to express love than through tangled limbs. That night in the car, they lost themselves in each other, craving more with every taste.
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