The car smoothly drove into the community. Before the driver could open the door for him, Pei Jiangmu quickly got out of the car.
Because whenever he went to see Meng Ruozhao, he always rushed there.
When he got home and opened the door, Pei Jiangmu suddenly stopped in his tracks and even held his breath a little.
The main light in the living room was not turned on. Only the light from the floor lamp and the TV screen outlined a soft contour.
Meng Ruozhao was curled up on the sofa, wrapped in an off - white cashmere blanket.
Her long wavy hair was loosely draped over her shoulders. A few strands of loose hair hung beside her cheeks, gently swaying with her gentle breathing.
From his angle, her side profile was soft, with long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes.
Her lips were naturally pink and moist from the alcohol, like petals with morning dew.
An old movie was playing on the TV, and the alternating light and dark on the screen were reflected on her face.
It added a touch of hazy beauty to her already delicate features, making her look like an oil painting that had been smudged.
There was an empty beer bottle on the coffee table, with beads of water still condensing on it. Beside it was an inverted glass. Apparently, she had been drinking while waiting for him.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Meng Ruozhao slowly turned her head.
Probably due to the effect of the alcohol, her eyes were a bit blurred, as if covered with a layer of mist.
When she looked at Pei Jiangmu, she blinked slowly.
But the next second, the corners of her mouth gently lifted, revealing two shallow dimples. Her voice was soft and sweet after drinking.
"Welcome back... I've been waiting for you."
At that moment, Pei Jiangmu felt as if his heart had been gently hit by something, and then filled with a hot emotion.
The annoyance in the hospital just now, the anger provoked by Pei Jingdu, and the guard against Cui Ran...
All disappeared the moment he saw her like this, leaving only overflowing affection and love.
He didn't even have time to change his shoes before he strode over and bent down to hug her tightly.
His action was so sudden and the strength was a bit too much. Meng Ruozhao was startled, and most of the alcohol in her dissipated instantly.
She could clearly feel Pei Jiangmu's warm chest against hers, his strong arms tightly around her waist, and his breathing was a bit rapid, as if suppressing some strong emotion.
"Pei Jiangmu?"
Meng Ruozhao asked in confusion, raising her hand and gently patting the back of his hand. Her voice still carried a hint of softness.
"What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"
Pei Jiangmu didn't say a word. He just buried his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath.
She smelled of the faint fragrance of body wash, mixed with a faint smell of beer and her unique, reassuring scent.
He tightened his arms and hugged her even tighter, as if he wanted to blend her into his bones and blood.
"Nothing."
After a long while, he finally spoke in a muffled voice, with a barely noticeable hoarseness in his voice.
"I just... miss you so much."
Meng Ruozhao was stunned for a moment, and her cheeks instantly turned hot.
She could feel Pei Jiangmu's breath on her neck, with a warm touch, which made her heart beat involuntarily faster.
She sat there a bit stiffly, her hand still in mid - air, not knowing how to respond.
The movie on the TV was still playing. The male and female leads were saying affectionate lines, making the atmosphere in the living room even more ambiguous.
The warm light from the floor lamp shone on the two of them, stretching their hugging figures very long, warm and lingering.
Meng Ruozhao gently moved, trying to turn around to see his expression, but Pei Jiangmu pressed her shoulder.
"Don't move. Just let me hug you for a while."
His voice was very soft, with a hint of pleading.
Meng Ruozhao's heart softened. She obediently stopped moving and just gently patted his back, as if comforting a wronged child.
She didn't know what Pei Jiangmu had experienced at school. Maybe his tutor had made things difficult for him again.
But she could feel his vulnerability and dependence at this moment.
And she was willing to indulge him.
After a long time, Pei Jiangmu finally let go of her, but he didn't get up. Instead, he sat on the sofa and pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against his chest.
He picked up the blanket on the armrest of the sofa and wrapped it around her again, his movements as gentle as if he was handling a rare treasure.
"Why did you drink beer again?"
Pei Jiangmu looked down at her, gently brushing the loose hair beside her cheek with his fingers. His tone was a bit reproachful but also full of concern.
"Didn't you drink at the bar? Why did you finish another bottle?"
Meng Ruozhao looked up at him. Her eyes were still a bit blurred, but she was very honest.
"I was a bit bored while waiting for you, so I wanted to drink something... This beer is sweet. It doesn't taste bad."
"No matter how sweet it is, it's still alcohol. Drinking too much is bad for your health."
Pei Jiangmu played with her hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Don't drink so much by yourself in the future. Do you understand?"
Meng Ruozhao subconsciously nodded, like an obedient child, and then suddenly realized.
"How are you talking to your sister?"
Not only was he talking to her in such a matter - of - fact tone.
He also hugged her so naturally.
People who didn't know would think they were a passionate couple.
Meng Ruozhao's heart fluttered at his natural concern and intimacy, and the heat on her cheeks didn't subside for a long time.
She subconsciously wanted to get up from his arms to keep a little distance so that her chaotic thoughts and rapid heartbeat could calm down.
However, as soon as she moved slightly, the arm around her waist suddenly tightened, firmly pressing her back into that warm and solid embrace.
"Don't go."
Pei Jiangmu's voice sounded low, with a barely noticeable, almost coquettish tone.
Instead of letting her get up, he leaned his chin gently on the top of her head according to her sideways posture.
Then, he tilted his head slightly, and his warm lips were almost touching her sensitive earlobe.
"Sister..."
He called her. His breath blew over, with a burning temperature and a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, as if he was nervous.
"This afternoon in the warehouse... You said you liked me. Was it true?"
His voice was very low, with a pitiful tone of seeking confirmation.
Like a large dog afraid of being abandoned, he was testing the owner's feelings with his wet eyes and careful touches.
Meng Ruozhao's heart skipped a beat. Her ears instantly turned red, and even her neck was tinged with a blush.
The blurted confession in the warehouse in a moment of urgency was now brought up again in such a charming and quiet atmosphere, with a special solemnity that made people flustered.
She softly said "yes", her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzzing, with the softness and shyness after drinking.
Getting a positive response, Pei Jiangmu tightened his arms a bit more, as if he wanted to firmly lock this confirmation.
He leaned over her ear and continued to ask in that tone full of grievance and longing.
"Then... are we together now?"