The Early Spring - Chapter 125

Chapter 125 - Intermingled

In the darkness, Luan Nian's lips burned across Shang Zhitao's cheek before finally landing on her mouth.

He even had the nerve to say casually, "If you aren't willing, I can stop at any time."

"I don't..."

Luan Nian smothered her lips; Shang Zhitao was so gullible to take him seriously, as if he would ever actually stop.

Luan Nian's hands and lips alternated over Shang Zhitao's body. He explored thoroughly in the dark, feeling for the changes in her over these past few years. Yet this woman hadn't changed at all—oh wait, her waist was a little slimmer.

Luan Nian got exactly what he wanted. However, he had heavily overestimated his self-control. He had thought he could take things slowly, but in the end, he was the one who grew impatient.

His movements suddenly spiraled slightly out of his own control. Shang Zhitao held her breath before letting out a long exhale. Luan Nian's lips surged back up, biting down on her lower lip: "Like younger guys? Potential partners can't be more than three years older?"

Pinching her cheek, he demanded fiercely: "Speak!"

Shang Zhitao let out a muffled groan. This man Luan Nian was going to be the death of her, suddenly stirring a competitive streak within her.

"Younger guys are young, mmph—"

Luan Nian punished her, biting down on her neck like a full-fledged vampire.

This night of rough tearing stripped away every last bit of hesitation deep within their hearts, leaving things thoroughly clear and intense.

Luan Nian had never changed; he liked taking the lead, carving out new territory on Shang Zhitao according to his own desires. Yet at times he would abruptly pause to take things slowly, the tip of his tongue exploring into her ear while his teeth grazed her earlobe, whispering at an unhurried pace: "Mention younger guys next time, and I'll kill you."

Shang Zhitao refused to admit defeat, still wanting to provoke him: "Younger guys..."

Luan Nian bit her lips, their tongues entwining with a captivating sound. Luan Nian went wild, exerting so much force it was almost enough to claim Shang Zhitao's life.

This night felt like a thoroughly intoxicating dream, every single one of Shang Zhitao's pores soaked in Luan Nian's scent.

When things finally calmed down, she broke into giggles before kicking him: "Go to the guest bedroom! I'm not used to this."

Luan Nian locked her legs with his own: "I'm not sleeping in the guest bedroom. Why on earth should I sleep in the guest bedroom?"

"You're being unreasonable; this is my house."

Luan Nian didn't care whose house it was; he slept wherever he wanted. Wrapping Shang Zhitao in his arms, the two of them drifted into a long, deep sleep.

It was likely near noon when Shang Zhitao heard the electronic lock click, followed immediately by Old Shang's voice: "She's definitely fine, she just didn't answer her phone. Probably sleeping too deeply. I'm coming in, hold on a second."

Fuck!

Shang Zhitao suddenly swore under her breath, kicking Luan Nian out of bed with a single strike. Luan Nian jolted awake, sitting on the floor watching her scramble frantically for clothes. As she looked, she called out: "Dad, is that you? Hang on a second, I worked overtime last night and was too tired. I overslept and didn't hear the phone."

Slipping her clothes on, she opened the door a crack, squeezed out through the gap, and shut the door again.

"Was Mom worried? I'm fine, you hurry back to your work."

Old Shang let out a sigh of relief: "It's fine as long as you're okay. I told her you were just exhausted from work, but your mom wouldn't believe it, saying that no matter how tired you were, you'd usually be up by this time."

Shang Zhitao forced out a strained smile.

The door behind her opened, and Luan Nian stepped out, smiling at Old Shang: "Hello, Uncle."

Old Shang froze on the spot, looking at Luan Nian, then at Shang Zhitao: "You two..."

"Uncle, I will take full responsibility for Shang Zhitao."

Forget that condition about not being more than three years older; I've already claimed her. Luan Nian played the shameless rogue to perfection, raising an eyebrow at Shang Zhitao while Old Shang called Big Zhai.

Shang Zhitao suddenly realized she had fallen into Luan Nian's trap. From beginning to end, he had been that same sly, incredibly cunning fox.

By the time Big Zhai arrived, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao were fully dressed, sitting upright at the table like students who had been caught by their teacher after making a mistake. Shang Zhitao was genuinely terrified, while Luan Nian was merely pretending.

Old Shang's timing today was truly fantastic; Luan Nian was even a little grateful to the old man for coming through the ice and snow to check on his daughter who wasn't answering her phone.

Big Zhai looked at Shang Zhitao, then turned to look at Luan Nian.

Big Zhai didn't actually dislike Luan Nian. He had a handsome face, and although he appeared ill-tempered, his manners were exceptionally well-bred.

"What is going on with you two?" Big Zhai asked.

"Well..." Just as Shang Zhitao was about to speak, Big Zhai cut her off: "You shut up. You speak." She gestured for Luan Nian to explain.

Luan Nian cleared his throat and said unhurriedly, "Uncle, Auntie, I'm sure you know a bit about what happened between Shang Zhitao and me. The two of us dated for six years in the past, but later broke up due to a misunderstanding. Now that we've reunited, we both feel that we still have feelings for each other." Luan Nian picked only the core points to highlight—wasn't this just like giving a work report? Highlight what sounds good, since bosses like that.

"But you're not married yet, living together like this—what kind of behavior is that!" Old Shang poked Shang Zhitao's forehead: "How could you be so muddle-headed!"

"We can get married. I'm ready anytime," Luan Nian said.

"?" Shang Zhitao stared at him. The man who used to constantly harp on about libertarianism and refusing to take responsibility for relationships was now saying he was ready to get married anytime? She said to him, "My parents aren't going to hit you."

"What are you saying? Uncle and Auntie look so kind and approachable, why would I be afraid of them hitting me? I'm serious; I know a girl's reputation is very important, and I'm willing to take responsibility for Shang Zhitao."

Luan Nian looked overwhelmingly sincere.

He was indeed sincere. Over the past few years, the friends around him had settled down one by one, leaving only him walking alone like this; he couldn't lose on this matter.

In truth, it was because he had wondered over these past few years: if Shang Zhitao hadn't left back then, what would their outcome have been? They probably would have gotten married, and perhaps they would even have a child by now.

Through their long time together, Luan Nian had gradually come to feel that growing old with Shang Zhitao wouldn't be painful at all. Instead, it would mark the end of his previously dull, meaningless life and the start of a lively, warm one.

Shang Zhitao still didn't say a word.

She felt it was too fast.

Everything that happened today occurred before she even had time to think. She finally spoke up: "Dad, Mom, do you think this works... let me talk to him in private..."

"You two talk then, we're leaving. The restaurant is still busy."

The two elders walked toward the exit. Before stepping out the door, Big Zhai suddenly asked Luan Nian, "How old are you?"

Before Luan Nian could speak, Shang Zhitao blurted out: "He's almost forty."

He had thought age wasn't an issue, so he could just state an age the elders would accept; after all, he didn't need to show his ID. Yet Shang Zhitao was truly ruthless. The look Big Zhai gave Luan Nian changed completely—likely thinking that not being married at such an age meant there was probably something wrong with him, right?

"Actually, if Taotao hadn't broken up with me, we should be married by now," Luan Nian said calmly, neither humble nor pushy, his posture completely at ease.

After Big Zhai and Old Shang left, the two went out to walk the dog.

It was freezing cold outside. After walking in silence for ten minutes, Shang Zhitao asked him:

"Ready to get married anytime?"

"If I hadn't broken up with you back then, we'd even have kids by now?"

"Yes," Luan Nian answered her. "Every word I said was the truth. When I told you to wait for me to come back so we could talk, this was what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to start over with you, dating with the intention of marriage. But you left."

Luan Nian looked at Shang Zhitao. The freezing Harbin weather turned their ears bright red, and the tip of Shang Zhitao's nose was also slightly red.

The cold in the North was a blunt cold; the freezing wind striking your body would cut right through you.

"Your nose will freeze off if you tell lies," Shang Zhitao said.

Luan Nian grabbed her hand to pinch his nose: "Did it fall off?"

"No."

"So, Shang Zhitao, can we get to know each other all over again? Starting from our first meeting."

Back then you were twenty-two and I was twenty-eight, both in the prime of our youth.

Back then you were pure and brave, while I was sophisticated and hardened. Yet when our eyes met, we began an extraordinary life journey.

If we can't go back to that time, then let's start from today. You are thirty-two and I am thirty-eight; both of us remain certain, neither having given up on our expectations for life.

Perhaps our love will cross through the cold, walk into spring, and welcome a bright, clear early spring of our own.

The tip of Shang Zhitao's nose grew even redder, tears freezing on her face. She looked terribly disheveled, yet she still uttered a single word: "Okay."

She had never imagined that the dream she had at twenty-two would come true at thirty-two.

This was likely the most wondrous part of life.

Holding her hand with one hand and Luke's leash with the other, Luan Nian walked with her through the ice and snow for a long time. By the time they stepped inside, both were chilled to the bone.

As Luan Nian went to cook, Shang Zhitao hugged him from behind, slipping her icy hands into his clothes and causing a wave of goosebumps to rise across his skin.

He turned around to look at her, but she didn't raise her eyes, focusing solely on rolling up his shirt until those impressive abdominal muscles came into her view.

Lowering her head, she bit down on them, causing Luan Nian's abdomen to tighten abruptly. Shang Zhitao didn't stop there, moving slowly upward and standing on tiptoe to kiss him, her icy hands reaching out to explore him again. Luan Nian closed his eyes, thinking this woman was truly lethal right now.

Scooping her up onto the kitchen counter in a swift motion, he pressed against her: "Whoever runs away is a coward."

"I'm certainly not one."

Shang Zhitao raised her leg to hook around him. The freezing countertop brought her discomfort, yet also a hint of delight.

"Are we not eating dinner anymore?" she asked Luan Nian as he began to lose control.

"Not eating dinner, I'm eating you first."

Shang Zhitao thought to herself: Who said younger guys were better? Only she knew how good an older man was. She wouldn't trade Luan Nian away even for ten younger guys.

The two of them carried on messing around like this until evening, when Luan Nian finally vented the fire he had pent up for several years. He asked her, "Do you want to eat out?"

"Yes."

Shang Zhitao hopped off the bed: "Let's eat out!"

"You're not tired?" Luan Nian was surprised by her stamina.

Yet Shang Zhitao said, "Our events are way harder to handle than you—how much stamina does that drain!"

After speaking, she let out a chuckle: "How about we go out for a little drink? It's snowing outside."

"How do you know it's snowing?"

"I'm a Harbin girl; I can smell when it's snowing."

Luan Nian pulled open the curtains, and sure enough, snow was falling.

"How many times does it snow a year in Harbin? It feels like it snows endlessly from autumn through spring." Shang Zhitao pulled on a sweater, then put on the down jacket Luan Nian had given her: "Do you know which of the many gifts you've given me over the years is my favorite?"

"Which one?" Luan Nian asked her.

"Every single one after our reunion."

Having said this, Shang Zhitao cradled his face in her hands: "Every single one after our reunion, I've never once thought about selling. I genuinely love them."

"None of them are as expensive as designer bags."

"But all of them are better than bags."

"As long as you say so."

Shang Zhitao thought that it wasn't actually that he had gotten better at giving gifts, but rather that he as a person had changed. Though he was still sharp-edged, he had started thinking about what she truly wanted.

Shang Zhitao had always wanted to love him as equals. Every single day after their reunion seemed to bring her closer to the state of love she desired.

Was this her good fortune?

Tucking her hand into Luan Nian's pocket, she said to him, "I want to go see Dr. Liang."