37 +++ Defining Moment Part 3. Next Time We'll Lock The Door
Ling Jie stared at Zhai Mei in a new light.
Her respect for the girl grew mountains, and she cleared her throat before saying anything scandalous.
"You two came to the roof without me. Gege knows how much I like the rainbow ribbons."
Not commenting on the fact that Ling Jie rarely came to the roof or the building at that, Gu Wei rolled his eyes in reply and said nothing.
He couldn't speak even if he wanted to, his mouth was tied with a wound.
Folding her arms into Zhai Mei's, Ling Jie proceeded to drag her inside.
"Come on in, and I'll show you all the new signs I learned!"
Zhai Mei glanced at Gu Wei as they made for the door, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before the door clicked shut behind them.
Gu Wei exhaled and released his bruised lip, placing his head in his hands in embarrassment.
Never in his life had such a thing happened to him.
Breathing deeply, Gu Wei ran a hand over his face to his hair, shaking himself awake.
He counted with his fingers.
He had tried to kiss Zhai Mei on the bench, had forgotten all about it, still didn't remember, had truly kissed her this time, almost went too far, and Ling Jie probably knew what had happened and was just saving face for them.
All the things he listed revolved around Zhai Mei, and Gu Wei couldn't ignore his feelings anymore.
He liked Zhai Mei.
Maybe beyond liking, maybe a tiny bit more than liking, but he did.
The only question Gu Wei couldn't get through was—and then what? Did Gu Wei want to take things further?
Would he? What was he even thinking? Gu Wei wasn't sure Zhai Mei liked him back!
Laughing dryly at the confusing thought, Gu Wei stood and left the roof.
Zhai Mei and Ling Jie were back on the chairs, with Mo Ran standing guard, leaning on one.
Ling Jie was hesitantly motioning under Mo Ran's watchful eyes, and Zhai Mei's face was scrunched in that serious expression of hers.
Gu Wei wanted to call out to her, sit her down, and have them talk about this thing between them.
But what if Zhai Mei said there was nothing?
All the more reason to talk like two responsible adults. Gu Wei hoped he was a responsible adult.
Closing the door behind him, Gu Wei left the girls with their signing and headed to his desk.
His phone vibrated. He took it out and glanced briefly at the notification.
Gu Wei's foot stubbed painfully against his wooden desk, and he gripped his phone tightly in pain, staring in shock at the text Zhai Mei had sent him.
Zhai Mei: Next time, we'll lock the door.
Pressing his lips together so he wouldn't make a sound, Gu Wei slowly limped to his chair, sat down, and dropped his phone.
How does one reply to such a text?? Gu Wei had no clue.
He fisted his hair and tugged in a manic manner, stopping when it reminded him of Zhai Mei's hands in his hair.
Gu Wei placed his palms on the desk and stared daggers at his phone.
Zhai Mei was driving him mad. If Gu Wei didn't get answers now, he was going to end up at a psychiatric hospital by the end of the day.
Determined, Gu Wei pushed off his desk, walking in sharp strides through his office to the three figures.
When he was a few paces away, Zhai Mei noticed him and tilted her head in question.
Gu Wei gestured practically. 'We need to talk. My office, okay?'
Zhai Mei nodded. Gu Wei spun on his feet and headed the way he'd come.
Back in his office, he paced. From the door to his desk, door to his desk.
He stopped in the middle of the room, hands on his hips, legs tapping on the floor, waiting, then resumed his pacing.
The door opened.
Gu Wei whipped around, signing out the speech he'd made up in his head. 'I think we have to-'
Gu Wei's hand stopped halfway in their speech as the click of a lock echoed in the room.
Zhai Mei raised an eyebrow. 'Didn't you get my text? I did say we should lock it next time.'
Gu Wei steeled his gaze. 'I did… and I think we have to talk.'
Zhai Mei crossed her arms and leaned against the door. 'Okay.'
'I'm serious.'
'Okay.'
'… Don't tease me.'
'Okay.'
'Stop saying okay!'
'Got it.'
Letting out an exasperated breath, Gu Wei turned his head away and blinked at the window.
'The roof, the bench, everything, did you… Do you…?' He couldn't say the word.
However, Zhai Mei saved him, gesturing calmly. 'Do I like you? What do you think?'
She was staring at him intently, eyes roaming over his face in search of something.
Gu Wei wasn't sure how to reply to that. It turned out that having a conversation was also hard.
Perched on his desk, Gu Wei folded his hands together and rested them on his lap. Zhai Mei was waiting for him, hands wrapped around herself.
'I think… you like me?' Gu Wei offered at a loss.
Zhai Mei seemed to have found whatever she was looking for and dropped her gaze.
The room grew silent, Gu Wei staring at Zhai Mei, Zhai Mei refusing to meet his gaze.
Gu Wei clenched his hands together. He was going about this the wrong way.
Reaching out a hand, Gu Wei waited till Zhai Mei looked up, and extended them further, urging her to take his hand.
Zhai Mei hesitated, shuffling forward step by step before she timidly placed her right hand in Gu Wei's left outstretched one.
Gu Wei gripped her and tugged softly. Zhai Mei shuffled again.
He could hear the scrape of her shoes as she moved like she was approaching something dangerous.
Gu Wei tugged assuringly again, spreading his legs till Zhai Mei was fitted between them.
A reverse position of the one they'd taken on the roof.
Gu Wei released her hand and wrapped his arms around her in a calculated move, letting Zhai Mei decide if she wanted out or not.
The girl didn't move, and Gu Wei successfully hugged her to him.
A moment passed, then arms folded over Gu Wei, converging on his back.
Smiling, Gu Wei stroked her hair, and Zhai Mei relaxed, head resting on Gu Wei's shoulder.
Gu Wei himself buried his face into Zhai Mei's curly strands, inhaling the sweet smell.
Her hair also had that lemon scent, but this one was sweeter, a honeyed version.
With their arms wrapped around each other, they couldn't communicate, and Gu Wei secretly preferred it.
Words were useless sometimes.
Rolling his fingers around a noodle strand, Gu Wei mumbled into Zhai Mei's head.
"You smell like lemon. I think I'm obsessed."
Zhai Mei shifted, feeling the rumble in Gu Wei's chest and hearing the muffle of his voice.
Gu Wei, knowing Zhai Mei couldn't hear him, rattled off all the words he struggled to express.
"Your hair's the same too, but a bit sweeter. I think… I like your perfume, shampoo, whatever. I like your hair. The curly strands always wrap around my finger, and they smell nice. Really nice."
Enunciated with a deep inhale, Gu Wei drifted his head down, over her head to her ear, breath brushing over her skin.
"You're also warm and soft, feels like you'll disappear sometimes, like it's all an illusion." His lips drifted over her ear. "But it's real now, it's so very real. You're real, your warmth is real, the way you smell is real, your softness is real… my feelings are real."
Zhai Mei shuddered, her breath hitching at the rumble in her ears.
She could feel Gu Wei's heart thumping just like hers, and a shiver went through her as his talking lips traveled to her neck, searing the words into her skin.
Gu Wei pressed his lips against the side of her neck, the urge to kiss the pale skin strong, but he resisted, continuing his useless speech.
"I tried not to think about it before. I think I didn't want to admit it, or maybe I'm just really slow."
Gu Wei chuckled heartlessly, breathing against Zhai Mei.
"Maybe… I do like you. Yes, it's a fact. I like Zhai Mei."
The person who was straining to hear beyond the muffle in her ears stopped breathing.
Zhai Mei's eyes grew glassy at the last words, not sure if it was what she thought it was.
Another buzz came from Gu Wei's chest as he repeated his words.
Zhai Mei couldn't take it anymore.
She lifted her head, putting some space between them, motioning desperately.
'What did you say? Say it again!'
Gu Wei's smile stretched into a grin at the enthusiastic question, then he answered the way he was originally supposed to, pinching his chin with his thumb and index finger.
'I like you.'