Chapter 70: Wanting a Kiss
Su Zhaozhao’s hand reached out and squeezed Xie Huaizheng’s cheek.
’Huh, it feels completely different from my own.’
Her cheeks were soft and a little plump.
But the flesh on Xie Huaizheng’s cheeks was firm and hard.
’Thinking of that perpetually tense expression he wears, maybe that’s why his cheeks are so firm?’
’A face this taut must be good for staving off wrinkles.’
As Su Zhaozhao mused to herself, she leaned in closer and closer, admiring Xie Huaizheng’s handsome face.
With his eyes closed, the man lacked his usual sharp intensity, but he still seemed unapproachable.
’He really is handsome. Even this close, I can’t find a single flaw on his face.’
’It feels nice, too.’
Su Zhaozhao gave Xie Huaizheng’s cheek another squeeze, then couldn’t resist stroking it.
Her gaze fell to his thin lips. ’I wonder what it would feel like to kiss him.’
At that thought, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but lean in.
But before her lips could meet his, the man’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
In the next instant, Xie Huaizheng grabbed her, his one hand effortlessly seizing both of her wrists.
Startled, Su Zhaozhao lost her balance and tumbled into Xie Huaizheng’s arms.
The man’s scent of cool pine and faint tobacco nearly overwhelmed her.
"Are you trying to die?" Xie Huaizheng stared coldly at Su Zhaozhao.
His voice was still husky with the languor of sleep, and the weariness had not yet completely faded from his eyes.
His expression, however, had already reverted to its usual icy, grim demeanor.
’Su Zhaozhao could tell this was just his default state—he was like this with everyone.’
’Woken up so suddenly, he had instinctively acted to protect himself.’
Su Zhaozhao shifted a little in his arms and smiled at him. "You fell asleep. I just wanted to wake you."
Xie Huaizheng chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Wake me? It looked like you were about to kiss me."
"Oh, I kept calling you, but you wouldn’t wake up. I was just thinking of trying the method from the fairy tales, to see if that would rouse you."
Xie Huaizheng furrowed his brow, staring at her with a doubtful expression that seemed to say, ’Keep talking. I’m waiting to hear the rest of this story.’
"It’s true!" Su Zhaozhao said, growing flustered. "Haven’t you heard that fairy tale? It’s about Sleeping Beauty. A beautiful princess is put under a spell and falls into a deep sleep. A prince passes by, kisses her, and she wakes up."
After she finished, Su Zhaozhao remembered that these kinds of fairy tales came from the West. Since the country had only recently begun its Reform and Opening-Up, it was unlikely that such "capitalist propaganda" would have been widespread before now.
’So, it was perfectly normal for Xie Huaizheng not to know it.’
"So you’re saying I’m the beautiful princess... and you’re the prince?" Xie Huaizheng’s hand brushed across her cheek before giving it a little squeeze.
’Still smooth and soft to the touch, but a little plumper than before.’
’It was clear Su Zhaozhao had been taking good care of herself lately.’
’She no longer looked so scrawny and malnourished like she had at the beginning.’
’Still not quite enough, though.’
Xie Huaizheng was squeezing her cheek hard enough to make it ache. She quickly grabbed his hand to rescue her face.
"No! Besides, I didn’t even kiss you, and you woke up anyway."
Hearing her words, Xie Huaizheng suddenly wondered, ’Was waking up just now a bit untimely?’
’If he had just waited a moment longer...’
"Since you’re awake, you should head back. If it gets too late, you’ll get chewed out when you return."
She knew the military had regulations about when to report back. Although Xie Huaizheng had been on a mission, which might grant him some leeway, the rules wouldn’t be completely relaxed.
Xie Huaizheng rubbed his temples as the familiar irritation of not getting enough sleep washed over him again.
But he did feel a little more rested. He had, for a short while, fallen into a deep sleep.
And he hadn’t dreamed. The moment his eyes opened, he was met with the sight of Su Zhaozhao leaning over him.
’There was just one thing he couldn’t understand. How had he managed to fall asleep here?’
’In the past, he would only fall asleep instantly in his own dorm room, and only when he was exhausted from training.’
’In unfamiliar environments, no matter how tired he was, he could only manage fragmented sleep.’
’He would wake up every hour or two.’
’It was impossible for him to sleep soundly.’
’But now, he had somehow fallen asleep in Su Zhaozhao’s room without even realizing it.’
The light, elegant scent of jasmine in the air made Xie Huaizheng feel remarkably at ease.
When he looked up at Su Zhaozhao again, he realized she had apparently showered. She was wearing the same white dress he’d seen before.
Under the dim incandescent bulb, the young woman’s figure was somewhat hazy, her slender arms and legs exposed.
Dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face and making it look even more delicate and lovely.
Xie Huaizheng glanced at her for a moment before looking away. He stood up and walked to the door. "I’m heading back."
"Wait." Su Zhaozhao handed him something. "Here are some snacks. They’re healthy and delicious. You should try them."
"Do I look like I need snacks?" Xie Huaizheng sounded incredulous.
He hadn’t eaten candy since he was seven.
In his mind, things like that were for placating children.
"They’re delicious. Just try one. If you don’t want them, give them to Xiao Yuanming and the others."
Xie Huaizheng met Su Zhaozhao’s big, dark eyes. They were so beautiful, always crinkling with a smile, curved like crescent moons.
In the end, Xie Huaizheng took the snacks from her.
He hurried downstairs and headed back to the military base.
It wasn’t until he was standing in front of his dormitory building that he seemed to come to his senses. He reached up and touched his cheek.
It was the spot Su Zhaozhao had squeezed and caressed earlier.
For some reason, his heart began to beat a little faster.
"Brother Zheng, you’re back?" Xiao Yuanming had been a little worried about Xie Huaizheng, wondering when he would return.
’If he didn’t come back soon,’ he’d thought, ’I should probably go find him.’
He wanted to prevent the news of a single man and woman spending the night alone in a room together from getting out. Xie Huaizheng would be fine, but Su Zhaozhao was still an unmarried young woman.
If rumors started to spread, she would be devastated.
A young woman’s reputation was a precious thing.
So, seeing Xie Huaizheng return, Xiao Yuanming breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Huaizheng nodded. "Thanks for your trouble tonight."
He had specifically asked Xiao Yuanming to drive and pick him up.
"It’s no trouble. You’re my battalion commander," Xiao Yuanming said with a smile, scratching his head.
’It was rare for Xie Huaizheng to be so polite and even thank him for his trouble!’
Soon, his gaze fell on the bag in Xie Huaizheng’s hands.
It was bulging, as if it contained some tasty treats.
Xiao Yuanming had a serious sweet tooth and would often treat himself to snacks when he was out.
So, he immediately asked, "Brother Zheng, are those snacks? I want some."
But to his surprise, Xie Huaizheng pulled the bag back, shot him a look, and said in a low voice, "Eat, eat, eat. All you think about is eating. Don’t eat snacks so late at night, you’ll get a stomachache."