Chapter 78: First Kiss, First Secret
[Host.]
[Abnormal physiological response detected.]
[Heart Rate: 176 bpm.]
[Increase: +108 bpm.]
[Scanning...]
Gemi remained silent for several seconds before its emotionless voice echoed once more.
[No poison detected.]
[No internal injuries detected.]
[Relevant information unavailable.]
[This system cannot determine the cause.]
Xie Rong remained frozen in his seat.
Although the blindfold concealed his eyes, his face was still turned toward the young woman before him.
He had faced assassins.
He had remained calm even after drinking poisoned tea.
Yet... Nothing had prepared him for Wang Gege’s straightforward question.
Wang Gege blinked several times.
"Ah..." She awkwardly scratched the side of her cheek. "Was I... being rude by asking that, Husband?"
Xie Rong unconsciously swallowed. For the first time in a very long while, he found himself at a loss for words.
Seeing that he remained silent, Wang Gege immediately waved both hands.
"If Husband doesn’t find it appropriate, then please pretend I never asked." She let out an awkward laugh. "I was just being honest."
Her gaze unconsciously drifted downward. It landed upon his lips.
At some point while trying to find the right words, Xie Rong had gently bitten his lower lip without realizing it.
The small, unconscious gesture made Wang Gege’s heartbeat skip once again.
She hurriedly looked away, "Could Husband stop biting your lip?"
Xie Rong froze. Almost instinctively, he released his lower lip.
Only then did he realize what he had been doing.
Wang Gege quietly pressed her lips together. "I don’t know what’s wrong with me..." She let out an embarrassed laugh. "But..."
She hesitated before honestly admitting, "Seeing Husband bite your lip just now... made me want to kiss you even more."
Even Wang Gege herself was startled by her own honesty. If anyone from her previous world saw her now, they would probably think she had been possessed.
She had never been this straightforward.
Back then, her life had revolved around work. Day after day, she buried herself beneath endless documents, deadlines, and overtime. When she finally returned home, the only things waiting for her were novels and short dramas before another exhausting day began.
Romance had always been something that belonged to other people.
Yet somehow...
Ever since arriving in this world, the man sitting before her had quietly entered her thoughts without her realizing it.
Perhaps it had started the day he drank the poisoned tea in her place.
Or perhaps it was the countless small moments afterward.
The way he always stood in front of her. The way he had rushed back the moment he learned what had happened. The way he had gently held her hand just now.
And... That unconscious bite of his lower lip.
She couldn’t explain why.
She only knew that the moment she saw it... A single thought had flashed across her mind, ’I want to kiss him.’
The room became unbearably quiet. Not a single word was spoken.
Wang Gege quietly lowered her gaze. Perhaps, she really had frightened him.
An awkward smile gradually appeared on her lips, "It seems... I’ve made Husband uncomfortable."
She gently pushed the chair back before slowly rising to her feet.
Just as she took a step, "I will—"
A warm hand gently wrapped around her wrist.
Wang Gege halted. She slowly lowered her head, her gaze falling upon the hand that had stopped her, "Husband?"
Xie Rong remained seated. His head was lowered slightly and his fingers neither loosened nor tightened around her wrist.
He simply held it.
Silence once again filled the room. Seconds quietly passed.
Even Wang Gege didn’t urge him to speak. She just stood there, waiting.
After what felt like an eternity, Xie Rong slowly released a long breath. Only then did he rise to his feet.
The two of them were suddenly standing much closer than before.
Wang Gege instinctively lifted her head. Although the familiar black blindfold still concealed his eyes, she somehow felt as though he was looking directly at her.
Xie Rong slowly raised both hands and his movements were unusually careful. As though afraid he might startle her, his palms gently cupped her cheeks.
His fingertips were slightly cool. The warmth lingering on her face only seemed to grow hotter beneath his touch.
"Furen." His voice was so soft that it almost disappeared into the silence. "I’ve thought about it."
He paused briefly, "There is no need to ask."
Before Wang Gege could understand what he meant, he slowly lowered his head.
A soft kiss brushed lightly against her lips. It lasted no more than a heartbeat but to Wang Gege, it felt as though time itself had stopped.
Xie Rong had barely withdrawn when Wang Gege’s fingers suddenly tightened around the front of his robe.
The slight tug stopped him from taking another step and he naturally lowered his head.
"Furen?"
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Gege rose onto her tiptoes once more.
This time, she kissed him first.
Xie Rong’s body visibly stiffened at first but then the hand that had been hanging quietly at his side instinctively moved to her waist, supporting her before she could lose her balance.
Perhaps because she was still standing on the tips of her feet or perhaps because he feared she might stumble... He gently lifted her.
Her fingers slowly loosened from the front of his robe before slipping to rest lightly against his shoulder.
The kiss lingered. Longer than either of them had intended and neither of them seemed willing to be the first to step away.
Xie Rong slowly tilted his head ever so slightly, unconsciously deepening the kiss... not with urgency, but with growing certainty.
The hand around her waist held her a little closer, keeping her close as though he feared she might slip from his arms.
Neither of them knew how much time had passed.
When the kiss finally came to an end, neither of them immediately moved away.
Their foreheads remained close, their breaths quietly intertwining in the narrow space between them.
Wang Gege slowly opened her eyes and for a full two seconds, she simply looked at the blindfold before her, her heartbeat refusing to settle.
Xie Rong remained just as still. His hand was still resting against her waist, while hers unconsciously slid downs slightly on his chest.
The room fell into complete silence.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze stirred the branches, carrying the faint fragrance of spring blossoms into the room.
Only after a long while did Xie Rong slowly lower her back onto the floor. His fingertips lingered at her waist for the briefest moment before reluctantly letting go.
"Furen."
His voice was quieter than she had ever heard it.
Wang Gege slowly looked up.
Their eyes met or rather, she looked toward the familiar black blindfold that concealed his gaze. Even so, she could clearly sense his attention resting entirely upon her.
The silence that followed was no longer awkward. Instead, it was filled with emotions that neither of them knew how to put into words.
Xie Rong slowly drew in a breath, yet it did little to calm the rapid beating of his heart.
"We should stop here." His words were gentle, but there was an unmistakable strain hidden beneath his usually composed tone.
Wang Gege blinked, "Why?"
Xie Rong lowered his head slightly as he found himself unable to answer immediately.
After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
"This husband fears..." He paused, as though admitting the next few words required more courage than facing a battlefield, "That if we continue..."
His hand, which had only just left her waist, unconsciously curled into a loose fist at his side. "This husband may lose his restraint."
Xie Rong had only just finished speaking when Wang Gege quietly pouted, "Husband."
"Hm?" Xie Rong responded instantly.
She looked up at him before taking a tiny step closer. Standing before him, she rose onto her tiptoes once more.
Unfortunately, she still wasn’t quite tall enough.
Wang Gege frowned.
Xie Rong remained motionless.
For some reason, watching her stubbornly stretch herself upward made the corners of his lips lift ever so slightly. A quiet chuckle escaped him.
Wang Gege immediately froze, "Husband laughed?"
"No, I am not."
"No." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Husband definitely laughed."
Without another word, she placed both hands against his shoulders. Then, with a small hop, she threw her arms around his neck.
The sudden movement caught Xie Rong completely off guard.
"Shen Taotao—"
Before he could finish speaking, her fingers accidentally caught the knot tied behind his head.
The silk ribbon slipped free and everything happened in an instant.
The black blindfold loosened and then it silently slid from his face.
The room fell deathly silent. Time itself seemed to stop.
Wang Gege’s smile slowly disappeared. Her eyes widened in disbelief as they met him for the very first time.
One... A deep, familiar brown.
The other... A brilliant sapphire blue that shimmered beneath the afternoon light.
Neither of them moved or spoke as the blindfold continued its slow descent before finally landing soundlessly upon the floor.