Evolution - Chapter 64
Chapter 64
The next morning, Yu Zhiyao looked at the weary woman in the mirror. After a long moment, she let out a low laugh and, as if resigning herself to her fate, began to do her makeup.
Ji Changqing arrived a little earlier than the agreed-upon time. When she saw Yu Zhiyao, a smile unconsciously spread across her face, her eyes clear, filled with a joy so pure it was absolute.
Just looking at her was enough to make one feel happy.
She accompanied Yu Zhiyao, continuing their previous itinerary. They followed Yu Zhiyao's plan: which corridors to visit on which day, which period of history to review. They would exchange a few words now and then, casual and natural. After dinner together in the evenings, sometimes Yu Zhiyao would be too tired and return to the hotel early to rest. More often, they would go see a movie, watch a play, or squeeze into a crowded bar to watch an underground band perform with abandon.
There were also times when they didn't feel like doing anything. On those days, they would climb a mountain, find a quiet spot, and just space out in silence. Looking down, they saw the brightly lit, bustling city; looking up, they saw the endless, star-dusted sky.
As they slowly explored the entire museum together, she seemed to adapt well to Ji Changqing's company. Every time she heard the slightly muffled thud of high-quality boots on the floor, an indescribable sense of peace would settle in her heart.
The result of adapting too well was that when Ji Changqing had to go for treatment and couldn't come, the absence of her unhurried, leisurely footsteps and the faint presence she had when standing nearby left Yu Zhiyao with a sense of loss. She would even subconsciously turn to the side when she saw something interesting, only to realize Ji Changqing wasn't there, and then slowly swallow the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.
After this happened a few times, Yu Zhiyao mostly stopped going out when Ji Changqing couldn't come due to her treatment. She would stay in her hotel room and read books related to the historical periods that interested her. Then, after Ji Changqing's treatment was over, the two would have a casual video call for a while.
Ji Changqing had to go for treatment once every three days, which meant they were apart for about two days each week. Naturally, Yu Zhiyao's stay was extended.
If nothing unexpected had happened, they probably would have continued like this, like old acquaintances meeting in a foreign land, traveling together for a while, and then bidding each other a simple farewell before embarking on their separate journeys.
The accident came without any warning. It was actually a very small incident, but it pushed their relationship in a new direction.
That day, after they had dinner together, Yu Zhiyao went to the restroom before leaving. As she came out and was about to walk down the steps, a child who was running around bumped hard into her. She missed a step and staggered. Cursing silently, just as she was about to fall, she heard a faint cry of "Zhiyao," and then crashed into someone's arms.
"Are you okay?" Ji Changqing held Yu Zhiyao without letting go, slowly patting her back to soothe her.
Yu Zhiyao looked up, their eyes met. A trace of panic still lingered in Ji Changqing's eyes, terrified that she might have been hurt.
Her initial panic instantly subsided upon feeling the familiar presence. She patted Ji Changqing's arm, signaling for her to relax. "I'm fine, I just sprained my ankle."
Ji Changqing loosened her grip slightly. "Can you stand steady? Let me see how bad it is."
Yu Zhiyao hummed softly, placing a hand on the shoulder of the person squatting before her to keep her balance. She felt a warm hand brush over her calf and gently press a few spots near her ankle, asking how it felt.
After a moment, Ji Changqing stood up, her arm around Yu Zhiyao's waist. "No bones are broken. You probably just pulled a ligament. It'll be fine after a few days of rest."
The parents of the child who had run into Yu Zhiyao also hurried over. While comforting their frightened child, they apologized profusely to Yu Zhiyao. "We're so sorry, we didn't watch our child properly. Ma'am, are you badly hurt? Why don't we go to a nearby hospital for a check-up? We'll take full responsibility."
Soothed by his mother, the little boy timidly came over to apologize. "I'm sorry, Auntie. I was being naughty and made you almost fall." He paused, then added in a childish voice, "I'll be responsible for you."
"There's no need. I just twisted it a little, it'll be fine in a bit." Yu Zhiyao said politely. "Did the little one fall?"
From their behavior since they rushed over—their apology, their suggestions for handling the aftermath, and their attitude toward their child—it was clear the couple had excellent manners and upbringing. The apology on their faces was sincere, not just superficial politeness. It was just a small accident, and since their attitude was so good, there was no need to make a fuss.
It was a good thing Ji Changqing caught her, or it would have been really embarrassing. Then, a question arose. Wasn't her reaction a bit too… fast? Her speed was astonishing. The flight of five or six steps was at least ten meters away from where she had been standing.
At this thought, her mind suddenly drifted. Was an Alpha's physical fitness and speed really this good?
The two parties exchanged polite words. At Yu Zhiyao's insistence, they didn't go to the hospital. The restaurant brought a first-aid kit, and Ji Changqing used a spray on her to relieve the pain from the sprain. This kind of spray had hemostatic, analgesic, and wound-healing properties, but for muscle strains and ligament sprains where there was no open wound, it could only provide temporary pain relief. The body still needed to recover on its own.
The parents thought for a moment and still insisted on exchanging terminal numbers, telling her to contact them anytime if anything changed. Only then was the matter considered closed.
After the family of three left, Yu Zhiyao tried to take a couple of steps, but a piercing pain shot through her ankle. She frowned, looked up at Ji Changqing who was still supporting her, and said, "Looks like I'll have to trouble you to help me back."
Ji Changqing stopped this self-torturous behavior. "No, you'll make the injury worse." She raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "So, Miss Yu, you now have two choices."
"Hm?"
"I can carry you back, or I can give you a piggyback."
Yu Zhiyao considered for a moment, then decisively wrapped her arms around Ji Changqing's neck. "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Her meaning was very clear: she chose to be carried. After all, being carried piggyback in public somehow felt a little more embarrassing.
Ji Changqing raised her eyebrows. "As you wish." She readily complied, lifting Yu Zhiyao in a princess carry and walking out.
"What? Did you think I'd be embarrassed?" Yu Zhiyao asked softly, leaning against Ji Changqing's shoulder.
When she leaned on her shoulder, Ji Changqing's body tensed for a moment before quickly relaxing. Then came her muffled laugh. "Yeah, I thought you'd be overcome with shyness."
Yu Zhiyao huffed lightly. "So sorry to have disappointed you." She wasn't trying to be brave or deliberately keep her distance; it was just that her perception hadn't quite caught up. Although Ji Changqing had transformed from her former short self into a tall, 1.8-meter-tall person with long legs, it had taken Yu Zhiyao quite a while to get used to their current height difference. She still slipped up from time to time, mistakenly thinking of Ji Changqing as the weak woman from years ago. Just like a moment ago, when she suggested Ji Changqing just help her walk back, she hadn't yet realized that after her evolution, Ji Changqing could easily carry her all the way back to the hotel.
That's why she had made her choice so decisively. When you could be carried, who would want to hop and struggle all the way back? It would be so bad for her image.
The restaurant wasn't far from Yu Zhiyao's hotel. As Ji Changqing carried her, feeling the warm, soft presence in her arms, a hint of pleasure couldn't help but color her eyes.
Both of them were in a bit of a daze. Since they had met again, even though they spent almost every day together, they had never had any intimate physical contact. They had both been carefully maintaining their distance. The occasional hand-holding or touch on the waist always had a plausible, public reason.
The familiar yet strange body heat silently melted the wall of ice they had deliberately erected. All the reasons for "we can't" gradually dissolved. Ji Changqing's breathing grew heavier. Should I… try again?
What if there's a chance?
Carrying Yu Zhiyao, she entered the hotel room openly. Ji Changqing carefully placed her on the two-seater sofa, pursed her lips, and said, "I'll go fill the bathtub. I'll apply the medicine for you after you've finished bathing."
Yu Zhiyao nodded, looking very obedient. Then, pretending to be calm, she watched as Ji Changqing, with practiced ease, found her nightgown and underwear and took them into the bathroom. A moment later, she heard the sound of running water.
She sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, deeply suspicious. Was her habit of putting things away really that ingrained? Or was Ji Changqing's observation and memory just that good? They hadn't even stayed in hotels that many times when they were together.
After a short while, Ji Changqing came out and carried her directly into the bathroom. Yu Zhiyao glanced around. Everything she would need was placed in perfect order, all within her reach.
Ji Changqing hesitated for a moment, then looked down at the person in her arms and asked, "Will you be okay?"
She looked like she was really hoping Yu Zhiyao would say she had a problem.
Yu Zhiyao shook her head firmly. No problem, absolutely no problem. You may leave now.
When she came out of the bath, the steam had flushed her skin pink, and much of her usual cool, distant aura had faded.
Ji Changqing, feigning composure, gestured for her to sit on the sofa so she could apply the medicine.
Yu Zhiyao hesitated slightly. She had a feeling this was a bit dangerous.
But Ji Changqing half-carried, half-supported her, holding her close and settling her onto the sofa. Then, she knelt on one knee, her warm palm gently holding Yu Zhiyao's ankle as she carefully applied the medicine.
Up to this point, everything still seemed perfectly normal.
But after the medicine was applied, when Ji Changqing's warm hand began to slowly move from her ankle up her calf, everything started to spiral out of control.
Noticing something was off, Yu Zhiyao shifted slightly, trying to pull away.
Then she realized it would have been better to pretend she hadn't noticed.
Ji Changqing seemed to have adopted a "might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb" attitude. If the earlier brush of her fingertips had been an unconscious, mesmerized act, this was now intentional flirting.
It was like a feather brushing against her, creating an inexplicable itch in her heart. Yu Zhiyao bit her lip and called out softly, "Ji Changqing."
Stop it!
Just as she was debating in her flustered state whether to kick this scoundrel over, Ji Changqing's hand had already moved past her knee. Ji Changqing leaned over her slightly, her low, breathy voice falling on Yu Zhiyao's ear, incredibly seductive. She said, "Zhiyao, are you single?"
Yu Zhiyao looked up at her, gazing into the Alpha's eyes, which held both restraint and desire. It was as if this question was her last stand of stubborn pride.
Yu Zhiyao's heart skipped a beat.
She knew perfectly well that if she just gave a negative answer, everything that was spiraling out of control would stop. But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Between them, whether together or apart, there had never been any lies. And she didn't want to lie to those eyes. She thought, I don't want to see the starlight in those eyes fade away again.
Then, Yu Zhiyao heard her own voice, gentle and firm, say, "Yes, I'm single."
The starlight in those eyes suddenly flared, so bright it was hard to look at directly.
Yu Zhiyao slowly closed her eyes. So be it, she thought. After all, haven't you been indulging this too? Otherwise, why would you have changed your itinerary again and again? You only planned to stay for two weeks, but for some reason, you told her a month.
Indulging her approach, indulging yourself in whiling away the days with her here, indulging this feeling as it slowly rekindled from the ashes, setting them both alight.
An urgent kiss fell gently, filled with eagerness, hesitation, and doubt. It was as if she was desperate for proof of their love, yet terrified of causing pressure, a tenderness so gentle it was heartbreaking.
They had been apart for too long. At an age where they should have been seasoned veterans, they seemed awkward and inexperienced.
The only thing they didn't lack was probably the love that had never been extinguished.
Ji Changqing was afraid of hurting Yu Zhiyao, so she carefully controlled her strength, her attention completely focused on observing Yu Zhiyao's subtle expressions.
Discomfort, a frown, pleasure, or pain.
Every slight reaction was met with an immediate adjustment.
The long-lost tenderness and consideration, the temperature missed for so long, made one cling to the other, unwilling to part for even a moment.
Yu Zhiyao's eyelashes trembled slightly. Her face was tilted up, her smooth chin and slender neck possessing a delicate, fragile beauty under the light. She was unbelievably docile and pliant.
She was gathered into Ji Changqing's arms, in an embrace that felt like both protection and confinement. Like a swan with a broken wing, in this small space, she struggled elegantly, gradually flushing crimson, creating a dazzling and intoxicating allure.
She danced and blossomed in Ji Changqing's hands, then exploded like a firework in full bloom, roaring in her mind.
In a daze, Yu Zhiyao opened her hazy, misty eyes and mumbled, "Not from behind, Changqing. Let me see you."
Then, she felt herself being lifted into the air. As they fell onto the bed together, skin to skin, they embraced tightly, both sighing inwardly. Ji Changqing pressed down on her, parting her straight legs, and asked in a hoarse, restrained whisper, "Zhiyao, may I?"
Her tension was obvious, her eagerness mixed with a bit of inexperience. Yu Zhiyao chuckled lightly, her hand caressing Ji Changqing's face, tracing its lines. "Your first time?"
Ji Changqing's gaze shifted away for a moment. "Yeah, the first time."
Yu Zhiyao obediently wrapped her legs around Ji Changqing's waist in a silent invitation.
As long as it's you, I'm okay with anything. No matter what has changed, I can accept it.
Encouraged, Ji Changqing thrust her hips down sharply.
Yu Zhiyao clung tightly to Ji Changqing's shoulders, letting her rise and fall upon her, indulging her as she charged recklessly within her. Restraining herself, panting, as if seeking confirmation, she kept calling her name.
"Changqing, Changqing, Changqing…"
Amidst the rising and falling, Ji Changqing, trembling with pleasure, responded again and again, "Zhiyao, it's me, it's me, it's me…"
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