Capítulo 24: Meeting His Family (2)

It was dinner when they all had settled down to eat.

Two long tables stretched from one wall to the other, in the middle of the vast dining room, fitting every family member that was there. Song Luli sat next to Long Jie and Yin Hao. Aunt Teegan sat across them with her husband, Yin Shou.

The feast—according to Song Luli—was divine. The food was to her liking; she devoured every plate, impressing Yin Hao and surprising Long Jie. But she didn't care if she looked like a glutton, she loved to eat.

After dinner, Song Luli participated in a drinking game that dealt with cards. Each card determined who got to drink, while everyone took turns. By the end of the night, everyone's faces flushed red.

Song Luli sprawled on top of a sofa, resting her eyes. She felt content with the dynamics of the family. She gazed up at the ceiling, looking at nothing in particular when Long Jie came into her view.

His hair had fallen over his eyes, and then he poked at her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Song Luli pressed a hand over her head. "I feel dizzy," she said. The alcohol got her good, and that's because, towards the end, she lost and drank some concoction Yin Hao made—a blend of fruity, but strong drinks.

Song Luli drunkenly stretched out her arms, reaching out towards the ceiling. Long Jie was confused by her actions.

"What are you doing?" he asked her curiously.

With her arms raised, she responded, "Can you help me get up? I feel so sleepy."

Long Jie furrowed his brows, but he obeyed nonetheless. Instead of pulling her arms, he leaned down to cup her body, scooping her up. He lifted her, but she could barely stand, so he carried her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

His aunt entered the room. "Jie!" she approached him swiftly. "You need to treat a woman more gently."

"Eh? But if I let her go, she will fall."

Xue Teegan gave him a pitied look. Dangling over his shoulder was Song Luli; her hair had fallen over her face, covering it entirely as her arms hung loosely.

"I want you two to stay the night," she said to him, almost demanded

Long Jie's eyes widened. "What?" he asked.

"It's late, and you two live near the border of the city. Stay for the night, and we can still do things tomorrow."

Long Jie's face remained sterned despite the ache growing in his shoulder the longer he carried Song Luli. "We shouldn't," he said.

Xue Teegan pouted, and it was difficult to resist. She was like a second mother to him, and he would do anything she asked of him, so long as it was reasonable.

"All right," he said.

At that, his aunt grinned. "Follow me," she said.

Long Jie carried her down the hall, up the stairs, and into a spare bedroom, arranged neatly. His aunt bid him a good-night, flicking on the dim lights right before closing the door.

Long Jie settled her gently over the sheets, and she was awake. It surprised him. Her eyes were dark and deep, bottomless.

"There should be some spare clothing around here, you should change," said Long Jie. Song Luli nodded. She sat up on the edge of the bed, reaching for the hem of her dress, nearly pulling it over her body. Long Jie pinned her arms down quickly, "Can't you wait until I leave the room?" he asked.

Song Luli gazed at him, almost as if she wasn't quite there. She lifted a hand, and with her forefinger, she traced a line of his jaw, watching with knitted brows, the effect it would have—to him or her? Long Jie wasn't sure.

He paused, his expression composed and reserved. Song Luli followed the line of his jaw towards his chin and lifted it slightly, where she saw his Adam's apple bob slightly. Her lips curled.

Long Jie pulled away from her grip, heading towards the closet, and took some folded overnight clothing. He set it next to her and was about to leave when she began stripping again.

He turned his head away, irritated. He couldn't open the door afraid of others passing by. He heard voices in the hall, feet shuffling across the floorboards as more guests were heading towards their rooms.

Long Jie stood, staring at the wall, waiting for her to finish. After five minutes, he heard nothing. "Are you done?" he asked.

Silence.

Long Jie turned his head slightly and saw no movement. He kept turning and found her sprawled on the bed. She had placed on her pants and shirt, but the buttons were not put together, thus revealing the bralette underneath.

Long Jie gritted his teeth, approaching her swift. She had her arms spread out randomly, her eyes shut closed. Long Jie saw the rise and fall of her chest, and he leaned down to her exposed navel, where he began to button all the way up.

Once he reached her collar, Long Jie picked up her body to lay underneath the bedsheets as she kept sleeping.

Afterward, Long Jie left the room to change out his clothes. He went to another spare room and noticed they were locked. He pressed his ear against the cold doorframe and heard nothing. Either, many guests stayed, or his aunt locked every room, which was why she escorted them. Clever, Long Jie thought.

He went back down the hall, and into the room Xue Teegan gave them.

Song Luli was sleeping awkwardly, and he couldn't help but hold in a laugh at how ridiculous she looked. He approached the other side of the bed, sliding under the covers. What puzzled him was that he was too tall for the bedframe, so he had to move in closer to Song Luli while trying to avoid touching her.

It was strange. He had never shared a bed before, with anyone for a matter of fact. But regardless, he still felt comfortable enough to sleep. He closed his eyes when he heard Song Luli say, "I thought you left."

Long Jie opened his eyes, facing her. "Mhm," he said.

"But you came back," she whispered.

"Yes," he said.

Something in Song Luli's eyes glinted with astonishment. She nestled into the blankets, rubbing her head against the pillow like a cat. "This bed is so soft," she said.

Indeed it was.

"I feel warm," she commented.

It was warm, Long Jie thought.

Song Luli nestled in further. "You're warm," she said.

Long Jie didn't know what it was, but he felt her brush against him. They were close, very close. They weren't embracing, but they were shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm, leg to leg, touching. He didn't want her to move any further, afraid she would hear his thundering chest.

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