Chapter 17: Don’t Be Nervous, It’s Not the College Entrance Exam

Just as Liang Jiyong was about to kiss her, Su Wanqing placed her hand between them, and he only kissed the palm of her hand.

Su Wanqing’s hand then moved to Liang Jiyong’s face.

“No kissing allowed, because I haven’t agreed to be your girlfriend yet!”

“Uh…” Liang Jiyong felt a bit frustrated.

“Because you haven’t completely become the ideal prince charming in my heart! Today, one of my fairy tales was shattered. How about you give me a new, beautiful fairy tale instead?”

Liang Jiyong understood Su Wanqing’s meaning—the love story crafted by their parents was broken.

“All right, I’ll do my best. Maybe this fairy tale world won’t be flawless, but it will be real. You will always be the princess in my heart!”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Su Wanqing’s lips. “I can temporarily agree to be your girlfriend, until we return to Yunzhou.”

Liang Jiyong was momentarily stunned. Why only temporarily?

“We agreed not to discuss relationships for a year. Besides, I don’t want Yutong to get hurt. I will only be your girlfriend when you become the prince charming in my heart and when Yutong finds his own prince.”

Liang Jiyong smiled, unsure if it was out of happiness or bitter irony.

“So, may I now exercise my right and kiss my girlfriend?” Liang Jiyong asked with a smile.

“No, no kissing. You haven’t brushed your teeth. I don’t want my first kiss to leave any unpleasant memories!”

“Oh, so where shall we go now? A bar?”

“I want a clean room where I can brush my teeth and take a shower.”

“Understood, Princess!” Liang Jiyong laughed and gently took Su Wanqing’s hand, kissing it.

…

Driving, they found a hotel that looked decent enough. By Liang Jiyong’s estimation, it was about a three-star place.

He wanted Su Wanqing to stay somewhere better, but his pockets were nearly empty—less than fifty yuan left.

Although fifty yuan in this era had more purchasing power than five hundred yuan thirty years later, it still wasn’t much.

A standard room cost twenty yuan, with a ten-yuan deposit, leaving Liang Jiyong with only fifteen yuan in cash.

His money was only enough for one room, and Su Wanqing didn’t even have her ID card on her, so getting two rooms was out of the question.

A man and a woman alone, dry weather, and volatile passions—what if something happened?

“I’m going to shower. You behave yourself—no peeking,” Su Wanqing said.

“Let’s go together!” Liang Jiyong tried to bargain.

“Dream on. Tonight, one bed each. If you cross the line, you’ll regret it!” Su Wanqing said before slipping into the bathroom.

Soon after, Liang Jiyong was surprised by how thoughtfully designed the bathroom was.

The shower area was separated by frosted glass, through which vague silhouettes could be seen—curves outlined faintly.

Though blurry, this hazy scene only stirred the imagination further.

Forty minutes later, Su Wanqing came out wrapped in a towel.

Liang Jiyong felt an overwhelming urge to rush forward. Those forty minutes had been torturous.

“Hurry and take your shower!”

“Okay!”

Bent over, Liang Jiyong entered the bathroom.

The scent was intoxicating.

Su Wanqing sat on the edge of the bed, drying her hair.

Water sounds echoed from the shower.

Her gaze swept toward the bathroom and instantly flushed red because she saw a clear silhouette inside.

Though not entirely distinct, the outline was sharp and defined.

“Ugh, what kind of hotel is this with such a bathroom!” Su Wanqing quickly turned her head.

Suddenly, realization dawned, and her face blazed like an apple.

“So, I was basically showering in front of him just now. No wonder he acted that way…”

Feeling utterly embarrassed, she almost felt exposed.

Involuntarily, Su Wanqing glanced again, perhaps to feel less wronged.

Ah, that was…

Her face burned with heat, muttering “naughty thing” under her breath.

Liang Jiyong finished his shower in less than ten minutes, wrapped in a towel as he stepped out.

Su Wanqing was already lying on the bed, turned away from him.

Half of a fair, supple leg appeared faintly, the graceful curve of her body visible—making Liang Jiyong’s breath quicken.

He sat on the bed and turned to lie down beside her.

Su Wanqing remained still, seemingly holding her breath.

Liang Jiyong’s hand rested on her shoulder, causing her body to stiffen with nervousness.

Smiling, he gently shifted her body to lie flat.

Su Wanqing clutched the towel tightly, her cheeks flushed and hot.

Liang Jiyong reached out and softly rubbed her face. “Don’t be nervous, it’s not a college entrance exam!”

“You’re so bad!” Su Wanqing said.

Liang Jiyong genuinely didn’t know what he had done wrong.

“You may only kiss me once, but absolutely no funny business!”

Su Wanqing said, closing her eyes nervously.

Liang Jiyong took a deep breath—this was difficult!

He lowered his head; their foreheads touched, their noses brushed lightly, and a fresh shampoo scent wafted over them.

His breathing grew rapid.

His lips gently pressed against hers.

Su Wanqing’s breathing quickened as well.

Liang Jiyong kissed her, close yet teasing, the fragrance between their lips intoxicating.

Her hands nervously rose to rest on his chest, appearing as if to push him away but also as if to hold him tight.

His hand traveled along her waist, slipping through the gap of the towel.

Su Wanqing’s breath quickened again but soon she lost herself in the sweetness of the first kiss.

When Liang Jiyong’s hand grasped the smooth curve of her breast, Su Wanqing felt breathless and slightly moved, breaking their lips apart.

That first kiss was truly sweet.

Opening her eyes, Su Wanqing looked at Liang Jiyong silently, her gaze dreamy.

He brushed her bangs aside and kissed her again, tenderly but briefly, then kissed her once more.

Their kisses varied—some long, some short—making Su Wanqing both resist and welcome him, her lips slightly parted, her jaw relaxing involuntarily.

Liang Jiyong parted her teeth and kissed deeply, greedily.

At some point, Su Wanqing’s towel had slipped off, revealing her exquisite figure, breathtakingly beautiful.

Just as Liang Jiyong flipped over and pinned her beneath him, ready to consummate their passion, Su Wanqing’s rationality seemed to awaken.

Though her eyes were still dreamy, she shook her head at him.

Liang Jiyong silently cursed inwardly.

Exhaling a breath of frustration, he forced down the devil inside.

He lay back on his side, panting rapidly.

Su Wanqing also breathed quickly, and after half a minute, she moved closer, resting her head on his arm, her face against his chest.

“I… I’m a little scared. Not now.”

“Mm.”

Liang Jiyong replied weakly. Between being beastly and being less than a beast, he ultimately chose the latter.

“Naughty!” Su Wanqing whispered.

Before he could react, she pulled the towel back over his fierce “dragon.”

Liang Jiyong said nothing, holding her hand, gradually suppressing his wicked thoughts in the peaceful moment.

They exchanged words softly, the atmosphere shifting from passion to tenderness.

“Are you hungry?” Liang Jiyong asked as Su Wanqing’s stomach growled.

It was nearly eight o’clock.

“Yes.”

“Shall we go out to eat?”

“My underwear is being washed!” Su Wanqing said shyly.

“Then I’ll buy you some food. What do you want to eat?” Liang Jiyong asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll go out with you and buy some clothes too…”

Su Wanqing wore a white long dress. Thinking about her appearing without undergarments made Liang Jiyong’s breath irregular again.

A woman’s greatest allure is never when she’s completely bare.

Half-hidden, teasing, reluctant yet inviting—that’s what leaves endless room for imagination.

Holding her hand, Liang Jiyong thought it over and calculated.

The toll was five yuan, leaving ten yuan; as long as they didn’t have a fancy meal, it should be enough.

Pingzhou’s prices were higher than Yunzhou’s but not by much.

Su Wanqing and Liang Jiyong left the hotel and ate a simple stir-fry with rice at a nearby small restaurant.

Su Wanqing still seemed to crave alcohol, but Liang Jiyong ordered a bottle of beer.

She took one sip, grimacing, leaving the rest to him.

After eating and drinking their fill, Su Wanqing was in the mood for shopping.

Since there weren’t many malls near the hotel, they drove to Pingzhou’s busiest shopping street.

Pingzhou Commercial Trade Center was the most bustling mall in Pingzhou, but Liang Jiyong felt no special excitement upon entering—it was like any ordinary department store in the future.

Yet in this era, it was considered quite prosperous.

Pingzhou was the second-largest city in Changjiang Province, having even surpassed the provincial capital, Changzhou, economically.

Over the past twenty years, several key railways had been built, making Pingzhou a transportation hub.

It had also become a sub-provincial city, with its top officials serving on the provincial standing committee alongside those of Changzhou.

In recent years, there had been ongoing calls to move the provincial capital from Changzhou to Pingzhou, but such a move was difficult—much like Beijing and Shanghai; no matter how economically powerful Shanghai became, it would never replace Beijing’s political status.

Walking through the modern shopping mall, Su Wanqing was excited, but Liang Jiyong was deeply distressed.

He didn’t want to dampen her mood but felt overwhelmed with frustration.

“What’s wrong? Are you not happy? Did driving today tire you out? Should we go back?” Su Wanqing asked as she came out of a store, noticing his low spirits.

“No, it’s just… I’m timid!” Liang Jiyong said helplessly.

“You? Timid? Ha…” Su Wanqing didn’t believe it.

“Money is a man’s courage!” Liang Jiyong admitted.

Su Wanqing laughed. “No money spent yet, so be happy! To reward you for your hard work today, I’ve decided to give you a gift!”

Liang Jiyong shook his head. “You’re the best gift heaven has given me!”

“You’re cheeky. Cheerfully accompany me shopping, and if I’m satisfied, there will be a reward!”

Liang Jiyong’s eyes brightened. What kind of reward? Could it be a home run?

Su Wanqing pulled a wallet from her small bag and took out a bank card, handing it to Liang Jiyong.

“What’s this for?” Liang Jiyong was momentarily stunned.

“It’s a bank card, like a passbook, but you can…”

“I know that! I mean, why give me your bank card? I’m not a kept man!”

Su Wanqing playfully tapped his arm. “Nonsense. You’ll use it to pay later, or else you’ll be the kept man! The password is my birthday—if you don’t remember it, hmm…”

“Impossible to forget!” Liang Jiyong smiled, pocketing the card. Next time they shopped, he would be well prepared.

“How much money do you have on it?” he asked.

“I don’t know, probably quite a bit. My father set it up for me; I haven’t used it. I think you can use it with those POS machines to pay, and also withdraw cash at ATMs!”

For Liang Jiyong, this was all new. If you stopped ten people on the street now, eight probably wouldn’t know what a bank card was.

Bank cards had only become popular in the past couple of years; most still preferred passbooks.

But Liang Jiyong knew that within two or three years, passbooks would be obsolete. That’s the power of technology.

“Do you think this looks good?” Su Wanqing asked softly, blushing, as they stood in a branded lingerie store.

“Looks good or not depends on who wears it. I think you look good in anything!” Liang Jiyong said with a smile.

“You’re such a smooth talker. What about that beige one over there?” she asked.

“Not bad, but it looks a little big…”

Liang Jiyong looked at Su Wanqing, estimating her bust was at most B+ but still developing. With proper care, it could easily reach a C cup in the future.

“This one’s for Yutong. Do you think it looks good?” Su Wanqing looked at Liang Jiyong.

“Uh, it’s okay.” Liang Jiyong couldn’t help but recall the fleeting glimpse of Di Yutong he had caught in the restroom.

“Hmph, I can tell by your expression—you definitely have improper thoughts about Yutong!”

Liang Jiyong looked innocent. “That’s not fair. It’s Di Yutong who’s been having improper thoughts about me. I’ve only been having improper thoughts about you!”

“Nonsense. Admit it—you’ve had feelings for Yutong! Don’t all guys like girls like her?”

Liang Jiyong smiled faintly. “When a man sees a pretty face and a good figure, he will feel attracted. It’s just a natural reaction.

“But feeling attracted is one thing; having ulterior motives is another.

“If both are single, it’s understandable to pursue someone.

“Otherwise, it’s having wrongful intentions.

“When a man meets a woman, if his humanity outweighs his animal instincts, he can treat her rationally; if the animal instincts dominate, that’s a crime.

“Therefore, men who don’t respect women are called beasts!”

Su Wanqing covered her mouth, struck by the sharpness of Liang Jiyong’s reasoning.