#45: The Hem of the Dress

Though Qin Hua was being discreet, if Cheng Wan Yue could see her, then Cheng Yanqing, who was walking beside her, certainly noticed too.

Their breakup had been anything but dignified. They had said hurtful things, deleted each other’s contacts completely, and upon meeting again, their lives had little overlap.

Cheng Yanqing had a clear conscience and didn’t feel the need to avoid her. However, Qin Hua avoided everyone and intercepted him in the parking lot.

When Cheng Wan Yue saw the drunken Qin Hua crying and hugging Cheng Yanqing, her first thought was that Cheng Yanqing was in trouble. To his credit, he reacted quickly, stiffly pushing Qin Hua away and instinctively glancing around.

There might be paparazzi or fans nearby.

Cheng Wan Yue hadn’t liked the Qin sisters much in high school, regardless of their fame. As a female celebrity, Qin Hua shouldn’t have been the type to turn back.

But human emotions are unpredictable.

Many people in their thirties still reminisce about someone they met in their teens.

The more Cheng Wan Yue watched, the more dangerous Cheng Yanqing seemed. “Qing Hang, want to make a bet?”

Qing Hang held her hand and walked toward the elevator. “What’s the bet?”

“If Cheng Yanqing gets hugged by another woman, we’ll bet whether his girlfriend will come back and skin him alive.” The parking lot echoed, so Cheng Wan Yue lowered her voice. “If I lose, you can ask me for a wish.”

Qing Hang gave her the initiative. “You pick first.”

“Hmm… I bet…” His birthday was just over a month away, so after pausing for a few seconds, Cheng Wan Yue changed her answer. “I bet nothing will happen. My brother and sister-in-law are very much in love.”

Before this, Qing Hang hadn’t known Cheng Yanqing and Qin Hua had dated.

He wasn’t curious about whether someone trying to salvage a long-dead relationship was driven by alcohol or other reasons. He only wanted to understand Cheng Wan Yue.

Summer was almost over, and the evening breeze was cool.

The glass windows of shops along the street were lit up. Around the corner stood a bridal shop, and Cheng Wan Yue suddenly remembered the bridesmaid dress Zhou Yu had sent her. It had arrived two days ago, but since she wasn’t in Beijing, Cheng Yanqing had collected it for her.

Cheng Wan Yue had seen pictures of the bridesmaid dress, but Qing Hang hadn’t. She waited until they got out of the car at the entrance of the residential complex to ask him, “Want to come upstairs and see Coal Ball?”

Qing Hang had never gone inside when dropping her off. “Just to see Coal Ball?”

Cheng Wan Yue winked playfully. “Maybe there’s something else.”

The bridesmaid dress was custom-made, so as long as she hadn’t gained weight, the size should be fine. Once home, she handed Qing Hang the wedding invitation without saying anything and closed the bedroom door.

On the table, Qing Hang noticed a bouquet of dried roses.

Coal Ball leapt around, skillfully avoiding the vase with every step.

After putting the invitation away, Qing Hang stood up and knocked on Cheng Wan Yue’s bedroom door. “Can I come in?”

“Just a moment…” Before her sentence ended, the door was pushed open.

The pale blue dress hung loosely on her, the fabric silky smooth, barely covering the front. Her back was bare, her arms bound with straps, and her high heels lay haphazardly at her feet.

Coal Ball squeezed through the door crack and darted under her skirt.

Ticklish and worried about stepping on the cat, she stumbled over the hem and practically fell into Qing Hang’s arms.

Every time, he caught her perfectly.

That year, Qing Hang had been publicly accused of theft by classmates. Surrounded by suspicious, shocked, and disdainful stares, he felt like he was tied to a cross, unable to defend himself.

Similar incidents had happened as early as elementary school.

Classmates had questioned why he was so poor.

He didn’t know why poverty was considered a sin.

Cheng Wan Yue pushed through the crowd to stand by his side, defending him and refuting their suspicions. When the classmate awkwardly muttered that they wouldn’t pursue the matter further, she dragged him in front of everyone to check the surveillance footage.

She ran ahead, and he passively followed.

Watching her fluttering skirt, his desolate heart slowly came back to life.

Her beautiful long hair and the hem of her skirt swaying in the evening breeze became Qing Hang’s most vivid memory throughout his school years.

________________________________________

Cheng Wan Yue underestimated how difficult it was to wear this dress alone.

“This strap needs to be tied at the back, like lacing up shoes,” she lifted the skirt, steadied herself, and instructed her cat. “Coal Ball, stop causing trouble. If you’re naughty, I won’t let you watch.”

Coal Ball tried to climb onto the bed but was too small. Its claws scratched the sheets, creating rustling sounds, occasionally meowing.

There was a mirror in the room. Qing Hang placed his hands on Cheng Wan Yue’s shoulders, turning her to face the mirror. Standing behind her, he slowly untangled the blue straps wrapped around her arms.

“What kind of knot?”

“Just tie it tight, it’ll be terrible if it’s loose... Qing Hang?”

He snapped back to reality, his hazy gaze focusing on the back of her neck. “Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“You’ll know in a bit.”

Cheng Wanyue was about to secretly turn her head when Qing Hang noticed. He covered her eyes with his palm, forcing them shut. He maintained this position even after taking out a small gift box.

She took advantage of his distraction, pulled his hand away, and looked back. He didn’t even have time to put the box away.

“What’s this? A necklace?”

“Yes,” Qing Hang wasn’t good at pursuing girls. He wanted to give her everything he had.

Cheng Wanyue had liked a Weibo post, and the blogger had shared photos of the new collection from this brand. A blue string was tied around the box. She untied the bow and then closed her eyes.

“I happen to need a necklace that goes with a dress. Help me put it on.”

Qing Hang took out the necklace. Coal Ball was chewing on her skirt. He lowered his head to look, and the necklace suddenly slipped from his hand, sliding into her cleavage.

Without thinking, he reached in.

Cheng Wanyue glared at him reproachfully. She covered her chest and silently looked at Coal Ball at her feet. The child had grown up, it was not suitable for minors.

Qing Hang hadn’t been drinking that night, but her single glance made him feel a little parched.

He picked up Coal Ball, placed it outside the door, then locked the door, loosened the buttons at his collar, and took off his glasses.

Cheng Wanyue was still fumbling for the necklace inside her clothes. The pendant was stuck between her breasts, and her neckline was pulled open.

She stepped back, propping one hand on the corner of the table. Qing Hang’s palm covered the back of her hand, and he tilted his head to kiss her.

When they were at the hospital, she shared interesting things that happened during the photoshoot, and he really wanted to kiss her.

“Don’t... don’t ruin the dress,” Cheng Wanyue only remembered to remind him to be gentle. She was going to wear this dress as Zhou Yu’s bridesmaid.

Qing Hang untied the strap on her back the same way he had tied it. She had one foot on his slipper, her body constantly leaning back under his pressure, yet her chest pressed even closer to him. He left wet, hot kisses on her neck, his tongue hooking the necklace pendant and taking it into his mouth.

The pendant had already warmed up against her skin.

Putting on the necklace wasn’t smooth. She was stripped out of her dress, left with only a pair of panties, but he was still fully dressed. He was holding back. The veins and blood vessels under the skin of his rolled-up sleeves subtly protruded, and his slightly heavy breathing revealed surging passion.

Cheng Wanyue muffled a laugh against his shoulder. “What should we do? There’s no...”

She felt the hardness beneath his waist.

“Is it that uncomfortable? I’ll consider letting you redeem a wish early.”

Qing Hang closed his eyes, shaking his head in refusal.

“There will be more later, it’s not like this is the last one,” Cheng Wanyue rubbed his chin. “With your hand?”

Qing Hang couldn’t resist her temptation, not then, not now.

His tongue probed between her teeth, greedily drawing moisture from her body. Kissing couldn’t relieve the surging heat. He compromised, guiding her hand downwards.

His gradually gentle kisses conveyed a signal of desire.

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came from outside. Cheng Wanyue was startled, Qing Hang’s lips still pressed against her collarbone.

Cheng Yanqing didn’t make much noise. Only a wall separated them, and it felt as if he could knock on the door at any moment.

Qing Hang’s shoes were in the shoe cabinet; he probably hadn’t noticed.

The arm around her waist tightened, and his hot breath fell on the back of her ear. Qing Hang seemed to sigh. Cheng Wanyue struggled to hold back her laughter, her shoulders trembling slightly. “You take a moment, then quietly leave?”

Qing Hang’s voice was hoarse. “Quietly?”

Cheng Wanyue thought for a moment. “You can stay overnight and quietly leave in the morning, but you’ll have to suffer a bit and only go wash up after Cheng Yanqing falls asleep.”

Qing Hang gently bit her. “If he comes looking for you, where do you plan to hide me?”

“Don’t worry, he won’t come.” Their bodies were pressed tightly together. Cheng Wanyue could clearly feel his physiological response. She cupped his face and kissed him, whispering, “Why is it still so hard? Do you still want more?”

Qing Hang was covered in sweat. “Is the soundproofing good?”

After Cheng Yanqing returned to his room, it was actually quiet outside.

“No, it’s not good, so you have to be quiet,” Cheng Wanyue was doing it on purpose.