Chapter 112 - Pounding Hearts 18+

18+

...

In one of the small offices they managed to find and lock, Su Xiang clung to Xun Zichen over one of the large and cluttered desks.

Xun Zichen pushed the staplers, pens, and folders around her aside; some fell to the ground, but he didn't care. Su Xiang was pulling the collar of his lab coat towards her, kissing his neck deeply. She slid her tongue across his throat, enticing him further.

He grasped her waist, pulling her to the edge of the desk, squeezing her thighs.

His mouth captured her lips, kissing her eagerly. She bit down on his lower lip, and they fought to dominate the kiss.

Su Xiang pulled Xun Zichen's tie, reeling him over her as they made out. Xun Zichen bent over her body, lifting her legs over his waist. He kept kissing her, sliding a hand from her ankles to her thighs. His hand snaked underneath her skirt, finding a too-thin thong. He pushed it against one of her inner thighs, leaving it on, but still giving him access.

Su Xiang unbuckled his belt, pulling out his cock. She stroked him slightly as a groan escaped his mouth. Xun Zichen ran his fingers against her, thrusting in two, then three. Su Xiang gasped harshly, clutching one of his shoulders as her other hand occupied with his cock. They locked gazes, immersing in each other's expressions.

When Su Xiang felt like she was coming close, she urged Xun Zichen to enter her quickly, so he did.

Su Xiang held onto the edges of the table, as Xun Zichen rocked his hips, pounding in her.

When they finished, Xun Zichen helped Su Xiang fix her hair, straightening her clothes. Su Xiang returned the favour, sweeping his hair aside, adjusting his tie. They smiled at each other's flushed faces.

"You leave first," Su Xiang told him.

Xun Zichen kissed her on the lips, smiling. He looked at her once more before slipping out of the room and into the hall.

Su Xiang composed herself, opening a window to get some fresh air. After ten minutes, she closed the latches, slipping out of the office. The coast was clear, and Su Xiang walked down towards her personal office. Around the corner, some colleagues stole glances, and she looked down at her clothes, wondering if there was something wrong with her appearance, but there was nothing.

In her office, she resumed some work she needed to complete on behalf of her mother when she began to feel bored.

On her desktop computer, she clicked on a new tab, scrolling through Weibo when she came across something that made her heart stop.

Her heart pounded slowly—so slow that she could hear it; her hands shook on the mouse.

It was out.

Her relationship with Xun Zichen was out.

She read every word despite it hurting, despite it making her tremble. But she had to know what people were saying about her and Xun Zichen.

Her heart skipped, but she came to a conclusion that gave her part-relief. However, it still wasn't good at all.

The videos and screencaps were out, but no information revolving Xun Zichen's real identity was released. That was good, but what's worse was that now many people were accusing them of committing a taboo.

Su Xiang dashed out of her office, running down the hall. She stumbled upon Xun Zichen, who looked as if he was running, too.

She slowed down, approaching him mid-hall.

"It's out," she told him.

"I know," he said gravely.

She felt like she was on the verge of tears, but she fought it.

Some of the nurses and doctors passed by them, looking at them strangely.

"What do we do?" she whispered.

"Deny everything. Don't look guilty," Xun Zichen whispered back.

Su Xiang straightened her body, listening to his words. "There are videos," she said.

"Of your face, yes, and undeniable blonde hair," he said to her softly. "But, my back was facing the camera; the angles of my face can belong to anyone else."

Su Xiang nodded. "You're right. We can tell people it was fabricated; that I was with someone else."

Xun Zichen didn't respond. For a moment, Su Xiang realized he might not like the idea that she had to pretend he wasn't her lover. But, it was something to tell people if the question rose around them.

She took a step back, "I'll see you when I can," she said.

Xun Zichen nodded, turning away.

Su Xiang sighed, returning to her office. She closed the tab on her computer, keeping her mind busy with work. She faced many challenges before involving school and work, but she always had a solution. This is the first where she wasn't sure if the problem will be solved.

...

Song Luli raced Long Jie again across the trails between the forest; they challenged each other by taking different routes, meeting at the centre.

When she reached the centre, Long Jie wasn't there. She waited for ten minutes, and he didn't come.

Feeling slightly worried, she jogged down the same trail he was supposed to exit from.

She looked for him between the trees, hoping he didn't accidentally trip over any cliffs. She jogged lightly down a steep slope, hearing the sound of running water.

She looked around, spotting Long Jie looking at a river.

Song Luli dashed towards him, and at the moment, she felt like pouncing on him for scaring her.

He looked at the water, watching the sun sparkle over the streaming river. "Where do you think it ends?" he asked.

" A lake?" she responded.

"Maybe," he answered. "Let's follow it," he said.

"But we could be crossing to other people's lands," Song Luli responded.

"We'll be fine," he said.

Song Luli thought about it.

They then walked for thirty minutes. Tired, Song Luli suggested walking back.

"Wait," Long Jie said, lifting a finger. "Do you hear that?"

Song Luli strained her ears. She only heard the sound of the wind brushing through the trees, birds singing and wood pecking. But beneath those sounds, she also picked up cascading water.

She followed Long Jie, listening to the sound, stumbling upon a large spring. Song Luli gaped, stunned.

Trees surrounded the spring; there was no immediate entrance. Long Jie stepped down, running a hand through the water.

"Is the water good?" she questioned, tossing her bag and phone aside.

"Mhm," Long Jie answered. "It's cold, but safe to swim in," he said.

"What?" Song Luli replied. "It's not deep enough for swimming."

Long Jie then cupped the water one of his hands, splashing her. Song Luli gasped; her clothes got wet.

"Then we won't swim, but we can still get wet," he said.

Song Luli arched a brow, shaking her head. She then approached the spring water, cupping it and splashing back. Long Jie then shot her a predatory gaze, and she bolted away. Long Jie laughed, quickly catching up to her. He then picked her up, and she playfully wriggled out of his grip when she accidentally pushed him, and he fell into the water, pulling her with him.

They were sitting in the water, half-soaked in their clothes, looking at each other. Song Luli then burst out a laugh, and so did Long Jie, feeling ridiculous.

Soaked, they got out of the water, and Song Luli removed her shirt, keeping her sports bra on. The water on her skin glistened, and Long Jie stepped closer, grasping her wrist. He ran his thumb over her tattoo of a dragon coiled around her skin, beginning from the wrist, ending at the mid-forearm. He looked at it with appreciation—at the symbol of their unity.