Chapter 219: Chapter 218: It Goes Without Saying
Finally, Shi Yang is back. He drove all the way directly from the provincial capital, not even having time to go home and change clothes. Although exhausted from the journey, he still looked as clean and presentable as ever, despite the slight fatigue on his face.
He was wearing a leather jacket he bought in a pinch in the provincial capital, paired with a collared shirt tucked into black jeans. As he entered the private room, he was all smiles, exchanging greetings with the elders.
Shi Yang sat in the spot that Zhao Meimei had purposely saved for him, the two sitting close enough that the gap between their chairs practically disappeared, creating a clear distance from the elders.
As Shi Yang engaged in lively conversation, his hand reached under the table to secretly hold Zhao Meimei’s hand, gently caressing it, saying everything without a word.
At the dining table, Zhao Meimei kept her left hand hidden beneath, secretly tracing circles on Shi Yang’s thigh, flirting aimlessly.
Shi Yang remained composed, eating, picking dishes, and chatting with the elders, maintaining a steady demeanor. Only upon closer inspection could one see the deepened color in his eyes.
After a few drinks, Shi Yang’s father and Zhao Dazhuang hit it off, engrossed in a heated conversation. Zhao Meimei started to join them, but gradually her mind wandered. On the surface, she was attentively listening, but her hand under the table slowly drifted over to Shi Yang’s leg.
Zhao Meimei couldn’t hold it in anymore. From the moment she set eyes on Shi Yang, she was itching with impatience, teasingly stroking twice over his clothes. She led Shi Yang’s hand, tracing circles in his palm with her fingertip, the hint was too obvious, causing Shi Yang’s expression to turn slightly unnatural. He clutched Zhao Meimei’s hand firmly in his own.
Shi Yang cast a discreet glance at Zhao Meimei, while across the table Zhao Dazhuang was still asking him, "You came back just like that, who’s looking after the shop?"
"We hired a new manager last month. They seem quite capable. After training for half a month, it’s a good time to test them independently."
Shi Yang replied calmly, gently patting the back of Zhao Meimei’s hand, soothing her.
Zhao Meimei stayed still, relishing the sensation of her hand being held by Shi Yang, a radiant smile at her lips.
Zhao Meimei also made a show of joining the conversation at the table, occasionally responding to some questions about her studies, yet her leg mischievously entwined with Shi Yang’s, her calf lightly brushing against him.
Shi Yang sat motionless, letting her fool around; Zhao Meimei knew it was because he spoiled her. With Shi Yang’s favoritism and care, Zhao Meimei dared to do anything.
She retracted her foot and stood up, addressing the elders, "I ate too much; I want to go out and walk it off."
After speaking, Zhao Meimei reached out to pull Shi Yang, "Brother, come with me, it’s not fun alone."
Shi Yang’s mother waved her hand, "Go on, Yangyang, keep Meimei company."
Zhao Meimei and Shi Yang left the room one after the other.
Once outside, away from the elders’ gaze, Shi Yang dropped his previously calm demeanor, took Zhao Meimei’s hand, and headed straight out of the restaurant.
Shi Yang took Zhao Meimei straight to the car. Zhao Meimei got in, turned around, waited for Shi Yang to sit inside, and threw herself into his arms, hugging without letting go.
Shi Yang allowed her to hold him, started the car, and drove to a side street by the hotel where there were no streetlights. He cracked the window slightly, only then turning on the heater as warm air quickly swept away the chill inside.
Zhao Meimei couldn’t hold back anymore; she hadn’t seen him in four months.
Shi Yang hugged Zhao Meimei tightly, whispering chaotically into her ear, "I have missed you so much... If I couldn’t hold you soon... I’d almost burst."
Shi Yang didn’t even know what he was saying, his voice trembling, overwhelmed with excitement, nearly going insane.
In the cold, wintry night, winds carried a piercing chill. The little car parked on the roadside, hidden in darkness, began to warm up inside, where an intimately cozy space shielded by the sunshade film from the window glass blocked out the pale moonlight, creating an enclosed yet exceptionally safe space for the love-struck couple inside.
Shi Yang stayed home for just one day before hastily returning to the provincial capital to prepare inventory for the spring merchandise ordering fair.
After the midterm assessments, there was less than a month left until the final exams.
Robber Hao personally bought a huge countdown board and hung it on the right side of the blackboard. Each morning before class, standing on the podium, he would tirelessly give a morale-boosting speech for the finals before tearing off the number from yesterday on the countdown board.
Zhao Meimei stared at the countdown board, one less day each time, and sneakily texted Shi Yang at her desk: Brother, I think Robber Hao’s gonna lose it. If he doesn’t really go crazy, he’ll drive us mad instead.
Shi Yang quickly replied: Don’t worry, you’re good at studying, even if he does lose it, he wouldn’t want to hurt you.
Zhao Meimei beamed and started acting coy: Brother, when will you come back? It’s been over a week since you left.
Shi Yang: I’ll definitely hurry back for Christmas to spend it with you.
Zhao Meimei happily made a request: Then I want to sleep with you at night.
Shi Yang: I’d love that, I’ll be all nice and fresh, waiting in bed for you.
Zhao Meimei felt her eyes warm with tears, missing Shi Yang even more. She swiftly typed away: If this continues, I might not need to go to college anymore, I might as well just go make yarn.
Shi Yang: Would you really let me herd cattle then?
Zhao Meimei realized Shi Yang was getting cheekier, texting and calling with a style that increasingly resembled Qu Chaozong, sweet words flowing as if free of charge, teasing her now and then, leaving her blushing and warmhearted, wishing she could pull him from the phone to be sticky and close together.
Zhao Meimei started watching the countdown board every day, eagerly awaiting Christmas. But on Christmas Eve, it started snowing. By morning, the whole world was a silver spectacle. As Zhao Meimei looked out of the window, her eyes turned red with urgency. With the highway closed due to heavy snow, how could Shi Yang make it back to spend Christmas with her?