My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 30

“How was I going overboard?” Tao Ran looked at her, amused.

Zuo Xian was struggling to find the words; two little figures were already wrestling in her head. One said this was shameless opportunism, and the other said it was clearly what Tao Ran had asked for.

Seduction! This is blatant seduction!

“It just is too much.”

“Well, do you want to join me?” Tao Ran raised an eyebrow, sensing that Zuo Xian was perhaps a little bit of a hypocrite. “If you don’t come in, I’m really going to sleep.”

“…I’ll join you.” Zuo Xian finally gave in to her heart, turned off the room light, and burrowed under the covers.

The warmth of the blanket was laced with a sweet scent, and the two girls’ breaths mingled intimately. Zuo Xian covered half her face with the blanket and lay flat beside Tao Ran.

Her arm could vaguely sense the warmth of the girl next to her. The slightly distant closeness felt a little exciting to Zuo Xian.

They had actually slept in the same bed many times before, but back then, Zuo Xian harbored no other thoughts about Tao Ran, seeing her only as a friend or a sister.

Far from feeling shy, because Tao Ran often had cold hands and feet in winter, Zuo Xian used to practically cling to her to warm them up.

Now, she felt somewhat constrained.

“Ranran…”

“Hmm?” Tao Ran lightly hummed in response; her voice thick with congestion; she was truly exhausted.

Zuo Xian wanted to ask for her consent and queried, “Are your hands and feet cold? Do you want me to warm them for you?”

A long while passed after she spoke, and Tao Ran didn’t reply. The only sound in the dark room was a soft, shallow breathing. Zuo Xian felt a wave of disappointment but didn’t dare to overstep.

But the next second, the person beside her moved. She turned around, placed her arm around Zuo Xian’s waist, sought out Zuo Xian’s other hand, and held it. Her cheek nestled into Zuo Xian’s neck, giving a little rub.

In an extremely intimate posture, she used Zuo Xian as a pillow, her voice heavy with sleepiness.

She complained slightly, “Why did you ask? You should have just come and hugged me, like you used to.”

Zuo Xian felt a little stiff, but her lips curled up high, her eyes sparkling. She adjusted her position to make it more comfortable for Tao Ran to hold her.

She then replied, “I was afraid you wouldn’t like it.”

“I like it. I like anything you do to me.” Tao Ran was so close to Zuo Xian that when she spoke, her soft, moist lips brushed against Zuo Xian’s neck, and her breath tickled her collarbone.

Tao Ran truly couldn’t stay awake any longer. Forcing out the last bit of energy, she said, “Next time you want to do something to me, don’t ask. Just do it.”

“…Really?” Zuo Xian restrained herself for a moment but couldn’t help but seek confirmation.

This time, there was no verbal answer, nor was there any physical response. Only Tao Ran’s steady breathing was audible in her ear.

Zuo Xian lowered her head slightly to look at her, her expression gentle and focused as she lowered her gaze. She chuckled softly and tightened their clasped hands.

I’m done for, I like Tao Ran even more.

Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Zuo Xian silently traced every inch of Tao Ran’s face with her gaze.

She had become much thinner; the plumpness of her cheeks was nearly gone. With the skin tightly adhering to the bone structure, the strong bone definition of her face created the illusion that she had grown up.

The aggressiveness of her looks had also increased. Tao Ran’s features, taken individually, leaned toward a cold, aloof style: indifferent brows and eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips, which especially gave her a sense of coolness.

However, she loved to smile, and she smiled especially often when facing Zuo Xian. When she smiled, the coolness deep inside her was entirely banished by the gentle expression.

It was as if an iceberg had melted into spring water.

Now that she was asleep and her face lacked a smile, the reserved coolness of her features was fully apparent.

She looks like a sleeping vampire, Zuo Xian thought, secretly smiling as she observed the dark circles under Tao Ran’s eyes.

After enjoying her little laugh, Zuo Xian gazed intently at Tao Ran, completely awake. She had slept for a long time in the afternoon, leaving her with no sleepiness now.

Recalling what Tao Ran had just said, a mischievous idea began to stir in Zuo Xian’s heart.

Her attention was drawn to Tao Ran’s lips. She had a beautiful lip shape, slightly thin but looking very soft, with the lower lip being a bit fuller than the upper one.

She wants to kiss her.

Tao Ran had just said she could do anything.

So a kiss should be okay.

She would just kiss her once, not like in the movies where they use tongues. She swore it.

The little devil in her head urged Zuo Xian on. She slowly leaned closer, reaching a distance where she could hear Tao Ran’s breathing. Her inner self suddenly struggled immensely, and she began to sweat on her back.

After pausing for a long time, she ultimately didn’t go through with the kiss.

Pulling back slightly, Zuo Xian turned her head, trying to let her mind cool down.

She admonished herself: Tao Ran said those words out of trust in her. If she were to kiss her now, wouldn’t that be betraying Tao Ran’s trust?

Zuo Xian, have some morals. Don’t actually become a scumbag.

After quietly cursing herself a few times, Zuo Xian obediently held Tao Ran without moving, embodying the modern-day Gentleman Liu Xiahui.

Perhaps being with Tao Ran made her feel secure, or perhaps the covers were just too warm. After having slept all afternoon, Zuo Xian fell asleep again while nestled against Tao Ran.

As she slept, she burrowed into Tao Ran’s embrace, her nose pressed tightly against Tao Ran’s exposed skin, like a little dog needing to smell its owner’s scent to feel safe.

In the dark, Tao Ran slowly opened her eyes, her expression shifting as she looked at Zuo Xian.

She was a light sleeper and had woken up when Zuo Xian drew near, but she kept pretending to sleep, curious about what Zuo Xian would do.

And this is it?

After a moment, Tao Ran chuckled softly and whispered, “Coward.”

When dinner time arrived, Zuo Zhimi quietly pushed the door open for a peek, saw the two children sleeping soundly, and left without waking them, closing the door softly.

“Where are Xianzai and Ranran?” Li Yugui asked when she saw her come alone.

Zuo Zhimi pulled out a chair and sat down at the dinner table. “They’re sleeping. Ranran was on a long flight, let her sleep a bit more.”

Zuo Zhifan asked, “Ranran is sleeping, but what about Xianzai? Still sleeping?”

“She’s keeping Ranran company, of course. These two have always been close since they were little. They’re still like real sisters, they even have to hug each other to sleep. How sweet is that?”

Liu Xinyu’s hand trembled as she picked up a piece of food, and her eyelids twitched wildly. She looked up and scanned the three elders at the table.

She realized that not a single one of their faces showed any suspicion; they were merely expressing contentment.

Liu Xinyu hesitated for a long time. She was simply too curious—did no one in this family feel that something was off?!

Or was everyone actually feigning ignorance, and their apparent lack of awareness was just an act?

After eating two bites of flavorless food, Liu Xinyu put down her chopsticks and tentatively asked, “Zuo Xian and Tao Ran cuddling while sleeping, don’t any of you think something’s unusual?”

“Unusual in what way?” Zuo Zhimi was puzzled.

Liu Xinyu reminded her, “Aunt, would you have cuddled with my mom to sleep when you were a teenager? You’re biological sisters; logically, you should be even closer than they are.”

Zuo Zhifan frowned, “Your aunt and I never liked sleeping together since we were little. She steals the blanket.”

Li Yugui nodded, “Your sister has always been a terrible sleeper. Luckily, Xianzai didn’t inherit that.”

Liu Xinyu: “…”

It seemed this family truly was oblivious. Liu Xinyu gave up.

About an hour after dinner, Zuo Xian and Tao Ran finally emerged from the room. Their grandma reheated the dishes and had them eat.

Because everyone knew Tao Ran was leaving the next day, they consciously wanted to give her and Zuo Xian more time together. Thus, when the two girls prepared to go out, the elders only told them to be safe.

Liu Xinyu even stayed in her room, not even venturing out, terrified that one of the elders might suddenly decide to make her tag along as a third wheel.

Even if she was a junior high student, they shouldn’t treat her like a small child.

The control of fireworks and firecrackers was very lax in the countryside, unlike Lu City, where the right to set off fireworks had long been lost.

As the holiday approached, a firework would occasionally shoot up from various corners of the small town at night, blooming brilliantly in the night sky.

On the long street, the two girls strolled leisurely, holding hands. The weather was cold, and Zuo Xian was worried about Tao Ran’s hands being cold, so she held her hand and tucked it into her own warm pocket.

Xue Shuangxi had said that Tao Ran was straight, so Zuo Xian needed to be more proactive and enthusiastic.

So, inside the small pocket, Zuo Xian’s fingers subtly loosened, then slipped between Tao Ran’s fingers, clasping them tightly, fingers intertwined, palms intimately pressed together.

Seeing Tao Ran look over, Zuo Xian offered an excuse, “Your hand is really cold. I’m warming it for you. This way… the contact area is bigger.”

Tao Ran chuckled softly, not exposing her little trick, and responded to Zuo Xian with an action.

She tightened her grip.

The fireworks that night seemed more splendid and dazzling than any Zuo Xian had seen in her previous decade or so of life. How else could she explain her continuously pounding heart?

Under the shower of fireworks, Zuo Xian secretly looked at Tao Ran’s profile. Tao Ran noticed her gaze, looked back, and smiled broadly.

“Tao Ran.” Zuo Xian called her name.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Nothing, I just called you.” Zuo Xian turned her head back, pressing down the upward curve of her lips.

Tao Ran had booked a flight for 4 PM on Lunar New Year’s Eve, so she had to leave right after lunch. Zuo Zhimi offered to drive Tao Ran to the airport, and Zuo Xian was, of course, a definite passenger.

A nearly four-hour drive. Zuo Xian had initially thought it was a bit long when they arrived, but now she only regretted that the distance between Nanding and Yuzhou was too short, and resented the rapid advancement of technology—the speed of vehicles was too fast.

Ultimately, her resentment was rooted in her reluctance to part with Tao Ran.

She hated all the factors that prevented Tao Ran from staying by her side.

Zuo Xian already disliked Tao Yizhang without even meeting him. She knew this was a bit impolite, so she didn’t tell anyone, only secretly holding a grudge in her heart.

Yizhou City Airport was bustling with people, but most were heading out. People like Tao Ran, going in at this time, were few, but they did exist.

However, those people were going home for the New Year, while Tao Ran was leaving the country.

Zuo Xian couldn’t help but secretly curse Tao Yizhang a couple more times under her breath.

“Ranran, you have to take care of yourself, don’t work too hard.” Zuo Xian held Tao Ran’s hand, teary-eyed as she instructed, “I’ll be waiting for you to come back.”

“Okay, I’ll come back as soon as I can.” Tao Ran smiled.

Zuo Zhiming watched the two girls’ reluctant farewell and felt a pang of sadness herself, turning away to avoid looking.

“Passengers for the flight to Country D, please note…”

The broadcast announced Tao Ran’s flight number, like a sharp blade severing their tightly clasped hands. Only their gazes, locked onto each other, remained interconnected, impossible to tear away.

Zuo Xian completely broke down, crying non-stop, her vision blurred with tears as she stared at Tao Ran, as if trying to engrave her image into her mind.

Tao Ran frowned in distress, wiping away her tears. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around Zuo Xian’s waist and hugged her, gently patting her back.

Seeing that she was still crying relentlessly, she hesitated for a moment, then lowered her eyes and cupped Zuo Xian’s face.

She leaned in, leaving a fleeting, butterfly-like kiss on the corner of Zuo Xian’s lips.

Her action was subtle and quick, timed in Zuo Zhimi’s blind spot. No one besides Zuo Xian knew that Tao Ran had just kissed her.

Although it was on the corner of her lips, it was genuinely a kiss. Soft, moist, and carrying Tao Ran’s unique scent.

Zuo Xian was stunned.

“Don’t cry anymore. If the wind hits your face later, it will hurt,” Tao Ran said, not explaining the kiss, and promised Zuo Xian while looking at her, “I’ll be back as soon as possible. I won’t make you wait long.”

“Mm…”

She left.

Zuo Xian watched Tao Ran’s retreating figure, sniffling as she raised her hand to lightly touch the corner of her lips. She pursed her lips, her emotions complicated, but she was definitely not as sad anymore.

Soon, Zuo Zhimi walked up, putting an arm around Zuo Xian’s shoulder, offering silent comfort.

“Let’s go. We’re going home.”

Zuo Xian nodded, following behind her, her mind still replaying Tao Ran’s kiss.