The Secret of the Yoga Club: The Women's Identity is Not Simple

Lin Feng sat up in bed and pulled the blanket up to cover Zhou Mei's exposed shoulders.

She lay on her side, her face buried in the pillow, her breathing steady and deep, a few tear stains still clinging to the corners of her eyes. The warm yellow light from the bedside lamp fell on her slender collarbone, and faint marks from their embrace remained on her skin.

She probably hasn't been sleeping well these past few days; the two faint bluish patches under her eyes haven't faded yet.

Lin Feng sat on the edge of the bed, bending down to pick up the clothes scattered on the floor one by one. A white cotton short-sleeved shirt, gray loungewear, and her underwear, all slightly wrinkled from the earlier scuffing.

After a pause, he put all the clothes on the bedside table.

I was planning to leave.

He put on his pants, pulled his T-shirt over his head, and looked back at the bedroom door.

Zhou Mei buried her face in the pillow, letting out a muffled murmur, her fingers unconsciously gripping the corner of the blanket, like an insecure little animal.

Lin Feng stood there for a while, then finally came back, took off his T-shirt and draped it over the back of the chair, before turning and walking into the kitchen.

The plate of burnt cola chicken wings was still on the table, and a thin layer of oil had formed on the surface of the tomato and egg drop soup, which she had hastily made that evening.

Lin Feng carried the plates into the kitchen, turned on the tap, and squeezed dish soap onto a sponge to create a rich lather. He washed the dishes one by one under the running water and then placed them upside down on the drain rack.

The splattered oil on the stove was wiped twice with a cloth, the remaining minced garlic on the cutting board was flushed into the sink, and the garbage bag was tied up and placed at the door.

Lin Feng turned on the tap, rinsed his hands, and dried them with a paper towel. As he turned around, he saw Zhou Mei standing at the kitchen doorway.

The other person was barefoot, wearing only his white T-shirt. The T-shirt was large, with the hem just covering the middle of their thighs, revealing their two long, slender legs.

Her hair was disheveled and draped over her shoulders, her makeup was smudged, and her eyes were red. One hand was on the door frame, while the other gripped the hem of her T-shirt, and her lips trembled slightly.

"I thought you were gone." Her voice was hoarse from just waking up, and there was a hint of suppressed sobs.

"The dishes haven't been washed yet," Lin Feng said softly.

Zhou Mei walked over. Her bare feet shone on the cold kitchen floor tiles. She stood in front of him, grabbed his shirt at the waist with both hands, and buried her face in his chest.

"I thought you were gone," she repeated, this time her voice muffled, coming from his chest, trembling with a hint of grievance. "I woke up when you got up just now. I thought you didn't want me anymore. I didn't even dare to open my eyes."

She looked up at him. Her face was clean after removing her makeup, and her eyes were brimming with tears, threatening to spill over. Her lips were downturned, and her jaw trembled slightly; she looked completely vulnerable.

The aloof counselor who usually stood on the podium, the teacher Zhou who made students afraid to speak loudly, completely disappeared at this moment.

Standing before him was only a girl with red eyes and a heart full of unease.

Lin Feng pulled Zhou Mei into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. Her hair smelled faintly of shampoo, the same scent he'd smelled on her pillow last time. "I...I won't leave."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Mei stood on tiptoe and kissed him. The faint aftertaste of red wine still lingered on her lips, mixed with her unique warmth. Her tongue gently touched the corner of his mouth, a tentative and cautious touch.

After kissing for a while, she released her grip on his clothes and looked up at him.

"I'm finally not alone anymore." She said this in a very soft voice, as if she were talking to herself.

She buried her face in his chest again, tightening her arms around his waist as if trying to embed herself into his embrace. "I don't ask for much. Just spending time with you when you have time is enough."

Lin Feng gently patted her back with his fingers, his throat tightening, unsure of what to say.

Zhou Mei looked up at him, and the mist in her eyes finally condensed into a tear, which slid down her cheek and landed on the cool skin of his chest.

She reached out and wiped her tears, then smiled through them. Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

This time, the caution was different from before.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, hanging on him.

Lin Feng put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

The T-shirt was too big for her; the neckline slipped off one shoulder, revealing her delicate collarbone and a small patch of pinkish skin.

His hand was against the hem of her T-shirt, his palm resting on her waist. He could clearly feel the warmth of her body beneath him, and the slight rise and fall of her body with her breathing.

The two kissed their way from the kitchen to the living room, and then from the living room to the bedroom doorway.

Zhou Mei's back bumped lightly against the bedroom door frame with a muffled thud. She groaned softly, pulled her lips away from his, and gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling slightly with each breath, her cheeks as red as ripe peaches.

She looked up at Lin Feng, her eyes reddening and glistening with tears, her voice as soft as water: "Don't go, okay?"

Lin Feng didn't say anything, but lowered his head and kissed her again, then reached out and picked her up in his arms.

The mattress sagged under the weight of the two people. The bedside lamp was still on, its warm yellow light enveloping the small bedroom and softening all the shadows.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, the corner of her eye, and her flushed cheeks. Zhou Mei's hands were in his hair, her breathing grew heavier, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

As night deepened, only their intertwined breaths and the resounding heartbeats from their chests filled the room.

Lin Feng could feel her trembling.

After an unknown amount of time, the room gradually quieted down.

Zhou Mei lay on his chest, her hair cascading over his shoulder. Her breathing gradually calmed, her fingers still gently tracing circles on his chest.

"You're so sweet." Her voice was heavy with sleepiness, soft and sticky.

A moment later, the finger stopped moving on his chest, his breathing became even and long, and he fell asleep again.

Lin Feng pulled the blanket up to cover her bare back. He gently brushed the stray hairs from her face with his fingers, looking at her closed eyes and slightly parted lips.

Listening to her steady, even breathing, my fingertips lingered on the top of her head for a long time before finally gently touching her soft hair.

The night outside the window was deep, the warm light inside the room was soft, and the person in my arms felt heavy.

Staring at the ceiling, my mind was in turmoil, yet strangely, I felt a sense of peace that I couldn't quite explain.