Mud beads

Not long after Yu Zhu returned home, Liu Zhengyang quickly sent her a screenshot of the train ticket order.

She went into the bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and tucked the book, along with the Polaroid photo inside, among the neatly folded clothes before gently closing the wardrobe door.

That night, Echizen Toru still returned very late.

Yu Zhu sat in bed listening to a book, the bedside lamp on. Her white cane was still leaning against the bedside, within easy reach of her.

When the bedroom door opened, she kept her head down and didn't move.

Echigo Koshima stood at the door and watched her for a while.

He had been drinking, but was sober. His tie was loose, and the smell of alcohol had been dispersed by the night wind, leaving only a faint trace when you got close.

"Still not asleep?"

Yu Zhu didn't look up, but gave a soft "hmm".

Koshima Toru seemed to be in a good mood today. He smiled, turned around, and went into the restroom.

When he came out, his hair was already dry, with only a little dampness remaining at the ends, hanging softly in front of his forehead. He lifted the blanket and sat down next to Yu Zhu, reaching out to take off one of her earphones.

"I've been busy with the company's IPO lately." He placed the earphones next to her. "Once the listing is complete next week, I can take a break."

Yu Zhu nodded, took off the other earphone, put it in the box, and placed it on the bedside table.

Suddenly, Tetsuya Koshima grabbed her hand: "The listing requires ringing the gong at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. You're coming with me there."

He wasn't asking a question, but his tone was very gentle.

"Stay in Hong Kong for a few days to relax. If you'd like, we can go to Malaysia after this is over."

Yu Zhu silently withdrew her hand, lay back in bed, and closed her eyes: "No, I don't think so."

Echizen leaned against the headboard and watched her for a while.

"You don't need to worry." He seemed to interpret her refusal as something else. "When I have work, you can wait for me at the hotel. I won't leave you alone at other times."

Yu Zhu was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "What kind of relationship do we have now?"

Koshima Tetsuya paused slightly.

Does it matter?

Yu Zhu thought about it seriously for a moment: "I don't know."

Echizen Toru laughed.

The alcohol made his laughter more relaxed than usual.

"Whatever you want the relationship to be, that's what the relationship is."

He lay down, leaning closer to her: "If I remember correctly, I proposed to you?"

Yu Zhu paused, and the image of the swaying window shadow on the carpet gradually surfaced in her mind. At that moment, Yue Jianche knelt on one knee, his eyes filled with his usual smile, and the three words "Marry me" were as casual as an impromptu joke.

Was that a marriage proposal?

"The ID card is in the bookshelf." Echizen Toru's tone became more serious. "If you want, we can go to the Civil Affairs Bureau at dawn."

Yu Zhu's heart suddenly started beating faster.

She slowly opened her eyes: "Shouldn't you find a girl who's a good match for you?"

"Theoretically, yes." Koshima Toru didn't think for long. "But unfortunately, nobody in the Koshima family cares about me."

He spoke casually, even with a hint of tipsy smugness, but Yu Zhu felt a growing bitterness in her heart.

She reached out and turned off the table lamp.

The lights went out, and the room fell into darkness again. Yu Zhu opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling.

Sunlight from the courtyard outside filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a hazy white glow on the walls. Occasionally, a car would drive by on the road outside, its headlights slowly cutting through the shadows of the trees, sliding across the walls and onto the carpet, before silently receding back out the window as the car drove away.

Yu Zhu looked at the light that moved from time to time and recalled their conversation on the plane.

Koshima Toru might not be wrong.

She is Fermina.

Moth

Suddenly, Toru Echizen's arm wrapped around her waist from behind.

Yu Zhu was pulled into his arms.

Even through the soft fabric, she could clearly feel the burgeoning and undeniable desire emanating from him. Echizen Toru didn't speak, only gently stroking her neck with the tip of his nose.

The light on the wall had been still for a long time. Only the shadows of the trees swayed occasionally, as if the branches and leaves were intertwined.

Yu Zhu turned around, slowly raised her hand, and touched Yue Jianche's face.

She carefully traced his features, from his brow bone to his jaw, as if she were using her fingers to rediscover him.

Echizen's scalding breath brushed against her fingertips, and Yu Zhu felt as if she were being burned. She subconsciously pulled her hand back, but her wrist was grabbed halfway.

He pulled her hand back, placed it to his lips, and kissed it repeatedly.

The kisses were light, warm and moist as they landed. The warmth seeped into her skin from her fingertips and slowly spread upwards along her arms.

Yu Zhu looked up at Yue Jianche's face, which was hidden in the darkness, and kissed him.

The hand holding hers suddenly froze.

She couldn't see his expression, but she could hear his heavy, rapid heartbeat, just like that stormy, rainy night on the stage.

Now, in the darkness, there is no longer the gaze of the gods, only the intertwined breaths of two people.

Echizen Toru pulled Yu Zhu up to his waist.

The darkness rose and fell like a boundless sea. Yu Zhu lay on the waves, her body becoming a mast standing tall at the bow of a ship. The wind filled the sails, and her hair, her breath, and everything that had long been curled up deep within her body were freely stretched outward.

She rose into the waves, then slowly fell back down.

The ship rocked, and the sound of water washed over the deck.

She doesn't need to know where the ship will eventually sail.

"I want to look at you."

Koshima Toru suddenly turned on the bedside lamp.

Warm yellow light filled the entire bedroom. Yu Zhu closed her eyes briefly and looked down at the person beneath her.

Tetsuya Koshima was looking at her.

Those deep, unfathomable eyes were locked on her face, but their gaze had already lost focus. The high, straight nose that she had just touched was beaded with fine sweat, her damp black hair clung to her forehead, her neck was stiff, and the light blue veins ran down to her clearly defined collarbone.

His laughter was silent yet exhilarating.

Yu Zhu instinctively lowered her eyes, but he lifted her chin with his hand.

"Look at me."

Echizen Toru's voice was tender and hoarse, with a pleading tone.

Yu Zhu raised her eyes and no longer avoided them.

Soon, the surging tide overwhelmed his reason again, and he leaned forward and sat up, lowering his head to bite her shoulder uncontrollably.

Yu Zhu flinched and fell forward.

Exhausted, she embraced him, her cheek pressed against his damp, hot neck. Her fingers slowly moved down his sweaty back, tracing the uneven, old marks on his skin.

One after another.

It has already grown into an adult body.

"You can see it now, can't you?"

Echigo's voice came from the hollow of her shoulder, sounding a little muffled.

Yu Zhu's finger stopped on a scar.

She slowly raised her head.

Echizen turned his head to look at her. His long eyelashes were lowered, and most of the dazed look in his eyes had faded, leaving only a layer of poignant crimson.

"You've gone astray."

He laughed, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Breakup sex?"