Rose in No-Man's Land

24 Little Puppy

"You're back? Why aren't you at home? I just knocked on the door and was wondering why no one answered." Tao Ye lifted her gaze from the little fish swimming in the tank and greeted Xia Xingmian with a faint smile.

Xia Xingmian approached, bent down in front of Tao Ye, and kissed her.

She kissed Tao Ye directly as she always did, never feeling the need to fill the air with mundane words beforehand. She simply leaned in and pressed her lips against hers, unexpectedly and silently.

Tao Ye's hand, which had been holding the fish food, froze momentarily, hovered in the air, unsure of where to place it for what felt like an eternity.

Xia Xingmian's black hair cascaded down like long strands, brushing against Tao Ye's face and ears. The rich scent of her shampoo enveloped the kiss, pure and soft, with a fresh aroma.

Their warm breaths mingled, gradually moistening, their lips fitting together perfectly.

It had been a while since they shared such an intimate moment.

Typically, if Xia Xingmian didn't take the lead, Tao Ye wouldn't either. This dynamic felt a bit peculiar as if Tao Ye was indulging her whims like a child, granting her every desire.

Xia Xingmian didn't like that feeling and had refrained from being as reckless as she had been in the past. Even at night, when she lay beside Tao Ye, her mind often wandered.

Now, their pent-up emotions finally erupted, their long-buried fantasies surfacing in the form of this cathartic kiss.

Just as their tongues entwined, Tao Ye gently touched her chin with her fingertips, pulling back slightly.

"Did you smoke?" Tao Ye asked, her brow furrowed.

Xia Xingmian licked the tip of her tongue, tasting the faint bitterness left by tobacco. "Hmm..."

Tao Ye responded, "Why did you start smoking?"

Xia Xingmian shrugged, "I just wanted to try it."

"Stay away from it," Tao Ye said firmly.

Xia Xingmian straightened up; in that brief moment, she calmed down from her impulsive urges. She settled beside Tao Ye, legs together, picked up the bag of fish food, and resumed feeding the fish.

"You're allowed to smoke, but I can't?"

Tao Ye sighed, "You're still young..."

Xia Xingmian retorted, "I'm an adult now. You don't need to keep calling me young. I'm not a child anymore."

Upon hearing this, Tao Ye couldn't help but smile. "Young people in their early twenties often think they've matured. When you reach my age, you'll realize how naive your thoughts were back then." As she spoke, she stretched out a hand to tease the little black fish in the tank.

"See, just like that fish, it knows nothing."

The little fish swam over, approaching her fingertips through the glass wall.

Noticing Xia Xingmian's prolonged silence, Tao Ye stopped teasing the fish, and her tone grew serious. "Seriously, stay away from it."

"Why?"

"If you become addicted to smoking or drinking, I'll feel responsible. I wouldn't want to be the one to lead you astray."

Xia Xingmian laughed lightly, "So, no matter what choices I make, you think it's your fault?"

Tao Ye replied, "What...do you mean?"

Xia Xingmian pressed on, "If I turned into a bad person in the future, would you feel responsible for me?"