Honorable Sacrifice - FIYS

Photo-shoots are always annoying

As the car pulled into the ZGDX base late at night, the headlights cutting through the dark, Tong Yao felt her nerves flutter in her chest. She and Lu Sicheng had finally made things official, and while she was relieved, the reality of it all made her heart race with nervous excitement. Their relationship had always carried that teasing tension, but now... now it was real.

Lu Sicheng cut the engine and turned his gaze to her, a slow, knowing smile forming on his lips as if he could sense the flurry of thoughts running through her mind. Wordlessly, he stepped out of the car, walking around to her side, and opened the door for her.

"Come on, my lady," he teased softly, offering his hand.

Tong Yao blinked, still not entirely used to his quiet but unmistakable attentiveness. She slid her hand into his, feeling the warmth of his fingers close around hers, firm yet gentle. As he helped her out of the car, his hand lingered, keeping her close, almost possessively.

"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice soft, her cheeks tinged with pink.

Tong Yao blinked, still not entirely used to his quiet but unmistakable attentiveness. She slid her hand into his, feeling the warmth of his fingers close around hers, firm yet gentle. As he helped her out of the car, his hand lingered, keeping her close, almost possessively.

"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice soft, her cheeks tinged with pink.

They walked toward the entrance of the base together, the stillness of the night wrapping around them. The others were probably asleep, the house dark and quiet, but there was something intimate about this—just the two of them under the soft glow of the moonlight.

Tong Yao was about to head inside when she felt a gentle tug on her hand. Turning back, she saw Lu Sicheng looking down at her with that familiar, intense gaze of his, something dark and thoughtful lurking in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat under the weight of it.

"Yao-er," he said, his voice a low rumble, "Can I kiss you?"

She blinked, caught off guard by his straightforwardness. Her cheeks heated at the question, her flustered state returning in full force. But at the same time, there was something so gentle in the way he asked, as if he was giving her the space to say no if she wanted.

Tong Yao bit her lip, feeling the warmth of his hand still holding hers. After a beat, she shyly smiled up at him, her voice barely above a whisper, "You don't have to ask every time, Sicheng. If you want to kiss me, just... kiss me."

A slow, teasing smile spread across his face, one that made her insides flutter. There was that darkness again—intense and almost dangerous—but it softened into something warm as his other hand came up to gently cup her cheek.

Tong Yao's breath hitched as he leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, slow kiss. She felt a surge of warmth spread through her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She tried to respond, but her inexperience showed as she fumbled slightly, unsure of how to match his confident, practiced movements.

Sensing her hesitancy, Lu Sicheng deepened the kiss, his lips moving with an almost agonizing slowness, guiding her. Tong Yao tried to keep up, her cheeks burning as she clumsily mirrored his movements. He didn't pull away though, just kept her close, his touch patient, almost as if he found her awkwardness endearing.

When he finally pulled back, his thumb brushing lightly across her cheek, she was left breathless, her mind spinning.

"You'll get the hang of it," he murmured, his voice teasing but soft.

Tong Yao flushed even more, playfully swatting at his chest. "I-I wasn't that bad..."

He chuckled, a deep sound that made her stomach do flips. "No, you weren't bad at all," he said, his voice low and smooth, "But I like that you're shy about it. Makes it more fun for me."