pjbooks Chapter 21 Deep Infatuation
Chapter 21 Deep Infatuation
Chen Mo glanced down at her.
From this angle, he could see tears still clinging to her long eyelashes, the tip of her nose flushed, and her lips slightly pouting like a ripe cherry. The neckline of her black dress slipped down a little more as she leaned closer, revealing more of her collarbone and shoulders. That skin was almost translucent white, gleaming softly in the dim light.
His gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.
It's really big there, no less so than Guan Yao, who accompanied him for 1,500 days and nights.
What fueled his imagination most was that her skirt had been lifted slightly as she curled up, revealing her calves below the knees. Her legs were slender and straight, with smooth and beautiful lines—no wonder she was a dance major. She wasn't wearing anything on her feet; her bare ankles were so delicate they looked as if they would snap at the slightest touch.
Chen Mo's gaze fell on her feet.
Those were exceptionally beautiful feet. Long and slender, with fair insteps, a graceful arch, and neatly rounded toes. The toenails were painted a pale pink, shimmering subtly under the light. The knuckles at the ankles were prominent, their lines clean and sharp, like a meticulously sculpted work of art.
He recalled a rumor he'd heard in college. Dance students practiced every day, their feet covered in calluses and scars, practically unsightly. But Lin Shiyu's feet were exceptionally well-maintained, smooth and delicate, without a single flaw, as if they'd never suffered any wear and tear.
Meticulous, exquisite from head to toe.
Even in her most desperate times, she never gave up on her own standards.
Chen Mo's breathing became heavier.
He reached out and gently touched the back of her foot with his fingers.
Lin Shiyu's body trembled slightly, but she didn't flinch. Her toes curled up slightly, as if in some subconscious reaction, before slowly relaxing again.
Chen Mo's fingers slowly slid along the arch of her foot, feeling the delicate touch and slight coolness. Her feet were very cold, as if poor blood circulation had caused her extremities to feel cold from being curled up on the sofa for too long.
"Your feet are so cold," he said.
"Hmm..." Lin Shiyu's voice was muffled, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, "In winter... my feet are always so cold..."
Chen Mo did not speak.
He grasped her ankle, gently lifted it, and placed it on his lap. Then he wrapped his hands around her foot, slowly massaging it to warm it with his own body heat.
Lin Shiyu's body stiffened for a moment, then went completely limp.
She leaned on Chen Mo's shoulder, her eyes closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She could feel the warmth of his palm spreading from the soles of her feet, up her calves, knees, and thighs, all the way up, finally gathering into a blazing fire at her heart.
The flames made her weak all over, her breathing rapid, and her mind blank.
"Chen Mo..." Her voice sounded like a groan, or perhaps a murmur.
"Um?"
"Do you even know... what you're doing?"
Chen Mo's fingers paused for a moment.
he knows.
Of course he knew.
A woman, drunk and wearing a thin dress, leans against the sofa, letting him hold her feet. The scene itself is extremely ambiguous. And every action he takes, every word he utters, could become a hint, an invitation.
But he didn't stop.
"I'm warming your feet," he said, his tone as casual as if he were saying something perfectly normal.
Lin Shiyu opened her eyes, raised her head, and looked at him with her hazy eyes.
Her eyes held confusion, expectation, a barely perceptible tension, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Just to warm your feet?" she asked, her voice as soft as a feather.
Chen Mo lowered his head and looked at her.
Their faces were very close, close enough to see the light reflected in each other's pupils. She could smell his faint perfume and feel his warm, dry breath brushing against her forehead.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.
But at that moment—
[Ding! Target "Lin Shiyu" has reached 95 points of favorability towards the host, entering a "deep infatuation" state. Side quest triggered: Gentle Trap. Quest Reward: The system will grant different levels of rewards based on the host's subsequent actions.]
Option 1: Remain restrained. Reward: Lin Shiyu's favorability +2, unlock the "Self-Control" passive skill (increases the probability of remaining sober when facing temptation by 50%).
Option Two: Go with the flow. Reward: Unlock the "Intimate Contact" skill (When making physical contact with a target, you can sense their true emotions and physical reactions).
Chen Mo looked at the system panel in his mind, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
Another multiple-choice question.
But this time, it was much simpler than Guan Yao's time.
He didn't hesitate and chose it directly.
He leaned close to Lin Shiyu's ear, his voice low and deep: "It's just to warm your feet. You've had too much to drink, get some rest."
After saying that, he gently put her feet off his lap and got up to walk towards the kitchen.
Lin Shiyu stood there, stunned.
As she watched his retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her: disappointment, relief, and a touch of indescribable bitterness.
And, more likes.
She closed her eyes and clutched her chest with both hands. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.
But she didn't say anything.
Chen Mo poured a glass of warm water from the kitchen and placed it on the coffee table.
"Drink it, then go to sleep."
"And you?"
"Let's watch TV for a while longer."
"Alright."
Lin Shiyu picked up her water glass and took small sips. The warm water flowed down her throat, taking away the heat of the alcohol, but it couldn't take away the flutter in her heart.
She finished drinking and stood up, her steps a little unsteady. Chen Mo instinctively reached out to support her.
Lin Shiyu let out an "Ah," and leaned closer, her forehead resting against his chest.
She heard his steady, powerful heartbeat, each beat like a tap on her eardrums and on the tip of her heart.
"Chen Mo..." Her voice was muffled, tinged with drunkenness and drowsiness, "Your heart is beating so fast."
"It's because your heart is beating fast."
Lin Shiyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. Her laughter was very soft, like a wind chime being tinkled.
"Yes...it's my heart that beats fast," she murmured. "It races every time I'm near you. It was like this back in college, and it's still like this now..."
Chen Mo did not respond.
He helped her to the door of the second bedroom, opened the door, and gently pushed her inside.
Go to sleep.
He was about to turn around and leave when he heard her voice behind him.
"Chen Mo."
He stopped in his tracks.
"Um."
"Could you... hug me?"
The voice was very soft, almost drowned out by the dialogue on the TV.
Chen Mo's hand paused on the doorframe, his knuckles tightening slightly. The television in the living room was still playing that art film, the light and shadow silently shifting on the wall. Only the two of them remained in the hallway, a wall lamp casting a dim, yellowish light that shone on Lin Shiyu's face, making it appear half-lit and half-shadowed.
"Just for a moment," she added, her voice even softer, "Just a hug."