Chapter 217: Back Seat of the Carriage, Infinite Ambiguous Charm
The evening breeze was pleasant, and the hanging lanterns were bright. One by one, red lanterns formed a ribbon of light, making the old street, full of life, as brilliant as a painting, both lively and desolate, noisy and silent.
Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue walked side by side, their pace not fast, leisurely.
She told him about the local delicacies, about a grandmother who was very kind and specially helped her release a sky lantern because she was alone, and about the surrounding scenery.
“There’s a very famous waterfall nearby, known as ‘Taiwan’s Niagara,’ and it was a filming location for the movie 《You Are the Apple of My Eye》.”
Taiwan is not as bustling and glamorous as a big city. Apart from the city center of Taipei, other places are relatively simple and ancient. At first, Lian Li worried that this noble young master of the Jin Family would find his time precious and dislike the lack of luxury, but he was quite leisurely and showed no impatience at all.
On Shifen Old Street, Lian Li’s main activities were releasing sky lanterns and viewing the natural scenery of the waterfall; she didn’t find much else fun. So, after several changes of plans, she and Jin Shi Yue went to Jiufen in New Taipei City.
The driver wore white gloves. Lian Li glanced at his appearance but didn’t recognize him. Li Ye was in the front passenger seat, and Lian Li wasn’t sure why he was there, perhaps accompanying the driver?
On the way to Jiufen, Lian Li heard Li Ye methodically reporting work to Jin Shi Yue, and she learned that a certain influential figure had invited Jin Shi Yue for tea. She had seen that person on television but didn’t know him.
Although there are differences between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, they share the same motherland. It was quite reasonable for that influential figure to want to meet Jin Shi Yue.
Jiufen Old Street is built along the mountain and faces the sea. The layered buildings wind up the mountainside, with a dazzling array of shops lining both sides, overwhelming the senses. Here, one can experience the old street scenery of Taiwan.
As Lian Li browsed along the way, her mouth was also busy. She bought local delicacies like taro balls, grass jelly cakes, and red yeast rice dumplings. She turned and asked Jin Shi Yue if he wanted to eat any. He pinched her cheek with his index finger and thumb, his voice casual, “You look small, but you have a big appetite.”
Lian Li felt he was looking down on her and retorted, “I’m not eating your family’s rice.”
“Why not eat it?” Jin Shi Yue’s lips curved into a smile, seemingly not taking it seriously.
Lian Li remained silent.
“Eat it then.” He cupped her shoulder with his palm and loosely pulled her into his embrace.
“I won’t eat it,” Lian Li said with reason, “Your family’s rice is too expensive, I can’t afford it.”
This statement was a bit realistic and a bit childish.
“No matter how expensive rice is, can it be more expensive than you?” Jin Shi Yue laughed hazily, “My young lady.”
His voice was naturally clear and cold, but his speech was lazy and improper, with a seductive tone at the end of his words.
Calling her “young lady” one after another, anyone who didn’t know would think he was her kept man.
Like other young couples, they walked and stopped along the old street, occasionally browsing in shops selling artistic trinkets and buying things. She wasn’t a lone woman traveling to the Capital City to find her Mother, nor was he the second young master of a top powerful aristocratic family. They were simply Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue, pure and happy.
After browsing for half an hour, Lian Li felt a bit tired, so they went to a tea house to rest.
All the lanterns in A-Mei Tea House were lit, complementing the ancient building, creating a mysterious and highly attractive cinematic scene.
Sipping her tea, Lian Li said to Jin Shi Yue, “Many people believe that the inspiration for the ‘bathhouse’ in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film 《Spirited Away》 comes from this tea house, because the red lanterns and multi-story building here resemble the scenes in the movie.”
To support her claim, she searched for some pictures on her mobile phone and showed them to Jin Shi Yue.
“The ancient tea house stands quietly on one side of the street. Looking out through the window, it feels like you can see No-Face sitting quietly in a corner.” Lian Li turned her head and looked around.
Jin Shi Yue pinched the back of her neck and turned her face towards him.
Lian Li was forced to pull her gaze back and looked at him blankly.
Jin Shi Yue’s dark eyes gazed at her expression, his eyebrows slightly raised, and he sternly admonished her, “Your boyfriend is here, and you’re looking at No-Face?”
“……”
Lian Li said, “I don’t want to look at you.”
Jin Shi Yue gripped the armrest of her chair with his knuckles and pulled her closer, staring at her at close range, “Who was it that ran over here insisting on seeing me not long ago?”
Their seats were by the window, quiet and bright. Lian Li glanced around out of the corner of her eye, confirming no one was paying attention, and then relaxed.
She didn’t want to be the couple making out in public that others talked about.
Lian Li stubbornly said, “It wasn’t me.”
“You dare to do it but not admit it, Li Li.” Jin Shi Yue drawled, a smile on his lips.
This man always held onto her.
Lian Li felt a bit dejected and said softly, “You’re so annoying.”
“How am I annoying?” Jin Shi Yue’s lips curved upwards, smiling casually.
Lian Li didn’t answer his question and poured him tea, “Drink your tea!”
The young master was a picky eater, usually drinking millions of dollars worth of tea that was kept under lock and key. He disdained tea from outside, but he was keenly interested in her.
The drive back to Taipei would take over an hour. Lian Li browsed around, ate a bit, bought some things, and contentedly returned to the hotel with Jin Shi Yue.
The streetlights and ancient buildings outside the window slowly receded, forming a hazy, colorful image in their field of vision.
Lian Li leaned back in her seat, her head resting against the car window, her eyes staring blankly outside.
If Jin Shi Yue hadn’t come, and she hadn’t gone to find him, she probably would have found a guesthouse nearby to stay for the night.
She was deep in thought.
Suddenly, the man beside her reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her towards him with a strong force.
Before Lian Li could react, she was already sitting steadily on Jin Shi Yue’s lap. He held her with one arm, and with the other, he gripped her slender legs, parted them, and made her straddle his thighs.
He really liked this position. Lian Li thought with certainty.
The black sedan drove on the road, and the rising partition separated the front and back seats. In the back seat of the carriage, on the dark brown leather seats, the girl’s skirt draped and piled on the man’s expensively made trousers, intertwining to create an infinitely ambiguous and romantic scene.
He held her lower leg, his palm large, with a thin callus on the tiger’s mouth, a mark formed from years of holding a gun, showcasing the cold ruthlessness in his bones.
In the dim car, Lian Li’s long, curled eyelashes trembled. Her dark, bright almond eyes carefully examined Jin Shi Yue’s handsome face.
He was also looking at her intently.
Silence for a few seconds.
Lian Li placed her left hand on Jin Shi Yue’s shoulder, cupped half of his face with her right hand, her fingertip gently stroking the corner of his eye, and lowered her head to kiss his cheek.
A gentle kiss, like a feather brushing past.
Jin Shi Yue slightly turned his face, avoiding his high nose, and leaned in to kiss her, gently and lingeringly biting her lips.
Lian Li leaned back slightly from the kiss, her hand on his shoulder tightening unconsciously. In the midst of the man’s forceful pursuit, she asked intermittently, “Why didn’t you leave?”
I told you to leave, why didn’t you leave.
Jin Shi Yue stopped his actions and pulled away from Lian Li. Her eyes were moist, rippling with a clarity brighter than the moon outside.
“Lian Li.” Jin Shi Yue’s deep black eyes locked onto her, his tone more serious than ever, “I won’t leave you alone.”
