Chapter 6: Erasing the distance

For the first time, I saw a flush of red creep across Lu Zhan’s usually pale, almost bloodless face. It wasn’t just his cheeks, either—his ears were burning crimson, looking for all the world like someone caught red-handed.

That night, I tossed and turned, completely unable to sleep. The memory of his intense gaze and those bright red ears played on a loop in my mind. The more I dwelled on it, the more… baffled I became.

By the time I finally drifted off, I plunged straight into a chaotic dream the second my eyes closed.

In my dream, the hard military cot was gone, replaced by a mattress so impossibly soft that my whole body sank right into it. A wave of masculine heat hovered all around me. Before I could even register what was happening, Lu Zhan’s warm breath hovered right against my skin.

His lips brushed lightly over my cheek, so hot it sent a violent shiver down my spine. His arm wrapped around my lower back, pulling me flush against him. His chest pressed into my back—solid, warm, and desperate to incinerate every last inch of space between us.

Leaning down close to my ear, his voice dropped into a raspy, intoxicating whisper.

“Ruo Ruo… do you want to?”

As if under a spell, I nodded mindlessly.

The very next second, his mouth came down on mine. It was no longer a gentle brush, but a deep, consuming kiss—one that left me dizzy and completely breathless.

When I woke up mid-dream, my heart was still hammering like a wild drum inside my ribs. My face burned, and a strange, lingering sensation clung to my lips that no amount of wiping could chase away.

—

That afternoon, Grandma Lu mentioned that I didn’t need to cook dinner early today; we’d all be eating together. Lately, I’d been deliberately eating beforehand just to avoid running into Lu Zhan, so hearing this, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When dinner time arrived, I froze the moment I stepped into the living room.

The table was laden with heavy, decadent dishes: a glossy sweet-and-sour carp, braised pork meatballs, and several plates of stir-fried vegetables rich with the aroma of rendered fat. They were all signature dishes straight from the state-owned restaurant—and every single one was a personal favorite of mine.

“Sit down, child,” Grandma Lu said, pulling out a chair for me with a wide, beaming smile. “Lu Zhan said today is your birthday. He went out to stand in line to buy all of this himself.”

I stiffened. Looking up, my gaze collided squarely with his. My heart skipped an utterly unreasonable beat.

He didn’t say a word, simply setting a pair of clean chopsticks down in front of me. It was such a small, quiet gesture, yet it left me completely unsure of how to react.

I gripped the chopsticks tightly, a bitter tang rising in the back of my throat. My mother had passed away early, and my father died not long after. It had been years since anyone remembered my birthday; I’d even managed to forget it myself.

I asked in a quiet voice, “Brother Lu… how did you know today was my birthday?”

He kept his eyes lowered, his tone nonchalant. “Your aunt happened to mention it once.”

Just a simple sentence, but it was enough to quiet me down completely.

Halfway through the meal, Grandma Lu suddenly brought out a small earthenware jar of alcohol. The moment she popped the seal, the sweet, delicate fragrance of osmanthus blossom swept through the room.

“I’ve had this jar aging for a long time,” she said, pouring a tiny cup for each of us. “It just so happens to be a good day to open it. Drink a little, but don’t overdo it.”

With that, she let out an overly dramatic yawn, stood up, and retired to her room, leaving the two of us alone in the living room. The air instantly plummeted into an awkward, heavy silence.

I kept my head down and downed several small cups in quick succession. At first, it just tasted sweet and fragrant, but soon my head began to feel light, and the entire room seemed to tilt slightly on its axis.

I shook the empty earthenware jar, turning to look at Lu Zhan. “Where’s the wine?”

His voice was even deeper than usual. “It’s gone.”

It was a simple answer, yet for some strange reason, it rubbed me entirely the wrong way.

“You drank it all?” I stumbled to my feet, pointing a finger straight at him. “That was my wine! Give it back!”

Lu Zhan froze for a second. Then, he let out a low, raspy exhale.

“Fine.”

I stared down at him, my mind far too hazy to separate fact from fiction. He let out a barely audible chuckle.

“What are you looking for?”

“Wine.”

“It’s in my mouth,” he said naturally.

I blinked, taking him with absolute, foolish seriousness. “Then open up and let me look.”

In that split second, the tips of his ears flushed a fiery red again. His voice dropped an octave lower.

“Why don’t you taste it with your mouth and see for yourself?”

And I actually listened. Leaning down, I pressed my lips gently against his.

Instantly, his entire body went rigid. But before I could pull back, a large hand cupped the back of my neck, holding me firmly in place. Another arm swept around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard frame.

Losing my balance entirely, I collapsed into his arms. I had no idea how much time passed… By the time he finally let me go, my legs had turned to pure jelly, unable to hold my weight. Everything before my eyes faded into black…

—

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Sunlight streamed through the crack in the door, so blinding I could barely open my eyes.

Is this… my room?

I bolted upright, suddenly remembering that I’d promised Grandma Lu I’d visit Lu Family Village today. Stepping out into the living room, I found her sitting there comfortably, looking as though she’d been waiting for a while.

“You’re awake? No rush, we still have time to catch the bus.”

I kept my head bowed, far too embarrassed to look her in the eye. “Grandma… did you carry me back to my room last night?”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “How could an old woman like me manage that? I just heard a commotion and came out to check… only to see Ah Zhan carrying you in.”

I froze in my tracks.

She added nonchalantly, “You were so drunk you kept clutching his collar, slurring ‘my husband’ this and ‘my wine’ that. The poor boy had beads of sweat all over his forehead.”

She broke into a hearty laugh, her shoulders trembling.

I stood petrified for three solid seconds before whipping around and bolting straight out the front door, leaving Grandma Lu’s ringing laughter echoing far behind me.