NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52 - First step
Jiang Zi squeezed the left brake lever, the veins on the back of her hand standing out sharply. The rear wheel screeched as the bike came to a sudden stop.
Because of the inertia, Tang Yuan bumped into her back, narrowly avoiding a collision with her nose by tilting her head to the side.
Jiang Zi planted her feet firmly on the ground and turned her head slightly. Though she couldn’t see Tang Yuan’s face, she still asked, “What do you think?”
Tang Yuan pressed her face against Jiang Zi’s back, her voice muffled. “We haven’t formally confessed yet…”
“Tang Yuan, I like you.”
Jiang Zi’s words came out of nowhere—plain, straightforward, and serious, without a hint of hesitation or jest.
Tang Yuan froze, momentarily stunned. The hands encircling Jiang Zi’s waist slackened slightly, and the strands of hair whipped up by the wind brushed against Tang Yuan’s face, prompting her to lean back a little.
Her voice barely audible, she asked the question that had been weighing on her heart. “What about Chu Yu?”
“I never…”
“I never liked Chu Yu. I’ve hated him from the start—always hated him.”
At long last, the words tumbled out. For the first time, Jiang Zi felt a weight lift off her chest, her entire being lighter than ever before.
She had never liked Chu Yu.
Relief washed over her as the tightly wound strings in her mind finally loosened. She let out a laugh—not bright or dazzling, but filled with a sense of liberation.
“I don’t like Chu Yu,” she repeated.
Nor did she like herself.
Nor this world.
She loathed everything around her, even the invisible forces of fate.
But—
“I like you, Tang Yuan.”
Her grip on the handlebars tightened, cold sweat dampening her palms as a surge of nervous anticipation welled up. At this moment, all thoughts of plot control and destiny were abandoned. She was like a devout believer, making an earnest plea to the heavens—hopeful, anxious, and earnest.
Time stretched endlessly without a response. Jiang Zi’s heart sank, disappointment creeping in as she repeated herself with quiet desperation. “I really like you, Tang Yuan. I like you so much.”
The hands around her waist released completely, and the weight on the back seat vanished. Tang Yuan had gotten off the bike—was she leaving? Jiang Zi’s mind went blank as a crushing chill swept over her, sinking her heart into an icy abyss.
But then Tang Yuan’s light steps brought her to the front of the bike. Her bright, doe-like eyes were brimming with joy, spilling over with happiness. She clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and responded earnestly, “I like Jiang Zi too.”
Her soft, syrupy voice carried an unshakable determination. “I like Jiang Zi.”
If reviving withered trees was a feeling, it was this.
Jiang Zi let go of the handlebars and pulled the lively girl into her embrace. Tang Yuan, caught off guard, stumbled forward, quickly wrapping her arms around Jiang Zi’s waist to steady herself.
The bike’s front wheel wobbled, tilting to the right, and the teddy bear nestled in the basket leaned precariously, dislodging a few rose petals.
Fortunately, the owner of the bike stood firm, refusing to abandon it.
However, the owner was far from proper. One arm circled Tang Yuan’s waist while the other lifted her slightly, guiding her legs to straddle the bike’s top tube, trapping her between herself and the handlebars.
Jiang Zi placed a hand on Tang Yuan’s back, tilting forward while using her other hand to cradle Tang Yuan’s head, ensuring there was no room for retreat.
Tang Yuan found herself caged, her escape routes blocked.
When she reached out to push the person who had leaned in too close, her hands accidentally brushed against soft, yielding fabric. Flustered, she withdrew immediately, her face turning a brilliant crimson.
“Jiang Zi…” Her voice was soft, tinged with helplessness and entangled emotions.
The distance between them was almost nonexistent, their breaths mingling in the charged air.
Jiang Zi gazed into Tang Yuan’s watery eyes, her fluttering lashes betraying her shyness. She looked down, avoiding eye contact, her bashfulness palpable.
Jiang Zi’s eyes narrowed slightly, concealing her own emotions while still unable to resist pressing a kiss to the tip of Tang Yuan’s nose. Her usually clear voice now carried a seductive undertone. “The first step to dating—can we start with a kiss?”
Though she asked politely, her actions were anything but.
Tang Yuan, emboldened, leaned in and found Jiang Zi’s lips, pressing against them without hesitation.
Inexperienced, she fumbled, nibbling at the edges with clumsy enthusiasm.
But her innocence only spurred Jiang Zi’s desires. Taking control effortlessly, she deepened the kiss, her tongue brushing past defenses and claiming dominion.
Neither of them had experience, yet Jiang Zi’s eager intensity left Tang Yuan weak and trembling. Trying to push away was futile as Jiang Zi held her firmly, chasing every retreat.
It was unclear whose lips were bitten first, but the faint taste of blood filled their mouths, tangling with the sweetness of the moment.
When Jiang Zi felt the trembling in Tang Yuan’s back, she finally relented, releasing the tender petals she had been devouring. Tang Yuan’s lips, now glistening and slightly parted, looked even more enticing, as if inviting another round.
Jiang Zi lingered, brushing against her lips a few more times before reluctantly pulling away just enough to meet her gaze.
Her clear, hoarse voice carried a playful lilt as she teased, “Little Tang Yuan, feeling a bit… love-struck, aren’t you?”
Tang Yuan flushed with embarrassment but refused to back down, poking Jiang Zi’s soft chest with a challenging finger. “Sister, I’m sure your ‘love-struck’ is no less intense than mine.”
“Mmm…” The sound escaped Jiang Zi, low and breathy, like a soft gasp.
Tang Yuan’s eyes widened in shock. In a panic, she lifted her hand to cover Jiang Zi’s lips.
What kind of noise was that?!
Jiang Zi’s mood only improved as she squinted at her, mischievous thoughts brewing. Her wife’s hand smelled divine—she couldn’t resist giving it a subtle lick.
The sudden warmth and wetness on her palm made Tang Yuan withdraw her hand as if electrocuted. Her cheeks burned as she shouted, “Jiang Zi!”
“You… Let me off!”
At the moment, her legs were spread awkwardly on either side of the horizontal bike bar. Feeling weak, she was forced to sit directly on it. The cold metal pressed against her uncomfortably, especially given… her current state.
Anyway, It was unbearable!
Jiang Zi, clearly in a mischievous mood, leaned closer. “How about you just stay like this?”
Tang Yuan pushed at Jiang Zi’s arm, squirming. “No way! Hurry up, or we won’t gather enough roses!”
Sensing that any more teasing might push Tang Yuan too far, Jiang Zi finally let her down.
Once Tang Yuan had climbed back onto the rear seat of the bike, it was clear she was still sulking. She no longer hugged Jiang Zi’s waist, instead grasping the sides of her shirt lightly. Her body wasn’t leaning forward as before, leaving a chilly gap between them.
Jiang Zi smiled wryly at the subtle punishment but said nothing. She pedaled faster, and sure enough, familiar arms soon encircled her waist again. Jiang Zi’s lips curled upward in a satisfied smile, and even the wind rushing past seemed sweeter.
The next leg of their journey was smoother, with staff conveniently stationed along the way. After another two hours of effort, the pouch carried by their stuffed bear mascot was filled with roses, roughly a dozen in total.
As they arrived at the next checkpoint, they saw familiar faces—Meng Yao’er, Qi Hongqiao, Jie Xin, and Deng Peiluo—all already gathered there.
Seeing Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi walking side by side, Jie Xin waved enthusiastically. “Tang Yuan! Jiang Zi! You’re here too?”
As the duo approached, their slightly swollen lips, showing unmistakable signs of some… vigorous kissing, did not escape the sharp eyes of the group. Knowing glances passed between them as they suppressed smirks.
【I can’t take it anymore! Just how intense was that make-out session?!. Why weren’t there cameras following them while they were biking?!】
【Why are there only cameras at the task venues? Production team, do better!】
【Please, just one more kiss for the fans! I’m begging you!】
【I knew it! Hahaha my CP is REAL!】
【This is a romance reality show! Who taught you guys to sneak off and kiss behind our backs?!】
(TL: Ugh god, I was grinning the whole time when translating this chapter ʘ‿ʘ)