Chapter 054 The First Kiss

Chapter 054 The First Kiss

Qin Ce was back to watching his Animal World, holding the remote control, turning the volume up and down, while he kept sneaking glances at the door.

When he heard footsteps and that familiar "Brother Ce~", knowing it was Ji Pushu returning, he looked away and stared at the TV screen, though he wasn't really watching, his ears still tuned to the outside.

Until Ji Pushu walked over, plopped down beside him, and then, with practiced ease, took his hand. The corners of Qin Ce's mouth lifted slightly, but he quickly smoothed them out, his eyes landing on her powdered, delicate face, and he asked flatly, "Had fun going out?"

"I didn't have fun at all." Ji Pushu shook her head. She looked up at Qin Ce, her eyes bright, rounded like apricot kernels, and she whined in a sweet, sugary voice, "Just thinking about me going out to play alone, while you had to stay home, Brother Ce, and it wasn't going out with you—my heart felt so sad. I was outside, but I kept thinking about whether you were taking good care of yourself at home. What if you bumped into something at home? It would just break my heart."

As she spoke, she blinked her eyes, looking especially sincere, and you just wanted to smooth down the little cowlick on her head.

Everyone likes sweet words, and Qin Ce was no exception. Hearing them, it felt pretty good inside—the little sweet-talker wasn't completely carried away by the fun and had remembered to think of him.

"I'd be better off without you here making noise," he said on his lips, however, speaking in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, his gaze absently fixed on the TV.

Anyone else might have felt hurt hearing that, but Ji Pushu didn't mind. She wasn't stupid.

If Qin Ce really wanted peace, he could have just kicked her out. With a strong attitude, she wouldn't even be able to get in. The last time she spammed him, he just said "quiet down," without getting mad.

"No way! I want to stay home and nag you for the rest of my life!" Ji Pushu was now adept at sweet talk. She pulled out the gift she bought—a simple tie. She had walked around and really didn’t know what else to give, so she just went the usual route.

"Brother Ce, do you like it?" She held it out like it was treasure, even though she had bought it with his money, but she had picked it out herself, so it counted as a gift!

"... I like it. What did you buy for yourself?"

Qin Ce hadn't worn a suit and tie in half a month; he only wore casual clothes.

But he really didn't like wearing suits and leather shoes either. No matter how custom-made or fitting, Qin Ce didn't enjoy wearing them. It was just that in certain situations, formal attire was necessary, so he would endure it.

In winter it was okay, but in summer, when the weather was hot and he had to wear leather shoes for business meetings, he even worried about having smelly feet. They were too stuffy and uncomfortable.

Mm... a very down-to-earth concern.

"I bought lots of bags, some necklaces, clothes, shoes, and I changed to a diamond phone case..." Ji Pushu listed a bunch of things she had purchased today. In comparison, Qin Ce’s solitary tie seemed very shabby.

She quickly pounced into Qin Ce's arms again, coquettishly saying, "In my heart, Brother Ce deserves the best. Next time I find a gift worthy of Brother Ce, I’ll buy it for you, okay?"

"I don't need gifts. Just buy stuff for yourself." Of course Qin Ce knew she was faking it. He reached out and stroked her hair, then pressed her shoulders and made her sit up straight. "Go upstairs, wash your face, get ready for dinner. Did you eat anything messy outside today?"

Her stomach was delicate; eating carelessly outside often gave her a stomachache. She would get sick a few times a year, so he generally didn’t allow her to eat out.

He couldn't control what happened before he knew her, but after finding out about this issue, Qin Ce naturally took over.

"I didn't eat anything messy. I wanted to come home and eat with Brother Ce. Without Brother Ce by my side, I can't eat." Ji Pushu lifted her chin proudly.

Little liar. Qin Ce was fully aware—she said she couldn't eat, but she could probably wolf down an extra bowl or two.

Ji Pushu went upstairs to wash her face. She had only put on light makeup today, and at home she usually went without makeup, just applying some skincare products.

When she came back down in fresh loungewear, her shopping haul showed up at the door as well. She checked everything, signed off on it, and the delivery guys left.

The servants carried everything off to put it away, and she and Qin Ce sat down for dinner. It was indeed fresh, and they barely had to lift a finger. They'd switched to a fancier dining table setup today, and the chef stood opposite, cooking, slicing, and plating the food as they went. The portions were small; if they liked it, they made more; if not, they switched to another dish.

The food was great, but Ji Pushu frowned at one of the seasonings, "Brother Ce, I don't like minced garlic."

"Madam, this dish relies on minced garlic to cover the fishy taste. If you don't like it, I can change to a different flavor, but the texture would be a bit inferior."

There were three chefs at home, and the one in charge of this dish was new. Hearing this, he explained nervously, scared he'd lose his job.

Working at the Qin residence, the pay was high, the work was easy, and it could even go on a resume as excellent job experience. He didn't want to be fired.

Seeing how blunt the new chef was, directly addressing Miss Ji as "Madam," the other two chefs were worried Mr. Qin would blow up.

But Qin Ce didn't react at all. He didn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it either—which was basically a yes. He looked at Ji Pushu, "If you don't like it, just switch it. Don't force yourself."

"Cough, it's okay, I can try it." Ji Pushu was utterly won over by that "Madam"—give this guy a raise!

She waved her hand, and the chef let out a quiet sigh of relief and stepped back.

"Even though I don’t like minced garlic, if my brother Ce feeds it to me himself, even minced garlic will taste like sweet sauce." Ji Pushu looked at Qin Ce, her eyes full of anticipation and affection, leaning in, making the implication obvious, "Brother Ce~ Brother Ce~"

"..." Qin Ce wanted to rub his forehead. He knew there would be a follow-up; with her personality, if she really didn't like it, she would have just asked to change it directly without all the fuss.

And true to form, he didn't let her down. He picked up a slice of meat, dabbed some sauce on it, rolled it up, and fed it to her like she asked. "How is it? Good?"

"Mm-hmm!" Ji Pushu nodded hard, and after swallowing, she immediately wanted more, "Whatever Brother Ce feeds me is delicious!"

Qin Ce gave her a sidelong glance. She really knew how to take an inch and turn it into a mile.

But such a small matter, he was happy to help grant.

This dinner, under Qin Ce's feeding, ended up taking half an hour longer than usual.

The two chefs found it nothing new, thinking that the wedding banquet might not be far off. The new chef, however, was still a bit shaken up; he'd already forgotten the Madam's tastes and had nearly made a mistake.

"Kid, get ready for a raise." But things turned out differently; instead, he received a pat on the shoulder from the head chef. He grinned, his heart full of joy.

He silently wished Mr. Qin and Madam a long and happy marriage. Of course, he also hoped to keep this job until retirement, with no conflicts, no customer complaints, high pay, and great benefits—perfect.

After dinner came study time.

Ji Pushu had a headache. Actually, she wasn't stupid; like father, like daughter, she had been exposed to business from a young age and had a sharp instinct for it. She just hated using her brain; thinking consumed energy, and that was exhausting.

"Don't zone out." Qin Ce knocked her head again when he saw her drifting off.

Ji Pushu winced in pain, pouted, rubbed her head, and grumbled, "Brother Ce, I don't want to study."

"No." Qin Ce refused sternly. Those who didn't strive would only become more degenerate.

But seeing that Ji Pushu was really at the edge of frustration, he softened his expression and tempted her, "For these few project plans, if you can analyze all the advantages and disadvantages, and come up with ways to improve them, I'll agree to whatever you want."

"Really?" Ji Pushu perked up immediately. That was just her style—she wouldn’t commit without a tempting carrot in front of her. Without something interesting to dangle, her perseverance lasted at most three minutes.

Of course, pursuing Qin Ce for two years was the longest she had ever persisted in anything since childhood.

Qin Ce raised an eyebrow, "Have I ever lied to you? But on one condition: you have to do it yourself. No random online searches or faking it, and don't ask me."

"Hehe, Brother Ce is so good, how could he bear to lie to me?" Ji Pushu thought about it. True, in the two years she had known him, Qin Ce had never lied to her.

She patted her chest, full of assurance, "Brother Ce, don't worry. I definitely can do it!"

"I'm looking forward to it."

Once Ji Pushu set her mind to something, she wouldn't give up until it was done.

She stopped pestering Qin Ce, hugged the documents, and sat off to the side to start working. But the process was a bit difficult; she changed several different positions—squatting, standing, lying down—and several different spots.

But by nine o'clock in the evening, she still hadn't finished. Exhaustion was clearly visible on her face, and her hair was all messy. Sure enough, work was a demon that sucked the life out of people—no one could escape.

Qin Ce worried that the reverse psychology might push her to stay up too late. "I'll give you an extension. You can finish it by tomorrow morning."

"Brother Ce, don't underestimate me! I'll definitely get it done before midnight tonight!" Ji Pushu, never one to admit defeat, hugged the documents and headed back to her room. "Brother Ce, you'll have to take a bath yourself tonight. I'll say goodnight now."

With that, she closed the door.

Qin Ce was speechless. It was rare to see her so hardworking.

Still, learning survival skills was a good thing, so he wouldn't tell her to stop.

After finishing his bath, Qin Ce wheeled himself out and saw the light still on in Ji Pushu's room. He went over and knocked. Ji Pushu opened the door with a pen in her mouth.

"Brother Ce, get to sleep soon. I'll be done in a little bit."

Immersed in the strange sensation of knowledge flowing through her mind, Ji Pushu even found Qin Ce annoying for interrupting her hard work!

"...Alright. Get some rest too." Seeing her so serious, Qin Ce didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.

That night.

Qin Ce lay in bed with the lights off, drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly, a knock on the door jolted him awake, followed by Ji Pushu chirping cheerfully, "Brother Ce, I'm done! Come and check it out!"

"... " Qin Ce turned on the bedside lamp and checked the time—11:58. Two minutes to midnight.

He rubbed his temples. She sure knew how to cut it close, didn't she?

"Come in."

As for the door not being locked, it was probably because he had guessed that Ji Pushu would knock anyway.

But Qin Ce didn't acknowledge that.

"Brother Ce!" Ji Pushu carried a stack of documents into the room, sat on the edge of the bed, and handed them to him. "Brother Ce, see how I did!"

She had never been this diligent even during her school days—she was a procrastinator at best.

Qin Ce rubbed his eyes to adjust to the light, then opened the documents she had organized. Comparing them with the original files stored in his memory, he looked up to meet her expectant eyes and smiled. "Not bad. I'd give it a 90 out of 100."

"And the remaining ten points?" Ji Pushu was delighted. Apart from anything else, winning praise from someone as capable as Qin Ce was a real thrill.

"The text formatting isn't great. There's quite a bit of repetition and some typos." If Qin Ce wanted to criticize, he could list a whole bunch of things. He was always meticulous about work.

Ji Pushu's expression fell as she listened. She had been in too much of a rush and hadn't double-checked thoroughly. "Brother Ce, do you know what you look like right now?"

"Hmm?"

"Like a strict school principal." Ji Pushu giggled.

Qin Ce knew she wouldn't say anything nice. He closed the documents and handed them back, smoothing her hair. "It's late. Go take a bath and get some sleep."

"Got it."

Unexpectedly, Ji Pushu didn't pester him further and obediently left.

There's definitely more to come, Qin Ce thought to himself. Knowing Ji Pushu, once she completed a set task, she'd immediately demand her reward, or cause a big scene.

And sure enough.

Half an hour later, Ji Pushu returned, having taken a bath, changed into pajamas, dried her hair, and applied a sweet perfume.

The cool air in the room was completely overwhelmed by her sweet fragrance.

Qin Ce was speechless.

Though he had expected something, this was a bit too bold.

"Brother Ce, you promised me I could do anything." Ji Pushu made herself at home, pulling back the blanket and lying down beside him.

The room was cool, so they used a thin, light quilt. It had almost no weight.

As soon as Ji Pushu lay down, she scooted closer. She was wearing very little, and when she pressed against Qin Ce, he went stiff instantly, afraid to touch her further. The saying "a soft fragrance in his arms" had never been more appropriate.

"You can't be reckless about some things. Don't act on impulse, because there'll be no turning back." Qin Ce didn't say much but took her hand, turning his head to look at her seriously.

"I won't regret it!" Ji Pushu couldn't imagine any reason to regret it. Qin Ce was so handsome—tall, great body, stunning face, and exuding an air of refinement. She had pursued him for two years and hadn't even gotten a single kiss. She would regret that even more!

Qin Ce was the epitome of a handsome man!

"Brother Ce, let's kiss."

Actions followed words. Ji Pushu squirmed restlessly and climbed onto his chest. The blanket and the strap of her pajamas slipped down to her waist, revealing her bare shoulders and barely covered curves.

"... " Qin Ce wasn't a eunuch. He quickly grew hot, his gaze falling on her face. He could see everything with a glance downward, but he kept his eyes up, his gaze gentlemanly.

He held back, caressing Ji Pushu's cheek. "Go back to sleep. I'll exchange my promise for something else."

"No, I want this!" Ji Pushu ignored him, lowering her head to kiss him.

She didn't know how to kiss, and it was her first time. Despite her boldness, her face was flushed with embarrassment. Not knowing what to do next, she could only lick him like a piece of jelly candy.

Qin Ce's gaze turned intense. His hand shifted to gently rub her shoulder. The heat from his palm made Ji Pushu shiver, her body going numb. She let out a soft, coy moan.

"Really won't regret it?" His eyes grew dark, his voice turned husky.

"Won't regret it!" Ji Pushu's face was flushed rosy, and she shook her head firmly.

With such a handsome man before her, unable to have him, she'd regret that even more in the future! She'd never find a man more perfect than Qin Ce.

"Alright."

Qin Ce chuckled softly. His large hand pressed her head, drawing her closer. Their soft lips met, and he took the lead, their tongues intertwining. Their first kiss was long, not passionate but tender and affectionate.

But it was just one deep kiss. When it ended, he didn't do anything else. He held the dazed Ji Pushu in his arms, gently rubbing her back to calm the restlessness between them. He lowered his head and kissed her shoulder, his voice gentle. "No more playing around. Go to sleep."

"Mmm..." Ji Pushu experienced intimacy for the first time. It felt... pretty good. Her heart was pounding wildly.

They had kissed deeply, passionately, and lingeringly. She still hadn't learned to breathe properly, and now she was drowsy.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Ji Pushu suddenly spoke again, "Brother Ce, I want you to sing me a lullaby, like how my mom used to when I was little."

Her thoughts always came out of nowhere, and she had to voice them, dragging others into it.

"... " Qin Ce had already closed his eyes. After a two-second silence, he asked, "What song did your mom sing?"

"Little Swallow Wearing Flowers."

This song, Qin Ce actually knew, because it was Ji Pushu's ringtone—only she would use such a childish ringtone—he was sure there was no one else like her in the world.

He patted Ji Pushu's back in a steady rhythm to lull her to sleep, softly singing, "Little swallow, in flowered clothes, comes here every spring..."

"Brother Ce."

Ji Pushu, listening, interrupted his singing.

"You sing so badly—like a water buffalo mooing—you'd turn the little swallow into a big eagle."

In her dream, it felt like there was an old ox grunting as it plowed.

Qin Ce ...

Well, the all-capable Mr. Qin indeed hadn't been blessed with musical talent—he was a bit tone-deaf.

"Go to sleep!" Qin Ce pulled the covers over her and told her to be quiet. "If you don't sleep, I'll keep singing."

"No, don't! I'll go to sleep now." Ji Pushu covered her ears, turned sideways, and fell asleep quickly in his arms.

That's how much she was afraid of hearing it.

Qin Ce was silent again, then smiled.

His singing actually had that effect—it was his very own special lullaby.