Chapter 427: Day 32 into the Mary Sue Story

Chapter 427: Day 32 of Being Thrown Into a Mary Sue Story

"An-An... An An... you... you kissed me?" He stammered, tripping over his words, his fingers trembling as they touched his own lips, his eyes blazing with joy.

An Yi looked at his silly expression, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, saying nothing.

"I... I..." Lu Lu was so excited he couldn't get a full sentence out. He suddenly reached out, threw an arm around An Yi's waist, and yanked him into a tight hug.

"An An! You kissed me! That was my first kiss! My first kiss!" He buried his face in the crook of An Yi's neck, his voice muffled, choked with excitement: "I... this makes my whole life worth it!"

An Yi: "..."

You really didn't have to go that far.

An Yi didn't resist, just gave his back a few gentle pats.

Lu Lu held him for a while, then suddenly lifted his head, his eyes shining as he gazed at An Yi's face so close to his own. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes slowly darkened.

He hesitantly moved closer to An Yi's lips again, his voice low and raspy: "An An, I want to kiss you too, is that okay?"

And with that, he puckered up and went in for a kiss.

An Yi watched his approaching face, then extended a finger and gently pressed it against Lu Lu's lips, stopping him.

The pouty face was way too goofy. He couldn't stand to look at it.

Lu Lu's movements froze, and his eyes instantly went dull, full of disappointment and hurt.

An Yi looked at him, finding it both annoying and funny.

He withdrew his finger and said with a hint of teasing in his voice: "Didn't we just kiss a second ago?"

"That doesn't count!" Lu Lu immediately retorted, speaking quickly: "That was you kissing me! I haven't gotten to kiss you back! And... and it was too short! I didn't even get to really feel it!" He said it as if he had every right to complain.

An Yi let out a soft laugh and didn't stop him, watching him with relaxed amusement.

With the silent go-ahead, Lu Lu's courage doubled.

He leaned in again, gently pressing his lips to An Yi's.

Unlike An Yi's quick peck, he hesitantly kissed, tasting and lingering, his movements clumsy and unpracticed, yet full of scorching passion and wholehearted love.

An Yi felt the other person's hot, unfamiliar breath against his lips.

After a while, Lu Lu reluctantly pulled back a little, forehead pressed to An Yi's forehead, their breath mingling.

He couldn't resist—he leaned in again and planted a bunch of quick little "mwah, mwah, mwah" kisses on An Yi's cheek, like a little dog marking his territory. When he was done, he buried his face in the crook of An Yi's neck and said in a muffled voice: "An An... that was my first kiss. You... you've gotta take responsibility."

An Yi's face was all tingly from the kisses, and hearing him act all smug after getting what he wanted, he couldn't help but find it funny: "Didn't I already take responsibility?" He meant agreeing to be his boyfriend.

Lu Lu went quiet, just holding him, but his mind was going crazy thinking: That's not enough! Taking responsibility means a lifetime! The marriage kind!

Well... even though they'd only been together for a day, it already felt like so long, and their relationship was progressing so fast and so smoothly—it was time to think about the next step!

He needed to start planning the engagement!

The ring had to be custom-made, the venue had to be perfect, the ceremony had to be romantic... Lu Lu's mind had already raced years into the future, completely unaware of how fast he was moving the relationship along.

An Yi had no idea the guy was already planning a proposal in his head. He just thought this guy was holding on too tight and it was getting hot.

He gave Lu Lu a gentle shove: "Okay, we should head back now."

Only then did Lu Lu let go, all reluctant about it, but his eyes stayed glued to An Yi, grinning like a fool.

He restarted the car, and on the drive back, the smile never left his face. Every now and then he'd let out a goofy chuckle, which had An Yi shaking his head.

----------

Monday, Shengjing Royal Aristocratic Academy.

An Yi had a class that morning. After it ended, he held his books, and after replying to Lu Lu's message, he walked along a walkway connecting two classroom buildings.

This place was usually empty, and now it was even quieter than usual.

At the bend in the corridor, he saw a familiar figure.

Leng Bingning walked with her head down, hurrying along, as if she wanted to get out of there fast.

She looked a bit pale, with faint dark circles under her eyes—clearly, she hadn't been having a good time these past few days.

She didn't seem to notice An Yi until she almost ran into him, then suddenly looked up: "Oh, sor—... An Yi, it's you. Sorry."

An Yi looked down at her.

Sunlight streamed through the corridor's carved lattice windows, casting dappled light and shadow across her.

This girl was bearing the "attention" and the trouble this twisted novel world had dumped on her.

"Leng Bingning." An Yi spoke up, his voice calm and gentle.

Leng Bingning pursed her lips and nodded: "An Yi, is something up?"

An Yi skipped the small talk and got straight to the point. Looking her in the eye, he asked seriously: "Do you need my help?"

The question was so direct, so out of nowhere, that Leng Bingning was completely stunned.

Do I need help?

She hesitated for a moment: "Help with what?"

An Yi looked into her eyes: "Huang Fuxiao, Ye Ming, and Ou Yanglie—them."

He said it again: "Do you need my help?"

Of course she did!

She had barely managed to get out of Huang Fuxiao's ridiculous maid contract, but Huang Fuxiao still wouldn't leave her alone. His daily pestering was wearing her out, body and soul.

Then there was Ye Ming, whose threats just wouldn't go away, Ou Yanglie's creepy stares, Shen Muyu's knowing looks. She needed to get away from the hostile stares and gossip at school. She needed a peaceful life where she could focus on her studies.

But... what about her pride? Her dignity?

Hadn't she always told herself she had to do things on her own? Hadn't she always hated those pity-offers of "help"?

An Yi... why was he helping her? Was it because he felt sorry for her?

In that instant, a million thoughts flashed through Leng Bingning's mind.

She wanted to lift her chin and say, in her usual stubborn, proud way: "No thanks! I appreciate the offer, but I can handle it myself!"

She wanted to say that she, Leng Bingning Christina Die Meng Zilei Xue Ye Shang Meng, didn't need anyone's pity or handouts!

However, when she met An Yi's calm, clear eyes—eyes with no pity or charity, just a simple question, even a plain, matter-of-fact look—the proud words that were on the tip of her tongue got stuck in her throat.

The pressure, fear, hurt, and exhaustion of the past few days surged like a broken dam. At this moment, in front of this person who had shown her genuine kindness—the only one who seemed to want nothing in return—her carefully maintained defenses came crashing down.

She heard her own voice, with a barely noticeable tremor and a nearly broken, giving-up softness. Soft, but clear: "I... need it."