Kiss

Bo Qiang pulled up at the address Lina had sent him earlier and parked his car, but instead of getting out, he stayed seated for a few minutes. He stared at the entrance of the restaurant, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Should he really go in? After all, he wasn't supposed to be here, was he? But the more he debated with himself, the more uneasy he felt. His hand instinctively reached for his phone, and he dialed Lina's number. The phone rang several times, but there was no answer. Anxiety crept up on him. Why isn't she picking up?

In that moment, Bo Qiang made up his mind. He wasn't going to sit in his car all night, worrying. A good brother looks after his sister, he thought, though he knew deep down that this wasn't the whole story behind his feelings. With a sigh, he stepped out of the car and made his way inside.

As soon as he entered the restaurant, Bo Qiang's eyes scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of Lina. A small knot of worry tightened in his chest. Where could she be? He approached a waitress, his tone calm but with a hint of urgency. "Have you seen a woman with red hair?"

The waitress blinked, her cheeks flushing a bit as she found herself face to face with a strikingly handsome man. Too flustered to speak, she simply pointed toward a corner of the restaurant.

Bo Qiang, oblivious to the waitress's reaction, followed her gesture and walked toward the direction she indicated.

In a quiet corner by the window, he finally spotted her. Lina was sitting alone at a reserved table, sipping from a glass of wine. Relief washed over him, his heart calming at the sight of her safe and sound. He exhaled softly and approached her, smiling as he said, "I'm glad I found you, Lina."

But as he got closer, something didn't seem right. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had that hazy look in her eyes. His smile faded as he asked, a bit alarmed, "Did you drink?"

Lina looked up at him, recognizing his voice instantly. A giggle escaped her lips. "Just a little," she replied playfully, clearly tipsy.

Bo Qiang's concern quickly morphed into irritation. His jaw tightened, and he asked through gritted teeth, "Where's that blind date of yours?" He assumed this mystery man had been the one who let Lina drink too much.

Lina chuckled at his question, still holding her wine glass. "Oh, him? He didn't show up," she said, shrugging as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

For reasons Bo Qiang couldn't quite explain, a large part of the tension he'd been feeling started to dissipate. He wasn't sure why her blind date's absence relieved him so much, but it did. He glanced at Lina, who was clearly drunk now, and felt a wave of protectiveness. His voice softened without him even realizing it, and he said, "Let's get you home."

Lina's eyes lit up at his words, like a child who had just heard their favorite story. She smiled brightly, lifting her arms toward him as she said, "Only if you give me a hug first."

Bo Qiang sighed, but deep down, he knew there was no point in resisting. He called for the bill, paid, and without a second thought, leaned down to scoop Lina into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she rested her head against him. As they made their way to the car, she inhaled softly and murmured, "You smell good."

Bo Qiang didn't catch her words, his focus entirely on getting her home safely. He drove slowly, taking extra care as he navigated the quiet streets, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled over him since he found her alone at the restaurant.

When they finally arrived back at home, Bo Qiang gently guided her out of the car, holding her steady as they walked toward the entrance. "Careful on the stairs, Lina," he warned softly, his arm securely around her to make sure she didn't stumble.

They reached her room, and Bo Qiang tried to lay her down on her bed, but Lina, still clinging to him, refused to let go. He sighed again, a mix of frustration and amusement on his face. "Lina, you have to let go so you can rest properly," he said gently, trying to coax her.

Lina opened her eyes, blinking up at him, and then smiled mischievously. "You're so handsome," she said, her voice soft but full of sincerity. "Makes me want to bite you."

Bo Qiang froze, his heart skipping a beat at her words. He didn't know how to respond, his mind completely blank. Lina, giggling again, added, "Not bite—kiss." Before he could even process what was happening, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

Smiling triumphantly, she looked at him again. "Just like I imagined," she whispered, and then leaned in to kiss his other cheek. Bo Qiang stood there, completely stunned, as Lina giggled again and finally loosened her grip on his neck. She lay down on her bed, smiling to herself as she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Bo Qiang remained frozen in place for a moment, his mind racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His heart was still pounding as he watched her sleep peacefully, completely unaware of the storm she had just stirred inside him. Feeling his body react in ways he hadn't expected, Bo Qiang shook his head and muttered under his breath, "I need a cold shower."

That night, while Lina slept soundly, her dreams filled with happy thoughts, Bo Qiang lay awake, his mind consumed by everything that had just unfolded between them.