The two of you nestled on the sofa, each holding a box of takeout, the atmosphere relaxed and intimate.
You squinted your eyes with a cozy face as you ate the takeout in your hand while watching your favorite TV show. You had just picked up a piece of meat with your chopsticks, and before you could bring it to your mouth, the person next to you intercept it with his chopsticks.
You stared at him, finding the man inexplicable, "...What for?"
He chewed slowly and methodically, his tone calm, "Trying it for you."
"..." you took a deep breath, deciding to hold your tongue for now and turn your head to continue eating.
However, in the next second, the chopsticks in your hand were held by him. He let out a light laugh, his gaze steady with a hint of flirtation, "Angry?"
You frowned and just wanted to break free, but he suddenly leaned in close, his fingertips gently clasping your chin, his voice low and gentle, "Then how about some compensation?"
Not waiting for you to react, he lowered his head and shallowly kissed your lips. The movement was restrained, yet with a hint of being unable to refuse.
Your eyes widened slightly as he then backed away slightly, a smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth, "Mmm, that smells good, there's oil on your lips."
It was then that you realized and reached out to wipe it off, and indeed you felt a hint of grease, suddenly embarrassed and helpless, "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
He smiled softly, his fingertips gently traced the corners of your lips, his voice low and gentle, "Well, it's clean now.".
Your heart was disturbed, but you pretended to be fine and continued to eat, but your ears stayed hot and the heat couldn't go away.
----------------
In the evening, after dinner, you were sitting on the couch leaning together. His cell phone suddenly vibrated.
He pickes up the phone, frowning slightly, but picked up anyway, "Hello."
You were engrossed in your phone and didn't pay much attention until you heard his tone lull, then in a calm voice, "I'm outside."
Your fingers paused for a moment and you looked over at him reflexively.
The voice on the other end of the line wasn't low, and you vaguely heard a woman's voice, "Not home today? What's going on? I thought you were staying home every day before, why are you suddenly not at home today?"
He stuck one hand in his pocket, his tone light: "With my girlfriend."
The person on the other end of the phone was obviously quiet for a split second, followed by an excited voice.
"Girlfriend? When did this happen? How come you didn't tell me? Oh my god, ancestor, our family's iron tree has been blooming!"
You looked at him dumbfounded, what is this man...?
He glanced down at you with a hint of a smile in his eyes and said slowly, "Just got together."
"And where is she?"
"..." he paused, turning on the speaker and handing the phone to you, his tone still calm, "Mom wants to talk to you."
What? Wasn't it just a question of where the person(you) was?
"Hello?"
Your hand hung in the air and your mind went blank.
His mother's voice came from the phone with an air as if it were a parental interview, and the culprit-the man who was as steady as a mountain-was staring at you with a watchful expression, a wry smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.
You glared at him fiercely, took the cell phone stiffly, and cleared your throat, "...Hello Auntie."
"'Aiyo, hello hello." The tone on the other end of the phone instantly became warm, followed by a series of questions like a tidal wave: "What's your name? How old are you? What do you do?"
You almost subconsciously replied, "My name is XX, I'm XX years old this year, I'm an assistant in his company."
"Oh? Assistant, huh?" His mom's tone contained a hint of implied curiosity, "So you two know each other from the company, right? Love at first sight?"
You: "..."
How should I answer this question?
Tell the truth? That you started out as "online friends" and went through a series of unspeakable things before finally talking about being together?
You're stumped and still trying to figure out how to make it up, but he spoke calmly, his tone casual as if he was telling the truth: "She likes me and chased me."
"???"
You couldn't help but tug at his sleeve, whispering an accusation, "What are you babbling about?"
He looked calm and even leisurely picked up his glass of water and took a sip.
His mom on the other end of the phone was instantly happy, "Aigoo, so that's how it is! No wonder you've been so well-behaved lately."
You froze for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "...wasn't he well-behaved before?"
"He, he's been staying home every day lately, and I don't know what he's been up to." His mom smiles, "I thought something had happened to him, but I didn't realize it was a romance."
You: "..."
Your ears gradually heat up, secretly glancing at him, he is looking at you with a calm face, even a hint of smugness in his eyes, whispering in your ear, "Good girl, keep talking."
"..."
Your ears instantly warmed up.
His mom was still on the other end of the phone, pursuing, "So when are you guys going to come back and show the family?"
Your hand shook and you almost dropped your phone.
"Mom, she's shy." He took the cell phone from your hand and smiled.
"By the way, you're not so young this year, are you?" There was a seriousness in his mom's tone.
You felt vaguely not good and drank water to ease your tension.
True enough, the next second, his mom changed her tone and rightfully asked, "When are you planning to get married?"
You almost spit out the water you just drank and stifled a few violent coughs.
He gently patted your back, his tone seeming calm, "Mom, we've only just started dating and you're already worried about the marriage?"
"What's wrong with that? Isn't marriage come after a relationship?" His mom said with a straight face, "Look at your cousin, he got married after a few years of a smooth relationship. What about you? Think about how long you were single before you found a girlfriend."
Your eyes widen and you sneak a peek at him, you've only been together for a few days and now you're discussing marriage...isn't that too soon?
He stared at you with a smirk, his fingertips gently tracing over the back of your hand as he said slowly, "It depends on whether or not she's willing to marry me sooner, it's not for me to decide."
Your cheeks heated up like they were on fire.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, followed by his mom's bright laughter, "Oops, looks like I was too hasty, I do have to respect her. You definitely have to take her seriously."
He picked up steadily, "Of course I'll be serious."
"OK, OK, I won't rush you guys, sooner or later anyway." His mom smiled, "Bring her home next time so your dad and I can meet."
"Uh-huh." He agreed quickly, even winking back at you.
Your heart skipped a beat and your ears got hot.
After hanging up, the room falls silent.
You finally couldn't help but speak, "You just told your mom straight away?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Or what? You want me to secretly do it?"
"...But we just started dating!" You bit your lip, "And your mom was just asking about getting married..."
He lazily leaned back on the sofa, his slender fingers casually resting on your waist, and with a slight hook, and with a force that couldn't be refused, he gently pulled you into his arms.
"So you think it's too soon?" He asked in a low voice, his gaze deep.
You were momentarily speechless, not expecting him to ask that.
His gaze fell on your face and he smiled meaningfully, his low voice slowly ringing in your ears, "Then take your time."
He suddenly leaned down, his lips landing on your forehead, then like a raindrop, gently sliding down the bridge of your nose, his breath entwining to make you tingle a little.
The next moment, his lips were on yours, rolling slowly and restrainedly, savoring in patience. Your eyelashes flutter, and you tried to respond to him, just as you did last time. Feeling your initiative, he could no longer restrain the intensity of his feelings. He suddenly pries your lips open and his tongue slips in gently, wrapping around you.
You tried to escape, but with his palms firmly clasped around your back, there was no way back. His kiss gradually deepens, his breaths mingling, and you're on the verge of being completely consumed by him, the temperature between your lips and tongue rapidly rising, causing your thoughts to become completely confused.
By the time he relaxed a little, your breath was unsteady and your eyes were misty.
He rested his forehead against yours and laughed softly in a low voice, his voice husky, "Too soon? Hmm? Like it?"
You wanted to hit him, and he pulled your wrist, smiling roguishly, "Hitting isn't okay, kissing back is."
You bit on his lip before backing away.
"Okay, no more teasing, get an early night." He took you into his arms, his palm landing on your back and caressing it gently.
You snuggled into his arms, the sound of his strong heartbeat reaching your ears.
"...You really don't think it's too fast?" You asked in a low voice.
His fingertips gently slid through your hair, stopping at the side of your neck, his voice low and magnetic, "Fast? I think it's just right."
The cool touch sent a light shiver down your spine and you whispered, "Don't talk nonsense at the office tomorrow..."
He said meaningfully, "Tomorrow? What I do to you at the office...depends on your performance, of course."
"Okay, time for bed!" You blushed.
He lowered his head to look at you, a hint of reluctance in his gaze, and gently pinched your fingertips, "Get some rest early, you still have to work tomorrow, I'll go home first."
You froze for a moment, realizing that a wave of loss surged in your heart, but knowing that this is the "normal progress".
He stood up, put on his jacket, and walked to the door, but his hand rested on the knob, hesitating to turn it.
You stare at him blankly.
He smiled softly as he turned and walked back to you, leaning down slightly, his fingertips picking up your chin, his voice slightly husky, "Can't bear to see me go?"
Your lips opened slightly, but you didn't know what to say.
He watched your expression, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, reaching out to lightly touch your forehead, and said in a low voice, "Rest early."
Only after that did he turn to leave.
The moment the door closes, your heart beats uncontrollably fast again.
Damn this heart.