Chapter 246: I Want to Like You

Nan Jiaojiao seldom called him by his full name.

Once she did, it was either because she wanted to act coquettishly or she was annoyed.

Never had she been as careful as now, her tone even carried a hint of trying to please and probe.

“Am I very annoying like this?”

“Which way?” he asked.

“Bo Yanching,” Nan Jiaojiao bit her lip, “I really want to like you, but I don’t know how.”

He did not understand for a moment.

He scrutinized her expression closely.

Her eyes, clear as water, held his gaze steadfastly, not flinching or shifting, yet her lips were tightly bitten, her body tense with nerves.

Bo Yanching pressed her lips gently downwards, freeing her lower lip from beneath her teeth, and said softly, “Don’t know how to be in love?”

Nan Jiaojiao nodded earnestly, “Yes.”

Bo Yanching pondered for a moment, feeling a tinge of pity, “Then I’ll teach you.”

Nan Jiaojiao leaned in and kissed him, “Does this count?”

“This is just one aspect, it naturally occurs when feelings reach a certain stage, it’s a catalyst.”

She stepped back, “But we were together even when there were no feelings.”

Bo Yanching was taken aback.

How could he forget that this girl sometimes could be very stubborn, insistent on splitting hairs.

“Love at first sight counts too.”

Nan Jiaojiao was surprised, “Did you like me the first time you saw me?”

He smiled, “Is it wrong to be moved by what you see?”

Nan Jiaojiao stared at him intently, then exhaled softly after a while, murmuring quietly, “I thought I was the only one like this.”

Which way?

Also taken in by his looks?

Bo Yanching could not help laughing, but laughing at this moment was disrespectful to her, and he feared she might overthink.

Just as his lips curled into a smile, he grasped Nan Jiaojiao’s chin, making her look up, and kissed her.

Carrying her to the bedroom, amidst gentle, ambiguous kisses were mixed with the man’s deep voice, “The bathtub here has a massage function, want to try it?”

“Hmm.”

Nan Jiaojiao, leaning on his neck, her eyes listlessly half-closed.

Bo Yanching turned on the faucet, turned around, set her on the vanity, unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, pushed up his sleeves, and bent over to test the water temperature at the tub’s edge.

Nan Jiaojiao curled her legs up, her knees pressed against her chest, her cheek resting lazily on her arm, watching him.

In a lazy, light voice, she said, “Bo Yanching, I really want to like you.”

Bo Yanching paused, stood up, walked over to her, his hands braced on either side of her body, and kissed her while embracing her.

“I know, I like you too, don’t be afraid.”

She was wary, and shy; he was a few years older than her, willing to pamper her.

He had thought previously that he wasn’t cut out for such things, but once he was with her, astonishingly, cajoling a girl seemed second nature.

The night didn’t drag on too long.

Nan Jiaojiao was tired, and fell asleep on him.

Bo Yanching carried her to the bathroom to wash up, and she stayed asleep.

Unable to sleep, he stepped out to the balcony to smoke a cigarette.

Jinglan by the river, outside lights densely scattered like stars, reflections flickering on the river surface, boats passing by, spreading rings of light-rippled water.

Bo Yanching’s eyes deepened, inexplicably reminded of a time during his childhood when he was recuperating in the countryside, a little neighborhood kid always running to his house, standing outside the vine-covered fence, smiling at him.

Whenever the kid came, he couldn’t focus on reading, secretly, hiding from the servants, he sneaked her in a few times, bribing her with lollipops to play, later he started instructing the kitchen to make sweets, giving them to her when she came.

The kid was well-behaved, but mischievous at times; he often got so annoyed that he’d carry her to her parents next door.

But the next day, she’d run back, laying on his lap, cooing in her infrequent protests.

“Brother, you are so handsome, I like you.”