Visa On Arrival Chapter 19
byWhy did you kiss me?
Qi Ranyue drove home.
She opened the door.
The house was pitch black. Before she could turn on the light, a small square object flew over, circling in the air.
Welcome home!
Neos large eyes lit up, his wings trembling as they emitted multicolored light.
The little square produced a soft, electronic boys voice. Usually, it sounded cute, but at this moment, it made her nose sting with emotion.
She stood in the entryway without turning on the light or changing her shoes. She just stood there.
Moonlight filtered through the window, falling across her face. Her eyes were red and wet.
Neo stopped directly in front of her, cautiously moving closer.
You look very sad, he said. What happened?
Qi Ranyue stood there in silence. Her lips moved slightly, then closed again.
Tears fell silently.
Neo began darting up and down in a panic. What is it? What happened? Yueyue, dont cry!
Qi Ranyue still didnt speak, but she began to sob aloud.
It started as suppressed, muffled gasps, her shoulders heaving as she tried desperately to hold it in. But she couldnt control it. The sound grew louder until it became a broken, unreserved wail.
Waaaaah…
She covered her face and crouched down, curling into a ball as her cries echoed through the entryway.
Neo panicked, circling around her frantically, unsure of what to do. He could only repeat over and over, Dont cry, dont cry! Im here, Im here!
The crying gradually subsided into sobs, then into rhythmic gasps, and finally into occasional whimpers squeezed from her throat.
Neo landed quietly by her feet, waiting silently.
She finally lifted her head, her face covered in tear stains. Looking at Neo in front of her, her lips trembled, and her voice was hoarse. I feel so sad.
I think… Qi Ranyue sniffled, and tears welled up again. I think I made Rongrong angry.
But I dont know… I dont know which sentence I said wrong, and then she just got angry. I asked her, but she wouldnt tell me. She wiped her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand, her voice starting to shake. I even apologized to her, and then she said I didnt even know what I did wrong, and then she ignored me again.
As she spoke, she started crying again. Large tears fell, splashing onto the floor and onto Neos flat mechanical casing.
Finally, the crying slowly stopped. She remained crouched there, tears still hanging on her face, unwashed, letting them dry on their own.
Neo nudged closer to her, facing her directly.
Do you… want to know what happened? Qi Ranyue asked in a raspy voice.
Neo blinked his large eyes.
She started from the beginning, when she went to the lab to pick her up tonight.
She talked about the girl who kept hovering around Chen Rong.
She talked about the sentence, I like her too, and I am pursuing her.
She talked about her own shock and the blankness she felt at that moment.
She talked about how that girl had openly admitted to being a lesbian.
She talked about how she had turned to Chen Rong and asked her to say a few good words for her boyfriend.
She talked about Chen Rongs silence.
She talked about how she had turned the car around.
She talked about how Chen Rong said she wouldnt come over for dinner tomorrow.
She talked about how she asked why, but Chen Rong wouldnt answer.
She talked about driving back alone…
What exactly did I say wrong? What is she angry about? Its been like this lately, she gets angry over nothing and ignores me for no reason! Her voice was soft, as if she were asking the robot, yet also asking herself.
You didnt say anything wrong. Neos voice was mechanical with an electronic tint, but it was softer than usual.
She is just… Neo paused, as if thinking about how to organize his words. She just likes you too much. She is a little jealous!
Qi Ranyue looked up at him, her eyes still red.
You spoke up for someone else and were so nice to them; she must feel sour inside, Neo continued. Its like… like if someone took your novel merchandise. Even if you knew they would return it, you would still be very sad because it is your private collection. It should only be for you to see, only for you to appreciate.
Qi Ranyue was stunned.
Wait.
Her brows furrowed, and her eyes stared straight ahead as she tried desperately to remember.
Tonight, that… Wen Xinyao said she was a lesbian. She said she liked Chen Rong.
Neo made a humming sound of affirmation.
She kept hovering around Chen Rong, acting spoiled and saying she wanted to pursue her. Qi Ranyue paused, her eyes widening slightly. Then could she also be…?
She immediately cut herself off, frightened by her own speculation.
Lesbian?
Is she a lesbian?
Does she like girls too?
She said she had someone she liked, but it wasnt Wen Xinyao!
Before, when I asked her what kind of boys she liked, she said she didnt like boys, but… she has someone she likes!
Those sudden changes in expression whenever a boyfriend was mentioned…
When I said I would only save her, she asked if that counted as a confession…
…
…
The more she thought, the more chaotic it became.
She clutched her head, feeling like her brain was about to explode.
The living room was silent for a few seconds.
Qi Ranyue grabbed her keys from the floor, turned to open the door, and rushed out.
The night wind blew in, cold and sharp.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
The car sped through the streets at 3:00 AM. Streetlights flashed past the window one by one, casting light and shadow across her face.
She gripped the steering wheel, eyes fixed forward, lips pressed tight. Her mind was a mess, but her foot pressed the accelerator without the slightest hesitation.
Arriving at Chen Rongs apartment building, she parked the car and rushed into the elevator.
The elevator doors reflected her face—eyes swollen and red, tear stains not yet dry, hair a mess.
She glanced at it but didnt care.
The elevator arrived.
She walked out, stopped before that familiar door, took a deep breath, and pressed the code.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep.
Click!
The door opened!
The house was very dark, with only a bit of moonlight filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.
She walked in, went around the sofa, and reached the bedroom door.
She pushed it open gently.
Chen Rong was lying in bed, asleep.
She stood at the door for two seconds, then walked in, pulled out the chair by the bed, and sat down. She just watched her quietly.
Unknowingly, half an hour slipped by.
Suddenly, Chen Rongs brow furrowed. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. In her daze, she seemed to see someone sitting by the bed.
It was her!
Chen Rong froze for a second and blinked. She was still there.
It must be a dream!
She clearly drove away just now, Chen Rong thought.
Usually, when she saw her, she had to restrain herself. Restrain those looks that shouldnt be there, restrain the words that almost slipped out, restrain the bitterness that always surged up, and restrain the kisses that shouldnt belong to her…
Since this was a dream, she didnt need to restrain herself anymore, right?
She propped herself up, sat up, and looked directly into her eyes.
She watched her!
She watched her for a long time!
Then,
Chen Rong leaned forward, cupped her face with both hands, and kissed her directly!
Qi Ranyues lips were moist and soft. The moment she pressed against them, her entire body froze. But the kiss didnt stop. Chen Rongs tongue gently pried open her lips and teeth, exploring inside with a kind of reckless tenderness that had been suppressed for far too long.
The moonlight shone quietly.
The room was filled only with the sound of soft, damp breathing.
It was a long time before she let her go!
Forehead against forehead, their breaths intertwined, hot and heavy.
Chen Rong closed her eyes, feeling the other womans breath on her face, carrying the warmth of someone who had just woken up and a familiar scent of oranges.
They stayed pressed together like that.
Then, Qi Ranyue felt her breathing gradually become even and deep.
Chen Rong had fallen asleep.
She actually fell asleep!
Qi Ranyues brain was buzzing!
Just now…
She opened her eyes in a daze, sat up, and looked at me.
She looked for a long time.
Then she suddenly leaned over and kissed me!
And it was a French kiss!!!
And then… then she just fell asleep!!!!
Qi Ranyue raised her hand and touched her lips. They were still hot and tingling; the sensation of that kiss hadnt fully faded. She placed a hand over her heart. Why was it beating so fast?
It couldnt be that I am the one dreaming, right!!!!
Qi Ranyue looked at Chen Rongs face on the bed, her brow slowly furrowing.
If it was a dream, why was there still a sensation on her lips?
She recalled the kiss again—the feeling of their tongues intertwining, the heat of the breath on her face, the way Chen Rongs fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her sleeve with closed eyes…
If it wasnt a dream…
Then why did she kiss me?
She really likes me! She really is a lesbian!!!
But I have a boyfriend, and tomorrow I have to take my boyfriend to meet my parents, and I am not…
Her face grew hot, the heat spreading from her ears to her cheeks, and from her cheeks to her neck, making her feel restless.
Her heart beat fast and urgently, like heavy summer raindrops drumming against her chest.
She wanted to shake her awake, to ask her what she meant, to ask why she kissed her. But she didnt dare. She didnt know how to face any of this.
In the early morning room, the moonlight quietly illuminated the two of them.
One was asleep, and one was awake. The one who was awake found her brain completely stalled, unable to process anything.