Chapter 29

Why didn't you come? The answer was too obvious.
Shuangyun blinked and replied: "If I'd come, would you still be asking?"
Cheng Lang was stunned for a second, then laughed silently. She was openly cunning. Losing to her seemed natural.
The food was quickly ready. Cheng Lang's cooking was very good. He wasn't limited to one cuisine—he knew a bit of each. Even if he didn't know something, he could quickly learn after looking at a recipe.
He said his parents' restaurant was also a fusion restaurant, not limited to one cuisine, giving customers more choices.
Shuangyun's diet gradually changed under Cheng Lang's guidance. She'd previously been enthusiastic about simple "white people food"—tasteless, but not too oily, and could provide enough protein. But since being with Cheng Lang, she'd been eating Cheng Lang's cooking for lunch and dinner every day.
He knew she didn't like things that were too oily, so he paid attention to every meal.
Of course, every morning Shuangyun would come to Cheng Lang's apartment. That was usually when Cheng Lang had just returned from running. Shuangyun would make two cups of coffee, then Cheng Lang would go to work, and Shuangyun would either stay at his apartment or return to her own.
Shuangyun had been busy preparing for her defense. The external review quickly sent back news, setting a specific date for the defense.
It wasn't possible to be completely un-nervous. But Shuangyun had already studied her thesis repeatedly several times, and her defense PowerPoint had been revised multiple versions.
Cheng Lang came home every night, working while also helping Shuangyun with her defense preparation.
Shuangyun showed Cheng Lang her defense PowerPoint and received his reply full of comments.
"Are you this strict with your students too?" Shuangyun almost had a heart attack seeing all the comments.
"No." Cheng Lang said. After a moment, he added, "It's concern."
Shuangyun wanted to cry but had no tears. But when she calmed down, she found Cheng Lang's suggestions were all very fair. Very pointed, yet extremely useful.
Following his suggestions to revise, Shuangyun quickly finalized the draft and stopped making changes.
The defense was scheduled for a Wednesday afternoon. Two of the external reviewers weren't in Australia, so the defense was conducted online.
Shuangyun did her defense in her own apartment. She was well-prepared and spoke fluent English. She'd prepared for all the questions that might be asked, so in about an hour, the defense smoothly ended.
The celebration of passing didn't come with overwhelming intensity. Shuangyun felt more of a calm joy. Like gently pushing a small boat, naturally passing through countless mountains.
But her body's reaction was also honest. Shuangyun took off her black business suit skirt, as if removing some kind of restraint, and lay on the sofa wearing only her underwear.
Rest. She needed some rest.
Didn't need to do anything, just quietly lie there, enjoying the joy of victory at this stage.
Closing her eyes, she remembered to tell Cheng Lang.
He cared about her graduation far more than she did. Had to tell him this good news.
Shuangyun: "Should be fine."
Cheng Lang's message came in the next second: "Finished?"
Shuangyun: "Yes, just finished."
Shuangyun replied, but Cheng Lang's side was quiet for a while.
A few minutes later, Cheng Lang: "Open the door?"
Shuangyun was puzzled: "What?"
There was a knock at the door.
Had he not gone to work today? Or had he come back early?
Reason hadn't given an answer yet, but her body had already made an excited choice.
Shuangyun jumped up from the sofa and ran to open the door.
"I'm done!" Shuangyun jumped onto Cheng Lang the moment she opened the door.
Cheng Lang held her and immediately entered the apartment.
The door closed, and only then did he hear what Shuangyun was saying.
Heard it, but also didn't really hear clearly. Only knew her mood must be very good, otherwise why would she forget to put on clothes?
No, wait, she wasn't not wearing clothes.
Cheng Lang was still standing at the door. After several seconds of shock, his consciousness slowly, cautiously returned.
She was only wearing underwear, being held high in his arms.
His hands were very hot, but her body temperature wasn't high.
The exposed skin was much more than low-rise jeans. His palms to arms were all pressed tightly against her without any barrier.
Was she still talking? Was his consciousness unable to concentrate?
Or... had she stopped talking?
Shuangyun's legs naturally wrapped around his waist. She looked down at him, her black long hair hanging down, forming a natural cage.
Cheng Lang's ears burned red.
Only then did Shuangyun realize she was only wearing underwear.
She'd forgotten. She'd been too happy.
Along with Cheng Lang's ears heating up, so did his body.
But Cheng Lang didn't let go of her.
Just quietly stood still.
A once-in-a-lifetime moment, Shuangyun said in her heart.
Her face then silently lowered, feeling Cheng Lang's heavy breathing.
She kissed his lips, dry from rapid breathing, slowly, as if deliberately making him hear the sound of lips separating.
Separated, then looked at his eyes.
There was shock, there was confusion, and also... anticipation.
The lightly trembling lips then received Shuangyun's second kiss.
Cheng Lang's arms moved from her waist downward, holding her more firmly. Shuangyun laughed in the jostling, tightly holding Cheng Lang's neck.
Kisses, endless kisses.
When other places couldn't be used yet but were desperately clamoring, kissing became the only outlet.
When he kissed her neck, Shuangyun raised her face and told him to continue.
When he kissed her hard collarbone, he immediately reached her soft chest.