Chapter 266: Chapter 266

Rong Zhi slightly leaned her head back.

She was right when she called Bai Su a dog.

Every time he caught her, he’d cling on and start nibbling.

The bite marks on her collarbone had just healed a few days ago, and now he changed positions and bit again. This time was even more outrageous—he bit symmetrically.

She tugged at the man’s slightly hard and prickly hair, expressionless, and said, "That’s enough."

Bai Su buried his head on her cool skin and took a bite, then, as if reluctant, turned it into a gentle kiss.

Then he raised his hand to cover Rong Zhi’s eyes, blocking her view.

Rong Zhi frowned, not understanding.

The cold sensation traveled from her fingertips to her wrist, and after a short while, she felt a slight pressure on her wrist, and her fingers slightly curled.

Bai Su’s long, pretty fingers lifted her wrist to eye level, and Rong Zhi noticed the black and gold bracelet, blinking in surprise.

The bracelet fit snugly on her slender, fair wrist, with rune carvings in vermillion rubbed smooth, resting obediently against the inky Star Stone.

The Star Stone had nine beads, with the largest golden pearl from her previous Buddha Hand Bracelet at the center. The dust that it had gathered from falling had disappeared, leaving the golden Buddha bead polished to a bright shine, reflecting the deep and mysterious Star Stones.

"I originally planned to give it to you as a New Year’s gift, but I really wanted to see your happy face, so I’m giving it to you early." Bai Su chuckled softly, his voice low, gentle yet carefree.

Rong Zhi said nothing.

She rubbed the smooth and polished Star Stone, remembering how they looked initially. Abruptly, she flipped her grip, holding the man’s well-articulated hand, and asked softly in a slightly hoarse voice, "Did you polish these?"

Bai Su raised a brow, proud, and gave a satisfied "Mmhmm."

Rong Zhi suddenly fell silent. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel{f}ire.net

She knew how hard the Star Stone was; she’d once asked Rong Jiazze for one out of boredom to test it. It couldn’t be smashed or burned, and when pinched hard enough, its rugged surface could cut her fingers.

But these nine had been polished by Bai Su bit by bit.

She couldn’t quite identify her feelings; they were a mix of sourness and swelling that felt stifling.

After a long while, she murmured gruffly, almost too quiet for Bai Su to hear if he weren’t so close.

He pulled her into his arms, caressed her slender neck, contemplated for a few seconds seriously, and then replied leisurely, his tone still somewhat cheeky yet uniquely gentle, "It hurt, Rong Zhi, my hands almost died from the pain."

But no matter the pain, seeing the bracelet back on her wrist made him satisfied.

A charming, handsome face appeared in front of her eyes.

Rong Zhi looked up, meeting his eyes filled with nothing but her reflection.

"Do you know why there are only nine Star Stones?" Bai Su pressed his forehead against hers, nudging her nose. Without waiting for her to reply, he continued, "It means wishing you a lifetime of peace."

Nine symbolizes longevity. He hoped Rong Zhi could live peacefully for all her life,

He didn’t ask for much, just that she live joyfully.

As for spending their lives together, that was a luxury.

Rong Zhi pressed her lips together.

Looking down at the new bracelet, she finally took his hand and led him out the door.

Bai Su followed her lead, walking neither too fast nor too slow, listening to her speak softly, "Yao Yao seems to have some hand cream; I’ll ask her for some."

The color of ripples flickered in Bai Su’s eyes, and he nodded, "Okay."

The next day at work, the researchers in the lab noticed the new accessory on Dr. Rong’s wrist.

"Hey, Teacher Rong, where did you get that bracelet? It looks pretty nice." Lin Qiming leaned closer to ask.

Rong Zhi was flipping through the three-phase research predictions they had sorted out yesterday. She replied nonchalantly, "It’s a gift from someone."

Lin Qiming scratched his head. Who would give such an intimate and symbolic accessory? And even if given, someone as seemingly approachable yet as aloof as Rong Zhi actually wore it; this ’someone’ must have some connection with her!

But he didn’t have time to think, as a pile of data was placed in front of him. The young teacher’s voice was neutral as she instructed, "Meeting."

The laboratory on the third floor resumed its closed experiment mode. When it reopened, the researchers staggered out as if their souls had been drained.

But the high-intensity work resulted in the most perfect gain.

The CSS project finally completed the second phase of research just before New Year’s Day and even achieved half of the third phase progress!

Lin Qiming, regardless of the caution between men and women, clung to Rong Zhi’s leg and wailed, "Oh, my teacher! From now on, I’ll worship you as a god; you’re so amazing!"

In the latter stages of the experiment, it was mainly Rong Zhi who held everyone together, with all of the third-phase research predictions completed solely by her. Her work ability was truly commendable.

Rong Zhi shifted her leg slightly, her mouth twitching.

In the end, it was Liu Yue Zhang who came over to pull the frenzied Lin Qiming away.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Day, and Rong Zhi gave them a holiday, letting them leave early.

Once everyone was gone, she checked the equipment, then saved the data, turned off the lights, and left.

A voice rang out before the person arrived, and a figure suddenly lunged at her, causing her to step back a few paces to stabilize herself. Rong Zhi looked down, somewhat helpless.

"Brother, I missed you so much."

Rong Jiazze clung to her waist, voice full of longing, "It’s been almost five days since I last saw you!"

She patted the child’s back and softly said, "Let go first."

Rong Jiazze had bumped into her ribs; though it didn’t hurt, it was a bit uncomfortable being pressed.

As expected, her weight had probably dropped again.

Bai Su’s face immediately changed, his handsome face with a charming smile now looked colder, fingers clicking audibly.

The people nearby instantly stared at their own noses, mouths tightly shut.

Yan Yixing, worried that his cousin might strangle the younger boy they’d just found, quickly came forward to pick up Rong Jiazze, giving Rong Zhi a smile, "Sister-in-law is back, please have a seat."

The Yan brothers secretly disapproved of Bai Su taking so long to seal the deal, but vocally they were quite honest in calling her sister-in-law.

Judging by Bai Su’s demeanor, Rong Zhi would enter the family sooner or later, so calling her that now didn’t make much difference.

Rong Zhi nodded without much expression.

Yan Yixing clicked his tongue silently; the sister-in-law seemed a bit cold. It seemed that Ah Su’s pursuit might be even longer than the older brother’s.

Jiang Gujun piled the candies and cookies he’d bought for the holiday on the table.

Bai Su leaned over, reached into the plate to pick out a red-wrapped candy, carefully unwrapped it, and placed the round white candy into her palm, bringing it to the young one’s lips.

Rong Zhi stared at the candy, then after a moment of silence, picked it up and put it in her mouth.

It was milk-flavored and overly sweet.

Everyone around, watching the public display of affection, went speechless: "..."

Even Ying Yunlin unwrapped one for himself, narrowing his eyes, "What’s with this candy, it’s so salty."

Jiang Gujun peeled an orange expressionlessly, "I bought them casually on the street, not sure."

After eating half the orange, he frowned from the sourness.

"Ahem," Yan Yixing broke the romantic tension in the air, looking at Rong Zhi and asked, "We were just discussing where to go tomorrow for New Year’s. Sister-in-law, where do you want to go?"