Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lan Huan was unable to concentrate on her class. Which was a problem, since they had a test the following week and she was sure they were not at all prepared, but there were other things on her mind today. Well, one thing. More specifically her gorgeous girlfriend, Jiang Cheng.

No one could blame her, she assured herself. What was she supposed to do, when her girlfriend came to school looking like that? Lan Huan found it hard to stop thinking about her on a normal day. At this rate, this was going to end up being a real problem.

Jiang Cheng rarely bought new dresses, or new, well, anything. But on that day she had suddenly decide to wear a dress that Lan Huan had never seen before, a prettier one than any Lan Huan had ever seen in her wardrobe.

"Teacher," called one of her students, shaking her out of her daydreams about her girlfriend. "We have already finished the assignment you gave us."

"Oh," Lan Huan brushed her hair behind her ears, trying to regain her composure.

"Is Teacher thinking about her boyfriend?" One bold student called from the back of the class. Being young, pretty and mild-mannered, her students tended to be more friendly with her than they dared to be with the other teachers. The boys, especially, seemed to take great delight in teasing and trying to get a rise out of her.

She directed her signature sweet smile at the brave boy, "Of course not. I'm thinking of all the wonderful questions I have set for your test. I hope you enjoy answering them as much as I enjoyed setting them."

A chorus of groans could be heard around the classroom and Lan Huan’s smile widened. Her students knew that however sweet and friendly she appeared to be, her test papers were no joke.

Heads bent in unison and papers rustled. The scratch of pen against paper could be heard again, and Lan Huan had to bite back a laugh. They knew they ccouldn't mess with her upto a certain point.

*****************************

As soon as her break arrived, Lan Huan hurried to the staffroom, hoping, that she would get a chance to meet her girlfriend. Their breaks didnt often coincide, so Lan Huan lived for the times they did. She had memorized Jiang Cheng's schedule. Unless something came up, or Jiang Cheng’s mischievous sister called with some trouble, they’d hopefully have their break at the same time.

Sure enough, Jiang Cheng appeared five minutes later, looking borderline furious, though that was a pretty normal expression on her. Lan Huan's breath caught at her appearance and she was immediately reminded of the reason for her inattention that morning.

Jiang Cheng was dressed in a knee-length dress, the exact colour of aubergines. As she bent down to pick a book she’d dropped in her fit of anger, Lan Huan took a moment to admire the intricate detailing at the hem. Jiang Cheng rarely wore something so pretty, instead preferring simple and comfortable ‘office-lady’ outfits, sometimes even on their casual outings.

There was no one else there in the staffroom. Lan Huan got up and moved towards her girlfriend.

"Something upset you today?" She leaned in to give Jiang Cheng a kiss on the cheek.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes softened at the affectionate gesture but she launched into her tirade.

Lan Huan watched her hands move. Her long hands flew through the air, illustrating her point with wild gestures. Jiang Cheng, with her sharply pointed eyebrows, piercing black eyes and mobile mouth, had a face with the ability to show powerful emotion. Whether she was angry, in grief, or happy in her stubbornly-refusing-to-show-anything way, everything showed on her face.

At the moment, her mouth was pulled in slight irritation, her eyebrows twitching. Her expression was far too intense for the situation she was currently describing - a small case of a parent getting on her nerves, not a difficult thing to do with Jiang Cheng. In a moment of impulse, Lan Huan took a step forward and pulled Jiang Cheng into her arms. She pushed her nose into Jiang Cheng's curls and inhaled. Jiang Cheng was wearing a new scent as well, something smelling strongly of lotuses. Lan Huan felt it settle deep inside her body, like an imprint. Jiang Cheng meanwhile had gone completely quiet and still.

“That's a nice dress you have on,” she murmured. From where her face was buried in Jiang Cheng's neck she could feel her body heat up. “You look so good, I don't want to let you go.”

A beat of silence.

“Are you thinking that the dress was a good choice to wear today? You were looking for a reaction out of me, weren't you?” Lan Huan smiled into Jiang Cheng's neck.

At that Jiang Cheng pushed her away. “I wasn't and don't try that mind-reading shit on me. Leave that for your sister.”

“Language, A-Cheng,” Lan Huan stifled a laugh. “We are still in school, you know.”

Jiang Cheng turned away with a huff and began to make her way to her desk.

“Are you coming over tonight?” Lan Huan asked her back.

Jiang Cheng turned to look over her shoulder. “I'll come,” she replied, her husky voice taking on a low note. “As long as you finish all your work on time. You've been paying all your attention elsewhere today"

With a smirk, she turned back to her desk and left Lan Huan suddenly feeling the need to catch her breath. This was going to be a long day.

*******
At home, while Jiang Cheng worked on corrections, Lan Huan worked on cooking them up something fancy. She was cutting up some onions, when Jiang Cheng walked into the kitchen. Lan Huan promptly almost chopped her finger off.

“You still haven't changed out of that dress?” Lan Huan prays her voice doesn’t sound as hoarse as it feels.

“I haven't brought any clothes to change into.” Jiang Cheng seems to forget about all the random articles of clothing decorating the inside of Lan Huan's closet. Lan Huan bites her tongue and prays to all the gods out there for some self control. It wouldn't do if she jumped her girlfriend in the kitchen, in the middle of cooking dinner.

“Need some help?” Jiang Cheng looks around, seemingly unaware of Lan Huan's dilemma.

“Ah yes,” Lan Huan tries to not make it too obvious that she clearing her throat. Jiang Cheng moves to take the knife from her and finish the task, for which Lan Huan is grateful.
She has suddenly lost all ability to pay attention again. Lan Huan moves to other, more simpler tasks. If she suddenly has a new tendency to make an uncharacteristic amount of mistakes, at least Jiang Cheng says nothing.

When they finally sit down to dinner and a few beers (for Jiang Cheng at least, Lam Huan doesn't want to repeat the incident that happened the last graduation party), it's not quite a candle-lit dinner but close. They have lit lamps as the lights in Lan Huan's apartment are too dim, and Lan Huan has brought out her best crockery.

Lan Huan keeps stealing glances at her girlfriend throughout the meal, until finally she works uo the courage to ask.

“Why'd you wear this dress today?” Jiang Cheng looks up. Her eyes meet Lan Huan's. Lan Huan cannot move.

Drops of condensation drip down the unopened beer bottle. Lan Huan can count her heartbeats. One heartbeat and the battery in one of their lamps goes out. Jiang Cheng’s eyes seem to swallow all the remaining light. Two heartbeats and a dog howls outside, but inside their apartment nothing is louder than the sounds of their breaths. Three and Lan Huan watches Jiang Cheng lick her lips. The coil in the pit of her stomach burns red-hot. Three-and-a-half, and Jiang Cheng reaches across the small space that separates them, takes hold of Lan Huan’s wrist and crushes their lips together. Lan Huan’s heartbeats become thunder, even as sparks of lightning seemed to fly between their mouths, along all the parts of skin that are in contact with each other.

Lan Huan puts her arms on Jiang Cheng's middle, around her soft stomach, the curves of her body that gentle where the rest of her is not.

Jiang Cheng in return clutches hard at the hair at Lan Huan's neck. They break apart panting.
“I've wanted to do that all day.” Lan Huan confesses.

Jiang Cheng's mouth tilts up at the corners, the sparks in her eyes alight. “I know,” the tone of her voice is sly. “That's why I wore it. Wei Ying said that it would make you flustered. You were the one who said I don't wear enough pretty things.”

Lan Huan is speechless. Jiang Cheng's mouth covers hers and negates the need for words.

Later that night, Lan Huan presses her lips into Jiang Cheng's shoulder. “Wear it this weekend. That dress.”

Jiang Cheng frowns at her. “I already wore it once. Aren't you happy?”

“Didn't you say you wanted to see me flustered,” Lan Huan counters with a serene smile. “This dress does it.”

Jiang reddens and splutters.

“Lan Huan, you-"

Lan Huan kisses her and cuts off whatever words she was about to say. Jiang Cheng can be angry at her later.