83 Persistence

I thought he might push me away. He didn't. His body stiffened a little at first, but when I didn't let go, he started to relax, and his fingers interlaced with mine tightened.

"Qing-er," he whispered against my lips.

Something shredded my heart at the sound of his voice. I had never heard my name spoken like this, with such deep longings and profound love that hid beneath all the hesitation and fear. I suddenly remembered that evening when he kissed me under the plum tree in front of my room. Our first real kiss. He had made me say his name, and I wondered if this was what I sounded like, if this was how he felt back then.