Through The Lenses of Time ♡ Liu Xiao x Reader | Link Clink

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Liu Xiao was still watching you. The kind of stare that sent a shiver down your spine—not out of fear, but because it felt like he was trying to memorize you, like he wasn’t sure whether to keep his distance or pull you closer.

And then, suddenly, he moved.

It wasn’t graceful, not like how he usually carried himself. His hand pulled away from yours only to find its way to your wrist, his grip firm, unsure. His other hand ghosted near your shoulder before he hesitated, fingers twitching like he was battling with himself.

Then, in an instant, the hesitation snapped.

His fingers curled around your jaw, tilting your face up. The distance between you disappeared too quickly for you to react, his breath warm against your lips before—

A loud crash from below made both of you jolt.

You barely had time to process it before Liu Xiao swore under his breath and turned sharply, his body instinctively moving in front of you like a shield. The rooftop was still quiet except for the occasional hum of traffic, but somewhere in the alley beneath the building, something—or someone—had just knocked over a pile of metal crates.

You exhaled a shaky laugh, still reeling from whatever had just almost happened. “Did—did we almost die just now, or was that just really bad timing?”

Liu Xiao shot you an unimpressed glance, though the tension in his shoulders gave him away. “You’re laughing?”

“I mean—” You struggled to suppress another laugh. “We were having a moment! And then—bam! Reality check.”

Liu Xiao huffed, rubbing his temples as if reconsidering all his life choices. “Unbelievable.”

You grinned, nudging his shoulder. “Admit it, it’s kind of funny.”

“It’s something,” he muttered, but the corner of his lips twitched, betraying him.

For a second, you just stood there, the almost-kiss still lingering between you, tangled up with the adrenaline of the interruption. Then, without thinking, you grabbed the front of his hoodie and pulled—just enough to throw him off balance.

He barely had time to react before you pressed a quick, impulsive kiss to the corner of his mouth.

His breath hitched.

You pulled away just as fast, trying to fight the heat rushing to your face. “There,” you said, forcing a smirk. “Moment salvaged.”

Liu Xiao just stared at you, unreadable. For a heartbeat, you thought maybe you’d actually broken him. But then—

A sharp tug.

You barely had time to yelp before he pulled you in this time, his lips crashing against yours in a kiss that was anything but hesitant. His hand tangled in your hair, the other gripping your waist like he was making sure you wouldn’t disappear.

It was messy, rushed, a little chaotic—but so was Liu Xiao. So were you. And somehow, it was perfect.

When he finally pulled back, his breathing was unsteady, his forehead resting against yours. “There,” he murmured, voice low. “Moment actually salvaged.”

Your heart was a wild, unsteady drum in your chest. “Okay,” you whispered. “You win.”

His lips quirked. “Obviously.”

And before you could even think of a comeback, he kissed you again.