Her smile was dazzling, stirring ripples in his heart.

Zhou Tingzhao suddenly leaned closer, leaving only a hair’s breadth between them and Sang Ru. He caught the words between his teeth and asked in a low voice: “Then how should I come up?”

The prey had caught the hunter; the bait was in a precarious situation. Sang Ru licked her lips, noticing his gaze naturally following the movement, sweeping over her lips before slowly rising again to meet her eyes, with complete nonchalance that made her legs feel weak.

Sang Ru suddenly felt her mouth go dry and responded with a non-sequitur: “I want some water.”

Zhou Tingzhao remained poised above her, his eyes suddenly filling with amusement. With his gaze still locked on hers, he straightened up and took the water glass he had just placed on the bedside table, along with a blister pack of medicine, and said: “Sit up. Take your medicine first.”

Sang Ru didn’t remember bringing her own medicine, so this must be Zhou Tingzhao’s portion. She accepted it, tilted her head back, and swallowed the medicine with water, then drank a few more sips to ease the dryness before handing the glass back.

But she saw him take the glass and also swallow a pill with the remaining water.

Zhou Tingzhao was also a patient, yet he attended to her without complaint, which made Sang Ru feel somewhat embarrassed.

“Alright, you should rest for a while too.” This time, Sang Ru properly lifted the covers on the left side, reversing roles to invite the owner of the bed to join her.

She had fully embraced the role of the lady of the house.

Zhou Tingzhao’s lips curved imperceptibly as he also slipped under the covers from the other side.

Sang Ru no longer felt sleepy at all. With a vibrant seventeen-year-old high school student lying beside her, it was hard not to want to take some liberties.

They were quite far apart. Sang Ru quietly pushed up the blanket that had sagged in the middle and moved closer to Zhou Tingzhao. When she was close enough to touch his right arm, she made a tiny motion to scratch the back of his hand and murmured: “You were supposed to lull me to sleep first.”

Zhou Tingzhao opened his eyes, hearing her commanding tone that somehow still managed to sound pitiful. His heart instantly melted, so he turned on his side to face her.

Sang Ru had also turned to face him. Their eyes met, and she blinked. She watched as Zhou Tingzhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

For comfort, they had already removed their school uniform jackets, leaving only the inner layer. Sang Ru nestled against the hollow of his shoulder, her fragrant hair enveloping Zhou Tingzhao’s senses.

Having experienced her seductive tactics many times, Zhou Tingzhao knew this was also a trap, but he still raised his hand to stroke her back, patting gently—all that was missing was a lullaby.

“Is this how you lull someone to sleep?” She raised her head from his embrace, mercilessly pointing out his mistake.

His raised hand was awkwardly suspended, neither falling nor remaining still.

When had Mr. Zhou ever gained experience in lulling young ladies to sleep? Every time, they would both be exhausted after passionate lovemaking, and she would simply fall asleep on her own. At most, he would stroke her back a few times like this before she drifted off. When had she ever needed someone to go to great lengths to lull her to sleep?

His palm finally settled gently on her back. Zhou Tingzhao lowered his head slightly, adopting the humble posture of a student, yet with an underlying hint of seduction: “Then how should I do it? Teach me?”

He was truly too handsome. His skin was fair, yet the high bridge of his nose and sharp features created their patterns of light and shadow. One could describe him as rugged, yet calling him beautiful wouldn’t be out of place either.

Now he was looking at her with such gentle eyes, or perhaps because the medicine was starting to take effect, Sang Ru felt a bit lightheaded and forgot herself, saying: “Make me tired, then I’ll be able to sleep, won’t I?”

Zhou Tingzhao was taken aback: “Hmm?”

Suddenly, her hand guided his to the softness of her chest. She looked up at him with the most innocent expression and said, “Touch me…”

Zhou Tingzhao almost immediately felt a response, a sensation winding up from his lower body, entwining his heart, causing his palm to unconsciously tighten following her movements.

Sang Ru’s once clear eyes now began to cloud over, her eyelids half-closing then lifting again as she released soft gasps.

Zhou Tingzhao slowly kneaded one of her breasts, his voice already hoarse when he spoke: “Does this make you tired, or does it feel good?”

Sang Ru gave him a sidelong glance, biting her lip without answering.

Then, at some point, he suddenly cupped her breast from below with the hollow between his thumb and index finger, gently swaying it. The wave of sensation that rippled through her breast settled into his palm. Sang Ru felt a sinking sensation in her chest that made her feel increasingly empty.

“Mmm… stop teasing…”

Zhou Tingzhao chuckled softly: “It has quite some weight to it.”

Sang Ru, not to be outdone, reached down to his lower body: “This has quite some weight to it too.”

Zhou Tingzhao drew in a sharp breath and moved his palm to her waist: “May I?”

“May you what?”

Sang Ru felt the hardness in her palm becoming more insistent, and the person in front of her moved closer: “May I go inside to touch?”

“You already know the answer.”

After Sang Ru spoke, she heard two muffled laughs from above her head. Then her waist was suddenly free, and a warm palm covered her chest again.

His hand slipped through the gap in her underwear. Zhou Tingzhao’s palm passed over her nipple, drawing circles and caressing it deliberately.

“It’s standing up.”

“You’re hard too.”

“Yes.”

His easy admission left her at a loss for how to respond. Sang Ru softened her voice: “Just this isn’t enough.”

“Is that so?”

Sang Ru didn’t have time to respond with a challenging affirmation before she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist. Zhou Tingzhao had wrapped one arm around her waist, drawing her into his embrace, and said in a husky voice: “Lift your clothes yourself, will you?”

The added “will you” made it seem like a negotiation, but Sang Ru felt she had no retreat. She bent her fingers to slowly lift her clothes, gradually revealing her full, firm breasts. Then, unexpectedly, Zhou Tingzhao lowered his head.

With his left hand, he pulled down the upper edge of her underwear, allowing her small nipple to tremble exposed in the air. After flicking it twice with his index finger, he lowered his head and took it into his mouth.