Qing Hang said it wasn’t that painful, much better than getting an IV needle.

Cheng Wanyue was half-convinced. Seeing how seriously the shop owner carried himself, she felt the owner’s words were more credible.

After they finished, Cheng Wanyue let out a big sigh of relief. The shop owner wrapped the tattooed area with plastic wrap and gave a few instructions on aftercare. Qing Hang paid, and when he turned around, he saw that she had crumpled the cushion on the sofa with her grip.

She was very afraid of pain.

He wondered if she had been this nervous when getting her ears pierced.

She had gotten three piercings, after all.

They took a different route home today. After getting off at the nearest bus stop, they passed a ping pong court where a young boy wearing a red scarf was playing. He looked like an elementary school student.

Cheng Wanyue walked slower and slower, and Qing Hang matched her pace.

Following her gaze, Qing Hang asked, “Want to play?”

The crisp sound of the ping pong ball hitting the paddle was appealing. Cheng Wanyue felt tempted. “Just for ten minutes?”

“Sure,” Qing Hang took her hand and led her over.

The boy was waiting for his mother to get off work. His classmates had already gone home, so he was just bouncing the ball on his paddle by himself. Qing Hang went over to ask if he could borrow a paddle. The boy, needing a playmate, agreed readily.

When Cheng Wanyue saw Qing Hang get the paddle, she placed his suit jacket on a bench.

She had run relay races in every sports meet in middle school and wasn’t bad at sports, but this was her first time playing ping pong. She didn’t even know how to hold the paddle properly.

Qing Hang walked behind her, reaching around to cover her hand with his, adjusting her grip. “Hold it like this.”

Seeing this, the boy looked displeased. “Are you two playing together?”

Qing Hang explained, “She doesn’t know how to play. I’m teaching her. We don’t count as two people.”

“Little one, we’re not trying to take advantage of you.” Cheng Wanyue couldn’t help but laugh at the boy’s disdainful expression. “Are you very good?”

The boy lifted his chin. “Not extremely good, but the best in my class.”

“Wow, what a coincidence,” Cheng Wanyue gave a thumbs up and pointed behind her. “He’s also the best in our class. Though I’m bringing down his level, he’s an adult, and you’re a child. If you win, you’re still impressive.”

“Whatever,” the boy sniffed, clearly not intimidated by them.

“Hey now,” Cheng Wanyue’s competitive spirit was instantly sparked. “Qing Hang, beat him.”

As it turned out, one should never underestimate today’s elementary school students.

She was like a thousand-pound burden holding Qing Hang back. The score was embarrassing. The little boy probably thought his opponents were too amateur and barely wanted to play with them anymore, even serving the ball halfheartedly.

As a beginner, Cheng Wanyue preferred these lighter balls and was able to return several in a row.

In the end, they lost, as expected.

Qing Hang bought two bottles of yogurt, gave one to the little boy, and Cheng Wanyue made plans to continue the match with him tomorrow.

Cheng Yanqing’s work in Beijing was nearly finished. He would return to his original company at the end of the month. Since returning from Nanjing, Cheng Wanyue had been staying at Qing Hang’s place without mentioning any intention of moving back.

Tomorrow became another tomorrow, and she had already stayed for twenty days.

The hospital work was busy. After a night shift, Qing Hang could rest for a day. He usually slept for four or five hours in the morning, then picked up Cheng Wanyue after work in the afternoon. They didn’t return home too late.

It was raining outside. After washing up, Cheng Wanyue lifted the blanket and slipped into bed. His body was warm.

She happened to see Chi Yue’s social media post and remembered that she still owed him a meal. She clicked on his WeChat profile picture and messaged to ask if his allergies had improved.

The hand on her shoulder silently tightened, and Cheng Wanyue naturally leaned into his embrace.

Although Chi Yue had returned the lost earring to her, she still consistently wore the one Qing Hang had given her.

The room was dimly lit. Qing Hang watched as she asked Chi Yue when he was free. He noticed her typing pause for a few seconds before she changed “I’ll treat you to a meal” to “We’ll treat you to a meal.”

Chi Yue hadn’t replied yet when the phone was suddenly taken away. Cheng Wanyue instinctively turned to look beside her.

Qing Hang wasn’t wearing a shirt.

After the tattoo scab had naturally fallen off, both the color and shape were very realistic, as if freshly bitten.

Cheng Wanyue leaned in to kiss it, and in the next second, Qing Hang shifted, gently pulling her closer so she was beneath him.

A shadow fell over her, and he laced his fingers loosely through hers, pressing her hand into the pillow beside her head. The sound of rain pattered outside, and the strands of her hair twined around his fingers added a touch of tenderness.

Her hair had grown a bit longer.

The phone vibrated twice. She struggled to look at it.

Qing Hang picked up the phone. On the screen were messages from Chi Yue:

[Beautiful girl, you’re only now thinking of checking on me? Isn’t that a bit late?]

[I’m not in Beijing. I’ll be back in a few days. Let’s put it on hold for now.]

Beautiful girl…

Did Chi Yue call her a beautiful girl?

She reached over with one hand to grab the phone, but Qing Hang set it aside out of reach and leaned down to quiet her protest with a kiss.

The more he had of her, the more he wanted.

His desk now had a pair of ping pong paddles and her frequently used cosmetics. The closet was filled with her clothes. Her hair was on his pillow. The sofa held magazines she had finished reading. He could even distinguish which threads of scent among the damp smell of rain belonged uniquely to her.

But it wasn’t enough.

Her world had many people in it. At least here, in this quiet space between them, she should be thinking only of him.

His lips moved gently along her neck, giving Cheng Wanyue a moment to turn her head and catch her breath. He knew her by now — the weather had turned cooler, and she’d started visiting hot springs again, so she asked him not to leave any marks she’d have to hide. He respected that, even as his attention lingered, unhurried and warm, wherever she’d allow it.

Her breathing changed, soft and uneven, catching every so often. Her back arched slightly before she sank back against the mattress, unable to hold the position for long. Even her toes curled against the sheets.

Color rose across her skin, and when she looked up at him, her eyes were soft and unfocused, lost in the moment.

He drew her close as the night went on, and for that stretch of time, she was entirely his.