No light overhead, the small night lamp still cast its tender glow, and outside the window a gentle evening breeze drifted in through the slightly open gap, carrying with it a soft, soothing breath of air.

Ning Sui lay in Xie Yichen’s arms, her eyes brimming with a faint sheen of moisture as she stared at him in a daze.

She could feel the warmth radiating directly from his body. Ning Sui didn’t know how to put it into words — she only felt the thudding in her chest growing faster and faster with each beat, until she was nearly beside herself.

Xie Yichen still had his gaze lowered, watching her eyes with focused attention, his voice low and husky: “A kiss and it won’t hurt anymore.”

“……”

Ning Sui bit her lip, and without thinking, tilted her head back to look at him.

The young man’s silhouette was outlined by the light.

Clearly a smooth and defined jawline, sharp brows and eyes — yet somehow it made people feel a great tenderness.

Tonight’s lamplight, the evening breeze, the embrace.

And the person right in front of her.

Everything, tender.

Her emotions were like a still lake, trembling as they were smoothed flat, then spreading outward in all directions, stirring layer upon layer of ripples.

Xie Yichen lowered his head, gathered the neckline of her floral-print nightgown, and carefully fastened the buttons one by one. Then he leaned in and rubbed her head, holding her close and murmuring softly to soothe her: “There, there. No more crying.”

The clean, crisp scent that clung to him wrapped around her like a reassurance. Ning Sui gave a quiet sniff, and the dampness in her eyes seemed to recede.

Without realizing it, she turned onto her side, shifting into a position where they lay face to face. Xie Yichen’s palm was burning hot, resting against her back, his dark eyes locked tightly on her, his breath heavy and warm.

He gazed at her for a long while, then leaned over and kissed her again. His voice was low and deep: “Little Coconut.”

Ning Sui’s lashes fluttered.

— It was the first time he had ever called her that.

It sounded tender and full of care.

It was the first time Ning Sui had ever felt that this nickname — one she’d long grown used to hearing — was actually so lovely to listen to.

“Mm.” She answered in a small voice.

Before the sound had even faded, Xie Yichen’s kiss came down again.

Her cheeks, her nose, her forehead — soft, gentle kisses one after another, his affection unmistakably clear.

The blanket had long since been tossed into a scattered heap on the bed. Ning Sui lay in his arms, her heart beating faster than it ever had before, until she felt nearly completely undone.

She loved the scent of him — always like sunlight, warm and earnest and clean.

Not knowing how to express this feeling, Ning Sui couldn’t help but curl her fingers into a tight grip. A moment later, on a sudden impulse, she tilted her head up and pressed a kiss to Xie Yichen’s chin.

She hadn’t quite gauged the force of it — the sound of the kiss came out a little loud.

Above her, his breath seemed to pause. Before he could say anything, Ning Sui quickly buried her face back down, pressing her cheek against his chest like an ostrich hiding its head, her arms wrapping around his waist — the picture of good behavior.

Warmth seeped through his white T-shirt and spread across her skin. Ning Sui nestled there for a good while before the belated wave of embarrassment hit her. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to curl into a ball.

……Help.

That spot — how could he just… kiss her there.

It still felt like her chest was burning even now. Ning Sui pressed her forehead deep into his firm chest. She couldn’t tell whose heartbeat was whose — everything was racing, everything was frantic.

At eye level, she thought she caught a glimpse of that angular throat moving, slowly and involuntarily, in a single bob.

Their intertwined breaths rose and fell, audible in the quiet of the room.

At that moment, Ning Sui couldn’t help but think of the box of things she’d tucked beneath her pillow, and instantly felt as though her very brain had caught fire. She couldn’t stay still.

“You……”

She hadn’t even gotten a word out when Xie Yichen pressed his palm against the mattress and sat up, muttering in a low voice: “I’m going to the bathroom. You sleep first.”

Ning Sui was still lying on the bed, her mouth dry: “What?”

He didn’t answer. Ning Sui’s gaze drifted downward without thinking — and froze.

Even though those grey trousers were quite loose, still……

In the dimmer light, the contrast between shadow and highlight was even more pronounced.

“……”

Ning Sui’s mind went blank for an instant, and something like fireworks exploded in her head.

Help. Help.

The alcohol seemed to pick this exact moment to stir up trouble. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. She pulled the thin blanket up past her chin, nearly covering half her face, leaving only a pair of round, bright, peach-blossom eyes peeking out — shimmering with the urge to look, yet not daring to.

As though sensing her gaze, Xie Yichen straightened up and leaned over her, bracing himself on one arm.

“What are you looking at?”

The prominent thing on his throat bobbed, and Ning Sui felt the man’s voice was dangerously low and hoarse.

Even in the hazy, shifting light, the faint redness at his ears couldn’t be concealed.

“……Nothing.” She instinctively denied it, voice hushed.

Xie Yichen’s eyes were dark and deep. He reached down and pulled the blankets over as well, wrapping her up completely — tucking her in so thoroughly she couldn’t move, like rolling a spring roll.

After staring at her for a moment, he pressed one firm kiss to the side of her cheek, his voice restrained: “Stay here and lie still.”

“……”

By the time the sound of water came from the bathroom, Ning Sui still lay with her hands folded over her chest, the images from just moments ago flashing through her mind on repeat.

It was the first time she had observed that at such close range. She nearly instantly made the association to the phrase Liang Xinyue had described with such animated, animated expressions.

Quite an impressive size.

— In all honesty, it truly was… quite impressive.

No other sounds could be heard now, only the faint, distant murmur of running water. Ning Sui curled up inside the blanket, her face flushed, her heart racing.

She also recalled what Liang Xinyue had said — that guys would basically always deal with it by hand when watching those kinds of films.

But that was only something she’d heard about. She had never actually witnessed it for herself.

Xie Yichen had switched off the bedside lamp before he left. He’d been in there for what felt like ten or twenty minutes and still hadn’t come out. The waiting felt endless. Ning Sui let her mind wander through several rounds of wild imaginings, and perhaps the alcohol’s delayed effect was finally kicking in — she closed her eyes, and nearly actually drifted off to sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed. In a daze, she finally sensed someone carefully lifting the blanket and getting into bed, lying down flat beside her. The cool, crisp chill emanating from that familiar presence drifted over, nudging Ning Sui a little more awake.

The mattress beside her dipped slightly. Slow, steady, low breathing reached her.

Ning Sui lay with her eyes closed, the heartbeat she’d just managed to settle stirring faintly back to life. She held her breath.

And yet, after waiting for a while, the person beside her made no move at all.

“……”

The bed was wide and spacious — she couldn’t sense just how much distance separated them.

Ning Sui slept on the left side. She hesitated for a few seconds, then the right hand hidden beneath the blanket quietly shifted a few inches to the right.

But it touched nothing.

She paused for a moment, then slowly moved again, her fingertips tracing along the bedsheet, exploring inch by inch. Yet it felt as though she had already reached quite far — and still hadn’t brushed so much as the hem of his clothes.

……Why was this person lying so far away?

Ning Sui was silent for a moment, and just as she was about to try again, she heard a sudden sound from beside her: “Did I wake you?”

Xie Yichen’s voice was deep and magnetic, and the distance didn’t feel that far — like a bass speaker, it resonated directly in her chest. Ning Sui’s heart lurched. She swallowed quietly: “……I hadn’t really fallen asleep.”

Xie Yichen: “Mm.”

Her eyes had long since adjusted to the dark, and she could make out his silhouette clearly. So Ning Sui simply reached out to the side, feeling around, until her fingers finally found the hem of his clothes — and she grabbed hold of that small piece of fabric.

That was all it took for her to feel much more at ease. She called his name: “Xie Yichen.”

“Mm?”

Ning Sui said quietly: “Why are you lying so far away from me?”

“……”

It wasn’t the first time Xie Yichen had noticed that she was very good at being spoiled.

The coolness of his freshly washed body still lingered, thoroughly settled into him. Xie Yichen’s lashes dropped slightly: “I’m not. I just felt cold — I was worried you’d be uncomfortable.”

Ning Sui turned onto her side, half her cheek buried into the pillow: “I won’t be uncomfortable.”

Xie Yichen was quiet for a moment, then turned over as well, facing her, shifting a little closer.

In the darkness she could see his sharp, deep eyes — handsome and fine. What she truly wanted, in her heart, was for him to hold her. She pressed her lips together, then tugged at his hem tentatively: “Not close enough.”

Xie Yichen looked at her for a moment, and without waiting for Ning Sui to say anything further, his arms reached over and pulled her in.

In an instant, Ning Sui was enveloped in the clean, crisp scent of his body wash. Her lashes fluttered, though Xie Yichen’s hold was loose and light — not fully settling into place, just loosely circling her back: “Like this?”

The two of them still lay facing each other at a slight distance, their gazes tangled together wordlessly.

Ning Sui felt that since Xie Yichen had come back from the shower, he’d become a little distant — first lying all the way to the edge as though he’d set up camp in Antarctica, and then when he did hold her, not doing it properly at all.

Thinking this, Ning Sui held his gaze for a moment, then without a word of warning, simply burrowed deeper toward him.

The person above her drew in a breath that clearly stalled. Ning Sui paid no attention to it, concentrating entirely on finding a comfortable position in his arms.

Xie Yichen’s temperature really was quite cool — except for the warmth gradually returning in his chest, his limbs were all wrapped in a sort of cold. But even enveloped in that coolness, the drumming rhythm at Ning Sui’s heart only kept rising.

She vaguely remembered reading something online once — that it varied from person to person.

But more than half an hour — wasn’t that a little too long……

Truthfully, Ning Sui had absolutely no concept of these matters. She hadn’t thought it through earlier, hadn’t considered whether there might be some other way to help resolve things. So in that moment, she hadn’t been able to say a single word.

But the sideways position she was currently lying in really wasn’t all that comfortable. She shifted around under the blanket, restless and unsettled, trying to adjust.

Her hand accidentally seemed to brush something — not soft, evenly firm and solid. Ning Sui’s mind went blank for a beat, before she realized it was his abdominal muscles.

“……”

She had never properly touched them before. She’d only caught a glimpse that one time in Yunnan.

Ning Sui swallowed without thinking, and for no particular reason found herself feeling strangely parched — that brief moment earlier had passed too quickly, no time to appreciate it properly.

She said, with great sincerity: “Look, there seem to be stars outside the window.”

Xie Yichen’s thick brows pressed down slightly. Before he could react, Ning Sui launched a diversionary tactic — she flipped back the hem of his sleep shirt, hand moving with lightning speed, and shamelessly helped herself to a thorough feel.

“……”

The person in front of her stilled for just a fraction of a second, then abruptly seized her by the wrist, his voice gone hoarse: “Ning Sui.”

Those muscles were clearly defined and firm, already gradually warming from the heat of her touch. It actually felt quite nice. Ning Sui retracted her hand a little, heart thudding with a pleased little flutter.

In the dim light she couldn’t make out his expression clearly. She quietly curled her fingers and looked away: “Why are you so fierce.”

The tone of those words was inexplicably innocent. Xie Yichen’s throat worked hard, his expression unreadable: “When was I fierce?”

Ning Sui’s fingertips curved inward. She stated her grievances with perfect righteousness: “You deliberately lay so far away from me.”

“You didn’t want to hold me.”

“And you called me by my full name.”

“……”

Ning Sui hadn’t noticed that his eyes had already gone impossibly dark. She still had the carefree curiosity of a kitten batting a ball around.

She’d had a bit to drink tonight, which made her a little bolder than usual. Seeing that his lips were pressed into a straight line, she curiously leaned in, continuing to poke at the fire: “Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Xie Yichen stared at her, his gaze murky and unreadable.

Ning Sui: “Say something. Say something?”

With each breath she exhaled, warm air kept drifting over him. Xie Yichen finally reached the end of his patience, releasing her hand.

The words died on his lips.

He finally leaned in close, and bit her earlobe — a punishing nip.

“I didn’t mean to be fierce with you.”

“I was afraid you’d be scared.”

“……”

Ning Sui was completely stunned by the situation in front of her, and froze, not daring to move.

No.

The temperature of his arm and the temperature of that other place were a complete study in opposites! How could that be?!

She had thought the principle was like squeezing a tube of toothpaste — once it came out, it was done……

How could it be refilled in an instant…… help……

The only reason she had dared to be so brazen earlier was precisely because he felt so cool to the touch — she had assumed nothing would come of it. She’d been wrong.

Ning Sui shrank back with hunched shoulders, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out. Every sensation concentrated in the palm of her hand. She didn’t even notice when the air conditioning system kicked on and started blowing cool air. In the darkness, Xie Yichen held her hand, the blanket rustling softly. The eyes of both of them, as they looked at each other, were like being melted and drenched by the fine snow outside the window — so dark they gleamed.

Xie Yichen cupped her chin, lowered his head, and kissed her. After a moment he let his forehead drop to rest against her shoulder, his breath coming in soft, unhurried, tentative exhales.

Ning Sui felt this was the part she found most unbearable — that combination of inexperience and something difficult to name as anything other than deeply, quietly sensual.

The nape of her neck was brushed by the soft strands of his hair. After a while, she felt his lips gently, tenderly find her ear, and the sensation was like an oil painting without clear definition — color being added to it stroke by stroke, while all she could feel was the unceasing beat inside her own chest.

They had planned to get up early tomorrow. Ning Sui thought to herself that her earlier prediction had truly come true — Hu Ke’er and the other four would have to find somewhere to entertain themselves.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she finally couldn’t help herself and bit her lip: “……Are we done yet?”

After another round of soft rustling, Xie Yichen’s lazy, half-asleep voice drifted over: “Just a little longer.”

Outside the window, a gentle breeze kept blowing, mild and comfortable, swaying the shadowy shapes of plants back and forth. Ning Sui lay watching the window as she felt more time slip by, and asked again: “Now?”

He said: “Very soon.”

Ning Sui was doubtful, and before she could say anything, Xie Yichen lazily leaned over and kissed her.

Another ten minutes passed.

“Done yet?”

“Very soon. Aren’t there stars? Baby, just watch the stars a little longer.”

Ning Sui: “……”