The room was brightly lit.

By now, their posture had gradually evolved to the point where Shu Nian, wrapped in her blanket, was being held in his arms. She curled up into a small ball, the blanket unwittingly slipping off her body.

Her wrinkled beige dress had shifted out of place, blending with the luminous white of her skin.

Her hair cascaded down, a few strands falling onto her beautifully curved collarbone, creating a stark contrast of black against white.

Xie Ruhe’s voice was low, moist, and gentle, almost like a whisper against the curve of her ear, bringing a ticklish sensation, resembling an enchanting tide of passion. Then, imperceptibly, he drew her into a damp and dark abyss.

Inch by inch, he guided her without her awareness.

Listening to his words, Shu Nian swallowed, hooking her arm around his neck, involuntarily lifting her head. Every place he had kissed felt electrified, burning, and tingling.

The white light overhead was blindingly bright, causing Shu Nian’s consciousness to drift away again.

This enchantment lasted less than three seconds.

Shu Nian didn’t heed his words, her tone suggesting she was about to cry, and repeated once more: “No! Turn off the light!”

But he seemed not to hear, his kisses moving downward.

His fingertips gradually warmed with his movements, and with rising desire, he uncontrollably paused at her most sensitive area. His eyes were as black as if dyed with ink, deep and carrying a destructive intent.

Then, he pressed down hard.

Shu Nian’s body instinctively moved backward, but she was held firmly in place, unable to move.

Xie Ruhe seemed to have transformed into another person.

Without concealing the darkness within, it gradually revealed itself with his actions. He also disregarded her tearful voice of near-shame, brutally intending to devour her completely.

As if his reason had been overtaken by desire.

Shu Nian also gradually forgot her stubborn insistence, her senses completely occupied by him.

Like floating in ocean waves, unable to find any support, she could only rely on him who was within reach, entirely dependent on him, feeling the rises and falls he brought.

After an unknown amount of time, the waves rose to their peak.

Shu Nian’s mind seemed to have snapped, overwhelming sensations occupying all her thoughts. Her lips parted, and a thin sound escaped from her throat.

Xie Ruhe’s fingertips, wet with fluid, withdrew.

Only the sound of their breathing remained in the room.

The next moment, Xie Ruhe forcefully pulled the blanket, wrapping her completely within it again. His breathing was heavy as he closed his eyes and firmly kissed her forehead. Even through the blanket, Shu Nian could feel the heat from his body.

Her expression was bewildered, the corners of her eyes reddened.

Her eyes still contained mist, her hair disheveled, her small face flushed with two layers of blush, her body exuding fine sweat—looking exactly like someone who had just been ravished.

Looking at her appearance, Xie Ruhe’s throat went dry.

Thinking of the parental admonitions and education she had received since childhood, remembering what she had said to him the first time they slept in the same room, recalling her unhesitating trust in him just now.

He strongly resisted the urge to continue to the next step.

Xie Ruhe called her softly: “Nian Nian.”

Shu Nian sniffled and instinctively looked up.

“I won’t do anything to you.” Barely grasping his thin rationality, Xie Ruhe lowered his head and kissed her lips again, murmuring, “…I’ll just touch you.”

Psychological illness is not like other minor ailments where one can simply rely completely on doctors and follow medical advice to be thoroughly cured. The key point lies with the patients themselves—whether they want to get better, and whether they can think it through.

If one forever remains stuck in a dead end, obsessing over minor details, one probably will never overcome this hurdle.

But if one understands and finds the right path.

One can slowly emerge from it, it’s just a matter of sooner or later.

Because of that dream, because of those words, she had never dared to confide in Xie Ruhe, Shu Nian felt that the seemingly indestructible weight pressing on her chest finally showed cracks, with a small piece falling away.

Alleviating the suffering it had brought her.

This was the first time Shu Nian had felt this.

The most difficult time in her life had probably been endured.

To completely rid herself of this illness, Shu Nian began to earnestly cooperate with treatment, reading books related to this field, and proactively suggesting to her doctor that she wanted to undergo the “exposure therapy” plan she had previously refused.

Hearing unpleasant sounds, seeing unpleasant things.

Shu Nian no longer treated these things as her points of inferiority, silently enduring them as before. She would actively tell Xie Ruhe, listening to his patient guidance, and talking about the incorrect aspects of other people’s words or behaviors.

History seemed to be a cycle.

In the past, when Xie Ruhe was not doing well, regardless of whether Shu Nian herself was doing well or poorly, she still unsparingly brought light to him, patiently showing him all the beautiful aspects of this world.

And now, when Shu Nian was in a similar situation, he likewise, in the same manner, covered up the filthy side of this world.

Leaving her only with the world she aspired to.

Time flew, and August was already nearing its end.

During another follow-up visit to the hospital, Shu Nian followed the doctor’s advice and reduced her medication. After leaving the hospital, just as she was preparing to return home with Xie Ruhe, Huang Lizhi called her, asking her to come for a voice test.

The studio had taken on a web drama.

The role Shu Nian was invited to audition for was the female lead in the drama.

It was Shu Nian’s first opportunity to audition for a lead role. She excitedly hugged Xie Ruhe and giggled for a while, then dragged him toward the recording studio, bouncing and skipping along the way like a child.

She cleared her throat and casually practiced her lines in front of him.

Her mouth opened and closed, it was as if she was talking to herself.

“I want a bowl of beef noodles, no green onions, no cilantro, extra spicy and extra noodles, but no beef,” Shu Nian’s voice was crisp and somewhat cheerful, “Oh, and add some pork.”

Listening to her words, Xie Ruhe seriously asked, “So isn’t that just pork noodles?”

Shu Nian shook her head: “It’s beef noodles without beef but with pork added.”

“…”

After saying this, Shu Nian looked at him: “How did you know the next line would be that? This is a line from a drama I voiced before, I was just casually reciting it.”

Xie Ruhe said: “Normally, anyone would respond with that line.”

Hearing this, Shu Nian thought for a moment: “I would probably respond with, ‘Mine without spice.'”

“…”

“I’ll do a fake voice for you.” Shu Nian was in a good mood, raising her pitch and deliberately emphasizing the nasal tone, her voice suddenly becoming childishly coquettish, “I like you so much.”

Xie Ruhe’s eyelashes flickered as he looked at her.

“This is a loli voice.” Shu Nian steadied her breath and said with a smile, “I’ll do another one for you. I like you. — This is a mature woman’s voice.”

“…”

“Also, I like you. This is…” Shu Nian slowly pondered over the adjective, “A young boy’s voice.”

Xie Ruhe stroked her head: “You can do so many different voices?”

Shu Nian nodded: “Is there any voice or sentence you’d like to hear?”

“I want to hear—” Xie Ruhe drawled, lowering his voice, slowly saying, “You say you like me.”

Shu Nian didn’t quite catch it: “Huh?”

The next moment, Xie Ruhe lowered his gaze to look at her, calmly saying: “Just say at the recording studio door.'”

This time Shu Nian heard clearly, pinching her voice and obediently saying: “At the recording studio door.”

“…”