As they rode the Little Angel motorcycle through Zhazhating again, the streets on both sides were in disarray. A pungent smell of burning lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate. The neighboring houses had already turned off their lights, leaving the empty streets cold and desolate.

Qing Ye sat behind the motorcycle, holding Xing Wu tightly. She didn’t know where he was taking her, nor did she want to ask.

She also didn’t know how many years Xing Wu had been caring for Grandmother like this. The incontinence surely wasn’t a first-time occurrence. He had never let her see these undignified moments before until the great fire exposed everything. Qing Ye saw his most authentic life, and beyond heartache, she felt an overwhelming sadness at her helplessness.

After cleaning up Grandmother’s room, Li Lanfang temporarily stayed with Grandmother, while Xing Wu took Qing Ye to the “Welcome Grand Hotel” in Fourth Alley—the same small hotel where Meng Ruihang had stayed. Under today’s circumstances, on the eve of the thirtieth, having a hotel to stay in was already a luxury for Qing Ye—at least there was a place to shower and sleep.

Xing Wu wasn’t just arranging for one night’s stay. Qing Ye saw him negotiating a monthly rate with the plump woman at the desk. She sometimes admired how Xing Wu could think of such practical matters even in these circumstances. It was indeed a realistic concern—while the nightly rate wasn’t high, staying long-term would cost three to four thousand per month, so negotiating a monthly rate made much more sense.

Finally, Xing Wu paid a thousand yuan deposit and took the receipt before leading Qing Ye upstairs. She only had the backpack she’d carried when leaving that evening and the laptop Xing Wu had risked his life to save—this was now all she owned. She didn’t even have a coat, just a thin sweater and dirty jeans. All she wanted now was to take off these clothes and have a hot shower.

It was nearly two in the morning when they reached the room. It was fairly clean but had only one large bed—not a twin room. She hesitated, and Xing Wu said, “I’ll go change it to a double room.”

Qing Ye grabbed his arm: “Don’t bother, I want to shower.”

But Xing Wu stood at the doorway without entering, only saying, “You stay here. I’ll go to Huang Mao’s place.”

Qing Ye put down her bag and laptop, paused for a moment, then turned to look at him: “I don’t want to be alone.”

Indeed, she didn’t want to be alone, at least not on this night. She couldn’t sleep by herself. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the raging fire, that feeling of terror still so real, lingering even now.

Xing Wu entered and closed the door without saying anything further, telling her to shower quickly.

Soon the sound of water came from the bathroom, but Xing Wu paid no attention. He just sat by the window with deeply furrowed brows, lighting a cigarette. His silhouette was half-hidden in shadow, surrounded by heavy depression, lost in thought.

He remained so absorbed that he didn’t even notice when the bathroom door opened, not until Qing Ye had already gotten into bed and called out, “Hey.”

Only then did he realize his cigarette had burned out. He crushed it in the ashtray and looked up at her: “Get some sleep. I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

Qing Ye looked at his dirt-covered body, hardly a clean spot anywhere, and frowned: “It’ll be dawn in a few hours. Where would you go? Go take a shower.”

Xing Wu stopped insisting. He turned off the light for Qing Ye and went to the bathroom. Qing Ye lay alone in the large bed but couldn’t sleep. Perhaps the night’s events were too sudden, too difficult to accept, making sleep impossible.

When Xing Wu came out after his shower, Qing Ye turned to look at him. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair. The dim light outlined his lean waist, and the striking scar on his abdomen now held a dangerous and irresistible sensuality. Qing Ye’s voice came muffled from under the covers: “Come to bed.”

Xing Wu tossed aside the towel, pulled back the covers, and lay down. He turned his head to look at Qing Ye lying beside him, emanating a comforting fragrance. He stared at her intently, his voice deep and magnetic: “Were you scared?”

Qing Ye’s eyes in the darkness were like pools of spring water as she gazed at him softly, saying nothing. Then she heard him say, “I heard you inside, heard you calling me. I wanted to run out, but the beam had collapsed. I couldn’t get through.”

Qing Ye’s lips trembled slightly: “Are you crazy? Why did you bother with the computer at a time like that?”

Xing Wu turned on his side, sighing softly: “I wanted to grab your study materials too, but the fire was too intense. I could only get the computer. It seemed important to you.”

Qing Ye remembered when she first came to Zhazhating and had found the legendary Master Ju to fix her computer. So he must have known how important the contents of this laptop were to her. Her emotions were extremely complex at this moment, and she raised her hand under the covers to punch his chest: “You fool!”

Xing Wu reached out to embrace her, but his hand… landed on something soft. They both jumped apart like they’d been electrified, and Xing Wu asked in disbelief: “You’re not wearing clothes?”

“Do you think I have any clothes to wear?”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“Did I need to? Couldn’t you see my clothes in the bathroom?”

“…” Xing Wu had been so preoccupied with his thoughts that although he might have seen her clothes, he hadn’t registered their significance. Now the sensation under his palm was so real that his breathing suddenly became irregular.

Qing Ye turned her head to look at him, speaking very softly: “Why… are you so quiet?”

Xing Wu just stared at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. Qing Ye found it strange and leaned over to peer at his face: “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Xing Wu’s gaze gradually shifted to her face. Her soft hair fell slightly, brushing against his chest, tantalizingly ticklish. Her graceful neck extended to her collarbone and down beneath the forbidden territory of the blanket. His prominent Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed once, and he suddenly reached up to hook her neck, kissing her lips. In one motion, he turned over to hold her in his arms, deepening the kiss, his voice hoarse and low as he asked, “What do you want me to say?”

Only at this moment did Qing Ye truly feel his warmth. To be honest, she had been worried about Xing Wu since earlier—he was too controlled, too abnormal, suppressing all his emotions in his chest, keeping Qing Ye’s heart constantly knotted with concern.

Now as he kissed her frantically, she felt relieved. She raised her arms to embrace him, her voice choked as she said, “Say whatever you’re thinking. It’s just the two of us now. It’s okay, Xing Wu. If you’re feeling bad, let it out. I’ll bear it with you.”

“I want you…” He said what he was thinking. He couldn’t resist the allure of the woman in his arms; her soft fragrance and smooth touch made his entire body tense. His kisses and voice fell on her neck simultaneously, making Qing Ye shiver.

But after Xing Wu said these words, he seemed to suddenly come to his senses and laughed self-mockingly, moving away from her. At this moment, Qing Ye grabbed him firmly, her gaze dark and bright without any hesitation. Tears glistened in the depths of her eyes, but her lips curved in a deadly arc as she stared at him intently: “Dare to say it but not do it? Is Young Master Wu such a coward?”

Xing Wu stared at her somewhat dazedly, his breathing becoming increasingly erratic. With complex emotions in his eyes, he said, “Tonight you’ve seen what my life is like. Qing Ye, your half-step is my journey to the ends of the earth.”

Tears silently slid from the corner of her eyes onto the pillow. She raised both hands to tightly embrace his neck, not letting him withdraw. With determined eyes, she said, “Who can beat their chest and say their life is crystal clear without any muddiness? Which family doesn’t have its troubles, which person is perfect? Yes, before coming here, I never thought I’d be with a poor boy, but the moment I, Qing Ye, fell in love with you, you became the only choice, without exception.”

A burning flame rose and fell ceaselessly in Xing Wu’s chest. He called out to her emotionally: “Qing Ye…”

She gently raised her head to kiss him: “I told you… I’m yours…”

He took control and pulled her into his embrace, his rough fingertips making Qing Ye’s body tremble. They had never been so honest with each other as they were now.

Xing Wu had seen many sides of Qing Ye – her spoiled manner when acting coy, her fierce appearance when angry, her childlike excitement when happy, and her crying for her mother when sad.

But he had never seen such a moving and tender side of her. Her pearly white skin glowed faintly, her beautiful figure so stunning it made him lose control instantly. He could feel his rationality crumbling bit by bit, the fire in his heart completely consuming him, leaving him at the mercy of his desires.

Qing Ye could feel it too. When he parted from her, Xing Wu was trembling, but wasn’t she as well?

She held him tightly, feeling scared, excited, and most of all, at a loss. After all, she was too unfamiliar with such things, so unfamiliar that she didn’t know what to do at all, just dazedly giving herself to Xing Wu.

She didn’t know how many girls’ first times were equally bewildering, just feeling dizzy-headed, the air filled with an intoxicating essence, like being in a dream. Both of them took this sacred step somewhat reverently, with Qing Ye trembling in pain in Xing Wu’s embrace.

Xing Wu used light kisses to gradually relax her body. He asked her, “Does it hurt a lot?”

“…I thought being addicted meant… it would feel good.”

A faint smile finally appeared at the corners of Xing Wu’s mouth: “I’ll make you addicted.”

He pinned her hands beside the pillow, his overwhelming masculine presence enveloping her. Xing Wu kissed her frantically while gradually claiming new territory.

Qing Ye was right – he did have a natural talent for things, at least demonstrated thoroughly in this matter.

He could look at her with eyes so tender they could drown someone while simultaneously claiming her with unbridled passion.

Xing Wu couldn’t tell if it was tonight’s encounters that were too overwhelming to handle, or if years of suppression had made him habitually ignore his inner desires, so once this gate was opened, his yearning poured out like a flood, unstoppable.

Qing Ye could feel that Xing Wu had lost control, or perhaps this was his most primitive self, stripped of all pretense and suppression. She couldn’t bear to stop him, even though it was somewhat torturous for her first experience.

She just bit her lip tightly, enduring wave after wave of sensation. That unfamiliar feeling gradually nourished her heart, filling her entire chest. This was how Xing Wu led her through the doorway to a new world.

So that little red box she had taken from Xing Wu and kept throwing in her bag finally came in handy at the crucial moment. Everything seemed predestined – they became each other’s.

Only after returning to calm and turning on the light did Xing Wu see Qing Ye covered in marks. He suddenly looked as if struck by lightning, gradually coming to his senses, slightly furrowing his brow: “Did… did I hurt you?”

Qing Ye’s nose tip and hair were damp with sweat, her eyes glistening, her pure face flushed and intoxicating. In the light and shadow, she was breathtakingly beautiful, her body still slightly trembling. Xing Wu pulled her into his arms remorsefully, kissing her gently: “You’re poisonous. I couldn’t control myself.”

“Qing Ye, what should I do? I want to put you in my pocket and take you everywhere.”

His breath was still hot as Qing Ye raised her head, her lips brushing against his slightly prickly chin: “You’re already addicted after just once?”

He looked down at her with dreamy eyes and smiled. Qing Ye’s soft body snuggled in his arms: “I’m hungry…”

Xing Wu kissed her jaw and said: “There’s instant noodles in the room. Want some?”

“Yes.”

He wrapped himself in a towel and got up to boil water. Qing Ye lay at the head of the bed hugging the quilt, her eyes following his movements. His taut, smooth back lines were sexy and wild, apparently bearing two scratch marks she had left. Thinking of his passionate manner earlier, Qing Ye’s cheeks burned hotter.

After pouring the hot water, Xing Wu turned to see her like a shy young wife, completely hidden under the covers with only her eyes peeking out, constantly glancing at him. So he turned and leaned against the small table nearby, smiling at her.

Qing Ye’s eyes gradually curved into crescents. The room was very quiet, neither of them speaking, just looking at each other with tacit understanding and deep affection.

When the noodles were ready, Xing Wu wrapped Qing Ye completely in the quilt. As her arm reached out from under the covers to take the instant noodles, Xing Wu looked at her delicate white arm and couldn’t bear to let her hold it, tucking it back in: “Stay wrapped up, don’t get cold.”

Qing Ye blinked like a mummy: “Then how can I eat?”

Xing Wu rolled up some noodles, blew on them, and brought them to her mouth. She squinted and smiled, obediently opening her mouth.

While eating, she said to him: “Don’t you think we’re lucky? Fortunately, we went out tonight, otherwise wouldn’t we have been trapped in the fire? Thinking about it is quite terrifying – earlier my coat and phone were thrown into the fire, and then today I suddenly had all these strange dreams and overslept, and wasn’t my eyelid twitching all day? This must be some kind of sign from heaven.”

Xing Wu glanced at her: “Just eat, fortune teller.”

Qing Ye spoke earnestly: “I’m serious. Haven’t you heard of external responses? They’re hints from nature. My father used to go to Taoist priests for fortune-telling every year. I’ve been to temples and heard those old Taoist priests say that many subtle things happen around us every day, like birds flying in the sky, sounds you suddenly hear, broken bowls and plates, and even special smells that appear – these might all indicate some kind of change, but most people ignore these details.”

“Think about it – if I hadn’t been so restless today, would you have suddenly taken me out? We went out and just happened to escape disaster. I especially missed my mom today – it must be my mom’s spirit in heaven blessing us.”

Xing Wu fed her another big mouthful to stop her talking: “Then if your mom’s spirit is in heaven and saw me sleep with you, won’t she suddenly appear and strangle me?”

Qing Ye fell silent. Thinking that her mother might have watched the whole process from heaven, she suddenly felt a bit scared!