Fei Ni’s mind remained stronger than her body as she continued resisting Fang Muyang. They were in the washroom, where anyone could push open the door at any moment. This thought made her entire body tense and rigid, though her lips remained soft.

She pushed against him, but Fang Muyang caught her hands, intertwining their fingers. Not only had her hands lost their strength, but she couldn’t even speak. Fang Muyang’s lips sealed hers, trapping words like “I want to rest” and “Stay away from me” against his mouth, neither heard nor felt.

While resisting Fang Muyang, she concentrated on listening for sounds outside, checking if anyone might enter. She heard no footsteps—only her heartbeat, Fang Muyang’s breathing, and cicadas chirping outside. How were there still cicadas in autumn?

With her attention divided, her resistance proved ineffective, and Fang Muyang grew bolder.

Fei Ni initially hesitated to bite his lips hard, fearing she might hurt him and that he might misinterpret it as affection and respond in kind. Whether from disgust at his presumptuousness or frustration with her body’s weakness, Fei Ni finally bit down hard, but Fang Muyang neither cried out nor stopped. He released her hands to cup her face, caressing it. The harder she bit, the gentler his fingers became, until they were barely touching her.

Fei Ni felt disappointed in herself. She still couldn’t bring herself to hurt him and could only let him continue. Even as he kissed her against her wishes, she shamefully closed her eyes, simultaneously responding to him while staying alert to any movement outside.

Whether sensing her disappointment or for some other reason, Fang Muyang finally gave her a chance to speak as his lips found her ear.

Instead of scolding him, she said, “Let’s go back. What if someone comes?”

It would be mortifying if they were caught. Everyone in the building worked at her factory—if anyone saw them, by tomorrow the whole factory would know that Fei Ni, instead of staying in her own home late at night, was in the washroom with her man, embracing and kissing. And that was just what they could see—who knew what else people might imagine? She had to keep working at the factory and living in this building.

“Let them come. We’re married—can’t we watch the moon together?”

“We can watch it from inside.” The two of them, here—they weren’t just watching the moon. Even she didn’t believe that let alone others.

Fang Muyang whispered in her ear, “But I think the moon looks better from here, don’t you think?”

“If you want to watch the moon, then watch properly. I’m going back.” She refused to stay here and risk embarrassment.

“But I want to watch it with you.”

Fang Muyang’s hands pressed her shoulders, preventing her escape. He held her close, occasionally leaning in to kiss her lips—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. The quick kisses were harder to bear; she preferred when he took his time, though those were difficult enough. Fei Ni’s ears remained alert for footsteps outside, her heart pounding harder than when they listened to foreign radio at home. She’d never found him so annoying before, as if he deliberately chose whatever would make her most uncomfortable.

How could she face her coworkers tomorrow if they saw her like this?

Held tightly in his arms, she negotiated: “Can we go back?” It was almost a plea.

She had never pleaded with him before—only made demands.

Fang Muyang gently traced her nose with his finger. “So eager to return? Do you think the moon looks better from our room?”

Fei Ni felt angry inside—this wasn’t his factory’s housing; he might not care about losing face, but she did.

Fei Ni tilted her head up to briefly touch his lips, then looked down, tugging at his shirt hem. “Let’s go back.”

Though they had come separately, they returned pressed close together.

As soon as they entered their room, Fang Muyang backed against the door, holding Fei Ni and turning her in a circle. He kissed her lips while reaching behind to lock the door.