How could he forget?

Passages he dared not even dream of had materialized in real life. The immaculate moonlight had truly been tainted by his impurity. If miracles existed in this world, it would be nothing more than his moon falling into his arms.

Zhou Tingzhao wrapped his arms around the person in his embrace and softly uttered an “Mm.”

Sang Ru smiled, then lowered her head to kiss him lightly again: “Actually, I came today because I have a gift for you.”

“What is it?”

“Hold out your hand.”

Zhou Tingzhao freed one hand while holding her tighter with his left arm.

“Close your eyes.”

Zhou Tingzhao did as she said, closing his eyes with undeniable anticipation in his heart. Suddenly, his wrist felt her warmth as she seemed to be tying something around it.

“Done, you can open them now.” Sang Ru tickled his palm.

Zhou Tingzhao looked down and froze.

A red braided cord had been added to his wrist, looking familiar, identical to the one he had personally put on her.

“I don’t know if it’s from the same shop as the one you gave me,” Sang Ru raised her left hand and interlaced her fingers with his, bringing the two red cords close together. “It looks good on you, too.”

Zhou Tingzhao allowed her to place her hand in his palm, and when their fingers interlocked, even his heart trembled.

She always seemed to know how to soften his heart.

Sang Ru swung their hands and asked him: “Do you like it?”

Her hand was somewhat smaller than his, and her palm was soft. Zhou Tingzhao couldn’t help but grip it firmly as he answered: “I like it.”

Sang Ru smiled with satisfaction, then wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned close to whisper in his ear. Her nearness made it difficult to think clearly, her warmth and the faint scent of her hair a quiet undoing.

Zhou Tingzhao’s breathing grew heavier, but his answer remained the same: “I like it.”

Just as the moment deepened between them, there was suddenly another knock at the door.

Sang Ru straightened up, meeting Zhou Tingzhao’s gaze.

He regained some of his senses, raising his hand to brush a strand of hair from her face, and said gently: “I’ll go see who it is. Wait for me?”

Sang Ru’s lips curved upward as she joked: “Isn’t this like hiding a lover in a golden house?”

Zhou Tingzhao’s face showed a slight blush. He simply took her hand and led her to his room, setting her down on the edge of the bed: “Be good, wait a moment.”

Sang Ru nodded, but before he could turn around, she quickly pulled him back and tilted her head up to lightly touch his lips: “Come back quickly, okay?”

Zhou Tingzhao gazed at her deeply, then made himself leave the room.

Sang Ru watched his silhouette disappear around the corner, feeling so pleased she could hardly keep from laughing out loud. Turning her head, she saw a book placed beside the bed. Sang Ru picked it up, lay back, and flipped through a few pages, idly waiting for him to return.

She could vaguely hear their conversation — it seemed a teacher living nearby had come looking for Zhou Tingzhao’s parents, who had gone to his grandparents’ house.

Sang Ru swung her leg back and forth as she read, and became so engrossed she didn’t even notice when Zhou Tingzhao returned.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, watching her. She looked entirely at ease in his space, unhurried and unguarded — like she belonged there. Something in his chest tightened at the thought.

He called her name softly.

Sang Ru came back to her senses and looked up, startled to find him already there. She smiled, a little sheepish, and set the book aside.

Zhou Tingzhao crossed the room and sat beside her, and when she tilted her face up toward his, he bent down to meet her — unhurried, as though they had all the time in the world.