The clock face ticked away, time reaching eleven twenty.

Zhou Tingzhao glanced at his watch, then looked back at the person in the pharmacy. They had spent more than three hours together.

The door creaked open, and Sang Ru came out, handing him the medicine and saying, “Didn’t I tell you to wait in the car?”

“Came out for some air.”

“Oh,” Sang Ru relayed the physician’s instructions, “You can use the disinfectant now. For the ointment that reduces bruising, wash the area clean before applying it, twice a day.”

Zhou Tingzhao followed her words and looked at the medicine in the bag, saying, “Mm, thank you.”

When thanking her, his eyes turned to her, pupils seeming to contain deep whirlpools. Sang Ru had already accepted the fact that this handsome guy was her nemesis, but she hadn’t expected that his gaze could make her heart inexplicably flutter.

She lowered her eyes and shifted her gaze, saying, “I’ll head back first, then.”

“Wait.”

“Hmm?”

Zhou Tingzhao said with a straight face, “It hurts.”

Sang Ru: “Huh?”

“I might need to apply the medicine now,” Zhou Tingzhao said. “Could I trouble you?”

Strictly speaking, she was somewhat responsible for his injuries. Sang Ru couldn’t refuse, so she said, “It’s no trouble.”

She took out the disinfectant and cotton swabs from the bag, glanced around, and asked, “Here?”

“Mm.”

By this time, there were only sporadic pedestrians on this road beneath the residential buildings, though quite a few vehicles were passing by.

Sang Ru handed the disinfectant cap to Zhou Tingzhao, dipped the cotton swab in it, then raised her hand but paused, gesturing to him: “Bend down a little.”

Zhou Tingzhao did as she said, slightly bending forward to get closer. That face suddenly magnified before her eyes—deep-set brows and eyes, even the wound on his temple adding to his good looks.

Sang Ru composed herself, suppressing thoughts of stepping back or getting closer, and applied the medicine to him with apparent calmness.

“Hiss…”

“Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

“I’ll be gentler.”

Sang Ru reduced the pressure, moving with even more care, focusing on the wound while sensing that his gaze seemed to remain fixed on her face.

The skin felt cool to the touch, and as the evening breeze swept by, it brought a mixture of pain and numbness to the wound.

“Why do you keep staring at me?” Sang Ru suddenly asked.

Zhou Tingzhao remained silent for a long time before saying, “Long time no see.”

Sang Ru glanced at him, then lowered her eyes again to tend to his wound, smiling as she said, “We’ve already exchanged pleasantries.”

Zhou Tingzhao didn’t speak, so Sang Ru said nothing more.

No matter how much he had changed, his habit of not talking much seemed to remain the same.

With the wound treated, he still hadn’t stood back up. Sang Ru reminded him, “It’s done.”

Zhou Tingzhao let out a deep “Mm,” but didn’t move.

The air suddenly fell silent, surrounding objects retreated and quieted, their gazes becoming the only connection between them, drawing out ambiguous heartbeat patterns.

Sang Ru spoke, her volume unconsciously lowering: “Aren’t you going to step back?”

His eyelashes were very long, and when they lowered, they concealed many unidentifiable meanings in his eyes. That intensely present gaze finally vanished.

Zhou Tingzhao was about to step back when the distance he dared not breach was suddenly compressed. The person he had been cautiously watching for so long abruptly moved closer, and in the seconds before he could react, his lips experienced a momentary warmth and wetness.

A touch and then gone. He froze in surprise, his eyes widening sharply.

Yet the culprit appeared relaxed, as if nothing had happened, saying, “Good night.”

Zhou Tingzhao was unable to sleep for several consecutive nights. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her dragonfly-like kiss and that sudden “good night” as she pulled away. Her profile picture in his message list never lit up; Sang Ru had not explained such an intimate gesture.

During the lunch break, Zhou Tingzhao was heading to the tea room when he overheard female colleagues chatting. One of them said, “What should I do? He hasn’t contacted me for several days.”

Another expressed surprise: “Didn’t he kiss you last time?”

“Yes, but we haven’t established our relationship…”

Zhou Tingzhao’s heart skipped a beat as he stood outside listening to their conversation.

“He’s just stringing you along! What a jerk!”

The protagonist sighed, lamenting, “Who told me to fall for him first?”

“So what? You haven’t confessed yet, right? Then treat him the way he treats you. Don’t be someone who comes whenever he calls. Be the woman he can’t catch, understand?”

“Well, we’ll see.”

As they spoke, they walked toward the exit and were startled to find Zhou Tingzhao standing at the doorway. “Director Zhou…” they hurriedly acknowledged.

Zhou Tingzhao came back to his senses, nodded slightly, then passed by them to enter the tea room.

What they said seemed somewhat reasonable…

When it was time to leave work, Zhou Tingzhao deliberately stayed for a few extra hours before departing.

The elevator descended to the sixteenth floor, and she walked in. Both of them were startled.

There was no one else in the elevator. They stood one in front and one behind, neither speaking, until they reached a certain floor where a crowd of people rushed in. People pushed against each other, moving backward. Sang Ru, caught off guard, was pushed backward, but her shoulder and arm were stopped by a pair of large hands, their warmth seeping through her clothes.

“Are you alright?”

Sang Ru didn’t turn around: “I’m fine.”

Those hands released her, returning to a proper stance.

But they were still very close, and as more people entered, they were forced to step back again and again. Sang Ru felt she was almost pressed against Zhou Tingzhao.

Both were lost in their thoughts until suddenly the elevator shuddered, and then darkness enveloped everything. The packed elevator descended into chaos, with everyone talking at once in agitation.

People tend to make excessive movements when panicked. Sang Ru was pushed and twisted her ankle, falling backward onto Zhou Tingzhao, who immediately steadied her.

He must have lowered his head, as his voice was right by her ear: “How are you?”

Sang Ru shook her head: “I’m fine.”

“Everyone, please stay calm. Would those near the control panel please press the alarm button?” With mobile phones having no signal to contact the outside world, Zhou Tingzhao raised his voice to address everyone. “And please press every floor button as well.”

“Okay,” someone responded from the other side.

By now, several people had turned on their phone flashlights, making it less dark and frightening.

“Someone should come to repair it soon. Everyone, please wait calmly for a while.”

Some people naturally possess leadership qualities and the ability to reassure others. Sang Ru directly perceived the mature masculine traits in him, and her panic gradually dissipated.

Familiar people began to talk and encourage each other. Pressed tightly together in this corner, Zhou Tingzhao said, “Don’t be afraid.”

The words “I’m not afraid” were on the tip of her tongue but were swallowed back.

The hardness pressing against her buttocks was impossible to ignore; it had been subtly pressing against her even before the incident.

Lately, she’d often heard office colleagues discussing relationship details, each trying to outdo the others with sweetness. Sang Ru instinctively thought of that person from that night.

Desire rose like a tide—wanting romance, wanting sex. These thoughts became increasingly rampant with Zhou Tingzhao’s presence.

Sang Ru turned her head sideways, setting aside her usual haughtiness, and said in a coquettish low voice, “No, I’m scared.”

Zhou Tingzhao was momentarily stunned, then said in a deep voice, “It will be fine soon. If you’re scared, hold onto my clothes.”

Sang Ru obediently responded with an “Oh,” reached back, fumbling a few times, but instead of grabbing his clothes, she grasped his hand.

“Do you mind?”

Zhou Tingzhao’s fingertips trembled slightly: “As you wish.”

Her delicate hand actively held his, but her fingers were restless, moving occasionally, making his heart itch along with them.

She seemed somewhat nervous, constantly moving, repeatedly brushing against his groin. The fire ignited by her buttocks became impossible to extinguish.

Sang Ru mischievously and discreetly tormented him, hearing him groan behind her. She suppressed a laugh and pretended not to know what was happening: “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?”

“…It’s nothing.”

After a moment of relative peace, a sudden overwhelming sensation of weightlessness struck as the elevator began a rapid descent. Sang Ru instinctively clutched his hand tightly. In the next second, there was pressure on both her hand and waist as Zhou Tingzhao exchanged positions with her, shielding her in the corner.

“Stand against the wall,” amidst the cries of fear, Zhou Tingzhao cushioned the back of her head with his other hand, saying, “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen.”

Fortunately, the descent stopped after a few floors. The repair personnel hadn’t arrived yet. Sang Ru’s racing heart gradually slowed, and she realized just how intimate their current position was.

She poked Zhou Tingzhao’s chest: “You’re pressing against me.”

“Sorry.” Zhou Tingzhao tried to step back a bit, but was suddenly pushed forward again by someone behind him, pressing even closer against her.

Sang Ru made a breathy sound, her breath on his neck, cute yet sensual, like… a gasp.

This wasn’t the time to think of such things, yet Zhou Tingzhao was almost immediately made harder by her voice.

“Zhou Tingzhao…”

She rarely called his name like this, let alone in such a soft, coquettish tone. Zhou Tingzhao lowered his head slightly: “Hmm?”

Sang Ru buried herself in his neck and said in a volume only he could hear: “Are you hard?”

“…”

“Aren’t you?”

Zhou Tingzhao exhaled a long breath, as if giving up resistance: “Mm…”

She laughed softly, her warm breath recklessly spilling onto the skin of his neck, followed by kisses, one after another, falling on it.

Zhou Tingzhao gripped her waist tightly: “What are you doing?”

“If we can get out, let’s have sex.”

This was their first time entering this hotel, not knowing it would become a place they would frequently visit in the future.

Sang Ru urged Zhou Tingzhao to shower first, but as soon as the faucet was turned on, she barged in, having somehow stripped herself naked, pushed him against the wall in the bathtub, and kissed him.

Every inch of her skin was perfectly proportioned. Her palms were smooth, tempting one to grip a little tighter, then tighter still.

Unlike the previous kiss that had haunted him for so long, she was like a flame, rushing toward him with all her heat, wanting to make him burn along with her.

Their lips and teeth entwined passionately. Her hand stealthily went down to grasp his member, and while stroking it, she managed to say distractedly: “So big…”

Zhou Tingzhao could no longer restrain himself and captured her lips to prevent her from saying anything else that would drive him crazy.

The bathtub was half-filled with water. Sang Ru gestured for him to sit down, then directly sat on his lap, saying, “Let’s bathe together.”

Zhou Tingzhao steadied her and said hoarsely: “Don’t move around.”

“This is how you were pressing against me earlier,” Sang Ru rubbed against the manhood beneath her. “It was very obvious even through your pants.”

Zhou Tingzhao didn’t respond. Sang Ru wrapped her arms around his neck and moved close to his ear: “I wanted to tell you in the elevator, even if you had entered me then, no one would have noticed…”

The veins on his forehead bulged as Zhou Tingzhao gritted his teeth, saying, “Don’t say that.”

“Why not?” Sang Ru asked. “Can’t you handle it?”

Fire ignited in his eyes, and after a moment, he uttered a single word: “No.”

Sang Ru collapsed in laughter against his chest, then stopped and said, “Let’s stop bathing, it’s time to eat.”

Zhou Tingzhao didn’t understand: “Are you hungry? I’ll order food.”

Sang Ru pushed him down: “Not that kind of hunger.”

Zhou Tingzhao said nothing.

Zhou Tingzhao had gone mad.

After drying her off in a few quick movements, Zhou Tingzhao carried her princess-style to the bed.

“Where do you want to start?” Sang Ru asked, supporting herself with her hands behind her, tilting her head.

Her body should be synonymous with perfection. Zhou Tingzhao leaned over, his hand supporting himself beside her, his gaze falling on her lips: “Here, may I?”

He liked kissing. Sang Ru didn’t know if others were like this, but Zhou Tingzhao truly loved this part. She nodded, and her lips were immediately taken into his.

Zhou Tingzhao kissed her properly. Sang Ru guided his hand to her breast: “Touch here.”

His touch went from light to heavy. The soft breast flesh changed shape in his palm. The kissing moved here, with her nipple taken into his mouth. Sang Ru involuntarily arched her chest to feed him.

His tongue slid over her nipple, sending shivers of pleasure spreading densely. He brought unfamiliar pleasure, making her feel as if she were falling into an abyss.

Putting theoretical knowledge into practice for the first time, Sang Ru wished she could try everything at once. Breathing heavily, she said, “Mmm… eat slower…”

Zhou Tingzhao had kissed almost every part of her body. Sang Ru guided his hand to her private area: “Why are you afraid to touch here?”

He immediately froze, completely afraid to use any force on her. But the pressure she applied became greater and greater, causing his fingers to sink into her wetness.

“Aren’t you coming in yet?”

They had bought a box of condoms on the way. Sang Ru unwrapped one for him to wear, then guided him to enter her bit by bit.

As soon as he entered, he felt her tightness around him. Zhou Tingzhao groaned but still only asked: “Does it hurt?”

Sang Ru’s entire face was scrunched up: “It hurts…”

“It’s too tight… should I pull out?”

“No,” Sang Ru gripped his arm tightly. “It’s just been a long time since anything’s been inside. Go slowly.”

A bucket of cold water seemed to pour over him. Zhou Tingzhao fell silent.

Understanding that she was attractive and couldn’t have been without romantic experiences over the years, and that he wasn’t the first one to be intimate with her, he couldn’t help feeling an unwarranted jealousy when she spoke so candidly.

Were you this cute with him or them? Have they seen you like this, too?

Zhou Tingzhao couldn’t ask these questions; their relationship hadn’t reached that point. But how could he know that Sang Ru’s “long time since anything’s been inside” referred merely to a self-comforting massage stick?

Sang Ru didn’t notice his discomfort. Once she slowly adapted, Zhou Tingzhao’s thrusts became more forceful, pounding deep inside her. Sang Ru gasped and trembled: “Be gentler… mmm… your cock is too thick…”

He panted roughly and asked, “Isn’t this good?”

When she didn’t answer, Zhou Tingzhao continued to thrust deeply: “Don’t you like it?”

“Wuu, slow down, I like it… I like it…”

Unexpectedly, Zhou Tingzhao seemed suddenly stimulated, gripping her waist and fiercely driving into her depths. The pulsing veins of his member ground against the most tender places inside her, gradually shattering her reason.

Sang Ru was entered by him again and again in various positions. In her first sexual experience with a man, she suddenly had the illusion that she might be fucked to death here.

She had heard that men usually finish quickly their first time, but Zhou Tingzhao’s endurance led her to silently categorize him as someone who had “been through many flowers.”

So after it was over, Zhou Tingzhao bathed her, returning her to a clean and refreshed state. Before he could bring up the topic of defining their relationship, he saw that she had already put her clothes back on.

Before leaving, she kissed him once and said, “Today was enjoyable. Let’s meet again next time.”

It wasn’t the “meet” of dating; Zhou Tingzhao understood that she merely wanted to treat him as a sex partner.

Zhou Tingzhao fled from the room, went home, and drank half the night, but in the end, he still felt that being near her was enough, regardless of how or in what capacity.

Sang Ru couldn’t sleep either. As the passion subsided, she felt awkward around him and had to pretend to be casual as she quickly left. In her social circle of glamour and chaos, friends with benefits was the most common arrangement.

She had developed a desire for him that wasn’t satisfied in just one encounter, but they were far from the stage of discussing feelings. With their connection starting from physical relations in the heat of the moment, for now, they would only discuss carnal love.

At that time, neither knew what the other was thinking, much less that this relationship, which had taken a detour, would still welcome a new turning point.