In this position, Feng Ning swayed occasionally from the motion. Her knees trembled, unable to stand steady. All her strength seemed drained from her body.

A few strands of hair stuck to her lips; Feng Ning bit down hard on her lip.

Her head tipped back now and then, then dropped suddenly. She held herself in check, not wanting to make any sound.

Jiang Wen noticed quickly; his movements gradually slowed.

Feng Ning’s mind went blank with dizziness, and belatedly, she turned her head.

He breathed heavily, his breath ragged with restraint. His fingers brushed across her chin, rubbing back and forth.

Unlike his usual gentleness, there was a hint of forcefulness now, prying open the teeth she’d clamped her lip with. “Does it hurt?”

Jiang Wen murmuring like that was very sexy—the kind of sexy that belonged to a grown man.

Hearing his low, ragged breathing, Feng Ning’s ears burned, and she made a vague sound of assent.

He tightened his grip on her hand slightly, then loosened it. “I’ll go easier.”

She hadn’t known before that this sort of thing could be so exhausting. Her whole body had broken into a sweat, damp, soaking her long T-shirt entirely.

Feng Ning’s consciousness scattered; her hand, hanging off to the side, groped its way with difficulty to the switch on the wall, turning off the only lamp.

Complete darkness fell. As her eyes gradually adjusted to the dimness, she could just make out the other person’s blurry outline.

She felt him withdraw from behind her.

Feng Ning turned around, leaning against the wall.

“Why turn off the lights?”

Gathering a bit of strength, she rose slightly onto her toes, wrapping her arms around Jiang Wen’s neck, nearly out of strength.

She opened her mouth, biting down hard on his bare shoulder.

Jiang Wen went along with it, not moving, playing with her hair, letting her bite.

Once she finished biting, he cupped her chin, pressing her almost completely against him, kissing her deeply for a long time.

Feng Ning’s legs went weak from the kiss, barely able to stand.

Suddenly, his arm swept under her knees. Her body lightened as he picked her up, carrying her to the bed.

“How are you so skilled at this? Even know how to play tricks—pretty impressive.”

In the dark, Feng Ning grew even more unrestrained. In an instant, she forgot how miserable she’d just been. “Jiang Wen, how long have you wanted me… wanted to.”

Jiang Wen hovered above her. “Do you want the honest answer?”

Feng Ning said, “Of course.”

He leaned down slightly, close to her ear, said a few words.

Feng Ning was stunned for a moment, a little shocked. “You really played that innocent act quite convincingly back then, I always thought you were just some pure, clean-cut type.”

Jiang Wen laughed faintly, a couple of times. “Don’t think too highly of me.”

“Then be more specific, what did you do to me?”

His lips were still damp, brushing against her eyelashes. “It was you, to me.”

Feng Ning rephrased. “Then what did I do to you.”

“You said you liked me.” His arm bent, propped by her ear. His voice carried an unconscious, lingering quality. “Also said I was your little prince.”

“And then?”

“You kissed me.”

Such innocent words…

Feng Ning said, somewhat amused, “Oh, just kissed? That’s not much of a wet dream then.”

Jiang Wen: “I also kissed you.”

“Nothing more exciting?” Feng Ning lay on her back. “Didn’t you want to touch me?”

Jiang Wen’s breath immediately grew unsteady.

In the darkness, her long T-shirt was pulled up, completely out of the way.

“Feng Ning.”

He said her name.

Feng Ning, tickled a bit, made a soft sound.

“I don’t have much patience left.”

“So.” Jiang Wen lowered his voice, burying his face in her neck, “You don’t need to say dirty things to spice things up anymore.”

…

…

After they’d worn themselves out, a long while passed, nearing dawn. In the somewhat disheveled room, steady breathing rose and fell.

Feng Ning quietly got out of bed, found a long-sleeve shirt to put on.

By the faint light, she crouched by the bed, gazing at Jiang Wen so close by.

After looking for a while, she gently lifted the corner of the blanket and lay down beside him. Jiang Wen’s body was very warm, giving a strong sense of security.

The bed dipped slightly beside him; he unconsciously reached out, pulling her into his embrace, wrapping around her without a gap between them.

She crossed her hands, pillowing them beside her face. By the faint morning light from outside, she counted Jiang Wen’s eyelashes.

She wasn’t quite sure what time she’d fallen asleep, but when she woke again it was already afternoon.

In the room, there was occasionally the faint sound of keyboard clicks. The curtains blocked most of the light; Jiang Wen sat leaning against the sofa, legs propped on the coffee table, laptop on his knees.

Hearing movement, Jiang Wen’s gaze shifted from the screen, turning to look at the figure slowly sitting up in bed.

Feng Ning’s whole body ached; she moved slightly, and everywhere hurt. She rubbed her eyes wearily. “What time is it.”

Jiang Wen closed his laptop, set it aside. “Three in the afternoon.”

Her head still felt hazy, and Feng Ning made a sluggish sound of acknowledgment.

“Still going to sleep?” Jiang Wen braced his hands on the edge of the bed, leaning forward, studying her intently.

Feng Ning, weak and listless, said, “Why are you dressed like that.”

“Had lunch with family.”

When he’d left, she’d been sleeping too soundly, so he hadn’t woken her.

The room was warm; she only wore a thin T-shirt.

Jiang Wen had taken off his jacket, leaving just a shirt underneath. His skin was fair and thin, a few buttons at the collar undone, slightly open, revealing a trail of ambiguous, mottled red marks running from his neck down further—more excessive than the ones on her body.

Jiang Wen’s expression was languid, his eyes not as indifferent as usual.

Feng Ning glanced twice, then looked away.

Why did this man suddenly feel so… tempting.

No matter how open-minded she tried to be, this was still a bit awkward. She coughed once. “Pay attention to your appearance, don’t be so disheveled.”

Her phone buzzed, an incoming call—it was Jiang Wen’s.

She let it ring for a while. Feeling him lean in slightly, as if about to kiss her, Feng Ning instinctively pulled back a little. “Wait, answer your phone first.”

Watching him pick up the phone, Feng Ning lifted the blanket and got out of bed; the moment her feet touched the floor, she couldn’t help a low cry.

Jiang Wen lowered his head slightly, freeing a hand to steady her.

Her slippers were nowhere to be found; Feng Ning padded barefoot on the floor, searching around, when her arm was grabbed.

Jiang Wen frowned. “Get back in bed.”

Feng Ning looked a bit sheepish. “I need to go brush my teeth.”

The other end of the call went silent for two seconds, then Jiang Yurou asked tentatively, “Brother, is that… a woman’s voice I’m hearing?”

Jiang Wen made an affirmative sound.

“Is it sister-in-law?”

He made another affirmative sound, still watching Feng Ning. “Get in bed first, I’ll help you find them.”

Jiang Yurou: “Really is sister-in-law?! Sis told me last night, I couldn’t believe it, is it really true?!!! So last night you actually went to find sister-in-law?!”

By the usual family custom, the Jiang family ate vegetarian on New Year’s morning. This morning, once everyone had more or less gathered, there was clearly one empty seat at the table.

Old Master Jiang summoned a servant to ask, and learned that Jiang Wen hadn’t been home to see in the New Year the night before. The old man’s face darkened at once, and he snapped, “No manners at all, where did he go?”

Jiang Yurou, only now realizing, sounded a bit surprised. “When are you going to bring her out to meet me? By the way, are you planning to tell Mom and Dad?”

The other end rattled off a long string of chatter; Jiang Wen barely caught any of it, gave a perfunctory reply, and hung up.

Feng Ning finished brushing her teeth, came out of the bathroom. Watching her wince and grimace, Jiang Wen asked, unfazed, “Not feeling well?”

Feng Ning propped one hand on her waist. “A little.”

He asked carefully, “Where does it hurt?”

“How am I supposed to explain that to you.” Feng Ning said, amused, unhurried. “Don’t you have some idea?”

Jiang Wen’s face carried an odd expression, looking at her, his gaze speaking volumes left unsaid.

Feng Ning pulled open the closet, picked out a pair of loose pants. She turned her head, puzzled. “What?”

His eyes lowered, and he said, “I’ll learn.”

Feng Ning was even more confused. “Learn what?”

Jiang Wen said slowly, “How to please you.”