Despite Qin Hua’s low profile, if Cheng Wanyue could see her, then Cheng Yanqing walking beside her certainly could too.

Their breakup had been anything but dignified. They had exchanged hurtful words and completely erased each other’s contact information. Even when meeting again, they wouldn’t have much interaction.

Cheng Yanqing was clear in his conscience and didn’t need to avoid her, but Qin Hua avoided everyone and stopped him in the parking lot.

When Cheng Wanyue saw the drunk Qin Hua crying and hugging Cheng Yanqing, her first thought was that her brother was in trouble. Cheng Yanqing was self-aware; his reaction wasn’t slow. After stiffly pushing Qin Hua away, he instinctively looked around.

There might be paparazzi or fans nearby.

Cheng Wanyue hadn’t liked the two Qin sisters since high school. Setting aside her fame, Qin Hua was still a female celebrity. Logically, she shouldn’t be looking back at past relationships.

But the human heart is difficult to decipher.

Many people, even at thirty, still reminisce about someone they met in their teens.

The more Cheng Wanyue watched, the more dangerous she felt the situation was for Cheng Yanqing. “Qing Hang, want to make a bet?”

Qing Hang took her hand and walked toward the elevator. “Bet on what?”

“My brother was hugged by another woman. I’m betting on whether his girlfriend will come back and give him hell for it,” the parking garage had an echo, so Cheng Wanyue lowered her voice. “If I lose, you can ask me for one wish.”

Qing Hang gave her the initiative. “You choose first.”

“Hmm… I bet…” His birthday was a little over a month away. Cheng Wanyue paused for a few seconds, then changed her answer. “I bet she won’t. My brother and sister-in-law have a good relationship.”

Before this, Qing Hang didn’t know Cheng Yanqing had dated Qin Hua.

He wasn’t curious about whether it was alcohol or something else causing someone to try to salvage a long-rotted relationship. He only wanted to understand Cheng Wanyue.

Summer was almost over, and the night breeze was cool.

The shop windows along the street were all lit up. At the corner was a bridal shop. Cheng Wanyue suddenly remembered the bridesmaid dress Zhou Yu had sent her. It had arrived a few days ago, but since she wasn’t in Beijing, Cheng Yanqing had received it for her.

Cheng Wanyue had seen photos of the bridesmaid dress, but Qing Hang hadn’t. She waited until they got out of the car at the entrance of the residential complex to ask him, “Want to come upstairs and see Meiqiu?”

Every time Qing Hang dropped her off, he never entered the apartment. “Just to see Meiqiu?”

Cheng Wanyue smiled and winked. “Not necessarily. There might be something else.”

The bridesmaid’s dress was custom-made. As long as she hadn’t gained weight, the size wouldn’t be a problem. After arriving home, she first handed the wedding invitation to Qing Hang, then closed her bedroom door without saying anything.

Qing Hang saw a bouquet of dried roses on the table.

Meiqiu was jumping up and down, each landing precisely avoiding the vase.

Qing Hang put away the invitation and got up to knock on Cheng Wanyue’s door. “Can I come in?”

“Wait a moment…” Before she finished speaking, the door was pushed open.

The light blue dress hung loosely on her body. The fabric was silky, barely covering the front, while the back was completely bare. Her arms were tangled in the binding straps, and high heels lay askew near her feet.

Meiqiu squeezed through the door gap and darted under her skirt.

She was ticklish and worried about stepping on Meiqiu. Tripping on the hem of her dress, she practically fell into Qing Hang’s arms.

Every time, he caught her steadily.

That year, Qing Hang was publicly accused of theft by a classmate. Surrounding him were strange looks—suspicious, surprised, contemptuous. He was like someone tied to a cross, unable to defend himself.

Similar incidents had first occurred in elementary school.

Classmates questioned why he was so poor.

He didn’t understand why poverty was a sin.

Cheng Wanyue pushed through the crowd to his side, defending him, refuting her classmates’ suspicions. When the classmate reluctantly said to forget about it, she took him to check the surveillance cameras in front of everyone.

She ran ahead, with him passively following behind.

Watching her fluttering skirt, his gray, defeated heart seemed to gradually come alive.

Her beautiful, long hair and the skirt hem gently caressed by the evening breeze were Qing Hang’s most profound memories from his entire student life.

…

Cheng Wanyue had miscalculated; wearing this dress required help from someone else. She couldn’t manage it alone.

“This binding strap needs to be tied at the back, like tying shoelaces.” she lifted her skirt, stood firmly, and lowered her head to scold her cat. “Meiqiu, stop causing trouble. If you don’t behave, you won’t be allowed to watch.”

Meiqiu wanted to climb onto the bed, but it was still too small and she couldn’t get up. Its paws scratched the bedsheet, making rustling sounds, occasionally meowing.

There was a mirror in the room. Qing Hang held Cheng Wanyue’s shoulders, turning her to face the mirror. He stood behind her, slowly untangling the blue binding straps from her arms.

“How should it be tied?”

“Just tie it tightly. If it loosens, I’ll be in trouble… Qing Hang?”

He came back to his senses, his dazed gaze focusing on the nape of her neck. “Close your eyes.”

“What for?”

“You’ll know in a moment.”

Cheng Wanyue was about to secretly turn around when Qing Hang caught her. He covered her eyes with his palm, forcing her to close them. After taking out a small gift box, he maintained this position.

She took advantage of his momentary distraction to pull his hand away and look back. He didn’t have time to put the box away.

“What’s this? A necklace?”

“Yes,” Qing Hang didn’t know how to pursue women. Everything he had, he wanted to give to her.

Cheng Wanyue had liked a Weibo post—the blogger had posted photos of this brand’s new collection. The box was tied with a blue string. She untied the bow, then closed her eyes.

“I happen to need a necklace to match this dress. Help me put it on.”

Qing Hang took out the necklace. Meiqiu was biting her skirt hem. He looked down briefly, and the necklace suddenly slipped from his hand, sliding into her cleavage.

Without thinking, he reached in.

Cheng Wanyue glared at him reproachfully. She covered her chest and silently looked at Meiqiu by her feet—the child had grown up; it wasn’t appropriate for minors.

Qing Hang hadn’t drunk any alcohol that evening, yet one glance from her made his mouth go dry.

He picked up Meiqiu, placed it outside the door, and locked the door behind him. He loosened the buttons at his collar and removed his glasses.

Cheng Wanyue was still feeling for the necklace inside her dress. The pendant was stuck between her breasts, and her neckline was pulled wide open.

She backed away, one hand supporting herself on the corner of the table. Qing Hang’s palm covered the back of her hand as he tilted his head to kiss her.

At the hospital earlier, when she shared the interesting events from this photoshoot with him, he had wanted to kiss her.

“Don’t… don’t damage the dress,” Cheng Wanyue only remembered to remind him to be gentle—she needed to wear this dress as Zhou Yu’s bridesmaid.

Qing Hang untied the binding strap on her back the same way he had tied it. One of her feet stepped on his slipper, her body continuously arching backward, yet her chest pressed closer to him. He left wet, hot kisses on her neck, his tongue catching the necklace pendant and taking it into his mouth.

The pendant had already been warmed by her body.

The process of putting on the necklace wasn’t smooth. She was peeled out of the dress, left with only her underwear, while he remained fully dressed. He was restraining himself; the rolled-up sleeves revealed the veins and blood vessels beneath his skin, and his slightly heavy breathing exposed the surging tide of desire.

Cheng Wanyue leaned against his shoulder, stifling a laugh. “What should we do? We don’t have that…”

She felt the hardness at his waist.

“Is it very uncomfortable? I’m considering letting you redeem your wish early.”

Qing Hang closed his eyes briefly and shook his head in refusal.

“There will be more opportunities in the future. It’s not like using this one means there won’t be any more,” Cheng Wanyue nuzzled his chin. “Use your hand?”

Qing Hang couldn’t resist her temptation, neither before nor now.

His tongue explored between her teeth, greedily drawing moisture from her body. Kisses couldn’t alleviate the surging heat. As if compromising with himself, he guided her hand downward.

The gradually gentler kisses conveyed signals of desire.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a door opening outside. Cheng Wanyue froze in fear, Qing Hang’s lips still pressed against her collarbone.

Cheng Yanqing didn’t make much noise, but separated by just a wall, it felt like he might knock on their door at any moment.

Qing Hang’s shoes were in the shoe cabinet; Cheng Yanqing might not have noticed them.

The arm around her waist tightened, and hot breath fell on her ear. Qing Hang seemed to sigh. Cheng Wanyue struggled to hold back her laughter, her shoulders trembling slightly. “Take a moment to calm down, then leave quietly?”

Qing Hang’s throat was hoarse. “Quietly?”

Cheng Wanyue thought for a moment. “You could stay the night and leave quietly in the morning, but you’ll have to be patient. Wait until Cheng Yanqing is asleep before going to wash up.”

Qing Hang gently bit her. “If he comes looking for you, where do you plan to hide me?”

“Don’t worry, he won’t come.” Their bodies pressed tightly together, Cheng Wanyue could feel his physical response. She cupped his face and kissed him, whispering, “Why are you still so hard? Do you still want more?”

Qing Hang was covered in sweat. “Is the soundproofing good?”

After Cheng Yanqing had returned to his room, there was no more sound from outside.

“Not good, so you’ll have to be quieter,” Cheng Wanyue was doing this on purpose.