Lin Yiran slept for too long; when she woke up, the sky was already turning dark.

She had vaguely awakened twice in between. Qiu Xing was always by her side, holding her. When Lin Yiran opened her eyes and met his gaze, Qiu Xing would pull her closer into his embrace, and Lin Yiran would fall back asleep.

When she finally woke up properly, Qiu Xing didn’t let her sleep anymore and said to her, “Don’t sleep anymore, little pig.”

Lin Yiran wasn’t upset at being called a little pig. She stretched contentedly and sighed, “That felt so good.”

Qiu Xing had been lying with her for such a long time that he had grown stiff.

He kissed her forehead and sat up, “Let’s get up and eat something.”

Lin Yiran remained curled up in the blanket, watching Qiu Xing without speaking.

Qiu Xing went to the bathroom and came back to find Lin Yiran still lying there. He liked seeing her looking satisfied and a bit dazed after sleeping so comfortably. He smiled, walked over to her, bent down, and asked, “Can you get up now?”

Lin Yiran said, “Getting up means changing clothes, it’s very cold, I don’t want to change.”

“Then don’t change, just go out like this,” Qiu Xing said.

Lin Yiran smiled, “How could that work…”

Qiu Xing picked her up with the blanket, making her sit up, and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Lin Yiran sat there thinking for a moment, and honestly said, “I want to eat everything.”

She had spent more than half a year on the mountain, always eating the food from the school cafeteria, and indeed missed the food of the outside world very much.

Qiu Xing felt like laughing but also felt sorry for her. He stroked the top of her head and said, “Let’s go.”

Lin Yiran went out wearing her pajamas with Qiu Xing.

After washing up, Qiu Xing wrapped a huge, long down jacket around her, covering her from head to calves. It was issued by the factory this year, a men’s style from some brand with high down filling. He also found a pair of snow boots she had left here last winter, then put a woolen hat on her head, took her hand, and left.

Lin Yiran had initially refused, but once Qiu Xing wrapped the down jacket around her, she couldn’t refuse anymore.

It felt like wearing pajamas wrapped in a quilt. Although it somewhat compromised her dignity, it was just too comfortable.

Qiu Xing took her to eat Cantonese cuisine. The greeter at the entrance was very enthusiastic, continuously reminding Lin Yiran to go slowly and be careful of slipping. Even though she was holding hands with Qiu Xing, they still kept reminding her.

Lin Yiran was completely puzzled. She thanked them and went upstairs to the private room with Qiu Xing.

The server closed the door for them. Lin Yiran had just taken off her outer coat and was removing the hat from her head when she suddenly understood.

She looked at Qiu Xing with wide eyes and whispered, “They thought I was pregnant!”

Qiu Xing scanned the menu with his phone and handed it to her with a smile.

She did indeed look like it in these clothes.

“I won’t mess around with you like this anymore,” Lin Yiran said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “People on the subway would give up their seats for me.”

Qiu Xing still had a smile on his face and said, “Why do you care about others? As long as you’re comfortable, that’s what matters.”

Lin Yiran shook her head, still maintaining a bit of her goddess image.

That night, when Lin Yiran came out of the shower, her hair was already dried and draped over her back.

She had applied body lotion and smelled fragrant all over.

Qiu Xing had already finished his shower and was sitting against the headboard, waiting for her.

Lin Yiran first took a vitamin pill, then went to plug her phone into the charger. She dawdled around, and Qiu Xing didn’t rush her. When Lin Yiran had finished with everything and walked toward him, Qiu Xing naturally opened his arms.

Lin Yiran lowered her head and sat on his lap.

She faced Qiu Xing, her hands lightly resting against his stomach, wearing a ring on her finger.

Intimacy was nothing new between them.

They had always been compatible and close; in those past years, they had possessed each other countless times.

Lin Yiran looked at Qiu Xing, knowing tonight would inevitably be difficult for her.

They hadn’t done it for more than half a year.

“Qiu Xing,” Lin Yiran called him nervously.

Qiu Xing raised his eyes, “What is it?”

“You…” Lin Yiran bit her lip, “How many times are you planning?”

Qiu Xing’s expression didn’t change, and he didn’t properly answer, only saying, “Just say what you want to say.”

Lin Yiran moved closer, looking at Qiu Xing from a very short distance, with a slightly pleading look in her eyes, and softly asked, “Could you… not be too rough?”

Qiu Xing raised his eyebrows, appearing indifferent, “Afraid it will hurt?”

Lin Yiran didn’t make a sound.

It wasn’t really about being afraid of pain. Although Qiu Xing could be fierce, he wouldn’t cause her much pain. It was just that when Qiu Xing truly let go, Lin Yiran would always end up in a disheveled state.

She raised her hand, wrapped her arms around Qiu Xing’s neck, and said softly, “I’m not afraid of pain… but I don’t want to cry.”

Qiu Xing placed one hand on her back, stroking up and down. His movements were gentle, but his words were cold.

“That’s unlikely,” he said.

Before Lin Yiran could say anything more, Qiu Xing turned to open the drawer beside them. He tilted his chin, gesturing to her, “Don’t want to check?”

Lin Yiran quickly shook her head, “No need, no need.”

Qiu Xing nodded, took out a box and tossed it on the bed, then reached up to turn off the light.

Lin Yiran took a deep breath, feeling nervous about the night ahead, but her hands held Qiu Xing tightly, not letting go for a moment.

When Qiu Xing leaned down, Lin Yiran took the initiative and kissed him.

They had been intimate countless times, but this time was different from all the previous ones.

From this time on, they no longer had to carry the title of an exchange. Hereafter, every moment of intimacy would no longer involve anything else, but would be purely out of love.

Lin Yiran had already slept so long in the afternoon, so she didn’t need to sleep at night.

Qiu Xing wasn’t fierce this time. His heart was filled with overflowing emotions, and he was rarely gentle.

But later, Lin Yiran still cried.

In the tender moment after they finished, she held Qiu Xing and shed tears.

“What’s wrong?” Qiu Xing reached down to touch her stomach. “Does it hurt?”

“No,” Lin Yiran answered.

“Then why are you crying?” Qiu Xing, just like six years ago the first time, kissed her forehead, then kissed her nose bridge and lips, “Wife.”

Lin Yiran’s breath caught, then she hid her face in the crook of Qiu Xing’s neck, tears falling more fiercely.

Qiu Xing cradled her neck, silently comforting her.

“What are you doing…” Lin Yiran’s voice was heavy with nasal tones, “My ear is all numb.”

Qiu Xing laughed, turning his face to brush against her ear.

Lin Yiran gently shrank her neck to dodge a little, and called him, “Qiu Xing.”

“Hmm?” Qiu Xing raised his head to look at her.

In the not completely dark environment, Lin Yiran gazed at him as always, like water. She looked at Qiu Xing for a long time with such a gaze—

“I’ve loved you for so many years,” she said, looking into Qiu Xing’s eyes.