The two stood on opposite sides of the narrow bar counter, eating steak. Luan Nian took a couple of bites, then turned to make watermelon juice. He felt something cloying in his stomach and urgently wanted something cold to drink. It was also because when he looked up, he saw Shang Zhitao with downcast eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, making him feel an unbearable itch.

Most likely it was because he’d been single for too long. Luan Nian couldn’t find any reasonable explanation, ignoring the thoughts he’d previously had about Shang Zhitao. Half of the glass of watermelon juice was crushed ice, barely enough to suppress the fire in his heart. Then he heard Shang Zhitao ask him: “Could I have a glass of watermelon juice too?”

Shang Zhitao was also thirsty. She felt her legs weakening slightly, though she couldn’t explain why.

Luan Nian placed a glass of watermelon juice in front of her, watching her finish the steak and then drink the juice. She seemed to be eating happily, her eyes curved in a smile, extraordinarily gentle. After eating, she thanked him with a docile demeanor: “Thank you, Luke. I won’t disturb you any longer!”

Shang Zhitao put on her coat and walked to the door. She wanted to turn back to say goodbye to Luan Nian but saw him leaning against the wall, looking at her with a deep gaze, somewhat different from usual. Shang Zhitao recalled the slight pang in her heart when Luan Nian was singing on stage today, and the farewell words caught in her throat. She just looked at Luan Nian, her gaze timid, yet filled with some indescribable emotion. She couldn’t clarify what that emotion was, where it came from, or where it would be released.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Luan Nian asked softly.

Shang Zhitao shook her head.

“Do you accept one-night stands?” Luan Nian asked her again. He asked Shang Zhitao if she accepted one-night stands as if he had them frequently.

Shang Zhitao had never been asked such a question before. In her previous shallow understanding, she believed sex and love were connected. But now Luan Nian was asking her, making her thoughts chaotic. She shook her head, then nodded. Her body instinctively moved backward, but Luan Nian blocked her against the door.

His all-encompassing kiss left Shang Zhitao breathless. She wanted to leave somewhat, but when her palm touched his heartbeat, she surrendered. Shang Zhitao couldn’t distinguish whether she was following desire or her heart; she just felt she wanted to stay.

Luan Nian tasted her tongue, the sweet freshness of watermelon, the cool of crushed ice, and his nostrils filled with her clean scent, so unusual.

Once a young girl becomes passionate, she pours out all the emotions churning inside her, yet gentle and soft. Even if Luan Nian was exceptionally fierce, she found it wonderful.

Luan Nian wanted a purely sexual relationship—one where he didn’t need to invest too much emotion or effort to maintain. Compatible, they would stay together; incompatible, they would part. He found a good excuse for his behavior: romance was too mentally taxing.

Shang Zhitao’s palm pressed against the skin of his neck, never daring to open her eyes. Sweat dampened both their clothes. Luan Nian’s shirt was never fully removed from beginning to end. They completed their first sexual encounter—an intense one—right at the door in Luan Nian’s home.

The scene that day was unforgettable. On some day after Shang Zhitao had left Luan Nian, when strong winds blew and she sat by the window watching the northern wind scattering tree branches in disarray, she suddenly recalled this night with Luan Nian. She might never again experience such passion and recklessness. Luan Nian had planted a spell on her, making her constantly torn for those years, yet unable to take the first step away from him.

When everything ended, neither of them spoke. Thinking back carefully, it was impossible to trace exactly how things had just happened. The emotions came suddenly, the process intense, giving no time for thought at all. Shang Zhitao finally calmed down. She realized she had also fallen into Luan Nian’s scandal, too absurd, too childish. She couldn’t bring herself to publicize this matter, but Luan Nian could silently dismiss her. She carefully tried to fathom Luan Nian’s thoughts, guessing he probably didn’t want to be bothered by this.

So after thinking for a while, she finally spoke: “Luke… just now, I mean, what just happened was an accident. We’re both adults, one-night stands are normal. Let’s not be awkward about this. Thank you.” She even thanked Luan Nian, then turned her back to him to arrange her clothes. Once fully dressed, she stood up: “Well… I’m leaving now.” She attributed what happened between them to a momentary impulse, so future encounters wouldn’t be awkward. Whether Luan Nian felt disadvantaged, Shang Zhitao didn’t know, but she hadn’t lost out; she even thought the experience was fantastic.

Is this how others say goodbye after a one-night stand? Or should she leave some money for Luan Nian? His service was quite good… She walked out the door with these chaotic thoughts, while Luan Nian remained silent throughout.

But after leaving, Shang Zhitao felt regretful. Why didn’t she stay longer? She wouldn’t get to sleep with him again. She was almost at the entrance of Luan Nian’s residential complex. The night wind was strong, so strong it made her hesitate. Gritting her teeth, she turned back and walked to his home, her hand on the doorbell. Before she could press it, Luan Nian opened the outer garden gate and pulled Shang Zhitao inside with one motion.

Still without speaking, Luan Nian carried Shang Zhitao up to the second-floor bedroom. His clothes brushed against her face, and her lips actively found his. Shang Zhitao’s passion surprised Luan Nian. He threw her onto the bed, his body covering hers, asking in a hoarse voice: “Why did you come back?”

“Thinking that there wouldn’t be another time in the future, I felt it was a shame.” Shang Zhitao was rarely so bold; all her audacity in life was used on that night. She truly enjoyed the intimate contact with Luan Nian; it felt amazing.

Luan Nian’s lips pressed against her neck, his teeth gently pressed against her skin as he whispered: “Whenever you want, you can have it.”

Shang Zhitao felt her body was rebuilt. When she broke up with Xin Zhaozhou, she mistakenly thought she would never have anyone else in her life. She had believed her body could only accept Xin Zhaozhou. Now she suddenly realized that when a woman freed herself from the shackles of outdated thinking and explored according to her instincts, physical liberation was actually this easy.

This was fantastic.

That night they hardly spoke, repeatedly merging into each other’s bodies in silent struggle. Shang Zhitao felt like she had become the mud on the ground after early spring rain, impossible to form any shape regardless of how one tried.

It was nearly dawn when they thought of sleep. Suddenly having another person in bed was uncomfortable for both of them—for Shang Zhitao and equally for Luan Nian. He was used to being alone, not even willing to hire a live-in housekeeper, and he never slept with women. Both of them tugged at opposite corners of the blanket, staying on their respective sides. Shang Zhitao suddenly thought: don’t people usually leave after a one-night stand? Only couples would stay overnight. So she cleared her throat and asked Luan Nian: “Luke, do you have a guest room?”

“Next door.”

“Can I sleep in the guest room?”

“Mm.”

Shang Zhitao felt relieved, hastily put on her clothes, and went to the adjacent room. The night’s intense battle left her barely able to keep her eyes open. She fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. How carefree.

But Luan Nian couldn’t sleep. What exactly happened last night? How did he end up making a move on Shang Zhitao? He was a bit doubtful of himself, including his words: “Whenever you want, you can have it.”

Fuck. Had he gone crazy? If she wanted him, it could happen? Would there ever be another loss of control like last night? Impossible. He was also a bit angry. Who would have thought Shang Zhitao was so open? “One-night stands are normal.” Very good, that you can think this way, I’m truly gratified.

Luan Nian thought chaotically for a long time before finally falling asleep. This sleep was exceptionally good. Last night’s thorough satisfaction seemed to have installed a sleep switch in his body, making it very easy for him to fall asleep. He didn’t know how long he slept, but when he opened his eyes, it was already evening. Luan Nian had a long-lost feeling that his energy channels had been cleared, leaving him refreshed and in a good mood. He jumped out of bed to shower, suddenly remembering someone was sleeping in the guest room next door, so he knocked: “Time to get up.”

No one answered him.

He pushed the door open to find the bed neat and clean, with no trace of someone having slept there. On the pillow was a piece of paper with a few words: “Thanks for your hard work last night, Luke.” The handwriting was vigorous and flowing, exuding a clean-cut spirit.

??? Thanks for your hard work last night, Luke. Was Shang Zhitao treating him like a male escort? Leaving a note, slipping away without even saying goodbye?

Luan Nian was once again amused and annoyed by Shang Zhitao. This woman was something else! He casually tossed the note into a drawer and went downstairs. His mood was slightly good as he whistled his way to the gym and got on the treadmill. As his heart rate rose, the dopamine secreted during exercise made him excited, though not as much as last night. Shang Zhitao, such an obedient girl, yet with surprising passion. Luan Nian recalled her soft moan as she held his face, seeking his lips to give their recklessness a gentle ending.

Tan Mian called to invite him for drinks. He agreed, changed his clothes, and went out.

Luan Nian carried a physically satisfied languor, along with some spirited energy. Tan Mian’s gaze passed over him several times before giving a meaningful smile.

“What is it?” Luan Nian sat down and looked at him.

Tan Mian pointed at his face: “Your face is written all over with: ‘I had good sex last night.'”

Luan Nian raised his eyebrows without answering, which made Tan Mian curious: “New girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Got a bed partner? Are you that type of person?”

“What type of person am I?”

“The type who has casual one-night stands?”

“None of your damn business.”

Luan Nian was too lazy to explain. This was his private life, and he didn’t want to open it up for others to see. But Tan Mian persisted: “Can’t say? You never used to hide things before.”

“Should I introduce you to her as well?”

“So you do have a bed partner?” Tan Mian was determined to know the answer. He usually didn’t have much entertainment, and suddenly encountered such an interesting matter, he was resolved to explore.

Luan Nian leaned back in his chair, looking half-dead. After a long time, he finally said: “An accident.”

Treating that night as an accident completely ignored his long-contemplated intentions. It was in Guangzhou, when his gaze first fell on Shang Zhitao, that he developed mischievous thoughts. He had been suppressing himself while wanting to rebel.

“Accidents are good. Men and women in big cities encounter accidents every day.” Tan Mian winked at him.

“You mind other people’s business.” This was how Luan Nian described Tan Mian.

By all logic, he should have felt regret about what happened last night. He considered himself quite shallow; he didn’t need his female companions to be talented, just good-looking. He simply liked beautiful women. Dazzling beauty stimulated his brain to produce more creativity. Shang Zhitao was just an ordinary girl without a clever mind. She didn’t meet any of his expectations for women.

But he didn’t regret it, even feeling quite pleased. The same person who had vowed in the morning that he would never be with Shang Zhitao again was now wavering. Luan Nian was somewhat surprised; he had never been indecisive.

What was happening today?