Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Lately, while working on her manuscript, Lu Nian started a new casual comic series online, illustrating their recent cohabitation experiences with a relaxed approach.

Her recent good mood has influenced the artwork, which features a light and cheerful style. Without a particular theme, it simply shares amusing anecdotes and captures snippets of their life together, without any commercial intent, maintaining the original purpose of her account. Even after all these years, the main characters remain unchanged - still revolving around them.

Surprisingly, it has garnered a significant number of followers who enjoy her work, resulting in many daily comments, even more than those she receives on her commercial posts.

"Wuu, you're feeding us so much couple content, I'm full!"

"I'm exhausted from classes lately, your comics are my only source of healing."

"ww, ever since the lady started dating, the vibes in her posts have been consistent, always mentioning her boyfriend somehow."

Lu Nian paused for a moment when she came across this comment.

Was that really the case? She seldom posted original text content, usually sharing images or promotional content.

She scrolled through her recent posts to check.

To her surprise, it seemed to be true. She often posted spontaneous updates, such as a series from a few days ago—

"He's skipping meals again, delivering food to his office x3"

"Seems like he's in a foul mood." followed by a teasing cat emoji.

And a post just after noon, simply stating, "All good now."

Lu Nian, "..."

They're indeed easy to appease, aren't they?

She pondered carefully, it seems it was just the day before yesterday when she had a disagreement with him.

She couldn't help herself and responded to that comment, "Do I really mention him that frequently?"

"Absolutely, it's clear from your posts that you and your boyfriend have a great relationship," came the reply.

"Oh, may I inquire if you two are currently cohabiting? Are the events depicted in the comics drawn from real-life experiences?"

Lu Nian responded, "Most of it is true, albeit with a few adjustments here and there."

She wouldn't admit that the adjustments were made to prevent Qin Si from recognizing their own stories in the comic strips if the events were portrayed too accurately, fearing his mockery or astonishing remarks on her drawings.

She would still feel somewhat embarrassed, afraid he might ridicule or make some astonishing remarks about her drawings.

Hai Tu had a feature allowing anonymous questions, akin to what some bloggers use. Lu Nian had never activated this feature before, but noticing the burgeoning interest from her followers in her new comic and their fervent engagement tonight, with a stream of questions pouring in, she decided to give it a try.

She recalled a past conversation with her editor, who suggested that she should post updates more frequently to maintain a connection with her followers. Hence, that evening, she initiated the question box feature.

By the time Lu Nian finished her ablutions and returned, there were already dozens of questions in the inbox.

After completing her skincare routine, she sat cross-legged and casually clicked to view the messages, almost dropping and shattering her bottle of moisturizer in surprise.

Initially, everything seemed quite ordinary.

"Madam, where did you find such a boyfriend?"

"Is cohabiting as sweet as depicted in the comics?"

But the third one was...

"Madam, madam, while living together, how many times do you guys 'do it' in a week?!"

Lu Nian, "???"

What kind of questions are these? She found them quite overwhelming.

Was it the anonymity that was encouraging such unrestrained questions?

Inquiring about the frequency...

Could she possibly say zero?

The main concern was that there never seemed to be a right time, and Qin Si persistently wanted to marry her first. In this modern era, why would there still be such a traditional man? Lu Nian considered herself not to be particularly liberal-minded, but compared to him, she sometimes couldn't help but wonder if she was being too brazen?

However, kissing and cuddling were quite frequent between them.

She didn't respond to that message, but unexpectedly, another extensive query popped up below.

"Madam, my boyfriend and I started living together in our junior year of college, for about two to three years now. Initially, we were intimate daily, but now it seems he might be growing weary, showing tardy responses and seemingly lacking in desire, with the frequency dropping to about once a month. Do you experience such phases in your relationship?"

Lu Nian found the message both amusing and exasperating.

As someone who just illustrated comics, why had she suddenly transformed into a late-night relationship advisor?

However, Lu Nian pondered upon the query.

Growing weary... it was hard to pinpoint.

As for their current situation, intimacy seemed quite frequent between her and Qin Si. Yet his unwillingness to shed his inhibitions persisted, showcasing extreme sensitivity. Although unspoken, his fervent responses were palpable, something she could distinctly perceive.

It seemed there was no hint of monotony or fatigue, at least for the time being.

As to whether all men behaved this way, she wasn't sure... After all, she had no intimate experiences with anyone else to compare with.

After answering a few of the questions nonchalantly, Lu Nian decided to retire for the night.

Her phone vibrated suddenly on the bedside table; glancing at it, she noticed a call from her editor.

The editor phoned to confirm the final details, “Nian Nian, the manuscript has been approved and is ready for printing. Everything else is prepared. Have you finally decided on the signing event? If you choose not to hold it, we will proceed with our previous plan. If you agree, we should start preparing now; any later will be too late.”

Lu Nian remained hesitant.

She never had much confidence in herself, considering herself quite average and ordinary. Embarking on a career as a commercial artist was beyond her expectations. The "Black and White" comic series was a huge success, leading numerous magazines to approach her, hoping she could launch a new series with them.

Lu Nian began experimenting with various new techniques, learning and exploring as she went. The days were fulfilling, and she genuinely enjoyed what she was doing.

However, her feelings towards "Black and White" were complicated. It originated from her naïve youth during her darkest and most suppressed days, a medium to document her emotions and memories with him.

The comics she drew casually back then encapsulated the most complex emotions of her girlhood.

But midway, Qin Si left for several years, resulting in a drastic change in her artistic style, with the later parts of the comic turning increasingly dark.

In fact, many fans have expressed their grievances online, feeling that "Black and White" had an unsatisfactory ending.

The forthcoming publication only contains the initial part.

Lu Nian wasn’t sure how to face "Black and White" emotionally. Although she was now in a new phase of her life, the significant gap in the middle, the disconnected storylines and emotional arcs, were frequently brought up by readers, urging her to fill in the missing pieces.

Lu Nian wished to know as well, what exactly had transpired during those intervening years.

To be honest, her feelings were mixed, leaving her undecided even now about hosting a signing event for the release of "Black and White".

While it could be viewed as a purely commercial activity, Lu Nian couldn't fully persuade herself to see it that way.

Suddenly feeling somewhat stifled, she leaped from the bed and flung open the balcony door, seeking some fresh air.

The surroundings were a villa area with splendid views; it was quiet outside, the balcony was windy, and the summer breeze was cool. A few stars could faintly be seen embellishing the night sky.

Leaning against the doorframe, Lu Nian finally said, "Perhaps not this time, we can consider it for a future opportunity."

The editor was clearly disappointed, despite her lengthy efforts to persuade, Lu Nian remained firm in her decision.

After ending the call, Lu Nian closed the door and took a deep breath. She turned back to switch on the light and froze.

Under the halo of the newly-illuminated room, a man stood quietly on the balcony, his figure tall and graceful. He seemed to have stepped out for some air as well, although it was unclear how long he had been standing there.

She walked up to him and asked nonchalantly, "Did you just hear it?"

"...More or less."

Lu Nian shrugged, "How does it make you feel?"

Remaining silent, he surprisingly pressed further, "Why aren't you hosting one?"

He remembered that Lu Nian had always loved drawing, from her childhood to the present. The publication of her first comic book should be a moment of joy.

Lu Nian replied with a breezy tone, "I decided to be honest with my feelings; it's not yet time for a book signing event."

This response was somewhat baffling.

...

"Have you seen my drawings?" Lu Nian suddenly turned her face towards him and asked. In the night sky, her almond eyes shone brightly, reflecting the stars.

For some reason, she felt somewhat nervous.

"I have."

Lu Nian, "..."

"The one you drew for Ming Ge."

He said calmly, "And the gifts you previously gave to Xiao Qu and the others."

It seemed that everyone had received a piece of her artwork, except for him.

Lu Nian couldn't quite determine whether she should feel relieved or secretly disappointed and annoyed.

She never mentioned her pen name for the comics to anyone, but given Qin Si's capabilities, a little investigation would surely reveal it. Apparently, he had not noticed at all, showing no interest in this aspect.

Lu Nian, "They all stay in An Cheng, it's easy to gift them. How could I possibly send one to you?" Her words carried an underlying hint of resentment.

Qin Si, "..." He fell silent.

After speaking, seeing his silence and inability to respond, Lu Nian couldn't clearly decipher whether she should feel relieved or stifled.

She didn't want to linger on the balcony any longer, "I'm going to sleep."

...

With the comic release approaching, even without a signing event, she still needed to create some exclusive autographs to send out with the books.

Initially, the schedule was set, but unexpectedly, a mix-up occurred midway. The editor, having noticed the popularity of her recent online short comics, suddenly proposed a novel idea to include these comics as a supplement to "Black and White", as a bonus for the readers.

Consequently, Lu Nian had been furiously revising the drafts recently, almost to the point of madness.

With two prominent dark circles under her eyes, she felt dizzy and floated through her classes at school. Qin Si urged her not to stay up late anymore, nearly causing another argument between them.

Lu Nian attended her classes at the university, and after finishing, she carried her drawing board to the library to continue drawing. She didn't want to go home, fearing it might lead to another confrontation with him.

By chance, Fang Deng was exiting the library, and they bumped into each other at the main entrance.

Fang Deng carefully observed her for a moment, noticing her glaring dark circles, "Have you not been sleeping well lately?"

Lu Nian replied absentmindedly, "I haven't slept well for several days, I keep waking up in the middle of the night, it's driving me insane."

Fang Deng looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

Isn't he showing any mercy towards this girl?

Indeed, as Ming Hong secretly told them before, men who suppress their feelings for too long can turn bizarre, which seems to be true in this case.

"I see senior brother has visited the library as well?"

She found it astonishing, given that Fang Deng was a notorious homebody and a heavy coffee addict, who usually operated from coffee shops. The library, which prohibited food and beverages, didn't seem like a suitable place for coffee enthusiasts.

"Recently, my regular seat at the coffee shop has been occupied by a young woman," said Fang Deng, "I changed my seat, but the next day she took that one too, always sitting beside me."

Lu Nian, "..."

Oblivious, Fang Deng continued, "I found it quite unsettling, so I decided to switch to the library instead."

Do all of you lone wolves flock together?

Objectively speaking, Fang Deng was quite handsome. Although he was a typical IT geek who didn't pay much attention to his appearance, he had a fresh and youthful face that made him look much younger than his actual age. He was a renowned prodigy in the computer science department.

It's quite normal for girls to have a crush on him.

Lu Nian decided to give him a little nudge to help him escape his solitary fate, "Senior brother, is it possible that the girl has feelings for you and intentionally wants to sit closer to you?"

Fang Deng paused for a moment, but quickly recovered, "Well, that wouldn't be an issue."

"I don't need a girlfriend," he proclaimed with a smug grin, patting his backpack. "Coding is my girlfriend."

Lu Nian, "?"

Farewell.

This phrase, it seems like I've heard it somewhere before, hasn't it?

Upon leaving the library, Fang Deng planned to head to the company for an internal meeting in the afternoon.

He now holds the position of the development team leader, a title more in name than function, as he was responsible solely for tackling technical issues, not managing people. After making his rounds in the development department, he went to the meeting where both Ming Hong and Qiu Fan had already arrived.

Qin Si had arrived as well. Fang Deng recalled his recent encounter with Lu Nian. Seeing her downtrodden demeanor, he then turned his gaze towards Qin Si.

There didn't seem to be anything unusual about him; his expression was indifferent, suggesting that he wasn't in a particularly pleasant mood.

Fang Deng thought to himself, the boss indeed had an imposing presence, tormenting the young lady to such a miserable state while remaining unaffected himself.

They discussed the next steps of the investment plan, and the afternoon flew by before they realized it.

The group anticipated that Qin Si would leave to have dinner with his girlfriend, but unexpectedly he didn't. Therefore, after having dinner at the company, they continued with their meeting.

Qiu Fan remarked, "Young boss, there have been developments regarding the matter you asked us to investigate recently."

"Zhao Tingyuan and Su Qingyou have registered companies under their own names." He said, gently pushing a stack of documents forward.

"It's not a subsidiary of Zhao Jiahai," he continued, "But we can trace the flow of funds."

"Zhao Yayuan is unaware?"

Qiu Fan responded, "As you suspected earlier, she probably doesn't know."

He couldn't help but remark, "His health seems to have been poor recently, having undergone a minor surgery. But does it really warrant such a significant depletion of his vitality?"

The boss instructed him to investigate the Zhao family, and the more Qiu Fan delved into it, the more bizarre it appeared.

"There's another piece of information. In early February, Zhao Tingyuan invested in a new company," Qiu Fan said. "The legal representative is Su Xiaoqin, Su Qingyou's cousin."

"Cousin?" The man mused, his slender fingertips tracing over the name, "If I remember correctly, she just started her sophomore year in college."

"Yes," Qiu Fan quickly confirmed.

In the past, he had extensively researched the Su family. His memory was sharp, almost never forgetting a name once he came across it.

"Su Xiaoqin lost her father at a young age and has been financially supported by Su Kangcheng. If Su Kangcheng needed to find a scapegoat," he said with a light tone, "she would be the most suitable candidate."

Ming Hong agreed, "Essentially, they plan to gradually short-sell the Zhao family, slowly siphoning off the money. Given that Zhao Quan is currently befuddled, and Zhao Yayuan is constantly in the hospital, her mother is extremely anxious and lacks the energy to handle these matters. Zhao Rulan is also not managing affairs; presently, their entire family seems to be at the mercy of those two."

Their plan was progressing smoothly.

In matters like these, there isn't really a clear right or wrong, it's more a matter of perspective.

Ming Hong pondered that if the tables were turned, he doubted Su Qingyou and Zhao Tingyuan would hesitate to plot their demise, showing no mercy.

"Young boss, I remember you are acquainted with Zhao Yayuan as well, aren't you?" Ming Hong asked after they finished discussing the matter.

He hadn't been in An Cheng for a while, having stayed at the Ning Sheng headquarters in the capital, and therefore wasn't too familiar with the ongoing situations here.

Qin Si's expression remained unchanged, responding with a cold, "Hmm."

Fang Deng was frantically signaling with his eyes, how could he not recognize that person? That was his romantic rival, the one who almost stole his wife.

Noticing that Ming Hong seemed genuinely engaged in casual conversation, Fang Deng felt that discussing Zhao Yayuan with Qin Si wasn't a wise choice. He quickly interjected, "Boss, I ran into Nian Nian at the library today. When can we attend your wedding?"

As expected, Ming Hong's attention shifted, his face breaking into a smile as he asked, "Yes, yes, when is the happy occasion?"

His voice was soft, "In a little while."

Ming Hong, "..."

When exactly was "in a little while"? Ming Hong couldn't shake the feeling that Fang Deng had been speaking of their marriage for a long time now, yet there seemed to be no developments.

"That's all, everyone can leave." Qin Si apparently didn't want to discuss personal matters further. His mood seemed low, and compared to usual, he barely spoke unless it was work-related.

...

The night had grown deep.

Glancing at the time, he noticed a message from Lu Nian stating she wouldn't be coming home for dinner. Thus, feeling somewhat disheartened, he decided not to return home either, staying at the company until now.

Re-reading the message, he couldn't discern any particular tone from it. It simply stated she wouldn't be coming back for dinner. It didn't seem like she was upset, but the message lacked the sweet affection she usually conveyed when happy.

He remembered their discussions about marriage.

He didn't know how to bring up the topic with Lu Nian again.

He wanted to get married, very much so.

Reason told him that marriage would provide an additional layer of security in their relationship, preventing her from backing out whenever she wished.

However, Lu Nian seemed somewhat resistant to the idea.

His pride was high.

Since his marriage proposal was rejected that time, he found it impossible to broach the subject again.

He didn't think she would agree at this moment.

They can only maintain the status quo for now. He is unsure whether she is simply toying with him or something else.

The two had a minor quarrel recently over Lu Nian staying up late to work on her drafts.

Is she still upset?

His mood was quite low too. He felt that maybe he was interfering too much in her life. However, recalling her frail condition in her childhood, which seemed like a gentle breeze could knock her down, he couldn't just stand by and watch.

The scenery outside the car window whisked by as they finally arrived home.

Lu Nian successfully submitted her draft that day, which also marked Qiu Li's last day staying at their place.

None of the three were home.

Lu Nian planned to stay at school to rush her drafts, Qiu Li had an evening class, and Qin Si was at the company. From 8 am when they all left together, the house remained empty until 9 pm.

Lu Nian was the first to return home.

As soon as she opened the door, she felt something was amiss.

She quickly realized that the anomaly stemmed from Qiu Li's room.

She dashed towards the second floor, only to find a trickle of water flowing across the floor as she reached the top of the stairs.

The source of it was Qiu Li's bedroom.

Upon opening the door, she felt a surge of unease enveloping her.

...

When Qin Si arrived home and switched on the light, he noticed the upstairs lights were already on and saw Lu Nian stepping out of a room, her face etched with gravity.

They had just had an argument before.

He wasn't sure if she was still angry, as she seemed to have no intention of acknowledging him.

With his eyes cast downward, he changed his shoes, intending to retreat to the study for a while.

Lu Nian spoke in a monotonous tone, her face expressionless, "...there's a problem. Can you come and take a look?"

He froze in his tracks.

"The faucet is broken," she said, "The bathroom is flooding."

Qin Si ascended the stairs, remaining silent all the while.

Lu Nian queried, "At this late hour, is it possible to get someone over to fix it?"

Otherwise, with water continuously leaking, they wouldn't be able to sleep. It felt like their entire house would be flooded soon.

Qin Si walked into the bathroom to check and remarked calmly, "It's not a big issue."

Having a toolkit at home, he rolled up his sleeves and waded into the water. In less than five minutes, the water stopped flowing.

Lu Nian, "..."

At that moment, she felt a lingering headache, as if everything was spiraling out of control.

"Maybe we should tell Xiao Qiu not to come back," Lu Nian suggested as she glanced around the room.

The guest room bed, designed in tatami style and low to the ground, was thoroughly soaked, rendering it unfit for sleeping.

Qin Si hadn't planned on having guests stay over, hence besides the two remaining ones and their bedroom, there were no other sleeping arrangements available.

Just as she finished speaking, there was a noise at the door. Qiu Li entered, backpack on his shoulders.

Standing on the second floor, Lu Nian met eyes with him squarely. Startled, Qiu Li asked, "...Nian Nian, what happened?"

Lu Nian felt the urge to bury her face in her hands.

It really was an unfortunate series of events, with issues piling up one after another.

After understanding the situation, he suggested, "How about I go home to stay then? I can catch a cab back now."

This was supposed to be his last day here, with plans to leave tomorrow. Unexpectedly, this incident happened midway.

"Never mind, it's fine," Lu Nian glanced at the time and said, "It's too late now, let's not fuss over it."

The journey back to where Qiu Li stayed would take over two hours. If he left now, it would be well past midnight by the time he reached home.

Lu Nian proposed, "Why don't you squeeze in with us for the night? Just for one evening."

Lu Nian was considering the possibility of Qiu Li borrowing either of their rooms while she shared a room with Qin Si for the night.

The man turned his face slightly, casting a glance at her, his lips pressed tightly together.

He said to Qiu Li, "You can sleep in my room."

Lu Nian was somewhat surprised. She had presumed that Qin Si wouldn't be willing to lend his room to Qiu Li and was about to suggest that Qiu Li use her room instead.

They had just had an argument not long ago, and she assumed Qin Si would be moody for a while. Unexpectedly, he seemed quite cooperative this time.

However, she then heard him add, with a cold demeanor and an equally icy tone, "I'll sleep on the sofa."

Lu Nian, "..."

"?"

Is he still upset and intending to give her the silent treatment?

Qiu Li felt somewhat embarrassed, "No need, I'll sleep on the sofa instead..."

Lu Nian couldn't help but curve her lips into a flawless smile, interrupting him, "It's alright, go ahead, Xiao Qiu. You're not feeling well, sleeping on the sofa will definitely be uncomfortable."

The man pursed his lips, remaining silent.

It was his own suggestion to sleep on the sofa; as a child, he had slept in far worse places. However, hearing her state it so plainly, even though he knew that Qiu Li held a greater place in her heart than he did, he still felt a twinge of discomfort.

Qiu Li was quite surprised, his mouth agape as he attempted to refuse.

Lu Nian blinked, sending him a playful smile with pursed lips.

Getting her hint, Qiu Li gave a wry smile, "...Alright, thank you, Mr. Qin. I will change the bed sheets and quilt cover."

The young man lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent, without saying a word.

It was already very late.

They tidied up the room a bit and each went to freshen up.

Qin Si, being tall, found the sofa in the living room somewhat narrow, making it uncomfortable to sleep on.

Feeling utterly miserable, he decided to get up and continue working instead.

Soft footsteps echoed from upstairs. He straightened up and turned on the floor lamp next to the sofa.

The girl was wearing a cream-colored nightgown. The summer night breeze was cool, revealing a slender portion of her ankles beneath the gown. She seemed to have used an orange-scented shower gel that night, a faint sweet fragrance wafted over.

The man rose from the sofa, his eyelashes cast downwards, remaining silent.

"Is it comfortable sleeping here?" Lu Nian asked.

He, "..."

"Oh, it's that comfortable?" she teased as she sat down next to him, "So comfortable that you have forgotten home?"

She was petite with a delicate frame, as she sat next to him, his body tensed slightly, "It's not uncomfortable."

Lu Nian, "...", at this juncture, why is he still being so stubborn?

"If it's so comfortable, why don't I give it a try too?" she suggested.

The sofa was initially narrow, barely accommodating one person, let alone two adults. It suddenly became exceedingly cramped, and her constant movements rendered him in a rather disheveled state.

Considering they were supposedly still giving each other the cold shoulder, and she was the one ignoring him.

Yet, he couldn't control these reactions.

There was a slight release of tension on the sofa as the man stood up. His lean jaw was taut, his voice husky, "I'm going to the study."

"Oh."

Lu Nian said, "Then go ahead, I'll just sleep here."

Qin Si, "..."

Astonishingly, she actually seemed to be settling down here, not even bothering to cover herself with a quilt.

Suddenly, Lu Nian felt lighter, as she was lifted horizontally and carried directly towards the second floor.

"What are you trying to do?" Lu Nian couldn't help but pound on his shoulder with her fist.

Without a word, he opened the door to her bedroom, and then, she was tossed onto the bed.

Lu Nian's eyes widened, somewhat unexpectedly anticipating his next move.

However, the man turned around abruptly, leaving in a swift and decisive manner.

Lu Nian scrambled up from the bed, "What are you doing?"

"Do you really want to sleep on the sofa? Is it that comfortable?" she asked, "Are you that upset that you're unwilling to spend one night with me just because we had a fight?"

His silhouette froze.

...

The room suddenly fell into silence.

"Have I reached the level where we can sleep together?" he asked, his back towards her, his expression unreadable.

Lu Nian was stunned.

In reality, the whole level system was just a joke to tease him; Lu Nian hadn't expected that, even after so much time had passed, Qin Si would still be bothered by what she had said casually that day.

Could it be, he had actually calculated in his mind how many more points he needed to reach the next level?

Suddenly, she couldn't help but feel the urge to laugh.

Was the reason he didn't initiate because he thought he hadn't reached the necessary level and she would reject him, not allowing him to sleep together with her?

Why was he so adorable?

How had she never noticed these amusing aspects of his personality before?

"You've earned a lot of points recently." She said with a smile, her anger dissipating instantly, "If you stop letting me stay up late, speak a bit more sweetly, and stop being so petulant, you'll earn even more."

"Come sleep with me." Lu Nian got up, her soft arms wrapping around his waist, "I didn't mean to make you sleep on the sofa."

It was unexpected for her that he would actually prefer to sleep on the sofa instead of taking the initiative to share the bed with her.

In reality, this bedroom harbored a bed not meant for one, clearly designed to accommodate two. However, since he never mentioned it, Lu Nian had always treated it as a single bed, sprawling across it all by herself.

His ears turned a shade of red, his lips pressed together, no longer insisting on leaving.

The bed felt an added heaviness, accommodating the weight of a man, sinking slightly under the new burden.

Only then did Lu Nian realize how expansive the bed truly was, two people could lie side by side with enough space between them to constitute a Mariana Trench.

Qin Si slept in a disciplined manner, his profile even more refined and detached in slumber.

It seemed like they hadn't been intimate for several days.

Because of a fight.

She pulled at the quilt, her large eyes fixated on him, spontaneously breaking into a smile.

It seemed like a waste not to do something, considering the rarity of them sharing the bed.

He was still holding a grudge from their argument.

Lu Nian leaned in closer, her voice a delicate chirp, "Hey, are you asleep?"

His long eyelashes fluttered slightly before he opened his eyes, deep and dark, with thin and elongated double eyelids, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes at a close proximity.

"I want to tell you something," Lu Nian said with a playful tone.

He turned slightly towards her, seemingly interested in hearing what she had to say.

Lu Nian approached him and quickly planted a kiss on the exposed collarbone below his neckline.

He froze.

Lu Nian found the soft red mole, and first kissed it gently, then unable to resist, bit down firmly. His eyelashes trembled, and a flush rapidly spread across his fair skin.

"Will you still monitor my work schedule from now on?" she asked.

This was the root cause of their argument.

He still resisted, "...I will if you stay up late."

Lu Nian, "..."

She sat up, her jet-black hair cascading down like silky satin, tilting her head with a smile, "Really?"

A corner of the quilt was lifted, revealing the unseen space beneath the thin layer.

Her leg subtly snaked closer, rubbing against his leg, gradually climbing up like water weeds, like vines twirling around a tree. The girl's skin was smooth and delicate, resembling the finest jade, teasing gently, both close and yet distant. The face that was exposed was exceptionally charming and endearingly naïve.

...

I'm on the verge of driving him insane.

He took a breath, his eyes brimming with a reddish hue, unable to restrain himself any longer, he leaned in to kiss her lips.

Lu Nian dodged his kiss and retracted her leg with a beaming smile.

"I heard that intimacy shouldn't be too frequent," Lu Nian remarked, "Otherwise, it can lead to quick boredom."

Qin Si couldn't comprehend why she suddenly made such a statement.

He felt a growing discomfort within him, forcibly restraining himself, he swiftly recalled that their recent instances of intimacy were sparse, which he presumed was due to their arguments.

Could it be that she has actually grown weary of him?

A heaviness settled in his heart, sinking deeper and deeper.

Then, he heard Lu Nian inquire, "Do you find it tiresome?"

"..."

His voice faltered, his eyes closing briefly, "...No, I'm not tired of it."

"That's not right, logically, one would get bored, you're lying to me," Lu Nian said, her brows knitted finely as she reasoned out for him, "If not, it might be because we haven't taken the final step yet."

"Why don't we give it a try?" she proposed with a radiant smile, "Let's see if we actually get bored or not?"

Outside, the summer breeze was cool, and all of a sudden, Lu Nian felt an overwhelming desire to 'devour' him.

In truth, she had harbored this thought for quite some time now.

"Do you want it?" she whispered softly, her lips grazing past the corner of his eyes, planting a gentle kiss on his beautiful eyes, feeling the heat and the peculiar tension in his body, swiftly stirred by her, as always.

She bent down, opening the bedside drawer, inside was a box of something yet to be unsealed.

The author has a word to say:

Si Si (with a cold demeanor): Where did this come from? (Refusing to marry him, yet keeping this thing at home?)

Nian Nian: Hee hee hee.

Yielding to temptation

Si Si: .