Chapter 20

The rain outside gradually weakened, the thunder and fierce wind subsiding, leaving only the dense sound of rain.

The leather office chair had a lot of space. Wen Ci spread her legs apart, kneeling on Zhou Wu’s lap, lowering her head obediently to kiss him.

Zhou Wu supported her waist with one hand, pressing her loose t-shirt tightly, outlining Wen Ci’s slender waistline, while his other hand held her hip.

This was the second time they deep kissed without going any further.

When Wen Ci was sober, she didn’t dare to be reckless. Her hands awkwardly rested on Zhou Wu’s shoulders as she silently opened her mouth, silently matched Zhou Wu’s movements, and silently swallowed. She was wearing Zhou Wu’s clothes, using his body wash, and even her breath was filled with his scent, as if she were completely surrounded by him.

Zhou Wu was always self-taught, whether it was in studying, work, or other matters. He patiently sucked on her lips, then tangled with her tongue, turning and stirring, producing a constant sound of kisses. Not long after, Wen Ci was panting, her hands and feet weak. If Zhou Wu hadn’t been supporting her, she would have suspected she would have collapsed to the floor.

It seemed as if Zhou Wu sensed Wen Ci’s concerns. He pulled her into his arms, shifting his weight, and Wen Ci was able to sit back comfortably. Just as she sighed in relief, her whole body suddenly tensed again.

The hand around her waist loosened and slipped under the hem of her T-shirt.

—-

Zhou Wu’s hand was large, with rough thumbs. Wen Ci’s face burned with heat, her cheeks, neck, ears, and collarbone all turning red. She wasn’t sure how long it had been, but when the kiss finally ended, Zhou Wu let her go. Seeing Wen Ci’s hazy, dazed eyes, he reached out to wipe her slightly reddened lips, his voice carrying a subtle huskiness: “Can I kiss you?”

Wen Ci didn’t understand why he was asking after just having kissed her.

She nodded, and then quickly understood why.

Wen Ci closed her eyes in embarrassment, her toes curling in discomfort. Her mind went blank, her breath hot and drawn out, as she helplessly thought about everything—thankfully, the T-shirt was loose, or else it would have been stretched out by Zhou Wu.

After they were done, Zhou Wu pulled away from the T-shirt with little sincerity, apologizing, “It might leave a mark again.”

Wen Ci’s face was flushed, and she couldn’t understand why, even though they hadn’t done anything, she already felt overwhelmed with pleasure.

When she met Zhou Wu’s eyes, the effect was even stronger. Wen Ci’s heart raced in her throat as she tried to calm herself, but when she spoke, her voice was weak: “Zhou Wu, let me help you.”

She sat on Zhou Wu, feeling it all too clearly.

Zhou Wu responded lazily with a hum, “Can you?”

“…I’ll try.”

Wen Ci’s fingers were delicate, and Zhou Wu looked down, unable to hide his amusement as he stared for a while, occasionally offering guidance. Wen Ci’s hands trembled as she nodded like she was taking a lesson.

After a while, Wen Ci apologized in frustration, “Sorry, I think I’m not very good at this.”

Zhou Wu understood, “It’s fine…”

“How about we try a different method?” Wen Ci whispered, “Should I try with my mouth?”

Her words caught Zhou Wu completely off guard.

He glanced at her lips, small and familiar with their taste—hot and sweet.

“Forget it, I don’t want to. I also like Teacher Wen’s hands. My mouth has other uses,” Zhou Wu sighed, lifting his chin to kiss her again.

—-

Afterward, Zhou Wu went to take a shower.

Wen Ci lay on the bed, hearing her heart pounding non-stop. Even after Zhou Wu had gotten off her, it still raced, showing no signs of calming down.

It was over.

She was finished.

At first, Wen Ci thought that after graduation, she might not like Zhou Wu so much, that maybe it was just a fleeting crush from her high school years. It might have been an illusion caused by his unconscious help, and it would fade over time.

But a few years after graduation, Wen Ci realized it wasn’t like that. So, she did the bravest thing she’d ever done in her life—she took the initiative to sleep with Zhou Wu and became his friend with benefits.

If others found out, they might say she was reckless or that she was being taken advantage of. But to her, it felt like luck. She had gotten the man she had secretly loved for many years, and he was gentle and considerate, bringing her the greatest joy in their time together.

At that time, she thought it was enough to have him, and even if Zhou Wu found a girlfriend and they ended their relationship, she wouldn’t feel regret. There’s a popular saying—what you can’t have always stirs your heart. Maybe with time, she wouldn’t feel so deeply about it.

But now Wen Ci realized, it was impossible. It was absolutely impossible.

The more she was with Zhou Wu, the more she liked him.

The sound of a phone ringing interrupted Wen Ci’s thoughts. She looked up and saw two phones on the bedside table.

The one that was lit up was Zhou Wu’s, showing an unregistered number.

Wen Ci’s legs were still weak, so she slowly walked to the bathroom door and softly called, “Zhou Wu, you have a call.”

“Who?” Zhou Wu asked.

“An unknown number.”

“Hang up.”

Wen Ci did as she was told and hung up, but the call quickly came through again.

After three consecutive hang-ups.

“Answer it and say I’m busy,” Zhou Wu’s muffled voice came from the bathroom.

Wen Ci cleared her throat before picking up, trying to sound like Zhou Wu’s secretary: “Hello, Mr. Zhou is washing…”

“Zhou Wu! Why haven’t you responded to my messages! You hung up on me! Where did you and Qin Yun go today? You’ve both disappeared! I’m really mad—” The voice on the other side raised its pitch, but then paused when it heard Wen Ci’s voice, and immediately blurted out, “Who are you?”

Wen Ci stiffened, and all her previous thoughts vanished.

It was Duan Wei’s voice.

Not knowing how to respond and fearing Duan Wei might recognize her voice, Duan Wei asked a few more questions. Wen Ci stayed silent, not wanting to hang up casually. She even quieted her breathing.

The bathroom door opened, and Zhou Wu came out. Wen Ci instinctively held the phone up to his ear.

Wen Ci, half a head shorter than Zhou Wu, stood in a panicked manner holding the phone, looking almost comical in how cute she seemed. Zhou Wu looked down at her and couldn’t help but laugh.

Perhaps hearing his laughter, Duan Wei said something again on the phone, but it was too far for Wen Ci to hear.

Zhou Wu wiped his hair, not taking the phone, but continued talking to Duan Wei: “Who was that woman just now? Didn’t you recognize her?”

Wen Ci’s back stiffened.

“Forget it if you didn’t recognize her,” Zhou Wu said lazily. “What does it have to do with me? We’re together now, what do you think our relationship is?”

After hearing something on the other side, Zhou Wu raised his chin and smirked. “Mm. Hang up.”

From Zhou Wu’s response, Wen Ci guessed that Duan Wei had probably said “friend with benefits” or “lover.”

“The call’s over, Teacher Wen,” Zhou Wu reminded her.

Wen Ci snapped back to reality and slowly lowered her arm. “Oh.”

Zhou Wu, still carrying the moisture of a recent shower, reached out and gently touched her lower abdomen over her T-shirt. “Does your period hurt? I can have someone bring up a hot water bottle.”

Wen Ci shook her head. “No, there’s basically no reaction, so… I didn’t know it would come early. My period was supposed to come in three days.”

Zhou Wu nodded. Just then, the doorbell rang; the dinner he ordered had arrived.

The living room table was covered with food. It wasn’t suitable for work, but it was passable for eating.

Zhou Wu casually started a movie. “I didn’t know about your period, otherwise I would’ve added another soup.”

Wen Ci, lost in her thoughts, snapped back to attention when she heard him. “No need, this is plenty.”

Zhou Wu had started a highly-rated suspense movie. Wen Ci usually enjoyed such films, but today she couldn’t really get into it.

There was a question that kept circling around her mind. She wanted to ask but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate.

Seeing that Wen Ci had barely touched any of the food, Zhou Wu was about to order more.

“Wen Ci, I want to ask you something.” Wen Ci finally spoke, “If it’s inconvenient to answer, you don’t have to.”

Zhou Wu put down his phone. “Go ahead.”

“How many friends with benefits do you have?”

“…”

After a moment of silence, there was no response.

Wen Ci slowly calmed down. “I understand. You don’t want to answer, that’s fine—”

“How many does Teacher Wen have?” Zhou Wu countered.

“Just you.” Wen Ci answered.

“Mm, I only have you too.” Zhou Wu smiled faintly, “From the past until now.”

Wen Ci looked into his eyes, and her heart began to race again.

Just then, the phone rang, interrupting their conversation.

This time it was Wen Ci’s phone. She glanced at the caller ID. “It’s Yiqing, I’ll answer.”

As soon as she picked up, a heart-wrenching “Die for love” blared from the other end of the line.

The voice wasn’t Dou Yiqing’s, it was Qin Yun’s.

Zhou Wu clearly heard it too and turned his face away in disbelief.

“Wen Ci!” Dou Yiqing was holding a microphone, sounding like she had been drinking, her tone smug as she announced, “I won the rock-paper-scissors game just now! Qin Yun said he’ll take us on a vacation to an island this summer! His cooking is worse than—hahaha!”

Qin Yun: “I’m the one paying and you still say my cooking is bad! Dou Yiqing, don’t push it!!”

Dou Yiqing: “You lost to me! You’re not treating me, I’m just telling you the truth!”

Qin Yun: “Haha, I lost on purpose.”

Dou Yiqing: “Haha, what a stubborn man.”

The two drunk people were yelling at each other through the microphone, and Wen Ci couldn’t get a word in. A moment later, Zhou Wu’s phone rang. The caller ID showed Qin Yun.

Zhou Wu hung up without hesitation. After hanging up several times, Qin Yun could only send a voice message on WeChat.

Zhou Wu didn’t open the voice message but could hear through Wen Ci’s phone what was said.

Qin Yun: “Bro, seriously, you hang up on me in front of Dou Yi Qing, and I’m supposed to keep my pride? No, you need to make it up to us. Next month, take Dou Yi Qing and me on an island vacation!”

Dou Yiqing: “And Wen Ci!”

Qin Yun sent another message: “And Wen Ci!”

Dou Yiqing, holding her phone, frowned. “Wen Ci, why do I keep hearing WeChat notification sounds on your end?”

“There’s nothing. You must’ve heard wrong,” Wen Ci replied vaguely. “Yiqing, I’ve got something to do, let’s talk tomorrow.”

After hanging up, Wen Ci and Zhou Wu exchanged glances and laughed together.

Once they stopped laughing, Wen Ci looked worried. “Yiqing sounds like she’s drunk. Do you think she’s okay?”

“She’ll be fine. Qin Yun is reliable.” Zhou Wu propped his chin up. “About the island, what do you think? Want to go?”

Wen Ci was caught off guard by the question. She had completely written off the idea as part of Yiqing’s drunken ramblings. Yiqing might not even want to go after sobering up, and Wen Ci herself wasn’t sure how to convince her family to let her travel alone.

“Let’s go together.” Zhou Wu smiled at her. “I’ll take you scuba diving.”

“Okay.” Without a second thought, Wen Ci immediately agreed.