Her face flushed deeper, and she hesitated slightly, eyes lowering.

Flustered, she stammered, “I wasn’t thinking that at all.”

“If not, then why did you close your eyes?” Lu Huaicheng’s smile deepened, clearly enjoying her reaction.

“I… I was just really tired,” she said, her gaze drifting as she mumbled an excuse.

Lu Huaicheng chuckled softly.

The more he laughed, the more embarrassed she felt. She quickly pretended to be dizzy again and hurried back to the bedroom, diving under the covers.

After putting the dishes in the kitchen and grabbing a pillow from the closet, he returned to the bed.

Looking down at her, he chuckled, “You’re wrapped up so tight in the blanket. How am I supposed to cover myself?”

“Sorry, I’m just used to having the blanket to myself,” she said, nervously pulling the blanket aside to make space. “You can come lie down.”

Even though she’d asked him to stay, the moment he lay beside her, she suddenly felt nervous, her heartbeat quickening, and she instinctively turned her back to him.

In truth, she’d never shared a bed with anyone, let alone with a man.

Feeling him beside her, she took a few moments to adjust and relax.

She glanced back at him from the corner of her eye, noticing he was still looking at his phone.

Noticing her gaze, he looked up, teasing her with a playful smile. “Didn’t you say you were too tired to keep your eyes open? Why are you peeking?”

“…I just feel cold again. Could you hold me?” she asked softly, batting her lashes.

Lu Huaicheng’s dark eyes gleamed as he gazed at her, then he put down his phone, motioning for her to move closer.

She smiled slightly and snuggled up to him, her head resting near his neck. “Mr. Lu, you’re really warm.”

Her hair brushed lightly against his arm, and her warm breath tickled his neck.

With her hand wrapped lightly around his waist, she curled up next to him, like a small, cozy cat.

Lu Huaicheng tensed for a moment, his throat bobbing as he struggled to keep his composure.

After a moment, he quietly suggested, “Turn around. It’ll be easier for me to hold you that way.”

“But I think it’s more comfortable this way,” Xia Liyang tilted her face up, playfully blinking at him.

Her bright eyes shimmered with light, reflecting his deep-set features.

Lu Huaicheng frowned deeply, his thin lips moved as if to say something, but he ultimately remained silent, closing his eyes with a sigh of concession.

Seeing his surrender, Xia Liyang took the opportunity to hug his waist tightly, burying her face further into his broad chest.

His heartbeat was steady and strong, like waves crashing against the shore, gradually spilling over into her own heart.

Only one nightlight remained on beside the bed.

The dim lighting made the already minimal space between them feel even more ambiguous.

Xia Liyang’s nose brushed lightly against his shirt collar, sensing his subtle, fresh scent, and she momentarily forgot her original intention, simply savoring this indescribable warmth and comfort.

Her eyelids began to feel heavy.

It wasn’t until he shifted slightly, either from feeling too warm or uncomfortable from maintaining one position too long, that she snapped back to awareness. His subtle movement, from lying on his side to lying flat, caused her hand to slip from his waist and fall onto the blanket.

With a sudden jolt, Xia Liyang remembered why she’d held him in the first place—to find inspiration. Almost drifting off without realizing it wasn’t part of the plan.

She glanced up at him discreetly. He lay beside her, eyes closed, brows well-defined, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline.

His chest rose and fell with his steady breathing, as though he had fallen asleep.

With him seemingly asleep, Xia Liyang’s courage grew a bit.

She cautiously lifted her slender fingers, gently touching the prominent line of his Adam’s apple.

From the romance novels she’d read, she knew it was supposed to be a sensitive spot for men, and she couldn’t help but wonder if that was true.

As her soft fingers brushed over it, his Adam’s apple moved slightly before settling again.

Seeing no response, she furrowed her brows a little, wondering if novels were all exaggerations.

Shouldn’t he have woken up and impulsively kissed her by now?

After pondering a moment, she thought perhaps he was just sleeping too deeply to notice her touch.

So she adjusted her plan and decided to kiss him first, just to get a sense of what it felt like.

After all, he was sleeping so soundly that it wouldn’t put her in an awkward position.

Encouraging herself, Xia Liyang leaned on her elbow, quietly raising herself halfway up, and lowered her head to look at his handsome face.

Her gaze lingered on his beautifully shaped, thin lips.

She swallowed slightly.

As she leaned closer to his lips, her heartbeat quickened.

She wasn’t sure if it was nervousness and fear or a new, unfamiliar emotion she couldn’t quite name.

Just a kiss, a gentle one.

He wouldn’t notice.

Hovering just a couple of inches from his lips, Xia Liyang reassured herself, then closed her eyes and went for it.

His lips were softer and warmer than she’d imagined.

A subtle thrill shot through her skin, down her veins.

It was tingly and electrifying, hitting right at her heart.

So, this is what kissing feels like!

As she marveled at the sensation and was about to pull away, she suddenly felt a strong hand gripping the back of her head.

Xia Liyang froze, unable to react.

His tongue parted her lips and teeth, and the forceful kiss invaded her mouth.

The intensity left her breathless, almost depriving her of oxygen entirely.

The nearly physical jolt made her tremble, her mind went blank, and even her breath hitched.

Instinctively, her body tensed as she tried to break free.

But his long fingers threaded through her hair, holding her head firmly in place.

His other hand rested on her slender waist, pressing her fully into his embrace.

As his warmth engulfed her, her body grew softer, and her hands, which had been pressing against his shoulder, relaxed.

But he didn’t seem like an experienced kisser.

From start to finish, his movements were a bit uncoordinated.

And she, having no idea how to respond, only managed to tangle with him awkwardly.

Their clumsy kiss even caused a faint taste of blood to spread between them, adding to the tension and making the exchange even more heated.

When he finally let her go, Xia Liyang realized, embarrassed, that it was his lip she had bitten, breaking the skin.

Her heart skipped a beat in panic, and she looked down shyly, catching her breath. “I’m sorry, Mr. Lu…”

Lu Huaicheng’s eyes were dark, and he lightly brushed a finger over his bleeding lip. He glanced at Xia Liyang, who had curled back into the blankets.

Her black hair was slightly messy, her long lashes were wet, and the corners of her eyes were faintly red.

The blood on her lips, kissed into a soft blush, contrasted with her fair skin, making her look even more alluring.

The impulse he had suppressed surged up again; he wanted nothing more than to hold her close and feel every part of her.

But remembering that she still had a fever, a glimmer of restraint crossed his eyes.

He smiled warmly, his voice low and slightly hoarse. “Your teeth are quite sharp, like a little kitten’s.”

“…”

Xia Liyang’s face flushed even redder, and she tucked her head further into the blankets, mumbling, “It’s only because you surprised me like that.”

“And who was it that stole a kiss?” Lu Huaicheng’s smile deepened, his voice teasing.

“…Weren’t you supposed to be asleep!” Xia Liyang’s eyes widened, realizing he had tricked her.

“Oh, so when I’m asleep, you think you can do whatever you want to me?” Lu Huaicheng raised an eyebrow, his voice low and cool.

Xia Liyang tensed up, quickly shaking her head in denial. “I didn’t mean it like that… I was just… um…”

“Hmm?” The smile in his eyes grew deeper as he reached out, brushing aside a stray strand of her hair by her ear and gently tucking it back.

The cool touch of his fingers sent a shiver down her spine, and she murmured in a soft, trembling voice, “I’m just… curious about you.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Huaicheng let out a low laugh, his tone laced with an ambiguous meaning. “Some things are best left until you’ve recovered from your cold.”

Xia Liyang froze momentarily, realizing the hidden implications behind his words. Her ears reddened, and she turned away to escape. “I’m feeling really sleepy; I’ll go to sleep first.”

Lu Huaicheng noticed her flushed ears and, in a gentle, teasing voice, added, “Not feeling cold anymore, so you don’t need me to hold you?”

“… It’s still a bit cold,” Xia Liyang murmured shyly, curling up slightly.

He allowed a faint smile to play at the corner of his lips, reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist from behind, pulling her close. His warm chest pressed against her back, his hot breath softly brushing against her ear, making her heartbeat quicken once more.

Holding her breath, Xia Liyang slid slightly downward, trying to avoid his warm breaths. But as she moved, his hand, which was resting on her lower abdomen, accidentally grazed her chest.

The soft sensation jolted through his hand, and Lu Huaicheng’s throat tightened as his blood surged, leaving him momentarily frozen.

“Don’t move,” he muttered, quickly withdrawing his hand, his voice dropping to a murmur.

“Your breathing… tickles a bit.” Xia Liyang pressed her lips together, embarrassed as she tried to shift her position.

But then she felt something hard pressing against her lower back.