Qi Yu was stunned.

She remembered the story wasn’t supposed to go this way. What should she say? What could she say? Had she really been rejected so abruptly?

Qi Yu clutched the corner of the blanket, feeling nervous and embarrassed. If Xu Jingqian rejected her, she would be humiliated. She wasn’t afraid of embarrassment, but this was too much!

She looked at Xu Jingqian, not daring to speak. He looked back at her, his gaze inexplicably intense.

“You don’t dare to watch it alone, and then what?” Qi Yu’s mind raced, but she could tell from Xu Jingqian’s tone that he wasn’t rejecting her. She remained still, like a cat caught by the tail, startled. But the hand that caught her was now gently stroking her spine, coaxing her to speak. “What do you want to do, or what do you want me to do?”

“Can we… watch it together?” Qi Yu stammered.

Xu Jingqian hummed in agreement.

As soon as he spoke, Qi Yu scooted over to make room for him.

It didn’t really matter whether she moved or not; Xu Jingqian just sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against the headboard, his expression indifferent as he watched the TV screen.

Qi Yu hugged a pillow, her gaze involuntarily drawn to Xu Jingqian. She had invited him to watch the movie together, but now that he was here, she couldn’t focus on the film.

“Do you think this movie is good?” Qi Yu tried to find a topic to discuss.

“It’s okay.”

His profile was strikingly handsome, and Qi Yu couldn’t help but steal a few glances.

“Do you find it scary?”

“It’s okay.”

Qi Yu had never met anyone as taciturn as Xu Jingqian. Every time she tried to start a conversation, he would dismiss her with just a word or two. She had really tried her best.

Qi Yu rested her head on her arm and decided it was better not to talk.

When the blue progress bar at the bottom of the movie screen had about a quarter left, the cast suddenly disappeared, and the paused variety show resumed playing. “Why did it stop…” Qi Yu muttered, looking for the remote. She then noticed Xu Jingqian, who had fallen asleep with his head tilted to the side.

When did he fall asleep? No wonder he hadn’t made a sound until now…

His breathing was shallow; Qi Yu could only hear it because she was close to him. She could also smell the faint scent of green tangerine from the bath products provided by the homestay. She had noticed this when she replaced and packed them. Qi Yu was a genuine fragrance enthusiast, and she really liked this scent.

“How come his eyelashes are longer than mine…” Qi Yu’s eyelashes were extensions, and compared to Xu Jingqian’s, she felt that Nuwa, the goddess who created humans, had been unfair. Not only was he incredibly handsome, but even his sleeping face was devastatingly attractive.

As if possessed, Qi Yu leaned in very close, almost about to kiss him.

“What are you doing?” Xu Jingqian opened his eyes and met her downcast gaze, his voice still groggy from sleep.

Qi Yu paused, looking at him without a hint of embarrassment at being caught. In fact, she felt relieved that Xu Jingqian had woken up; otherwise, she really would have stolen a kiss.

“Xu Jingqian, you are so good-looking.” Qi Yu didn’t hesitate to compliment him. She swallowed, “I want to kiss you.”

Xu Jingqian wasn’t sure if this was a dream, but he felt like he wasn’t fully awake. In the few seconds he hesitated, Qi Yu had already leaned on his shoulder and kissed him. His lips were cool and soft, like the ice cream she had tasted earlier that day.

In just an instant, Xu Jingqian was fully awake. The minty freshness transferred to his mouth through the kiss, lingering on his tongue.

There was no taste of alcohol; Qi Yu wasn’t drunk.

Xu Jingqian grabbed Qi Yu’s arm, which was thin enough for him to wrap his hand around completely. He pushed her away, but she pulled him by his clothes, and they both sank into the blankets, their lips meeting again.

“Qi Yu,” Xu Jingqian called her name.

Qi Yu could tell he was a bit angry, but not very. She obediently stopped and looked at him. “Are you going to reject me now?”

Xu Jingqian couldn’t figure out what Qi Yu was up to. During the day, her attitude towards him was hot and cold, but now she had kissed him out of the blue, saying she was afraid of him but acting without a trace of fear. He stared at her reddened lips, saying nothing.

“Does your silence mean you’re okay with it?” Qi Yu gave Xu Jingqian the impression of being harmless. “So, can I continue kissing you?”

Just as she was about to kiss him again, Xu Jingqian dodged her.

He said, “No.”

This time, he seemed genuinely angry.

As soon as Xu Jingqian left, the room was filled only with the sound of the TV. Qi Yu scratched her head, looking at the disheveled bed, which might give the wrong impression that something had happened between them.

In the few minutes after Xu Jingqian left, Qi Yu seriously reflected on her actions.

She knew why she had kissed Xu Jingqian—because he was handsome. She also knew her behavior was wrong, but she couldn’t help herself.

She had apologized to Xu Jingqian, but she still couldn’t understand. If it was all her doing, why did Xu Jingqian kiss her back and even use his tongue?