The air conditioner hummed softly, filling the living room with a cool, quiet ambiance.

The curtains were drawn, and it was just the two of them.

Even as they snuggled together, it didn’t feel too hot.

Lu Nian wasn’t sure how other people fell in love, but she loved being close to him, especially enjoying exploring his reactions.

She had never been in a relationship or been this close to a man before, so everything felt new and exciting.

His lips were beautiful, thin, and lightly colored, becoming more alluring and moist after kissing.

When they kissed, it was always Lu Nian who initiated, but it was always him who didn’t want to stop.

After they kissed, Qin Si didn’t let go, still gently holding her waist.

His grip wasn’t tight, but it was clear he didn’t want her to leave.

So, Lu Nian stayed.

The sofa wasn’t too narrow, but lying down together, they still felt a bit crowded.

Lu Nian half-sat in his arms, her legs lightly entwined with his.

She didn’t want to move either.

Seeing that it was still early and he was rarely this proactive, she decided to stay close a little longer.

She turned on the TV with the remote, finding a variety show playing.

Lu Nian glanced at it briefly.

Suddenly, she felt that her man was more interesting.

She lifted her face and kissed his beautiful lips, then slowly trailed kisses down his sharp jawline.

Suddenly, she bit his lip.

The sudden kiss made the blush on his fair skin, which had just faded, spread quickly again.

She clung to him, staying close.

His ears turned red, and he just held her like that.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” she asked innocently, shifting slightly in his lap.

He lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, and suddenly asked, “When will we get married?”

“Are you in such a hurry?” Lu Nian teased.

Was this the right time to discuss such a serious matter?

Seeing that she hadn’t responded, his face cooled slightly, and he looked towards the TV screen, his tone indifferent, “You said you would.”

You said you would marry me.

Was she having second thoughts?

Did she not want to marry him? Was it all just a game?

“I’m not going back on my word,” Lu Nian sighed, now able to sometimes understand what he was thinking.

This man was really hard to take care of—sensitive and proud.

His fingers loosened a bit, his expression returning to normal.

She smiled mischievously, “Are you in such a hurry to get married because you can’t wait to do bad things?”

He stiffened, not expecting her to say that.

In matters of the heart, Qin Si was actually quite traditional and conservative.

He was very thin-skinned and restrained himself a lot in these things, preferring to endure rather than seek intimacy.

But when she took the initiative, he was more passionate than anyone else.

“And… when I see other people propose, they have candlelit dinners, engagement rings, and get down on one knee to say, ‘I love you, will you marry me?'”

“Is this your proposal? You didn’t even call my name,” Lu Nian counted on her fingers.

Tilting her head, she said, “It feels like we’re negotiating a contract, but on the sofa at home.”

“It’s like you were asking me, ‘When do we sign the contract?'”

She mimicked his usual cold tone.

Qin Si, “…”

“I remember, last time at someone else’s wedding, you proposed to me,” Lu Nian said slowly.

Mentioning that disastrous proposal, where he was ultimately rejected, made him tense up, his lips tightly pressed together in embarrassment.

He felt extremely embarrassed and couldn’t say a word.

Lu Nian was inwardly delighted and prepared to continue teasing him.

He lowered his eyes and suddenly said, “You gave those guys your contact information and chatted with them.”

His memory was excellent; he remembered every detail of that day.

Was he actually arguing back?

When did she give her contact information? She had just exchanged a few words.

Did he really think she was interested in those men whose faces she could barely remember?

“Do you think I’m that desperate?” Lu Nian asked seriously, sitting up and reprimanding him righteously, “That I would go for just anyone?”

“Between the two of us, who is more eager?” she asked.

Qin Si, “…” Seeing that he didn’t answer.

Lu Nian jumped off the sofa, pretending to be angry, and ignored him.

When he tried to kiss her cheek, she dodged him.

His fingers stiffened.

He hugged her from behind, already admitting defeat.

He closed his eyes and said hoarsely, “It’s me.”

Lu Nian, “What’s you?”

He gritted his teeth, “It’s me who’s impatient.”

It was him who had long harbored inappropriate thoughts about her.

Lu Nian’s heart blossomed with joy.

She smiled, feeling she loved him even more for being like this.

She returned to the sofa with him, sitting in his arms, staying close.

This kind of intimacy was something he had fantasized about many times but never thought would come true.

His feelings were strange, a mix of joy and the satisfaction of finally obtaining something he had longed for years.

All the emotions she had brought him over the years—heartache, sweetness—he cherished them all.

As they sat together, not saying much, there was a peculiar sense of peace.

He had matured early and understood emotions well.

However, what he had mostly seen were emotionless transactions and had never witnessed normal romantic relationships, thus having no interest in dating.

In his youth, his crush had always been her. Due to their differences in status, he had considered it an impossible dream, too ashamed to mention it to anyone.

…Time had passed, and he still couldn’t talk about it. No one knew.

Back then, he never imagined this day would come.

They were very close. Lu Nian’s fingers played with his clean black hair, touching him without reservation.

There was a bottle of chilled peach wine on the table.

She took a sip, then kissed him, letting the refreshing taste of the wine and the sweetness of the peach linger between their lips.

“What are you thinking about?” Lu Nian asked.

“Qin Si, you’re really shy.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear, her voice soft and sweet, with a hint of the peach wine.

He was indeed thin-skinned.

Embarrassed, he blushed but couldn’t bring himself to let go.

Teasing him was too much fun.

Watching his every reaction was always refreshing.

She remembered something and brought up a serious topic, “Next month, I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?”

She just smiled and didn’t elaborate. “You’ll be very happy, I think.”

On TV, an evening drama was playing.

Lu Nian felt a bit sleepy, watching it casually.

Suddenly, she remembered something, and her smile slowly faded. “About my father…”

“He won’t be coming back for a while,” he said.

Lu Zhihong had been permanently expelled from Ancheng.

He didn’t want her to think he was acting on his own, so he left some room in his words. “You can visit him anytime you want.”

Lu Nian sighed softly, “He’ll probably be better off without me.”

Lu Zhihong’s attitude towards her had left her completely disillusioned.

She had also realized that he had no fatherly love for her, preferring money, power, and status.

She had done her best.

After their big argument in Nan Qiao, she felt that the last remnants of her attachment and feelings for him had vanished.

After that complete outburst, she had finally become herself—Lu Nian, not Lu Zhihong’s daughter.

She no longer had any lingering feelings for him.

The publication of her work “Black and White” was progressing smoothly.

The editor had received the sample books and called to arrange a meeting with Lu Nian to discuss some matters.

Lu Nian happened to be free that afternoon.

So, she decided to set the time for the meeting.

This area was full of upscale villa communities.

Hu Ruchu followed the address Lu Nian had given, parked below, and walked up, marveling at the high-end neighborhood.

Given her current commission fees and the new payment she was about to receive, Hu, the editor, wasn’t too surprised.

“She’s quite well off, being able to afford a house here,” thought Hu Ruchu as she approached the door.

“Lu Nian?” She rang the doorbell, and the door quickly opened to reveal a delicate, snowy white face.

“Yes,” the girl smiled warmly, opening the door. “Come in.”

Due to their online collaboration, they had chatted a lot, but this was their first in-person meeting.

Hu Ruchu had always assumed that since Lu Nian refused to hold signing events, she might be plain-looking.

But she was stunned—rarely did she see such a beautiful girl, with an unusual air of innocence and purity.

It was as if Lu Nian had been well-protected, retaining a touch of childhood and youthful naivety.

No wonder she could create such compelling manga.

“This is the sample book for ‘Black and White,'” Hu Ruchu said, taking the book out of her bag. “Lu Nian, take a look. The printing turned out very well.”

Lu Nian took the book.

The new book had a faint scent of ink.

Years ago, she had poured her heart into drawing these scenes, which now leapt off the pages.

Back then, she was incredibly lonely, her teenage woes tangled around her with no way to untie them, so she channeled everything into her art.

She sat cross-legged on the sofa.

This was just the first volume, a small-format comic, not very thick, and she knew the pages by heart, so she quickly went through it.

“It’s really well done,” Lu Nian said, closing the book gently. “Thank you all.”

“Everyone put in a lot of effort,” Hu Ruchu said. “We all want good sales, a strong debut.”

She pulled out a stack of letters. “These are from your readers, most of them fans of ‘Black and White.'”

Since Lu Nian had never provided her address, fans who wanted to send letters had mailed them to the ‘Black and White’ editorial office.

In this digital age, many people opt for direct messages, so those who take the trouble to write a letter by hand have sincere feelings.

“Your readers really want you to hold a signing event,” Hu Ruchu couldn’t help but try to persuade her again. “You’re so beautiful!”

“And such a skilled artist.”

“Why not hold one?” she urged. “We can coordinate the publicity immediately.”

Lu Nian remained silent, but this time she didn’t refuse outright.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Hu Ruchu’s eyes brightened, and she was about to continue when they heard a noise at the door, indicating someone had come in.

Seeing the man who entered, Hu Ruchu froze for a moment and then looked at Lu Nian inquiringly.

“That’s my boyfriend,” Lu Nian said.

Qin Si was reserved and cold around strangers.

He stood quietly, looking at Lu Nian.

“Wait for me, I’m discussing work. I’ll be with you in a bit,” Lu Nian mouthed.

He saw her message and silently agreed.

He retreated to the study, leaving them space to talk.