◎ You didn’t take any medicine, did you? ◎

Tao Xiaoxi tossed and turned on the bed for ten minutes, unable to fall asleep. There was a burning sensation inside her, whether it was in her heart or her body. She was parched, more and more restless, and even felt the urge to go to the bathroom.

She tried to break free from his embrace, wanting to get out of the blanket, but halfway through, she stopped. She realized she wasn’t wearing anything on top.

Chen Fang propped himself up on one arm. “What’s wrong?”

Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t even bear his voice now. His deep, hoarse tone was a dangerous temptation to her ears, stirring something inside her that she didn’t even know she had. She didn’t think she had ever been so impatient before.

She gave him a distracted response, “It’s nothing, you go back to sleep. I’ll just use the bathroom.”

Using the bathroom was secondary; she urgently needed to get away from him for a moment. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would lose control and push him onto the bed. Though that wouldn’t be the worst thing, the real issue was whether she’d be able to face him afterward.

She had no idea where her pajama top had been thrown, so she couldn’t get out of bed, not even with the room darkened.

Tao Xiaoxi lay still, not moving.

Chen Fang, lying next to her, watched her. “Why aren’t you going?”

She hesitated, “Can you… help me get my pajama top?”

Chen Fang concealed the laughter in his voice. “The room is dark, even if you don’t wear anything, I won’t be able to see what I shouldn’t.”

This implied he wasn’t going to help.

Tao Xiaoxi felt irritated by his lazy, indifferent attitude. He was the one who had taken her clothes off, and now he was just going to drop everything and not care. He was worse than a rogue.

She assessed the situation, realizing there was no point in worrying about whether or not to wear her top, since he had already seen everything. She got out of bed, parting her hair behind her shoulders and letting it drape in front of her chest, enough to cover herself. She reached down for her slippers on the floor, then stood up, quickly ran a few steps, bent over to grab her top, wrapped them around herself, and hurried out of the bedroom.

Chen Fang, having adapted to the darkness, watched her as she moved with quick, bouncy steps. His eyes narrowed with every movement, and even his temples seemed to pulse with each beat.

Tao Xiaoxi went to the bathroom, put on her top, and splashed some cold water on her hands and neck to cool down the burning heat. She wandered to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of warm water, drank it down, and still felt thirsty. She needed something colder, something that would cool her to the core. She pulled some ice cubes from the fridge and dropped them into the glass.

“Can you drink cold water right now?”

The sudden voice behind her startled Tao Xiaoxi. Her hand jerked, nearly causing her to drop the glass.

Chen Fang reached out, took the glass from her hand, and drank the remaining water in one gulp, noticing the damp traces left on the rim.

Tao Xiaoxi watched him swallow slowly, and the irritation she had been suppressing began to flare up again. Why did he have to drink from her glass? If he wanted water, he could pour his own.

After finishing the water, Chen Fang refilled the glass with warm water and handed it back to her. “You’re still on your period; you can’t have cold drinks.”

Tao Xiaoxi wanted to scream inside, My period is over!

But on the surface, she calmly took the glass. “Thank you.”

Chen Fang didn’t let go of the glass. He held it to her lips. “Let me feed you.”

She refused. She wasn’t a child.

He didn’t let go.

Their eyes locked, and Tao Xiaoxi eventually relented. Fine, I’ll drink it.

She took a sip, then another, and ended up drinking most of the glass, though it didn’t help much. It wasn’t as satisfying as the ice-cold water had been.

“Not going to drink more?” Chen Fang’s eyes never left her lips, now moist from the water.

Tao Xiaoxi shook her head.

Chen Fang took the glass away and casually unbuttoned the top two buttons of his pajama shirt. “Are you hot? I feel like the room’s a bit warm.”

Tao Xiaoxi’s eyes landed on his slightly open chest, and she tried to look away, but her mind wouldn’t cooperate. She wasn’t just hot; she was burning up.

Chen Fang’s hands lingered on the next button, as if he was about to unbutton it. Tao Xiaoxi felt impatient, Unbutton it already if you’re hot.

It seemed he understood her unspoken thoughts, as he unbuttoned another one.

He continued unbuttoning and asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”

Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t bear this slow torture. She quickly turned to leave the room. “I’m fine. I must just be tired. I’m going back to sleep.”

Chen Fang blocked her way with his arm, pulling her into a light embrace and placing her on the dining table.

He leaned in, and she tilted her head back. There was barely any space between them.

Tao Xiaoxi’s heart raced, but she kept her composure. “What are you doing?”

“Do you think you’ll fall asleep if you go back?” Chen Fang’s hand traced her lips gently.

She wouldn’t be able to sleep.

In that case, maybe neither of them should sleep.

Her hand found its way to his neck, and the loose sleeves of her pajamas slipped down, exposing her smooth, soft arms, catching his attention.

Tao Xiaoxi lifted her chin slightly, her breath brushing against his hand and lips. “Carry me back to the room.”

Chen Fang’s eyes darkened. “What happens after I carry you back?”

Tao Xiaoxi gave the obvious answer. “Sleep.”

“Just sleep?”

“What else could we do at this hour?” Tao Xiaoxi’s face was innocent as she lightly brushed her fingers against his Adam’s apple.

The fire that had been suppressed in Chen Fang’s veins surged again. His breathing grew heavy and fast. He kissed her, his lips pressing harder, more forcefully. “If I want to do something else, would you let me?”

Tao Xiaoxi didn’t answer.

Chen Fang shifted from kissing to biting her lip, asking again, “Would you? Tao Xiaoxi.”

Tao Xiaoxi didn’t want to answer; she didn’t want to slap herself in the face. It would hurt.

Chen Fang’s hand moved lower. “How about I check to see if you can let me?”

Tao Xiaoxi panicked and pressed his hand down. “You already know, why check?”

It was obvious now that he knew she had been lying. At first, she hadn’t realized, allowing him to tease her.

“Why lie to me?” His hand tightened as if he were waiting for her response, threatening to go further.

Tao Xiaoxi’s lips trembled. Her voice was almost a whisper. “I’m scared.”

Chen Fang had been holding onto his desire for so long, and Tao Xiaoxi had been provoking him during the day. She might have been happy then, but now that things were getting serious, she couldn’t help but be terrified. What was even more terrifying was the unknown she had experienced firsthand.

Chen Fang pulled her closer, wrapping her legs around his waist, and kissed her deeply. “As long as you know you’re scared.”

Tao Xiaoxi knew she was done for, but before the end, she wanted some clarity.

“How did you know I was lying?”

Chen Fang didn’t answer her, his lips and hands occupied with other things.

“Think for yourself.”

Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t figure it out. Her brain was a mess, and she wondered if he had overheard her conversation with Grandma, but he hadn’t been in the kitchen then. The person in her arms clearly wasn’t happy with her distraction, so he increased his intensity.

The moment Tao Xiaoxi was suddenly filled up, she regained a moment of clarity because of the pain. Then something cold was shoved into her hand, it seemed like a phone. Her mind, muddled like being submerged in swampy mud, took a moment to process, and she asked in confusion, “Why are you giving me your phone?” Her words were broken and intermittent.

Chen Fang’s sweat, dripping from his hair, slid down his jaw to her eye corner. He simply replied with two words, short but powerful.

“Timing.”

…

Have you ever seen the stars at one in the morning during winter?

Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t. She was too busy with timing.

Have you ever heard the north wind at three in the morning during winter?

Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t heard it. She was too busy with the next round of timing.

Have you ever seen the moon at five in the morning during winter?

Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t. She was too busy timing the next round.

Have you ever seen the fish belly white sky at seven in the morning during winter?

Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t seen it. She had passed out.

She would probably never open that timer on her phone in this life or the next. It was filled with her blood and tears.

Tao Xiaoxi had learned a deep lesson: never provoke someone recklessly, or you won’t even know how you died.

When she woke up again, she couldn’t tell the time. The room was still pitch black. Was it still dark outside, or had she ascended to heaven directly? Tao Xiaoxi turned on the light, closed her eyes, and opened them again, glancing at the ceiling. She confirmed she was still alive, though being alive felt worse than being dead. Her body felt as though it had been crushed by a jack, with aches all the way to her bones. She dragged her heavy body to lean against the headboard, picked up her phone, and checked the time. It was 5:49 PM.

Well, at least she didn’t sleep through the entire night and could still catch dinner.

There was a noise outside the door. Tao Xiaoxi wanted to slip back into bed and pretend to be asleep, but her body had lost its flexibility. She could only stay still, leaning against the headboard, pretending everything was fine.

Chen Fang opened the door. “Awake?”

Tao Xiaoxi nodded expressionlessly as an answer.

Chen Fang stood by the bed, noticing the bruises under her eyes. His conscience pricked him for torturing her too much last night.

“Uncomfortable?”

Tao Xiaoxi glanced at him, knowing he was asking on purpose. She wanted him to know how miserable she was. “You try being run over by a truck for a whole night.”

She paused, realizing the roughness of her voice. It sounded as if she had been smoking, hoarse beyond reason.

Chen Fang smiled. “Although I’m heavy, I don’t think I’m as heavy as a truck.”

“Yes, you are.” Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t stand the smugness in his eyes. She wouldn’t accept any objections.

Right now, she felt like a dried-up, limp persimmon, while he was like a shiny big dog under the scorching sun. The contrast was stark, and her heart was filled with imbalance.

He sat on the bed. “How about tonight, you take the top, press me for a whole night, and get your revenge? How’s that?”

…

What is going on here?

Tao Xiaoxi had just opened her eyes for a few minutes, and the embarrassment that had not fully dissipated began to rise. What had she even said to him? What kind of bizarre conversation had they just had? Was her mind still asleep, or had it been sucked away by him?

She rubbed her head hard, trying to wake herself up.

“I’m hungry.” She quickly changed the topic.

Chen Fang noticed and stopped pushing. “Dinner’s ready. Can you get up on your own, or do you need me to carry you?”

… She gathered her strength and walked to the table. She refused to let him laugh at her. Although she was physically weak, she wasn’t so weak that she couldn’t get out of bed after spending a night with him.

Chen Fang placed the food and soup in front of her, then brought a glass of water.

Tao Xiaoxi was somewhat satisfied with his aftercare. She drank half the glass in one go, feeling the burning sensation in her throat subside.

Chen Fang reached out to wipe the water droplets from her lips and, under her gaze, put it in his own mouth. He raised his eyebrows, indicating it tasted good.

Tao Xiaoxi wasn’t sure if it was because of the deeper interaction, but today, seeing him felt different from before. She couldn’t explain exactly how, but before, he was just Chen Fang to her. Now, it seemed as though he had some kind of label on him, a label that read, “Belongs to Tao Xiaoxi, not to be infringed upon by others.” This feeling was something the marriage certificate couldn’t provide, the wedding couldn’t provide, and the extra rings couldn’t provide.

He now carried her scent. That was probably the most thorough and direct form of belonging.

Chen Fang snapped his fingers to bring her wandering thoughts back to reality. “I’m not sure if we understand each other better now, or if this is the depth you wanted?”

Tao Xiaoxi sneaked out a finger. “I only have one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“You didn’t take any medicine, did you?”

It wasn’t that she was deliberately provoking him. The contrast was just too sharp. Think about it—last time, you scored one point. This time, you scored fifty-nine. That wasn’t enough to raise suspicion, but this time, you scored a hundred, even answering the bonus questions correctly. It made one wonder. A qualitative change needed a chemical reaction to trigger.

“Tao-Xiao-Xi!”

Chen Fang clenched his fist, nearly slamming it on the table. He wanted to throw her back to bed and repeat last night’s process.

Tao Xiaoxi smirked.

See, his reactions were always just as she expected. She couldn’t help but tease him.

She looked at him, amused at his frustration, while gently rubbing her sore back.

She finally got her revenge for the repeated timing last night.