"Walk with me?" Li Ruoshui asked on a whim. Without waiting for a response, she suddenly looped her arm through his, and they started walking forward.
A light, fresh fragrance emanated from her. She wore a blue cardigan and white capri pants that complemented her soft, flowing black hair. A woman like Li Ruoshui would be the center of attention anywhere.
The road was long, and many passersby brushed past them.
At first glance, they would be astounded by Li Ruoshui’s beauty. Then, almost provocatively, they would size up the man beside her—Shen Fanyun—wondering what kind of man could possess someone as exquisite as her.
However, Shen Fanyun was devastatingly handsome, enough to make most onlookers shrink back in awe. Furthermore, his current demeanor was unrivaled among his peers.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman were, by nature, a perfect match.
"How have you been these past years?" Li Ruoshui hesitated for a long time before carefully asking.
Shen Fanyun smiled. "Not bad."
"No, you haven’t been doing well," Li Ruoshui said, shaking her head as if she could see right through him. Shen Fanyun’s expression stiffened, and a single sigh said it all.
"What’s past is past. The fact that you are well now is the greatest blessing."
"Heh, do you know? Seeing you today made me really happy. It’s like..." ...a treasure from my youth, one that had been cruelly trampled and thrown away right in front of me. Thrown so far that I thought I could never have it again. Sigh...
Li Ruoshui sighed, her gaze drifting toward the sky. Before she knew it, tears began to glimmer in her eyes. Worried Shen Fanyun would see, she quickly turned her head and carefully wiped them away, but despite her efforts, her eyes only stung more intensely.
How wonderful. In this world, could any other words, no matter how magnificent or beautiful, possibly compare to that simple phrase to describe this reunion after a decade? He’s still here. How wonderful. He’s living well. How wonderful. He has appeared again in my world—that is the best.
Shen Fanyun noticed the change in her emotions and subconsciously patted her shoulder. "Thank you."
"Thank me for what?" Li Ruoshui asked in return.
Shen Fanyun said, "I’m grateful that in this world, there’s still someone who truly cares about me."
"Is that all?" Just the regular concern between ordinary classmates?
Li Ruoshui tilted her head, her long black hair framing her bright eyes and pearly teeth as she stared calmly at Shen Fanyun.
Shen Fanyun smiled and remained silent.
Before they knew it, they had been walking for an hour. As the night deepened and the streets quieted, Li Ruoshui began to yawn behind her hand, clearly growing sleepy.
"I’ll take you back," Shen Fanyun urged.
Li Ruoshui shook her head and casually pointed to a nearby hotel. "I’ve booked a room. I’m staying here tonight."
"Will you walk me up?"
Shen Fanyun wanted to refuse, but he was concerned for her safety, so he reluctantly agreed. When did this girl even book the room?
The room was large, over a hundred square meters, with floor-to-ceiling windows. After opening the door, Shen Fanyun inserted the room card. As the lights flickered on, he was about to bid Li Ruoshui farewell, but she, seemingly drowsy, bypassed him and went straight into the bathroom.
Shen Fanyun raised an eyebrow. Is she really that sleepy, or has she forgotten a man is in the room?
WHOOSH.
The sound of a toilet flushing echoed from the bathroom. Shen Fanyun’s head was spinning. Did she really just use the toilet without closing the door... in front of a man? Judging by the sound, she must have been holding it in for a while, desperate to finally empty her bladder.
However, something even more outrageous happened. Just as Shen Fanyun stood there stunned, he heard the sound of the shower starting, followed by a faint rustling. Is she taking a shower? With the door still open?
The light illuminated the glass door, turning her graceful figure into a beautiful silhouette. Her curvaceous body was fully revealed to Shen Fanyun. Even though it was just her shadow, her overwhelmingly tempting figure was enough to make any man’s blood race at a single glance.
Shen Fanyun shook his head, realizing his thoughts were running wild. Right now, he had only one idea: leave. Unlike with Su Xiyang, he and Li Ruoshui had known each other for over a decade. They were acquaintances. In such an ambiguous situation, Shen Fanyun knew that lingering would only make things awkward for them both.
"Are you still there?" Just as Shen Fanyun turned to leave, Li Ruoshui’s voice called out.
At that moment, Li Ruoshui emerged, wrapped in a white bathrobe with her wet hair draped over her shoulders. She was like a lotus emerging from the water.
"I thought you had left without saying goodbye," she said, her long, damp eyelashes flickering. "In such a big room, aren’t you worried I might get scared sleeping alone?
"Girls are naturally timid, don’t you know?"
Shen Fanyun said, "This isn’t appropriate."
"What isn’t appropriate?" Li Ruoshui asked, clearly feigning ignorance. She casually grabbed a bottle of soda, opened it, and sat down on the sofa, stretching out her long, fair legs. Bathed in the light, Shen Fanyun felt as if he could see every tiny pore on her skin.
A living, breathing temptation!
After three to five minutes, Li Ruoshui asked with feigned curiosity, "Aren’t you going to take a shower?"
Shen Fanyun was baffled. Why would I take a shower?
After a moment of stunned silence, he chuckled. This sudden turn of events was strikingly similar to what had happened with Su Xiyang just a couple of days ago. That night, at the Yunxiao Hotel, Su Xiyang had asked him the very same question. Shen Fanyun never expected to find himself in this situation again so soon.
"I specifically booked a large room. It should be enough for one more person," Li Ruoshui smiled and pointed at the sofa, implying that he could sleep there. After all, the sofa was even larger and softer than the bed. It was comfortable enough for a solid night’s sleep, with an experience not much different from lying in an actual bed.
If Shen Fanyun refused again, he would seem cold and uncaring.
"I’ll go get washed up," he said, reflexively taking off his jacket.
After Shen Fanyun went into the bathroom, Li Ruoshui propped her chin in her hands, as if she had just made an incredibly difficult decision. She stood up, turned off the main lights, and left only the bedside lamp on.
Then, she threw her white bathrobe onto the carpet and, all alone, slipped under the white duvet.
The atmosphere immediately fell silent.
All Li Ruoshui could hear was her own racing heartbeat and her quickening breath. She didn’t know why she was doing this, but she just wanted to... she really, really wanted to...
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice when Shen Fanyun came out and lay down on the sofa.
The dim light flickered, outlining his features, indistinct yet discernible. Li Ruoshui lay on her side, propping her chin up with one hand. It had been so many, many years since she had last seen this face, the one that used to haunt her every dream.