Lin Xi recognized the characters above. They were written by her grandfather; her home still had other works of his calligraphy hanging up. Her grandfather was a remarkable man who had made many contributions to Dragon Country.
"What’s wrong?" Xue Yang asked. "Speaking of which, you and Lin Zhanghai share a surname. Maybe you were part of the same family five hundred years ago. Go on, touch it. Soak up some of that scholarly aura."
"Really?"
Xue Yang had Lin Xi stand right in the middle of the Yanbei Gate archway. "Stand right there, and I’ll take a photo for you as a memento."
Lin Xi linked her arm with his. "I don’t want to take it alone. I want to take one with you."
"Okay."
Xue Yang switched his phone to the front-facing camera. They stood before the Yanbei Gate, their faces pressed close together, and took their first selfie.
Afterward, Lin Xi immediately grabbed his phone to look at the picture. In the photo, their faces were nestled together, one slightly in front of the other. He was handsome, she was beautiful, and the Yanbei Gate served as the perfect backdrop, making the image incredibly meaningful.
Lin Xi sent the selfie to her own phone without a second thought.
Perfect. I have another option for my wallpaper now. I can switch them out, a new one every day.
"It’s getting late. We should head back to the hotel," Xue Yang said.
"Okay."
Hand in hand, they walked toward the hotel. It wasn’t snowing, but the ice on the road was slippery, so they walked slowly. Still, Lin Xi nearly slipped.
"Careful!"
Fortunately, Xue Yang’s reflexes were sharp, and he caught her just in time, preventing a fall.
Lin Xi pouted. "But I specifically bought non-slip boots."
Xue Yang crouched in front of her. "Hop on. I’ll carry you back."
"I’m wearing a lot of clothes, so I’m pretty heavy."
"You’re not heavy. Come on."
Lin Xi hesitated for a moment before climbing onto Xue Yang’s back. His back was broad. Even though his thick coat made it a little uncomfortable, she still felt incredibly content. Supporting her bouncy little bottom with his hands, Xue Yang carried her onward, leaving a trail of deep and shallow footprints in the snow.
Just after Xue Yang had lifted Lin Xi onto his back, Cui Hao, Sun Yufei, and their friends were walking out of a nearby street-side eatery. The group consisted of three women and one man. Seeing a boy carrying a girl up ahead, they began to joke around.
"Seeing how lovey-dovey they are makes me want a sweet romance of my own," one of the girls said. "Cui Hao, is Xue Yang still coming tonight? It’s already midnight."
"Yeah, where is Xue Yang? Give him a call," another added.
Cui Hao chuckled. "Xue Yang probably isn’t going to make it. That guy said he’s rushing to finish a speech for the student council. Let’s just go to karaoke ourselves and not wait for him."
"Yufei, didn’t you say Xue Yang would be here?" another girl chimed in. "If he’s not coming, it’s not much fun for just us. You and Cui Hao go on ahead. It’s late, so we’re going back to get some sleep."
The two girls waved goodbye to Sun Yufei and Cui Hao, then turned and walked back toward the school. Once they were gone, only Cui Hao and Sun Yufei remained, which suited him perfectly.
Still, he asked in a gentlemanly way, "So... where should we go tonight?"
"Let’s go to a hotel."
"Okay."
「Back at their hotel.」
Lin Xi took out the meal Auntie Shen had packed in a thermal container. "Auntie Shen prepared this for you. Eat it while it’s hot."
It was another nutritious meal of four dishes and a soup. The soup, however, was a little strange, as it was filled with goji berries. "Auntie Shen said boys should drink more goji berry soup. It’s good for your health."
"..."
Why does that sound so strange?
"Make sure to finish it all."
"Of course. This is a token of Auntie Shen’s kindness. I can’t let it go to waste."
After they finished eating and rested for a bit, Lin Xi went to shower first. Xue Yang sat on the sofa, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had never imagined he would end up in a hotel room with Lin Xi tonight. It wasn’t that they hadn’t stayed in hotels before, but this situation... it felt different.
Half an hour later, Lin Xi emerged wrapped only in a bath towel. Her hair was bundled in another towel, and droplets of water trickled down her elegant neck, drawing attention to her long, pale, and perfectly straight legs. It was obvious she was wearing nothing underneath.
The thought of her pale, flawless skin... those perfect, rounded curves...
Xue Yang felt his blood begin to surge again.
"I’ll help you dry your hair."
"Okay."
Lin Xi sat on a stool while Xue Yang stood behind her. At that moment, they were like any married couple—the husband tenderly drying his wife’s hair while she quietly savored the feeling. The room was quiet and cozy, filled only with the hum of the hairdryer. The heating was set to a comfortable temperature, so she didn’t feel cold at all, even dressed in just a towel.
After her hair was dry, Xue Yang went to shower. His showers usually took ten minutes at most, but this time, he took an extra five. He was in there for a full fifteen minutes, so long that Lin Xi had almost dozed off by the time he came out.
Xue Yang wore a matching bath towel. He was tall and well-built, and the towel did an excellent job of showcasing his physique, giving him an air of ascetic beauty. He sat on the edge of the bed, drying his hair with another towel.
"Xue Yang, let me dry your hair," Lin Xi offered, climbing out of bed to grab the hairdryer.
Being a man, his hair wasn’t nearly as long as hers—which reached her bottom—so it was dry in moments.
"It’s late. Let’s get to sleep."
Adjusting the lights to a soft glow, they lay down on the bed. Lin Xi naturally snuggled into his armpit, using his arm as a pillow. It was her favorite way to sleep.
Xue Yang let her get comfortable, but it seemed his little Xiao Naimao was a bit restless tonight. After settling in, she started to squirm.
He gently patted her little bottom. "Stop fooling around. Go to sleep."
She was still for less than two minutes before her hands began to wander again. Just as her hand drifted toward his lower abdomen, Xue Yang seized the mischievous culprit. With a swift movement, he flipped over, reversing their positions. Now, he was on top, and Lin Xi was beneath him.
Their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling in the air. "Little girl, don’t fan the flames. You can’t handle the consequences."
"I just wanted to see."
"See what?"
"Whether or not you’d react."
"I’m a normal adult male, thank you very much."
"So, you’re saying you *did* react. In that case... how about I do you a favor and help you out?"
"You’re a real saint."
"Of course. I’ve always been a good person."
"But that won’t be necessary. Be good and go to sleep."
"Xue Yang, can you tell me how you’re holding back?"
"If you say one more word, I’m not sure I’ll be able to."
"You know, you don’t actually have to hold back."
"..."
"Xue Yang, can I just..."
"No!"
"Just one touch."
"No!"
"Don’t be so stingy!"
"..."
PS: Thanks for reading!