Summer in Your Name - 88

Sheng Xia felt like a giant panda, being paraded around by Wang Lianhua and Sheng Mingfeng to be “shown off.”

Throughout the entire Spring Festival period, Sheng Xia spent almost every day at banquets. It had been years since she’d seen Wang Lianhua’s friends, and just as long since she’d met the Sheng family relatives.

These meals always started with, "Look who it is—the top student from Heqing University!" and ended with, "If my child were this accomplished, I'd laugh in my dreams. XX, you need to learn more from your sister Sheng Xia, understand?"

The rest of the time, Sheng Xia was stuck at driving school. She had passed the Theory Test during the summer, but failed the Closed-Course Driving Test. Sheng Mingfeng had found someone to tutor her privately, but she still failed the retake. So, she could only stubbornly keep trying during the winter break.

Hou Junqi, finally back in the country, started a small group chat, insisting they had to get together. Everyone was excited, of course they'd love to meet up, but they couldn't settle on a time. After days of back-and-forth, Sheng Xia stopped following the details. She just saw the final date Hou Junqi posted in the group announcement. She was free then, so without thinking, she replied in the group: "Any time works for me!"

Then, Zhang Shu replied: "…Are you sure?"

Hou Junqi: "Han Xiao is going abroad with his mom and won't be back until the 8th. I have to return to Canada on the 10th. The 9th is the only day that works. Everyone, just make it work."

Wu Pengcheng: "Look at the great day you picked. Valentine's Day. If I can bring a plus-one, I'm in."

Liu Hui'an: "Isn't your girlfriend at your university? Is she coming to Nanli?"

Wu Pengcheng: "Who said I was bringing my girlfriend?"

Han Xiao: "Brother Cheng, one at school, one at home?"

Liu Hui'an: "Don't."

Zhang Shu: "@Wu Pengcheng Then don't come. Disgusting."

Wu Pengcheng: "It was a joke, chill!”

Hou Junqi: "Not funny, Old Wu."

Xin Xiaohe: "This isn't your boy's-only chat, okay? Keep this up and I'll kick you out. @Wu Pengcheng"

Wu Pengcheng: "My bad, my bad, I was wrong, Sister Xin."

Yang Linyu: "@Xin Xiaohe, Babe, no group attacks."

Wu Pengcheng: "Look, look, the lovebirds are already at it. It's gonna be sickeningly brutal later."

Hou Junqi: "There's another pair here. @Zhang Shu @Sheng Xia"

Sheng Xia: "Honest Abe meme.jpg"

Zhang Shu: "@Sheng Xia, Babe, no group attacks."

Wu Pengcheng: "Where's my knife?"

Hou Junqi: "Bloody knife.jpg, here."

Xin Xiaohe: "@Sheng Xia, Babe, bring Taozi! Monkey King, don't worry, you’ve got your destined match, remember?” 

Xiao Mai: "Yes, yes! I heard @Sheng Xia's bestie is super cute! Need to squeezeeeee!"

Lanlan: "Bring her, bring her! There are more boys than us girls boohoo!"

When it came to playing matchmaker for their bros, the guys were always extra enthusiastic. They were naturally very welcoming of Taozi and immediately bombarding Hou Junqi with unsolicited advice on how to impress a girl.

Sheng Xia: "I'll ask her then."

Tao Zhi's reserve lasted less than three minutes before she nodded in agreement.

The squad was successfully formed. Hou Junqi then started rallying that since it was so hard to get everyone together, they couldn't just have a meal and call it a day. After all, in the years to come, it’d only get harder to have a full gathering like this.

That was the truth. Once in university, everyone was busy with their own futures. Gatherings like this would become fewer and farther between.

So, the plan evolved into a two-day, one-night trip. On the morning of the 8th, they'd all go back to the Affiliated High School. It just so happened that the younger students would have started their extra classes, and the teachers would all be around. They could visit the teachers, and in the afternoon, once Han Xiao was back, they'd head to Lianli.

The Lianli barbecue trip they'd planned last summer was finally happening.

When Wang Lianhua heard the destination, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who did you say you're going with?"

"Taozi, Xiaohe, Xiaohe's roommate, and a few guys from our class…" Sheng Xia's voice grew softer as she spoke.

Wang Lianhua: "How many guys?"

Sheng Xia dutifully counted on her fingers: "Six."

"And girls?"

"Five."

"How are the five of you going to stay?"

“We’ve done three to a room before when we traveled…”

Wang Lianhua pondered for a long time, her fingers lightly tapping on her knee. Finally, she made her demand: "Then take your little sister with you. You two can share a room."

This…

Although A-Xuan was very outgoing and sociable, wasn't this a bit inappropriate?

Just as Sheng Xia was feeling troubled, Wang Lianhua added, "If you feel bad about it, have your dad arrange a car with a driver. Consider it compensation for bringing an extra family member. That'll make things more convenient for you all too."

"Mom…"

"Either that, or don't go. Going out with such a large group, staying out overnight, you're bound to go wild."

"…"

Sheng Xia couldn't understand; wouldn't bringing A-Xuan make it even wilder?

Wu Qiuxuan was all for it, hands and feet raised in agreement. She loved hanging out with people older than her.

Sheng Xia was fretting in her room, too embarrassed to bring it up in the group chat. She felt like she was the only one with all these complications.

Wu Qiuxuan slipped into Sheng Xia's room, hugged her arm, and wheedled, "Sis, please let me go! I promise I won't cause trouble! I'll let you do whatever you want and won't get in the way! And I'll give Mom a perfect report, how about that?"

"What report?"

“Why do you think Mom’s making me go? Obviously, she’s worried you’ll… you know, get out of line?"

"…"

"Don't worry, I'm on Brother Zhang Shu's side."

"…"

Sheng Xia had no choice but to mention it first to Xin Xiaohe, and then also to Zhang Shu. Xin Xiaohe announced it in the group chat, and just like that, it was settled. Everyone was happy that the transportation issue was solved.

Early on the morning of the 8th, the group from Class 6 met up at the school's north gate. Wang Wei came out personally to greet them, calling out from a distance, "Look who’s here! Let’s see if university has changed any of you!”  

As he drew closer, he hugged the guys one by one. “Zhang Shu, you little rascal, you went to Haiyan University and didn't even get rough around the edges? Looks like you’re living the good life, not studying hard enough!”

“Hou Junqi, why’re you skinnier after going abroad? No good food over there?”

"Qi Xiulei! Your glasses got even thicker? Must’ve been staying up all night reading novels in university?"

"Yang Linyu! How did you end up with Sister Xin? Look how tan you are…"

"Old Wang! Speak properly!" Xin Xiaohe roared angrily. "What do you mean 'how did you end up with me'? What's wrong with ending up with me?"

Yang Linyu grinned. “I’m the lucky one, I’m the lucky one.”

When Wang Wei looked at the girls, he was all smiles, like looking at his own daughters. The more he looked, the more pleased he was, exclaiming, "Each and every one of you is getting more and more beautiful! If I saw you on the street, I really wouldn't dare recognize you!"

Lanlan: "We'll recognize you, that's enough!"

Wang Wei took them to see the class he was currently teaching.

This year, he was still in charge of a graduating class, an experimental one at that.

The previous homeroom teacher of this class was on maternity leave. Coincidentally, she also taught chemistry. Because of his outstanding teaching results, the school leadership had high hopes for Wang Wei. It was a case of stepping up in a crisis.

Class 6 was truly Wang Wei's pride.

For a regular class to produce a provincial top scorer, another admitted to Heqing University, one to the University of Pennsylvania, and over half the class securing spots at top-tier 211 University, it had to be said, the results were nothing short of remarkable.

The class was in the middle of a math lesson when they arrived. After exchanging a few words with the teacher, Wang Wei turned to Zhang Shu and asked him to come up and say a few words.

Caught completely off guard, Zhang Shu looked at Wang Wei with a mix of helplessness and disdain. "Wouldn't it be better to let them focus on the lesson?"

"You don't understand the power of role models, the importance of spiritual guidance. If I hadn’t had those heart-to-hearts talks with you all back then…” Wang Wei launched into one of his earnest, long-winded speeches. The group exchanged glances, lowering their heads to hide their smiles.

Here we go again. Old Wang really hadn't changed a bit.

“Class, beside me is last year’s provincial top scorer. You probably all know him. My student, your senior, Zhang Shu. Those standing by the door are also your seniors. Some are from Heqing University, some from Haiyan University of Science and Technology, and some from Dongzhou University. Today, they've come back to visit me…"

When he mentioned these shining university names, the smile muscles on Wang Wei's face practically pushed his cheekbones through his skin.

"Zhang Shu, you be the representative. Say a few words, share your study methods, or a bit of encouragement for your juniors!”

 

Thunderous applause ensued. Under Wang Wei's expectant gaze, Zhang Shu smiled and asked the class, "Is Old Wang pretty annoying?"

Wang Wei's face fell. The class erupted in suppressed laughter.

"We thought so too back then, pretty annoying," Zhang Shu said, glancing towards where Sheng Xia and the others stood. Sheng Xia and the others also smiled, pursing their lips and nodding in agreement. Wang Wei's face grew even darker.

"Don't worry. Once you get to university, there won't be such an annoying character hovering around you anymore," Zhang Shu still had that teasing expression, but his tone became slightly more serious. "In university, the teachers leave right after class. Assignments are assigned and submitted online—no need to meet the teacher. Got a question? Email them, but no rush; check back in two or three days, because that’s the fastest you’ll get a reply. Didn’t finish your assignments? It's fine, no one nags you to hand it in. Flunk a test? No one’s there to scold you. There definitely won't be any 'big brother heart-to-heart time'. Pretty great, right?”

Seeing the juniors below gradually lose their smiles and take on a dispirited expression, Zhang Shu paused for a moment, then asked a rhetorical question, "Doesn’t sound so great now, does it? Right now, it’s tough, but you have people walking the same path with you. No matter how hard it gets, you’re not alone.”

“Teacher Wang asked me to encourage you, but I don't have the qualifications or status for that. The ones rooting hardest for your success are your families, your big brother Teacher Wang, and you, yourself.”

"You've only got one semester left. Whether it's 'time flying like a shuttle' or 'the years like a song' is entirely up to you."

After Zhang Shu finished, everyone was quiet for a moment. There was no stirring climax, no well-wishes. It just ended.

 

He looked at Wang Wei. "I'm done."

Only then did a delayed applause came from below.

"Say a few more words?" Wang Wei urged.

Zhang Shu: "Every minute of math class is precious."

The class laughed. The math teacher standing to the side also smiled. "Go ahead, take your time.” 

Wang Wei: “This is a rare opportunity. Does anyone have any questions for Zhang Shu? There are also several other seniors here, all very outstanding."

Several hands went up. Some asked about maintaining mindset during the final sprint, others about specific study techniques. Zhang Shu answered each one concisely.

Sheng Xia stood by the door, watching his profile. That feeling surfaced again. He seems different somehow... but how exactly?

Lost in thought, she heard a male student ask, "Senior, you said we have people on the same path now so we're not lonely. Is university very lonely then?"

Zhang Shu: "I'm doing alright. I'm not lonely."

"Why?"

Just as everyone thought this top-scorer senior would say something profound, he simply smiled and said, "Because I have a girlfriend."

The class laughed. A girl boldly shouted, "Senior, you're so outstanding, did you start dating right after starting university?"

"Because she is outstanding too."

Sheng Xia had anticipated this answer when she heard the question, but hearing it still made her face feel warm. Beside her, Xin Xiaohe and Xiao Mai gave her teasing looks and nudged her with their shoulders.

The juniors quickly noticed their reactions, looking over curiously, their eyes darting between Zhang Shu and Sheng Xia, starting to whisper amongst themselves.

Sometimes, the chemistry between people is like that. Even if they stand far apart, they look connected.

On the podium, Wang Wei said, "Right, no need to guess. Your senior Sheng Xia, the talented girl from Heqing University's Literature Department, is Senior Zhang Shu's girlfriend. Also my student."

Gossip was always exciting. The whispering below grew louder. Whether boys or girls, their eyes held envy and admiration. A boy asked, "Senior, how did you manage to both become the top scorer and catch up with Senior Sheng!"

Zhang Shu thought for a moment: "I have to thank Old Wang for that. He diligently taught me for two years and gave me a precious five minutes."

The juniors below didn't understand. Xin Xiaohe and the others didn't understand either. They could only gather that he was attributing his top scorer success to Wang Wei, which undoubtedly gave Wang Wei immense face.

Five minutes.

The five minutes on her birthday night.

Precious five minutes.

Sheng Xia understood.

Wang Wei also understood, pretending to wipe a tear.

Zhang Shu quickly returned the classroom back to the math teacher. The group exited the classroom together and went to visit their respective subject teachers.

The most enthusiastic was undoubtedly Fu Jie, who opened with: "Zhang Shu, when are you and Sheng Xia getting married? You have to invite me!"

Sheng Xia was utterly embarrassed.

Zhang Shu responded with ease, laughing, "Teacher Fu, we’ll save a table with Sprite for you.”

Fu Jie: "Hahahaha, you get me!"

Xin Xiaohe: "Sprite? Super Strict Teacher Sprite?"

Fu Jie: "Yes, hahaha, did you all see?"

Xiao Mai: "Oh wow. Who knew our frontline shipper would be you?”

Sheng Xia was stunned. Did everyone know?

Does that mean… the wish she forwarded, everyone knew too?

Heavens!

The belated realization of the exposure of her online identity sent a chill down her spine.

The group wandered around the affiliated high school, went to the lake to tease the peacocks, chased the aggressive geese, bought drinks at the school store, and finally sat in the sports field seats to bask in the sun.

"Nanli's climate is still the most comfortable," Hou Junqi sprawled out, sighing.

"Are you serious?" Xin Xiaohe scoffed. “Summers here are deathly. We argued every night self-study about whether to turn on the AC."

Xiao Mai: "More than just deathly! Other places are already snowy, and Nanli is still in short sleeves."

Lanlan: "Exactly. It's summer all year round. Your arms always stick to the test papers."

Sheng Xia, rarely chiming in, said: "But the cucumber juice in Nanli is so good. Haven't had anything like it elsewhere."

Xin Xiaohe laughed: "Haha, is it only the affiliated high school's cucumber juice that's good?"

Sheng Xia nodded: "Seems that's the case. Too bad it's a summer-limited.”

Xin Xiaohe: “Summer-limited. Isn’t everything here?”

Their youth was also a summer-limited.

Only by returning to Nanli could it stretch into something endless.

---

In the afternoon, a minibus carried the boisterous group of young people to Lianli.

The hotel was arranged by Zhang Shu; a quaint, antique-style homestay. They booked out all six rooms. The owner was a local from Lianli, a good friend of Zhang Sujin's, an artist. After Lianli began planning the scenic area, he returned to his hometown from Dongzhou and opened this homestay. It wasn't officially open for business yet, so he took their group of ‘test guests’ very seriously. Not only did he personally welcome them, but he also prepared welcome fruits and desserts.

The girls stayed upstairs, the boys downstairs. Zhang Shu helped Sheng Xia and Wu Qiuxuan carry their luggage to their room then instructed, "We're going out together this evening to buy ingredients for the barbecue. Think about what you'd like to eat first."

Sheng Xia: "We're making it ourselves?"

"Mm."

"Wow, looking forward to it."

Zhang Shu smiled, very naturally lifted her chin, and kissed her lips. "Rest up for now.”

"Mm."

Wu Qiuxuan, seeing this, covered her eyes and scurried into the room.

Probably because it was Valentine's Day, there were a few roses placed in the room, adding a romantic touch.

Zhang Shu went downstairs. Sheng Xia closed the door and entered the room to see Wu Qiuxuan lying on the bed, propping her head up, staring at her with a grin. "Sis, tell me, on a day like today, isn't it too much for me to share a room with you?"

Sheng Xia put her hands on her hips, pretending to be fierce. Wu Qiuxuan rolled over. "Heehee~ Just say the word, and I’ll scram if you need me to!”

Sheng Xia: …

The Lianli market was very interesting. Unlike other markets where you’re immediately greeted by vegetables or meat when you enter. The Lianli market had a barbecue seasoning stall right at the entrance. All kinds of barbecue tools were also available. You could get everything in one stop. There were even stalls selling secret recipes, guaranteeing rookies could become barbecue experts overnight.

Hou Junqi was very interested, picking things out most attentively. He even for tips the stall owner, talking about opening a barbecue shop in Canada, asking the owner with a face full of longing if they could ship internationally, being seriously funny.

Sheng Xia's hand was held by Zhang Shu the entire time. His left hand carried several full bags of ingredients, but he didn't think to let go of her to shift some to his right hand.

The group of young people was extremely conspicuous in the small town. Zhang Shu was also somewhat of a local celebrity in Lianli. From time to time, someone he knew would come up to chat. He greeted them casually, but their gaze would always fall on Sheng Xia. He would introduce her naturally: "My girlfriend."

It was one thing with peers, but he said the same even to elders. Sheng Xia felt a bit embarrassed.

"A-Shu is really something. Got into a good university, and now bringing a partner home. So good, so good!" A middle-aged woman sighs with emotion, smiling as she rides off on her small electric scooter.

Sheng Xia put on a well-behaved smile. Sensing him turn to look at her and let out a short laugh, she looked up and glared at him. "Who's going home with you!"

"Not going?"

"No."

"But what can we do? The homestay we're staying at, its predecessor was my family's old house," he suddenly lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "The room you're staying in, unfortunately, happens to be the room I lived in as a child. You picked it yourself."

It was a perfectly normal statement, so why did he have to say it right in her ear, as if it were so ambiguous?

Making a mountain out of a molehill, bluffing!

Sheng Xia was still skeptical. Zhang Shu laughed, straightened up, and pulled her along to catch up with the group.

So coincidental? He's lying!

The evening barbecue was held in the homestay's courtyard. The owner provided the barbecue grill and set up a dining table for them. With easels and a TV placed around, the guys prepared the food while the girls watched TV and chatted, the atmosphere was perfect.

Wu Qiuxuan and Xiao Mai turned out to be fans of the same idol. The two fangirls chatted endlessly and soon cast their idol's talent show onto the TV.

"Haven't you watched this countless times already?" Tao Zhi asked Wu Qiuxuan.

Wu Qiuxuan: "Stop talking. If there were new ones, would I be watching this?"

Sheng Xia turned to look. Sure enough, it was the one they had watched together at home before.

Tao Zhi: "Who was it that said before, 'Might as well listen to Brother Zhang Shu sing'?"

Wu Qiuxuan: "Aiyo, Brother Zhang Shu is brother-in-law now, so there's no mystery left. You need a sense of distance when chasing stars, understand? Look, he's grilling skewers for my sis now… Forget it, that's not idol-like at all."

Hearing this, a smile seemed to play on Zhang Shu's lips, looking completely uninterested in being an idol. The guys, hearing this, also got interested. Wu Pengcheng asked, "Little sister, who sings better? Where did you hear it?"

Wu Qiuxuan chattered away, spilling everything about watching Zhang Shu's performance video at home before.

Phrases like "My sis was stunned," "My sis's leg injury was half healed," "Numb, really numb" popped out of her mouth. Sheng Xia really wanted to stuff a cotton ball in her mouth.

Over by the grill, Zhang Shu took the meat Hou Junqi had grilled, put it on a plate, brought it over, sat down next to Sheng Xia, picked up a skewer, and handed it to her.

Sheng Xia took it and directly stuffed it into Wu Qiuxuan's mouth.

The annoying "rumor-spouting machine" finally stopped spouting.

Zhang Shu handed her another skewer. She subconsciously took it and started eating. He propped his chin on his hand, watching her eat, and asked, "Is it good?"

Sheng Xia nodded: "It's good."

"Spicy?"

"Just right."

"Numbs your mouth?"

"Not numb."

"Not numb? Should we add some more?"

Sheng Xia paused mid-bite, glanced at him. He was indeed pursing his lips, holding back a laugh.

"I'm not eating anymore!"

How could this person be so annoying.

She was just saying it. After speaking, she still took small bites, just without looking at him.

Zhang Shu waited for her to finish, handed her a tissue. She took it, wiped her mouth casually, and was about to drink some water when he lifted her chin, his lips pressed against hers, sucking lightly on her lips that had just eaten barbecue.

"Numb? Who said it doesn't numb?" After saying that, he picked up a skewer himself, eating half the meat in one bite.

His movements were too fast, so much so that except for Sheng Xia herself, the others, all busy with their own things, didn't notice at all.

The Spring Festival weather in Nanli was always unseasonably hot, but it cooled down a bit in the evening. A cool breeze blew from time to time. Eating barbecue and drinking beer next to the charcoal fire was incredibly comfortable.

Just drinking was boring. Soon, they started playing drinking games. Sheng Xia, a novice, didn't have good luck. Even with Zhang Shu covering for her, she still drank quite a bit. Dizzy, wrapped in Zhang Shu's jacket, she practically draped herself over his arm.

"Go to sleep first?" he asked in a low voice.

"Mmm~~" Sheng Xia's voice was slurred. "No, happy, want to be with everyone."

Zhang Shu cupped her face and stroked it gently. "Tell me if you want to sleep."

"Oh."

Xin Xiaohe was bustling about, suggesting they change the game again. This time, it was "I am, you are not."

Sheng Xia hadn't played before, but understood after one round. Everyone was a bit drunk, saying all sorts of things. It went from "I am a physics major, you are not" to later "I am a B-cup, you are not"…

Whoever was thick-skinned won.

At first, Zhang Shu emphasized that there was a high school student present. Who knew Wu Qiuxuan's statements would become more and more outrageous each time? Her drinking was also impressive; even Wu Pengcheng felt inferior.

Qi Xiulei was the most bullied among the guys. With his overly simple background, he almost had to drink every time.

When it was his turn, he stood up swaying and said fiercely: "I am a virgin, you are not."

He just wanted to make Wu Pengcheng, who had been targeting him, drink.

Alright. Wu Pengcheng indeed was not, so he drank obediently.

There were too few losers this round. Almost everyone present was a virgin.

After a moment, everyone noticed that Xin Xiaohe and Yang Linyu slowly raised their glasses and drank a cross-cupped arms toast in the corner.

"Wow! Bombshell, friends!"

Wu Pengcheng: "Did I just uncover huge news this round?"

Han Xiao: "When?! Oh my god?"

Qi Xiulei: "A-Yu, you've really made it! You're actually faster than Brother Shu!"

Yang Linyu: …

Zhang Shu: …

Sheng Xia was completely out of it, but she could feel the arm around her shoulders tighten, and his hand rubbing up and down her shoulder somewhat restlessly.

Wu Pengcheng laughed heartily: "I'm dying of laughter. How about this: let's establish a 'virgin drink.' For every future gathering, whoever still is one, drinks first. Save the brothers and sisters from having to ask, alright?"

Such an absurd proposal would probably have been ignored under normal circumstances. But perhaps the charcoal fire was too hot, or the background music from the TV was too alluring… In any case, everyone raised their glasses with whoops and laughter, and just like that, it was decided.

The group game came to an end. People gathered in twos and threes to chat or play games. Sheng Xia lay with her head on Zhang Shu's lap, listening to him respond to others' comments intermittently.

Looking up at him from this angle, the line of his jaw was perfect, becoming more defined. When he turned his head, the tendons in his neck were especially clear. His back was broader. His Adam's apple was still like that—a lethal weapon. When he drank, it bobbed up and down.

She knew now why she kept feeling he had changed recently.

Man.

The word suddenly occurred to her.

Her young man was gradually, slowly, becoming more of a man.

While she was gazing infatuatedly, the man suddenly looked down, tilting his head slightly, and asked, "Want to sleep?"

"A bit."

He gently patted her cheek. "I'll take you back."

Sheng Xia hugged his arm and stood up, already unsteady. Zhang Shu pulled her entirely into his embrace, turned his head, and said to Hou Junqi and the others, "I owe a drink for now."

Then, he put his arm around Sheng Xia and went upstairs.

Behind them, Wu Pengcheng said, "Tsk tsk, who’d have thought after a whole semester, A-Shu’s still a virgin? Wonder if tonight’s the night.”

Hou Junqi: “You don’t know shit.”

Tao Zhizhi turned to Hou Junqi. “You do?”

Not realizing who asked, Hou Junqi mumbled through a mouthful of barbecue, “Course I do. A-Shu and Sheng Xia are different.”

“How so?”

“Just… hard to explain. They’re just different.”

“I think I get what you mean.”

Wu Pengcheng: ?

What kind of people are these?

---

Once they passed the stairwell corner, Sheng Xia felt the person beside her halt. She also stopped, and just as she was about to turn to look at him, she was pushed back with great force. Just as she thought she would hit the railing, an arm cushioned the small of her back. Then, the person in front of her pressed in and kissed her.

From the other side of the stairwell wall, she could clearly hear the conversation continuing in the courtyard.

Virgin…

Wonder if tonight’s the night…

A-Shu and Sheng Xia are different…

How are they different?

How?

He kissed, sucked; his movements on her lips were gentle, but the hand at her waist was gripping with desperate strength, and his body pressed closer and closer, until Sheng Xia's entire upper body was suspended over the edge of the railing.

Her long hair drifted in the air. Her head was tilted back, feeling as if her waist was about to break. The immense lack of safety made her murmur: "A-Shu…"

Zhang Shu buried his face in the crook of her neck, then suddenly straightened up and scooped her up into a princess carry.

Sheng Xia was already dizzy; now she was completely flustered, instinctively wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He carried her steadily upstairs, put her down at the door, took the room card from her jacket pocket, swiped it, turned the handle, and before she could react, pulled her into the room. He gripped her waist with both hands, lifted her onto the bar counter, and immediately kissed her again.

How did he know this room so well?

How did he know there was a bar counter here?

He had drunk beer and liquor tonight; she had drunk fruit wine. The scents of various alcohols mixed in their mouths, overwhelming all other senses.

Strangely, it didn't smell bad. After mixing and churning, it became even more intoxicating.

The room's power card wasn't inserted, no lights were on; it was pitch black. The door wasn't closed, a sliver of light spilled in from the crack, also letting the cheerful voices from the courtyard downstairs flood into this intimate, secluded space.

Laughter and chatter filled the courtyard. Inside the room, two people were kissing passionately.

From light pecks to voracious bites, he kissed with urgency, not letting her catch her breath for a moment. Sometimes, suffocation could drive one mad, like Sheng Xia at this moment.

She didn't know how long they had been kissing like this, necks entwined. Sheng Xia only felt the bar counter she was sitting on change from cool to warm before he finally released her. Their eyes met for barely a second, her breath still uneven, when she was suddenly lifted into the air again. He held her, moving with her, both bodies tumbling together onto the soft bed.

He looked at her quietly. Their ragged breaths were like a certain signal, and his pause felt like a kind of inquiry.

Having adjusted to the darkness, Sheng Xia also boldly looked back at him.

Deep-set eye sockets, a tall, straight nose bridge breathing out scorching heat, slightly parted lips panting, and the Adam's apple that always drew the first glance.

Sheng Xia raised her hand and gently stroked it, pressing down slightly. It was a very soft protrusion, so why did it look so intimidating?

No, not intimidating.

Sheng Xia finally admitted it: it was sexy.

From the first time she saw his Adam's apple, her heart had raced uncontrollably.

This wasn't fear.

She was being seduced.

Zhang Shu's breathing, which had just evened out, became ragged again. "Baby, stop touching…"

Sheng Xia ignored him, asking instead, "What's inside here?"

Zhang Shu's voice was hoarse: "Adam's apple."

"Of course I know it's an Adam's apple. What is an Adam's apple? Why is yours so big?"

This was deadly!

Zhang Shu: "Do you know what you're saying?"

"I want to… kiss it and see."

As she spoke, Sheng Xia had already wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned in, and kissed it.

Didn't feel much. She kissed it again, mimicking his action when he kissed her earlobe, sticking out a tiny bit of her tongue, just grazing that little protrusion. It bobbed up and down. Satisfied, Sheng Xia chased the direction of its movement with her kisses.

"Sheng! Xia!"

"Hmm? Can't I?"

The next second, both of Sheng Xia's hands were pinned above her head, pressed into the bed.

Zhang Shu knelt over her, one knee on the bed, his tone deeper than ever. "Stop moving."

His tone was somewhat frightening, a seriousness Sheng Xia had never heard before. She nodded dumbly.

Zhang Shu released her, got up, left the bed, went back to the door, inserted the power card, and turned on a small lamp.

Sheng Xia didn't even know where all these switches were; how did he find the right one so accurately?

She watched him pick up the jacket that had fallen to the floor, take a velvet box from the pocket, walk back to the bedside, kneel on the bed with one knee, and take out a necklace from the velvet box.

Only then did Sheng Xia belatedly realize she was still lying on the bed. This position was too…

She hurriedly sat up, and he, just as she sat up, moved behind her and fastened the necklace around her neck.

Sheng Xia touched the key pendant, lost in thought.

What had she just done?

Behind her, Zhang Shu's voice came: "Happy Valentine's Day. Although I really, really wanted to, in this very room… but, if you want to… kiss anywhere else, wait until you're sober next time. 'Drunken indiscretion' isn't a good term. Let's not have that kind of memory…"

Having said that, he got off the bed, hung his jacket over his arm, blocking the view of his lower body, leaned down to peck her lips twice.

"I'll go down first. Call me if you need anything."

"Mm," she replied dazedly.

He adjusted the air conditioning temperature for her, told her it would be best to take a shower before sleeping, finally left a night light on for her, and closed the door as he left.

Sheng Xia's face was burning.

Had she just… made a move on him?

And… failed?

Drunken indiscretion.

Although she wasn't that drunk, and he certainly wasn't either. But if she looked back on it later, if their first time had started like this, more or less, it would be a bit regrettable, right?

Sheng Xia fell back onto the bed, touching the necklace pendant, lost in thought.

It felt like he had only been there briefly, yet the room was already filled with his scent.

And this bed—

Even though the entire house had been redesigned and renovated, and the bed couldn't possibly be his old bed, Sheng Xia's face suddenly flushed red. She hugged the pillow, rolled over, and let out a low, muffled "Ahhh" into it.

His childhood room… it's really so ambiguous wuwu!

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