Chapter 20

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Chu Tong and Xiang Chengyuan met at the entrance of the snack street.

“This weather’s perfect for hotpot. There’s a new rotating hotpot place that supposedly is really good. Want to go there?”

“Sure.” Chu Tong glanced down. “Ah, I’m wearing a white down jacket today.”

“...Want to choose somewhere else?”

“Nah, I’ll just take it off and put it away later.”

The two of them walked inside. Though the weather was cold, several universities nearby had just let out classes, so the snack street was quite crowded.

Xiang Chengyuan smiled, looking down at her.

Her white down coat with a fur collar, a creamy white plush hat atop her black hair and pale skin, her tall and slender figure exuded an air of nobility at first glance.

Xiang Chengyuan said, “You really don’t seem like you come from some small town around here—you have a lot of poise.”

Chu Tong chuckled. “You’ve said that forever—remember, back in my first year of high school?”

“No,” Xiang Chengyuan shook his head, “you’ve grown a few years older and have even more poise now. Back then, you were still just a kid.”

Chu Tong smiled, exaggeratedly praising him, “Well, you’ve grown taller too.”

Yet there was one thing unchanged: Xiang Chengyuan thought quietly to himself that although she was stunningly beautiful at first sight, anyone who got to know her quickly realized she was gentler in nature than her appearance suggested.

They laughed and chatted as they arrived at the restaurant, lifting the heavy cotton curtain to enter a lively scene inside.

They waited about twenty minutes near the door before their meal began.

After the pots were set on the table, Chu Tong took out her phone. “Let’s take a photo together and send it to my mom.”

Since Chu Tong had gone north alone for school, her mother Chu Qinghe naturally worried and had repeatedly asked Xiang Chengyuan to watch over her and keep her on the right path ever since the college entrance exam results were announced.

Xiang Chengyuan had readily agreed, so ever since Chu Tong enrolled, he had handled everything from procedures to moving her luggage.

Chu Tong adapted quickly and by the second semester didn’t need much help, but the two still made it a point to have a meal together almost every month, each time dutifully sending photos to Chu Qinghe to reassure her.

After sending the photo, they talked about winter vacation plans.

Chu Tong said, “I plan to spend the break partly with my mom and partly looking for a part-time job. When I have free time, I’ll prepare for the IELTS exam.”

“So soon?”

“Yeah, early planning. I’ve researched a lot. To study for a master’s in journalism on Hong Kong Island, besides GPA, there’s also an internship requirement. Once I finish IELTS, I can focus on finding an internship.” She looked at him. “What about you? Graduate exams?”

“I’m not taking them. I need to graduate and start earning soon.” Xiang Chengyuan said, “You’re going to Hong Kong Island alone? No one to look after you? You’re so gentle—don’t let anyone bully you.”

Chu Tong paused, then smiled mysteriously, “Brother Yuan, you still don’t know me well. I’m not as easy to push around as you think.”

“Really?” Xiang Chengyuan glanced at her, seemingly struck by the radiant look on her face, then quickly looked away with a smile. “Well, that’s good.”

They kept chatting. When they were nearly finished, Chu Tong ordered a glass of water and drank it all in one go.

“It was pretty good, just got a bit salty toward the end.”

“I’ll get you a drink. How about bubble tea? There’s a place nearby.” Xiang Chengyuan started to get up, but Chu Tong stopped him. “No, no, drinks don’t quench thirst. I’ll just have water.”

Though she said this, Xiang Chengyuan still got up, paid the bill, and went next door to buy bubble tea.

Chu Tong took the chance to send Shao Yihuai a message:

“I’m almost done. Meet at the west gate?”

Two minutes later, Shao Yihuai replied:

“Shao: Okay.”

Xiang Chengyuan returned with two cups of bubble tea, handing one to her. “Let’s go.”

Putting on her down jacket and hat, hands wrapped around the warm tea, Chu Tong felt lighthearted.

Today she had settled the photo matter, shared a meal with a fellow townsman, and soon would see Shao Yihuai—it felt wonderful.

They walked back the way they came. At the street corner, they noticed an elderly woman running a small stall. In an iron bucket sat dozens of roses, some buds half-opened; a bamboo pole held light strings, creating a cozy atmosphere.

“Winter’s first bouquet of roses! Come buy one for your girlfriend!” the old lady called out, waving at them. “You two make a perfect match. Young man, buy your girlfriend a rose!”

Chu Tong smiled and shook her head. “No, no.”

Xiang Chengyuan felt a tug at his heart and grabbed her elbow. “Buy one. It’s so cold, it’s not easy for the old lady.”

He smiled at the woman. “One rose, how much?”

“Twenty,” she said, “scan to pay.”

Chu Tong whispered, “Twenty-one for one.”

So expensive.

Xiang Chengyuan scanned the code, carefully selecting a half-bloomed rose from the bucket and handed it to Chu Tong. “Take it.”

Chu Tong hesitated. “If anyone should give a gift, it should be me—I mean, you treated me to dinner today.”

“Just take it. Put it on your dorm desk. It’ll look nice.” Xiang Chengyuan half-joked, half-serious, “No hidden meaning, don’t read too much into it.”

Chu Tong laughed. “Alright then, thanks, Brother Yuan.”

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She took the rose.

The beautiful girl in white, holding a rose in one hand and bubble tea in the other, walked side by side with the tall boy wearing a flight jacket; beneath it, a hoodie with the hood up. They laughed as they walked through the bustling winter snack street. From afar, they seemed like the embodiment of invincible youth.

Quite the perfect match.

Chu Tong sensed someone’s gaze on her. Looking up and ahead to the roadside, she froze.

Shao Yihuai stood there.

Wearing a long black coat over a dark three-piece suit, hands in his pockets, standing beneath a tree, watching her.

Elegant and dignified, almost blending into the night.

Behind him, a black Maybach was parked by the curb. Uncle Zong stepped out from the driver’s seat and hurried to Shao’s side, seemingly urging him to get back in the car—it was too cold outside.

Noticing Chu Tong had stopped, Xiang Chengyuan looked down at her, then followed her gaze and paused. “...Who’s that? Looks familiar.”

Chu Tong quickly said, “Let’s go.”

She hurried over to Shao Yihuai, smiling and introducing, “You’ve met, this is my fellow townsman Xiang Chengyuan, and this is... Mr. Shao...”

She dared not say “boyfriend,” since Shao Yihuai had never admitted it.

Shao’s expression remained calm; he nodded lightly in greeting.

Uncle Zong sensed the awkward atmosphere and quickly smiled, opening the back door. “Miss Chu, please get in the car. It’s too cold outside, or else you might catch a cold, sir.”

“Oh, okay.”

Chu Tong was about to say goodbye to Xiang Chengyuan, but he grabbed her arm, looking wary. “Wait a moment, Tongtong, you’re going with him? So late—where are you going?”

The last time the three had met, he could tell from Chu Tong’s expression that they weren’t close. How come she was now just going along?

Uncle Zong thought, this is bad, and immediately busied himself, pretending not to exist.

Chu Tong felt a sudden unease.

Among the four present, Shao Yihuai was the calmest.

He looked down at Chu Tong’s arm, held by Xiang Chengyuan, and with a gentle and somewhat amused expression, put his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Leaning down, he said softly, “You didn’t tell your classmate?”

Chu Tong responded with a surprised sound.

Shao Yihuai extended his other hand politely toward Xiang Chengyuan. “I am Tongtong’s boyfriend, Shao Yihuai.”

Xiang Chengyuan’s heart jolted, and he hesitated before shaking his hand.

This Mr. Shao was about seven or eight centimeters taller than him, with a calm and mature aura. His eyes showed the depth and detachment of someone who had seen too much of the world’s glitter and illusions.

An unruffled, long-standing man of stature.

And that car behind him—the top-spec Maybach—was as elegant and composed in the night as the man himself.

Not married? A playboy with college girls?

One of those seemingly gentle men who actually lived a wild private life?

Shao Yihuai brushed the back of his finger against Chu Tong’s cheek. “Still cold.”

Uncle Zong timely spoke up, “Sir, Miss Chu, please get in the car.”

Chu Tong’s hands were occupied, held by Shao Yihuai, and she turned to Xiang Chengyuan. “Brother Yuan, we’ll keep in touch on WeChat. I’m leaving now.”

Xiang Chengyuan watched silently as the two climbed into the car. The doors shut with a snap; the driver circled to the front seat and drove off.

—

Chu Tong sneaked a glance at Shao Yihuai’s expression.

He was calm and unruffled. Seeing her like this, he chuckled and reminded her, “Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Oh,” Chu Tong obediently fastened it. “Where are we going?”

“Langcheng.”

“...I thought you were taking me out to eat.” After several seconds without an answer, she looked at Shao again.

He had been watching her for a while, a faint light shimmering in his eyes. He smiled softly, deliberately slow. “...I changed my mind.”

Chu Tong didn’t understand.

—

Langcheng Residence was just a kilometer away; within minutes, they arrived at the underground parking garage.

After getting out, Shao Yihuai took Chu Tong’s hand, and together they rode the elevator upstairs.

Having been there before, Chu Tong was familiar and headed straight to the open kitchen, setting the bubble tea and rose on the island counter, then opened the fridge for some water.

Shao Yihuai took off his coat and suit jacket, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows, then walked over and asked calmly, “Thirsty?”

Chu Tong opened a bottle of mineral water and drank nearly half. “The hotpot got too salty by the end.”

“Don’t you have bubble tea?”

“I’m not a big fan.”

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Shao Yihuai nodded and casually asked, “How long have you known Xiang Chengyuan?”

“A long time. Since middle school. In high school, we were in the same department, so we got closer. Counting up, it’s been seven or eight years.”

“What’s he like?”

“Pretty good. A really nice guy. He used to love helping others with their studies,” Chu Tong leaned against the island, speaking slowly as she drank water. “...So my mom asked him to look out for me. From our small county, in recent years, only the two of us got into university in the capital.”

“No wonder.”

He turned and took a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet, opening a drawer to find a corkscrew.

Chu Tong nodded. “I should tell him someday. Judging by his expression, he probably thinks you’re a bad guy.”

Shao Yihuai chuckled. “What kind of bad guy?”

“...A bad guy who plays with college girls?”

She spoke hesitantly, watching his expression as if afraid of upsetting him.

“Do I seem like that?”

Chu Tong studied him seriously.

His vest hugged his slim waist; broad shoulders and long legs. As she spoke those words, he stood by the island opening the wine. The corkscrew turned into the cork; with one hand gripping the bottle neck and the other pulling the cork out, there was a soft pop.

His forearm muscles tensed smoothly, veins winding from forearm to back of his hand—overflowing with masculine energy.

Chu Tong thought quietly: So sexy.

Perhaps not hearing her, he turned his head to look at her.

Meeting his gaze, Chu Tong’s cheeks flushed immediately.

Shao Yihuai half-smiled and reached for another container.

Chu Tong deliberately changed the subject. “What is that for?”

“Decanting wine.”

The wine slowly poured into a standard decanter.

“How long does it take?”

“Half an hour.”

He glanced at his watch and started timing.

Chu Tong nodded blankly.

Before she could fully react, Shao Yihuai lifted her onto the island counter.

He spread her knees apart with one hand, standing between them, hands resting on the edge of the island, leaning down slightly.

Chu Tong was forced to lean back, her face full of panic and helplessness.

Seeing her expression, Shao Yihuai chuckled softly. His lips were only inches from her nose. Slowly, he whispered, “...What should we do for half an hour?”

His voice had a husky grain that was utterly intoxicating.

Chu Tong shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper, “...I don’t know.”

Shao Yihuai looked down. She clutched the water bottle tightly to her chest, nearly crushing it.

“...Still thirsty?”

“...A little...”

He took the half-full bottle from her hands, bringing it to her lips. Chu Tong was a little scared but didn’t know why. She obediently tilted her head back, slightly opening her lips to receive it.

The liquid flowed slowly from the bottle into her mouth. She swallowed too slowly and missed sealing her lips, a bit spilling down her chin.

Shao Yihuai just looked down at her as he fed her nearly half the bottle. His throat grew dry from impatience, and he pulled the bottle away.

Chu Tong instinctively reached for it to drink more, but he bent forward, blocking her path.

Feeling his breath close, she held her breath.

Then, a very light kiss brushed her lips, just a touch. He tilted his head, adjusting the angle, touching again, three or five times, carefully exploring every angle.

He raised a hand to cradle her neck, his fingertip rubbing the corner of her mouth. In a low voice, he commanded, “Open your mouth.”

The scent of him filled her nose. Her body was trapped; Chu Tong trembled with nervousness, obediently opening wide, then was swept away by a dizzying sensation.

Shao Yihuai’s jaw muscles twitched as he licked, sucked, and teased her lips until they were swollen. Only then did his tongue probe inside, palm cupping her cheek, forcing her to tilt her face upward as his tongue explored every inch, curling and grinding.

An aggressively passionate kiss.

A first kiss is supposed to be sweet and gentle—why was hers like this? Chu Tong nearly cried, clinging helplessly to his veined arm, a muffled sob escaping her throat.

She couldn’t breathe and reached to push his shoulder.

Shao Yihuai stepped back slightly, forehead resting against hers. His breath was heavy. Chu Tong felt faint, her chest heaving violently, mouth still slightly parted, emitting a soft, sweet sound.

His shimmering eyes were a bit dazed.

After a moment, Shao Yihuai whispered with a slightly hidden, growing sadistic undertone,

“Not obedient at all.”