Dazzling

Strangely enough, Qing Ye had opened her eyes, uttered "Happy Birthday," then rolled over and fallen back asleep, not waking again all night, leaving Xing Wu sleepless until dawn.

The morning of the second day was much like the previous one. Xing Wu returned home early to tend to his grandmother and prepare some food. He arrived half an hour later than the day before, delayed by making dumplings. By the time he cooked them and brought them back for Qing Ye, they were still warm.

After eating her fill, Qing Ye took a bath and finally felt comfortable. Perhaps due to the melting snow outside, it was particularly cold that day. Xing Wu had returned carrying a chill from the outdoors, so after her bath, Qing Ye quickly bundled herself up tightly in bed.

Suddenly remembering something, she said to Xing Wu, "Oh, today's your birthday, right? Did I mention last night that I prepared a gift for you?"

Xing Wu took off his coat and set it aside, giving her a strange look. "Forgot?"

Qing Ye sat up abruptly. Had she done something embarrassing again while drunk? Her eyes widened with guilt as she asked timidly, "What... did I do?"

Xing Wu leaned in closer, pressing over her and staring down. "You woke up at midnight saying you'd burned a piece of clothing for me. If you hadn't rolled over so fast, I might have thrown you out the window."

"..."

Qing Ye blinked, picturing the scene. It did sound rather terrifying, and she burst into laughter, rolling around on the bed until tears streamed from her eyes. Then, wrapping herself pitifully in the blanket, she said, "The clothes are in the wardrobe. I was planning to give them to you on New Year's Eve."

Xing Wu sighed. "I had a gift for you too, but coincidentally, it got burned as well."

Qing Ye grew curious. "What were you going to give me?"

"A secret."

"It's gone now, so why keep it a secret?"

"Since it's gone, there's no point in saying."

"Was it something you had to buy?"

Xing Wu hummed in agreement. Qing Ye pressed further, "Was it expensive?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xing Wu brushed the hair from her cheek. "Would you even want something cheap? I'll make it up to you later.Qing Ye suddenly felt upset, mainly because of the money. Clutching the blanket, she squinted her eyes in distress. "This was supposed to be the first time I celebrated your birthday with you, and now I have nothing to give you."

Xing Wu raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a half-smile. "That's not entirely true. It depends if you're willing to give it."

His warm hand slipped under the blanket. Qing Ye slid deeper into the covers, revealing only her eyes, shyly gazing at him. "It's broad daylight."

"Nothing else to do anyway."

"Mmm..."

Her clear, large eyes shimmered with an indescribable allure. Xing Wu leaned down, gently kissing her neck and collarbone, moving lower. His breath hot, he whispered, "You know what I want most."

Qing Ye lost herself in his tender gaze, the faint dimple at the corner of her lips captivatingly teasing.

True to his word, Xing Wu unwrapped her like a gift, casually removing the barriers before him until her exquisite form was fully revealed. The impulse he had restrained all night finally burst forth like a broken dam.The intense, intertwining pleasure was so fierce and vivid that Qing Ye went from innocence to complete surrender in just one day. Huang Mao and Pang Hu frantically tried calling Xing Wu but couldn't reach him.

It wasn't until evening that Xing Wu finally returned their calls. They had almost thought something happened to him—they'd already gathered people, and even Lang Dai had gone to wait at Huang Mao's house.

After getting through to Xing Wu, they asked him to come over, saying they wanted to celebrate his birthday. Xing Wu moved the phone away and asked Qing Ye, "Want to go?"

Qing Ye's body had long melted into exhaustion. Weakly, she said, "You go. I won't."

So Xing Wu directly told them he had things to do and wouldn't be going, suggesting they enjoy themselves without him.

He truly did have matters to attend to—for two full days, from the second day to the third day of the lunar new year, Qing Ye hardly left the bed. If the first night had been Xing Wu opening the door to a new world for her, these two days were him guiding her through soaring peaks and flowing streams, galloping freely on horseback, and experiencing crashing waves.

During these two days, aside from Xing Wu going out morning and evening to care for his grandmother and bring back some food, they spent the rest of their time in bed. Qing Ye would open her eyes only to feel Xing Wu's presence, constantly sinking under his endless caresses, day and night.

She never imagined that her casual remark before the new year about taking a break from studying and letting loose would actually come true—just not in the way she originally thought.

Thus, their first birthday together was this wild and intense, almost like conjoined twins. Even when Xing Wu went back each evening to prepare food, Qing Ye would cling to him for what felt like ages. A ten-minute journey became as heart-wrenching as a permanent separation. Though they found it amusing, when emotions ran deep, reason often went out the window.

Therefore, Xing Wu tried to return only after Qing Ye fell asleep and make it back before she woke up.

Fortunately, during the New Year period, the inn had few guests, and their side of the rooms seemed mostly empty. So when they got a bit loud in the evening, Xing Wu didn't hold back. After they finished, Qing Ye blinked her misty eyes a few times and curled up in Xing Wu's arms to sleep.

Xing Wu held her warm, soft form and rested for a while too, but he woke about an hour later. Gazing at Qing Ye's shallow breathing in his arms, her neck down to her collarbone covered in scattered kiss marks that held an indescribable allure, he suddenly felt a pang of tenderness and kissed her forehead, wondering if he'd been too unrestrained these past two days.

Even as his mind urged moderation, his body reacted again. Whenever he held Qing Ye, this feeling lingered like an addiction.

He got up and leaned by the window to play games for a while. Qing Ye finally stirred awake around eleven. With her eyes closed, she turned over and felt the space beside her, her delicate brows immediately furrowing in displeasure.

"Over here," Xing Wu's voice came from across the room. She reluctantly opened her eyes to see him sitting by the window, phone in hand, smiling at her.

Qing Ye stretched her pale arms out from under the covers toward him. Xing Wu set down his phone, walked to the bedside in a few steps, and leaned down to embrace her. Qing Ye immediately buried her face in the crook of his neck, nuzzling against him. Xing Wu said to her, "Want to get up? If you lie down any longer, your limbs might atrophy."

Qing Ye mumbled, "What for?""How about setting off the fireworks?"

Qing Ye's dazed eyes suddenly sparkled as she released him: "Right, we haven't set off the fireworks yet."

That night when Xing Wu brought Qing Ye to stay at the inn, he had left that box of fireworks with the plump woman. Only now did Qing Ye remember, immediately becoming as energized as if injected with adrenaline and trying to get off the bed. But the moment her feet touched the ground, she stumbled unsteadily. Xing Wu quickly caught her by the waist, unable to hide the amusement in his eyes: "I told you your limbs are degenerating."

Qing Ye punched him angrily: "Degenerate my ass, don't you know why?"

Xing Wu steadied her, chuckling without a word until Qing Ye entered the bathroom. Then he casually remarked from outside: "Well, after getting on my bed, you need to hold onto walls when walking."

Qing Ye slammed the bathroom door shut with a "bang," while the curve of Xing Wu's lips grew wider.

Having genuinely not left their room for two days, Qing Ye hadn't realized how much the snow outside had melted. They found an open space, and when Xing Wu took out the largest firework, Qing Ye immediately shouted: "Wait, wait, don't light it yet!"

Then Xing Wu watched as she ran nearly two blocks away. He laughed and asked: "Why are you running so far?"

"Afraid it'll explode."

"It won't explode. Come here."

"No!"

Xing Wu simply carried the firework toward her, making Qing Ye frantically retreat further as if he were carrying a nuclear bomb.

Xing Wu stopped helplessly, squatting down to light the firework. Qing Ye clenched her hands nervously, swallowing hard - both eager to see the fireworks and afraid Xing Wu might get hurt. She kept shouting: "Are you done? Hurry up and come over!"Hearing her anxious urging, Xing Wu found it amusing." He'd been lighting firecrackers with adult cigarettes since he was two years old - such routine items actually frightening Qing Ye like this. She really was a big city girl.

After lighting the fuse, he stood up and walked leisurely toward Qing Ye. She craned her neck to look at the ground behind him, but nothing happened for a while. "Did you light it?" she asked.

Just as she finished speaking, with a "bang," a bright light shot straight into the sky. Qing Ye's gaze followed the light upward. Everything fell silent, the dark night so quiet even the wind seemed to disappear. Then suddenly, the dark sky behind Xing Wu exploded with light. He walked toward her like this, streams of light filling the night sky as if he were draped in colorful radiance. The shocking scene struck Qing Ye's heart directly, the brilliant colors illuminating her sparkling eyes. She dashed toward Xing Wu and jumped into his arms. Xing Wu caught her steadily with both arms while fireworks bloomed overhead. He whispered in her ear: "Happy birthday."

This became Qing Ye's most unforgettable birthday among all others. She had lost her family and her home, yet this man had given her the whole world.

They used up all the fireworks and firecrackers, big and small, before returning. Qing Ye had never felt so exhilarated, even slinging her arm over Xing Wu's shoulders and loudly singing birthday songs on their way back. She told him their birthdays were only two days apart, suggesting they celebrate together from now on. To accommodate her height, Xing Wu had to bend his neck slightly for her to reach.Passing by a vending machine, Xing Wu stopped and said to her, "Wait a moment, I need to buy some of that."

Qing Ye followed his gaze, covered her face in disbelief, and said, "Did you use up the entire box?"

Xing Wu cleared his throat awkwardly. "What do you think?"

Qing Ye rubbed her hands together as she waited for him by the roadside, nervously glancing around from time to time, afraid that someone passing by might see them, feeling as if they were doing something illicit.

They had been out having fun for two hours late at night, and by the time they returned to the hotel, it was already 2 a.m. After showering and lying in bed, they held hands under the covers, but neither felt sleepy. Xing Wu asked her, "Do you have any birthday wishes?"

Qing Ye fell silent for a moment before replying, "I don't know, there are too many. I hope my dad will be okay, that I perform well in the college entrance exam, that your grandmother's condition remains stable, that..."

She turned her head to look at Xing Wu. "I hope ten years from now, you'll still be lying beside me, asking me this question."

Xing Wu tightened his grip on her hand but said nothing.

Qing Ye grew excited at the thought of the future ten years later. "In ten years, will we have a baby?"

Xing Wu chuckled. "You're still a baby yourself, a giant baby. If you were to have a baby for me, how terrifying would that be? I'd have to hold one in each arm."

In the darkness, Qing Ye giggled, her voice clear and melodious.

The future—a somewhat vague concept for people their age—was impossible to predict, leaving them free to let their imaginations run wild.

After a long while, Xing Wu checked his phone and said to her, "It's almost 3 a.m. Time to sleep."

Qing Ye quietly closed her eyes. Two minutes later, they both opened their eyes simultaneously, feeling the bed start to shake—a rhythm all too familiar to them over the past couple of days. Yet, they were lying side by side, hands still clasped, certain they hadn't moved.

Neither spoke as they listened intently, realizing it wasn't their bed shaking but the sounds from the next room seeping through the not-so-soundproof walls.

Then... the quiet night... was filled with those indescribable sounds.

To be honest, when Qing Ye first heard those sounds, her initial reaction wasn't confusion or embarrassment but a sudden, enlightening realization of what Xing Wu had meant when he told her, "I like your voice."

Although such sounds were somewhat shameful and wanton—something she would be too embarrassed to make—she believed that if she were to let loose, her voice would surely sound better than the woman next door. With that thought, she even cleared her throat lightly.

Xing Wu finally turned to look at her. "Not sleeping anymore?"

Qing Ye replied with an awkward tone, "How can I sleep? Who goes to a hotel in the middle of the night?"

"During the New Year period, it's definitely not with their spouse."

Qing Ye thought about it and agreed. During the holidays, everyone stays at home. Except for people like them whose house had burned down, who would go to a hotel with their husband or wife? It was most likely an affair—and to sneak out at 3 a.m., they must be really desperate.

This was already the second time they had lain together listening to such sounds. The first time, they weren't even together yet. Suddenly reminded of that incident, Qing Ye asked him, "That night at your place, when we were discussing this, did you... react?"Xing Wu remained silent. Qing Ye playfully rolled over, propping herself on his chest, and pinched his chin, forcing him to speak: "Isn't that right? Otherwise, why wouldn't you let me talk about it? You must have had ulterior motives for me back then."

Xing Wu grinned with a roguish charm, his eyes glinting with mischief: "In that situation, it would've been abnormal if I hadn't reacted."

Suddenly feeling ashamed, Qing Ye buried her face in his chest and pounded him lightly: "Shameless!"

Xing Wu flipped over, pinning her beneath him: "What about you? When did you start having feelings for me?"

Qing Ye thought carefully: "That time in the bike shed, the day Da Cao gave me trouble. You... were you trying to kiss me?"

Xing Wu laughed again, lowering his head to claim her lips in a deep, unapologetic kiss before countering: "If I'd done this to you that day, how would you have reacted?"

"I'd have slapped you twice and called you a disgusting pervert."

Nuzzling her lips, his voice grew husky and sensual: "You still would've let me kiss you."

"Where do you get such confidence?"

"You were scared that night. That's why you warned me to stay away from you."

The memory made Qing Ye angry. She glared at him: "So you actually stayed away? You didn't even show your face anymore. Why didn't you just disappear from Zhazha Pavilion altogether?"

Xing Wu's smile turned devastatingly wicked: "Such a contradictory woman."

He punished her with a pinch to her softness, making her gasp reflexively. Xing Wu discovered that after two days of tutelage, Qing Ye's body had grown increasingly sensitive, so he grew even bolder.

What began as conversation gradually transformed as Qing Ye realized he'd already effortlessly parted her legs and begun his conquest. She wondered if other women's boyfriends were equally relentless, but hers always knew how to lift her to ecstasy before ruthlessly pulling her back down. When fragmented moans finally escaped her throat, Xing Wu completely lost control. Next door had long fallen silent, yet they continued for what felt like ages—would their neighbor question his manhood upon hearing Xing Wu's prowess?

Utterly submerged in love's abyss, Qing Ye lay completely spent, as if every bone had been removed from her body.

Her slightly curly long hair cascaded beside her flushed skin, delicate collarbones deeply indented, one pale slender calf exposed all the way to a slim ankle—the scene was so exquisitely vulnerable it captivated Xing Wu's gaze.

He rose and pulled on his clothes. Qing Ye, eyes closed, managed a weak question: "Where are you going?"

"I planned to prepare a gift for you tomorrow, but I can't wait now. Sleep first."

Qing Ye murmured an acknowledgment. Xing Wu retrieved the clean drawing paper he'd prepared earlier and spread it across the small round table by the window.

The room fell silent save for the whisper of his drawing implement. Qing Ye weakly lifted her eyelids to watch him—so focused, his profile utterly captivating. She smiled soundlessly before closing her eyes again, her voice soft: "Hey, there's something I've always wanted to ask. That first day I arrived, why did you pretend to run me over with your motorcycle?"

When no answer came after a long moment, she opened her eyes to find Xing Wu staring intently at her.

"If I said I was drawn to you from that very day, would you think I'm full of it?"

"No. 'Attracted by looks, captivated by talent, devoted to character'—it'd be hard not to be obsessed with me."Xing Wu lowered his head and chuckled at the familiar tone that seemed to look down upon the world: "Why don't you add 'obsessed with the body' as well?"

"Hmm... So you're still craving my body after all..."