In the interplay of light and shadow, the man's features appeared more defined and sharp. He lowered his gaze, staring intently at her, his thick, raven-feather-like lashes accentuating the depth of his eyes, which held emotions as dark as ink.
His fair complexion, though natural, didn't look sickly; under the light, it seemed to glow. After prolonged kissing, his lips were flushed and vividly red, as if filled with blood.
Two starkly contrasting colors.
Like a vampire with ill intentions, yet skilled in captivating and enchanting souls.
Half a second after his words fell.
Sang Zhi's mind lagged a beat behind. Her gaze was dazed, and the faint sting on her lips reminded her that all of this was real.
Not an illusion.
In just an instant, Sang Zhi snapped back to reality.
At that moment, her heart felt as if a massive bomb had been dropped into it, exploding with a crackling fury. Her breath hitched, and heat surged up her neck. She could hardly believe her ears.
Sang Zhi looked bewildered. "Huh?"
With her brother...
What?
Duan Jiaxu didn't repeat himself, still watching her, his expression unreadable, the curve of his lips lifting slightly higher. He raised his hand, using his thumb to slowly stroke her lower lip, over and over, with a pressure that was neither light nor heavy.
Intimate, yet carrying a subtle, implicit suggestion.
It instantly wiped away the last traces of drowsiness Sang Zhi had left.
Though she knew he had always been shameless with his words.
Sang Zhi had never imagined he could truly have no bottom line.
None at all.
No! Bottom! Line!!!!
How could this old man be so blunt, so unreserved.
In this kind of atmosphere, if he had just said "Is it okay," she would have surely understood his meaning. Even if he was worried she might not get it, wouldn't saying "go to bed" sound a bit more euphemistic?
Did! He! Have! To! Be! So!
Sang Zhi had no idea how to respond.
Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest; in the silence, the sound was amplified, unnervingly clear. She even thought Duan Jiaxu must be able to hear it too.
Was she nervous?
Why should she be nervous?
If he could say such things, why should she admit defeat?
She wasn't nervous.
Absolutely not.
Ab! So! Lute! Ly! Not!!!
After mentally preparing herself, Sang Zhi lifted her eyes slightly and caught the scent of alcohol on him again. She reached out, pulling his hand away, and said with a straight face, "So, did you drink to boost your courage?Her words shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.
Perhaps not expecting such a reaction from her, Duan Jiaxu was momentarily stunned, then quickly burst into laughter. He lowered his chin slightly, his chest vibrating with mirth, his eyes sparkling, radiant and dazzling when he smiled.
His appearance made Sang Zhi's mouth inexplicably dry; the thirst she had felt earlier suddenly intensified. It also reminded her of her original purpose for coming out.
Oh.
She was thirsty.
She had come out to drink water.
Under normal circumstances, she should have already finished drinking and returned to bed to sleep. Not sitting here kissing him and listening to his blunt and shameless words.
Duan Jiaxu laughed for a long time before stopping. He withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened and asked, "Why did you wake up suddenly?"
Sang Zhi glanced at him and whispered, "Thirsty, came out to drink water."
Duan Jiaxu hummed softly, then picked her up as if she were a child and carried her toward the kitchen. He set Sang Zhi down on the countertop, retrieved a bottle of mineral water from a nearby case, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.
Sang Zhi took it, drinking slowly, and asked, "Why did you drink?"
"Bad mood.""Why?"
Duan Jiaxu smiled faintly: "I feel like I haven't been good to you."
Sang Zhi swallowed the water in her mouth and said dazedly, "How have you not been good to me?"
He didn't explain, leaning against the counter as he quietly watched her.
Sang Zhi: "Are you drunk?"
Duan Jiaxu laughed: "No."
"Then why are you saying this out of nowhere?" Sang Zhi set the water bottle aside and moved closer to meet his gaze. "Is there another reason?"
"No."
"But I don't think..." At this point, Sang Zhi's voice paused, and she asked hesitantly, "Is it because of what I said to you today?"
Duan Jiaxu fell silent again, reaching out to wipe the water stain from the corner of her mouth.
Never expecting that her words would affect his mood like this, Sang Zhi quickly explained: "I didn't say those things to blame you, I just wanted to tell you. You didn't know, and I was young back then."
"..."
"Whether before or now, you've always been very good to me."
Duan Jiaxu's eyes darkened slightly as he lowered his head and began kissing her.
Sang Zhi instinctively tilted her neck back, accepting his kiss. This time his touch was gentler than before, carrying a lingering tenderness mixed with the faint scent of alcohol. Her eyes remained open, watching his lowered lids.
Only then did she realize.
He never drank alcohol, yet for her, he had made an exception.
"Sang Zhi." Duan Jiaxu released her, emotions swirling in his eyes. He caressed her face, and after a long moment, said hoarsely, "I love you."
I've genuinely considered it.
If it weren't for me, would you have met someone better? When everyone opposes and doesn't support us, does that mean I'm truly not worthy of someone as wonderful as you.
I also wonder if you'll regret your decision to be with me in the future. If you'll regret not listening to your parents' advice and insisting on being with me.
These worries plague me.
Yet because of you, I fear no external forces, shedding all my insecurities. Because of you, I feel that in this world, only I deserve to be with you.
You are my one and only, my eternity.
Duan Jiaxu lowered his voice, almost imperceptibly, and whispered in her ear.
"I won't let you regret it."-
Hearing those three words, Sang Zhi's gaze paused, then she slowly blinked. She couldn't describe her feelings in that moment, inexplicably feeling her nose sting as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.
Duan Jiaxu kissed her ear and asked gently, "Do you want more water?"
Sang Zhi shook her head.
"Then let's sleep." Duan Jiaxu picked her up again and carried her toward the master bedroom. "Little one."
Hearing this, Sang Zhi lifted her head and pressed her lips together. "But you just said..."
"Hmm?"
His body temperature was warmer than usual, and even while being carried, Sang Zhi could sense his arousal. Her face flushed crimson as she struggled to voice it: "That thing..."
Duan Jiaxu understood and looked at her, laughter in his voice. "I was just teasing you."
"Oh."
Just as Duan Jiaxu was about to free a hand to open her bedroom door, he heard the person in his arms murmur: "But I wasn't scared."
"..."
Her grip on his clothes tightened. This time, Sang Zhi's voice carried genuine nervousness but no fear: "I didn't say no."
His movements stilled as he slowly withdrew his hand.Duan Jiaxu's breathing grew heavier, his warm breath fanning against her neck, scorching like fire. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to regain his composure, but her words shattered his resolve in an instant.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Sang Zhi felt the places he touched burning as if on fire. Suppressing the tremor in her voice, she feigned calm. "I'm not a child anymore..."
Before she could finish, Duan Jiaxu lifted his head and captured her lips.
The words died in her throat. Sang Zhi's eyes widened, her body stiffening from uncertainty. Reacting to his move, she instinctively shrank back but soon leaned closer to him again.
Her movements were cautious and timid, responding with extreme inexperience.
Sang Zhi felt as if she were floating mid-air, weightless and uneasy. She could only cling entirely to the man before her.
It brought an utterly unfamiliar sensation she had never experienced before.
Unconsciously, Sang Zhi panted, her voice trembling at the end. "L-Let's go back to the room."
Duan Jiaxu paused, as if amused. Then, very obediently, he carried her back to his room.
The room was dark, lit only by a small nightlight on the bedside table. As Sang Zhi's body met the bed, her first instinct was to turn off the light.
In the darkness, she noticed the photo frame on the nightstand—a picture of the two of them taken at Duan Jiaxu's graduation.
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu pressed close, his body flush against her back. In the dimness, he reached for the frame and leisurely closed it.
His lips lingered on the nape of her neck, trailing downward. With his other hand, he pulled open the drawer beneath the nightstand and retrieved a small box.
The curtains did little to block the moonlight, and by its faint glow, Sang Zhi noticed his actions and recognized what he held. With her last shred of awareness, she couldn't help but ask, "When did you buy that...?"
Duan Jiaxu tugged lightly at her clothes before stopping again. He chuckled lowly, his voice deep and honest. "I bought it a long time ago."
"..."
"It's gathered dust."
After saying this, Duan Jiaxu grasped Sang Zhi's hand. His gaze fixed on her, his emotions completely unconcealed. As he spoke, his breath came in soft pants.
In the dim, intimate room, the dark-haired, bright-eyed man shed his usual gentle and refined demeanor. His smile carried a hint of roguish charm, his eyes brimming with a deliberate seduction that invited indulgence.
Sang Zhi even felt as though their roles had reversed.
Duan Jiaxu lowered his head, his touch exploring her.
Every movement unconsciously intensified, dark and savage thoughts surfacing in his mind, only to be restrained the moment he heard her voice.
Duan Jiaxu's actions were tender and lingering, filled with extreme patience. He attended to her feelings, his words soothing. "Don't be afraid."
Sang Zhi buried her face in the crook of his neck.
In the boundless night, within the narrow space and intimate proximity, every sensation magnified.
The girl's soft whimpers acted like a catalyst, stripping away all his masks to reveal his truest self.
He became a beast, yearning to devour her whole and claim her entirely.
Duan Jiaxu's eyes reddened at the corners as he whispered softly, "You are mine."
Desire and possessiveness intertwined.
In that moment, nothing could remain hidden.
It permeated the entire room.After an unknown length of time, Duan Jiaxu lowered his head, licked away her tears, and repeated:
"You're mine."
After being tormented by him for quite a while, Sang Zhi's voice had grown hoarse. She felt drenched in sweat, sticky all over. She wanted to get up and shower, but her legs were weak and limp, completely drained of strength.
In the end, Duan Jiaxu carried her to the bathroom and gave her a quick cleanup. He lowered his gaze, thoughtfully remarking, "Seems I wasn't very restrained."
Sang Zhi was both drowsy and exhausted, her entire body aching. She had no energy to process his words, only wanting to finish cleaning up quickly and get to sleep. She let him maneuver her like a puppet on strings, not even mustering the energy to feel self-conscious.
Soon, Duan Jiaxu touched her and added, "It's swollen."
"..."
"Does it hurt?"
Sang Zhi's drowsiness instantly faded by half. She took a deep breath and kicked in his direction, somewhat annoyed: "Can you please stop talking?"
Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly, slipped a piece of clothing over her, then carried her back to the bedroom.
The room still held traces of an intimate atmosphere, not yet dissipated.
Sang Zhi wasn't particularly fussy about beds and couldn't be bothered to question why he'd brought her here. The moment she touched the mattress, she wanted to sleep. She lay face down on the bed, burrowing under the covers, but before she could settle properly, he embraced her through the quilt the next moment.
Duan Jiaxu laughed: "Let's talk for a bit."
"..." Sang Zhi's voice still carried a nasal tone, sounding muffled, "Tomorrow. I'm sleepy."
"Just gave you my body, and you're already this cold to me," Duan Jiaxu pinched her cheek, "How can you be so heartless?"
Sang Zhi ignored him.
She could sense that Duan Jiaxu seemed to still be staring at her, his gaze intensely burning. But she was truly too sleepy. She reached out a hand to hug him, as if placating him.
Duan Jiaxu took her hand and fell silent too.
Half-asleep, Sang Zhi wasn't quite sure whether she was dreaming or actually hearing him say: "Once you've been a beast..."
It sounded somewhat unreal.
A few seconds of silence.
Then it seemed he spoke again, in a drawn-out tone:
"You just don't want to be human anymore."
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