The second semester of freshman year was the busiest for the literature department, and Sheng Xia resumed her four-point routine. Her GPA last semester was 3.29, just passing the "good" threshold, placing her at the bottom among her four roommates. With weak foundations, even pulling all-nighters during exam week only got her to "good." She'd mentally prepared for this result but still felt some anxiety.
Zhang Shu had a 3.78 GPA yet nearly ranked last in his dorm too, placing just above 30th in their grade—already astonishing enough for Sheng Xia, especially knowing their department had perfect 4.0 students.
"GPA is just a minor battlefield in your department," Liao Jing remarked. "Most start grinding research papers and startups by sophomore year, while we're still debating whether to pursue graduate studies in our major."
"They don't consider grad school entrance exams?"
"Do they need to? Most can get guaranteed admission here if they want, but half will probably study abroad."
"So competitive."
"Not a place for ordinary people."
Sheng Xia asked Zhang Shu if he felt anxious about it.
He admitted frankly, "Yes. But that's not bad—at least not for me. Being outperformed can be lucky. When everyone around you is stronger, isn't that a win?"
A win.
Sheng Xia felt she'd won too—just with much more effort.
This semester, Sheng Xia visited Haiyan University more often since Zhang Shu was swamped, while she had Xiao Mo (her bike) and could get around faster.
She particularly loved the bookstore outside Haiyan's west gate. Unlike modern boutique shops, this decades-old store had a vintage wooden building crammed with used books in every corner, where you could find many out-of-print editions. It offered book exchanges and housed a fluffy, lazy orange cat that loved attention.
Sheng Xia often spent half a day there—after all, reading was part of her studies. When Zhang Shu finished work, he'd take her to eat since the store only served simple coffee, no meals. If free, he'd join her for afternoon reading, sometimes doing homework or browsing books.
One day, absorbed in her book, she only noticed his long absence after turning many pages. Spotting him by a bookshelf, she found him sitting cross-legged among middle schoolers in uniforms. Apart from his much longer legs, he blended right in—all heads bowed in identical focus, even flipping pages at similar rhythms.
Amused, Sheng Xia recorded a video clip before approaching. Expecting some popular science books, she was surprised to see him reading Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils .
"Enjoying it?" she whispered.
Zhang Shu looked up, took her hand, and gestured for her to sit. Without fuss, she nestled against his shoulder, noticing he was on Part IV: Song of the Immortals . "Who's your favorite character?"
He kept reading, flipping a page. "Guess."
Sheng Xia: ...
"Qiao Feng?"
He raised a brow, turning to her. "I thought you meant female characters."
"Female? That's me." The words escaped before she could blush, then she grinned triumphantly at him.She was currently holding onto his arm, her chin resting on his shoulder as she tilted her head up, her gaze both innocent and mischievous. Zhang Shu's eyes slowly traveled from her eyes to the bridge of her nose, her lips, and then back to her eyes. Seizing the moment, he quickly planted a light kiss, barely grazing her lips before realizing it wasn’t enough and wanting to deepen it. Sheng Xia nudged him, her eyes signaling: There are people nearby!
“Don’t care.”
Zhang Shu raised the book in his right hand to completely shield their faces, while his left hand pulled her closer by the neck, tilting his head to chase her lips.
His lips were soft, and Sheng Xia couldn’t resist at all.
He kissed her deeply but briefly—after all, he still had some sense of propriety in public. He didn’t truly disregard everything as he’d claimed, and after a few reluctant pecks, he finally let her go.
When the book was lowered, Sheng Xia opened her eyes to find a row of middle schoolers staring at them in unison. One girl even dramatically covered her eyes with both hands, though the gaps between her fingers were wider than her actual eyes.
Caught off guard by Sheng Xia’s gaze, the row of heads immediately turned away, giggling behind their hands.
This time, Sheng Xia was genuinely embarrassed and buried her face in the crook of his arm.
Zhang Shu smiled at the boys and went back to reading as if nothing had happened. Noticing she hadn’t lifted her head for a while, he casually asked, “So, who do you like?”
Sheng Xia raised her head. “I like Xu Zhu.”
Zhang Shu replied offhandedly, “Why?”
Sheng Xia: “He’s a monk—free from desires.”
Zhang Shu: “…”
The bookstore’s chubby orange cat sauntered over, staring at them unblinkingly for a long moment before finally settling beside Zhang Shu’s legs, rubbing against him.
The cat seemed to adore Zhang Shu, often curling up at his feet to sleep or even sprawling across his keyboard. A single yawn or stretch could undo hours of his hard work.
Sheng Xia felt bad watching it, but Zhang Shu never got angry—he’d just chuckle helplessly, pick the cat up, and toss it onto a bookshelf. His black T-shirt would then be covered in cat hair, which did make him frown.
So adorable.
The cat was cute, and so was he.
Sheng Xia often felt like the bookstore existed in a bubble, separate from the world outside. While everything beyond its walls raced forward, time inside seemed to stand still.
The days felt slow, yet time slipped by unnoticed, leaving no trace.
By the time Sheng Xia finished reading the booklist Tan Gong had given her, Zhang Shu had already read most of Jin Yong’s works.
The weather in Heyan grew more and more like Nanli—lush greenery, the cacophony of cicadas—everything heralding the arrival of a vibrant summer and the approaching end of another semester.
Even during the hectic review week, they still met at the bookstore, though there was no time for leisure reading anymore. Sheng Xia memorized textbooks until her mind went numb, while the sound of Zhang Shu’s keyboard never ceased.
His typing wasn’t loud, and it had a steady rhythm. She didn’t find it distracting; in fact, when she couldn’t hear it, she’d feel unsettled and struggle to focus.
Sometimes, when they grew tired of studying, they’d switch to spontaneous dates—visiting museums, amusement parks, or exhibitions. More often, though, they’d just ride their bikes or wander the city on foot, going wherever their feet took them. If they found a spot they liked, they’d linger; if not, they’d keep walking, hand in hand, chatting idly or playing childish word games like “build a sentence one word at a time.”
Sheng Xia started first: “Road.”
Zhang Shu continued: “Roadside.”
Sheng Xia: “Roadside stall.”
Heh, this one’s tricky—how do you complete it with just one more word?
Zhang Shu replied: “Roadside stall spot.”
Alright, impressive.Sheng Xia: "Street stall likes."
"Street stall likes exploded."
"Street stall likes exploded."
"Did the street stall likes explode?"
"..."
She couldn't respond to that.
Lose, and you get a kiss.
Boring, but it felt like something they could play forever.
During summer break, Zhang Shu had an additional school term while Sheng Xia got off earlier. Wang Lianhua and Xu Yuanshan took Zheng Dongning abroad for a trip, so Sheng Xia and Wu Qiuxuan were picked up by Sheng Mingfeng to stay with him for a while.
But Sheng Mingfeng was extremely busy and hardly ever home. After just a week, Zou Weiping also had to leave for a business trip to Hong Kong. Probably feeling guilty about bringing them over only to neglect them, he suggested taking them on a shopping trip.
Wu Qiuxuan had always been cold toward Zou Weiping, but when it came to spending money, she never held back and enthusiastically agreed.
Sheng Xia declined, using the excuse of needing to stay home to work on her thesis.
Wu Qiuxuan practically threw a tantrum, but Sheng Xia refused to budge. In the end, no one could change her mind, and everyone who was supposed to leave did. Sheng Xia was left alone at home, enjoying a peacefulness that bordered on loneliness.
She didn’t have a thesis to write.
She just had a boyfriend to spend time with.
Leo season arrived, and so did Zhang Shu’s birthday.
Back in June, Sheng Xia had already bought tickets to the Dongzhou Music Festival, which coincidentally fell on the day before his birthday.
But she hadn’t told him yet—she wanted it to be a surprise.
All along, he had been the one who cared more about rituals, preparing gifts for her on every occasion.
Just this semester alone, there had been White Valentine’s Day, Children’s Day (which somehow became another "Valentine’s Day"), and their one-year anniversary.
Even though he himself had mocked the capitalist holiday scams, he still prepared gifts for her. Sometimes, there wasn’t even a holiday or anniversary—he just felt like it had been too long since he’d given her something, so he would.
His favorite gifts were necklaces. She had no idea how he managed to find so many beautiful ones, each one tasteful and unique. Sheng Xia already had more than she could wear.
When asked why he always gave necklaces, Zhang Shu thought for a moment, seemingly unable to come up with a good answer, and instead countered, "Should I switch to bracelets next time?"
"You don’t have to keep giving gifts all the time."
Zhang Shu: "But you love these delicate little things, and once you like something, you collect them like stamps—the more, the better."
Sheng Xia fell silent for a moment. Couldn’t this guy answer more romantically?
Even though she knew by now that he was financially stable, it still felt a bit extravagant.
During their trip to Lianli, she learned that his main source of income was rent from his old house. She’d also heard he had a hand in designing the guesthouse, preserving traces of the original architecture, which was why he knew the layout of every room so well.
Hou Junqi even spilled that another big income source for Zhang Shu was flipping gaming accounts. He’d been doing it since high school, gradually building credibility on gaming forums, and many players used him as a middleman for buying and selling accounts.
Sheng Xia also knew that some gaming accounts were worth a lot, but as a middleman, he couldn’t be making that much, right? A few dozen yuan? Maybe a hundred if he was really good?The facts were astonishing. Due to frequent issues like sellers disappearing or account flaws in account trading, the more valuable a game account was, the more cautious sellers became. They’d rather pay a commission fee and sell through a middleman than deal directly with individuals. Similarly, buyers were willing to spend a bit more to ensure they actually received the account without any hidden problems—much like trading second-hand luxury goods. As a result, Zhang Shu could sometimes make a four-digit profit from buying and reselling a single account.
This was indeed a business where you didn’t have to kowtow to anyone.
So Sheng Xia reciprocated in kind—when she received gifts, she’d return the favor, though always a step behind, missing the perfect timing.
For instance, the headphones she bought arrived several days after their one-year anniversary.
Before purchasing them, she’d even consulted the tech-savvy Hou Junqi. But no sooner had she asked than Tao Zhizhi messaged her on WeChat: "Xiaxia, are you buying another gift for Shu-ge?"
What did she mean by "another"?
Sheng Xia was speechless. Could Hou Junqi not keep his mouth shut?
"Yeah."
Tao Zhizhi sighed earnestly: "Don’t spoil these stinky men! Not even Shu-ge is an exception!"
Had she spoiled him?
Sheng Xia: "All of it combined isn’t even worth one Xiao Mo, huh?"
Tao Zhizhi: "What Xiao Mo?"
So Hou Junqi didn’t know Zhang Shu had bought her a car? Let alone the gifts that followed.
Sheng Xia sent a photo of Xiao Mo to Tao Zhizhi.
"My new car. Cool, right? Zhang Shu gave it to me."
Tao Zhizhi: "SneakyPeeking.jpg"
Tao Zhizhi: "You two sound so alike when you talk…"
Then she sent a screenshot of a conversation—clearly forwarded by Hou Junqi—with multiple images.
Group name: 【Bring Glory to the Ancestors】
Zhang Shu: [Image]
Zhang Shu: New shoes. Cool, right?
A chorus of praise from the group.
Zhang Shu: My wife got them for me.
A chorus of vomiting emojis.
Second image.
Zhang Shu: [Image]
Zhang Shu: New keyboard. Cool, right?
Another round of praise.
Zhang Shu: Custom-made by my wife.
A chorus of ellipses.
Third image.
Zhang Shu: [Image]
Zhang Shu: Couple outfits. Recommended, but don’t buy the exact same ones.
Wu Pengcheng: Nice. Link?
Zhang Shu: Let me ask my wife first.
Wu Pengcheng: Never mind. Get lost.
Han Xiao: Shu-ge, Sheng Xia’s loaded. Sugar mommy, hug me!
Zhang Shu: No hugs. Get lost.
Liu Huian: Why do you keep accepting gifts from Sheng Xia? Turning into a kept man now?
Zhang Shu: Jealousy is rotting your soul.
Sheng Xia’s face burned.
"Wife," huh?
He’d never called her that to her face. They rarely used affectionate nicknames like other couples because when they were together, they didn’t even need names.
Only occasionally, during long kisses, would he murmur "baby" or "sweetheart" in the quiet moments between…
"Wife." She’d never heard that one before.
Yet this was how he referred to her when talking to his friends…
This time, she’d make sure her gift arrived right on time.
Tao Zhizhi was the first to know, immediately forwarding the chat logs to their group.
【Get Rich Quick Discussion Group】
Tao Zhizhi: "Can’t suffer this jealousy alone."
Xin Xiaohe: "Honestly, I don’t know who to envy more. Whatever—Shu-ge’s gonna brag in his group again, and then Yang Linyu will whine about how I don’t love him."
Xiaomai: "Going to Dongzhou? Alone? Xia, are you gifting concert tickets or gifting yourself?"
Sheng Xia: "…"
Lanlan: "That ellipsis speaks volumes."
Xin Xiaohe: "Go for it, babe! Shu-ge looks like he’d be great in bed."Lanlan: "Screenshot taken, sending it to Yang Linyu."
Xin Xiaohe: "Go ahead and send it, it's the truth, okay? Not allowed to say it?"
Xiaomai: "LOL, quietly saying, I think so too."
Xin Xiaohe: "Don't be so quiet about it. Wasn't it you in high school who speculated about Shu Ge's impressive size?"
Xiaomai: "At this moment, a low-status group member goes offline.jpg"
Tao Zhizhi: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Sheng Xia: "Internal discussion, keep it confidential."
Tao Zhizhi: "I notice my dear bestie didn’t deny the part about gifting herself."
Lanlan: "Your observation is remarkable."
Sheng Xia: "At this moment, a low-status group member goes offline.jpg"
Xin Xiaohe: "Xia, remember to moisturize with body lotion these days, and don’t forget to shave your armpits!"
Xiaomai: "HAHAHAHA you’re such a buzzkill!"
Xin Xiaohe: "Precious words of experience."
Lanlan: "So, Yang Linyu, how was it? Did he finish fast?"
Xin Xiaohe: "Honestly, I have no basis for comparison. I don’t know. I’ll wait for Sheng Xia’s triumphant return."
A low-status group member silently lurked, never daring to speak up again.
...
Zhang Shu didn’t get his break until late July and stayed a few extra days to help his senior. He initially planned to remain at school for more experiments, but missing Sheng Xia too much, he returned to Nanli in mid-August.
He sent her his location: "Back."
Sheng Xia: "Rubbing hands excitedly.jpg"
Zhang Shu frowned. "Who have you been chatting with lately?"
Sheng Xia: "?"
Zhang Shu: "Your stickers are weird."
Sheng Xia didn’t answer him, instead sending two images: a QR code for music festival tickets and a hotel booking near the venue.
Sheng Xia: "Let’s go to the beach?"
Zhang Shu was briefly puzzled until he saw the music festival date and understood.
The Blue Sea Beach Music Festival was always well-organized, and the lineup included bands he liked. This time, it was being held in neighboring Dongzhou. He had considered going but decided against it, thinking he should spend that day with her instead. She was so fond of quiet—music festivals with their "chaotic revelry" probably weren’t her thing. A concert would suit her better.
Unexpectedly, she had bought tickets and even booked a hotel.
Zhang Shu glanced at the hotel reservation.
Deluxe King Room
Dates: 8.19-8.20
Guests: 2
"Sheng Xia." He called her full name.
Sheng Xia: "Too scared to speak.jpg" — a sticker of a little girl trembling in a closet corner.
Zhang Shu chuckled helplessly. This was clearly Xin Xiaohe’s style of stickers.
"Only one room? A king bed?" He still asked, given her scatterbrained nature—she might have booked too few or the wrong room type, in which case he could book another.
Sheng Xia: "Well-behaved.jpg" — Ultraman resting his chin on his hand.
Zhang Shu stopped laughing.
Even though she couldn’t see him now, Zhang Shu suddenly felt his spine stiffen, a wave of heat rising. He coughed unnaturally, momentarily dazed, his hand holding the phone dropping limply to his side.
Then he picked up his phone again to reread the chat, his eyes lingering on the "Guests: 2" line. He decided he needed to clarify something with her.
"Sheng Xia, I’m a normal man."
Sheng Xia: "Affirmation from a bottom-tier literary genius.jpg"
She was determined to reply with stickers to the end.
Zhang Shu really wanted to see her actual expression right now—her ears were probably burning crimson.That evening, Zhang Shu received a file sent by Hou Junqi, which was several gigabytes even when compressed.
Zhang Shu: "What is this? Trying to blow up my computer?"
Hou Junqi: "Precious study materials, exclusive collection. Take it for reference, no need to thank me."
Zhang Shu: "Don't need it."
Hou Junqi: "Oh ho? So confident? Don't come crying when you put the condom on backwards."
Zhang Shu: "...Get lost."
Hou Junqi: "Don't not believe me, the probability is pretty high. Yang Linyu did it."
...
After lunch on the 19th, Sheng Xia packed her luggage and went downstairs.
Even though it was just a one-day short trip, she still brought a 20-inch suitcase. Zhang Shu, on the other hand, traveled light with just a backpack slung over his left shoulder. He took the suitcase from her, then held her hand as they walked to the roadside to hail a taxi. He naturally stated the name of the hotel.
From start to finish, they didn't exchange many words, with even fewer eye contacts because Sheng Xia simply didn't dare to look at him. Only upon hearing the hotel's name did she panic: "Are we taking a taxi directly there?"
"Mm."
"We could take a taxi to the station and then a bus." Although Nanli and Dongzhou were close, taking a taxi across cities was expensive!
"Too much hassle. We'll be exhausted by evening. Need to conserve energy." Only after saying this did Zhang Shu notice not only was the person in front of him blushing furiously, but even the taxi driver was eyeing him through the rearview mirror with a knowing smile.
Zhang Shu was torn between laughter and tears.
Sheng Xia's expression went from shock to shyness to the urgent anxiety of "Hurry up and explain something!"—it was quite a spectacle. Zhang Shu watched her with great interest.
He had originally planned to add an explanation, but now thought, forget it. Scaring her was much more fun. Weren't you bold when inviting me?
This indirectly led to a silent journey, with Sheng Xia even refusing the water he offered her.
After checking into the hotel and receiving their room key, Sheng Xia truly felt the reality of staying together and began to chicken out.
The hotel was close to the beach, near the music festival venue. Most of the guests checking in were young people attending the festival, almost all in pairs.
Seeing others holding hands openly while checking in eased Sheng Xia's nervousness slightly.
The room had sea views on three sides, bright and spacious, with sunlight slanting in and sea breezes fluttering the curtains.
Sheng Xia was puzzled: "I don't think I booked this room."
Zhang Shu said casually, "The front desk upgraded us."
"How come?"
"Maybe they're short on rooms. Standard rooms are overbooked."
Could such good fortune exist? Sheng Xia was skeptical, but her attention was soon captured by the stunning sea view. With Zhang Shu handling the luggage, she was free to rush straight to the balcony to enjoy the sea breeze.
The 2 PM sun was dazzlingly bright. After standing there for a while, Sheng Xia couldn't bear the heat and was about to return inside when someone wrapped their arms around her waist from behind. A head nuzzled into the crook of her neck, his hair tickling her. She shrank her neck, giggling as she tried to dodge to the side—only to play right into his hands. He cupped her face, tilted it gently, and kissed her firmly.
It was a dry kiss.
He simply pressed his lips against hers, alternating between heavy pressure and light brushes, moving to different spots. From her lower lip to the corner of her mouth, from the tip of her nose to her eyelids, then back to her lips for a lingering moment before trailing down to linger at her neck and earlobes.
His hands gradually relaxed, leaving the back of her head to find her earlobes, lightly brushing past them, sending vibrations that buzzed in her ear canals...
Sheng Xia's entire body tensed up.A dry kiss, yet it felt stickier and more humid than any passionate tongue kiss before.
She quietly opened her eyes, catching a glimpse of his soft hair gleaming under the sun and his slightly flushed ears...
She tilted her head back, offering her graceful neck to accommodate his slow movements as the sea breeze instantly tousled her long hair.
The scorching sun blazed like fire, and Sheng Xia felt herself burning under its heat.
When he finally released her, her neck was sore. He rested his chin on her shoulder, catching his rapid breath, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, holding her close.
Sheng Xia could distinctly feel another flame burning just as fiercely.
"Want to take a nap or go out for a bite?" he asked softly.
Still dazed, Sheng Xia murmured, "You... can go out?"
A self-deprecating chuckle sounded in her ear as he gently released her and took her hand, leading her into the room. "I'll order some takeout. It should arrive in about an hour for us to rest. We can eat and then head over to check in."
"Rest?"
Zhang Shu pulled her down onto the bed , shoes still on, murmuring with his eyes half-closed, "Yeah, rest like Xu Zhu."
Sheng Xia: "..."
After lying quietly for two minutes, he got up to find his phone and order food. "You sleep for a bit. I'm going to take a shower—it's hot."
Unable to sleep, Sheng Xia opened her suitcase and changed clothes. To blend in at the music festival, she had prepared an "outfit."
When Zhang Shu came out of the shower, he saw Sheng Xia in a short T-shirt and ultra-short shorts, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, her navel faintly visible. A pair of lace-up Martin boots sat beside her, ready to be worn.
Hearing the noise, Sheng Xia glanced at him. He was wearing loose knee-length sweatpants, pulling a T-shirt over his head as he walked. The hem of the shirt fell, inch by inch, covering his well-defined abs.
She froze for a moment, and so did he. They stood two meters apart, locking eyes.
Zhang Shu ran a hand through his damp hair, sending a fine mist of water droplets flying. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, giving her a once-over before suddenly pulling her close. "Whose clothes are you wearing?"
Standing between his legs, Sheng Xia looked down at his wet face, his eyebrows and lashes still glistening with moisture—so handsome it was almost surreal. "My own clothes."
"Bought them specially?"
"Mm-hmm."
Zhang Shu frowned slightly.
Sheng Xia pursed her lips. "Do they not look good?"
"No," he said, glancing down at her blindingly white legs. "It's really sunny outside."
"It's fine. I don't tan easily."
"You could get sunburned."
"I brought sunscreen."
Zhang Shu was momentarily speechless. "Alright then."
But as he spoke, he pulled her head down and kissed her relentlessly. Earlier, it had been her neck twisting; now, it was bending down. Sheng Xia's neck was exhausted!
After eating their fill, they set off for the music festival. It was Sheng Xia's first time attending one, and she had done extensive research online. She brought an inflatable sofa, snacks, and drinks—only to have them all confiscated at the entrance. In the end, they entered empty-handed.
"So annoying!"
Zhang Shu was filming her annoyed expression with his phone, which only made her angrier. She reached out to grab it, but he swiftly raised it high above his head. She lunged into his arms, and Zhang Shu laughed heartily, wrapping her in an embrace.
"How many times have you used this move?"
"If it works every time, why not?"
He stopped recording, ruffled her hair, and pulled a lollipop from his pocket. "Here."
Sheng Xia gasped in delight. "How do you still have this?"
"You think the security would frisk my pockets?"
"...Do you have any more?"
"Nope. Any more would be uncivilized."
Over his white T-shirt, he wore a light blue long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Sheng Xia felt hot just looking at him. But, she supposed, this was how handsome guys were—heat was nothing compared to maintaining layered fashion.
As night fell, the beach swarmed with people. Suddenly, the rapid strumming of an electric guitar surged through the air, and the crowd erupted—the music festival had begun.
Sheng Xia, lounging on the inflatable sofa Zhang Shu had just bought, was caught off guard. She had expected some kind of announcement, but the sudden noise startled her into a scream. Instinctively, she threw herself into his arms, and the next second, her ears were covered by a pair of warm hands.Only when the music resumed its normal output did Zhang Shu release his hand and ask, "Are you okay now?"
A few men and women standing nearby glanced at them with looks of mild disdain.
Sheng Xia felt a bit embarrassed and gave Zhang Shu an apologetic look. She knew he had deliberately chosen a spot far from the main stage and speakers. They had VIP tickets and could have easily stood at the very front.
"It was a bit sudden, but I'm fine now."
"My ears got blasted too," Zhang Shu said, rubbing her earlobe. "Don't be nervous. If you're not having fun, just say so. We can leave anytime."
Sheng Xia shook her head. "How could we? There's a band you like! And it's so lively—it'll be fun!"
"It's my first time too. Two country bumpkins exploring the world of the cool kids together," Zhang Shu reassured her. "The warm-up songs are always a bit wild. There'll be slower ones later."
Sheng Xia tightened her arms around his waist. Well, being country bumpkins together felt pretty nice.
But he had been to so many livehouses and even played in a band himself. How could he really be as clueless as her? He was just being considerate of her feelings.
They sat and listened to song after song. Zhang Shu left once in the middle and came back with snacks.
Feeling content, Sheng Xia suggested, "Your favorite band is coming up. Should we go to the VIP area?"
Zhang Shu replied, "It's too noisy and crowded over there. It's the same here."
Sheng Xia insisted, tugging at his arm. "Let's go!"
Zhang Shu held her hand as they weaved through the crowd of waving arms.
The atmosphere here was completely different. Everyone seemed to be shouting with their whole lives, singing along to almost every song.
It was like a massive outdoor rave.
Sheng Xia did feel a bit out of place. The mix of body odor, sweat, and perfume around her was dizzying.
Zhang Shu leaned down and asked, "Too crowded? Want to go back?"
Sheng Xia shook her head.
Suddenly, Zhang Shu took off his shirt, shook out the sleeves, and tied it around her waist. Then he crouched in front of her. "Hop on."
"Huh?"
"Giving you a chance to ride on my head."
Sheng Xia was stunned but followed his instructions, straddling his shoulders and holding onto his head for balance as he slowly stood up. Her view climbed over the sea of heads, gradually becoming unobstructed.
The stage came into full, clear view, with a colorful array of heads below her.
Wow, the world of tall people.
Many around them turned to look, and even the jib camera swung their way. Suddenly, Sheng Xia saw herself on the big screen.
Cheers and teasing erupted from the crowd below, and more people turned to follow the camera's direction.
Unsure how to react, Sheng Xia just looked down at Zhang Shu. "What do I do?" she whined.
Her flustered expression was now fully displayed on the big screen.
"Wave hello. If you act shy, the director wins."
By the time Sheng Xia looked up, the screen had already cut back to the stage—the new band was coming on!
"Your favorite band! Ah Shu, can you see like this?"
"Yeah."
"Put me down!"
"No."
On stage, the lead singer introduced the band members. "Enough talk—let's have fun!"
A drumbeat signaled the start of the performance.
"Ah Shu, he talks just like you!" Sheng Xia exclaimed excitedly, swaying slightly.
Zhang Shu laughed and tightened his grip on her legs.
This band was clearly the most popular. Cheers and sing-alongs surged around them, and someone waved a flag that read: **Reserved for my favorite girl.
Sheng Xia felt inexplicably embarrassed.As the song ended, the lead singer gestured for everyone to quiet down. "Alright, for the next song, you can call the person you like. If they're here, you can kiss them. If not, look around—fate might just be waiting."
Without giving the audience time to react, the music began to flow softly, the singer's voice shifting from wild to tender in an instant.
The sea breeze brushed against the sweltering night, hearts stirred by the melody.
The camera panned across the crowd, and on the big screen, couples kissed passionately while strangers, initially shocked and shy at being filmed, eventually gathered the courage to embrace those beside them. The atmosphere was both intimate and electric.
Sheng Xia was caught by the camera again, but this time she didn’t hide. Smiling at the lens, she suddenly lowered her head and said, "A-Shu, I’m going to kiss you."
Zhang Shu was stunned by her words, nearly losing his balance. The next second, he grinned recklessly and tilted his head up.
Sheng Xia leaned down with difficulty, cradling his head, and pressed a kiss to his lips.
On the screen, the impossibly beautiful girl sat perched on the boy’s shoulders, a man’s shirt tied around her waist covering any risk of exposure. Below the hem of the shirt, her slender, pale legs wrapped around his sturdy arms.
The boy’s sharp, angular profile was highlighted as he tilted his head back, tendons straining along his neck, Adam’s apple prominent. His large hands gripped her thighs to steady her, the contrast between their skin tones under the camera’s harsh light resembling a high-contrast oil painting.
The scene looked like a promotional poster for the music festival.
"Damn, that guy’s got some strong abs!"
"Holy shit, this couple is gorgeous and perfect together!"
"Unreal. This pair deserves a spot in the ‘best audience moments’ hall of fame."
Cheers erupted around them.
Many were snapping photos.
Sheng Xia’s heart trembled. The camera had already moved on, showing others on the screen, but her pulse refused to calm—had she really just kissed him in front of everyone?
Had it really been her?
Zhang Shu still had his head tilted back, but unless she bent down, he couldn’t see her from this angle.
Yet she could see the smile lingering on his lips.
Even as the song ended, it didn’t fade.
...
They left early, though it wasn’t Sheng Xia’s idea.
After Zhang Shu’s favorite band finished their set, he lowered her and whispered by her ear, "Let’s go back?"
Biting her lower lip, she understood the look in his eyes. "Mm."
Hand in hand, they weaved through the crowd. The soft sand made running difficult, especially with Sheng Xia’s shoes filled with grit. Zhang Shu kicked off his own shoes, handed them to her, then scooped her up and strode across the scorching sand, his pace quickening steadily.
In the elevator, it felt like déjà vu—the two of them standing silently on opposite sides.
Except this time, their hands were tightly clasped.
"I was thinking about something," Zhang Shu suddenly said.
Sheng Xia couldn’t help but smile. "Oh."
He was explaining his silence.
"What were you thinking about?" she asked, just to fill the quiet.
"You."
With a ding , the elevator arrived at their floor. Zhang Shu mashed the door-open button repeatedly, as if that would make it slide apart faster.
He swiped the keycard and stepped aside to let her enter first—but then seemed to change his mind. Before she could step in, he pulled her back, trapping her between his chest and the wall. The door slammed shut behind them as he braced his hands against the wall, his breath suddenly close. In the darkness, his lips found hers unerringly, capturing her lower lip in a slow, possessive suck.
"A-Shu..."
"Hm?"
Her head tilted back, hands instinctively gripping his waist. Zhang Shu’s mouth turned demanding, sucking until her lip tingled, drawing a soft whimper from her.His tongue invaded, tangling with hers, giving no room to retreat, chasing and sucking. Even this wasn't enough—he pulled her waist closer, cradled her head, and kissed her fiercely. Their noses bumped awkwardly, so he tilted his head and changed angles, kissing her even more voraciously.
But today, it felt like his heart was hollow. No matter how deeply they kissed, it wasn’t satisfying. Desire seemed bottomless.
Sheng Xia also felt something different today. Her body craved infinite closeness with him. Her arms tightened around his waist as she stepped forward, rising slightly on her toes to meet his kiss. He paused, clearly surprised, and she seized the moment—her tongue slipped into his mouth, mimicking his movements. She sucked his lower lip, teased his tongue, tangled with it, licked…
“Sheng Xia…”
“A-Shu, I want to kiss you.”
A click sounded in her ear—the electricity card slotting into place, powering the room.
Then the lights flickered on. He reached out and turned off several, leaving only a single floor lamp glowing.
Through it all, his lips never left hers. His eyes were open, watching her melt into his embrace. Blood surged uncontrollably, boiling under his skin.
Sheng Xia suddenly felt weightless as he lifted her. She coiled around him like an octopus.
Zhang Shu chuckled lowly. “So clingy? Do you even have bones?”
“Mmm… no.”
He carried her toward the bedroom, pulling off her shoes along the way.
Their lips met again, kissing feverishly as they tumbled onto the bed. She lay beneath him, legs still hooked around his waist.
He propped himself up, his gaze unfocused yet locked onto her. “Baby, let’s try, okay?”
Sheng Xia saw only the sharp outline of his handsome face, breathed in nothing but his scent.
What was he saying?
She didn’t quite catch it, but his voice was intoxicating. She wanted to hear more.
Her eyes glazed over in confusion.
Zhang Shu leaned down, lips brushing her ear as he repeated, “Let’s try… more than just kissing. Okay?”
Boom—
Something inside Sheng Xia shattered, collapsing in an instant.
He was asking her… okay?
“Can we? Baby… baby…”
“Sweetheart…”
“Look at me?”
He kept calling her name, pressing featherlight kisses everywhere. His hot breath made her shiver again and again.
“Mmm…”
Her whisper was so faint it barely reached his ears, but it sent a jolt through him—tingling, maddening, making him want to retaliate.
Outside, the sea wind grew wilder, howling past the curtains, making them snap and whip against the walls.
Sheng Xia had diligently applied body lotion for days, and it seemed to work wonders—he couldn’t keep his hands off her. He stared for so long that she grew impatient and kicked his face away.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shu concluded that the “study materials” Hou Junqi had given him were utterly useless.
Because his mind was blank. Everything was pure instinct.
He regretted not reviewing them—now he was genuinely flustered. Talent meant nothing when overthinking took over.
Nervous. Clumsy. Frantic.
Words that should never describe Zhang Shu now defined him completely.
…………
Sheng Xia lay facedown on the pillow after her shower, too exhausted to move.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom, along with his occasional hum.
Was he… singing?
…………
…
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Zhang Shu stepped out of the bathroom… then suddenly planted several kisses on her face.
…………
…………
He propped himself up on one elbow. “Where? Where’s broken? Let me see—didn’t you say you had no bones? How could anything break?”
“Zhang Shu!”"Hmm?" His eyes and brows couldn't hide his smile. "Say it again."
"Zh-Zhang Shu!"
"Mmm, so obedient."
He planted another loud kiss and lay back contentedly, nuzzling into her neck with half-closed eyes while gently massaging her hand.
"Working out the stiffness in your bones. Go to sleep."
His palms were warm, and the massage felt quite comfortable. Sheng Xia, exhausted, dozed off briefly before suddenly opening her eyes and turning to look at him. Sure enough, he was staring at her unblinkingly. The corners of her lips curled into a smile.
"Didn't you say all your bones were broken? What's so funny?"
Sheng Xia pulled the blanket over her eyes.
He tugged it down, persistent. "What are you smiling about?"
She blinked rapidly. "Just... happy birthday, A-Shu."
Zhang Shu rolled over, propping himself up to cradle her head in his arms, cupping her face as his fingers traced her eyebrows over and over.
"How are you so beautiful?" he murmured.
Sheng Xia stayed perfectly still. "You're beautiful too."
Zhang Shu's lips curved as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "You really are the best gift I've ever received."
Playing with her hair, he smoothed it from her crown behind her ears. "But that's not what I meant. You're not just a birthday present—you're your own person."
Sheng Xia gazed at him. "I know."
She hadn't thought of herself as a gift either. She simply felt that when the time was right, there was no need for hesitation.
It just happened to be on this day.
"Do you know when I first wanted to marry you?" he asked casually.
Her heart clenched—this topic had come out of nowhere.
She didn't guess, and he didn't wait for her to respond before continuing, "When you said you could get jealous too."
Sheng Xia couldn't recall at first.
He added, "At the hospital."
At the hospital, she had said plaintively that she could feel jealous too, that she understood what jealousy was.
That was when he knew—he didn't just like her anymore. He had to marry this girl.
"Why?" she asked. She couldn't understand—what was so special about jealousy?
"Because I wanted you, but I was afraid of scaring you away. But if you showed even the slightest inclination toward me, there was no way I'd ever let go."
...
Sheng Xia woke once in the early hours because it was too hot.
She carefully moved his arm away and was about to turn over when she was pulled back.
Glancing back, she thought he'd woken up, but his eyes were lightly closed, his breathing slow and even—still asleep.
She turned over fully. The nightlight hadn't been turned off, so she could see him clearly now.
Thick, dark brows; pale, translucent eyelids; long, thick lashes; a straight nose bridge with just the right subtle bump in the middle.
So handsome.
Especially his nose—how could anyone have such a perfect nose? No plastic surgery template could replicate it from any angle.
She freed her hand from under the blanket—it didn't ache anymore.
As she raised it to poke the bump on his nose bridge, her gaze was caught by the sparkling thin chain around her wrist.
A silver bracelet with a jasmine flower pendant.
It hadn't appeared out of nowhere.
It was his birthday—why was he giving her presents again?
Sheng Xia leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose.
Zhang Shu sniffed awake, looking slightly dazed, though his arms instinctively tightened around her. He glanced at the window, but the heavy curtains blocked all light. "Is it morning?"
Sheng Xia shook her head. "No."He shook his arm slightly. "Then sleep a bit more?"
"I'm so hot. Can you let me go so I can sleep better?" she negotiated.
Zhang Shu gave her a sidelong glance, his expression clearly saying, "What nonsense are you spouting?" He reached over to adjust the air conditioning panel by the bed, lowering the temperature before wrapping himself around her again. "Now it's not hot anymore."
Sheng Xia was still uncomfortable, kicking her legs under the blanket to let some cool air in.
Zhang Shu exhaled through his nose. "You woke me up."
Sheng Xia's eyes widened.
Mmm—
After that, whether it was hot or not, Sheng Xia fell into a deep sleep and didn’t wake up until nine.
Her body was completely free—he wasn’t in bed. She looked around, but the room was empty.
She thought about getting up to wash up, but after rubbing her sore waist, she felt too exhausted and flopped back onto the bed lazily, grabbing her phone to check her messages.
Both dorm group chats had 99+ notifications.
University Dorm Group:
Liao Jing: "Still not awake? She’s gonna freak when she sees this."
Zhong Lujie: "Overnight fame."
Liao Jing: "Saving this as my wallpaper!"
Confused, Sheng Xia scrolled up.
Turns out, last night’s Blue Sea Music Festival had trended on social media, and the audience interaction segment had sparked a lot of discussion—especially the photos of them kissing.
It wasn’t exactly viral, but anyone who knew them could recognize them. Even the literature department’s main group chat had people asking if the girl in the photo was Sheng Xia.
Even Wu Qiuxuan had sent her a message: "Sis? You went to the Blue Sea Music Festival? Weren’t you supposed to be home writing your thesis?"
No hiding it now.
Fortunately, this kind of news usually flew under the radar of older folks.
The [Get Rich Quick Discussion Group] was even livelier—Sheng Xia almost didn’t dare open it.
The first few messages were all exclamation points and exaggerated praise—these girls had gone wild in the middle of the night.
The rest were all calls for Sheng Xia.
Xin Xiaohe: "Stop calling her. She doesn’t have the energy to check her phone right now."
Xiaomai: "Eek! I don’t get it, I don’t get it!"
Lanlan: "It’s been three hours. Who goes three hours without checking their phone during free time at night?"
Xin Xiaohe: "Three hours? Did Shu take something?"
Tao Zhizhi: "Is it possible they just… fell asleep?"
Xin Xiaohe: "I’d rather believe Shu is just naturally gifted, honestly."
Xiaomai: "They went to bed that early? We started calling for her at like nine!"
Nine o’clock was indeed when they had just gotten back.
But three hours? No, no, definitely not.
The process had been… complicated. He’d ruined several of those things —not because they slipped off, but because he couldn’t figure out which side was the right one, either too tight or too loose.
She hadn’t dared to look, and she hadn’t dared to ask.
Just waited awkwardly.
Looking back, that time was a little embarrassing, but in the moment, she’d just been nervous.
And this room—floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, a balcony overlooking the endless sea and sky, lying in bed feeling all romantic and dreamy—but if it was for that …
Couldn’t get more mortifying.
She couldn’t even remember how many times she’d begged him to close both layers of curtains!
After that, things went smoother, but it still hurt, so they had to figure out other ways. In short, they really had fumbled around most of the night.
She had no face to reply to the messages. She chose to play dead.
Just then, Zhang Shu returned, carrying a table’s worth of breakfast.
"Getting up?" he asked, sitting by the bed.
Sheng Xia rolled over. "Can I not?"
"Sure. I’ll extend the room."
Sheng Xia scrambled up in a panic. "No, no, I’m getting up!"
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