“……Fine. You take off your clothes.”
The gentle entanglement of their lips and teeth gradually left them dazed.
At the moment when her heart pounded as if to burst out of her chest, Lan Yan finally felt Liang Jingchuan begin to respond.
His palm pressed firmly against the back of her head, starting with cautious attempts, then abandoning any orderly progression, and finally relying entirely on instinct to suck and kiss her again and again, plundering her breath without mercy. It was so dominant, leaving no escape.
Kissing required no instruction at all.
Lan Yan’s legs went soft. If not for the door behind her providing support, she would have surely collapsed.
His hand timely gripped her waist, lifting her up slightly, forcing her to stand on tiptoe as their bodies pressed even closer together.
Their heartbeats and ragged breaths resonated, indistinguishable from one another.
Even after being deprived of oxygen for so long, they were still reluctant to part.
Only when they absolutely had to catch their breath did Liang Jingchuan finally pull back. The hand on the back of her head slid down, his arms wrapping around to hold her back. Then he lowered his head, burying his face deeply into the crook of her shoulder.
It took a long time for him to calm down.
As reason returned, Lan Yan reached out a hand and pressed it against Liang Jingchuan’s chest. After a pause, just as she was about to push lightly, she felt a bit of warm wetness on the skin at her neck.
She knew that was where Liang Jingchuan’s eyes were, because his eyelashes always brushed her skin when he blinked, bringing a slight itch.
She was extremely surprised and turned her head to look at him, but her head was held in place, stopping her movement.
Lan Yan stilled. A sour ache welled up in her heart, like paper soaked in water, crumpling wetly.
No one spoke. She didn’t know how much time passed while they embraced, but outside the window, the lights gradually dimmed, and the whole world grew even quieter.
Lan Yan heard Liang Jingchuan take a deep breath, as if he planned to speak. But at that moment, footsteps approached from the living room outside.
Her heart leaped to her throat. Her first instinct was to turn and flee, but Liang Jingchuan held her even tighter.
“Shh. Don’t move.”
His hand reached behind her to the knob and locked the door.
The footsteps stopped at the door, followed by a knock.
“Jingchuan, are you asleep?” It was Liang Xiaoxia’s voice.
“Not yet.” Liang Jingchuan answered calmly.
“I couldn’t find the medicine box. Do you know where it’s kept?”
“I think Uncle put it in the study.”
“Oh.”
“Is someone feeling unwell?”
“Your uncle has a stomachache. Might be gastroenteritis.”
“Okay.”
“Alright then. Get some early rest.”
The footsteps gradually receded.
Lan Yan didn’t dare breathe, holding perfectly still until the corridor was completely quiet. Only then did she let out a long exhale.
A low chuckle came from above her head.
Lan Yan immediately reached out to push him away, but of course, she couldn’t budge him.
He lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “You can just sleep in my room. I don’t mind.”
“……Fine. You take off your clothes.”
“……”
“Take them off now.”
Liang Jingchuan naturally fell silent.
After being teased for so many days, Lan Yan had finally found a way to counterattack—even though her own face burned red. He was a complete novice at kissing and could only bluff verbally.
Lan Yan turned, unlocked the door, pressed down the handle, and opened it a crack. She poked her head out to scout.
The lights in the living room and study were off. Liang Xiaoxia had returned to her room.
She sidled out, but her wrist was caught.
He pulled her hand back toward the pocket of his pants.
Her heart jolted like an electric shock, and she yanked her hand away.
“Your phone.” Liang Jingchuan said. He paused, his tone utterly innocent. “What did you think I wanted you to get?”
“……”
Liang Jingchuan reached in himself, pulled out the phone, and handed it to her. Laughter laced his voice. “Better this way?”
Lan Yan took it and darted into the adjacent bathroom without a second’s delay.
She locked the door, set the phone on the sink, leaned on the edge, and looked into the mirror. Her entire face was flushed red.
Unconsciously, she raised a hand and lightly touched her lips with her finger.
It felt like she’d drunk high-proof liquor; she was still dizzy.
She turned on the faucet and splashed a handful of cold water on her face to cool down.
Then she picked up the phone and sent a message.
【blueblue: I’m taking a shower and then going to bed. You stay in your own room. If you take one step out, I won’t speak to you for the rest of your life.】
【ljc: Have I been released?】
He quoted her previous message and replied: 【Okay okay okay, you call the shots.】
Only then did Lan Yan leave the bathroom and return to her room to grab a change of clothes.
She took a quick hot shower and lay down on the bed.
【blueblue: You can shower now.】
【ljc: Is there still hot water?】
【blueblue: No. Take a cold shower.】
【ljc: How did you know I needed it?】
Lan Yan blocked him again.
She turned off the light and lay on her side, pillowing her head on her hand.
Inevitably, her mind replayed everything that had happened in the darkness just now—especially the tear stains left on the skin at her neck.
She didn’t dare ask what he had felt in that moment. Was he aggrieved, or moved by finally getting what he wanted?
From beginning to end, every trap he set was one she had jumped into willingly.
Including this kiss with its disclaimer.
Liang Jingchuan understood her so well. How could he not know she had zero qualifications to be a “slag woman”? Otherwise, the first time she went to his place, everything would have already happened.
How could she remain unmoved by his tears?
Lan Yan pulled the blanket over her head and took a deep breath, not without regret.
Beauty was truly harmful.
Physical contact was as dangerous as Pandora’s box. Once opened, it was like tasting marrow—impossible to stop.
Especially since she had finally confirmed his extremely strong physiological attraction to her.
She checked her phone, dragged him out of the blacklist, and sent a string of cursing emojis.
【ljc: ?】
【ljc: You can curse at me in person.】
【blueblue: Are you a masochist?】
【ljc: I can be.】
【ljc: Going to shower. Curse away; I’ll read them all later.】
【blueblue: Cursing you wastes data.】
【ljc: Want me to turn on hotspot?】
Moments later, a screenshot arrived showing the hotspot password: blueblue.
She didn’t know why she opened the WiFi list to check his hotspot name.
Besides the home WiFi, there was one that looked like gibberish at first glance: whenimissyouineed.
When I miss you, I need blueblue.
She was his synonym for oxygen.
Lan Yan couldn’t stop her lips from curving up. Her ears caught the sound of a door opening, footsteps, and the bathroom door opening and closing.
She seemed to need a bit of oxygen too.
Not long after, she heard the bathroom door open again as Liang Jingchuan returned to his room.
Her phone vibrated immediately.
【ljc: test】
【blueblue: ?】
【ljc: Testing if I’ve been blocked again.】
Several screenshots followed.
The screen full of “test” messages at irregular intervals, each followed by a red exclamation mark.
【blueblue: Stop playing pitiful. You have my phone number.】
【ljc: Can I call you then?】
……How was he so good at taking every opportunity.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
In the silent night, every little sound felt startlingly loud.
Liang Jingchuan: “Hello.”
Lan Yan made a soft “Mm.”
He didn’t speak. After a moment, he chuckled lightly.
Lan Yan wanted to laugh too. Calling under the same roof was so absurd. “……What?”
Liang Jingchuan: “……Midnight snack?”
Lan Yan: “What time is it?”
Liang Jingchuan: “Who cares what time.”
Lan Yan fell silent.
Liang Jingchuan: “Kitchen in one minute.”
Without giving her a chance to reply, Liang Jingchuan hung up.
Moments later, the sound of a door opening and footsteps came from outside.
Lan Yan hesitated but ungracefully got up anyway.
She deliberately made her footsteps loud, to make it seem like she was openly heading to the kitchen for a snack: Even at one-thirty in the morning, wasn’t it perfectly reasonable for siblings to suddenly crave a midnight snack?
Over her pajamas, Lan Yan threw on a knitted jacket with large pockets and shoved her hands in them. She shuffled to the kitchen doorway.
Liang Jingchuan stood in front of the open fridge door, his face illuminated by the pale blue-white light from the refrigerator. Freshly showered, he looked even crisper than a cool morning breeze in early snow.
She suppressed the memory flashback in her mind and put on an indifferent expression.
Liang Jingchuan turned to look at her. “What do you want to eat?”
Throughout the New Year period, Lan Yan never once felt hungry. After main meals came snacks and fruit, with gaps filled by seeds—like the puzzle of filling a glass jar with big rocks, small rocks, and gravel.
If she stepped on a scale, she didn’t know how many pounds heavier she’d be.
“……Something that won’t make me feel full?”
After she spoke, she noticed Liang Jingchuan’s gaze clearly fix on her lips, and he revealed a meaningful smile.
She pulled a sour face and glared at him.
“Kiwi? Aids digestion.”
“Sliced.”
“Got it.”
Liang Jingchuan took two kiwis from the fridge, walked to the sink, grabbed the peeler from its hook, and peeled them.
Lan Yan wandered over to stand beside him.
They didn’t speak. One peeled, the other watched and timely handed over a plate.
Peel them, then grab a cutting board and fruit knife to slice the kiwis.
The green flesh lay on the white porcelain plate.
Lan Yan washed her hands and popped a slice straight into her mouth.
Liang Jingchuan ate a slice too, chewing slowly. Suddenly, he said, “Next movie starts at three……”
“Don’t push your luck.”
Liang Jingchuan chuckled lightly and admitted honestly, “What can I do? I just don’t want today to end.”
Lan Yan bit into a piece of fruit and said nothing.
“……Am I dreaming?” Liang Jingchuan turned his head to look at her seriously.
His forehead hair fell softly, his brows and eyes lowered, carrying an indescribable vulnerability.
He was a man of his word—he hadn’t clung to her or demanded responsibility.
Lan Yan stayed silent for a long time. After the fourth and fifth kiwi slices, she stopped. “I’m full.”
“Mm.” Liang Jingchuan looked away.
“How long is the validity on your disclaimer?”
Liang Jingchuan froze.
“I’ll renew it for three seconds.”
Before Liang Jingchuan could react, Lan Yan stood on tiptoe and suddenly leaned in close.
The approaching breath carried the scent of their shared body wash.
The soft touch brushed his cheek like a dragonfly skimming water, gone in an instant.
The fragrant breath dissipated with it. Liang Jingchuan instinctively reached out but missed; she was already padding away in her fluffy slippers across the tiles.
Her phone vibrated.
【blueblue: I’m going to sleep. Kindly stay in the blacklist for a bit.】
【ljc: test】
No exclamation mark appeared.
He bit into a kiwi but still couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle.