"Ah-Chen, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Yichen was still debating in his head whether he should stage a car accident, use poison, or start a fire, when Chen Xiaoxi's soft voice pulled him back.
"Oh! Nothing." He quickly masked his thoughts, then tugged her behind him again. "Xiaoxi, stay away from her. She doesn't mean well!"
"Ah-Chen…" Xiaoxi lifted her eyes to him, warmth swelling in her chest.
But more than warmth, there was helplessness.
"She's joking." Xiaoxi tugged lightly on his sleeve, signaling for him to relax.
Yichen didn't turn around. His eyes stayed locked on Li Yue, wary and guarded, as though she were some dangerous beast.
Yue laughed even harder.
"Well, well!" She crossed her arms, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Still just a child, aren't you? Look at you, guarding your food like that!"
"All right, Ah-Chen." Xiaoxi tugged his arm again, her voice soft and coaxing. "That was just a silly joke we made when we were kids. It doesn't count."
The fact that Yichen stood firm to shield her from Li Yue's teasing pleased Xiaoxi.
But there was one little problem—
He wasn't playful at all.
Instead, he always let his imagination run wild.
And yet… he was so talented.
Of a thousand rivers I drink water from only one,
She had never heard that phrase before, but she loved it.
"Tsk, tsk…" Li Yue smacked her lips, rolling her eyes. "You two are unbelievable. You make it sound like I'm really trying to steal her away."
"Yue." Xiaoxi raised her hand and tapped her finger gently against Yue's forehead. "Don't tease him anymore. Look how tense he is."
Yichen pressed his lips together, still wary, but his expression softened slightly.
His hand remained clasped tightly around Xiaoxi's, as though terrified she might leave him.
"Fine, fine. I'll stop." Yue waved dismissively and sprawled onto the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. "But honestly, aren't you a bit too sensitive?"
"Am I? No. Absolutely not." Yichen denied flatly.
But deep down, he knew she was right.
He was too sensitive.
He had lived two lives.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan. He died alone—never married, never loved. That was his greatest regret.
On his deathbed in a hospital, no one cared.
No one remembered him.
Now, reborn into another life, he thought Heaven had shown him mercy by granting him a second chance.
Yet fate was cruel. Even reborn, he was still an unwanted orphan.
Worse, when he first woke up in this world, he was in utter misery.
Once again, he opened his eyes in a hospital bed.
And once again—
No one came.
No one cared.
The weight of loneliness pressed down on him until depression settled deep in his bones.
He longed for care.
He longed even more for family.
That longing had surpassed everything else.
Thankfully, Heaven had not been entirely heartless. After a year in this world, he finally gained something he could call family.
From the moment he accepted her, he resolved to do everything in his power to please her.
Yes—please her.
Endlessly. Without limits.
If she lacked money, he gave her money.
If she wanted to return to the stage, he gave her songs.
If she fell sick, he healed her.
All of it, just because—she was his daughter's mother. He treated her as family.
And now, against his will, he had fallen in love with her.
He didn't even know what exactly he loved about her.
All he knew was that he loved her, messily and completely.
"Xiaoxi…" His palm tightened around her hand, his gaze locking firmly on her.
"If… I mean if—one day you decide to leave me, promise me this. Go quietly. Don't let me find out."
His voice trembled with hesitation, pleading, and fear.
"Ah-Chen…" Xiaoxi's eyes softened, her heart aching for him.
His unusual behavior told her the truth—he was sick.
Li Yue also realized it. Perhaps… she had gone too far.
The two women exchanged a glance. Li Yue silently decided it was time to leave.
Because that boy… needed comfort.
After Li Yue left, Xiaoxi wrapped her arms tightly around Yichen.
"Ah-Chen, I'll never leave you. Not in this lifetime. Because I've already fallen for you."
Her voice was like a falling leaf, drifting softly into his heart and soothing the shadows that haunted him.
Yichen's body stiffened, as if struck by something unseen.
His heart pounded violently against his ribs, threatening to burst out of his chest and leap into her arms.
"Xiaoxi…" His voice was low and uncertain, as if afraid he had misheard, as if afraid this was nothing more than an illusion.
Xiaoxi looked up, her gaze gentle and resolute. Like warm winter sunlight, it pierced through his defenses and shone directly into his soul.
Her fingertips brushed across his cheek. That slight warmth sent a tremor through his heart.
"Xiaoxi, I…"
"You don't need to say it. I… like you."
She rose on tiptoe, slid her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his pale ones.
The heat of her kiss stunned him. His breath stopped, his body trembling uncontrollably.
All his thoughts scattered. All that remained was the consuming desire to claim her.
He wanted more. He wanted all of her. He wanted to keep her forever, locked in his embrace.
His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her as close as possible, as though he could merge her into his very being.
Then suddenly, he shifted, taking control. His kiss deepened, greedy and desperate.
The storm of his passion caught her off guard. She had no strength to resist.
Instinctively, she clung to him, closing her eyes, surrendering herself to him completely.
Until—
"Ah-Chen, gentler… you're hurting me…"
Two novices, inexperienced and unskilled. Their first kiss ended with swollen lips and even a bitten gum.
But Yichen came out of it looking full of life again.
Xiaoxi's effort had not been in vain.
"Xiaoxi…" He gently caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing her swollen lips with care.
His breathing was still ragged, his eyes burning like wildfire—so intense she almost couldn't meet them.
"Sorry… I don't know what I'm doing." His voice was hoarse, tinged with regret, but brimming with satisfaction.
Her taste lingered on his tongue, sweet enough to make his heart tremble. Even the air itself seemed thick with it.
Xiaoxi's face burned crimson. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings caught in the wind.
Lowering her head, her fingers toyed with the hem of his shirt. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "It's okay… we can practice more."
"Then… can we practice now?" His gaze dropped to her reddened lips, his voice rough, scraping from deep in his throat.
"Fool." Xiaoxi's fingers clutched his shirt tighter. "This isn't something you ask out loud."
He understood.
This was something to do, not to ask.
He leaned in again, brushing his lips softly against hers.
This time, he didn't rush. He kissed her gently, tenderly, as though afraid of hurting her again.
Xiaoxi closed her eyes, savoring his careful touch. His kiss was warm and soft, like the first sunlight of spring, melting away her nerves.
Her hands slipped from his shirt and circled his waist instead, answering him with her own quiet affection.
Their breaths mingled, filling the air with sweetness.
Yichen's kiss deepened gradually, yet he held back, savoring her like a priceless treasure.
Only after a long while did he finally release her. Their foreheads rested together, his eyes brimming with laughter.
"This time… was it better?" His voice was husky, tinged with uncertainty.
Xiaoxi gave a soft hum of agreement, her face so red it spread all the way down her neck.
She lowered her gaze, murmuring so softly it was almost inaudible. "Much better than before."
Yichen chuckled, tilting her chin upward, his gaze so tender it threatened to drown her. "Then… should we practice a few more times?"
Xiaoxi bit her lip, shy light flickering in her eyes. "Why are you asking again?"
Ah! He had forgotten again.
This wasn't something to ask.
It was something to do.
And so, again and again, they kissed, as though addicted.
More than once, they nearly lost control—
But each time, a sliver of clarity pulled them back.
Because Chen Xiaoxi was still sick.