As night fell, a gentle breeze blew.
At the quiet, well-lit intersection, Shiwu parked the car and turned to look at Qin Jia in the back seat.
The girl's eyes were closed, her delicate features framed by the play of light and shadow, making her both mysterious and beautiful.
Seeing that she was asleep, Fifteen slowly withdrew his gaze.
He turned his head, silently turned down the volume of the soothing piano music in the car, then put on his Bluetooth headset and called Shen Yushu, who was far away in Europe.
"The date is over."
"Yes, on my way back."
"The young lady is asleep."
"..."
After hanging up the phone, Shiwu raised his phone and recorded a video of Qin Jia sleeping for Shen Yushu.
After posting the video, he exited WeChat, opened the radio app, and searched for channels he frequently listened to.
Good evening, listeners.
"This is FM108.5, Yucheng News Radio. After the commercial break, we will continue to share letters from our listeners."
"Mr. Ma, who lives in the east of the city, wrote that he has been having strange dreams every night this month. He always dreams that he is reincarnated as an animal in the forest and is being chased by wild beasts."
"He went to the hospital, and the test results showed nothing wrong. Taking tranquilizers didn't help."
"A few days ago, Mrs. Ma hired a master for him. The master said that the jujube tree in the backyard was affecting the magnetic field of his house and attracting unclean things. As long as the jujube tree is cut down or moved, the problem will be solved."
"However, the jujube tree was in bloom, and Mr. Ma couldn't bear to cut it down. He moved the tree away, and that very night, he stopped dreaming."
"..."
"Although there are still many things that cannot be explained by science, listeners, blind superstition is not advisable."
"Just now, Mrs. Ma called to say that Mr. Ma has been diagnosed with mild paranoia."
"..."
After listening to the nearly half-hour radio program, Fifteen rubbed his temples and took off his headphones.
He glanced at the time on the control panel, then looked back at Qin Jia and called her name softly.
"Miss, we've arrived at the hotel."
In the back seat, Qin Jia opened her sleepy eyes and met Shiwu's gaze in a daze.
She rubbed her neck and adjusted her posture, her voice heavy with weariness: "Give me two minutes, I need to wake up."
Fifteen responded, and his phone suddenly vibrated.
He turned his head and saw the caller ID. He quickly picked up the phone and handed it to Qin Jia.
"Miss, it's Mr. Lu on the phone."
Qin Jia groggily took the call, swiped up to answer, and whispered into her ear, "Hello?"
On the other end of the phone, the man paused for two seconds, then chuckled softly: "Fell asleep in the car?"
"Yeah, I took a nap." She lightly pressed a button to roll down the car window a crack, letting the wind in. "What did you want to see me about?"
"It's nothing," he said. "Goodnight."
Qin Jia replied with a "goodnight," and the call was inexplicably disconnected.
She paused for a moment, handed the phone back to Fifteen, and said absentmindedly, "Why do you think he called?"
Fifteen took the phone and showed Qin Jia the time.
"I think Mr. Lu is worried about you," he said. "It only takes six or seven minutes to drive from the hot spring hotel to Qianxing."
"It's been more than half an hour now, and he hasn't heard from you. It's normal for him to be worried."
A cool night breeze brushed against her cheek. Qin Jia smoothed her hair and nodded thoughtfully.
She picked up her phone, which was lying to the side, opened WeChat, and sure enough, she saw a message from Lu Tingzhou.
Lu Tingzhou sent her two messages in total.
One message was from half an hour ago, and the other was from two minutes ago; the content was exactly the same.
Ask her if she has arrived at the hotel.
She suddenly remembered that reporting one's itinerary is also one of the essential things couples do together.
Qin Jia raised an eyebrow and replied matter-of-factly: "We've arrived. We're just about to get off the bus."
Lu Tingzhou replied with an "Mm".
She casually asked, "Did you catch up on some sleep during that half hour?"
There was a moment of silence on the other side of the screen. @UnlimitedGreatArticles, all at Jinjiang Literature City
After a while, just as she was about to get out of the car, Lu Tingzhou replied with two words.
[bath.]
Qin Jia stared at the screen, and the scene of the two of them kissing in the hot spring pool suddenly flashed into her mind.
As she thought about it, half of her cheeks quietly flushed red.
It was a long time before she came to her senses when Fifteen called her.
Qin Jia touched her still-warm cheek, took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and got out into the evening breeze.
On the way back, she kept regretting what she had done at the hot spring hotel.
Her goal was clearly to push Lu Tingzhou further and further away from her, but now it seems...
The two of them actually became closer.
The evening breeze felt warm and gentle on my face, carrying a faint floral fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.
Qin Jia unconsciously touched her lips, and her calm heart began to ripple.
That being said, Lu Tingzhou is the male protagonist of this world, so it's not surprising that he has superb kissing skills, right?
It's normal for her to become addicted.
Besides, he himself said that everything should be done in moderation.
After twenty days, he will definitely get tired of her and naturally won't be so keen on dating her anymore.
And all she needed to do was let things take their course for these twenty days. Qin Jia thought confidently.
-
The following day, at Nancheng Airport.
In the VIP waiting room, Qin Jia heard the alarm clock and gently woke Qin Mo, who was sitting on the sofa opposite her.
"Xiao Mo, it's time to go through security."
Qin Mo yawned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up. "Sis, what time is your flight?"
Qin Jia pointed to herself, "Me?"
"I didn't buy a ticket. I plan to stay here for a few days before going back," she replied softly.
Qin Mo instantly sobered up upon hearing this.
"You're alone?" He looked surprised. "Did Duan Baihan invite you to stay?"
"No." She shook her head, her words concise and to the point. "Lu Tingzhou is here. I'm with him."
Qin Mo was stunned for a long time.
"You two are together?" He paused, his expression complicated. "He knows you..."
"What?" Qin Jia blinked gently.
Looking into her clear eyes, Qin Mo smiled with relief, "It's nothing."
"You two are doing well together."
@Unlimited great articles, all at Jinjiang Literature City
The matter of drugging her has long been settled, and the toxins in her body have been removed.
Now, it's time for her to live a normal life.
Qin Mo smiled, picked up his bag, got up from the sofa, and walked out.
Before they officially parted, he suddenly remembered something and quickly reminded Qin Jia, "Oh, right, sister."
"There's one thing you need to remember." @Unlimited great articles, all at Jinjiang Literature City
Qin Jia: "Go ahead."
Qin Mo leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "You can have fun, but you need to be careful and not go too far."
Qin Jia said thoughtfully, "Don't worry, we're just going to the hot springs, there's nothing dangerous."
Seeing that she didn't get his point at all, he cleared his throat and explained more clearly: "Sis, you haven't forgotten the physiological knowledge between men and women, have you?"
Male and female physiology? What's so difficult about that? It's all in the knowledge base.
Qin Jia nodded. "I know."
"If Lu Tingzhou can't hold back, just push him away with all your might." Qin Mo said earnestly, his gaze gradually falling on her hands. "I believe that with your strength, you can definitely do it."
"In short, don't be blinded by a few sweet words," he said solemnly. "Dating is dating, but I think there are some things that can only be done after marriage."
"Mom's not here, so you can tell me what's wrong first." Qin Mo kept bending over, clenched his fist and pounded it twice on his chest, looking at her sincerely, "Qin Mo's trash can is always ready to serve Your Highness."
Qin Jia was completely amused by him. She reached out and hugged him. "Xiao Mo, thank you."
"Don't worry too much about me, Fifteen will be with me," she said gently. "Have a safe journey."
"in addition--"
"I wish you success in your work."
After a brief embrace, Qin Mo glanced past her at Fifteen not far away and felt slightly relieved.
He waved to her, "Goodbye."
Qin Jia smiled and replied, "Goodbye."
-
It was the weekend, and the weather was sunny, so many tourists came to the resort area.
Qin Jia returned from the airport, originally planning to go hiking with Lu Tingzhou. However, after seeing the huge crowds on the way, she decisively gave up the idea of going out.
After her afternoon nap, she and Lu Tingzhou stayed in their room watching a movie. After dinner, when there were noticeably fewer people outside, she went out for a stroll.
The two strolled around the neighborhood hand in hand, buying some trinkets according to the guide, including two sets of matching shirts, two matching bracelets, and a pair of matching mugs.
After returning from the market and taking a bath, they soaked in the hot springs again. This time they changed rooms, and the scenery they saw was slightly different from the previous night.
Outside the suite is a small courtyard, with a hot spring pool facing the courtyard wall, which is covered with green vines, adorned with two colors of roses, pink and white, which is quite beautiful.
Qin Jia was soaking in the pool, her back against a smooth boulder. She steadied herself, slightly raised her head, and quietly looked up at the sky.
The sky was filled with stars, their twinkling light completely overshadowing the moon's radiance and drawing her full attention.
After watching for a while, a warm, deep voice suddenly came to my ear: "Thirsty?"
Qin Jia snapped out of her reverie, her gaze drifting to the man's face. She looked at the ice cream he offered, her eyes suddenly widening. "What flavor is it?"
Lu Tingzhou: "Honeydew melon and vanilla."
Hearing that it was her favorite flavor, Qin Jia immediately smiled happily. She took the glass from his hand, picked up the spoon inside, and scooped up a spoonful.
The sweet fruity aroma blended with the rich vanilla ice cream, creating a silky smooth texture that was both cooling and refreshing. She took a few slow bites, and the stone beside her was struck.
Qin Jia stopped upon hearing the sound, looked up at Lu Tingzhou, and asked blankly, "What's wrong?"
The man waved to her, gesturing for her to give him the cup of ice cream.
"Just try a little, don't eat too much."
Qin Jia paused, put down the spoon, and obediently handed over the transparent glass.
She walked forward, holding onto the stone, then went around to the other side and stared blankly at the water without saying a word.
After a while, Lu Tingzhou followed her over, came close to her, and took her hand.
Qin Jia shook him off, sullenly saying, "Does the guide say you can't finish eating ice cream while dating?"
Lu Tingzhou looked down at her. She frowned, her beautiful eyes drooping, and her porcelain-white cheeks were flushed with a faint pink from the heat, like a ripe peach.
She pursed her lips, looking defiant, and resembled a white rabbit with its fur standing on end.
Lu Tingzhou couldn't help but pinch her cheek, teasing her with a smile, "You look like a little rabbit."
Qin Jia became even more unhappy upon hearing this. She looked up at him and retorted, "How do I resemble a rabbit? I'm clearly a genuine test taker..."
Just as she was about to be exposed, her rationality returned in time and pulled her back.
Qin Jia swallowed hard, deliberately raised her hand to fan herself, glared at him, and said, "I'm not soaking anymore. If I soak any longer, I'll really turn into a roasted rabbit!"
She muttered something and was about to leave when her wrist was grabbed. Qin Jia turned around, staring intently at Lu Tingzhou, her brow slightly raised: "What?"
Lu Tingzhou raised his hand and touched her lips, then bent down slightly, bringing his gaze to her level.
A gentle evening breeze, carrying mist and warmth, carried the man's magnetic voice to her ear.
"Kiss?" she heard him say.
The boast he made last night was still ringing in his ears, so Qin Jia didn't dare to refuse and nodded calmly.
The next moment, the man cupped her face and kissed her lips without hesitation.
The scent of roses wafted over on the breeze.
The whipped cream melted on her tongue, a blend of melon and vanilla, with a hint of strawberry, creating an indescribable sweetness.
Qin Jia gave a tender hum, then hooked her arm around Lu Tingzhou's neck and slowly moved closer to him.
She hugged Lu Tingzhou, closed her eyes, and in the following moment, her other senses were fully engaged, and her left chest began to pound uncontrollably.
This is a completely new feeling.
Their clothes were soaked by the hot spring water, and as they clung to each other, Qin Jia unexpectedly felt as comfortable as if she had been basking in the sun all afternoon.
In a daze, she felt as if she had returned to the misty forest. On a bright and sunny morning, she climbed to the top of a locust tree branch and plucked the tenderest leaf.
The glistening dewdrops landed on the corners of her lips, moistening them and carrying a faint sweetness.
Most importantly, in this dream, she is no longer a tiny koala, but a beautiful human with long limbs and fair skin.
...
The moonlight gradually brightened, while the starlight gradually faded.
Qin Jia looked at the man holding her hand and asked innocently, "What's wrong?"
Lu Tingzhou lowered his head, his gaze lingering on where her hands were, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily, his voice hoarse beyond belief: "A hug is fine..."
"...Don't lift your clothes."
Qin Jia looked up, staring silently into Lu Tingzhou's moist eyes. She didn't move her hand; her fingertips gently curled up, silently tracing his abdominal muscles.
"I've read the guides," she said gently. "This is considered romantic, something couples should always do—"
Before she could finish speaking, she was hugged again, and her restless hands were removed and placed on his back.
"Besides this…" Lu Tingzhou lowered his head, his thin lips gently touching her ear, "The guide also said that when passion is at its peak, men and women can take things further."
Do you remember this sentence?
Qin Jia felt a heat in her ears. She bit her lip lightly and replied in a daze, "I remember."
"If you remember," he chuckled, his thin lips brushing intimately against the back of her neck, his voice tinged with a hint of intoxication, "you shouldn't have provoked me."
Qin Jia looked bewildered, a faint mist rising in her amber eyes. "What will happen if I provoke them?"
He remained silent, one side of his ear turning red. "You really want to know?"
Qin Jia: "Mm."
Lu Tingzhou released her, then slowly guided her right hand below the water's surface...
A few seconds later.
He stepped back, leaning against a nearby boulder, and turned to look at her. "...Do you understand?"
Qin Jia stared at him intently, and after cramming on physiological knowledge from the knowledge base for a while, she said, "Sorry, a lot of the key content is gibberish, I don't quite understand it."
"Why don't you explain it to me in detail?"
Lu Tingzhou was speechless, but after moving his lips, he finally decided to change the subject: "It's getting late, let's go back to our rooms and rest."
After he finished speaking, he turned his back to her and went ashore, quickly grabbing a bath towel and wrapping it around his waist.
Qin Jia followed behind him, took the white bath towel he handed her, and still looked eager to learn: "Lu Tingzhou, tell me about it—"
How to take things to the next level after a kiss?
Unable to answer, Lu Tingzhou wrapped himself in a bath towel and fled in a panic, awkwardly hiding in the bathroom.