As they were talking, the two arrived at the entrance of the guesthouse, where the lights were still on.

The guesthouse in the provincial capital is quite large, four stories high. Looking inside from the main entrance, the conditions are quite good, and it's very clean.

Xue Fu felt much more at ease after glancing at it. Although she had brought clean sheets and duvet covers in her suitcase.

"Please show your identification." The receptionist's gaze swept cautiously between the two of them, seemingly trying to assess their relationship.

In this era, relationships between men and women are strictly regulated; even when registering a marriage, the guesthouse will ask several questions.

However, when Xue Fu said she wanted two rooms and that they would be staying separately, the staff member's serious expression relaxed slightly.

Xue Fu and Gu Chong gave their identification documents to the front desk. After checking the letter of introduction and confirming that everything was in order, the front desk gave them paper and a pen and asked them to sign and register. Then, they took a bunch of keys from the white wall behind them and found two keys with room numbers on them.

"Comrade Xue, your room is 304 on the third floor. It's a double room, but you're the only one staying there today."

"Comrade Gu's room is on the second floor, 209, which is also a double room. It is already occupied by a comrade."

After explaining the location of their room, the receptionist placed both keys on the counter. Before they left with the keys, she gave them a final reminder: "The security guards will be checking rooms regularly after 10 p.m., so please don't wander around. If you get caught, we will notify the police station."

These two comrades clearly have a close relationship. The receptionist was very perceptive and specifically pointed this out to them, telling them to be mindful of their behavior.

Xue Fu blushed upon hearing this, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Gu Chong's expression remained as indifferent as ever. He carried the luggage and first escorted Xue Fu up to the third floor.

Xue Fu's double room was occupied by only her.

Xue Fu initially asked if there were any single rooms available.

The receptionist said their smallest room is a double room; they don't have single rooms. That would be a waste of space.

These days, staying in a double room is considered extremely comfortable.

Their guesthouse also has eight-person and sixteen-person rooms, which are those rooms with bunk beds made of iron frames.

Since no one else was staying there, Xue Fu opened the door with her key and invited Gu Chong inside.

It's still early; it's not time for ward rounds yet.

Gu Chong didn't sit idle after coming in. He found a handkerchief somewhere, washed it in the public washbasin in the corridor, and then started cleaning the room.

The room had actually been cleaned once in the morning, but Gu Chong wanted to wipe it again to make her more comfortable tonight.

He was afraid that she might be uncomfortable.

If Xue Fu knew what he was thinking, she would definitely say, "Gu Chong, you're overthinking it!"

The conditions at their educated youth settlement in Qingtang Village are much worse than this guesthouse. She can stay there for months, so why would she complain about the guesthouse? She's not that picky or spoiled!

Of the four basic necessities of life—clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—Xue Fu wasn't particularly demanding when it came to housing. She was quite adaptable to her surroundings.

Xue Fu sat on the stool and watched him wipe the table, sweep the floor, and then take out the new sheets and duvet covers she had brought from her suitcase and neatly make up her bed.

Worried that she might be thirsty at night, he took her water bottle downstairs and filled it with hot water for her.

He was like a hardworking little bee. Xue Fu squinted her eyes and looked at him with delight, occasionally uttering a compliment that made him feel lightheaded, and he worked even harder.

After doing all this, he was slightly sweaty. Just as he was about to wipe it off, Xue Fu handed him a clean handkerchief. He was stunned and stared at the pure white handkerchief for several seconds.

Seeing that he didn't take it for a long time, Xue Fu took matters into her own hands.

She had to raise her hand to reach the sweat on his forehead. She wiped it clean for him little by little.

Even through the handkerchief, her fingertips could feel his burning body temperature.

He realized what was happening, bent down and leaned closer so she wouldn't have to lift him so high and exert herself so much.

He was too close, and his rapid, heavy breathing sprayed hot air onto her earlobe, making it wet, hot, and tingling.

Xue Fu couldn't help but pull her hand back, then quickened her pace, wiping the sweat off his forehead in a few strokes, then smearing it all over his face like she was washing a child's face.

Gu Chong's features were slightly distorted by her rubbing, but it did not affect his handsomeness.

His eyes remained open, staring intently at him with a growing intensity.

Xue Fu blushed, lowered her hand, and stammered, "I...I'm done wiping."

She swallowed instinctively, saw him close his eyes, and the next moment she felt a heavy touch on her lips as he pressed down on hers.

However, this kiss was very gentle, just a light touch, unlike the passionate kisses of the past that swept through like a storm.

The kiss made her feel safe and secure.

“It’s getting late,” he said, moving a few centimeters away. Looking at his slightly moist red lips after the kiss, he couldn’t resist leaning in and licking them. “I’m going down now.”

The stirrings of desire within him were aroused, but when he met her pure and bright eyes, he suppressed them.

"Get some rest and don't open the door to anyone. I'll come and wake you up tomorrow morning."

He touched her soft hair. After entering the house, she loosened her ponytail, letting it fall softly over her shoulders, making her appear even more gentle and obedient.

He said, "Good night."

Xue Fu blushed, lowered her eyelids, and her eyelashes fluttered: "Good night, see you tomorrow."

In fact, Xue Fu originally planned to make tonight her farewell night.

She's leaving tomorrow, and she wants to talk to Gu Chong more; she has so many heartfelt things to say to him.

Even if it's just saying some sweet nothings that couples say.

But she thought that if they stayed in the same room tonight, they probably wouldn't say much, and their mouths would be used for kissing and cuddling.

Gu Chong went downstairs, and Xue Fu went to the public bathroom to wash up before returning to her room and locking the door.

With nothing to do in her room, she went to bed before 10 p.m., intending to get some rest and a good night's sleep.

Even if she takes a sleeper berth on the train tomorrow, Xue Fu doesn't think she'll get a good night's sleep or a proper rest.

She needs to make the most of tonight to rest and recharge.

However, perhaps because she slept too long in the car this afternoon, Xue Fu couldn't fall asleep for a long time after lying in bed.

She closed her eyes. The room was quiet, but she could hear occasional noises coming from the hallway outside the door—staff members checking on her at night.

She finally fell asleep after an unknown amount of time.

When Xue Fu was woken up by Gu Chong's knocking on the door the next morning, she struggled to open her eyes, feeling as if she had just drifted off to sleep when it was already dawn.

She got out of bed to open the door, and didn't look very well.