Chapter 15 Xiao Bai is exceptionally kind and affectionate.

The sound of rain filled the air outside the window, and the sound of water could be heard inside as well.

Xiao Xiye turned off the shower, casually put on a nightgown in the steamy bathroom, and opened the door, hearing the sound of the keypad lock opening.

He strode down the stairs and immediately saw Qiao Bolin soaked to the bone, and couldn't help but tease him.

"Hey, anyone who didn't know better would think they were out doing something like this—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound in his throat was abruptly cut off.

His usual lazy and carefree expression froze. He slowly raised his hand and rubbed his eyes.

"I must still be a little sleepy," he yawned, turning to walk towards his bedroom upstairs. "Going back to catch up on my sleep..."

"Xiao Xiye".

The familiar voice behind him convinced Xiao Xiye that this was not a dream.

He turned around, glanced at Qiao Bolin, and then looked back, his expression complicated.

If it wasn't a dream, who could tell him—

Why would Qiao Bolin bring a strange girl back?

“This is Xiao Xiye, my childhood friend. He’s been in Jiangcheng for the past few days… for tourism,” Qiao Bolin took the two dry towels that Xiao Xiye reluctantly threw to him and handed one to Ning Jiu. “My parents are currently away on business trips, so it’s just him and me at home.”

His voice was frank, because it was the first time he had brought a classmate home, so he had considered everything that needed to be considered.

"By the way, have you talked to your parents? If you feel uncomfortable, just let me know and I'll call a car to take you home."

"......Thanks."

Ning Jiu took the dry towel that Qiao Bolin handed her and quickly surveyed Qiao Bolin's residence.

Located near the city center, this duplex apartment boasts a spacious layout with floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the surrounding buildings. The natural wood color extends from the floor to the stair railings, and while the furniture features few eye-catching logos, it exudes sophistication in every detail.

The overall furnishings are relatively new, so it shouldn't have been moved here for very long.

Ning Jiu changed into disposable slippers, looked up, and happened to see the boy who was looking her up and down.

Xiao Xiye.

The boy leaned lazily against the sofa in the living room, his long, well-proportioned legs slightly bent, his eyebrows and eyes sharp and unrestrained, his peach blossom eyes filled with a nonchalant expression that seemed to be smiling, and a small mole on the tip of his nose that was eye-catching. Whether it was his appearance or his figure, he was undoubtedly a handsome man.

He's somewhat similar to Wen Yi, yet not entirely the same. Ning Jiu could sense an innate nobility about him, a languid air emanating from someone whose material needs had been fully met since childhood—something quite different from Wen Yi.

The boy in front of me is the same kind of person as Qiao Bolin.

Ning Jiu initially thought he looked familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, she remembered seeing him once at the beginning of the semester. He seemed to have come to Jianglan Experimental School for a visit.

I don't know why, but I have this strange feeling of a rich young master experiencing life.

As she was observing the person in front of her, she heard Xiao Xiye chuckle and look away before she could.

"Joe Bolin, I really don't understand you anymore."

His voice was low and husky, and his tone, like his demeanor, carried a lazy Beijing accent.

“You should at least tell me before bringing someone back,” he said, pointing to the half-wet towel still hanging around his neck, water droplets dripping from the ends of his hair. “I just came out of the shower. What if I bump into someone while I’m not wearing any clothes?”

"It's an emergency. You've seen the weather outside."

Qiao Bolin opened the cardboard box and took out the little Border Collie, not paying attention to what Xiao Xiye was saying.

"This is also a reminder to you, don't treat my house like Uncle Xiao's house—"

“Hey,” Xiao Xiye frowned, “Didn’t I tell you not to mention him to me?”

Qiao Bolin paused, then gave him a faint smile: "With your temper, it's already quite kind of Uncle Xiao not to kick you out of the house."

"......"

Even when the two handsome men were arguing, it was still a sight to behold. Unlike Qiao Bolin, who was always polite and measured when joking at school, he spoke with barbs when he talked to Xiao Xiye, or rather, it was a kind of banter that they both knew well.

Is this his true self? Ning Jiu narrowed her eyes.

She seemed to have glimpsed a side of George B.C. that he hadn't shown to the public.

Jobel knelt down and took a tissue to slowly wipe the Border Collie's soaked fur.

When the tissue touched the soft, close-fitting fur, it trembled slightly but didn't flinch.

The little guy, soaked to the bone, curled up in a ball, his fur plastered to his skin, so fine that you could almost see his skeleton.

His right eye, which he couldn't open, was a little red and swollen. His other eye would look at Qiao Bolin one moment and Ning Jiu the next. He didn't make a sound or cause a fuss, as if he knew that this person was good to him.

Ning Jiu's heart softened at the little Border Collie's gaze, and she put the towel down.

“Little Blackie seems hungry,” she noticed the little guy’s flat stomach. “Do you have any chicken breast or goat milk? I’ll feed it some.”

"Little... Black and White?"

"Little Black and White?"

Qiao Bolin and Xiao Xiye spoke at the same time.

Ning Jiu met their gazes, feeling utterly bewildered.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

Qiao Bolin pursed his lips: "Is this the name you just gave it?"

“Yes,” Ning Jiu nodded proudly, “This little guy has black eyes and ears, and the rest of his body is white. Isn’t that a perfect description?”

"......"

Now it was Joe Bolin's turn to be silent.

An eerie silence fell over the living room. Ning Jiu realized what was happening and chuckled.

"Okay, not satisfied?" She nodded seriously. "Then I'll think of another one."

She bit her lip, her gaze sweeping over the little Border Collie that was blinking its bright eyes at her, and then over the boy beside her who was intently wiping the Border Collie's ears.

Ning Jiu changed to a softer voice and called out to the little Border Collie.

"Xiao Bai!"

Qiao Bolin stopped wiping abruptly.

In stark contrast to the boy's stillness, the little Border Collie stared intently at Ning Jiu.

The little guy was stunned at first, as if trying to confirm whether those two syllables were calling it.

When Ningjiu called again, it let out a soft hum, almost inaudible, yet carrying a strange sense of joy.

With its two little legs kicking outwards, Qiao Bolin's school uniform, which he had finally managed to dry, was instantly soaked and covered with two little paw prints.

Ningjiu confirmed that it liked the name.

"Xiao Bai, do you really like this name?" She tilted her head, her beautiful eyes curving into crescent shapes, her voice growing softer and softer, "Xiao Bai, you're so cute~ Xiao Bai is so well-behaved, Xiao Bai is so adorable, Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai..."

The little Border Collie was getting more and more excited. Suddenly, it struggled, slipped out of Jobelin's grasp, and, kicking its short legs, wobbled and stumbled towards Ning Jiu.

Ning Jiu hadn't expected it to be so strong. She crouched down slightly to catch it, but its force made her lean back slightly.

The freshly dried school uniform was also gloriously stained with two bright watermarks.

The rain soaked the fabric, outlining the girl's slender waist and the contours of her shoulder blades. Her fair skin was dotted with glistening water droplets, shimmering softly, appearing and disappearing, adding to her alluring and dreamlike charm.

Suddenly, a hot hand caught her.

The touch was firmer than usual, the warmth of the palm seeping through the damp fabric, the fingertips brushing against the water droplets, sliding down her side waist, bringing a fine warmth, even a slight itch.

Xiao Bai, who was still struggling, was picked up again, and Ning Jiu felt a shadow fall over her.

Qiao Bolin stood between her and Xiao Xiye, his back clean and calm, like a silent barrier.

His eyes showed little change, but were much deeper than usual.

“It seems to really like the name,” she said after a moment of silence, giving him an innocent smile. “And I think the name has a meaning.”

Meaning.

What could it possibly mean?

Qiao Bolin used one hand to comfort Xiao Bai and the other to continue the unfinished work.

Hearing what Ning Jiu said, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly, looking down at her with a half-smile, as if to see what Ning Jiu could come up with.

“Listen to my fabrication… oh no, explanation,” she sat up straight, making a final defense for Xiao Bai and for herself, “The artificial bridge we just crossed, I saw its name, it’s called Bai-Yue-Bridge.”

“If I carry it across there, does that mean Xiao Bai has jumped across and started a new life?” Ning Jiu snapped her fingers. “Then everything makes sense, right? Xiao Bai should be called Xiao Bai.”

Um.

The logic is sound, and there are no loopholes.

Ning Jiuzhen felt that she should join the debate club to make a name for herself.

She wanted to know Qiao Bolin's reaction, her light eyes fixed on him with a direct and intense gaze, afraid of missing any expression from him.

The latter simply held Xiao Bai quietly, neither saying yes nor no.

No reaction is the best reaction. Ning Jiu thought.

Normally, he would probably say some polite words to ease the tension, but at this moment, Qiao Bolin just let the subtle atmosphere between the two of them fester.

Something's not right.

The phone in his pocket spoke before Joe Berlin did.

The atmosphere was broken. He looked down at the phone number and put Xiao Bai down, then walked to the other side to answer the call.

The door slammed shut, and Ning Jiu looked down, taking the opportunity to send a message to Yuan Liangjing.

[Ningjiu] Uncle, I might be back a little late today. ^_^

I thought Yuan Liangjing was busy, but he replied almost instantly.

[Uncle] You're telling me you'll be back later? Don't you know how strong the wind is outside?? Hurry up and come back, quick!

[Ningjiu] I can't get back because of the strong wind; it feels like the bus is going to be blown away. Don't worry, a kind classmate has taken me in~ I'll go back when the wind calms down.

After Yuan Liangjing typed "typing" for a while, Ning Jiu felt her phone vibrate.

[Yuan Liangjing] Boy or girl? What's his/her name?

Here come the two classic questions from parents.

Ning Jiu hissed.

Neither of these questions is easy to answer.

"Is it difficult to answer?"

A lazy voice came from the side. Ning Jiu put down her phone and met Xiao Xiye's gaze.

He tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Class 8, Grade 11, Qiao Bolin, is it that hard to write?"

Isn't this person right across from her?

How did you see the contents of her phone?

wrong.

Ning Jiu snorted coldly and didn't stand on ceremony with him.

"What do you mean."

"You like him?"

Ning Jiu had expected Xiao Xiye to ask, but she didn't expect him to ask so directly.

Contrary to her expectations of teasing, his tone was serious, as if he were discussing not the sensitive topic of love for teenagers, but rather an option for brunch.

That's why Ningjiu can't find any fault with it.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to admit it for the time being.

What if I said yes?

"Hmm." Xiao Xiye nodded knowingly, "He's more adept at lying than I expected."

"......"

He stopped smiling, and his sharp features lost their previous laziness, instead giving off an insurmountable sense of distance.

"That call was from Aunt Wen. You can probably guess what she was going to ask. Parents always ask the same questions at the same time." Xiao Xiye sighed slightly as he spoke of this, seemingly feeling bored.

“The typhoon is approaching, and the rain will only get heavier,” he said calmly. “If you live far away, there are no drivers available to take your ride right now, so you won’t be able to get home.”

Then the conversation shifted.

"Fortunately, there are high-end hotels operating nearby, which can provide rest until the typhoon ends."

The sound behind the door faded; it was Qiao Bolin who hung up the phone.

The moment the door opened, Xiao Xiye's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"Want to guess whether Joe Bolin will let you stay in a hotel or here after this phone call?"

This is undoubtedly a pointless question.

But it did indeed ignite Ningjiu's competitive spirit.

Qiao Bolin opened the door, met their gazes, and shook the phone in his hand.

"My mom called to ask if I got home yet."

There was no additional information gleaned from the words.

Xiao Xiye gave an OK sign, poured himself a glass of ice water, and went upstairs.

"I'm sleepy again, I'm going upstairs to sleep."

As the footsteps grew fainter, only the two people and the dog remained in the large living room.

Ning Jiu was observing Qiao Bolin's expression and never expected him to suddenly look at her.

My heart skipped a beat.

The moment their eyes met, Qiao Bolin maintained his gentle expression, but Ning Jiu had a fleeting illusion that he saw through everything.

“I just asked my mom. There’s chicken breast and goat milk in the fridge, but I don’t know if Border Collie puppies can eat it,” Jobelin first looked away and took out the goat milk from the fridge to check the ingredient list. “Puppies have more food restrictions than adult dogs, so it’s better to be cautious.”

Ning Jiu carried Xiao Bai to Qiao Bolin's side and looked at the ingredient list with him.

She gently stroked Xiao Bai's fur with one hand while searching on her phone with the other.

She frowned slightly as she looked up something, pointing to a line of text on the ingredient list, but her finger unexpectedly touched Qiao Bolin's thumb.

The boy's pungent aura spread through the lines on his thumb, startling both of them, who then reflexively stepped back.

Snap.

Goat milk spilled on the ground.

When Xiao Bai saw the goat milk, he excitedly kicked his legs to reach for it.

Ning Jiu could only lean back slightly, and Qiao Bolin took the opportunity to bend down and pick up the goat milk. The boy's back bulged out in the school uniform fabric, forming a straight line poised to pounce.

She inexplicably felt her ears getting hot.

“I just saw xylitol,” Ning Jiu explained. “It seems that puppies can’t eat it.”

“I saw it too,” Qiao Bolin said helplessly, putting the goat milk back in the refrigerator. He took out the chicken breast and closed the refrigerator door, then couldn’t help but pat Xiao Bai’s head again. “I can only let Xiao Bai drink water after eating the chicken breast.”

Ning Jiu was also a little disappointed. She strolled towards the living room, but as soon as she took a step, she suddenly remembered something.

"Joe Berlin".

The boy who was called turned his head and happened to meet Ning Jiu's bright, light-colored pupils.

Her eyes were bright, even brighter now, and just looking at him from afar, it was as if her pupils enveloped and reflected his entire being.

Qiao Bolin wanted to look away from her pupils, but his gaze inadvertently swept over her upturned lips.

The lower lip is fuller, while the upper lip is slightly thinner. The lip color is naturally pink, and even without lipstick, it always looks moist and glossy.

Ning Jiu: "What did you just call it?"

Her tone made it sound like she had caught him red-handed.

Because of Ning Jiu's words, Qiao Bolin looked at her smiling eyes again.

"What did I call it?" she asked innocently.

Ning Jiu was clearly taken aback, not expecting that Qiao Bolin would deny things at times.

“I don’t care, I just heard it,” she said, grabbing Xiao Bai’s hand and making an attacking gesture towards Qiao Bolin, wrinkling her nose at him. “Our Xiao Bai’s name is really nice, don’t you think so too?”

Before Qiao Bolin could react, she grabbed his arm and they walked together into the living room.

"Hurry up and feed Xiao Bai, it's very hungry."

After feeding him chicken breast and purified water, Qiao Bolin found a soft cushion from somewhere and let Xiao Bo lie on it.

At first, Xiao Bai was a little incredulous. After sleeping on cardboard for so many days, there was actually something so soft to sleep on. After repeatedly confirming with Qiao Bolin with his round eyes, he carefully stepped onto the soft mat and fell asleep soon after.

Once everything quieted down, the storm outside seemed clearer than ever before.

The previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly cooled down, like a flower taken out of a greenhouse and quickly withering after experiencing real temperatures.

Ning Jiu sat on the sofa and glanced at the time on her phone.

It's almost 6 p.m.

“Xiao Bai seems to like you a lot,” she began, then laughed halfway through her sentence, “but it has a very good temperament, and the shelter should like this dog too.”

She stood up and had already thought through Xiao Bai's arrangements for the next few days.

"Can this dog stay at your house for a while?" Ning Jiu asked. "If it's inconvenient, that's okay. There's still some time before dark, I'll take it to my house."

“It’s convenient,” Qiao Bailin said.

"OK."

Ning Jiu had been so confident when she spoke to Xiao Xiye, but now that it was time to leave, she felt it was unnecessary.

The rain outside the window hadn't let up, but it wasn't like she hadn't been caught in the rain before. If she were to stay using the excuse of being afraid of getting wet, she probably wouldn't be able to stand it the moment she said it.

"I'll be going now," she said, bending down to pick up the umbrella by the door. She opened her phone to text Yuan Liangjing. "To be honest, your neighborhood is really convenient. I just saw a bus stop that's only a five-minute walk away—"

Let's wait for the rain to stop before we leave.

Ning Jiu's words were cut off by the boy's clear, cold voice.

She turned around in disbelief, genuinely thinking she had misheard.

But Joel Bolton's voice was unusually forceful, leaving her no room to refuse.

“I have already informed my parents, and they know.”

Under Ning Jiu's gaze, Qiao Bolin remained completely calm, his tone extremely composed.

“Besides the bedroom where Xiao Xiye lives, my house also has a guest bedroom, but it needs a little cleaning,” he said. “If your parents agree, you can stay at my house temporarily during the typhoon days. If they don’t agree, that’s okay too. There are hotels nearby, and I can help you check in.”

His words were so clear and impeccable.

“The weather is dangerous right now,” Qiao Bolin said, seemingly speaking purely from a classmate’s perspective, without finding a single fault in her. “This is the result of my careful consideration, so I hope you can consider my suggestion.”

The weather is indeed dangerous, Ning Jiu thought.

But... isn't Joel Bolton in danger?

Joe Bolin, danger.

This is the first time Ningjiu has associated these two words together.

She raised her eyes with a slightly scrutinizing gaze, hoping to find even the slightest hint of selfishness in the boy's eyes.

But the result was that nothing came of it.

Qiao Bolin was not in danger; it was his excellent upbringing that made him unable to bear seeing his classmates travel during a typhoon, so he was willing to sacrifice his own private space to ensure the safety of others.

This realization reassured Ning Jiu, but it also made her resentful.

He really did treat her as a very innocent and naive best friend.

"Sure."

Since he was showing kindness to his good friend, she naturally had no reason to refuse.

Ning Jiu put on a smile that was even more polite than his.

"Thank you, Qiao."

Ning Jiu changed back into her slippers and lay on the sofa watching Xiao Bai's peaceful sleeping face.

Border Collie puppies have two faces: when awake, they can be quite irritable and boisterous, but when sleeping, they curl up into a ball, which is a sign of insecurity.

Her gaze swept briefly over Xiao Bai's injured right eye.

It's very serious; the kind where you can't open your eyes. It's hard to tell whether it's because it was born that you were abandoned by your owner, or because you were injured after being abandoned.

Why think so much? Ning Jiu shook her head.

How could she possibly keep a Border Collie in such a small place? She'll have to send it to a shelter after the typhoon stops. Thinking about this now will only make it harder to part with it later.

She told Yuan Liangjing on her phone that she was staying at a classmate's house that night and even sent him photos to reassure him. She was having a chat with him on WeChat when she suddenly heard footsteps getting closer and closer on the stairs.

Xiao Xiye had changed into casual clothes; even a simple black hoodie looked incredibly stylish on him.

His gaze swept over Ning Jiu on the sofa, then fell on the three buckets of instant noodles on the dining table. He understood what was going on and gave a cold laugh.

"Joe Bolin, you're really something."

It implies something, but deliberately doesn't explain it clearly.

Qiao Bolin is doing his homework at the dining table, probably planning to finish this workbook before eating instant noodles.

As if oblivious to Xiao Xiye's veiled sarcasm, he put down his pen.

Why did you change your clothes?

The tone was quite puzzled.

Xiao Xiye still had a nonchalant smile on his face, with an expression that said, "We've all grown up together, who can fool whom?" He walked straight past Qiao Bolin to the entrance to change his shoes.

"I'm not going to be a third wheel anymore, I'm going to stay at a hotel tonight."

Before the two could react, they heard a "bang" as Xiao Xiye slammed the door shut, not forgetting to take a bucket of instant noodles from the table with him.

Ning Jiu was completely bewildered by Xiao Xiye's actions and looked at Qiao Bolin in confusion, who shrugged.

"He probably wants to get rained on, just ignore him."

So, at the spacious dining table, only Ning Jiu and Qiao Bolin were left eating instant noodles.

I've seen the Ningjiu brand of instant noodles before at the imported food counter; one bottle costs as much as ten bottles of other brands.

She used to secretly laugh at people who chose such expensive instant noodles, but now the person she was laughing at is sitting right across from her.

He glanced at Qiao Bolin, who was still doing his homework. His long, raven-like eyelashes drooped down, forming a semi-circular shadow. His lips were slightly pursed, and he intentionally or unintentionally pushed his cheeks up, creating a small, smooth, white mound.

That patch of skin looked exceptionally friendly.

Ning Jiu met Qiao Bolin's gaze and inexplicably felt like she'd been caught red-handed.

"W-what's wrong?"

“I’m done,” he said, putting away his workbook, seemingly oblivious to her gaze lingering on his face. “Let’s have dinner. There are two flavors, which one would you like?”

Ningjiu prefers sweet flavors, so between spicy and tomato flavors, she prefers tomato flavor.

Before making her choice, she remembered to ask Joel Bolton which flavor she wanted. He said either was fine, so she picked up the tomato flavor without any hesitation, but paused for a few seconds when adding the seasoning.

It's all in Korean, I can't understand it.

"Just like regular instant noodles, you can soak them in boiling water for five minutes."

While he was still hesitating, the seasoning was already in his hands.

Tear it open, pour hot water over it, and use a bowl to weigh down the opening of the bucket.

He is efficient and decisive when solving problems, and he always looks very serious when doing these things.

He pushed the tomato-flavored drink back in front of Ning Jiu and pointed to the room on the west side of the second floor.

"You can rest there for the night. I'll tidy up after dinner. If you're bored, you can—"

"Can I come into your room?"

The rising steam turned into white mist, drifting between the two of them.

After Ning Jiu finished speaking, Qiao Bolin did not respond immediately.

In the white mist, she couldn't make out his expression, so she had to say it again.

“Didn’t you say we could be friends?” She used his words as a weakness to make their relationship sound intimate and innocent. “If we’re good friends, it’s normal for us to visit each other’s bedrooms, right?”

Fearing that Qiao Bolin would disagree, Ning Jiu added another sentence.

"Besides, you must have a lot of books in your bedroom. I'd like to study some, is that not allowed?"

"......"

The white mist was still billowing, and Ning Jiu stirred her instant noodles with a fork. After waiting for a while, she still didn't receive a reply.

Sure enough, getting into his bedroom wasn't so easy.

She sighed softly, and just as she was about to give up, she felt a warm sensation on her ear.

The loose ends of his hair narrowly missed the edge of the bucket, and the soft strands brushed against the back of his neck along his slender little finger, sending shivers of pleasure through him.

The stray hairs on her side were tucked behind her ear, almost an instinctive defensive action. She turned her head because of the itch on the back of her neck, and by the time she realized what was happening, her chin and right shoulder had already clamped the boy's burning wrist.

Thump, thump, thump.

It was impossible to tell if it was his pulse.

It was still the sound of her heartbeat.

Through the thin mist.

She heard him ask.

"As friends?"

Ning Jiu choked up slightly: "Yes, as a friend."

A few seconds of silence.

His voice drifted through the mist, carrying a faint smile.

"Can."

-----------------------

Author's note: Pure friendship is utter bullshit...

Xiao Qiao's acting was really good.

The next chapter marks the real turning point in their relationship, featuring a bathroom play (just kidding!), and it'll be updated at midnight! [heart emoji]

-

The series of stories by TuiTuiTangTang, titled "The Symphony of Florence," is now complete. It's very engaging and enjoyable; you can read it by clicking on the author's page. The synopsis is as follows:

Yin Lian × Xiao Xiye | Cold and rational × Dark and affectionate

*Complete Story | Both are C | First Love, Then Passion | Long-Planned | Body Type Difference | Skin Tone Difference

Yin Lian, the most beautiful girl in her high school class, got engaged to a rich second-generation heir and invited their friends to a private dinner.

Halfway through the meal, a tall and robust young man arrived late, looking clearly tired, yet his appearance and demeanor were all captivating.

The main character of the banquet tacitly moved to another seat, and no one dared to approach him to speak, but they all mentioned him openly and secretly.

They said that Xiao Xiye was good-looking and had a prestigious background, but he had a bad temper, and pursuing him would be nothing short of torture.

Yin Lian was focused on picking up food and didn't react at all when she heard the name.

As the dinner party ended and the elegant figures of women faded away, her graceful silhouette blended into the soft rain of the night, her white skirt swaying in the breeze, captivating all who beheld her.

His friend looked away, took a drag of his cigarette, and turned to ask Xiao Xiye.

"That guy named Yin Lian looks so ethereal, why doesn't he add her on WeChat?"

The young man leaned against the car with his long legs propped up, gave a perfunctory reply, and seemed to have forgotten about this person.

That evening.

The grumpy man knocked on the door of the handsome man's room.

The two drank from the same bottle of wine and fed each other mouth-to-mouth.

We ate the same plate of strawberries, sucking them with our lips.

Finally, they went into the same bedroom—

They were hugging and kissing each other.

-

After much deliberation, Yin Lian still decided to end her relationship with Xiao Xiye.

She agreed to be with him at the time only because the moonlight in Florence was alluring; he was probably just playing around, and she also had motives that weren't entirely pure.

This chaotic relationship is not in her future plans, nor will it be.

So, while accompanying her colleague to a banquet, she pretended to have a business discussion and approached him, but after everyone had left, she explained her well-thought-out idea to him.

She spoke at length, but the man merely raised his eyelids, glanced at her indifferently, and asked if she was finished.

"Ms. Yin, would you like to discuss personal matters during working hours?"

Yin Lian thought this made sense, so he said he would talk about it when he got home.

As soon as the door closed, she was so moved by the cold touch of the ring at the base of her knuckles that she lost her voice, her legs trembled uncontrollably, and she begged him to stop.

Xiao Xiye spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone still lazy.

"I didn't hear what you just said over there. Say it again."

Yin Lian tried to speak, but only a broken, disjointed voice flowed out. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes to the corners of her mouth, where they were kissed away by the young man in a less-than-gentle manner.

"Looks like you've changed the way you've said it."

He tenderly tucked her sweaty hair behind his ear, his voice alluring and tantalizing.

The next second, a cool, snake-like leather gripped her wrist tightly...

There is absolutely no possibility of escape.

"However, only at this moment do they say anything that sounds pleasant—"

"Let's find another place to talk about this, okay?"

-

Yin Lian always believed that people with Xiao Xiye's personality were inherently arrogant and proud, and they couldn't even be bothered to coax others or admit their faults.

But she never imagined that on a snowy night, such a lazy and arrogant person would bend down and ponder their absurd relationship several times.

"Yin Lian, have you ever thought that we can change the way we get along?"

As they were about to part after yet another blissful encounter, Xiao Xiye took her hand, gently rubbed his face against her palm, and said in a hoarse voice.

"This time, you'll be in control of me, okay?"

The wind howls, the sun shines brightly. All of Florence bears witness that all my faith, along with myself, belongs only to you.

Consumption Guide: 1v1, both are virgins, female leads to love after initial intimacy × male has been planning this for a long time.

A cool and rational musician × A wild and unrestrained young master