Xu Tingchuan lowered his eyes, suppressing his barely contained joy, his throat tightening slightly: "Ni Sitian, do you know what you're saying?"

Ni Sitian's ears turned bright red, her cheeks burned, and she bit her lower lip.

After a while, she nodded and took a deep breath: "Xu Tingchuan, I actually know that I have liked you for a long time, but I have been avoiding this issue because I am timid and afraid of getting hurt, so I have never had the courage to admit it."

Xu Tingchuan lowered his eyes, took Ni Sitian's hand, and gently patted it to comfort her.

“I’ve always accepted your kindness, but I’m afraid to reciprocate. I know I’m being selfish.” Ni Sitian hugged Xu Tingchuan tightly, sniffed, and said, “I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”

Xu Tingchuan's heart trembled slightly as he held her hand tightly.

“Xu Tingchuan, I dare not say that I have the courage to ask for love, but… but…” Ni Sitian bit her lip, her pink lips were already red and swollen from biting them.

Xu Tingchuan turned her around, using her arms as a spring in his sleeve, and gently lifted her chin. Seeing her bruised and mangled lips, he felt a pang of heartache. He lightly stroked her lips with his fingers and whispered, "If you're not ready yet, then..."

Ni Sitian shook her head desperately, tightened her arms, and pressed her face against Xu Tingchuan's heart, listening to his strong and powerful heartbeat, as if it could give her some courage.

She parted her lips slightly, her voice a little hoarse: "Xu Tingchuan, let's give it a try, let's try falling in love."

Xu Tingchuan was slightly taken aback and looked down at the top of Ni Sitian's head.

Ni Sitian didn't receive a response from Xu Tingchuan for a while, so she looked up somewhat uneasily, looked into Xu Tingchuan's eyes, and asked timidly, "Do you want to try with me?"

In Xu Tingchuan's dark eyes, Ni Sitian's thin and small figure was reflected. Her small face, no bigger than a palm, was filled with uncertainty about the future, but also with the courage she had decided to take this step.

Xu Tingchuan found her appearance extremely charming.

Ni Sitian grew anxious because he hadn't answered, and pouted, "Do you want it or not? If not, then forget it!"

As she spoke, she released Xu Tingchuan's waist and turned away in embarrassment and annoyance.

At this moment, Xu Tingchuan forcefully grabbed her arm, turned her around, and lowered his head to press his lips against hers.

He embraced and kissed her passionately and fervently.

Ni Sitian was startled by his sudden passionate kiss. Her eyes widened, and it took her a while to come to her senses before she slowly reached out and grabbed his shoulders.

Xu Tingchuan pinned her against the wall, one hand protecting the back of her head, the other reaching under the hem of her sweater.

Because of the cold weather, Ni Sitian was wearing a shirt under her sweater, a thermal undershirt under the shirt, and a vest under the thermal undershirt.

"Damn it, how many layers are you wearing?!" Xu Tingchuan felt that when he reached inside, he could only touch several layers of fabric.

Ni Sitian blushed and grabbed his hands, which were groping and touching inside, "No, it's not dark yet..."

Their curtains weren't drawn yet, and the bright evening light shone in.

"No one saw it." Xu Tingchuan's breathing was a little erratic, and he was slightly out of breath.

Ni Sitian glanced out the window and saw that there were only a few bamboo stalks and a pile of pebbles outside.

"But..." She was still a little worried, and she wasn't used to doing it in such a bright environment.

Xu Tingchuan simply picked her up, walked to the window, and drew the curtains.