A nameless, scorching flame, long suppressed within, suddenly flared up the moment it caught sight of that dark green hue.

The emotions I felt at that moment were indescribably complex, like a torrential summer thunderstorm, both fast and intense.

Jiang Siyan approached and used his fingertips to lift the thin blanket covering Su Er's cheek. The soft, light yellow turned into a glaring white, and Su Er couldn't help but frown.

She was still a little groggy from sleep, but she vaguely remembered that she was waiting for Jiang Siyan to come back.

He's back?

Su Er struggled to open her eyes, but before she could even make out the figure in front of her, hot breath covered her neck.

His breath was scalding hot, but his lips were cool and thin, carrying the scent of wine.

Su Er offered no resistance, closed her eyes again, and instinctively hooked her arms around his neck. She remembered the scent of sandalwood on him and missed him dearly.

Jiang Siyan seemed a little different tonight, a bit impatient. Su Er didn't think much of it, assuming it was because of the long separation.

Her fingertips slid through her hair, gently stroking it, and Su Er's voice was broken, "You're back... There's food on the table, have you eaten?"

But he didn't respond to her, he just kept kissing her chin. Su Er sensed that something was wrong and wanted to open her eyes to look at him.

But the next moment, a warm palm covered her eyes, and darkness once again became the dominant color before her eyes, with only a faint light filtering through the fingers.

Su Er blinked, somewhat uneasy, "Why are you covering my eyes...?"

Her voice gradually faded, and the arms that had been wrapped around his neck stiffened.

Su Er smelled the jasmine scent on his sleeve.

"You..." She suddenly couldn't ask anything.

What should I ask? Should I ask him if anyone at the dinner party that evening was wearing perfume? That's perfectly normal.

This question is somewhat childish. Even Su Er herself felt that getting angry over this vague question was like a child being unreasonable.

But what exactly is wrong?

The surging waves in her body almost made her unable to think, and the tears that overflowed from the corners of her eyes, warm from his palm, clung to her cheeks, wet and cool.

Su Er bit her lower lip tightly, the stinging sensation on her lips leading her to the source of her chaotic thoughts.

The Jiang Siyan before her was too unfamiliar. There was no whisper in her ear, no intertwining of lips and teeth, only the barely suppressed moans coming from her mouth.

This unfamiliarity made her feel somewhat scared.

She pushed his shoulder, sobbing as she called out, "Jiang Siyan, wait a minute."

What are you waiting for? My palms are full of water.

Su Er's body trembled violently, and she subconsciously tried to find his lips.

What used to be the most natural and spontaneous reaction now seemed so unfamiliar, timid, and tinged with cowardice.

His red lips found no solace, and he... avoided them...

The emotions that had been suppressed for so long were finally released at this moment, and Su Er's tears flowed freely. This time, she was really crying.

The darkness suddenly receded, revealing light, but everything before my eyes became hazy, bathed in a pale halo, like a dream.

Su Er's eyes were red, and tears streamed down her face silently.

Jiang Siyan looked at her shoulder and felt a sudden, inexplicable pang of pain in his heart.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the crimson in his eyes gradually fading.

His wet hands pressed against her cheeks again, wiping away her tears with his fingertips. "Why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell? Or do you not want to?"

He asked softly, then lowered his head and kissed Su Er's forehead with tender affection.

Su Er slowly turned her head, a pool of tears welling up in her eyes sliding down her cheeks in the blink of an eye. She couldn't tell which moment was her illusion.

Is the person in front of me still the same cold-hearted person from just now?

With a lump in her throat and a sob rising in her throat, Su Er realized that she couldn't ask anything, nor could she answer Jiang Siyan's questions, so she could only shake her head.

Jiang Siyan's kiss landed behind her ear, as if to soothe her. He asked in a deep voice, "What does shaking your head mean? No or don't you want it?"

Su Er turned her head away without saying a word, as if in silent resistance.

"You haven't seen me for months, did you come back just to annoy me?" Jiang Siyan said with a half-smile, pinching her chin with his thumb and forefinger. Su Er had no choice but to turn her head and meet his dark eyes. "Speak, Er Er."

What should she say? Was she going to ask him why he wouldn't kiss her?

Su Er couldn't explain why she was crying; was it because of the neglected dishes on the table, or because of his indifferent and cold attitude?

She wasn't unfamiliar with Jiang Siyan's appearance; it was at dinner parties and in public.

For a fleeting moment, she naively believed that she was at least in some way different from him.

The long journey had left Su Er exhausted, both physically and mentally. She lowered her gaze coldly, her voice unusually calm, "If you want to do it, go back to your room."

She thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile, "It's just saving time on meals and conversations; the result is the same."

Jiang Siyan was genuinely amused by her nonchalant attitude and said "good" several times, "So that's what it was about. You should have said so earlier, Er'er."

The dark green skirt parted the heavy air. Su Er had never felt the sound of the door closing so jarring. She was on a soft pillow, but every breath seemed to pull at the deepest pain in her heart.

Jiang Siyan lifted her up by the waist, turning her from lying on her back to lying face down. His hot chest pressed against her back, and he nibbled on her earlobe, his voice tender and lingering, "Lie down properly, Er'er."

Su Er's eyelashes trembled, and she felt inexplicably humiliated by this position. "I don't like this..."

Before she could finish speaking, her face was buried deep in the pillow; it was too late.

They had developed an unspoken understanding in this matter; he knew every sensitive spot on her body, and those few minutes downstairs earlier were enough to arouse her.

That night, they rarely kissed; what surged in their passion seemed to be only the most basic, primal desire.

Su Er remembers the moment the wind suddenly picked up outside, her toes curled up, and the fleeting blankness in her mind.

Jiang Siyan's kiss fell like a sudden storm, mingling with the rain outside the window.

Her broken lips tasted of blood; it was the pain of that night she would never forget.

When Jiang Siyan carried her into the bathroom, she was almost asleep from exhaustion. But when she actually lay down on the bed, her body was extremely tired, but her mind was unusually clear.

Looking out the window from my side, there was a large, leafy tree. Now that it's autumn, many of the leaves have fallen, leaving only the thick trunk.

The shadows cast into the room were tall and dark, instilling a sense of dread.

Su Er was frightened when she stayed in this room before. At that time, Jiang Siyan held her in his arms, covered her eyes, and laughed at her, saying, "Why are you so timid?"

But tonight, the shadow is still the same shadow, but she no longer has the courage to confidently whine and say she's scared.

Looking at the floating moon shadows, Su Er thought to herself, "It must be the next day by now."

She quietly turned over, tracing Jiang Siyan's profile with her eyes. His usually cold and aloof profile showed a touch of gentle peace even when he was asleep.

Su Er blinked and murmured, "Happy birthday, Jiang Siyan."