The snow outside the window had stopped sometime ago, leaving only a patch of white bathed in the warm yellow light of the streetlights, making Yu Jiuyuan's detached villa look like a secluded castle.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, and the crackling sound occasionally broke the silence of the room. The air was filled with the mixed aroma of cedar and the burning fireplace, warm and cozy.

Yu Jiuyuan nestled on the cashmere carpet in the living room, with a student council activity plan booklet for the next semester spread out on her lap.

She wore a cream-colored silk nightgown, the hem of which barely covered her thighs, revealing smooth lines to her bare calves. A delicate silver chain adorned her ankles, occasionally shimmering with light as she turned the pages.

The sofa sank in, and a body carrying a slightly cool aura leaned against it.

"What are you looking at?" Rong Shenghan's voice was very soft, with a lazy air as if he had just come out of the study. He reached out and took the pen from her fingers, his fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushing against her palm, leaving a fleeting coolness.

Yu Jiuyuan didn't look up, turned a page, and spoke as naturally as if she were talking about today's weather: "Xie Zhecheng mentioned the AI ​​exhibition next semester yesterday, saying that several new companies are exhibiting, and their technology is quite interesting."

Rong Shenghan smiled but didn't reply.

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and breathed on the skin of her neck, carrying his usual ebony scent.

His fingers gently caressed the waistline of her nightgown, a soothing gesture, but his gaze was fixed on the book on her lap, his eyes deep and unreadable.

Yu Jiuyuan finally deigned to raise her eyes and turn her head to look at him.

The man's profile appeared exceptionally soft in the fireplace firelight; his eyelashes were long, his nose was high and straight, and his eyes, which usually held a hint of inquiry, were now half-closed, like those of a lazy cat.

But only Yu Jiuyuan knew how sharp this cat's claws were, and how well it knew how to hide its claw tips.

"Warm the bed again tonight," she said softly, seemingly without emotion, her fingertips tracing his Adam's apple, feeling the slight throbbing of the artery beneath.

Yu Jiuyuan's eyes curved into a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

She knew Rong Shenghan understood what she meant. The boundaries between them had long been blurred.

He doesn't possess the perfectionist restraint of Xie Zhecheng, nor the perpetual focus of a biologist like Yuan Xu.

Rong Shenghan is like a wisp of mist. You think you've caught her, but when you open your hand, all that's left is a damp, cold trace. Yet, every time she reaches out, this wisp of mist will come closer on its own, becoming unbelievably docile.

Just like now.

He readily accepted her "invitation" and even took the initiative to pick her up in his arms.

The silk nightgown slipped off her shoulders, revealing her delicate collarbone. Yu Jiuyuan hooked her arm around his neck and rubbed her nose against his jawline: "Rong Shenghan, you seem unusually obedient today."

"Because it was the young lady's order." He lowered his head, his kiss landing on her collarbone, as light as a feather. "Or perhaps, you'd rather see me disobey?"

His kiss deepened, becoming aggressively forceful, but he pulled away just as she was about to catch her breath, his smile growing even stronger: "Want to finish reading this first?" He pointed to the booklet on her lap, his tone overflowing with indulgence.

Yu Jiuyuan, worn down by his nagging, slapped his hand away, sat up straight, and picked up her pen again: "It starts next week, and Xie Zhecheng said he wants to go together." She paused, glancing at him sideways, "Are you going?"

Rong Shenghan was playing with her long hair that had fallen over her shoulder. Hearing this, he didn't change his actions and said casually, "If you want me to go, I'll go."

“I want you to warm my bed.” Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow and poked his chest with her fingertip. “What’s the point of the exhibition?”

“Perhaps there’s something that interests you.” Rong Shenghan took her finger, bit it, and looked at her with a suggestive gaze. “For example… an AI that can simulate emotions? Maybe it can understand you better than some people.”

Yu Jiuyuan laughed out loud, pulled her hand back and tickled his side: "Are you talking about yourself?"

Rong Shenghan was ticklish, so he laughed and dodged away, then pressed her down onto the carpet.

The flickering firelight from the fireplace cast shadows on his face, and his eyes, which always held a smile, now burned with an astonishing intensity: "Don't I understand you?" He lowered his head and kissed her lips, his voice muffled, "Then let me prove it again?"

His kiss was irresistible, easily prying open her teeth.

He easily lifted her silk nightgown, and his cool hand caressed her waist, sending a shiver down her spine.

Yu Jiuyuan wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed softly in his ear, "Rong Shenghan, stop fooling around..."

"You seduced me first, Miss." He chuckled, his kisses trailing downwards. "Besides, warming the bed is something that always needs practice beforehand."

...

After an unknown amount of time, the fireplace flames weakened, but the room temperature did not drop at all.

Yu Jiuyuan nestled in Rong Shenghan's arms, drawing circles on his chest with her fingertips, listening to his steady heartbeat.

His embrace was warm, a stark contrast to his usual aloof demeanor, like a reliable harbor. But only she knew what turbulent undercurrents lurked beneath that harbor.

“By the way,” Yu Jiuyuan looked up at him as if she had suddenly remembered something, “has Lin Yanran been behaving well in the student council lately?”

Rong Shenghan stroked her hair, his tone indifferent: "Not bad. Yesterday, she knocked over Yuan Xu's experimental samples and Yuan Xu chased after her and scolded her for half an hour. Today, she's been much better behaved."

Yu Jiuyuan scoffed, "Chairman Lin's words were still effective. He told him to behave himself and not cause trouble at the exhibition."

After all, Xie Zhecheng is the kind of person who can't stand anyone disrupting the order. If a conflict breaks out, she, as the student council president, will be the one in trouble.

"I know," Rong Shenghan replied, then suddenly pinched her cheek. "You do care about him."

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