Chapter 53 Withdrawal: "Not even a kiss?"
Mu Tingyu set an alarm for an early morning, and jumped out of bed as soon as it rang.
But actually, her biological clock hadn't been adjusted back yet. She had gotten used to being lazy for the past week or so, and being restricted from going out, she had nothing to do when she got up. In addition, Xing Ze never called her, so she slept until she naturally woke up almost every day, and her waking time was getting later and later.
In her memory, she had never lay flat like this before.
She never imagined that one day she would be lying down like this, spending her days with housework and drafty windows, struggling with her studies late into the night under the covers, and working part-time from dawn till dusk while dozing off on the subway.
Here, almost completely isolated from the world and undisturbed, with someone who wanted to be by her side 24/7 to take care of her, she relaxed completely, as if she had no bones left.
Now I finally understand why spoiled kids can't endure hardship. They've gotten used to this kind of life and have no desire to strive anymore.
She sat listlessly, her hair all messy, yawning, when the door opened.
Xing Ze pushed open the door and came in, his hair dripping wet, and a towel draped around his neck.
Mu Tingyu's eyes were blurry as she wiped away the tears that had welled up.
"Oh, you went for a morning run?"
Xing Ze hummed in agreement, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains. The bright sunshine outside illuminated the room.
Compared to her, Xing Ze was much more self-disciplined. He would get up at the same time every day, go for a morning run, and then go home to make breakfast.
He probably doesn't want to disturb her sleep, so lately he's been going to the second-floor bathroom to shower and then coming back up.
Mu Tingyu yawned again, squinted at the window, and said with a hint of excitement, "It's sunny again! The weather here is so nice, it hardly rains at all."
"It'll start raining in a couple of days." Xing Ze walked to the bedside and tidied her hair, which was a little messy from sleeping.
The scent of his shower gel was very noticeable, fresh and pleasant; Mu Tingyu had smelled it as soon as he pushed the door open to enter.
"Hmm." She knelt on the bed, unusually not clinging to him or trying to touch him, and lazily asked, "Is a typhoon coming soon?"
"Hmm." Xing Ze glanced at her, then moved a little closer and gently wiped away the tear stains from the corner of her eyes with his fingers.
"I wonder what the name of the first typhoon of the year will be," Mu Tingyu yawned repeatedly. "Is this place greatly affected by typhoons? It's so close to the sea."
"It will have an impact." Xing Ze looked at her drowsy appearance and touched her face. "Why do you have dark circles under your eyes? If you're sleepy, just keep sleeping."
“That won’t do,” she replied quickly.
Xing Ze knew this was the answer, so he bent down to hug her, but she turned away and dodged him.
She deftly found her slippers on the other side and put them on, then sat on the edge of the bed and instructed, "Where's my cane?"
Xing Ze stared at her without saying a word.
She held out her hand persistently, and her large, clear eyes shone with a few words:
—You promised last night.
He frowned reluctantly, walked to the door, picked up the long-neglected cane, and handed it to her.
Mu Tingyu stood up with satisfaction, leaning on her cane, and walked past him toward the bathroom, muttering to herself, "Actually, I think I don't need the cane anymore, but I can't help it, you'll definitely say no."
"You just listen to the doctor's scaremongering, saying you can't get out of bed for a month. Someone like me, a superhuman, will recover in no time. I'm healthy enough to go for a 10-kilometer race right now, believe it or not?"
After running the train, she sighed again and went into the restroom, her voice muffled as she said, "But, what can I do when I'm so understanding?"
“If I don’t use it, you’ll definitely yell at me—you’re always so fierce when you say ‘no,’ next time look in the mirror and see if you yell at yourself.”
"So for the sake of our relationship, I'll reluctantly use this support."
"Oh, I've been too lenient with you."
"......."
"Huh, why does it feel gritty to the touch? Is my cane dusty...?"
Xing Ze: ""
The cane had been sitting by the door all night; how could it possibly have gotten dusty?
That little rascal was clearly saying it to him on purpose.
He had long known that she was quick-witted and prone to taking advantage of others. He just hadn't expected that all his efforts to take care of her would be in vain, and that he would only receive a scolding from her.
He frowned helplessly and followed closely behind her.
Mu Tingyu brushed her teeth and leaned closer to the mirror to look at her jawline.
Hmm, it seems I really have gained weight.
The man beside her stood like a door god at the entrance. She pretended not to see him, focused on brushing her teeth and washing her face, and then carefully wiped the foam off her hairline and temples with a towel.
"......"
Xing Ze blocked the bathroom doorway, and as soon as she finished washing up, he reached out and put his arm around her waist.
"No hugging," Mu Tingyu said righteously, pushing his hands away. "Go away, go away."
"......"
"Aren't your legs sore? I'll carry you downstairs."
“It’s not sour,” she said, pushing his shoulder. “I’m fully recovered. I don’t need you to hug me. Didn’t we agree last night that you wouldn’t go back on your word?”
Xing Ze paused for a moment, then reached out his hand again: "Then let's hug like this."
"I won't hug you then. Your hair is all wet, it'll drip onto my neck." Mu Tingyu refused decisively, nimbly slipping out from under his arm and heading straight out the door. Her voice drifted back, "What's for breakfast?"
"......"
Xing Ze didn't answer, but instead took a step inside and glanced at the mirror.
The person in the mirror looked fierce and menacing, with downcast eyes and furrowed brows, his displeasure practically overflowing.
Even so, he still looked the same as yesterday, and his appearance was not disfigured overnight.
“.......
He irritably pulled the towel around his neck to his head, wiped it a few times, and then went out, taking a few steps to catch up with the girl who was almost at the top of the stairs.
"Slow down," he said, barely containing his annoyance. "Breakfast isn't going anywhere."
-
Breakfast consisted of custard buns and fragrant red bean porridge. Although the custard buns were frozen, they were still soft and sweet after steaming. The red bean porridge was as good as always, sweet but not cloying, with just the right consistency; you could tell it was cooked with careful attention to the heat.
Mu Tingyu sat down at the table after a long absence, on her usual stool, her face serene, contentedly slurping her porridge.
Xing Ze is particularly good at cooking sweet porridge, and he can always make it fragrant and sticky. She happens to love sweet drinks, so she can't help but ask for another bowl every time.
After finishing her meal, with plenty of time before class, she swung her legs and sat on a stool waiting for Xing Ze to wash the dishes.
Taking advantage of the fact that the man had his back to her and couldn't see her, she finally let her gaze fall on him without restraint.
hey-hey.
No matter how many times she watched it, she still felt a sense of awe.
She has such a great figure, I really want to touch it.
She twitched her fingers, feeling a little itchy inside.
If Xing Ze's usual attraction to her is 100%, then Xing Ze after taking a shower is 500%.
God knows how sexy he is with wet hair after a shower.
Especially when they've just come out of the bathroom, their whole bodies are steaming with moisture, whether it's a bathrobe or a well-fitting T-shirt, slightly damp, clinging to their chest and abdomen, outlining their well-defined muscles...
The moisture would turn his eyelashes black, and a few strands of hair would fall down, still dripping water, making his already sharp eyebrows and eyes even more prominent. He usually kept his eyes downcast, his face expressionless, and looked very indifferent.
That feeling is so exhilarating, it's like my hormones are raging.
Moreover, to Mu Tingyu, he was like a walking catnip. When he approached, the first thing people noticed was his refreshing scent, which was incredibly attractive.
So how did she manage to restrain herself from being indecent in the morning?
At that moment, his abs were only ten centimeters away from her face. How did she manage to hold back?
She's amazing!
The crisp sound of porcelain bowls and plates gently colliding came from the other side, pulling her thoughts back.
The man washing the dishes had a noticeably low aura—this aura finally reached its lowest point after she refused the tenth spoonful of porridge he offered her and the fifth time he reached out to hug her.
Mu Tingyu could almost see the dark clouds above his head; they were huge, thunderous clouds.
There weren't many bowls to begin with, so Xing Ze quickly finished washing them, dried his hands, and walked over to her.
She quickly lowered her eyes, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the tall figure of the man standing in front of her, but he did not speak.
She pretended to have just looked up from her phone and asked him, "Are you done washing?"
Xing Ze glanced at her indifferently, without answering, but instead tapped her phone screen with his finger: "Half an hour left."
Mu Tingyu was taken aback: "What?"
Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly lifted into the air.
"Why!"
She gasped and instinctively grabbed his shirt from his shoulder.
Xing Ze lifted her onto a low cabinet to the side, and before she could react, he stepped forward, pushed her knees apart, and firmly grasped her waist.
Mu Tingyu, still shaken, asked, "What are you doing?"
Xing Ze lowered his eyes and told her beforehand, "There's still half an hour before class, so you have plenty of time. Don't say you'll be late."
"Why did I say I'd be late...? What are you trying to do?"
Xing Ze grabbed her hand, his voice clear: "Why are you avoiding me?"
The shepherd paused in his speech.
After a couple of seconds of eye contact, she looked away somewhat guiltily: "...No, I wasn't avoiding you."
Xing Ze held her hand tightly, approaching her with a threatening tone: "You won't even let me hug you, and you still say you don't?"
Her voice was weak: "Then, wasn't that what we agreed on last night?"
"It wasn't agreed upon."
Mu Tingyu stared, mouth agape: "...How dare you cheat?"
“We didn’t agree,” he repeated, frowning. “Last night I only agreed to let you go to class. What does that have to do with you avoiding me?”
"......."
He stared intently into her eyes: "What did I do to upset you?"
Mu Tingyu answered quickly: "No."
"......."
This person is as stubborn as an oyster. He thought of all the reasons but could only come up with one possibility, so he coaxed her in a low voice: "Are you still not feeling well? I was angry yesterday because you secretly ran away. I won't do it again next time."
Mu Tingyu blushed and punched his shoulder: "It has nothing to do with that!"
Xing Ze looked somewhat annoyed, but patiently asked her, "Then why?"
He couldn't understand why this little rascal had become a completely different person after waking up from one night's sleep. Before, he was so clingy and would snuggle into his arms every day, but now he wouldn't even let him hug him.
He was certain that she was perfectly fine until she went to bed last night, showing no signs of anger, and even gave him a sweet kiss and said goodnight.
“............”
Mu Tingyu swayed her legs but didn't say anything.
Xing Ze was at a loss with her; he couldn't hit her, nor could he scold her. He could only helplessly call her name: "Mu Tingyu, no more passive-aggressive behavior."
The carefree brat continued swinging her leg, gently touching his waist: "How come you secretly learned my words?"
Xing Ze clicked his tongue and pressed down on her unruly legs.
Mu Tingyu puffed out her cheeks: "What are you doing? You're acting like this if I don't let you hug me for a moment. Are you a clingy person?"
“Yes, that’s me,” Xing Ze answered directly. “So why not hug me?”
"......."
Mu Tingyu found that men could be quite annoying when they got entangled with her.
She was silent for a while, then said somewhat vaguely, "I don't want to be so clingy."
"Why?" Xing Ze frowned, puzzled.
She used to be clinging to him like a sticky rice cake, but now she's the one saying she doesn't want to stick to him anymore.
What's the logic behind this?
"I don't want to."
"reason."
"......."
Mu Tingyu couldn't speak and lowered his head somewhat guiltily.
Perhaps because she overslept in the afternoon, she couldn't fall asleep for half the night with her eyes closed.
The person behind her held her waist tightly, pressing against her like a heater, making it impossible for her to even turn over.
So I started thinking about things.
She thought that Lin Yulan had quieted down for a while and hadn't bothered her... Jiang Chu hadn't messaged her either, so it seemed that the mysterious and kind client really wasn't in a hurry... She was penniless; she needed to go back and focus on painting, and couldn't continue her carefree lifestyle, otherwise she wouldn't even have money for travel...
Then she started calculating how many days she had left before her teaching stint ended, but as she kept calculating, she didn't want to keep doing it anymore.
Because she realized that she was subconsciously running away.
To avoid the idea of "leaving".
More accurately, she couldn't bear to leave the person holding her tightly behind her.
Her feelings were completely different from a month ago. It wasn't the reluctance to say goodbye to her friends, but a genuine reluctance to leave this person and a desire to continue living with him. The thought of leaving made her feel restless and extremely unwilling.
Just a week ago, she was happily anticipating a long-distance relationship. But now she's changed her mind, and even leaving requires convincing herself to do so.
Realizing this, she began to panic.
Because from the very beginning, she never intended to stay here. It was just a relationship; she still wanted to travel the world freely, and if things didn't work out, she would just "dump him," just like she had told Shaoyue.
But I don't know when it started, it has evolved into what it is now.
She became more and more accustomed to being taken care of by him, more and more dependent on him, and even reluctant to leave him.
"......."
So what was he thinking?
Mu Tingyu raised her head and looked into his eyes.
Did he realize that he was about to leave?
"......"
The girl's voice suddenly rang out: "Xing Ze, why did you settle here?"
The question was too abrupt. Xing Ze frowned, somewhat unable to follow her train of thought: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"I suddenly want to know."
"......."
Mu Tingyu blinked and stared at him intently.
He seemed to sigh as he replied, "Because getting along with people is troublesome."
Mu Tingyu didn't understand how the word "trouble" was defined, so she pressed for details: "How is it troublesome?"
"......."
Xing Ze stared at her silently, seemingly finding it difficult to answer.
So she kindly changed her question: "Do you also find me troublesome?"
“…You ask this kind of question again.” This time Xing Ze spoke quickly, seemingly helplessly touching her forehead. “When you ignore me, it’s a little…”
Mu Tingyu chuckled and reached out to scratch him, but he grabbed her hand and kissed it.
After a few moments of playful banter, she calmed down, looked into his eyes, and said, "But you also need to get along with people here."
“There aren’t that many people here,” he said. “Everyone lives their own life.”
Mu Tingyu responded with a soft "hmm".
His personality was completely opposite to hers; he preferred to be alone in peace and quiet, while she preferred to be in crowds.
She lowered her head and tugged at his sleeve, asking casually, "So, you're not planning to go back?"
"......."
Xing Ze was silent for a few seconds, then squinted at her.
The girl had her head down, fiddling with the hem of his clothes, so her expression was hidden.
He slowly said, "Probably not."
Mu Tingyu nodded knowingly.
She had actually expected this; someone like him, who does more than he says, would not easily change his mind once he made up his mind to do something.
She didn't think she had any ability to change his mind or to have enough confidence to ask him if he would be willing to leave for her.
That's incredibly overconfident.
Xing Ze's deep voice rang out: "Why do you ask that?"
"It's nothing, I was just asking."
"........"
The atmosphere seemed to freeze and become heavy because of her question.
Mu Tingyu scratched her cheek awkwardly, somewhat annoyed.
They were destined to separate sooner or later anyway, so why ask?
Xing Ze remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Now is it your turn to answer me?"
He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against hers intimately, his movements carrying a strange sense of dominance as he held her firmly between his arms.
Why are you avoiding me?
Mu Tingyu looked at him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed and leaned in to kiss him: "Next time I say no, please don't do it to me anymore, my back is still sore."
"..." Xing Ze frowned. "Because of this?"
"yes."
"......"
He stared intently at her, his hand moving to her waist, gently massaging it, while saying, "You just said it had nothing to do with this."
Mu Tingyu had already prepared her explanation: "I was shy just now."
Xing Ze looked at her calm expression, his brows still furrowed: "After you said you didn't want it anymore, didn't I only do it one last time?"
Her face flushed instantly: "...Not even the last time."
"......"
She secretly glanced at Xing Ze's reaction, unable to tell whether he believed it or not.
The man simply leaned down slightly and silently massaged her waist.
"Alright, alright..." Mu Tingyu nudged his shoulder somewhat awkwardly and urged, "We're really going to be late now... Let's go."
Xing Ze stopped what he was doing, lowered his eyelashes, picked her up, and then handed her the cane.
After she took it and stood up straight, he looked at her and spoke calmly.
"I can promise you that you can go up and down the stairs by yourself during class, and eat by yourself."
"but,"
He reached out and gently tucked the stray hairs from her ear behind her shoulder, his tone indifferent.
"No matter what the reason, you are not allowed to try to avoid me."
Mu Tingyu lowered her eyes and muttered softly, "I wasn't avoiding you."
Xing Ze didn't say anything more, he just touched her face.
-
The weather is getting hot, and the sun feels scorching hot on your skin. The road, devoid of shade, is dry and stuffy, but the oncoming breeze does dispel some of the heat.
Mu Tingyu sat in the back seat of the car, put her arm around Xing Ze's waist, squinted her eyes and felt the sea breeze, her hair flying freely behind her.
Xing Ze rode slowly, trying to avoid the bumpy, muddy terrain. There was also a soft cushion on the back seat, so his buttocks didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
—This cushion was prepared by him this morning; it wasn't there before.
Mu Tingyu swung her feet happily, tilted her head back to look in the direction of the sun, and was so blinded by the light that she couldn't open her eyes.
Xing Ze reminded her without turning his head, "Sit still and don't move around."
She smiled and responded, looking at the back of his short, spiky head, and quietly rubbed her hair against his back.
It's actually quite strange.
She enjoys being taken care of by someone and relies on someone in this way.
After all, her upbringing did not allow her to be dependent.
Or more accurately, she didn't dare.
Because this was a life she had no prior experience in, no one had taught her, and no one had a safety net for her, she had to plan carefully and dared not rely on anyone.
—She needs to be able to become a better person.
When she watched her parents being buried, she finally understood this truth: no one will be with her forever.
Whether it's a promise or a guarantee, when things really come to an end, even life and blood ties are no match for each other, let alone two people who were originally unrelated.
But Xing Ze was so good to her, so good that she wanted to keep getting closer, yet she couldn't help but run away.
She looked up at the sun, squinting as she thought.
What if he doesn't want to be nice to me anymore in the future?
It's common for people who have been trekking across icy plains to lose their armor and weapons when they encounter a warm fireplace.
But she was a little scared.
She feared that without this armor, she would never have the courage to walk on the ice field again.
-
Xing Ze's timing was perfect; he was indeed not late.
The children were overjoyed to see her, chattering excitedly as they gathered around her about a meter away.
As for why it was one meter away, it's because after Xing Ze entered the classroom and moved a chair for her to sit down, he stood beside her like a towering pillar, and within a one-meter radius, there was his aura that kept strangers at bay.
When Shi Tou saw Teacher Mu so happy that he forgot himself and tried to come up and hold her hand, he was glared at. Not only him, but even the little girls who usually loved to cuddle and hug her didn't dare to come forward, only looking at them timidly.
Mu Tingyu reached out and pushed him several times, but couldn't budge him at all: "Don't stand here, the children are too scared to come over."
"What are you doing here?" Xing Ze asked indifferently. "Class has started, why aren't you sitting down?"
"......."
Mu Tingyu said helplessly, "Don't you have anything to do? Why are you watching me teach?"
"No. You go ahead and do yours."
Having no other choice, she turned to Zhuang Ren, who had been silent to the side, and said, "Teacher Zhuang, I'm sorry, but...why don't you sit down too?"
"No need, no need." Zhuang Ren forced a smile. "You can just sit down. Actually, you really didn't need to come. Resting is the most important thing..."
"Oh, don't be so polite with me." Mu Tingyu hadn't seen these children in a long time and was very happy. She smiled as she spoke.
Just as he was about to speak again, a hand suddenly landed on his neck and rubbed it with a warning tone.
“............”
As Zhuang Renyang called for the children to sit down for class, she immediately turned her head and lowered her voice: "Go sit at the back of the classroom, don't stand here."
Xing Ze looked down at her and said, "You go to your class and don't worry about me."
"No, don't stand behind me."
"It didn't interfere with your class."
"...Not causing any trouble? Where are your hands?"
"......."
"How am I supposed to teach like this? A class is several tens of minutes long!" Mu Tingyu frowned and nudged him with her elbow. "You're so annoying. If you're going to be in the classroom, go sit down!"
Seeing that she was really getting anxious, Xing Ze reluctantly withdrew his hand, walked to the back of the classroom, and randomly found an empty table to sit down.
The tall man with long legs was huddled on a small table and stool meant for children, looking quite aggrieved.
Mu Tingyu pretended not to see it, adjusted her mindset, and started the class.
However, it was also because of his presence that the children suddenly became incredibly obedient. No one dared to throw beanbags, play with erasers, or whisper anymore. They all sat up straight, their eyes fixed intently on the blackboard, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards him, and she saw him looking in her direction with his arms crossed, their eyes meeting.
He seemed a little bored, with a hint of irritation in his eyes.
Mu Tingyu knew he was impatient and definitely wanted to leave, but more than ten minutes had passed since class started, and he still showed no sign of getting up to leave.
"......."
Why is this jerk clinging to her like that?
She wasn't giving a public lecture.
Finally, class ended at noon, and Yu Li seized the opportunity to run up to her and stuff a piece of candy into her hand.
The next second, Xing Ze lifted him up, but he still insisted on shouting, "Teacher Mu! This candy is delicious, remember to eat it!"
Xing Ze dragged him out the door.
"......."
Mu Tingyu sat in the chair and poked him with her cane: "What are you doing!"
Xing Ze stood at the door with his arms crossed, looking annoyed. "What if I run into you, being so reckless?"
As Mu Tingyu said goodbye to the children who were timidly passing by Xing Ze, she argued with him in a low voice: "He won't, Ali knows his limits!"
"Did he know his limits and let you fall like this?"
"...I already said I fell by myself!"
Mu Ting's tone was unbearable, but Zhuang Ren was standing to the side, so he had no choice but to say goodbye to him first, then he walked to the door with his cane, grabbed Xing Ze by the collar and continued to walk out.
"You're not allowed to enter the classroom this afternoon. The children are too scared to talk to me during breaks!"
"Why?" Xing Ze asked casually as his collar was being tugged. "I just want to see how you conduct your classes."
"You're still asking why? Can't you see the children are all avoiding you?"
"I didn't yell at them."
Mu Tingyu tightened her grip: "Not fierce? Then why are you glaring at them?"
"......"
Xing Ze leaned down slightly, his expression somewhat displeased: "Why do they always try to hold your hand? Was it like this before?"
Mu Tingyu gritted her teeth and said, "You're jealous of a child too?!"
"Is that not allowed?"
"......."
She knew beforehand that Xing Ze was prone to jealousy, but she didn't expect him to be so jealous even with children. He would restrain himself a bit during class, but as soon as class was over, he would be right next to her with his hand on her neck, as if he were asserting his ownership.
The children all looked bewildered, and the atmosphere in the classroom was strange. Even Zhuang Ren looked somewhat unnatural.
She didn't like this feeling; it was too embarrassing.
She didn't know what was wrong with this man. He wasn't like this before. Ever since she got injured, he's been clinging to her. It was fine when it was just the two of them at home, but as soon as they went out, she was really annoyed by his constant pestering.
She softened her voice and pleaded with him, "I really will be careful. After you drop me off this afternoon, you can go home, okay?"
The two walked to the door, where the bicycle was parked against the wall. Xing Ze didn't bother to help it up, but looked at her and said indifferently, "You started something and then abandoned it?"
Mu Tingyu was really annoyed: "I'm talking to you seriously, are you even listening? Can you stop misinterpreting me? You... um..."
Xing Ze pinned her against the wall, silencing her incessant chatter.
"......."
The man's breath was hot, pressing firmly against her, his hand on her back to prevent her from getting her hands on the white plaster on the wall.
This is the school wall; Zhuang Ren could come out at any time.
Mu Tingyu blushed and pushed him away several times before finally managing to shove him away, her breath unsteady as she said, "What are you doing!"
Xing Ze frowned, his eyes were heavy, and he looked like he was in a bad mood.
"I haven't kissed anyone all morning."
"Not even a kiss?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: After finishing the update last night, I was increasingly dissatisfied with it, so I had to frantically revise it while slacking off at work, sob sob (biting handkerchief). I'll try to update more frequently these next few days! Thank you everyone!
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