Chapter 35
Even after getting into the car, Xie Ning’s heart was still pounding fast.
He could not believe what he had just heard.
There were only two possibilities.
First, the inner voice had gone wrong, or that had not been Pei Zhi’s true thoughts at all. Second, he was hallucinating—he had heard things.
The more Xie Ning thought about it, the more absurd it felt. No matter what, he simply could not believe that those were Pei Zhi’s true thoughts. How could Pei Zhi possibly… like him?
His phone vibrated. Pei Zhi had sent him a message.
[Immature Brat: When are you coming back? I’ll come pick you up.]
Xie Ning stared at the message in a daze and did not dare reply for a moment.
It was too ridiculous.
Wasn’t Pei Zhi straight?
Before, during class, the students around him would sometimes gossip about campus rumors, most of which came from the campus forum. Besides lost-and-found posts, it was full of drama threads and call-out posts. Pei Zhi was a frequent subject there too.
It was Xie Ning’s first time opening the campus forum.
To his surprise, he found that there were many posts about himself as well.
[Come look at photos of my wife Xie Ning. Anyone who skips this is definitely going to regret it. [beckoning finger]]
[Event video—oh my god, did Xie Ning deliberately grow up looking like this just to seduce me?]
[I say my wife is the most beautiful person in school. Who dares disagree?]
Xie Ning: “……”
So these days, a lot of people really did call strangers “wife.”
As the person involved, looking at these posts made him feel a little strange. But the point was not him. It was Pei Zhi.
Xie Ning searched the keyword “Pei Zhi.”
[Damn, another gay guy set his sights on Pei Zhi, and Pei Zhi’s face darkened on the spot…]
[A word of advice to my fellow comrades: don’t get your hopes up about Pei Zhi. Handsome, yes, but his temper really is awful, and he’s especially straight…]
[The whole world might turn gay, but Pei Zhi never will.]
[Hiss hiss… Is baby Xie Ning dating Pei Zhi? Standing next to Xie Ning, Pei Zhi looks like a big wolfdog protecting a beauty. This height difference, this build difference, this skin-tone difference… I’m shipping it first.]
Aside from the last post, Xie Ning agreed with all of them.
The first several posts all emphasized just how straight Pei Zhi was. One thread described an incident where a freshman had brought Pei Zhi some water. Not only did Pei Zhi refuse it, he had even asked on the spot, “Are you that idle?” before turning and leaving.
A lot of people felt secondhand embarrassment for the boy, but even more said they were used to it, because Pei Zhi had done things with even less emotional intelligence before.
Just as the post had said: the whole world might turn gay, but Pei Zhi never would.
After looking at his phone for too long, Xie Ning felt a little carsick. Leaning back in his seat, he locked the screen and closed his eyes in thought.
He would just… treat it as if he had hallucinated.
…
Xie Ning looked at several apartment complexes, and by sheer coincidence, the one place he liked best belonged to Shen Ye.
More accurately, the landlord was Shen Ye’s uncle. Shen Ye’s news traveled fast. The moment he learned someone was coming to view the apartment—and that the viewer was Xie Ning—he rushed right over.
“The other things about this community are all fine, but the security is especially good. It’s not easy for outsiders to get in or out, and the landscaping is nice too. From here, you can see the city view,” Shen Ye introduced enthusiastically. “And the subway is within 200 meters. There’s also a mall right next door, so eating, drinking, housing, and getting around are all very convenient.”
“It really is quite nice,” Xie Ning said.
This was also the apartment Xie Ning liked the most.
“Want to lock it in?” Shen Ye said. “My uncle is in a hurry to rent it out. If you decide today, I can get you a discount.”
As he spoke, Shen Ye unconsciously edged closer to Xie Ning. He deliberately lowered his voice into a deep, husky tone that sounded a little hoarse and suggestive.
“This little money needs your discount?” Qi Ran stepped right between the two of them. “Stay away from my brother. Why are you talking so close to him?”
If Xie Ning was the sort of refined and noble young master, then Qi Ran was the spoiled rich boy pampered rotten by his family. Shen Ye’s expression shifted slightly, but seeing that he was Xie Ning’s younger brother, he still forced himself to give this rude little thing a somewhat better attitude.
“My mistake. I shouldn’t have stood so close.” Shen Ye changed the subject. “Would you like some coffee? I can make some.”
“No need,” Xie Ning said. “Let’s stop here for today. I’ll think about it a little more and give you an answer as soon as possible.”
“All right. By the way, your brother’s dorm curfew is pretty early, isn’t it? How about I drive you back?” Shen Ye asked.
“No need. I don’t live in the dorm,” Qi Ran said impatiently. “Why are you being so attentive? Do you like my brother?”
Being exposed so bluntly, Shen Ye still looked a little embarrassed and coughed lightly.
Xie Ning frowned. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Qi Ran agreed out loud, but grumbled inwardly that he was not talking nonsense at all.
The moment this guy saw Xie Ning, it was like a wild dog seeing a meat bone… just like that person he had seen at the school gate before.
Xie Ning had even taken the initiative to put a scarf on that person? But Qi Ran remembered very clearly that Xie Ning was a clean freak and did not like sharing things with others.
“Then could you give me a ride on the way?” Shen Ye said. “I just happen to be going back to school too, and my car’s out of gas.”
“My car only has two seats. Want to sit in the trunk?” Qi Ran replied.
“That’s one issue,” Xie Ning said, “and another is that I probably won’t be going back to school just yet, so I can’t give you a ride.”
“All right, no problem. If you make up your mind, send me a message. I’m always available,” Shen Ye said.
The whole way back, Qi Ran kept muttering, “Brother, who was that guy just now? One look and you can tell he was up to no good. The second he saw you, he practically started drooling… Wait, weren’t we supposed to go to the studio? Are you going back to school?”
Xie Ning changed the navigation destination.
“My friend seems to be sick. I’m going back to check on him,” Xie Ning said.
“He’s not a little kid. If he’s sick, he should go to the hospital and register. Why does he have to cling to you?”
“Don’t say it like that.”
Xie Ning said, “When I was sick before, he took care of me the whole time too. Let’s put today’s work aside for now. I’ll just go to the studio earlier tomorrow.”
In Qi Ran’s eyes, anyone who needed Xie Ning to take the initiative and look after them was practically guilty of a monstrous crime. But annoyed as he was, he still obediently turned the car around.
He found it strange.
Xie Ning cared deeply about his work and his major. Once he got absorbed, he would skip meals and sleep and completely disregard his own health. Yet now, because a friend was sick, he was actually willing to set work aside of his own accord?
Who exactly was this person? Why could he make Xie Ning do this much? Qi Ran could not figure it out.
When Xie Ning reached the dorm, he ran into Shen Ye at the entrance. Shen Ye warmly greeted him and said, “What a coincidence—we ran into each other again. Has your brother already gone back?”
“He has,” Xie Ning said.
“Your brother cares a lot about you,” Shen Ye said.
“He’s all right,” Xie Ning replied.
Xie Ning’s attitude was cold, but Shen Ye had no intention of warming up to cold indifference. In any case, he was already used to it. He continued, “Listings have been pretty tight lately, so you’d better think it over soon. My uncle said a lot of people have been contacting him about this apartment, but the price hasn’t been settled yet. The area you want is considered prime real estate too, very sought after. If you really want to move out, you’d better make your move quickly.”
“You’re moving out?” A dark voice came from behind them.
Xie Ning froze for a moment. He and Shen Ye turned back at the same time. They were both standing in the hallway, and Pei Zhi was slowly approaching. Under the overhead light, his already deep and handsome features looked even more shadowed, sharply carved and severe.
His tall, lean body cast a shadow over the ground. Pei Zhi was very tall, and as he walked forward step by step, he looked like some slowly approaching giant beast, carrying an innate sense of pressure.
He stopped in front of Xie Ning, his expression and tone both strangely calm. “You’re moving out.”
Before Xie Ning could speak, Shen Ye said, “He’s just looking at apartments.”
“……” Pei Zhi said, “You two went apartment hunting?”
“It’s not like that,” Xie Ning said helplessly.
After he and Pei Zhi returned to the dorm, with no outsiders around, Xie Ning explained slowly, “I went to look at an apartment today. The landlord is Shen Ye’s uncle.”
Pei Zhi did his best to maintain a normal expression, even adopting a deliberately relaxed tone. “Why do you want to move out? Do you hate me?”
“Of course not,” Xie Ning said. “It’s just too far. Going back and forth between school and the studio is inconvenient. I still have class, and I also have to revise my work.”
“I can drive you. You can catch up on sleep in the car…” Pei Zhi said.
“But there will always be times when you’re busy,” Xie Ning said. “Can you really keep making time for me forever?”
Of course he could.
Even if he had class, he could skip it. Even if he had something to do, he could simply not go. Pei Zhi could push aside everything and make Xie Ning his top priority.
But Pei Zhi said nothing.
Those words were a little too ambiguous, and at the same time they would easily make the other person feel burdened. He did not want their relationship to become even more strained, so he stayed silent.
A moment later, Pei Zhi asked, “Then are you really going to move out?”
“For now, I’m not sure. I’m just taking a look,” Xie Ning said. “If I don’t end up that busy later, then I won’t move out.”
But he would most likely be very busy.
Xie Ning changed the subject. “Did you go to the infirmary yet? If not, let’s go now.”
“I’m not sick,” Pei Zhi said.
Then he suddenly reacted, and a trace of delight appeared between his brows. “You came back on purpose just to go with me to the infirmary?”
“Not on purpose,” Xie Ning corrected. “I just thought you might not go, and I didn’t have that much work today anyway.”
A lie.
Xie Ning really did not know how to lie. When he spoke, his tone was stiff. Perhaps because he disliked lying, his lashes trembled guiltily, and the way his gaze shifted slightly aside allowed Pei Zhi to catch sight of the faintly damp corner of his eye.
The gloomy irritation he had felt just moments ago was soothed in an instant. Pei Zhi lowered his lashes, revealing a hint of fragility between his brows. “My head’s a little dizzy.”
His tone sounded sickly, completely lacking the forcefulness from earlier.
Xie Ning rose onto his toes, preparing to test the temperature of Pei Zhi’s forehead with his hand. Afraid he would tire himself out from standing on tiptoe, Pei Zhi bent down a great deal and even lowered his head on purpose so Xie Ning could touch his forehead.
“I can’t tell,” Xie Ning said awkwardly. “We should still go to the infirmary.”
He quickly withdrew his hand, fingers curling slightly. It had already been several days since he and Pei Zhi had been in such close physical contact. Now that they had suddenly touched again, his body reacted almost out of habit, instinctively wanting to lean against Pei Zhi.
Fortunately, he managed to suppress that impulse once more.
Xie Ning and Pei Zhi went to the infirmary. Pei Zhi had no fever, and his cold was completely gone.
That was what the doctor said. Yet Pei Zhi, walking beside him, kept wearing an expression of extreme discomfort and sickly weakness, which left Xie Ning rather puzzled. Could the doctor have made a wrong diagnosis?
Looking at Pei Zhi’s profile, Xie Ning thought of the inner voice he had heard not long ago and hesitated.
He wanted to ask, but he did not dare. On one hand, he was afraid of knowing the answer. On the other, he was afraid that if he asked, they might not even be able to remain friends.
Xie Ning rarely felt this conflicted. He struggled for a long while, but in the end he gave up.
…
Xie Ning went to bed very early.
He had been exhausted lately. Since he was not going to the studio, he wanted to seize the chance to rest well and preserve enough energy to throw himself back into work tomorrow.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the foot of the bed. Xie Ning gave a start. A large, sharply defined hand lifted the curtain, and Pei Zhi climbed in.
“I’m sorry.” The first thing Pei Zhi said when he saw him was an apology. Lowering his head, he said, “I shouldn’t have made you angry.”
What?
Pei Zhi carefully listed his offenses. “I was sick these past few days, and my head was muddled too. There were a lot of things I didn’t think through. You’ve been really tired lately. I shouldn’t have bothered you, and I shouldn’t have been so clingy.”
Then he said, “Let me give you a massage.”
“A massage?” Xie Ning repeated.
Half-reclining in bed, Xie Ning propped himself up slightly, lifting his upper body a little. The fabric of his pajama pants had ridden up from rubbing against the sheets, exposing a section of smooth, pale lower leg.
His delicate skin looked like white porcelain. His ankle was exquisite, slender enough to be wrapped in one hand. Pei Zhi’s gaze darkened, and his Adam’s apple moved. In an extremely restrained voice, he asked, “May I?”
Pei Zhi did not dare grasp him directly. He merely braced his hand near Xie Ning’s pale foot. His body ran hot, and the warmth he gave off lingered around that gently heated skin. Xie Ning only moved his leg slightly, but it almost looked as if he were deliberately placing his foot into Pei Zhi’s hand.
His toes brushed against those burning fingers, roughened slightly with calluses. Xie Ning’s skin was fine and soft, and together with the effects of his skin hunger, a current shot straight from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. His scalp tingled at once, and his body collapsed backward.
Pei Zhi had not expected such a strong reaction from him. He froze for a moment, then tried to move closer. But just as he leaned in a little, Xie Ning planted a foot on his shoulder, seemingly trying to push him away.
That soft, weak force could not really have any effect, yet somehow it fixed Pei Zhi in place so completely that he truly did not move.
That small, pale foot rested right on his shoulder. The loose pajama pants slid down, exposing a stretch of snow-white, straight leg to the air.
Even through the fabric of the pajamas, Pei Zhi could sense how soft it was. His Adam’s apple rolled again, and he could not stop himself from lowering his gaze. Those round, full toes looked like flower buds, tinged with an enticing pink.
His Adam’s apple moved again, and his mouth instantly went dry.
Xie Ning’s breathing became a little uneven, and his eyes had grown misty.
He had not expected this physical contact to hit him so hard. It might also have been because he had suppressed himself too ruthlessly these last few days, and now that his craving was suddenly being satisfied, the pleasure came crashing in all at once.
His skin hunger made him feel unbearably itchy, and he could not quite catch his breath. His sole rubbed restlessly against Pei Zhi’s shoulder, and his toes unconsciously slid over Pei Zhi’s Adam’s apple.
This time, it was Pei Zhi’s breathing that turned unsteady.
But Pei Zhi did not dare move, let alone touch recklessly. He was afraid of angering Xie Ning. Before receiving permission, he would not do anything. He was an upright man.
About five more seconds passed before Xie Ning gradually calmed down. Only then did he realize how rude the position of his foot was, and he hurriedly lowered it. “No need for a massage. Sorry, I’m a little ticklish, so just now I…”
Xie Ning suddenly could not continue speaking.
Because Pei Zhi was staring at him the whole time, those dark, deep eyes like a dim night sky, dangerous and frightening to behold.
Pei Zhi’s breathing was hot, his breaths rough and obvious. Even with some distance between them, Xie Ning could hear them clearly. A face that was already aggressive-looking now bore a gaze just as aggressive, and it gave him a strange illusion.
As if Pei Zhi were about to strip him bare and swallow him whole.
One arm braced itself beside Xie Ning’s waist as Pei Zhi slowly leaned down. That huge shadow, like some massive beast, devoured Xie Ning’s field of vision.
From this angle, Xie Ning looked especially fragile and small, like someone who needed protection.
His usually indifferent face, with its slightly messy hair, flushed cheeks, and upturned lashes, now showed the frightened look of someone who had been startled. The glimmer of tears in his eyes gave him a different kind of beauty.
So pitiful.
So cute.
Want so badly to…
Pei Zhi stared at Xie Ning without blinking. Under Xie Ning’s gaze, his Adam’s apple shifted for a moment. He calmed his breathing first, then asked softly, “…Can we sleep together?”
Then he added, “I want to hug you.”
“Even through the blanket is fine.”
“……” Xie Ning remained silent.
Pei Zhi understood his answer. He did not force the matter, and instead slowly straightened up. Hooking a finger into the hem of the pajama leg, which had nearly ridden up to the base of the thigh, he slowly tugged it back down, watching as that pale, even-toned thigh was little by little swallowed back up by the black sleepwear.
Before leaving, Pei Zhi curled his fingers and lightly rubbed against Xie Ning’s pant leg. His voice was already hoarse. “Good night. Sweet dreams.”
It seemed Xie Ning had been frightened.
He really had only wanted to hug Xie Ning and nothing more. He was not greedy. Hugging through the blanket would have been enough. He would not do anything that made Xie Ning unhappy.
But Xie Ning’s expression had been too beautiful. Pei Zhi had lost control a little and probably failed to keep his expression and gaze in check.
He could not scare Xie Ning.
Besides, he needed to find a way to win Xie Ning over first, and then properly pursue him.
He no longer wanted to remain just Xie Ning’s friend.
…
Just as Pei Zhi had begun making plans to pursue Xie Ning and was searching online for advice on how to chase someone, he noticed something.
Xie Ning was avoiding him.
Today, after finishing one of his major classes, Xie Ning had some free time. The first thing he did after getting up was go to the on-campus studio.
The school’s studios were divided by specialty for different art students: public art studios, fashion design studios, and so on… Not far away was a corridor, and beside the corridor stood a small, delicate pavilion.
Pei Zhi sat there and watched all morning.
Xie Ning’s workstation was by the window, and from the pavilion Pei Zhi could see him perfectly clearly. Because of the blind angle, Xie Ning could not see him in return.
Pei Zhi watched Xie Ning focus intently on sketching drafts. When he got tired, he would flip through fashion magazines. All morning long, he truly never once checked his phone; he poured himself entirely into his work.
The way he looked while working seriously was genuinely captivating.
At lunchtime, the people in the studio stood up and left, discussing what to eat. Watching the group of students walk out, Pei Zhi abruptly realized that it was noon already, time to eat.
Xie Ning was still engrossed in his work at the moment. The takeout Pei Zhi had ordered had almost arrived too, so he went to the school gate to pick it up. When he returned, he saw Xie Ning sitting by the window in a daze.
Sunlight outlined Xie Ning’s profile in a beautiful golden glow. After working efficiently for so long, his mind and body seemed unable to keep up with the rhythm anymore, leaving him in a state of blank, wandering emptiness, his expression vacant.
So cute.
Before inviting him to eat, there had to be a little buildup. He could not just go up and ask right away if he wanted to have lunch together.
That was what the online guides said.
Pei Zhi sent Xie Ning a message.
[Immature Brat: What are you doing? Still busy?]
Ahead of him, Xie Ning by the window glanced at his phone. After hesitating for a moment, he still unlocked the screen.
He must have seen the message. After staring blankly for a while, he ultimately chose to pretend he had not seen it.
The weather today was very good. The sunlight was bright, the greenery swayed lightly, and Pei Zhi sat in the sunlight with a cold, gloomy expression, the plastic bag in his hand crinkling softly. His fingers tightened, as though he were restraining some emotion.
After a long while, he sent another message.
[Immature Brat: It might rain tonight. I brought you an umbrella and left it outside your studio door. Don’t forget to take it.]
[Immature Brat: When I ordered lunch, I accidentally ordered an extra portion. I left it there too. If you’ve already eaten, you can give it to a classmate.]
[Immature Brat: [heart gesture for little baby jpg.]]
[Immature Brat: Want me to pick you up tonight?]
This time, Xie Ning finally replied.
[Ning: No need. I probably won’t be going back to the dorm tonight.]
[Immature Brat: Then where are you going? I’ll drive you there. I happen to need the car too—I’m going home tonight. My parents asked me to come back for dinner.]
[Immature Brat: I was originally going to invite you too.]
Xie Ning suddenly remembered that Pei Zhi still had not given him his identification information.
So Xie Yan had not bought the plane tickets yet.
Looking back through the chat history, Xie Yan had reminded him not long ago that she wanted to buy them seats together. If they waited any longer, she might not be able to get them.
Lately, neither of them had mentioned Christmas.
After refusing Pei Zhi, Xie Ning rested his head on the desk, planning to take a short nap.
He could not help recalling that night.
If—if he had not seen it wrong, then had Pei Zhi… reacted?
Before, he would have thought it was normal. Human impulses were driven by hormones; if some stimulating image flashed through your mind for a moment, it was indeed easy to have a response you should not have.
But after hearing Pei Zhi’s inner voice, Xie Ning could no longer keep the same calm attitude.
He needed time to cool off, which was why he had been distancing himself from Pei Zhi lately.
After lying there for a while, Xie Ning pushed open the studio door and saw a restaurant bag with an umbrella beside it.
He brought both into the studio. After thinking for a long time, he finally replied to Pei Zhi with a “thank you” and attached a photo.
[Ning: I’ve already taken them in. It’s very tasty.]
[Immature Brat: I’m glad you like it.]
Xie Ning did not continue the conversation.
But that did not matter.
Xie Ning lowered his head and ate. His table manners were graceful and refined, a scene in themselves. Not far away, Pei Zhi had never left. He simply stood there, watching Xie Ning for a very long time.
…
That night, a torrential rainstorm broke out.
Purple-blue lightning churned through the dark, gloomy sky. With a booming crash of thunder, the rain came pouring down in sheets. Quite a few students ran about with their heads covered, darting down the corridors.
In the dorm group chat, Gu Nian and Chen Xi said they had already arrived home. They were both locals and sometimes went home on weekends.
[Immature Brat: Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.]
[Ning: No need. I’m already at the studio.]
[Immature Brat: Already at the studio? Since when?]
[Ning: Before it started raining. It started as soon as I got here.]
[Immature Brat: Then the timing of your trip back was perfect.]
[Ning: Mm.]
Luckily, they were not talking face to face. Otherwise, Xie Ning’s lie would definitely have been exposed.
Even now he already felt somewhat guilty when another message popped up.
[Immature Brat: If you need me, call me anytime.]
Another thunderclap sounded, and outside the trees were blown wildly askew. In the damp atmosphere, an unbearable hunger began stirring beneath his skin, like countless tiny insects crawling and gnawing at him, urging him to seek physical contact.
On rainy days, his skin hunger tended to flare up more frequently. Xie Ning was already used to it. He went to rinse himself with cold water for a while, and his pale, slender fingers were chilled into a rose-pink color. That shade appearing on him made him look inexplicably fragile—and alluring.
The rain tonight was very heavy. For safety’s sake, he should just go back to the dorm.
Pei Zhi and the other two roommates had all gone home. He would be the only one in the dorm, so even if his skin hunger acted up, it would not matter.
No one would see.
It was just that… Xie Ning’s nails sank deeply into his palms.
This attack of skin hunger had come on especially fiercely. He had to get back to the dorm as soon as possible.
Xie Ning quickly grabbed the umbrella. As he passed a classmate, the classmate called out to him, but he did not respond, so the classmate reached out as if to pat him on the shoulder.
Xie Ning’s mental cleanliness obsession and his skin hunger flared up at the same time. He immediately stepped away, his nails digging even deeper. Calmly, he said, “Sorry, I got a little dizzy just now. Did you need something?”
“Your complexion looks awful…” The classmate stared blankly. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine. Just a little cold. I’ll be okay in a bit,” Xie Ning said.
“All right then.”
He had originally wanted to ask whether he should accompany Xie Ning to the infirmary, since Xie Ning really did not look well. But at this hour, the campus clinic was probably already closed…
Watching Xie Ning’s figure recede into the distance, he could not help recalling that stunning face.
No wonder so many people liked Xie Ning…
…
Pei Zhi had given Xie Ning the umbrella in advance, but tonight’s rain was so heavy that he still could not avoid getting somewhat soaked.
Fortunately, he had dressed warmly today, and his down jacket was waterproof, so only the outside was wet. Some rain had splashed onto the cuffs of his pants and his socks, leaving them damp and sticky in an extremely uncomfortable way.
That wet, clammy feeling only intensified the craving brought on by his skin hunger. When Xie Ning entered the elevator lobby, it was crowded, so he did his best to stay tucked into a corner and avoid brushing against anyone.
The moment he stepped out of the elevator, Xie Ning hurried back to the dorm.
The dorm room was pitch dark with no lights on. Weakly, he leaned his back against the door, his damp lips slightly parted, trembling breaths spilling out.
He longed to be held.
He longed to be touched.
His skin hunger left his mind somewhat scattered… He shook his head. It was fine. He just had to endure it a little longer.
Xie Ning leaned against the door for a long time, all of his attention swallowed up by his skin hunger. When the situation eased slightly, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.
When he had just returned, there had been a lot of water at the dorm entrance. But Pei Zhi and the others were not in the dorm, so who had entered and dirtied the doorway? And outside the door, there was an extra umbrella…
Someone was in the dorm!
Even if no one was there now, someone had definitely been inside earlier. Pei Zhi and the others had all left before it started raining… The rain had only begun not long ago, so that person was very likely still in the dorm, hiding in a corner and observing him.
The fact that Xie Ning could still remain rational under such circumstances was no easy feat. His first thought was that a thief had broken in. He immediately turned to leave, but the moment his trembling hand touched the doorknob, a burning hot palm covered the back of his hand.
That skin-to-skin contact was like a gentle spring breeze brushing over his face. Xie Ning instantly lost all strength. Once his skin hunger was soothed, his mind blanked for a moment.
Click.
With a crisp sound, the door was locked from the inside.
Pei Zhi’s dark, slightly wounded voice sounded slowly in the darkness:
“Xie Ning… are you avoiding me?”
