The bedroom was deathly quiet.
Nan Yu and Tan Linyuan locked eyes. She suspected the heating in the room was turned up too high, for she was starting to break out in a sweat.
Her heart was pounding. The lingering effects of the alcohol resurfaced, making her feel light - as - if floating on clouds.
She feigned nonchalance. "Do you want me to play a tune for you on that piano?"
Tan Linyuan nodded. "Sure."
Nan Yu made her way to the small piano, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
When her fingers touched the keys, her heart skipped a beat. She closed her eyes briefly, and soon, a beautiful melody flowed from her fingertips.
She played "Jasmine Flower".
Tan Linyuan leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on her.
As she played, it seemed as if all the light in the room converged on her. She was as beautiful as a celestial maiden under the moon, untouched by the dust of the world.
It was impossible to look away.
"… What a beautiful jasmine flower, fragrant and fair on every bough, fragrant and fair, all do praise."
She softly sang the last line in tune with the music. Then she turned around on the stool, her eyes glistening with tears, and gave him a smile.
She told him that this was the first piano piece she'd ever learned, and it was also the song her mother had taught her line by line.
Tan Linyuan watched her silently.
"Nan Yu."
In the quiet bedroom, his voice was like a mist, deep and far - reaching.
"Thank you."
Nan Yu blinked, her eyes still hazy with unshed tears. "Because I played this piece for you?"
Tan Linyuan didn't answer.
He walked over, caught her wrist in his sight, helped her up from the chair, and then pulled her into his arms.
He whispered, "It sounds wonderful."
They were usually bickering and mocking each other. It was rare for him to directly compliment her.
Nan Yu was involuntarily stunned. She inhaled the faint woody scent on him, which always brought her a sense of comfort.
Outside, at some point, the night rain had started again.
The raindrops hit the glass, and the fine pitter - patter made the room seem even quieter.
The air began to turn damp.
At this moment, Nan Yu had an urge to hold his hand.
Her hand reached out to touch his fingers. Before she could do anything further, his large hand clasped hers tightly.
In his dry and warm palm, she felt the ring they had exchanged. The metallic touch made her eyes moisten.
She tilted her head up, her voice a bit muffled. "Why do you always wear it?"
He looked down at her face and asked in a low voice, "Isn't this something important to you?"
Because it was something important to her, he had to carry it with him...?
She was at a loss for words.
They were so close. Nan Yu felt dizzy. She pressed her body against his and buried her face in his shirt, her voice muffled. "You mustn't lose it."
"I won't." His answer was solemn.
The spark between them was burning brighter, and their body temperatures were gradually rising.
The ambiguous atmosphere was quietly taking root and colliding on this damp rainy night.
She involuntarily stood on tiptoe, trying to reach his lips.
She wasn't tall enough. Clumsily, she could only touch his Adam's apple. He remained motionless, his eyes calmly watching her fall deeper.
His self - restraint was fully displayed at this moment. He was hardly affected at all.
She now had a deeper understanding of his asceticism.
It turned out that what was more terrifying than abstinence was the ability to stay calm and self - controlled even when deeply in love, unmoved by anything.
"Tan Linyuan..." Seeing him motionless, she was so anxious that she was on the verge of crying, with the corners of her eyes turning red. "Kiss me."
There was even a sob in her coquetry. One would think she had suffered a great deal of grievance from him.
Selfishly, Nan Yu thought that since it was her birthday today, on such a special day, she should be able to ask for some privileges from him.
But she didn't know that it was already past midnight, and her birthday was over.
And the privileges she had with him were far more than just a little, and she didn't need any pretext.
She had all of his privileges.
Tan Linyuan was just teasing her. Seeing her on the verge of tears, he finally smiled, lowered his head, and kissed her lips as she wished.
The only sound in the room was the smacking of their lips.
He said, "Yuyu, look at me."
Nan Yu grabbed his collar. Kissed by him, her legs went weak and her body was filled with a strange warmth.
Her eyes widened blankly. With difficulty, she focused her gaze on the man in front of her.
His nose was straight, his features cold and aloof. His cold eyes were closed at this moment, making it hard to tell if he was moved.
His elegant temperament always made people feel that he would never stop for anyone or anything.
Nor for her.
Nan Yu raised her hand to touch his eyebrow bone, but at this moment, he opened his eyes. His dark and deep eyes reflected her silhouette.
He stroked her head and hoarsely coaxed her between kisses, "Yuyu is so good."
Nan Yu felt drunk.
But she clearly felt that her mind was sober.
Because she could feel the despair.
She found that she had become hopelessly accustomed to Tan Linyuan's presence and even wanted to pause this moment forever.
He was like the sun hanging high in the sky. Everyone wanted to get the warmth from him.
But no one could possess it alone.
...
Nan Yu woke up the next day with a splitting headache.
The moment she opened her eyes, she felt nauseous. Instinctively, she crawled to the edge of the bed, but nothing came out.
She felt so uncomfortable.
Although her alcohol tolerance wasn't very high, she shouldn't get drunk after just two glasses.
She began to suspect that her physical condition had seriously declined.
Just then, Tan Linyuan walked in. He quickly grabbed a trash can and placed it in front of her, then put a glass of water on her bedside table.
Only then did Nan Yu realize that she was back in Tan Linyuan's villa.
She had been so drowsy last night that she could hardly remember anything.
Except for the kiss she had asked for.
"I think I should go to the hospital for a physical examination."
After drinking the water, Nan Yu made a cautious conclusion. "I usually don't have such a low alcohol tolerance."
She lay on the edge of the bed with her butt in the air, looking pitifully up at Tan Linyuan. "What's going on? Am I sick?"
Tan Linyuan couldn't help but smile helplessly. He walked over and patted her butt. "It's not your problem."
"Then what is it?"
"Because the wine you bought was fake."
Tan Linyuan calmly told her the truth. "The bottle of sherry you bought last night was a mixture of pure alcohol and grape juice."
That's why he hadn't drunk any more.
Nan Yu was stunned for a second.
Then, she let out an incredulous scream. "A fake bottle of wine, and he charged me two thousand yuan? I'm going to call the police!"
Tan Linyuan couldn't help but let a smile show in his eyes.
She should be like this.
Always full of life and energy, always optimistic, always full of vigor.
Actually, there was something Tan Linyuan didn't tell her.
It wasn't the first time he'd heard her play "Jasmine Flower".