Feng Yi entered the convenience store, trying to keep a straight face, pretending to be completely unfazed as he stood before the c0ndom display. Looking at the various packages and styles, he felt utterly overwhelmed. He should have done his research, he realized, knowing this day might come. Frozen in place, his evident distress caught the cashier's eye. He stiffened, awkwardly coughing into his fist to hide his face, then quickly grabbed a few boxes that looked decent enough and paid.
Outside, he immediately searched online for how to use them, making sure he understood before hurrying back to the apartment complex. Spotting Qiao Li waiting for him at the stairwell, his nerves tightened.
The short walk felt like traversing a knife's edge. Qiao Li was drunk, but he wasn't. How could he take advantage of her like this? He berated himself, yet rationalized his actions: he should respect her choice. Besides, wouldn't rejecting her be even more awkward? She might get angry, and then any chance of a relationship would be gone.
Torn between hoping she'd change her mind and hoping she wouldn't, he reached her with mixed emotions. "I got them."
Qiao Li, seeing the large bag he carried, felt a sense of disbelief. That many? She nodded, leading him upstairs. Inside, she said, "Go take a shower first."
Feng Yi placed the plastic bag on the shoe cabinet, his hands clumsy, his breath catching in his throat. He changed his shoes and slipped into the bathroom. Halfway through undressing, he froze, plagued by another dilemma. What should he wear when he came out? Nothing? A towel? Underwear? He scrubbed himself vigorously, pondering the question. He washed himself thoroughly, especially down there, making sure everything was clean and fresh before finally feeling confident enough.
Qiao Li waited on the sofa for quite a while before Feng Yi emerged, fully dressed in a T-shirt and pants. Seeing her look at him, he blushed, worried she'd think he didn't want to be with her.
Qiao Li hadn't even considered that. Seeing he was finished, she simply said, "Wait for me in the bedroom."
Feng Yi nodded, walking towards the bedroom with an air of bravely facing his fate. Halfway there, he remembered the c0ndoms by the door and detoured to bring the bag into the room. He chose the most reliable-looking ultra-thin package, tore it open, and placed one on the nightstand. He hesitated, then took out another. No, no. Feng Yi, you animal, he thought, taking advantage of her is bad enough, but twice? He quietly put the second one back, then stood nervously by the bedroom door, waiting for Qiao Li.
Just standing in her bedroom, inhaling the subtle fragrance, made him feel lightheaded. After a moment, he remembered to text his parents that he was staying at Qi Han's place for the night. After sending the message, he turned off his phone with the solemnity of a student entering a final exam.
Qiao Li, entering the bedroom after her shower, jumped at the sight of Feng Yi standing silently by the door. Her towel revealed smooth, fair skin, prominent collarbones, and elegant shoulders and neck. Her arms weren’t too thin, possessing a slight fullness, soft and delicate.
She took a step towards him, and he actually flinched back. Qiao Li chuckled softly. "Aren't you going to take your clothes off?"
"Oh, oh." Feng Yi's palms sweated nervously. Is it starting? It's finally happening. What do I do now? I have no idea! He removed his white T-shirt, his bare chest a mixture of shyness and pride. Thankfully, his daily abs workouts had paid off.
Qiao Li raised an eyebrow, her gaze drifting downwards.
He trembled, swallowing hard, stiffly removing his pants, only realizing as they reached his ankles how uncool the motion was, even more so as he tugged them the rest of the way off. Shyness and nervousness morphed into awkwardness. He turned his head, unable to meet her gaze.