Feng Yi's eyes darted around before he swiftly pecked her lips, catching her off guard. His height, however, made the romantic gesture slightly comical as he had to hunch over, his rear end sticking out. 

The kiss delivered, he beat a tactical retreat, worried she might be angry. Hands clasped behind his back, like an old man strolling through a park, he babbled nervously, long legs carrying him away, "Ah... It's so hot, isn't it? I'm so hot."

Qiao Li remained silent.

A few steps later, noticing she hadn't followed, he stiffly pivoted on one foot, spinning 180 degrees—a lingering habit from military training—to retrieve her. He made her laugh countless times a day. 

She offered him her hand, a playful smile on her lips, and he immediately took it. Hand in hand, they walked home.

Feng Yi was incredibly clingy. After a month apart, he couldn't bear the thought of parting ways again, looking at Qiao Li with pleading eyes, silently begging to stay. His father, an architect, lived in Australia, and his mother traveled back and forth. 

But after Feng Yi finished his college entrance exams, his mother had flown off to join her husband. Honestly, who could resist that look?

Qiao Li agreed, and he happily followed her upstairs. The moment they stepped inside, his pitiful facade vanished. Like a dutiful homemaker returning after a month-long business trip, he changed his shoes and surveyed the apartment with practiced ease. "Eh? New sofa?"

He touched it. "Not bad, not bad. This one suits the interior better than the old one." He ran a hand over the coffee table. "Dusty. The weather's been bad lately, lots of dust. Need to have the cleaning lady come more often." Then, opening the fridge, "The fridge is empty! How can it be so bare? Don't you buy groceries when I'm not here?"

Qiao Li, slightly embarrassed, admitted, "I've been busy lately, traveling for work."

"I'm exhausted. I'm going to shower. You..." Qiao Li, seeing him acting like he owned the place, swallowed the words "make yourself comfortable."

After her shower, noticing the toothbrush and cup on the sink, she remembered to ask, "I don't have any pajamas or underwear for you. Should I find you a T-shirt?"

Feng Yi poked his head out of the kitchen. "No need, no need."

"What about underwear? You should go downstairs to the convenience store and buy some disposables."

"No need, no need." Feng Yi ducked into her bedroom and emerged with a set of men's pajamas and underwear.

Qiao Li was surprised. "Where did those come from?"

"I left them here before!" Feng Yi explained. "Before school started, remember? I brought a whole bunch of stuff."

Qiao Li vaguely recalled something like that, but the memory was hazy. He always brought so many things; she'd assumed it was just his usual assortment of household items she didn't have.

While Feng Yi showered, Qiao Li wandered into her bedroom and discovered a fabric storage bin under her desk, filled with clothes, even underwear neatly packed in cloth bags.

Unbelievable. Qiao Li squatted down, contemplating life. What kind of person had she let into her home?

When Feng Yi emerged from the shower, Qiao Li was stretching on the bed, her muscles stiff after a long day. He rushed over, eager to massage her shoulders and back. Qiao Li drifted into a comfortable drowsiness.

He had her lie on her stomach and used his elbow to press on her shoulder muscles. "I used to do this for my dad when I was little."

"Mmm, so sweet." Imagining a little Feng Yi earnestly massaging his father, Qiao Li's heart melted.

Encouraged by her praise, he worked even harder, kneading her calf muscles, then slowly moving upwards. When he reached the soft flesh of her inner thighs, Qiao Li flinched. "Ticklish..." she murmured sleepily, her voice soft and delicate.

She shifted her leg, her nightgown riding up, revealing the smooth skin of her upper thighs. Feng Yi, who had been diligently working on her muscles, suddenly lost his momentum.

As if compelled, he lifted the edge of her nightgown, finally catching a glimpse of the lace edge of her underwear. The sight, far from quenching his thirst, only intensified the burning within him.

His eyes fixed on the pale skin and the lace trim, his hands continued their ministrations, now with a less controlled pressure. Qiao Li, almost asleep, mumbled a complaint, "Too hard."

Those two words sent Feng Yi's imagination into overdrive, blood rushing to his groin.

His palms burning hot, he slowly moved his hands higher, watching her reaction. When she didn't protest, he cautiously placed his hand over her s3x.

Qiao Li, drifting in and out of sleep, felt a warmth between her legs, a sensation of something touching her, but she was too tired to grasp it. The thought flitted through her mind and then vanished.

Feng Yi could hear his own heartbeat and breathing echoing in his ears. He had only meant to touch her, but now the urge to remove the offending underwear consumed him, growing stronger with each passing second.

Carefully, he began to lift her nightgown, his movements gentle, terrified of waking her. The nightgown reached her waist. She didn't stir. He breathed a sigh of relief. Then, his hand reached for the edge of her underwear, trembling with anticipation.