Heat flushed through her. She almost gasped, wanting to step back, but the door was directly behind her, leaving her trapped. She grasped his shirt, a silent plea for him to stop.

But Chen Huaixu wasn't finished. He moved to her blazer, smoothing the lapels, then trailing his fingers along the delicate skin of her neck and collarbone.

Seemingly casual touches that sent shivers of awareness through her.

"...Mmm, nothing much..." Yan Zhen found it hard to concentrate. "...Just...haven't decided where I want to go after graduation..."

Finally, Chen Huaixu slipped his hands behind her neck, gathering her hair in his palms, releasing it, then running his fingers through the strands.

An ordinary gesture, yet rendered intensely sensual by his deliberate movements. Yan Zhen bit her lip, barely hearing what Liang Yu was saying, offering vague responses before ending the call. Slightly exasperated, she said, "Why were you interrupting me?"

Chen Huaixu withdrew his hands, his voice calm. "I was merely being efficient. See? Your call is finished, your clothes are adjusted, and we can leave."

He looked at her flushed cheeks, his hand resting lightly on her waist. His eyes held hers, his voice low. "Unless...we should stay a while longer?"

The teasing in his words and actions was unmistakable. Still flushed from his touch, Yan Zhen offered little resistance as he pulled her close again. Her plans to go home were postponed. Chen Huaixu carried her back to the bedroom, where he proceeded to have his way with her.

By the time she finally escaped his "lair," Yan Zhen was truly exhausted. "Chen Huaixu, can you please..."

"Can I please what?"

"Show some restraint!"

"Restraint is necessary when one exceeds their limits. However, we both seem to be feeling quite well."

Yan Zhen gritted her teeth. "Who's feeling well with you?"

"Perhaps I washed the sheets too soon. I should have kept them as evidence."

Knowing she could never win a verbal sparring match with him, Yan Zhen simply glared.

Chen Huaixu stopped walking. "Alright, confession time. What did you promise him?"

His words jogged her memory. Just before they hung up, Liang Yu had invited her to his photography exhibition.

"When is it?" Chen Huaixu asked.

Yan Zhen thought for a moment. "Next month, I think."

"I see."

She looked at him, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

He smiled faintly. "Just making sure you don't get tricked."

"Liang Yu would never trick me!" Yan Zhen thought he was being overly cautious. "We've known each other for a long time."

"Have you?" Chen Huaixu's voice was light. "And after all this time, you're still just friends?"

"Yes. He doesn't like me that way. He's always treated me like a little sister. We're just friends."

Like a little sister?

Chen Huaixu recalled the end of that earlier phone call. Liang Yu's voice, laced with amusement, echoed in his mind: "Please tell Zhen Zhen her Liang Yu gege is back."

The words had been a blatant display of possessiveness, a challenge directed at him.

Chen Huaixu had hung up the phone, a small smile playing on his lips.

This "prince," it seemed, wasn't quite as honest as he appeared.