"Honey, wait up! Watch out for cars!"

Su Shui trailed behind Lin Ning like a clingy shadow. She just kept her head down and marched forward, ignoring the little tail at her heels.

This time, he was truly in hot water. Su Shui followed with a bitter smile, fretting she might get hit by a car or bitten by a dog.

Step by step, they walked home without realizing it.

Inside, Lin Ning strode straight to the sofa. She sat silently, hugging a small pillow.

"Come on, honey, let’s take off your shoes first~"

Su Shui eagerly fetched her slippers. He set warm water before her and peeled an apple, holding it to her lips.

"Ah~ open wide, honey, have a bite~"

Lin Ning ignored him, sitting stiff as a wooden doll.

"Not hungry? Fine, I’ll eat it then~"

Su Shui didn’t hold back. He crunched the whole apple down in seconds.

"Honey, want a banana? You love bananas~"

He offered a peeled banana to her mouth.

"Not eating? Guess I’ll finish it~"

"Honey, how about…"

In twenty minutes, Su Shui devoured an apple, a banana, a bunch of grapes, and half a watermelon.

"Honey, burp~ want some, burp~ sunflower seeds?"

"Get lost!"

"Hehe, you’re talking to me now, honey~"

Su Shui shamelessly leaned against her. No matter how she shoved him, he refused to budge.

"Move! I won’t sit with a pervert!"

Lin Ning kicked him hard in the stomach. His face twisted in pain.

"Urgh~"

Su Shui clutched his belly and vomited—splattering Lin Ning’s legs. She froze in shock.

"You—what’s wrong?!"

Seeing his distress, Lin Ning didn’t flinch at the mess. She gently patted his back.

"I… just ate too much…"

…

…

Su Shui knelt on the keyboard. This time, Lin Ning had removed every keycap.

She was showering in the bathroom, leaving him to clean the living room alone.

"Seriously, it was just peeking at a pretty girl. Why punish me again?"

He grumbled under his breath but didn’t dare stand. Kneeling, he slowly wiped the floor.

After half an hour, the room sparkled spotless.

Staring at the bathroom door, Su Shui felt himself starting to stink.

He crept to the steamed-up door. Through the mist, Lin Ning’s silhouette glowed.

"Whoa… who can handle this~"

Blood rushed from his nose. He wiped it with his sleeve.

"Man, I’ve really been pent up lately~"

Inside the bath, Lin Ning’s face flushed red. She glared resentfully at the door.

"That jerk… isn’t even peeking anymore!"

Heart pounding, Su Shui tiptoed into the bathroom. He glanced up cautiously at Lin Ning soaking in the tub.

*Whoosh!*

Lin Ning yanked the door open. There stood Su Shui, bent halfway in.

"Honey, don’t hit me!"

Su Shui curled into a ball, arms shielding his head.

"Ugh, what took you so long~" she muttered.

"What?"

"Go fetch me a towel~"

Lin Ning dried herself with a small towel. Su Shui’s pulse raced; his nose dripped blood again.

"Pervert~"

…

…

Lin Ning lounged on the sofa in Su Shui’s oversized T-shirt. A cool breeze from his palm-leaf fan brushed her skin as she savored a popsicle.

Su Shui squatted beside her, sweating heavily. His tank top clung wet to his back.

"Honey, I know I messed up. Let’s turn on the AC~"

"No way. Keep fanning. This is your punishment!"

…

…

While the young couple bonded at home, Lin Feng suffered at school.

"Ugh, what hellish weather!" He wiped sweat from his brow. "No AC at all?!"

Ancient ceiling fans wheezed on the walls, blowing feeble waves of hot air.

Around him, classmates pulled out mini fans or opened insulated boxes filled with ice.

Lin Feng had prepared nothing. He fanned himself weakly with a textbook.

The hotter it got, the harder he fanned. He yanked open the curtains—only to face scorching stillness and blinding sun.

A small fan slid toward him from the front row. Its breeze brought instant relief.

He looked up. The short-haired girl from his class had passed it to him.

"Thanks~" Lin Feng whispered, savoring the cool air.

"Does she… like me?" he thought smugly.

"You’re welcome. Now close those curtains!" She shielded her eyes from the glare, scowling.

"Oops, sorry!"

Lin Feng shut the curtains and slumped over his desk.

"Cold!" An ice cube landed on his arm.

He glanced up. The same girl had tossed it.

"Thanks!"

Lin Feng wrapped the ice in a handkerchief, treasuring its chill.

…

…

"Finally, school’s out!" Lin Feng skipped out with his backpack.

The day had been torture—his clothes soaked, dried, soaked again.

He rushed toward the gates, vowing never to endure another day here.

"Lucky it’s Friday. Smart of me to start today!"

He practically bounced home, oddly eager to endure his sister and brother-in-law’s lovey-dovey antics. At least their place had decent living conditions!

In a narrow alley, a savory aroma hooked him.

"Smells amazing!" Lin Feng spotted a street stall grilling cold noodles—a treat his elite upbringing had never allowed.

"Boss, one serving!"

Munching his snack, he took a shortcut. But halfway down a hutong, he saw thugs surrounding a girl.

It was the short-haired classmate.

Justice flared in his chest. Without thinking, Lin Feng charged and dumped his noodles on the lead thug’s head.

"What are you doing!"

He lunged forward, shielding the girl behind him.

A thick stench of alcohol hit his nose.

"Damn kid! You’re dead!"

The noodle-covered thug grabbed a mop handle, swinging it at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng froze—never having thrown a punch in his life.

Just as the stick neared his skull, a brick *smacked* flat against the thug’s face.

"You two okay?"

Su Shui struck a pose he thought was cool, smirking at the stunned Lin Feng.

"Bro, behind you!"

A thug blindsided Su Shui. He crumpled to the ground.

"Damn… embarrassing…" Su Shui mumbled before passing out.