The rest of the time passed between Chen Yaoyi’s explanations and May’s frantic attempts to figure out why she felt so hollow.
It wasn’t until they both stared at the clock—11:30 PM—and sat side by side on the pristine white double bed that May finally snapped to.
*What have I done?!*
Letting a blond guy she wasn’t even related to—let alone her boyfriend—wash her hair. Sharing dinner with Chen Yaoyi, the blond. Devouring a whole dozen oysters… plus seafood congee loaded with them.
Double bed. Soundproof suite. Matching couple pajamas. Two freshly showered people. One of whom had just eaten a *very* stamina-boosting meal.
She jolted out of her daze, clutching her head and stomping her feet—but Chen Yaoyi saw every flustered second. *She’s embarrassed*, he concluded instantly.
Still, he had zero intention of making a move. After all, this wasn’t an eroge. Better keep it classy.
“L-Let’s sleep…”
Blushing fiercely yet forcing calm, May pointed at the bed.
Her mind was pure chaos. With all those blush-worthy moments and the perfectly set mood… wasn’t *something* supposed to happen?! Even after resisting? Right here?! Right now?!
So overwhelmed with shame Chen Yaoyi half-expected steam to puff from her forehead—he just chuckled.
“Time to sleep!”
He yelled, flopped onto the bed, and sank into the soft mattress. Drowsiness hit like a wave.
“Ahhh! I—I too—wait…”
May froze. Jump in? Stay out? Chen Yaoyi showed zero gentlemanly hesitation—was he really about to—
“What nonsense are you thinking? Lights out! I won’t lay a finger on you!”
“You! Me!”
His words snapped her awake. Her worries were pointless… and this flustered state? Total self-incrimination. *Of course* she’d had *those* thoughts.
Inexperience. That’s all it was. While Chen Yaoyi wore that annoyingly seasoned, relaxed smirk.
*Why let him lead me around like this?!*
Grumbling inwardly, she walked to the other side of the bed. Chen Yaoyi lay on his back, silent on the plush pillow.
Blushing, body warm with shame, she hesitated to lie down.
She smoothed her clothes down her waist—a motion that, to any observer, traced her curves.
She sat slowly, then whipped her head toward Chen Yaoyi’s corpse-still form. Would he pounce? He didn’t.
Instead—a soft snore. He rolled over, back to her. *Asleep already?!* Before she could even huff, he was out cold.
Sighing, May grabbed the remote, adjusted the AC, and switched off the lights.
“…Do you really have zero interest in me?” she whispered.
Chen Yaoyi wasn’t asleep. *Ugh, controlling recoil with an 8x scope is brutal.* Faking sleep was the move. As he’d thought before: a girl like May, with her quiet determination? Far more worth winning over.
If this weren’t a pure love story world, he’d have pounced long ago.
Still… lights off was a blessing. Hid his own fluster.
May lay stiffly near the edge—never shared a bed with a guy before. One roll, and she’d fall.
Hands folded on her stomach, she stared at the ceiling. Moonlight spilled across the floor, one slanted beam tracing her leg. She didn’t mind. Didn’t reach for the curtains.
These past days weighed heavy. Zhao Xiaoluo and Su Ziqing’s scenes replayed endlessly. Seeing the one she loved be intimate with another woman… hurt more than she ever imagined.
She finally admitted it: she liked Zhao Xiaoluo.
Yet he hadn’t called once. Her phone was charged, on, ready. Her parents had cleared things with the school. Only Zhao Xiaoluo remained in the dark.
Her best friend’s frantic calls hadn’t dragged her home. Zhao Xiaoluo? Just two texts: *“Where are you?”* *“Come back soon.”* Then silence.
She’d ached for one more message. One call. Nothing.
*What’s he doing now? On a date? Will he explain?*
Worries swirled. Her nose stung. Tears welled.
*If only I’d tried harder… would I be the one on top of him?*
She hated Su Ziqing. Envied her.
Her eyes drifted back to Chen Yaoyi’s broad, sturdy back.
*He carried me here.*
A blink. Crystal tears betrayed her, splashing the pillow.
“Seriously… why am I crying again…”
Muttering at her own weakness, she covered her eyes and sobbed softly.
For the first time, love felt complicated.
Bathed in moonlight and quiet sobs, Chen Yaoyi kept his eyes closed—leaving this fragile moment wholly, gently, to May.
