Why does it smell so strong from this far away, as if he's right in front of me?
The fragrance rushed straight at her, hitting her full in the face, burrowing into her sense of smell and her skin.
Chu Yao felt extremely strange, her whole body uncomfortable.
Why did she feel like she was covered in Zhou Wenshi's scent?
In the blink of an eye, he had already spotted her and was walking toward her.
The closer he got, the sharper and more biting the cold fragrance became.
Zhou Wenshi's scent arrived before he did.
Chu Yao immediately called out to stop him: "Don't come closer, just stand right there!"
Zhou Wenshi seemed to freeze for a moment, stopping mid-stride and standing still. He looked very confused.
"…A'Yao? What's wrong?"
A'Yao?
Chu Yao felt even stranger inside.
Had Zhou Wenshi ever called her that before?
No, right?
But he said it so naturally. Chu Yao racked her brain but couldn't figure it out, feeling like something was off.
But her mind was a mess of mush, and she wasn't even entirely sure whether he had called her that before.
Probably… he had?
Chu Yao still felt awkward: "Isn't there another way to address me? Can you not call me that? It's weird."
It felt too intimate.
Zhou Wenshi seemed not to understand her feelings or her strange discomfort. His voice dropped low.
"Is it not allowed?"
He lowered his eyes, looking at a loss, not knowing what he had done wrong.
Chu Yao: "…" This is even weirder—why does it feel like I'm the villain here?
But—ah, forget it, forget it. It's just a name, not that important.
"Fine, fine, call me whatever you want," she couldn't bear to look at him anymore. Zhou Wenshi, with that face meant to be admired from afar, making such an expression… he was really doing it on purpose.
The next second, Chu Yao witnessed an incredible transformation of expression.
He slowly raised that meticulously sculpted face of his, his beautiful lashes trembling, revealing a pair of eyes like sapphire-blue lake water—calm and gorgeous.
But the expression on that face had nothing to do with being wronged.
Chu Yao realized that he actually had very beautiful eyes. The shape of them was lovely, and they were single-lidded.
She frowned. Even stranger.
Wait, why was she inexplicably admiring Zhou Wenshi's eyes?
Was this right?
Was she… already past just craving his lips and expanding to his eyes…?
Holy shit!
Chu Yao was startled by her own imagination. Had she known Zhou Wenshi for that long? Wasn't it just…
The National Day holiday wasn't even over yet!!
How could she have developed a craving for his eyes already?
Chu Yao was shocked. Chu Yao was bewildered.
She stared at Zhou Wenshi in disbelief.
What kind of magic did he have, to make her go from craving his lips to craving his eyes? Was he a succubus or something?
And the key thing was—it had been such a short time?!
"A'Yao?" He tilted his head, standing still, obedient and harmless.
Chu Yao's expression turned serious: "…Don't talk. I'm thinking."
Zhou Wenshi: "…A'Yao?" He even sounded aggrieved, his voice softer and lighter than usual.
Chu Yao was forced back to reality, feeling a bit annoyed and a bit fierce: "What?"
Zhou Wenshi said in a small voice: "You're ignoring me."
Chu Yao: "…When did I?"
He just quietly looked at her again with those beautiful eyes, as if she had committed a crime.
Chu Yao, who rarely felt a pang of conscience, softened her tone: "Alright, I'm not ignoring you. Don't look at me like a little puppy, it makes me feel weird inside too."
Like she had a sense of guilt.
"A puppy… like this?"
Zhou Wenshi took her hand, pressing the back of it against his cheek. His eyes, beautiful as a lake, seemed to ripple with light, reflecting her face within them.
He nuzzled against her.
Chu Yao: "…" Wait, why was he so naturally holding her hand?
"Did you get my permission to hold my hand?"
Zhou Wenshi: "…"
His lashes drooped in disappointment.
"Aren't we at a stage where we can hold hands, A'Yao?"
Chu Yao felt no pity. Everything happening now struck her as strange.
Zhou Wenshi putting on that expression was already wrong—she remembered he would never act like this.
Since when did he resemble a puppy?
She scoffed lightly: "Stand properly. Don't press against me. Hold hands? Hold what hands? Don't you have hands of your own? I'm not falling for this."
Could this be someone trying to ruin Zhou Wenshi's image?
Even if she were his enemy, she'd have let it go by now.
She had no mood to play along with this person anymore. How boring.
Chu Yao now felt certain this was a trap set for her, and using Zhou Wenshi's face at that.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard footsteps following behind her. She turned her head: "Stop following me."
"Even if you're setting a trap for me, there's no need to use his face. Do you know this ruins his image? Do you have a grudge against him, is that it?"
She'd actually softened toward a fake Zhou Wenshi. Hah.
She wouldn't tell him why she thought he wasn't the real one, lest their technique improve next time.
Zhou Wenshi had never called her A'Yao. He only ever addressed her politely and reservedly as Chu Yao.
Chu Yao walked away quickly, without a trace of reluctance.
Zhou Wenshi stood behind her, watching her walk further and further away. Behind him, leaves swayed, wind whispering through the treetops.
No one remained by his side.
The passersby were all blurred.
The surrounding environment went out of focus, hazy. A flicker.
The scene shifted.
Chu Yao was buying breakfast with 'him' in the morning.
She was racking her brain over what to eat, then dashed toward the hand-grabbed pancake stall, utterly delighted, her eyes lively and sparkling with joy, as if she might break into a light dance step at any moment.
Her gaze fell on 'him'—'he' too received a share of her radiant smile.
Beside her stood another 'him.'
What she looked at was the person beside her. Her eyes held no one else, and she couldn't see him from the third-person perspective.
Zhou Wenshi was like a passerby.
This was the first time he clearly watched them from an observer's viewpoint. His expression turned cold.
He didn't want to see A'Yao together with any 'him.'
This scene was blinding.
Zhou Wenshi pressed his lips together tightly, the dark pupils deepening into a dense, oppressive black.
A'Yao was his. His alone.
He didn't want anyone by her side—even if it was all him, it still wasn't allowed.
Everything about A'Yao belonged to him.
"A'Yao… mine."
He inserted himself between the two figures, and the 'him' in the scene vanished.
Someone had appeared behind her, pressing extremely close—nearly touching her. Chu Yao didn't need to think twice.
"Zhou Wenshi."
She turned her head. Zhou Wenshi's taut chest was almost at negative distance from her, radiating the hot, youthful breath of a young man, threatening to envelop her entirely.
Chu Yao was deeply uncomfortable.
"If you're buying, then buy. Why are you pressing so close to me?"
She gestured at the sliver of space between them, thumb and index finger nearly touching.
This close. This close.
She was nearly trapped between him and the counter window. He was almost caging her in his arms.
Their waists and stomachs were pressed together, with barely any gap left.
Chu Yao braced against his chest. Behind her was the cold counter surface—she couldn't retreat, and she couldn't advance either.
…She was stuck.
She could only press herself against his chest.
Zhou Wenshi could see at a glance that her eyes, gentle in mood, like a calm and serene lake in the outskirts that no one had ever visited, reflected his figure.
Not entirely without ripples—there was a slight stir, a small splash that went pfft.
Not much, but enough to be clear.
He tightened his jaw.
She looked only at him, not at anything else.
He felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
She was displeased: "You're being really weird, Zhou Wenshi."
She called his name, clearly a bit annoyed now.
He didn't speak.
Still immersed in that gaze, his eyes followed her lips as they opened and closed.
Pale-colored, soft and moist, with a warm breath.
If he swallowed them, would they be warm too?
Just thinking about such a development, he was strangely, as if stimulated, trembling all over—with both shivers and longing.
His Adam's apple rolled.
A primal desire sprouted.
Ever since that time, he had become strange.
He would notice things he normally wouldn't associate with.
Zhou Wenshi was a little thirsty.
He didn't want to look at her with such a perverted gaze, to let his mind wander, but—but—he couldn't control it; his thoughts would eagerly scatter in all directions.
Not getting his answer, she grew even more dissatisfied: "Are you even listening?"
"…I am."
"I am."
Under Chu Yao's shocked gaze, he suddenly embraced her, burying his face in her shoulder, and whispered softly: "I'm listening."
A familiar, warm breath seeped into his limbs and bones, tightly winding around him.
As if it wouldn't let him go.
This invisible rope had been tied into a dead knot.
He restrained himself, trying not to sniff like a pervert—he had to hold back, hold back a little more.
But he was still utterly intoxicated.
He didn't tighten his embrace, just held her securely, stealing a breath, then another.
Zhou Wenshi called out in a low voice: "A'Yao."
"A'Yao."
"A'Yao…"
Damn it.
Zhou Wenshi had become really strange.
Chu Yao didn't move as she was held. He wasn't using force, not making her feel oppressed—she could even break free with just a little effort. He called her name in a low voice, like a whimper, a fledgling bird clinging to her.
What… what was this supposed to be?
Chu Yao wanted to sigh, and in fact, she really did let one out: "What are you doing? Why are you like this?"
She really couldn't understand Zhou Wenshi anymore. He was being so weird.
The key thing was, he was making himself look so fragile, and she really couldn't say much about it.
She couldn't exactly scold him.
That wouldn't be right.
Chu Yao didn't like bullying the weak.
Such an action and posture should have been forceful and unrefusable, but he stubbornly didn't make any coercive move.
He gave her the choice.
"Want A'Yao. Mine." His voice was very soft, like a cat's—fortunately Chu Yao's hearing was decent enough to catch it.
"Fine, fine, fine, yours, yours. Can you let go of me first?" Chu Yao still wanted to eat her hand-grabbed pancake. What was Zhou Wenshi's deal with holding on and not letting go?
Hugging for a bit was enough.
How much longer did he want to hold on?
"Hey, boss—" Chu Yao had just turned her head when she was suddenly pressed against the countertop by him, her lower back pressed against the edge. He abruptly hugged her tightly, encircling her completely.
Chu Yao was caught off guard, pinned firmly in place, the two of them pressed together seamlessly, and he wished he could go even further, burrowing deeper inside.
Zhou Wenshi still felt it wasn't enough, but this was already the limit.
His brow bones were cool and clear, his gaze focused, the darkness of his eyes deepening. His features seemed to sharpen in an instant, all attention converging, locking firmly onto her.
His lip bead was pressed between his teeth.
He seemed to be in a rather foul mood.
Chu Yao: "…" And now he's the one getting upset?
He was acting like some kind of pervert—who in their right mind gets this close to someone? Did he want her to elbow him in the ribs?!
He pressed against her, grinding into her, as if merely being close wasn't enough—he wanted to burrow into her body. She couldn't even turn her head to look; Zhou Wenshi had her locked down, not allowing her to look in any other direction. The moment she made a move, he pressed her down harder.
Circling her, not letting her move, as if it were some kind of contest of wills.
Chu Yao was starting to get annoyed now.
What? Just because he was stronger? He dared to mess with her? Pull this kind of stunt?
She wouldn't have minded if he was just playing around, but this—this was wrong.
Chu Yao's expression was terrifyingly calm. She slapped his face hard enough to turn it red—smack—the sound echoing sharply.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Are you awake now?"
"Just because I'm easygoing and don't have a temper, you think you can pull this kind of thing on me?"
A cold, sharp light flashed in her eyes, suddenly gaining an edge. The gentle exterior she wore was torn away in an instant, revealing the untamed soul trembling beneath—like a biting winter wind, a sharp blade that could turn on its master.
Her truest self.
She was absolutely not some spineless waste who would be suppressed and never fight back.
On the contrary, she would only drive that blade deep into her enemy's heart.
Zhou Wenshi stared at her blankly, not blinking, as if startled by her sudden outburst.
A red mark stood out on his handsome face.
He seemed to have forgotten his anger.
Dazed, direct, unguarded—he just looked at her.
As if a biting winter wind had swept through and struck him straight in the heart!
His gaze burned with an intensity that was almost frightening.
Chu Yao: "…" W-wait a second.
Chu Yao sensed something was off.
Zhou Wenshi's expression was wrong. He didn't look like someone who'd been intimidated at all.
More like…
She was still trying to figure out why when suddenly, he caught her fingertips.
His chest rose and fell with warm breath, his lashes trembling, his breathing soft and warm—like he was enchanted, eagerly, slowly leaning in… His vividly colored lips and wandering breath landed on the back of her hand—
She caught him by the lips with her other hand, stopping him before he could go further.
Zhou Wenshi, his lips pinched between her fingers, still looked at her with that strange gaze.
A look Chu Yao couldn't understand—an intense, complex gleam.
Like the rare, precious light of someone who'd just discovered a treasure.
What the hell—he was looking at her with his eyes literally shining!
He wasn't actually enjoying that, was he?!
Chu Yao: "…" No exaggeration, she was genuinely shocked right now.
She: "…Are you an M?"
She wasn't sure.
Did she accidentally give him a good time with that slap?!
Zhou Wenshi: "M? What's that?"
His confusion at that moment was completely genuine.
Chu Yao slowly closed her eyes: "…" Someone save her.
"You're not an M, but you look like you enjoyed getting hit," she ground out through her teeth.
"Oh…" He thought for a moment, analyzed it, and came to a conclusion, saying lightly, "I can be."
To be thorough, he asked: "Does A'Yao want me to be?"
Chu Yao put on her pain face, paused for a moment to give herself time to calm down, then patted his face—slap slap slap: "Want my ass."
"What the hell was wrong with you just now?"
Zhou Wenshi's expression was perfectly normal: "You smiled at him."
Chu Yao: ?
Chu Yao: ??
"When did I smile at anyone? I didn't even say hello, did I? Zhou Wenshi, are you hallucinating?"
He pressed his lips together and murmured quietly: "You smiled at him so beautifully. You've never smiled at me like that…"
Chu Yao felt his forehead: "No fever… so why are you talking nonsense?"
Zhou Wenshi said nothing.
Chu Yao pushed him. "Alright, alright, get off. Don't crush me. I'm buying a hand-grabbed pancake. If you want one, I'll get you one too, okay?"
"No," he refused firmly, his expression resolute with pride. "I want to eat your leftovers."
Huh??
Chu Yao was baffled. "…You won't eat a fresh one, but you'll eat my leftovers?"
She leaned in close to look at him, checking if his brain had gone faulty.
Zhou Wenshi said stubbornly, "Will you give it to me?"
Chu Yao clicked her tongue. "Weirdo."
She turned around and ordered two hand-grabbed pancakes, identical ones, then added, "Eat it or don't, your problem."
He said without any pride, "I want it."
Which made Chu Yao laugh for no reason. "…So what exactly were you being stubborn about just now?"
He didn't speak, apparently planning to keep pushing his luck. Chu Yao really couldn't bear to look at him.
She couldn't figure out what he was being so tough about, when he couldn't even stay tough to the end.
The pancake was ready. She handed him the first one, still fresh and hot. "Here, eat."
He brought it to her lips, getting stubborn again. "First bite."
Chu Yao laughed inexplicably again. He remained expressionless under her gaze, apparently determined to see his stubbornness through. Unable to outlast him, she took a quick bite and said with amusement, "Happy now?"
Only then did Zhou Wenshi start eating the pancake, devouring it with gusto.
There wasn't a trace of stubbornness in him now—his backbone had gone completely soft.
It made Chu Yao laugh. She'd never seen anyone eat a hand-grabbed pancake like that.
At that moment, she really didn't have much anger left—mostly just an inexplicable urge to laugh it off.
No helping it.
When her own pancake was ready, she took it from the window, looked at him, and still tore off a piece for him. "Here, first bite."
"Want it or not? If not, forget it."
He bit it directly in one go, cheeks puffing out.
Chu Yao: "…"
Before he even started chewing, she shoved the rest in his mouth to keep him from licking her fingers.
Zhou Wenshi: "…"
He looked both happy and unhappy, but he still finished it properly.
He asked her shyly, "Any more?"
Chu Yao hadn't even taken a single bite yet. She looked at the steaming pancake and tore off another piece for him. This time he snatched it even faster, not even grazing her fingers.
He ate quickly, then looked at her with eager, pleading eyes.
Chu Yao looked at the pancake that was still more than half left: "…"
After tearing off that piece, she couldn't help but say, "Zhou Wenshi, are you a dog? Why do you only eat from my hands? If you want some, isn't there plenty right there?"
Still, she let him take it, and simply ordered a new one from the vendor, using the one in her hand exclusively to feed Zhou Wenshi.
She watched him eat with great enthusiasm.