Xia Shuran wanted to evaporate on the spot.
Because of the kiss just now, her heart was still burning, though her face showed nothing.
She struggled to sit up from the sofa, avoiding Chi Yu’s hand as he tried to help her.
She looked at the teasing smile on his face and wanted to slap him.
This bastard.
Chi Yu spoke lazily, with the satisfied languor of someone who had just been kissed by the person they liked. “Still drinking?”
“No!” Xia Shuran decided to quit alcohol for good from now on.
Chi Yu leaned against the back of the sofa, casually picking up a strand of her long hair from behind her and playing with it in his hand.
“This wine is a gift for you.”
Xia Shuran snatched her hair back, not even looking at him. “No thanks.”
“This was bought with your money, though.”
Xia Shuran turned to glance at him. “What do you mean?”
Chi Yu teased her, putting on an innocent expression. “The tip my first client gave me.”
The money she’d left that morning…
Watching Xia Shuran’s expression shift instantly, Chi Yu let out a low laugh.
“Shut up.” Xia Shuran stood up, grabbing her bag to leave.
But Chi Yu stopped her from behind.
His smile hadn’t faded yet as he reached for her hand. “Are you mad?”
Xia Shuran tried hard to pull away, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Her body wobbled, her shoulder tilting to one side.
Her bag slipped off her shoulder.
Its contents spilled all over the floor—and the knife gleaming with cold light was especially conspicuous.
Xia Shuran shot Chi Yu a guilty look.
Chi Yu’s attention was all on her, and he hadn’t seen the knife yet. It was only because of her glance that he looked down at the floor.
A long, sharp blade came into view.
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow. He sat on the sofa, looking up at Xia Shuran.
She slowly turned around to face him.
Chi Yu hadn’t let go of her. He pulled gently on her skirt, drawing her closer.
Xia Shuran stood between his legs, head lowered, not meeting his eyes.
The young man’s tall, athletic frame—even seated—brought her an overwhelming sense of pressure.
“Um… I—” Xia Shuran hurried to explain. “It’s just for self-defense.”
Chi Yu picked up the knife and remarked, “Thank you, warrior maiden, for showing mercy.”
Xia Shuran felt awkward, stammering, “I had some misunderstandings about you, so…”
Meeting Chi Yu’s gentle gaze, Xia Shuran let out a sigh. “Fine, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have carried a weapon.”
She really was in the wrong—a knife was a dangerous tool, and one careless moment could hurt someone.
Chi Yu’s eyes curved upward at the corners, as if he found her earnest attitude adorable.
“It’s fine. But this is dangerous for you, so don’t carry it around anymore.”
Xia Shuran could only nod. “Mm.”
Yeah, right. She’d still carry it later.
Chi Yu set the knife aside casually and looked at her. “Are you staying tonight?”
The question sounded too much like an invitation.
Xia Shuran answered quickly. “No.”
Chi Yu stood up, his tall figure completely enveloping her.
Xia Shuran’s heart trembled, and she silently took a step back.
Chi Yu, mindful of her feelings, put some distance between them.
“It’s too late now. You can sleep here for the night, and tomorrow I’ll drive you back to school.”
He added, “Pick any room you like.”
The party downstairs seemed to have quieted down considerably, nearing its end.
Some people had left, and others were staying at the villa estate.
But no one dared to come to the top floor—and even if they wanted to, they couldn’t.
Xia Shuran picked up her phone, initially planning to text her roommates to ask if the dorm auntie could make an exception.
But thinking about it, it was already this late—her roommates were definitely asleep.
Better not to bother them.
Xia Shuran sat alone on the sofa.
When Chi Yu left, he finally turned on the lights in the hall, and only then could she see the furniture clearly.
The colors were mostly deep, restrained, and wild—boldly designed decor that suited Chi Yu perfectly.
She didn’t know where he’d gone.
The entire fifth floor was as large as a maze; even if Xia Shuran wanted to find him, she couldn’t.
Before leaving, he’d said,
“If you decide to stay, just pick a room along the hallway. If you want to go back to school, text me and I’ll drive you.”
Xia Shuran let out a breath. Going back to school now would probably mean not getting into the dorm anyway.
She walked slowly toward the end of the hallway and picked the nearest room.
Carefully pushing the door open, the interior looked like a high-end hotel.
Everything she needed was there, but it lacked any warmth—filled with the cold emptiness of an uninhabited space.
Xia Shuran set down her bag and sat on the bed to rest for a moment.
What a rollercoaster of a day. But her biggest worry was gone, so at least it ended well.
After composing herself, she got up and went to the shower, removed her makeup, and washed up.
She pulled the covers over herself, and just before closing her eyes to sleep, her mind was filled with Chi Yu’s figure.
More than that—memories of that night in Italy… with Chi Yu’s face superimposed over it.
That guy that night was pretty wild. He knew what he was doing.
Chi Yu’s cold, aloof looks didn’t seem like the type.
But the way he’d kissed her just now did carry that same vibe from that night.
Xia Shuran called herself to a halt, forcing herself to stop thinking.
And so, amid the faint, budding flutter of her heart, the girl slowly drifted off to sleep.
Completely unaware that, ten minutes later, the room door was gently pushed open.
Chi Yu leaned against the doorway, brushing his teeth, and looked at the sleeping girl. He smiled silently and said, “Good night, sweetheart.”
Then he quietly closed the door and left the room.