Time ticked steadily by.
It was impossible to tell how long had passed, as the hours in the night carried an elusive warmth.
Yu Wanwan gently stroked the man’s thick, neatly trimmed black hair with her delicate hand, softly calling out to him, “Xie Tingnan…”
“Hmm,” the man murmured softly, seemingly half-asleep.
“Are you tired? Do you want… to rest?”
Suddenly, she felt herself lifted as Xie Tingnan stood up, effortlessly scooping her into his arms.
…………
The young woman blushed with embarrassment, pouting as she scolded, “Xie Tingnan, you’re so good at acting all serious while being a total rogue.”
Carrying her toward the bedroom, the man replied casually, “I just got back from a trip to North America.”
Was this his explanation for why he hadn’t been around lately?
Yu Wanwan’s eyes flickered a few times.
Looking closely at his eyes, she noticed faint shadows of exhaustion around his slightly elongated, captivating phoenix eyes—a clear sign of sleepless nights.
Xie Tingnan hadn’t told her, nor would he ever tell her, that the reason he hadn’t rested properly was because he wanted to rush back and personally take her to Jing University the next day.
He didn’t think such actions were anything special.
In his mind, the young woman was practically a little fool. He was afraid she might get lost if she went out alone, and even more afraid she might be bullied.
In the master bedroom, the tall, imposing man removed his outer garment, leaving only the fine silk fabric beneath.
The straps of her slip dress snapped…
Yu Wanwan couldn’t help but gasp in surprise, quickly burying her face in Xie Tingnan’s chest to hide.
The man chuckled softly, “Silly girl, always jumping at shadows like a startled bird.”
Xie Tingnan was quite skilled at delivering jokes with a straight face.
At first, Yu Wanwan couldn’t keep up with his teasing and could only hide in his embrace, secretly biting him in frustration.
Holding her soft, delicate form, Xie Tingnan sank into the long-missed comfort of the large bed and soon fell into a steady, rhythmic breathing.
Yu Wanwan, however, felt no trace of sleepiness.
She fixed her gaze on the man sleeping soundly before her.
In his quiet state, he shed the arrogance and aloofness that usually kept others at a distance.
Especially the indifferent coldness and haughtiness in his eyes—now, with his eyes gently closed, it was gone.
His deep-set eyes, prominent brow bones, and thick, long eyelashes made for an irresistibly sexy and captivating face—the epitome of masculine perfection.
Xie Tingnan’s features were refined and sharply defined, yet without the delicate prettiness of a pretty boy.
His bold, striking facial features, paired with his strong jawline, exuded a dominant, masculine aura. Yet, they were perfectly balanced by the sculpted handsomeness of his face—a flawless blend of strength and elegance.
He held her as he slept.
So much so that whenever Yu Wanwan shifted slightly, his arms would tighten around her, holding her even closer.
Xie Tingnan once told others that Wanwan was his natural sleep aid. Only with her in his arms could he fully relax and sleep soundly. (A later remark)
The young woman pursed her lips slightly, silently grumbling to herself, “So greedy, not even letting me go while he sleeps.”
Until she accidentally brushed against something, startling her into shrinking back, her face flushed crimson.
Lin Yin’s words echoed in her mind: “Could it be that he’s… incapable?”
A simple kiss had already left her half-dazed. Since he said he wasn’t in a hurry, she was determined to avoid it for as long as she could.
Yet, curiosity lingered…
Looking back on it later, Yu Wanwan felt she could have died of embarrassment.
Suddenly, a large hand gripped her firmly.
Xie Tingnan didn’t open his eyes, clearly exhausted.
But in his usual stern tone, he murmured lazily:
“Don’t mess around. I’ll give it to you soon enough.”
Yu Wanwan’s face was flushed like charcoal, utterly mortified, wishing she could vanish on the spot.
The man was still sleeping soundly, but his arm, having released her earlier, now lay to the side.
Yu Wanwan, a master of classical dance, was as soft and supple as a white silk ribbon.
She slipped silently out of his embrace, stood up, and, imitating his previous gesture, gently pressed a kiss onto his moist, soft, and delicate lips.
Then, like a startled rabbit, she quickly dressed and fled.
She first went to the study to tidy up the books and notes she had left on the desk before he arrived.
The pages of Aesthetics: Principles were already crumpled.
This was a specialized course she would study at Peking University.
During this time, she had been cramming knowledge for her major every day.
Even more chaotic were her notes.
………………
Yu Wanwan’s blush extended all the way down to her neck and collarbone.
Frowning, she thought indignantly, “All the preview work I did in advance was ruined by Xie Tingnan’s brute strength.”
The study was so quiet that whenever the young girl entered again, she felt a strange sensation.
She quickly tidied up and tiptoed down to the first floor.
Aunt An eagerly approached. “Miss Yu, is there anything you need?”
Yu Wanwan handed over the shopping list she had just written in the study. “Buy everything on this list, and make sure all the seafood, meat, and vegetables are of the finest quality.”
“Right away,” Aunt An replied with a beaming smile, her feet moving swiftly as she hurried out the door.
The young girl didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
At times like this, she felt as if she had traveled back to ancient times.
Aunt An was like a nanny who had served her since childhood. Whenever the master of the house returned, especially if he had shown affection to a woman, the nanny would be particularly delighted, walking with an unmistakable air of confidence.
Let them think whatever they wanted. The young girl gently fiddled with the green jade bracelet on her wrist.
Each bead was perfectly round, clear, and lustrous.
This was the most valuable piece of jewelry her adoptive mother had given her when sending her to the capital.
The purpose was to add a touch of elegance, lest Xie Tingnan find her shabby and form a poor first impression.
The man had yet to taste her culinary skills.
While he was still asleep, she wanted to give a small demonstration.
She would prepare a few Nancheng-style dishes and a Cantonese-style soup for him.
When Xie Tingnan woke up, Yu Wanwan was no longer by his side.
Having slept through the afternoon, he rose feeling refreshed and invigorated.
He got up and walked to the full-length mirror, noticing faint red marks crisscrossing his body.
A dark undercurrent stirred in the man’s phoenix-like eyes, and his mouth suddenly felt parched.
He pulled a set of loungewear from the wardrobe, put it on, and leisurely strolled out of the bedroom.
In the kitchen, steam wafted gently. Several exquisite dishes were already arranged on the dining table, carefully covered with inverted bowls to keep them warm.
Above the soup pot, steam floated, accompanied by a soft bubbling sound.
The aroma of the meat broth lingered in the kitchen and playfully drifted out, wafting into the nostrils of the handsome man descending the spiral staircase from the second floor…