But… even if she had ten times the courage, she wouldn’t dare to pounce on him again. Getting drunk once was enough.
Although that kiss just now had utterly captivated her.
Qin Qing tried to close her eyes.
Yet, her heart and mind were filled with the man beside her.
“Brother, I really want to live a good life with you.”
“Can I still call you brother?”
She didn’t want to change it.
A title etched into her memory since the first time she saw him at twelve years old.
It couldn’t be changed.
It had nothing to do with status.
The girl’s voice was soft, faint.
Yet it fiercely gripped Zhou Yansheng’s heart.
He desperately wanted to pull her into his arms, to kiss her, to possess her…
The urge roared through his entire being.
But, in the end, he didn’t.
“Hmm.” His throat moved, emitting a single syllable.
Zhou Yansheng, don’t be a beast!
She’s too naive to understand, you can’t!
Give her time…
Take it slow, don’t rush.
She’s here now, everything will be fine.
Zhou Yansheng kept convincing himself.
Only when steady breathing came from the girl beside him did he finally relax completely.
He let out a soft sigh.
This little girl was definitely here to torment him.
The chasm between them before sleep was as wide as their current entanglement was… complicated.
When Zhou Yansheng opened his eyes and prepared to get up, he froze as soon as he tried to move.
The little girl was sprawled entirely across his chest, her messy long hair spilling all the way to his neck.
One small hand rested on his shoulder.
And the most damnably awkward thing was—
One leg was draped across his lower abdomen.
Zhou Yansheng took a deep breath.
His fists clenched and unclenched, unclenched and clenched.
Any man would find this unbearable!
Yet the little girl slept on, utterly carefree.
Soft, almost imperceptible snores escaped her.
Headache!
On the night of the blackout, the little girl had obediently curled up in the corner, keeping her distance.
How had it come to this today?!
He lowered his head in frustration, just in time to see the snow-white skin beneath the girl’s neck.
Damn it!
Was her nightgown neckline this low?
And damn it, was her nightgown this thin?
Even through the fabric, he could feel the softness pressed against his chest.
Inhale, exhale!
Even going into battle hadn’t been this torturous…
His lower abdomen tightened, his face turning ashen.
And just then, the culprit unconsciously nuzzled her cheek against his chest.
Mmm…
She let out a faint, kitten-like whimper without realizing it.
Zhou Yansheng wasn’t just stiff all over anymore; he instantly held his breath, a vein throbbing at his temple.
Sleep was impossible now!
He tried to move the most dangerous leg first.
As soon as he touched it, the little girl seemed to sense it, shrinking back and shifting an inch downward.
Zhou Yansheng broke out in a cold sweat instantly!
He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
Without another thought, he wrapped his arm around the little woman’s waist and flipped over.
Hold on a little longer!
If he didn’t, he’d really be no man at all!
Qin Qing was jolted awake by the man’s sudden movement, the world spinning around her.
Blinking groggily, she saw the man’s handsome face magnified before her.
Zhou Yansheng’s gaze was dark and intense as he fiercely captured the girl’s unvoiced gasp.
But he only pressed heavily against her soft lips.
Calming his own turmoil.
Qin Qing was too frightened to move a muscle.
What was happening?
Was she dreaming?
The curtains, unable to block the light completely, let in the glow of dawn.
Only then did Qin Qing snap back to reality—Zhou Yansheng was actually kissing her on his own.
This wasn’t a dream!
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
But she heard him groan softly before he released her.
“It’s still early, sleep a little longer.” The man’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition.
As he spoke, he had already gotten out of bed.
He turned his back to her as he dressed.
Qin Qing’s mind went blank as she stared at the man’s broad shoulders and narrow waist.
She watched him slip on his shirt, buttoning it up one by one.
In the faint light and shadow, it all felt unreal.
“Brother, give me a hug,” she said, her voice playful.
The man paused for a moment but didn’t turn around.
“Give me a hug~” the girl repeated, raising her voice slightly and deliberately drawing out the last syllable.
Zhou Yansheng knew full well the little girl was doing it on purpose, but after adjusting his breathing, he still turned around.
He sat on the edge of the bed and ruffled her hair. “I’m going to morning training. I’ll bring you breakfast when I get back.”
“Mm,” Qin Qing nodded obediently.
She couldn’t push her luck.
At the special forces team, the captain, who hadn’t attended morning training in ages, personally showed up on the training ground.
Ten-kilometer run with full gear.
None of the squadron leaders dared to make a sound, gritting their teeth and running alongside him.
“Isn’t the captain’s wife here? Why does he still look so unsatisfied?”
“Shh—the Grim Reaper is looking this way!”
After Zhou Yansheng left, Qin Qing couldn’t fall back asleep.
She got up and, from the few clothes she had brought, chose her most formal outfit: a black high-neck knitted dress paired with a brown wool coat.
A problem student becoming a teacher?
Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
But for the chance to practice the piano, she would accept this temporary job.
It had been almost a month since she last touched a piano.
In her previous life, she never had a proper job until the day she died.
In this life, she wanted both the man and a career.
She applied light makeup and put on the high-heeled shoes she had tucked away on her first night here.
Facing the only small round mirror in the room, Qin Qing dabbed on some lipstick.
When Zhou Yansheng entered, he saw his little wife dressed impeccably, every hair in place.
Then he looked at himself, drenched in sweat.
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
Truly a young lady!
“Here, eat first. I’m going to take a shower,” he said, handing her the oil-paper package he had brought on his way.
As he went to the wardrobe to get his clothes, Zhou Yansheng casually added, “I’ve already taken leave. I’ll take you to the school to report later.”
“No need, I’ll go myself,” Qin Qing replied, opening the oil-paper package to find soy milk and fried dough sticks. “It’s not like I’m starting university.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she fell silent.
The man didn’t respond, entering the bathroom and closing the door.
Qin Qing glanced regretfully toward the desk in the room.
The photo of him sending her off to university was still sitting there!
Why did she have to bring that up…
She didn’t have the courage to ask him why he kept that photo or what it meant.
The unit compound was like a small society, and the affiliated school wasn’t far from the residential area.
It was about a twenty-minute walk from the residential quarters.
At Qin Qing’s insistence, Zhou Yansheng only accompanied her to the school gate.
After registering at the guardhouse, Qin Qing was led into the small school, which consisted of two three-story buildings.
The principal’s office was on the third floor of the rear building.
Qin Qing knocked on the door.
Principal Han politely invited her in.
“Xiao Qin, I didn’t feel comfortable bringing this up at dinner last night,” Principal Han said, pouring Qin Qing a glass of water.
Qin Qing stood up to take it, but she couldn’t shake the absurd feeling of a weasel paying respects to a chicken.
Principal Han continued, “Although our affiliated school has a prestigious background, it’s not very large.”
“The entire school only has two music teachers. Right now, one of the female teachers is on maternity leave, leaving only Teacher Xiao. He simply can’t handle everything alone.”
“Especially at the end of the year, we have to participate in the unit’s cultural performance, and there’s simply no time to rehearse programs.”
“I’ll have Teacher Xiao come over right now to help you get familiar with the situation, so you can start as soon as possible.”
Qin Qing chuckled inwardly—so they really were short-staffed.
She didn’t show it on her face and readily accepted the task.
When it came to professional skills, she had never been one to back down.
“Principal Han, don’t worry,” she set down her water cup, “I’ll adapt to the environment as quickly as possible and start immediately.”
Just then, someone knocked on the doorframe.
Qin Qing was startled. Standing at the door was a tall figure with long curly hair, wearing a floral shirt, bell-bottom pants, and oversized aviator sunglasses.