Beneath the cold, clear moonlight, the woman’s fair little face was slightly upturned, her cheeks tinged with an unshakable flush. Her long lashes trembled lightly, and she pursed her soft pink lips. There was both a shy hesitance and an enchanting allure about her.
She was impossible to look away from.
Zhou Yinghuai also pressed his thin lips together, as if savoring the lingering taste of that softness. Just then, the force against his chest suddenly disappeared. He lowered his gaze slightly and saw that she had shrunk back like a frightened snail, retreating again and again.
Did she want to run away after doing something bold? Where had all that audacity from earlier gone?
His eyes narrowed. Before she could fully withdraw, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling the distance between them even closer. Though it appeared forceful, in reality, he didn’t use any strength at all, as if afraid of hurting her—he was merely holding her in place.
Everything happened too suddenly, leaving Cheng Fangqiu with no time to react. She instinctively clung to his shoulders, and only after steadying herself did she realize she had fallen completely into his embrace.
In front of her was him. Behind her was a tree. She had nowhere to retreat.
He had drunk quite a bit tonight, and the rich scent of alcohol clung to his body. Threads of that intoxicating fragrance mixed with his masculine, fiery scent, seeping into her nose. In that daze, she wasn’t sure whether it was the wine that was intoxicating or the man himself.
Tension gripped her body, making her stiffen all over. But even so, she still trembled as she spoke, “Zhou Yinghuai, you like me.”
This time, it was not a question. It was a statement.
He no longer remained silent either, his voice firm as he replied, “Mm, I like you.”
Love stirred with the wind. He didn’t know when it had begun, but at some point, she had already taken root in his heart.
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu revealed an expression of “as expected,” her tone teasing, “You wouldn’t admit it before, but now, just because I kissed you, you’re confessing? Comrade Zhou, could it be that you’re just lusting after my looks?”
“Comrade Cheng…” Zhou Yinghuai’s voice was filled with helplessness, clearly disagreeing with her words. But before he could finish, she shot him a glare and struggled to break free.
Somehow, he understood the meaning in her eyes. He pressed his thin lips together, hesitated for a long moment, and then finally called out, “Qiuqiu, will you listen to my explanation?”
Zhou Yinghuai’s voice was usually cold, but now, it carried a deep tenderness, a lingering affection that brushed against her heart in the stillness of the night, sending a tingling sensation through her. It made her pause in her resistance and obediently curl up in his arms.
After being tough, one must know when to show weakness—this much, Cheng Fangqiu understood well!
So, she reached out and tightened her arms around his neck. As she tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes welled up with crystalline tears, and her voice softened, wrapped in honeyed grievance, “Do you have any idea how sad and heartbroken I was before?”
It was like an outpouring of emotions, yet also like she was acting spoiled.
At that moment, Zhou Yinghuai’s mind conjured the image of her silently turning away and leaving that day. He didn’t even dare to imagine how she must have felt at the time or how she had made up her mind to sever their ties.
His breath caught, and a dull, stinging ache spread through his chest.
If she hadn’t taken the initiative to express her feelings tonight, he would probably still be lost in his own confusion. And by the time he realized it, he might have already missed his chance, left with nothing but regret.
Zhou Yinghuai gently patted her back, while his other hand tenderly wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. He wanted to speak, but his throat was unbearably dry. It took him a long moment to gather himself before he finally managed to say—
“Qiuqiu, I’m sorry.” His lashes lowered, and with all sincerity, he bared his heart to her. “I didn’t think things through. I was only focused on my own situation and didn’t consider your feelings. It was all my fault.”
Let all those meaningless hesitations, worries, and uncertainties go to hell—he couldn’t afford to break her heart any longer.
“This is the first time I’ve ever liked someone. I just wanted to do it as perfectly as possible…”
Speaking such sentimental words made Zhou Yinghuai feel somewhat embarrassed. His lashes fluttered slightly, and he paused for a second before continuing, “My identity is a bit special. Even though I’m currently working in Mingnan Province, my household registration and records are still held in Beijing. Without approval from there, I can’t marry easily.”
Special identity?
Cheng Fangqiu blinked, recalling what was written in the book—that the male lead came from an extraordinary background, with nearly everyone in his family holding significant positions. As the male lead’s older brother, Zhou Yinghuai was naturally no exception. On top of that, he himself was a nationally recognized key technical talent, so it was only natural that his partner’s identity would have certain requirements.
But since the original host of this body was able to marry him in the book, it meant she had passed whatever evaluations were needed. So, this wasn’t something she needed to worry about.
“I originally planned to submit a report and wait for a definite response before confessing my feelings to you. But I never expected that you’d ask me that question first.”
That was why he had hesitated back then—why he had wavered. And in doing so, he had almost lost her.
The moment Zhou Yinghuai recalled Cheng Fangqiu crying and saying she never wanted to like him again, his heart clenched tightly, even his breathing felt a little more stifled.
This was Zhou Yinghuai as usual, yet somehow… not quite the same.
Cheng Fangqiu looked at his cautious demeanor and, for a moment, didn’t know how to react. So instead, she buried her entire face into his shoulder and neck, pretending to laugh through her tears. “Other people just take relationships one step at a time. How come you’re already thinking about marriage before we’ve even started dating?”
It seemed like she was simply touched, but in truth, she was feeling joy over her plan nearing its perfect conclusion.
But…
The curve of Cheng Fangqiu’s lips slowly flattened. What was this strange fluttering feeling in her heart? Could it be that she was starting to have feelings for Zhou Yinghuai…?
“Any romance that doesn’t have marriage as the goal is just playing games. Qiuqiu, I’m serious.”
Before she could think too deeply about it, his solemn words pulled her out of her thoughts.
Cheng Fangqiu adjusted her emotions and slowly lifted her head. Under the moonlight, she could clearly see his face—his features were sharp and well-defined, his cold and rigid brows and eyes always carried a certain sternness, but when he looked at her, an unintentional softness would slip through.
“Then we…”
“Let’s date.”
Before she could finish her sentence, he beat her to it, as if afraid she might change her mind.
“Okay.”
The girl’s sweet, syrupy voice rang out softly in the darkness, yet it was like a roaring fire, instantly igniting something within him. Zhou Yinghuai tried his best to suppress his excitement, but he still couldn’t help himself—he lifted her up in his arms.
The sudden sensation of being lifted off the ground made Cheng Fangqiu instinctively let out a startled cry. But then she remembered it was the middle of the night—if she made too much noise and attracted attention, the two of them would become the talk of the entire village by morning. Just picturing that humiliating scene made her shut her mouth immediately.
“Put me down,” Cheng Fangqiu pouted, playfully punching his chest.
Zhou Yinghuai completely ignored her words and instead tightened his hold on her even more. His nose was filled with the delicate fragrance of her scent, and the sensation was strangely intoxicating—like she belonged entirely to him.
“Qiuqiu, once the report is approved, let’s get married, okay?”
He was eager—desperate, even—to hear her promise about their future. It was a kind of security he had never needed before.
“Marriage?”
Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected Zhou Yinghuai to bring this up so quickly. What kind of devil-speed was this?
One second, they had just confirmed their relationship, and the next, he wanted to marry her?!
But wasn’t this exactly what she wanted?
Becoming Mrs. Zhou would guarantee her a lifetime of wealth and comfort, effortlessly securing her a place at the pinnacle of life.
Looking at Zhou Yinghuai, whose eyes were filled with nothing but pure love for her, Cheng Fangqiu suddenly felt a trace of guilt.
It was like an experienced player deceiving an innocent, blank slate.
But in love, was there ever truly equality?
She simply didn’t like him as much as he liked her—that was all.
Cheng Fangqiu thought for a moment—Zhou Yinghuai was a blank slate, and so was she! At most, she was just a blank slate with extensive theoretical knowledge. Between the two of them, no one was at a disadvantage!
Having figured things out, Cheng Fangqiu was about to respond, but because she had hesitated for too long, Zhou Yinghuai misunderstood. A flash of disappointment flickered through his eyes as he turned his head to the side, his voice laced with grievance.
“Qiuqiu, are you not going to take responsibility?”
Take responsibility? Responsibility for what?
“Don’t slander me—I didn’t even do anything to you!”
Cheng Fangqiu’s train of thought was completely derailed. Her eyes widened as she stared at Zhou Yinghuai’s sharply defined side profile, simultaneously scanning her memories to see if she had done anything improper to him. Other than kissing him just now, there was nothing else.
But just for a kiss… she had to take responsibility? Then wouldn’t all those fleeting couples in bars in future generations have their lips completely worn out from kissing, and yet no one ever talked about taking responsibility?
“You already did to me…”
Hearing her anxious attempts to distance herself from the situation, Zhou Yinghuai whipped his head around, prepared to argue with her properly—only for his lips to be swiftly pecked.
“I never said I wouldn’t agree. Brother Huai, why are you in such a rush?”
Cheng Fangqiu laughed, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she deliberately softened her voice into a teasing, syrupy lilt. She successfully watched as Zhou Yinghuai’s handsome face turned a deep shade of crimson, almost like a pig’s liver.
She had made a mistake—those modern, free-spirited rules simply didn’t apply here. In this time and place, once a couple started dating, marriage was expected. Once lips touched, responsibility followed.
But a big shot was still a big shot—his embarrassment only lasted a few seconds before he quickly recovered. Not only that, but he even leaned closer, brushing the tip of his nose against hers as he laughed lightly and coaxed, “Say it again?”
Cheng Fangqiu was shameless—if he wanted her to say it, she would say it. She repeated it with an even sweeter, more saccharine tone, knowing full well that Zhou Yinghuai, this old-fashioned coward, wouldn’t dare do anything to her.
But the moment the words “Brother Huai” fell from her lips—everything spun out of control.