Chapter 338

Pei Ji spoke suddenly, stretching his hand upward despite the pain and pressing his fingertip against her knuckles.

His voice was extremely hoarse, and after a long pause, he finally murmured with an awkward but deeply cherished tone, “Our home.”

It was hard to put into words how he felt when he heard her say those words.

“Home” was something he had never dared to dream of.

The abuse and scorn of his childhood wasn’t a home, and his later encounter with his biological father—a twisted, toxic relationship—couldn’t possibly deserve that word.

Pei Ji had long since resigned himself to a solitary existence, never imagining that one day a simple word like “home” could make his eyes mist.

Lying quietly in bed, he had felt a gentle tickle as her hand softly caressed him.

Ning Ning’s words, warm and tender, seeped into his heart, bringing him a peace he had never known.

With those words, even the wounds on his back, deep enough to reveal bone, ceased to ache.

A warm current swept through his body, enveloping his heart and making him feel a gentle desire to shed tears.

He could no longer bear being this close to her without doing anything; for the first time, he wanted to hold her tight.

In that instant, the air in the room grew still.

“Pei Ji.”

He heard Ning Ning’s voice, so close it felt like she was right next to him.

She dodged his question, a faint smile in her tone as she softly teased, “Your ears are so red.”

His heart fluttered in sudden disarray.

The world before his eyes was pitch-black, his mind clouded.

But Ning Ning was right there, looking down at him, seeing every move he made.

He was utterly at her mercy.

Pei Ji had no idea what she would do next.

He heard the soft rustle of fabric.

A light breeze brushed past his ear.

Her warm lips gently landed on his earlobe, pressing lightly against the almost scarlet skin.

Her breath traveled from his earlobe to his neck, like tiny sparks igniting across every part of him they touched.

Pei Ji’s world remained dark, and he held his breath, listening to her whisper, “And so warm, too.”

In this endless darkness, he felt like he could hardly withstand this sudden burst of vivid color.

But Ning Ning didn’t stop, leaning close to his ear, speaking softly, “If we had a home, maybe we’d be like this every day.”

The flutter in his chest spread swiftly.

It was as if countless wildflowers were growing rampantly, making his chest itch in a way that was hard to ignore.

His overwhelming emotions surged, on the brink of breaking free.

This was his favorite girl.

Ning Ning was wonderful.

She always wore a smile, so remarkable that he couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

Just by standing there, she seemed to radiate light.

Loving someone as out of reach as her, his feelings were naive and timid.

He had always hidden in the shadows, silently watching her from afar, like gazing at the distant, pure moon.

Whenever Ning Ning smiled at him or touched him, it felt like moonlight softly cascading down, gently illuminating him.

It made him happy, but the moment he thought that this small joy was all he would ever have, it shattered into sharp fragments, each piece piercing his heart.

Pei Ji had always been a coward, shrinking into his shell, too far away to reach the moon.

Sometimes he would reach out in vain, yet it was always out of reach.

Unattainable and untouchable, these wild thoughts drove him crazy.

Yet he was used to suppressing them, pretending he didn’t care.

But one day, that bright moonlight suddenly drifted toward him, spilling its white glow into his dim corner.

In a tenderness that felt like a dream, Ning Ning approached, step by step, and stood by his side.

A single, simple smile from her was enough to shatter the coldness he’d held onto for years, leaving his heart soft as water, trembling in the gentlest breeze.

Her soft laughter echoed in his ear, and Pei Ji’s throat tightened.

He spoke suddenly, his voice rough as if scorched by flames, “Ning Ning.”

Ning Ning didn’t understand his intent, replying softly, “Hmm?”

In the quiet room, he heard her faint intake of breath.

Without warning, his hand pressed against her back, pulling her into his embrace.

The young man, with his eyes covered in white cloth, took a deep breath and buried his face into her neck.

If he couldn’t see, he would just rely on his other senses.

His hand pressed firmly downward, his fingers tracing over her shoulder blades, gently outlining each contour.

Her scent of gardenias filled his senses, subtle and gradually warming, like a delicate hook that effortlessly held onto him.

…And his ears.

Pei Ji could hear her breathing, sometimes catching her faint, low sounds when his touch made her shiver.

That sound was like fire, heating his ears until they felt scorching.

In this moment, Ning Ning was completely his.

The thought made his heart pound uncontrollably.

As long as it was her, even a simple hug was utterly enchanting.