Chapter 362

They weren’t particularly close in the past and interacted with a sense of formality.

But now that they had grown more comfortable with each other, Ning Ning often teased him.

Pei Ji was the shyest boy she had ever met.

Normally, he was as cold as ice, but when teased, he would grow so nervous that his body would stiffen.

When it came to sharing a bed, Ning Ning wasn’t unfamiliar with the experience—her mother and a close friend had both shared a bed with her before.

But for Pei Ji, it was an entirely different matter.

He had scarcely ever been in physical contact with others, and tonight was likely his very first time sharing a bed with someone.

After hearing her remark, he silently turned to his side and pulled her into his arms.

Although it was a winter night, Ning Ning wore only a soft, white shirt. Her body radiated warmth under the quilt, the heat diffusing faintly through the thin fabric and onto his palm.

This was different from their usual hugs.

Lying beside her now, a dense and ambiguous tension brewed heavily between them, making his heartbeat race uncontrollably.

The candlelight had long been extinguished, and the winter moon, round like a jade plate, cast its soft glow through the window and onto their faces.

Ning Ning’s voice, like a whispered tease, carried a smile.

“Pei Ji, if you’re like this now, what are you going to do when we’re married?”

Married.

He had gradually begun to understand some of the secrets hidden within that word, the ambiguities veiled in its meaning.

It was a word Pei Ji had once dared not ponder, yet now, spoken in her voice, it reached his ears.

He would marry Ning Ning.

The tranquil night became the perfect catalyst, and his heart brimmed with affection.

Pei Ji leaned back slightly, still holding her, and gazed down into Ning Ning’s eyes.

“Your heart is beating so fast,” she said, placing her hand on his chest.

Her voice carried a faint trace of alcohol, the tone playful and soft, like a cat’s paw scratching at his heart.

The bed was incredibly narrow, leaving barely any room.

So narrow that even the slightest whisper was distinctly audible.

Ning Ning paused for a moment before filling the quilt with laughter.

“Do you want… to listen to my heartbeat?”

Pei Ji caught the underlying implication.

His mind exploded, the heat spreading through his entire body.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to touch her more intimately, but he had always been mindful of Ning Ning’s feelings, keeping their interactions confined to the most basic propriety.

A kiss was the closest form of intimacy he had allowed, and even when he touched her, his hands would only rest on her lower back or spine.

This time was different.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, as if he had made some sort of decision.

Pei Ji’s fingers pressed gently and awkwardly traced upward along her spine.

His palms, slightly cool, grazed her most delicate areas, drawing an uncontrollable shiver from her.

Ning Ning let out a soft breathy sound, far gentler than her usual tone, catching her off guard.

Her cheeks burned as she bit her lip in embarrassment.

Hearing the sound, Pei Ji thought he had hurt her and immediately stopped.

Ning Ning lowered her head, clutching his collar with both hands, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s hum.

“I’m fine, really… it’s just a little ticklish.”

So, like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface, his hand resumed its gentle exploration, stirring up ripples of tension.

The young man’s breathing and fingers trembled as his distinct, bony hand slowly moved upward, sliding past her ribs to rest against a soft, rounded curve.

His hands and ears felt as though they were on fire.

Pei Ji’s breathing grew increasingly chaotic, mirroring her nervousness.

To him, this place was an untouchable taboo.

Even the thought of it in passing had made him silently berate himself as shameless and vulgar.

How could he have ever… dared to imagine touching it?

The girl in his arms shrank back slightly.

Though she had spoken boldly earlier, now that he was truly listening to her heartbeat, she found herself so overwhelmed with embarrassment that she couldn’t move.

Separated by only a thin layer, Pei Ji gradually traced her outline, and by the time his hand fully covered her, the once-cool palm had grown burning hot.

Ning Ning hadn’t expected it to tickle so much.

She trembled slightly, unable to see Pei Ji’s expression in the dark.

All she could feel was his cautious, exploratory touch, tender and unhurried.

Then, a voice, serious and soft, asked her, “Does this… make you uncomfortable?”

Ning Ning didn’t want to answer.

She wished she could bury her entire face into the pillow.

Perhaps seeing her extreme shyness, he soon moved his hand away, muttering something out of the blue: “From now on, I’ll go to bed first.”

As he let go, Ning Ning finally looked up at him.

His deep, dark eyes seemed to hold a faint smile.

Leaning in, he touched her nose with his own.

“Winter beds… are too cold.”

He needed to warm the bed for her first—he couldn’t let her get cold.

Before she could respond, his words were followed by an unexpected kiss.

The touch of his lips was initially soft and gentle.

In the moonlit night, his eyes were deep and dark, with a tear mole at the corner, gleaming softly under the moonlight.

Beautiful and captivating.

Pei Ji never looked at her indifferently, but now his gaze held a kind of danger that made her heart race.

His pale lips, now tinged with color, lingered and intertwined with hers, surrounded by a faint mist of warmth.

In the dark, every sensation was heightened.

Ning Ning heard his breathing, the faint rustle of his hand brushing against fabric—all incredibly vivid in her ears.

Pei Ji’s hand pressed gently against her waist, drawing her closer.

At some point, the kiss deepened with a kind of desire unique to the night.

His tongue invaded with confidence, carrying a faint trace of alcohol, the fresh scent of soap from his bath, and an uncontainable possessiveness.

His grip tightened slightly, his fingers pinching softly at her waist.

Ning Ning, overwhelmed, found it hard to catch her breath.

Lost in a mixture of suffocation and the tingling sensation coursing through her body, her mind went completely blank.

So warm.

…Could winter really feel this warm?

After an indeterminate amount of time, Pei Ji finally pulled back slightly, lying close enough to gaze into her eyes.

His usually cold voice was now slightly breathless, softened beyond recognition.

Ning Ning could tell he was trying to restrain himself, but this very restraint made his breathy tone even more tender and alluring.

After a long pause, Pei Ji spoke in a deep voice:

“…Don’t leave me.”

The statement came out of nowhere, leaving Ning Ning puzzled until he continued:

“For future birthdays, I want to spend them with you… Don’t leave me, okay?”

So that’s what he meant.

“Are you only with me because of my birthday?”

Ning Ning touched his cheek, feeling its delicate warmth.

As she spoke, her eyes curved into a smile.

“I’ll stick to you very, very often, you know.”

This was an answer far beyond his expectations.

What Ning Ning was willing to offer him was always more than he could ever imagine.

The young man in front of her raised the corners of his eyes slightly, a small smile curving his lips.

Lowering his head again, he leaned in for another kiss but was dodged by a blushing Ning Ning.

Still catching her breath, Ning Ning noticed the disappointment in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“Want to try again?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ning Ning realized they sounded less like rejection and more like teasing.

But she truly needed a moment to breathe; it was becoming hard to catch her breath.

Pei Ji’s dark eyes gazed at her, innocent in expression, though his body leaned closer, pressing tightly against hers.

His thin lips glistened faintly, looking especially soft.

Without speaking, his throat moved slightly, and he blinked as he softly replied, “Mm.”

Her eardrums and heart both took a direct hit.

His expression was so endearing that Ning Ning finally understood the phrase “adorable to the point of heart-tingling.”

She wanted nothing more than to grab a blanket and roll around on the bed, but out of modesty, she pressed her lips together and suppressed her laughter.

As usual, she teased him: “What do you want?”

Pei Ji was clearly startled for a moment.

“I want…”

He took a shallow breath, his voice weak and accompanied by light panting.

The usually clear and cold tone of his boyish voice was now hoarse, nearly seductive with every word he uttered.

Leaning close to her ear, Pei Ji whispered, “I want you to kiss me.”

A raspy low tone.

It was as though fireworks exploded in her ears, sending strange tingles like electric currents rippling through her entire body.

Even her spine was overcome with a shivering numbness that made her tremble.

Caught in her own web, Ning Ning blushed furiously, her heartbeat pounding like a drum.

She felt like a ball of fire, curling herself into a tight little bundle.