Chapter 707

Their eyes met, and a profound, soul-deep stillness settled between them.

Mai Sui still couldn’t bring herself to let go, her arms tightly wrapped around his back; after their first union, her heart was filled entirely with the man lying atop her, overflowing with devotion, longing to be with him forever.

Never to be parted again.

As if sensing her thoughts, Li Heng didn’t rush to roll off; he gently asked, “Are you tired?”

Mai Sui shook her head.

Li Heng leaned down and whispered something into her ear.

Instantly, Mai Sui’s face flushed crimson like the evening sky, but after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.

Granted permission, Li Heng’s desire stirred once more. Holding this lovely woman, breathing in the intoxicating fragrance that entranced him, he couldn’t resist kissing her cheeks, her neck, her collarbone, trailing downward.

Throughout the entire process, Mai Sui cooperated fully.

….

After a little over half an hour, the two, perfectly matched, sank back into stillness, holding each other close, listening to each other’s heartbeats, savoring the sweetness.

Long after, Mai Sui slowly returned from the lingering euphoria and softly asked the man atop her, “What are you looking at?”

Li Heng didn’t blink. “You.”

Mai Sui teased, “I know that. You’ve been staring at me for ten minutes straight—I want to know what you’re thinking.”

Li Heng asked, “Really want to know?”

“Mm.”

Mai Sui murmured an affirmative.

In her anticipation, Li Heng slowly said, “Having you—my sense of accomplishment is overwhelming.”

Mai Sui smiled tenderly, pecking his lips, her voice muffled: “Me too.”

Li Heng happily pecked her back, then rolled off. “Roosters are crowing outside—dawn’s coming. I’m going to shower.”

“Okay,” Mai Sui replied.

As he rose from the bed, Li Heng tilted his head and asked, “Come with me?”

Mai Sui seemed to sense his mischievous intent; she bit her lower lip timidly: “No.”

Hearing that, Li Heng left like a victorious rooster, satisfied and content, stepping out of the bedroom and into the shower.

Once he was gone, Mai Sui first lay flat for a while, then remembered something. She stretched her arms behind her, slowly sat up, and stared at the red rose on the sheet.

The rose was vivid, striking.

She couldn’t help recalling everything that had happened tonight, the moment they first met on the first day of high school, her entire journey of pursuing love.

To be honest, since freshman year, she’d fallen for him at first sight—but back then, he was Zijin’s boyfriend.

Later, when Zijin left, he passionately pursued Song Yu.

So during high school, she never imagined she’d one day share a roof with him, let alone dare hope for his affection or to become intimate with him.

But fate worked strangely: she failed the college entrance exam, didn’t get into Peking University—and unexpectedly, so did he. When Sun Man brought the news that he’d be going to Fudan University, her sadness vanished, replaced by quiet joy.

She knew that joy was selfish, something she couldn’t admit.

Because she understood: if Li Heng didn’t go to Peking University, he wouldn’t be constantly with Song Yu—meaning she could stay beside him as a close friend.

Even though she’d never thought of stealing him from Song Yu, she was happy—uncontrollably happy—that for four years of college, they’d be in the same place, the same city.

Gazing at the crimson rose on the bed, Mai Sui recalled what had happened between her first and second year of college.

During that time, her relationship with Song Yu had grown cold, strained.

The reason: her love for Li Heng had deepened beyond measure, to the point she couldn’t bear to be apart from him—even a day without him felt like three autumns.

She felt like a wicked woman, betraying Song Yu, too ashamed to reply to her letters, too afraid to face her in person.

Later, she never expected Song Yu to be so generous, so understanding. Their conversation during the Dragon Boat Festival took her completely by surprise.

It moved her deeply.

But unfortunately, because of Shihe, she ultimately failed to honor Song Yu’s kindness, couldn’t fully be her true confidante.

Both Shihe and Song Yu treated her exceptionally well, both opened their hearts to her—leaving her caught in the middle, unsure who to support.

With tangled thoughts, Mai Sui took a deep breath, then got out of bed, put on her slippers, and began changing the sheets.

As for the old sheet, bearing the crystallized traces of their love, she paused for a moment, found a pair of scissors, cut out the rose pattern, and secretly hung it behind the curtain to dry, planning to keep it privately afterward.

After finishing, Mai Sui went outside, poured herself a glass of cold tea—her throat was hoarse, her body overworked, and she was desperately thirsty.

She needed to rehydrate.

After finishing one glass, she felt refreshed, then poured half another and drank it down in one gulp.

At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Li Heng stepped out.

She turned halfway, gazing at him tenderly, and asked, “Are you thirsty?”

Li Heng nodded. “Yes.”

Mai Sui didn’t change the cup—she filled the same one she’d just drunk from with cold tea and handed it to him.

Li Heng took it, tilted his head, and drank it all at once. Then he smacked his lips and said, “Delicious—sweet as honey.”

What was honey?

Though seemingly unrelated, the words triggered a flood of associations in Mai Sui. Her face flushed instantly; she hurried away toward the shower.

Before leaving, she added, “It’s windy outside—might rain. Check the study window—I was about to go check it myself.”