Chapter 186: Can't I stay?

Xu Yanfeng had booked a five-star hotel; Xia Xi had never stayed there before, she turned on the navigation, the drive was nearly forty minutes, and when they arrived, the sunset had already faded, covered by a blue-toned sky.

For convenience, the car should have been parked at the hotel's main entrance, but Xia Xi drove into the underground parking lot; Xu Yanfeng had no comment and told her, "Drive back slowly and watch your safety."

Xia Xi pressed her thumb on the seatbelt button, hesitated a moment, and still hadn't told him she wasn't planning to go back tonight.

"I'll see you up and, by the way, check out your room's environment," Xia Xi said with a noble‑sounding excuse.

Until that moment, Xu Yanfeng had not doubted her motive; he nodded and said "Okay," then took her up in the elevator.

He stayed in a luxurious suite; the environment was impeccable, the air floated with a delicate fragrance like mist‑shrouded green mountains after rain, temperature steady, humidity comfortable, the whole space felt utterly free of summer's stuffiness.

The master bedroom was at the back, even quieter, opening onto a terrace; in the summer heat no one would go to the terrace for the view, but just looking out from indoors one could see tall greenery swaying gently in the breeze against a deep‑blue sky backdrop.

The interior was too quiet, amplifying the sound of heartbeat and breath.

Xia Xi finally put down the satchel she had guarded all the way, strolled around casually, then turned to look for Xu Yanfeng's figure; he stood before the fridge drinking mineral water, head tipped back, Adam's apple bobbing, which made her feel a little thirsty too.

Xu Yanfeng noticed her gaze, lowered his eyes slightly, glanced at her askance, stopped drinking, and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Xia Xi asked offhand, "What do you have?"

Xu Yanfeng opened the fridge, glanced at the assorted drinks inside, named a few, then flung the door wide open so she could come over and pick herself.

Xia Xi approached, but instead of looking at the neatly lined‑up drink bottles, she looked only at his eyes.

Xu Yanfeng didn't pick up on her signal, gave a questioning "Hmm?" and said, "Which one?"

"My target is you, not the drinks, you idiot." Xia Xi smiled inwardly, let out a sigh, an unconscious smile on her face, she brought the back of her hand behind her, closed the fridge door, braced her back, grabbed his collar with both hands, pulled him close, lifted her face, and kissed him.

Xu Yanfeng first froze, the mineral water still in his hand, his fingers suddenly tightening, the water inside the bottle squeezed, the level nearly spilling over; he set the bottle on the counter beside the fridge, freed his hand, and put his arm around her shoulder.

The interrupted kiss in the private room resumed, stretching on endlessly.

Outside the window the sky gradually darkened, from deep blue to dusky blue to pitch black, like a switch controlling Xia Xi's breath, which went from calm to rapid to suffocating.

When their lips parted, her eyes were glazed, her head drooped, her forehead pressed against his chest.

Before they were together, Xu Yanfeng didn't know that kissing could make one lose track of time, become immersed as if addicted, and all external perception fade away.

He lightly stroked her back with his palm, his voice low and hoarse: "The sky has already gone dark…"

Xia Xi gave a soft "Hmm," her heart pounding tight in her chest, wondering if he was about to say, "Then just stay."

In fact, she had imagined too beautifully; Xu Yanfeng's actual words were: "I'm not at ease letting you drive, let the hotel send a car for you? I'll have a driver bring your car back tomorrow."

Xia Xi: "……"

Who is this, so unromantic!

It's Xu Yanfeng, so it's no surprise.

Xia Xi lifted her head from his embrace, chin jabbing his chest, eye sockets still warm, slightly reddened, lips glistening with moisture, especially alluring: "Can't I just stay?"

If he doesn't say it and she has to say it herself, would he still have to refuse?

The suite wasn't just the master bedroom; there were other rooms, so she wouldn't have to worry about a place to sleep if she stayed, but Xu Yanfeng had a concern: "How will you explain it to your family? You came out with me and aren't coming home tonight."

"My sister knows," Xia Xi said, "she'll help me cover up in front of Grandma and Mom."

Xu Yanfeng noticed her use of the word "cover up," indicating she didn't intend to tell the elders the truth; after a moment's silent thought he still disagreed: "I'll send you back."

"I'm not leaving," Xia Xi said, gripping his waist tightly, acting shameless.

Xu Yanfeng lifted his wrist from behind her, glanced at his watch; the time wasn't especially late, so he could let her stay another hour and wasn't in a hurry to usher her out.

At half past nine at night, with the family still awake, Xia Xi returned home with a drooping, listless look, greeted the few people in the living room, and went straight upstairs.

Xia Yue dropped the crochet yarn in her hands, got up and followed, entered Xia Xi's room, closed the door, and said: "How come you're back so early? I told Mom you weren't coming home tonight, that you'd taken Xu Yanfeng to see friends and would be playing cards all night; your sudden return gave me a start."

Xia Xi wore a "don't mention it" expression, flung herself onto the sofa, lay limp like a corpse, arms and legs splayed, and tossed the bag in her hand onto the carpet.

"You and Xu Yanfeng…" Xia Yue asked gently, "How are things?"

Xia Xi closed her eyes and waved a hand.

Xia Yue couldn't grasp her meaning and felt awkward asking too bluntly; she pursed her lips and struggled to say, "Was the experience not so good?"

Xia Xi coughed, then flung her eyes open; she didn't know whether the experience was good or not because she'd never actually had it. She confessed frankly: "Nothing happened between us."

Xia Yue fell silent.

"He's such a proper gentleman; I've hinted as clearly as I can, yet he remains unmoved." Xia Xi explained fully, "He thinks that, with the family already knowing I went out alone with my boyfriend, it's not right for me to stay out overnight."

Because she refused the hotel's car, Xu Yanfeng personally drove her back, then took a taxi back to the hotel.

Xia Yue sat at the edge of the sofa, patted Xia Xi's fair, smooth leg, and smiled softly: "Hearing you say that, I actually admire him more. Leaving a great beauty like you untouched shows he cherishes and protects you from the bottom of his heart. That's a good thing."

Xia Xi wrinkled her nose and pouted: "Rather than cherish me, I'd rather have him… ah!"

Xia Yue slapped her leg.

Xia Xi rubbed the spot her sister had slapped, feigning tears: "You made it red, your hand is too strong, it hurts to death."

"Just keep pretending," Xia Yue said, laughing while she rubbed it, then took the opportunity to give her a lecture on ideology: "You, you can't be a bit refined; you're always blurting out nonsense the moment you open your mouth. Do you act like that in front of Xu Yanfeng too?"

Xia Xi always had her own reasoning: "Being refined won't win him over; he likes my willful, spoiled side. Don't believe me? Ask him yourself."

Xia Yue couldn't argue with her, said nothing more, got up and left.

"Sister, sis, wait a moment." Xia Xi sat up straight from the sofa, picked up the bag her sister had tossed onto the carpet, twisted open the metal clasp, pulled out the underwear storage pouch and handed it to her: "Take it back; I didn't use it."

Xia Yue smiled, seemingly infected by her, and spoke more boldly: "Not keeping it? Maybe you'll need it later."

"Thanks. I'll buy my own; we're not the same size."

What a mouthful, Xia Yue saw no need to engage her further, took the storage bag and walked off.

Xia Xi then pulled her phone from her bag, lay back down, one leg crossed over the other, and messaged Xu Yanfeng to ask if he had reached the hotel.

A few seconds later, Xu Yanfeng replied: "Still on the way."

Xia Xi then asked him when he would return to Nancheng.

Xu Yanfeng sent a screenshot; the train information was clear at a glance—it was the business class seat on the high‑speed rail departing at 9:30 a. m. tomorrow.

Xia Xi shot up in surprise; she had thought he would stay a few more days in Qianlin, leaving only tomorrow morning? So sudden?

She dialed him; he picked up instantly, and she spoke like a barrage of firecrackers: "Why didn't you tell me? Why are you leaving so suddenly? I still have lots of places I wanted to take you. If I'd known you were leaving tomorrow morning, I would have stayed tonight no matter what—you're terrible, Xu Yanfeng."

Why don't she just take a taxi and sneak off to find him?

Does she have to take back the underwear she returned to her sister?

If I had known… if I had known, I wouldn't have returned it to her.

Xia Xi was irritable and depressed, she clenched her fist and punched the pillow beside her; the soft pillow sank into a deep dent, and as she pulled her fist away, the dent bounced back, and the pillow returned to its plump state.

From the earpiece came Xu Yanfeng's steady, clear voice: "Work is quite busy, I can't spare too much time; next time I have a chance, I'll stay a few more days."