Chapter 221: Live for Today, No Tomorrow

Xia Xi wrapped herself in a blanket stained with Xu Yanfeng's scent and slept for a long time.

In recent days she always suffered insomnia; even when she fell asleep, it was light sleep, any slight sound could wake her, and then she would inevitably think of household matters and be unable to sleep again.

This time she slept deeply, without dreams; when she woke, the room was pitch dark, and she could not tell whether it was day or night.

Xia Xi lay in bed for a long while before sitting up; sleeping too long was not good—her body felt limp, she could not muster strength, and her head was still a bit groggy. She sat on the edge of the bed, felt with her feet for the floor, found no slippers, and simply went barefoot to the window, pulling open a corner of the curtain.

It turned out that night had already fallen; she had slept the entire afternoon.

Xia Xi turned on the bedroom light and then saw the slippers beside the stool at the foot of the bed; she recalled that before sleeping she had sat cross-legged on that stool, staring into space for a long while.

The door was not shut tightly; a faint sound came from outside, Xia Xi held her breath and listened—it seemed someone was in the house.

Xu Yanfeng had come back?

Xia Xi shuffled out in her slippers, discerned the sound coming from the kitchen, walked over slowly, and saw a short‑haired auntie with her back to her, standing beside the sink cooking.

Hearing the footsteps, the auntie turned her head and naturally smiled at her: "You're awake? Didn't I disturb you?"

Xia Xi shook her head and said, "I slept well."

The auntie scooped the vegetables from the pot onto a plate: "The Young Master asked me to come over; he'll be here in ten minutes."

"Mm."

Xia Xi went to the bathroom to wash her face, smoothed her messy hair, grabbed a hair tie, and tied a low bun; a few strands fell loose, giving it a fluffy, attractive look.

The nanny auntie finished cooking the last dish just as Xu Yanfeng arrived home; she heard him open the door and went to greet him.

As Xu Yanfeng pushed the door open, he saw her standing inside, smiling like a flower, wearing a long‑sleeved purple‑printed house dress whose hem reached her ankles, loose and flowing, making her sway within the fabric.

He took her hand and examined her up and down: "The last time I saw you I wanted to say, have you lost weight?"

Xia Xi was surprised—she had only lost a few pounds; could he really tell with the naked eye?

"Ah, I've lost a bit." Xia Xi did not deny it, took him inside, helped him off his coat and untied his tie, fearing he might overthink, she explained: "Wasn't I just down with a cold? My appetite hasn't been good, I've been eating plain bland porridge all the time, so my weight has dropped."

Xu Yanfeng said, "Then eat more these days."

"Mm‑hm, I'll listen to you." Xia Xi giggled, "I'm not trying to lose weight; once my appetite returns, my weight will naturally go back up."

The nanny auntie brought the dishes to the table, took off her apron, greeted the two of them, and left.

To prove she had taken Xu Yanfeng's words to heart, Xia Xi ate a big bowl of rice and plenty of vegetables. She casually remarked, "I'm stuffed," so Xu Yanfeng fetched a thick coat from the wardrobe and took her downstairs for a walk to aid digestion.

In the residential compound, a young person was walking a dog—a huge Thus place: Alasijia—sniffing around the flowerbed. After getting the owner's consent, Xia Xi patted the big dog's fluffy head, turned to Xu Yanfeng and said, "I also want to keep one."

Xu Yanfeng was very compliant: "If you want to keep one, just keep one."

"No, that wouldn't work—if you keep one you have to take responsibility. I'm still in school, I don't have time to care for it." Xia Xi returned to his side, took his hand, and said, "You don't have time either."

"Wait until you graduate, then keep one."

"After I graduate I'll have to work."

"We have a nanny at home; we can leave the dog to her, so you don't need to worry."

"……"

Xia Xi frowned: "You wouldn't have a baby and then dump it on the nanny to look after, would you?"

She still had quite the imagination; Xu Yanfeng chuckled, waited until they had walked away and no one else was nearby, then said softly, "Give it a try."

Xia Xi looked up at him: "Try what?"

Xu Yanfeng also looked at her, tightened his grip on her fingers, and said, "Try having a baby."

Xia Xi had nothing to say. Usually when she couldn't win with words she switched tactics, using force—like pinching his arm: "You're really getting more and more formidable."

Her little bit of strength was like an ant nibbling; Xu Yanfeng not only didn't frown, his smile deepened at the corners of his mouth.

Xia Xi didn't want to leave; she retraced her steps back home, the lights were on, both of their faces clearly visible—just a meeting of their eyes felt like an electric shock. She tightened her breath, told herself to indulge just this once, closed her eyes and kissed him; her trembling eyelashes fluttered with a glint of tears, unseen by anyone.

Being so familiar with each other, Xu Yanfeng's bodily instincts awakened easily; his large palm firmly held her back, each caress carrying a deep, forceful pressure and scorching heat.

From the entryway to the bedroom, their heartbeats had long been in disarray; Xu Yanfeng forced himself to retreat half a step, putting distance between them, his downcast eyes full of love and desire, his voice hoarse to the point of being almost unintelligible: "I'm going to take a shower…"

Xia Xi pressed herself against him, clinging so he couldn't leave: "I'll keep you company."

The bathroom was inevitably a mess, water stains everywhere.

Xia Xi was placed on the bed while being held, wrapped in a towel, she rolled into the covers; when Xu Yanfeng lay down beside her, she rubbed into his embrace, her bright red, moist lips kissing his eyelids, face, and neck at random.

Having happened twice, Xu Yanfeng thought she was tired, but she started stirring again; his breathing grew unsteady, he turned his head to avoid her kiss so he could speak properly: "Aren't you sleepy?"

Xia Xi became a bit more honest, her flushed cheeks pressed against his chest, her snow‑white arm flung over to hook his neck: "I slept from after lunch until dinner—do you think I'm not tired?"

Xu Yanfeng was amused by her, genuinely laughing, his chest trembling slightly.

From above her head came a low, muffled laugh; she lifted her chin, couldn't see his face, only saw his well‑defined jawline, so she propped herself on her elbow, made out his handsome features suffused with laughter, her heart stirred, she stroked his face with her palm, her eyes holding deep affection and reluctance.

Xu Yanfeng covered her smaller hand with his large one, about to speak, when she lowered her head and sealed his lips with an eager, deep kiss. Xu Yanfeng was unprepared; his breath grew heavy, he almost let out a muffled groan.

Xia Xi reached into the opened drawer of the bedside table, familiarly pulled out the last packet, and placed it in his palm; his usually warm, dry hand now had a thin sheen of sweat.

"Will you use it up?" she murmured between kisses.

Xu Yanfeng used to think this would become addictive, but later thought that as long as he was satisfied the craving wouldn't be so strong.

The fact is, he never feels satisfied.

As long as it's her, he never reaches a point of satisfaction.

Xia Xi seemed to have inexhaustible energy, wholly embracing the notion of "live for today, no tomorrow," and clung to him desperately.

She didn't know when she fell asleep; all she knew was that when she woke it was already noon the next day, the curtains drawn open an arm's width, just enough to shade the big bed—allowing the sleeper to rest while letting the gentle, beautiful spring sunlight filter in.

Xu Yanfeng was actually at home. As Xia Xi came out of the room, the first thought that crossed her mind was exactly that.

Xia Xi rubbed her hair, tugged at the corner of her mouth, her voice hoarse: "Morning."

Xu Yanfeng raised his eyebrows slightly, lifted the freshly brewed tea and took a sip, pointed at the living‑room floor‑to‑ceiling window, said nothing, but the meaning was clear: the sun was high overhead, it wasn't early anymore.

Xia Xi pursed her lips, turned and slipped back into the room; her mind was filled with last night's ludicrous scenes. She must have been bewitched, or perhaps poisoned.

Xu Yanfeng followed close behind, entered the bedroom, a window was open, a cool breeze drifted in, the ambiguous atmosphere still lingered. Xia Xi was in the wardrobe area; when he entered, she had just pulled on a long‑sleeved top, the collar a bit large, exposing half her shoulder. He saw the tooth marks on her back shoulder, his eyes deepened, and he stopped in his tracks.

Xia Xi straightened her collar, turned her head and saw him, patted her chest: "What are you doing? You scared me half to death."

Xu Yanfeng gave a light cough: "Want to ask what you had for lunch?"

If he didn't ask, it would be fine, but as soon as he asked, Xia Xi's stomach growled; she put a hand on her belly, yet couldn't stop its protesting sound: "I don't know, you decide."

Xu Yanfeng ordered food, the two ate lunch together; in the afternoon Xia Xi returned to school, did a bit of homework, then felt it was pointless—she was about to go abroad, so whether she did the homework or not didn't matter.

She lay half an hour slumped over the desk, her mind in a jumble; she sat up, rubbed her face to wake herself, found Zhou Du's number, and called him.

"Do you have time tonight?" Xia Xi tilted her head back, the back of her neck resting on the top of the chair, her low spirits impossible to hide: "Let me treat you to a meal."