Chapter 3

But the slap never landed.

A terrible scream tore through the night, followed by the crack of breaking bone.

I opened my eyes. A man had appeared, one hand locking the bald man’s arm, the other clamped around his throat.

Bang!

He slammed him hard against the concrete wall.

Blood immediately ran from the bald man’s head. Before he could even cry out, he fell, groaning weakly.

Within minutes, all four drunken men lay scattered on the ground.

Wide-eyed, I stared at Jing Song, astonished and delighted.

“You… How did you get here?”

He bent to pick up my phone.

Reining in his intimidating presence, he came over, steadied my trembling body, and took my wrist to check me over.

“Are you hurt?”

I shook my head, my voice thick with tears.

“No.”

Beside us, Shen Fanyu’s fear had been partly replaced by amazement at her best friend’s man.

Holy shit.

He really was handsome. And ridiculously cool.

Jing Song glanced at her.

“Would you mind if my friend took you home?”

Only then did we notice a man standing nearby, watching the spectacle.

“No need.”

Shen Fanyu turned to me with concern.

“Tianxu, are you all right?”

I nodded.

“Should we call the police?”

I was a little afraid.

If we did, would they arrest him for beating those men?

Jing Song nodded.

“We can.”

So we called the police.

After we left the station, his friend drove Shen Fanyu home, while Jing Song and I returned together.

Fortunately, the police determined that he’d intervened bravely to rescue us.

Back home, the alcohol hadn’t worn off. I felt utterly weak, my face flushed, my spirits drained. What had happened still frightened me.

As I headed for my room, Jing Song stopped me.

“I’m hurt. Help me.”

That immediately brought me around.

“Hurt? Is it serious? Do you need a hospital?”

His lips moved slightly.

“Nothing serious. Help me put some medicine on it.”

“Oh. Yes, yes.”

I hurried to find the first-aid kit, then asked him to rinse the wound first.

Sitting by the sofa, I looked at the injury on the back of his hand, only about the size of a fingernail. My nose suddenly stung.

“Thank goodness… Thank goodness you came.”

With his other hand, he lifted my face, brushing a fingertip past the corner of my eye.

“Could you lick it for me?”

My tears stopped instantly.

Still misty-eyed, I stared blankly at him.

“Huh?”

That… That was a little sudden.

His eyes were bloodshot.

He raised his injured hand beneath my lips.

“Lick it for me. I’m very clean.”

Me: “…”

My throat tightened. Heat rushed into my face.

I looked at his hand, then at his face.

His gaze was fiercely predatory, giving the impression that he might suddenly pounce, pin me down, and devour me.

My heart pounded.

I was a little scared.

But my tongue had already slipped out instinctively, giving the back of his hand a quick lick.

When I realized what I’d done…

Boom.

My face blazed.

So embarrassing.

I tried to stand and flee, but he held the back of my neck and drew me closer.

I swallowed.

Jing Song bent, his high nose lightly sniffing beneath my chin.

He licked my neck.

I closed my eyes and called shakily:

“Jing Song.”

“Mm.”

Holding my thighs, he lifted me straight onto his lap, kissing my neck and cheeks little by little.

“May I touch you?”

My mind was no longer clear. I only murmured agreement.

His hand slipped beneath my raised skirt.

I was so startled I almost sprang up, then sat back down.

My skirt fell over his strong arm.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I clutched his collar.

“Jing… Jing Song…”

His movements were forceful, his gaze sharp, yet his voice beside my ear was gentle.

“Mm? What are you calling me for?”

Embarrassed, I buried my face against his neck.

What was I calling him for?

To tell him not to do that anymore, obviously.

But his body was so firm.

Wherever I touched, I felt strength and allure.

After showering, I stood in my bedroom and peeked through the door at him.

My cheeks were pink.

“Were you just passing by tonight?”

Jing Song had also just emerged from the shower.

His robe was loosely tied, revealing his broad chest.

“No. I couldn’t reach you. When I was still some distance away, I sensed your fear and rushed over.”

I froze.

On his cool, handsome face, I could see he was serious.

Solemnly, I said:

“Thank you. Let me buy you dinner tomorrow. All right?”

He thought for a moment.

“I have something tomorrow. The day after.”

I nodded.

“All right.”

“Sigh…”

Jing Song was out again, but he’d left food for me.

The incident had frightened me badly.

After we reported it, the drunken men had all gone to the hospital. Afterward, they would spend a few days in detention.

Such a light punishment.

I lay on my bed, wondering what Jing Song actually meant.

I called Shen Fanyu.

At work, she spoke furtively.

“I’ve arranged for people to wait. Once those bastards get out of detention, I’ll make them eat shit.”

Hearing my friend sound so fierce chased away some of my fear.

“Who did you call? Are they reliable? Don’t do anything reckless.”

She chuckled.

“Relax. Very reliable. Anyway, how are things with your handsome man? He rescued a damsel in distress. Is the damsel planning to offer herself in return?”

I remembered his hand last night…

My face reddened again. I stammered, unable to get anything out.

Desperate with curiosity, Shen Fanyu even offered advice.

“With a man that handsome, just go for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Why worry about the future? Enjoy yourself first. Oh, right. Get health checks beforehand.”

Me: “…”

After hanging up, I opened the files she’d sent to soothe my fluttering heart.

I chose a story about a muscular roommate. Reading it made me blush so hard I could barely keep my eyes open.

That evening, Jing Song didn’t come home.

Go for it, she said?

I couldn’t even find him.

After my shower, the man standing outside the bathroom startled me.

Then my eyes lit up.

“You’re back?”

Seeing my delighted expression, he came toward me.

His whole presence felt imposing.

But I wasn’t afraid. Mostly nervous.

“Wh-what is it?”

“Tianxu.”

The tall man lowered his head before me, meeting my eyes.

Naked hunger churned in his gaze.

My legs weakened.

I heard him ask:

“I had something to do today. What have you been doing?”

What had I been doing?

Burying myself in erotic novels all day.

My eyes darted away.

“N-nothing…”

But he came closer.

His nose brushed my cheek. His mouth caught mine in several kisses.

Flustered, I instinctively stepped back.

My back hit the wall.

His hand settled on my waist.

Fresh from the shower, I wore only a spaghetti-strap nightdress.

The fabric was thin and smooth.

With his hand around my waist, I could clearly feel the warmth and pressure of his palm.

I tipped my head up and actively returned his kiss.

The large towel over my shoulders dropped to the floor.

Suddenly, he released me and lowered his head to sniff my neck again.

Then, out of nowhere, he said:

“You’re in heat.”

Having spent the day reading erotica, I immediately felt guilty. Timid but loud, I retorted:

“You—you’re the one in heat!”

His gaze deepened.

He lifted me at once, pressing me beside his bedroom doorway.

The living room lights were off, leaving it dim, while his room was brightly lit.

I tilted my head to look inside.

It was so clean and tidy it hardly seemed lived in.

My skirt was pushed up to my waist again.

Instinctively, my legs clasped his waist.

Nervousness scattered my breathing.

He licked my neck.

I bit my lip.

Jing Song said seriously:

“Yes. Because of you, I’m in heat. It’s getting hard to hold back.”

Heat flooded my whole body.

Looking at his slightly flushed face with watery eyes, I blurted:

“Are you a dog?”

“I’m a cat.”

His eyes darkened.

“A big cat.”

Me: “…”

I could feel that he was quite big.

Only later did I learn…

He really wasn’t joking.

Once we were on the bed, I pushed him away, rolled onto his waist, pinned his wrists above his head, and bent to kiss him.

Whatever he meant, never mind.

This was what I meant.

Jing Song’s breathing quickened.

Lately, I really had teased him into “heat.”

With me actively provoking him now, he felt ready to explode.

Very soon, he had me beneath him.

Jing Song was fierce.

When I woke at noon the next day, I crawled out of bed, glaring and gritting my teeth.

One step forward, then several pauses.

Preparing breakfast, he opened the door just as I slowly approached, holding my waist.

He came in and scooped me up, asking with a trace of guilt:

“Are you all right?”

I nearly cried.

“A little uncomfortable.”

His brows knotted.

“Let me lick it for you.”

Just as I’d helped him when he was hurt.

Me: “…”

Although…

My mind really did wander far too easily.

Realizing he wasn’t joking, I blushed.

“I was teasing. I’m going to wash up.”

After washing and eating breakfast, I felt much better.

But I didn’t know what Jing Song was thinking.

What exactly were we now?

Just as I was gathering the courage to explain my feelings, he spoke.

“I’ve told my mother. They approve of our marriage.”

“Wh-what?”

I stared blankly.

How had we suddenly reached marriage?

This was faster than my moods changed.

He took my hand on the table.

“We’ve established our relationship. Naturally, we’ll marry in the future. But don’t worry. Their approval is one thing. Everything is up to you.”

He was completely serious.

Carefully, I asked:

“When… When did we establish our relationship?”

He paused.

“The night before last. When I kissed you.”

Me: “…”

Good heavens.

I was only finding out now.

He seemed to realize something too.

“Did I misunderstand?”

Was he even more innocent about love than I was?

“I… didn’t know.”

He froze.

“I’m sorry.”

Smiling, I reached out and caught the hand he was about to withdraw.

“Now I do.”

The disappointment vanished from his eyes.

He even smiled.

Lifting my hand, he lightly bit a fingertip.

“I like you.”

That was why he paid attention to me.

Why I tempted him.

Why he went into heat.

The gesture was already suggestive. Add those words, and my face flamed.

“I… I like you a little too.”

We really were like a pair of elementary-school kids.