His frantic kissing left Xiang Yuan breathless.

Leaning against the door, she savored the lingering taste of the kiss.

What had gotten into Cheng Zhinan today? He seemed to have lost some of his usual restraint.

Xiang Yuan: “Aren’t you going back to your room tonight?”

Cheng Zhinan: “No.”

Xiang Yuan: “Did you deliberately book this hotel because of me?”

Cheng Zhinan: “Mhm.”

Seeing how straightforward his answer was, Xiang Yuan silently allowed him to enter.

But once he was inside, why did he have to kiss her so fiercely?

Her lips still hurt slightly, reddened from his biting, making the color even more vivid.

Still, Xiang Yuan understood him. Business trips could be draining, so it was natural for him to be in a bad mood.

With his usual heavy workload and frequent business trips involving social dinners, anyone with less energy would have collapsed long ago.

It didn’t matter if he acted a bit unusually occasionally. As his wife, Xiang Yuan could be understanding.

She muttered something under her breath, but Cheng Zhinan didn’t quite catch it.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, just asking if you’re tired today.”

“Not too bad.” Cheng Zhinan loosened his cufflinks. The smoke and alcohol smells from the dinner still clung to him, making him uncomfortable. He disliked such odors and intended to wash them off immediately.

Xiang Yuan, perceptive as ever, suggested, “Why don’t you take a shower first?”

“Alright.” Cheng Zhinan’s gaze gently settled on her. “Who was that boy sitting next to you today?”

“Boy? Which one?”

“During the lecture.”

“Oh… you mean Li Lu’s cousin. He also studies at A University and showed us around today.”

Cheng Zhinan frowned slightly. “Are you two close?”

“No, we just met today.”

Just met today.

Cheng Zhinan unbuttoned his shirt, speaking nonchalantly, “And you let him sit next to you?”

“What’s wrong with him sitting next to me?” Xiang Yuan didn’t see the issue. “We were just chatting.”

Then she looked at him curiously. “Did you misunderstand?”

“It’s nothing.” Cheng Zhinan turned away. “I just saw you talking so animatedly and thought he might be a close friend of yours.”

Xiang Yuan offered a simple assessment: “But that kid does have a good personality.”

Cheng Zhinan didn’t respond further and turned to enter the bathroom for his shower.

When he emerged after bathing, he found that Xiang Yuan had ordered some takeout to the hotel room.

Now feeling completely refreshed, Xiang Yuan could smell his clean scent from across the room.

She beckoned to him, “Come here.”

“Did you buy some fruit?” Cheng Zhinan walked over to her side.

“Yes, the restaurant food tonight felt a bit greasy, so I wanted something light.” She held up a cherry. “Do you want some?”

“No, you go ahead.” Cheng Zhinan sat beside her, opening his phone to reply to work messages.

Xiang Yuan had intended to share with him, but he had outright refused, choosing instead to handle work matters beside her.

She tilted her head, observing the man’s sharp profile, and felt a mischievous urge to tease him.

When Cheng Zhinan ignored her, she always felt like provoking him, even though she usually ended up suffering the consequences when he got annoyed.

Yet Xiang Yuan never seemed to learn, repeatedly tempting fate.

“Cheng Zhinan.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you working at night too?”

“Just replying to some messages. It won’t take long.”

“The cherries from today’s takeout are really sweet.”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhinan glanced back again, “You like them?”

“I do.”

“Then when we get home, I’ll buy some for you.”

Xiang Yuan dangled the cherry stem in her hand, deliberately teasing him, “Are you sure you don’t want a taste? They’re really sweet.”

Cheng Zhinan chuckled softly, “So eager for me to try?”

Xiang Yuan: “Isn’t it normal to share good food with your other half?”

Cheng Zhinan couldn’t resist her. Putting down his phone, he leaned in to taste the cherry in her hand.

But then

Just as he moved closer, Xiang Yuan pulled her hand back, intentionally making him miss.

His lips parted slightly, ready to take the cherry, but paused mid-motion.

Xiang Yuan was teasing him on purpose.

Realizing this, he raised a brow and studied her, “Hmm?”

Xiang Yuan curled her lips, “Just kidding. I’ll really let you have it now.”

With that, she extended the hand holding the cherry stem toward him again.

This time.

Cheng Zhinan chose to trust her once more.

Yet

Xiang Yuan tricked him again.

Cheng Zhinan missed once more.

The room instantly filled with Xiang Yuan’s clear, ringing laughter.

“Hahaha… Doctor Cheng, how are you so easily fooled?”

It wasn’t that she meant to be mischievous, but seeing Cheng Zhinan flustered was especially amusing.

And… the way his lips parted slightly to take the cherry was incredibly sexy, with a subtle hint of allure that involuntarily reminded her of certain moments.

Back then, his expression had been even more intoxicated than now.

This man, Cheng Zhinan, really had a way of making her thoughts wander at any moment.

Her mind was growing increasingly indecent, all thanks to him.

He exuded an aphrodisiac-like aura everywhere he went how could she be blamed for overthinking?

While she laughed heartily, Cheng Zhinan remained unusually quiet.

Two minutes later, Xiang Yuan realized her laughter had been too unrestrained.

She finally composed herself and said seriously, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have teased you.”

Cheng Zhinan pinched the bridge of his nose.

“It’s fine, as long as you’re happy.”

After all, he’d long known Xiang Yuan was like this.

It didn’t matter if his wife played a few tricks on him.

As long as she was happy, nothing else mattered.

Xiang Yuan seemed genuinely sincere about reforming, but Cheng Zhinan ignored her and went back to checking his phone messages.

She leaned in again, resting her head on his shoulder, “You really don’t want any more?”

Cheng Zhinan lowered his eyelashes, “Hmm, you have them.”

His long lashes, like two dense little fans, made Xiang Yuan’s heart itch with the urge to touch them.

Xiang Yuan: “But I can’t finish so many by myself.”

Cheng Zhinan: “…”

Xiang Yuan: “Will you help me share some?”

Cheng Zhinan paused and turned to look at her, “Trying to trick me again?”

Xiang Yuan: “Not at all.”

This time, her tone was exceptionally earnest. She buried herself against his neck like a fluffy cat, shamelessly acting coy.

“Doctor Cheng, beg me.”

“Beg me, and I’ll let you have the cherry.”

Cheng Zhinan turned to look at her.

Her small red lips held the cherry, teeth gently gripping the flesh, its fruity scent drifting toward him sweet and tempting.

“Beg for what.” The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Xiang Yuan couldn’t speak but pouted, gesturing toward the cherry in her lips.

Cheng Zhinan was clearly feigning ignorance.

Xiang Yuan expressed her dissatisfaction at this.

A few seconds later.

Cheng Zhinan seemed utterly defeated by her.

He tossed his phone aside, slightly turned around, and pulled her into his embrace. Following her unspoken desire, he slowly uttered two words by her cheek.

“Please.”

Simple yet provocative words.

Coming from his mouth, they were utterly intoxicating.

Cheng Zhinan was actually begging her.

Xiang Yuan had never felt so exhilarated.

Her eyes instantly sparkled, curving into crescents.

After saying this, Cheng Zhinan complied with her wishes and went to capture the cherry between her lips.

He thought to himself that wanting to taste this cherry probably wasn’t just Xiang Yuan’s desire.

At this moment, he equally longed to savor the cherry’s sweetness.

His agile tongue began to move, instantly releasing the cherry’s juice. The cloyingly sweet nectar deepened the kiss’s sweetness, pushing back and forth until crimson cherry stains appeared at the corners of Xiang Yuan’s lips.

And so, a cherry was completely consumed.

Xiang Yuan asked him: “Was the cherry sweet?”

Cheng Zhinan: “…Mhm.”

His lips were also tinted with a deep red hue, shedding his usual restraint and cool composure, now brimming with intense desire.

Xiang Yuan: “I heard about a kissing technique – have you heard of it?”

Cheng Zhinan: “Do tell.”

Xiang Yuan: “Tying a cherry stem into a knot using only your tongue. They say only people with great kissing skills can do it.”

Cheng Zhinan: “…”

Xiang Yuan: “My tongue is quite agile. I could probably do it.”

Cheng Zhinan huskily stopped her, “Don’t mess around.”

Xiang Yuan raised her eyebrows, “Are you afraid to take the challenge?”

Cheng Zhinan: “……”

After a moment.

Xiang Yuan nodded understandingly.

“That’s right, Doctor Cheng. You’ve never been in a relationship before, so you don’t have much kissing experience. Your technique probably isn’t agile enough for this.”

Cheng Zhinan grasped her chin, gently massaging it, “And you have experience?”

Xiang Yuan: “…No.”

“Then how do you know I can’t do it?”

His warm breath cascaded over the skin of her jaw, causing her pores to tremble slightly.

The next second.

Cheng Zhinan picked another cherry from the plate on the table and placed it in his mouth.

“Open,” he parted Xiang Yuan’s lips and directly leaned in to kiss her.

Xiang Yuan’s jaw was forced open, feeling the scorching heat of his tongue. The cherry stem felt slightly rough against her tongue, with a faint fruity aroma still detectable.

Since Cheng Zhinan had initiated the challenge, she found herself unexpectedly flustered, frozen in place, allowing him to take the lead.

He usually closed his eyes when kissing.

But today, he kept them open the entire time.

Xiang Yuan, pinned by his intense gaze, felt her heart racing wildly. All her techniques seemed to fail her instantly, leaving her to passively follow his rhythm as their tongues tangled and stirred until finally forming a perfect knot.

Cheng Zhinan slightly pulled back, breathing unevenly, and looked down at the knotted cherry stem on his tongue.

He was becoming increasingly absurd.

How could he actually do something like this?

The old him would have followed schedules meticulously, executing everything perfectly according to plan.

But since meeting Xiang Yuan, all his plans had been shattered.

Yet even now, Cheng Zhinan felt no regret.

On the contrary.

Doing such things with Xiang Yuan actually improved his mood.

Though Xiang Yuan had been the one to propose the challenge, when it ended, her face was completely flushed.

Cheng Zhinan gently kneaded her earlobe and softly asked:

“How do you feel now?”

Xiang Yuan: “…”

Cheng Zhinan: “My kissing skills aren’t bad, are they?”

Xiang Yuan pushed him away, mumbling:

“It’s actually real…”

Cheng Zhinan: “Hm?”

Xiang Yuan: “It actually can be tied into a knot. I thought that was just a joke.”

She didn’t turn around, but heard Cheng Zhinan’s low chuckle behind her.

Xiang Yuan lost her playful mood, only feeling her cheeks burning hot, making her whole being flutter with excitement.

Now they were in another city, staying in a hotel room together as husband and wife, and Cheng Zhinan was teasing her again.

Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan took out her phone to check the calendar.

Her excitement instantly cooled.

Today wasn’t actually Sunday.

Such passionate foreplay going to waste – it only added fuel to the fire without serving any other purpose.

She abruptly stood up, “I’m going to take a shower.”

A shower to cool down, better than sitting in the room letting her imagination run wild.

Cheng Zhinan: “Alright.”

Xiang Yuan took a long shower, spending ample time on body care.

When she emerged from the bathroom, expecting Cheng Zhinan to be asleep, she found him standing on the balcony talking to someone on the phone.

He kept his voice very low, and when he saw Xiang Yuan come out of the bathroom, he gestured for her to rest in bed first.

Xiang Yuan hummed lightly, lay down on the bed, and wrapped herself in the blanket.

Why was it that when it came to certain activities, Cheng Zhinan always appeared so composed and detached?

Only she was the one burning with desire.

After Cheng Zhinan finished his call, seeing it was getting late, he proactively turned off the room lights.

In the dark room.

His movement as he lay down on his side of the bed was clearly audible.

Xiang Yuan twitched her ears, “Work call?”

Cheng Zhinan: “Mm, didn’t want to disturb your rest. We can deal with the rest tomorrow.”

Xiang Yuan recalled his appearance during today’s stage presentation, looked up at the ceiling, and sighed, “I’m discovering there are still many things about you I need to learn.”

Cheng Zhinan: “What aspects?”

Xiang Yuan: “All aspects. If I hadn’t heard people introducing you today, I wouldn’t have known my husband is such an impressive person. Have I been paying too little attention to you normally?”

Cheng Zhinan was silent for a few seconds, “It’s not your fault. We didn’t know each other long before marriage. We have plenty of time to gradually understand each other. Those things aren’t that important anyway. What matters is ”

“What is it?”

His warm kiss landed on her forehead, “That I’m here with you.”

A warm current seemed to flow through the depths of her heart.

Xiang Yuan turned and threw herself into his arms, whispering:

“Doctor Cheng, did you happen to notice something by the bedside earlier?”

Cheng Zhinan: “What thing?”

Xiang Yuan: “Looks like something the hotel prepared in advance… a condom.”

Cheng Zhinan: “…”

Xiang Yuan: “How about we not let it go to waste? Why don’t we use it today?”

Cheng Zhinan: “Not tired lately?”

She nuzzled against his well-developed chest muscle, “Not tired at all.”

She was here to relax on this trip – how could she be tired? It’s just that after eating and drinking well, her thoughts inevitably wandered.

And Cheng Zhinan happened to be right beside her.

Cheng Zhinan was clearly considering it.

But Xiang Yuan lacked his patience.

His continued silence made Xiang Yuan think he was going to reject her.

After some thought, a mischievous idea came to her. She directly got up, picked up the small box by the bed, opened the packaging, and took out a foil-wrapped condom, saying with great interest:

“How about we try it?”

This would be their first time having marital intimacy in a hotel.

Cheng Zhinan looked down, gazing at the thin object between his fingers.

“You want me to put it on?”

“Mm…”
Even in the dim light of the room where Xiang Yuan couldn’t clearly see the expression on Cheng Zhinan’s face, she could still imagine his current demeanor.

He probably maintained that same calm and composed appearance.

Perhaps he was in a bad mood today, or not in good form, and was considering how to phrase his rejection.

But what she never expected was

Cheng Zhinan had actually learned her tricks.

He grabbed Xiang Yuan’s wrist, laid her flat on the bed, and looked down at her from above, his thick, long eyelashes brushing against her cheek.

“Want it?”

Xiang Yuan swallowed, the sound unexpectedly loud in the silence.

Had she corrupted Cheng Zhinan? Since when did he know how to say such flirtatious words?

She remained silent, prompting the man to pinch her jaw again, his tone cool and detached:

“Answer me.”

Xiang Yuan: “Well, a little…”

The hand on her jaw paused its movement.

Soon after.

The man leaned close to her ear, mimicking her previous actions, his thin lips grazing her earlobe almost imperceptibly:

“Then beg me.”