On the way back, Lu Shijing took the wheel.

Gu Nansheng sat in the passenger seat, her cap pulled low over her face. Her head throbbed heavily, foggy and swollen. It had been a long time since she drank this much. Even though her work often required social drinking, she always knew her limits and never overdid it.

She rolled the window down, hoping the cold air would clear her mind.

The night wind was slightly chilly. It brushed against her silk blouse, making her subtly flinch.

Lu Shijing noticed her reaction. While waiting at a red light, he took off his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.

“It’s cold, put this on.”

She lowered her gaze to the coat. A faint smile tugged at her lips, yet something inside her felt tightly blocked. Her fingers instinctively clutched the fabric, as if wanting to push it away.

Lu Shijing adjusted the window on her side, making sure the wind would not be too strong.

Something shifted in Gu Nansheng’s chest, but in the end, she let go of the thought of taking the coat off.

She looked out the window and said lightly, “There’s someone else’s scent on the clothes.”

Lu Shijing froze for a moment, confused. It was only when the car behind them honked that he realized the light had turned green.

He did not say anything.

The car soon reached the apartment’s underground parking garage, and they went upstairs one after the other.

Gu Nansheng collapsed onto the sofa, feeling the world spin around her.

Lu Shijing went into the kitchen.

He found honey in the fridge and made a cup of honey water.

He helped her sit up, letting her lean against him.

“Drink this, it’ll help sober you up.”

Gu Nansheng took the cup and drank it all. Only then did he relax slightly.

“How is it? Does your head hurt?”

“Not too bad.”

“Do you want to lie down a bit longer?”

“Mm.”

Lu Shijing brought her a pillow and covered her with a blanket.

Perhaps because of the alcohol, she fell asleep very quickly.

He brushed the stray strands of hair away from her forehead and pressed a light kiss there.

Then he turned and went to the bathroom.

Still holding that coat.

…

Gu Nansheng seemed to drift into a dream.

In it, Lu Shijing was walking with a girl. She stood behind them, watching them laugh and talk together. She tried desperately to call his name, but no sound came out of her throat. Panic made her break out in a cold sweat.

In the end, Lu Shijing turned around and saw her, but his gaze was cold, as if she were a complete stranger.

Her heart ached so badly she could barely breathe.

“Lu Shijing…”

She murmured.

Lu Shijing had just finished showering when he heard her calling his name.

“I’m here.”

He leaned beside the sofa and looked at her, noticing the tear stains at the corner of her eyes.

He had never seen her cry before.

“Wake up, sister.”

In her dream, Gu Nansheng seemed to hear his voice. It was no longer cold or distant.

“Sister?”

Gu Nansheng finally woke up from the dream.

The Lu Shijing in front of her was real. His gaze was no longer cold or indifferent.

She reached out and touched his warm face. He covered her fingers with his hand.

“Were you dreaming?”

It’s just a dream.

He was still here.

Gu Nansheng clung tightly to his neck and refused to let go.

“I’m here.”

He felt her tears slip into his clothes.

“Stop being angry, okay?”

“I wasn’t angry at all,” she muttered, her voice thick and muffled.

Lu Shijing finally felt relieved.

“I already showered. There’s no other person’s scent on me anymore.”

Only then did Gu Nansheng notice his hair was still damp.

“That coat has already been washed too.”

She sniffed him carefully. The familiar rosemary scent was still there.

Suddenly, she felt extremely embarrassed.

He gently wiped away her tears.

“Stop crying.”

“I’m not crying!” she insisted stubbornly.

“Alright, you’re not crying.” He pointed at the damp mark on the pillow.

“That’s sweat,” she quickly defended herself.

“If you’re that hot, do you want to take a shower?” he asked kindly.

Gu Nansheng shot him a glare and turned toward the bathroom.

Inside, as expected, she saw the coat hanging there, still dripping water.

…

After their showers, they lay in bed talking. Gu Nansheng rested in his arms.

“Was I really annoying today?”

She looked up at him, waiting for his answer. If she did not like it, she was ready to bite his arm.

“No. You were cute.”

In truth, Lu Shijing was very happy today. It was the first time he felt her care so deeply. Her jealousy made his heart race.

“Cute? Are you sure?” she doubted him.

“Mm. Everything about you is cute.”

He kissed the corner of her lips.

“You’re not lying to me?”

“No.”

“Anyway, you’re mine!” she suddenly climbed on top of him.

“Mm, I’m yours.” His eyes curved with a soft smile, full of warmth.

“Your eyes are mine!” she declared, kissing them.

“Mm.”

“Your mouth is mine!”

“Mm.”

“Your body is mine!”

“Mm.”

“Your heart is mine too!”

“Sister?”

“Mm?”

“You’re not tired?”

“Not tired.”

“Then let’s do something meaningful.”

“What… what?”

She felt his body slowly react beneath her.

“Can I say no?”

“No.”

He pulled her down closer, locking eyes with her. His gaze was deep and intoxicating.

“Because I’m yours…”

…

The next morning was the weekend. Rarely, Lu Shijing had no classes, and after last night’s exhaustion, they both slept until they woke naturally.

When Lu Shijing got up, he noticed a flood of messages on his phone.

From Zhou Yang:

“How is it? Is Nansheng-jie still angry?”

“Did Nansheng-jie drink too much last night?”

“Ah, I forgot to ask her for an autograph yesterday. Can you help me get one?”

“Can you please reply to me…”

Lu Shijing remembered how they had been laughing last night and calmly replied:

“No.”

There were also messages from Su Li, thanking him and saying she wanted to return the medical expenses.

He did not even remember adding her on WeChat. It must have been during a group project under Professor Zhang.

They had never spoken privately.

He did not have a deep impression of her.

She was quiet, gentle, always calm. She smiled softly, very sweet-looking.

She seemed particularly interested in chemistry and was very serious during experiments.

Completely different from Gu Nansheng.

If he had to describe Su Li in one word, it would be “gentle.”

If not for running into Professor Zhang after class yesterday, he did not think he would have had any other interaction with her.

“What are you doing?”

Gu Nansheng hugged him from behind as he looked at his phone.

“Checking WeChat.”

Lu Shijing handed her his phone.

“What?” she asked, confused.

“For inspection.”

“…”

Was she that suspicious?

“I’ll give you some private space.”

“You’re not checking?”

“No.”

“No regrets?”

“…”

Lu Shijing, when did he become so talkative?

Gu Nansheng took the phone anyway, glanced at it, and immediately blushed.

Because his WeChat remark for her was now changed to:

“Little Vinegar Jar.”

How annoying.