Wen Ci followed his gaze downwards.
Several lights had been switched on in the garden. Dim light drifted over from one side, sharpening the defined lines of Zhou Wu’s abdominal muscles.
Zhou Wu’s skin was much darker than hers. With Wen Ci’s fingers resting against him, the contrast was striking.
The surroundings became strangely quiet.
Feeling two burning gazes from behind her, Wen Ci’s fingertips grew hot. She immediately pulled her hand away and straightened up.
“I’m sorry,” she said awkwardly. “I only wanted to check whether you’d been burned.”
Zhou Wu smoothed his shirt back down.
“It’s fine.”
“…But were you burned?” she persisted.
“No.”
Zhou Wu gave a quiet laugh.
“It wasn’t particularly hot.”
Only then did Wen Ci relax and return to her seat, where she faced the two people staring at her.
After seeing Wen Ci inexplicably begin touching Zhou Wu, Dou Yiqing had even stopped chewing.
A long while later, she gave Wen Ci a thumbs-up.
“We only discussed it this morning, and you’ve already conducted the review tonight,” Dou Yiqing praised. “Your ability to put things into action has always been impressive.”
“What?” Zhou Wu asked with interest.
Wen Ci did not manage to stop her before Dou Yiqing finished explaining.
“This morning, after accidentally seeing your… We started discussing whether muscles felt soft or hard.”
Zhou Wu looked towards Wen Ci and casually asked, “Has Ms Wen never touched them before?”
Wen Ci:
“…”
“No.”
Wen Ci did not dare look at him, but she heard Zhou Wu laugh.
“What do you mean? I have muscles too.”
Qin Yun lifted his shirt generously.
“Dou Yiqing, come on. Touch mine.”
“?”
Dou Yiqing covered her eyes and calmly said, “I knew there had to be an ulterior motive behind inviting me on holiday. Cover yourself before I report you for s*xual harassment.”
“???”
Qin Yun laughed in disbelief and called to the person opposite him.
“Wen Ci, come here and testify for me. Don’t I have abs? Aren’t mine more impressive than Zhou Wu’s? Don’t they look better?”
Hearing her name, Wen Ci instinctively raised her head.
She had only glanced once when Zhou Wu’s hand blocked her view.
Supporting his arm lazily, Zhou Wu told Dou Yiqing, “Report him. I’ll pay your legal fees.”
“No, seriously. How does a grown man showing his abs count as s*xual harassment? Tomorrow, I’m going to wear nothing but swimming trunks. When that happens, none of you had better open your eyes!”
Qin Yun laughed angrily.
“Zhou Wu, you’re only afraid Wen Ci will see me and discover that I’m more impressive than you—”
“He isn’t,” Wen Ci said.
Qin Yun paused.
“What?”
Wen Ci gripped Zhou Wu’s palm with both hands and pulled it down slightly, revealing her eyes.
She carefully examined Qin Yun’s abs again and offered a completely impartial judgment.
“Sorry. I don’t think they look as good as Zhou Wu’s.”
Qin Yun stared at her.
“You—”
Dou Yiqing declared, “Court dismissed!”
“You two—!”
Zhou Wu turned his face away and burst out laughing.
Wen Ci’s hands suddenly became empty as Zhou Wu withdrew his.
While the other two argued, he gently ruffled her hair.
Before Wen Ci could react, Zhou Wu had already returned to his original position.
Sensing that the faint displeasure surrounding him had inexplicably disappeared, Wen Ci unconsciously relaxed.
She discreetly shifted a little closer to him.
“Do you want to change your clothes?”
“No. It doesn’t matter.”
Zhou Wu picked up a skewer and suddenly asked, “Ms Wen, when are we going to become a little closer?”
Wen Ci froze slightly.
“What?”
“I said, become more familiar with me.”
Zhou Wu’s voice was lazy.
“Pretending we don’t know each other all the time is irritating. You don’t speak to me at all.”
“…”
Wen Ci had spent the flight carefully considering how to avoid being exposed.
She had concluded that the safest method was to speak as little as possible.
After putting that plan into practice for an entire afternoon, she discovered that although it was indeed safe, at least half of this holiday would become extremely dull and upsetting.
Not speaking to Zhou Wu was dull.
Looking only at Zhou Wu’s back was upsetting.
Her heart, which had felt subdued all day, began beating enthusiastically again.
Wen Ci obediently nodded.
“All right.”
…
After eating their fill, Wen Ci and Dou Yiqing temporarily returned to their villa.
Wen Ci had just finished showering and was preparing to unpack when Dou Yiqing pushed open the door.
Startled, Wen Ci slammed the suitcase shut with a bang.
Dou Yiqing did not notice.
She rushed inside while hugging her pillow.
“Help! Wen Ci, guess how much this pillow costs!”
Wen Ci’s slender arms were still pressed against the suitcase.
Cooperatively, she asked, “How much?”
“The listed price online is 3,988 yuan.”
Dou Yiqing spoke without expression.
“To be completely honest, the shower gel provided by this hotel is more expensive than my foundation.”
“I checked the hotel prices online just now. It’s peak season, and our villa costs sixty-eight thousand eight hundred yuan a night.”
“I’m going to fight Zhou Wu, that capitalist—”
Wen Ci focused on the wrong point.
“Why not Qin Yun?”
“Because Zhou Wu owns shares in this hotel, so we’re staying here free of charge. Qin Yun told me.”
Dou Yiqing hugged the pillow and looked towards the ceiling.
“My monthly salary is four thousand eight hundred yuan! I hate capitalists!”
Wen Ci’s phone vibrated.
She looked down.
The capitalist had sent her a message.
**Zhou Wu: Can you come over?**
Wen Ci’s heart began pounding.
She swiftly replied, **All right**, while verbally agreeing with Dou Yiqing.
“I hate them too—Yiqing, I… I’m slightly tired. I think I’ll sleep early.”
“?”
Dou Yiqing checked the time.
“What kind of body clock do you have? It isn’t even nine yet.”
“Perhaps… travelling today made me especially tired.”
After speaking, Wen Ci forced out an exaggerated yawn.
Dou Yiqing froze at the dramatic display.
“…Fine. Rest, then. I’ll wake you for breakfast tomorrow. The buffet breakfast at a hotel this expensive must be delicious.”
“All right.”
Wen Ci agreed.
“Goodnight.”
After Dou Yiqing closed the door and left, Wen Ci released a breath of relief.
She reopened her suitcase and carefully, furtively took out one c*ndom.
She was just about to leave when she saw herself in the mirror and stopped.
Tonight, she wore a two-piece pyjama set covered in little bears.
No matter how she looked at it, the outfit was entirely unappealing.
Wen Ci retreated and changed into another white strappy nightdress.
The nightdress had no pockets, so she could only hold the c*ndom in her hand.
After confirming that Dou Yiqing was showering, she switched off the bedroom light, locked the door and left the villa.
She crossed the long courtyard and crept through the large wooden gate as quietly as a thief.
Zhou Wu and Qin Yun did not live in the same villa, but they were nearby. All three villas were connected.
The area outside had been designed like a path through the mountains and forest. Lush trees stood on either side, and cicadas chirped constantly.
She was not dressed appropriately and worried someone might see her.
Wen Ci ran towards Zhou Wu’s villa as though committing a crime.
She covered her chest, attempting to control her heartbeat, and reached for the doorbell.
The next instant, a beam of white light unexpectedly struck her.
“Huh? Wen Ci?”
…
Inside the villa, Zhou Wu lowered his head as he dried his hair and typed on his phone:
*Bring the black swimsuit—*
Before he could finish, the doorbell rang.
Knowing who had arrived, Zhou Wu did not check the video intercom. He directly opened the outer gate and waited in the entrance hall.
The villa door opened.
Wen Ci stood outside, her face filled with panic as she stared at him helplessly.
Zhou Wu assumed she was only frightened because she had sneaked out.
His gaze swept over the thin, lacy short dress she wore.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly.
He reached out to take her hand—
Only for something to be swiftly stuffed into his palm.
Zhou Wu looked down at the c*ndom in his hand and laughed.
“Wen Ci, don’t tell me you brought only one…”
“Why aren’t you going inside?”
Qin Yun’s voice came from outside.
“What are you saying while blocking the doorway?”
Zhou Wu:
“…”
…
Inside Zhou Wu’s living room, the four of them sat confronting one another on the sofas beneath a heavy atmosphere.
On the sofa to the left, Qin Yun said, “I told you we were watching a film tonight. I mentioned it while we were buying meat at the supermarket this afternoon. I even bought an enormous bag of snacks.”
Zhou Wu’s eyelid twitched.
He remembered now.
“Why are we watching it at my villa?”
“Obviously because yours is the largest.”
Although their villas were connected, the layouts differed.
Zhou Wu’s was the best available category. The private swimming pool beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows was almost as large as Wen Ci’s entire home.
“Then may I ask—”
On the sofa to the right, Dou Yiqing, whom Qin Yun had just summoned, sat with her legs crossed.
A sheet mask still covered her face as she folded her arms and scrutinised the close friend on the opposite sofa—the same friend who had just wished her goodnight.
“Why are you here?”
On the central sofa, Wen Ci was wrapped in Zhou Wu’s jacket with a blanket covering her legs.
“…………”
She wanted to die.
Wen Ci’s brain had gone numb.
When Qin Yun’s phone light had landed on her, she had felt as though she were immediately transported into another world.
She opened her mouth but could not invent a single explanation.
“She came to bring me burn ointment,” Zhou Wu said calmly beside her.
Qin Yun asked, “Weren’t you not burned?”
“It was too dark to see clearly then. I only noticed a red patch after returning.”
Zhou Wu lied naturally.
He did not notice Wen Ci swiftly glancing at him.
Dou Yiqing looked thoroughly suspicious.
Wen Ci did pack some basic first-aid medicine while travelling, but something still felt strange.
She examined Wen Ci.
“Were you wearing this nightdress earlier? I remember you wearing that two-piece set with the bears.”
Zhou Wu raised an eyebrow.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced towards the person beside him.
Wen Ci was numb.
Her ears turned red as she abandoned any attempt to preserve herself in front of Zhou Wu.
“That set… accidentally got splashed while I was washing, so I changed.”
Even then, Wen Ci would never normally leave the villa dressed like this simply to deliver medicine to Zhou Wu.
Not even the sheet mask could conceal Dou Yiqing’s frown.
She was about to question her again when Qin Yun spoke.
“I see. I was startled when I saw you outside earlier. I wondered who it was.”
“This place is beside the sea, and the wind is strong at night. Next time you come to find Zhou Wu, remember to wear a jacket.”
Qin Yun cheerfully offered the reminder, then picked up the remote and switched on the projector and screen.
“Come on. Let’s choose a film. What do you want to watch, Dou Yiqing?”
“Who wants to watch a film with you? You’re unbearably noisy.”
“Then why did you come here?”
Qin Yun paused.
“Wait, who is noisy?”
“You told me Wen Ci was here, so I came to look.”
Dou Yiqing sneered.
“Do I need to remind you? During the high-school sports day, when our class secretly watched a horror film, who screamed the loudest and attracted the teacher? It was humiliating.”
“…I was f*cking enhancing everyone’s viewing experience. What would you know?”
“Besides, the teacher didn’t come because of me. You were clearly the coward who couldn’t continue watching and secretly went to fetch the teacher.”
Dou Yiqing nodded.
“Who did you call a coward? Fine. Tonight, we’ll see who the coward is.”
Zhou Wu was thinking of a way to make them leave.
Unexpectedly, during the short time he spent considering it, the two had already finished arguing, selected a film in the middle of insulting one another, turned off the lights and activated the projector.
Five minutes later, Zhou Wu sat in the dark living room, watching a supernatural horror film begin on the screen.
He laughed in exasperation.
To watch more conveniently—and supervise each other to ensure neither closed their eyes—Dou Yiqing and Qin Yun moved onto the sofa beside them.
Wen Ci made space and quietly shifted a little closer to Zhou Wu.
Their legs touched beneath the blanket covering Wen Ci’s knees.
Zhou Wu lazily thought that at least they were sitting closer than they had in the car that afternoon.
Dou Yiqing and Qin Yun continued talking endlessly.
Zhou Wu had little interest in this kind of film.
He rested one elbow lazily against the sofa arm and openly stared at the person beside him through the darkness.
Wen Ci wore a shirt jacket he had randomly pulled out for her.
It was far too large and could not wrap around her properly.
The collar hung loosely open, leaving a large gap through which he could easily see the thin white strap against her shoulder, her clear and delicate collarbones, and several loose strands beside her slender neck.
Seen from the side, her eyelashes were very long.
She stared intently at the screen, apparently watching with great concentration—
At least, that was what Zhou Wu initially believed.
Then a ghost suddenly appeared directly before the camera.
Startled, Dou Yiqing turned and threw herself at Wen Ci.
Wen Ci was abruptly hugged back to awareness.
“What happened?”
“A ghost!” Dou Yiqing exclaimed.
Only then did Wen Ci seem to notice the ghost on the screen.
She hurriedly squeezed her eyes shut while patting Dou Yiqing’s head and comforting her as though soothing a student.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. It isn’t real.”
So she had not been watching at all.
Dou Yiqing’s impact caused Wen Ci to sway towards Zhou Wu.
The fragrance of shower gel on her body drifted with her.
Zhou Wu inhaled her scent and thought about the c*ndom in his pocket.
His frustration was rising when the person beside him suddenly stood.
“Where are you going?” Dou Yiqing asked before he could.
“I’m a little thirsty. I’m going to pour some water. Would you like anything?”
Wen Ci’s voice was gentle in the darkness.
Before Dou Yiqing could respond, Qin Yun raised a hand.
“Bring me a bottle of cola from the refrigerator, thank you!”
Wen Ci agreed.
Zhou Wu raised his eyes and waited for her to turn and ask him.
Then he watched as Wen Ci placed the blanket aside and quietly walked towards the back kitchen without looking at him.
Zhou Wu:
“.”
Had they not agreed to become more familiar?
The table before them was covered in snacks, but Zhou Wu had not touched any.
Expressionlessly, he picked up a bottle of beer and opened it with one hand.
He was just about to take a sip when the phone in his pocket vibrated.
**Wen Ci: Zhou Wu, could you come outside for a moment?**
Hearing Zhou Wu stand in the darkness, Qin Yun calmed his violently pounding heart.
“You frightened me… Where are you going?”
“The bathroom.”
As Zhou Wu passed, he handed Qin Yun the freshly opened but untouched beer.
Qin Yun accepted it blankly.
“What’s this for?”
“I don’t want it anymore. You drink it.”
Zhou Wu strode away.
Qin Yun took a sip and muttered, “I already asked Wen Ci to bring me cola… Why did you open it if you weren’t drinking it?”
…
Wen Ci paced around the back kitchen for a while before deciding that she should return and retrieve the burn ointment.
She stepped into the corridor and happened to encounter Zhou Wu walking towards her.
She stopped.
“Could you wait here for a moment? I’ll go back and bring—”
Before she could finish, Zhou Wu caught her wrist and pulled her into the nearby bathroom.
The door closed.
Before either of them could switch on the light, Wen Ci’s back was pressed against the door and her chin was lifted for a kiss.
His tongue swept through her mouth, then caught and sucked the tip of hers, hooking and licking it before quickly separating.
In the darkness, Zhou Wu swallowed her taste and looked down at her.
“What were you going to bring?”
Still dazed from the kiss, Wen Ci answered softly with wet lips.
“Burn ointment.”
“You’re easily deceived.”
Zhou Wu added another description of her.
“I wasn’t burned. I lied to them.”
“…”
“Do you want to watch the film?” Zhou Wu asked.
Her mind blank, Wen Ci instinctively shook her head.
Zhou Wu raised an eyebrow in satisfaction and asked for her opinion.
“Then shall we play for a while?”
“…”
Here?
While other people were still outside?
It was too strange, too dangerous and far too excessive.
Wen Ci looked at the desire darkening the contours of Zhou Wu’s face and thought rationally.
The film could be heard through the door, but it was not as loud as Wen Ci’s heartbeat.
She raised her head and kissed Zhou Wu’s chin in answer.
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