Side story: These things don't stand a chance against the honeymoon phase

It's mid-August now.

Luo Li stared at the three remaining condom wrappers in the drawer, lost in thought.

He clearly remembered that two weeks ago he bought a whole box—a pack of twelve, various sizes, and it even came with two sample lubricants—and at the time he thought, "This much should last a long time."

Now, twelve minus nine equals three.

Nine were used in two weeks.

On average every day... well, you can't calculate it like that, because some days I didn't use it, and some days I used it more than once.

However, the rate of consumption still exceeded his expectations.

What are you looking at?

Castorice's voice came from behind her. She had just finished showering and was wearing Luo Li's old T-shirt—it was a bit too big for her, the hem hanging down to her mid-thigh, revealing her fair legs.

Her silver-purple hair was wet and draped over her shoulders, the ends dripping water that spread dark stains on her T-shirt.

Luo Li subconsciously closed the drawer and turned around. "N-nothing."

But the Castorice has already arrived.

She dried her hair, her purple eyes sweeping over the drawer before looking at Luo Li's slightly flushed face.

"Are we almost out of condoms?"

She asked bluntly.

Luo Li choked on her own saliva. "You... how did you know...?"

"The way you were staring at the drawer just now, it was like you were calculating how many more uses it could have."

Castorice tilted her head, looking serious. "How many are left?"

"... three."

"Oh." Castorice nodded and turned to walk to the bedside.

"Then we'll have to use it sparingly."

She spoke so casually, as if she were discussing how to conserve toilet paper when it was running low.

Luo Li stood there watching her climb onto the bed, sit cross-legged, and continue drying her hair. A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her—shame, helplessness, and a strange sense of pride?

"Actually..." He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, "I can go buy more."

"Now?" Castorice glanced out the window—it was already dark, past eight o'clock in the evening.

"The pharmacy is still open."

"Hmm." Castorice put the towel aside and reached out to hug Luo Li's neck. "But I don't want you to go out now."

Her hair was still wet, smelling of shampoo, and felt cool against Luo Li's neck.

"Then..." Luo Li's throat went dry, "Not tonight?"

"Use it," Castorice said, then added, "Use one, and you'll have two left."

Go buy a new one tomorrow.

She spoke with such conviction, as if it were the most reasonable arrangement in the world.

Luo Li smiled, lowered his head and kissed her. "Yes, sir, girlfriend."

As it turns out, reason and planning are fragile during the honeymoon phase.

The next morning, when Luo Li woke up, she found Castorice asleep in her arms, and on the bedside table was... an empty package.

Wait, didn't we say last night that we'd only use one?

He carefully pulled out the arm that Castorice pillow, and quietly opened the drawer.

two.

Only two remain.

Luo Li closed his eyes and began to recall what had happened last night—he remembered that after their first time, the two of them hugged and chatted, and as they talked, their hands started to wander. Then Castorice said, "I want more," and then...

Then I used the second one.

"You're awake?"

Castorice's voice was hoarse from just waking up.

She turned over, facing Luo Li, her purple eyes half-open, her eyelashes still glistening with sleep.

"Um."

Luo Li turned to face her, her fingers gently brushing across her cheek.

We used two last night...

"Yeah?"

Castorice blinked, seemingly lost in thought.

"It seems so. The second time you asked me, 'Can we continue?' I said, 'Yes.'"

"And then you didn't mention that we were almost out of condoms," Luo Li said helplessly.

"I forgot," Castorice honestly admitted.

"At that time... I was a little dizzy."

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly—a rare moment when she would feel shy afterward.

Seeing her blushing face, Luo Li's helplessness vanished instantly, leaving only tenderness.

"Never mind."

He pulled her into his arms. "I'll go buy them later. Two boxes, no, three boxes."

"Isn't that too much?"

Castorice rested her head against his chest, her voice muffled.

"In case."

Luo Li kissed the top of her head, "I don't want to go through those... anxious days again."

Castorice was quiet for a moment, then said, "Actually... I looked up short-acting birth control pills yesterday."

Luo Li was taken aback. "What did you find out?"

There are many kinds.

Castorice said, "You need to get a prescription from the hospital and take it at a fixed time every day. The effectiveness rate is over 99%."

Side effects might include nausea and headaches, but most people get used to them.

She looked up at Luo Li: "I'm considering whether or not to start eating."

Luo Li frowned. "But what about the side effects..."

"It's better than being pregnant," Castorice said earnestly.

"Furthermore, condoms are not 100% safe; they can break or slip off. Double protection is more reliable."

What she said made a lot of sense, but Luo Li was still a little worried.

"I'll go with you to the hospital to ask the doctor after your period ends."

He said, "If the doctor recommends it, and you're willing, then we'll decide."

"Okay." Castorice nodded, then buried her face back in his chest. "But before that..."

"Um?"

"There are two left." Her fingers gently traced his chest. "Should we use them today?"

Luo Li took a deep breath. "Castorice..."

"Um?"

"Do you know how... you're talking like that?"

He couldn't find the right words.

"What do you mean?" Castorice looked up, her face completely innocent.

"Very..." Luo Li looked into her clear purple eyes and suddenly smiled, "Very cute."

He rolled over, pinned her down, and kissed her.

"But not today."

He whispered to her lips, "You need to get some rest; you were exhausted last night."

I'm not tired.

The Castorice protested, but its voice was swallowed by the kiss.

In the end, they didn't use the third one—because Luo Li insisted that she rest, and Castorice fell asleep again while kissing.

She was still clutching his clothes as she slept, as if afraid he would run away.

Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, Luo Li's heart melted.

He tiptoed out of bed, got dressed, and prepared to go out to buy condoms—and breakfast while he was at it.

The pharmacy is still the same pharmacy, and the pharmacist is still the same middle-aged female pharmacist.

Her eyes lit up noticeably when she saw Luo Li.

"Young man, here you are again?"

She asked with a smile.

What should I buy this time? A pregnancy test again?

"No, no." Luo Li's face flushed slightly. "It's... a condom."

"Oh~" the pharmacist drawled, "You've finished the ones you bought last time?"

Luo Li's face flushed even more, and she mumbled an "Mmm".

"Come with me."

The pharmacist turned and walked towards the shelves. "What brand do you want this time? Or maybe a variety of models?"

"... three boxes."

Luo Li whispered, "It has to be good quality."

The pharmacist raised an eyebrow and took three boxes of different brands from the shelf. "These are all good, ultra-thin, well-lubricated, and not easy to break."

She handed the box to Luo Li, then lowered her voice, "Young man, although you're young and have good stamina, you should still be careful to exercise restraint."

Luo Li's face was already red all the way to her neck. "I-I understand."

While paying the bill, the pharmacist suddenly remembered something. "By the way, has your girlfriend considered short-acting birth control pills? If you have a long-term, stable relationship, which one is more convenient?"

"She's considering it."

Luo Li honestly said, "We're going to go to the hospital to ask a doctor."

That's right.

The pharmacist nodded, a relieved look on his face. "It's good to be responsible. But remember, even when taking medication, double protection is recommended, especially in the first few weeks."

"I've got it." Luo Li nodded seriously.

As he walked out of the pharmacy, he carried a plastic bag containing three boxes of condoms, feeling a heavy weight—not of weight, but of responsibility.

He recalled Castorice's earnest expression when she said she wanted children, her matter-of-fact tone when she said she would get married in her sophomore year, and her soft voice when she leaned against him and said she was "looking forward to it."

He wanted to give her the best, to protect her, and to walk into the future with her.

Therefore, these measures are necessary.

Although hormones during the honeymoon phase can make reason fragile, love is not just an impulse, but also a responsibility.

Luo Li took a deep breath and walked towards the breakfast shop.

When they returned to the Mourning Funeral Home, Castorice had already woken up.

She sat on the living room sofa, a thick book—"Obstetrics and Gynecology"—open in front of her, with a notebook and pen beside her, and was taking notes diligently.

Luo Li placed the breakfast on the coffee table and leaned over to look. "What are you looking at?"

"The principles and types of birth control pills."

Without looking up, Castorice spoke, the pen nib scratching on the paper.

"I want to learn more before going to the hospital so I can ask the doctor more questions."

Looking at her focused profile, Luo Li felt a warm current welling up in her heart.

That's Castorice —always serious, always well-prepared, even in something like this.

"Let's eat first."

He closed the book and pushed the porridge and steamed buns in front of her. "Eat first, then you can read."

"Okay." Castorice put down her pen and picked up her bowl of porridge.

The two ate breakfast quietly, sunlight streaming through the window and casting bright dappled patterns on the coffee table.

"Luo Li," Castorice suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"If we really do get married in the future..."

She asked earnestly, "How many children do you want to have?"

Luo Li almost choked on the xiaolongbao.

"You... you're thinking about this so early?"

"To plan ahead."

Castorice said seriously, "And having children requires planning—age gaps, financial conditions, living space... all of these need to be considered."

She counted on her fingers. "If we get married in our sophomore year, get pregnant in our junior year, have a baby in our senior year, take a year off from school, and then continue our studies, we can consider having a second child when the first one starts kindergarten, so the age difference will be about three years..."

Luo Li couldn't help but laugh when she saw how serious she was.

"What are you laughing at?" Castorice, looking at him in confusion.

"I'm laughing at you for taking it too seriously." Luo Li reached out and ruffled her hair.

"We're too early to think about having kids. Let's focus on our relationship and our studies in college first. We can think about it after we graduate and start working."

"But planning needs to be done in advance," Castorice insisted. "And didn't you say you'd love our children? Then we should give them the best conditions."

Luo Li's heart softened again.

"Okay." He took her hand.

"Then, once you graduate and find a job, and we're able to, we'll have children. One is fine, two is fine too, it's up to you."

"Two, Castorice thought for a moment. "One would be too lonely, three a bit too many, two would be just right."

"Okay, two." Luo Li agreed with a smile.

Castorice nodded in satisfaction and continued eating her breakfast.

After finishing her meal, she picked up the "Obstetrics and Gynecology" textbook again, turned to the marked page, and said, "By the way, I looked it up, and short-acting birth control pills need to be taken at the same time every day, so it's best to set an alarm. You need to remind me when I start taking them."

"Okay." Luo Li nodded. "I'll remind you every day."

"Also, there might be side effects when you first start taking it," Castorice said, pointing to a line in the book.

"Nausea, headaches, mood swings... please be patient with me if I act strangely."

"You've always been strange," Luo Li joked.

Castorice glared at him. "Be serious."

"Okay, I'll take it seriously." Luo Li grasped her hand.

No matter what you become, I will accept you.

Castorice's face flushed slightly. "That's more like it."

She put down her book and leaned into Luo Li's arms. "Actually, I'm a little afraid of taking medicine. But I'm even more afraid of an unplanned pregnancy."

"I know."

Luo Li hugged her tighter. "So let's take it slow, no rush. If you don't want to take it, we'll keep using condoms. If you do want to take it, we'll ask a doctor and choose the one with the fewest side effects."

"Yes," Castorice nodded. "Also, even if we take the pill, we still need to use condoms. Double protection."

"Yes, ma'am." Luo Li smiled and kissed her forehead.

The two nestled together on the sofa, neither of them speaking.

The sun was warm, and the air was filled with the lingering aroma of breakfast and the scent of ink from books.

Outside the window lies the quiet courtyard of the funeral home; inside, two young yet earnest hearts reside.

"Luo Li," Castorice spoke again.

"What is it now?" Luo Li was already used to her sudden questions.

"Did you buy the condoms?"

"I bought them." Luo Li pointed to the plastic bag by the door, "Three boxes."

"How long will it last?" Castorice asked earnestly.

Luo Li did the math. "One box contains twelve, three boxes contain thirty-six. At the current rate... it might take less than a month."

Castorice was silent for a few seconds, then whispered, "Aren't we... doing it too often?"

"It's the honeymoon phase, you know." Luo Li's face also felt a little hot. "Besides... you're so tempting."

Castorice blushed. "You too."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"But seriously," Luo Li hugged her tighter.

"We really need to... be a little more restrained—it's not that I don't want to, but I'm worried your body can't handle it."

"I'm fine," Castorice said. "But you're right, moderation is key."

She paused, then added, "So, starting today, let's make a rule... a maximum of five times a week?"

Luo Li: "... Five times is considered 'restrained'?"

"Those four times?" Castorice bargained.

Luo Li was both amused and exasperated. "How about this, we won't set a specific number of times, it'll depend on the situation. If you're tired or uncomfortable, we'll rest. If you're feeling good, then... let nature take its course."

"Okay." Castorice nodded.

"You're feeling good today."

Luo Li: "... It's broad daylight now."

"So?" Castorice tilted her head.

"Ms. Amonet won't be back until this afternoon, Polyxena went to the library. It's just the two of us at home."

As she spoke, her clear purple eyes and innocent expression made it seem as if she were discussing the weather.

Looking at her, Luo Li suddenly understood—she wasn't flirting with him; she genuinely felt there was no difference between "making love during the day" and "making love at night."

This is Castorice. Direct, pure, without those worldly constraints.

He smiled, lowered his head and kissed her. "Then... let nature take its course?"

"Mmm." Castorice took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck.

Sunlight streamed into the living room, falling on the two people embracing.

On the coffee table, the textbook "Obstetrics and Gynecology" lay open, next to a notebook and a pen.

Inside the plastic bag, three boxes of condoms lay quietly.

(PS: Oops, I accidentally fell asleep while writing this, sorry everyone.)