Side story: A man can't say he can't perform!

In early September, the summer heat in Jiangcheng had not yet dissipated.

Luo Li lay on her bed in her room, staring at the ceiling, feeling completely drained.

In the literal sense.

With two weeks left before university starts, this should be the last days of summer vacation to enjoy.

But at this moment, Luo Li only felt... tired.

Extremely tired.

My lower back aches, my legs feel weak, and there's even a slight, dull pain in a certain area.

The culprit behind all this was lying beside him, her long, silvery-purple hair spread out on the pillow, her purple eyes looking at him with a worried expression.

"Are you alright?" Castorice asked softly, gently touching his forehead with her finger. "You don't look well."

"It's... it's alright." Luo Li forced a smile. "It's just a little... tired."

He was telling the truth. They had met five times in the past week, and each meeting was... very intense.

Although condoms were used each time, and although Castorice had started taking short-acting birth control pills, the frequency and intensity of their encounters still exceeded Luo Li's expectations.

It wasn't that he was unwilling—heaven knows how much he wanted to. But the body tells a story, and he had his limits.

Am I being too greedy?

Castorice lowered her eyes, her voice filled with remorse.

"I always want... a lot."

"It's not your fault." Luo Li turned to face her and pulled her into her arms. "It's me... I might not have the stamina."

Saying this might hurt my pride, but it's the truth.

Castorice lifted her head from his embrace and looked at him earnestly. "Then let's reduce the frequency, twice a week?"

"That's too few." Luo Li said, both amused and exasperated. "Three times, three times should be enough."

"Okay." Castorice nodded, but then seemed to remember something, "However, today is already Tuesday, and we've already met twice this week, so after today we can't..."

Her voice trailed off as Luo Li's expression became increasingly subtle.

"Um..." Luo Li carefully chose her words, "We haven't... done it yet today..."

"Nothing yet?" Castorice blinked.

"Not yet..." Luo Li's face felt a little hot.

"So if I do it today, that'll be three times this week, and I'll have to wait until next week to do it again..."

His voice trailed off as he spoke, feeling like a miser calculating his quota.

Castorice was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Then we won't do it today."

She spoke so decisively that Luo Li was stunned.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes." Castorice nodded, her expression serious. "You need to rest. And..."

She paused, her voice even softer. "I don't want you... No."

"I can't?!" Luo Li's voice instantly rose.

"That's not what I meant!" Castorice quickly explained.

"I mean, overworking will affect... performance, and it's bad for your health."

She spoke in a serious tone, but the word "performance" still struck a nerve with Luo Li's male pride.

A man can't say he's no good—this saying, though no one knows who said it, was echoing wildly in Luo Li's mind at that moment.

"I'm fine." He sat up, trying to reassure himself. "Really, I'm just a little tired, I'll be fine after a rest."

"But you have very dark circles under your eyes." Castorice sat up as well, gently stroking his under-eye area with her fingers.

Didn't you sleep well last night?

Luo Li was speechless.

He didn't sleep well last night—because the night before was too intense, his muscles ached, and he couldn't fall asleep no matter how much he tossed and turned.

"Let's really rest today." Castorice held his hand, her tone gentle but firm. "We can watch a movie, or play games, or... just lie down and chat."

When she said "chatting while lying down," her eyes were clear, without any hint of ulterior motive.

But when Luo Li looked at her wearing his old T-shirt, the neckline a little low, revealing a section of her fair shoulder and collarbone, and those faint marks he had left behind...

His body, quite uncooperatively, reacted.

The Castorice clearly noticed.

She glanced down, then blushed slightly. "You..."

"This is a physiological reaction, it's uncontrollable," Luo Li quickly explained, trying to cover herself with the blanket.

But Castorice held his hand down.

She looked at him, a flicker of hesitation crossing her purple eyes, followed by... determination?

"Actually..." she whispered, "It doesn't necessarily have to be... like that... we can use other methods..."

She couldn't continue; her face was flushed red to the roots of her ears.

Luo Li's brain froze for three seconds.

Other?

What else?

Then he understood.

His face instantly turned bright red.

"Where... where did you learn all this...?" he stammered.

"Online," Castorice confessed honestly.

"I looked up 'how to satisfy your partner without expending physical energy,' and then..."

"Stop!" Luo Li covered her face.

"Stop talking!"

Castorice tilted her head. "You don't want to?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling..." Luo Li peeked at her through her fingers.

"But... are you sure you want to?"

"I want to make you comfortable," Castorice said earnestly.

"And I don't want you to be too tired."

She spoke so sincerely and directly that Luo Li didn't know how to respond.

Moved? Yes.

Shy? Absolutely.

Expectations?... Yes, there are.

Finally, he took a deep breath. "Then... shall we give it a try?"

"Mm." Castorice nodded, then added.

"But I have no experience, so I might not do a good job."

"It's okay." Luo Li took her hand.

"Let's take it slow."

As it turns out, Castorice's learning ability is truly remarkable.

Although she was inexperienced and clumsy, she was very serious and hardworking.

Afterwards, Luo Li lay motionless on the bed, feeling as if she were floating on a cloud.

Castorice returned from the bathroom, climbed into bed, and lay down beside him.

"How is it?" she asked softly, her ears still red.

"Very good." Luo Li turned and hugged her, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Very good."

"Really?" Castorice's eyes lit up.

"Really," Luo Li said earnestly.

"But next time... let me help you too."

Castorice's face flushed again. "No need, I... it's okay."

"It's related," Luo Li insisted.

"It must be fair."

The two looked at each other for a moment, then both laughed.

"Luo Li." Castorice leaned on his shoulder.

"Um?"

Were you just... putting on a brave face?

"What do you mean by showing off?"

"It's just..." Castorice carefully chose her words, "... I'm clearly very tired, but I don't want to admit that I'm not good enough."

Luo Li fell silent.

You were right.

"A man can't say he can't do it," he muttered to himself.

"Who said that?" Castorice asked.

"I don't know, but that's what everyone's saying."

"That's wrong," Castorice said seriously. "Everyone has their limits; you need to rest when you're tired. Pushing yourself will only hurt your body."

She looked up at Luo Li: "I don't want you to get hurt."

Luo Li's heart softened completely.

"Okay." He hugged her tighter. "From now on, just say so if you're tired. Don't push yourself."

"Hmm." Castorice nodded in satisfaction.

The two lay quietly for a while, when Luo Li suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, my parents are going back to their hometown for a few days next week, so I'll be home alone."

Castorice's eyes lit up. "So?"

"So..." Luo Li's face flushed slightly, "You can come and stay at my house for a few days, if you'd like."

Castorice blinked. "Ms. Amonet won't agree."

"You just said... you'd help me with my studies?" Luo Li suggested. "University starts soon, and I need to prepare in advance."

The excuse is lame, but it might work.

Castorice thought for a moment, "I can try. But Polyxena will definitely guess."

"Let her guess," Luo Li laughed. "Anyway, she already knows."

"Hmm." Castorice nodded, then asked, "Those few days... can we do it every day?"

Luo Li: "... Didn't you say we should practice moderation?"

"Special circumstances call for special measures," Castorice said seriously. "Besides, since your parents aren't here, we can... have more freedom."

When she said "more freedom," a glint of expectation flashed in her purple eyes.

Luo Li looked at her and suddenly felt a dull ache in her lower back again.

But I felt sweet inside.

"Okay," he agreed. "Every day is fine, but you have to promise me that if I'm really tired, I'll rest."

"Deal." Castorice extended her little finger.

Luo Li smiled and hooked her finger around hers.

A week later, at Luo Li's house.

On the sofa in the living room, Luo Li and Castorice sat side by side, with university textbooks—Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, and College English—open in front of them.

But their minds were clearly not on the book.

Castorice's fingers unconsciously traced circles on the pages of the book, while Luo Li's gaze kept drifting towards her.

"Um..." Luo Li spoke first.

My parents left at noon, saying they'll be back in three days.

"Mm." Castorice nodded.

"Ms. Amonet agreed, but said she had to be home by 10 p. m."

"It's two o'clock in the afternoon." Luo Li glanced at the clock on the wall.

We have... eight hours left.

The two looked at each other, and the air became tense.

"Well..." Castorice closed the book.

Should we... do some previewing first?

When she said "previewing," her gaze drifted towards the bedroom.

Luo Li smiled, "Okay, what should we study?"

"Human physiology?" Castorice suggested, her expression serious. "The practical part."

Luo Li's heart skipped a beat.

He stood up and extended his hand to her. "Let's go to the 'laboratory'."

The moment the bedroom door closed, Luo Li pressed Castorice against the door and kissed her.

The kiss was more urgent and passionate than usual.

Maybe it's because I know I have three whole days, maybe it's because I'm more relaxed at home, maybe it's just because... I miss her.

"Luo Li..." Castorice breathed heavily near his lips.

The curtains... aren't drawn.

Luo Li then remembered that the bedroom curtains were still open, and the building across the street might be able to see them.

He quickly went to draw the curtains, and when he turned around, he saw Castorice already sitting on the edge of the bed, taking off her coat.

Her movements were slow and alluring.

Luo Li walked over, knelt in front of her, and took her hand.

"How do you plan to prepare for today's lesson?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

"I want to..." Castorice blushed.

"I want to try what you said last time... to help me."

Luo Li's heart started racing again.

"Okay," he nodded, "But before that..."

He stood up and took a small box from the drawer—condoms and a tube of lubricant.

Castorice looked at the things, her eyes widening slightly. "You prepared so much?"

"It's better to be prepared." Luo Li's face also felt a little hot. "Besides... I want to make you comfortable."

He knelt before her again, looking up at her. "Is it alright?"

Castorice nodded, her voice very soft. "Mmm."

This time, Luo Li was very patient.

He remembered Castorice's every reaction, where she was sensitive, and what kind of touch she liked.

Afterwards, the two lay in bed embracing, panting.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the wall.

"Luo Li." Castorice's voice carried a languid tone of satisfaction.

"Um?"

You've improved.

Luo Li smiled, "It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent teaching."

Castorice laughed, rolled over and nestled against his chest, drawing circles on his chest with her finger. "So... do we still want to continue reviewing?"

Luo Li felt a dull ache in his waist again, but looking at Castorice's expectant eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say "no."

"Ten-minute break," he bargained.

"Five minutes," Castorice bargained.

Seven minutes.

"Make a deal."

Seven minutes later, the second round of previewing began.

This time, the Castorice was on top.

Luo Li lay on his back, watching her long, silvery-purple hair fall down, brushing against his chest, watching the tears welling in her purple eyes, and watching her brows furrow slightly with her movements.

"Are you tired?" he asked, placing his hand on her waist.

"I'm not tired," Castorice said breathlessly.

"But... something's strange."

"What's so strange?"

"It's just..." She couldn't finish her sentence and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Luo Li laughed, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him. "Then it's my turn."

By the time the third round of previewing ended, it was already 4 PM.

Both were too exhausted to speak, and could only embrace each other, panting.

"Luo Li," Castorice spoke first, her voice hoarse.

"Um?"

I'm hungry.

Luo Li laughed out loud, "What do you want to eat? I'll make it."

"You can cook?" Castorice looked at him in surprise.

"It'll be a simple meeting." Luo Li sat up.

"Fried rice, instant noodles, or... takeout?"

"Fried rice with egg," Castorice said.

I want to eat what you make.

"Good."

Luo Li got out of bed, put on a T-shirt and shorts, and walked out of the bedroom.

In the kitchen, as he cracked eggs, he wondered—is this what living together is like? Making love, cooking, and sleeping in each other's arms.

Although it was only three days, it felt... great.

The fried rice was ready quickly.

When Luo Li returned to the bedroom with two plates, Castorice was already wearing his shirt—only the middle two buttons were fastened, and the hem just covered her upper thighs.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs, and her eyes lit up when she saw him come in.

"It smells so good."

"Try it." Luo Li handed her a plate.

The two sat side by side on the edge of the bed, eating a simple egg fried rice.

As the sun began to set in the west, the room gradually darkened.

"Luo Li," Castorice suddenly said.

"Um?"

"Can we keep doing this for the next three days...?"

"Always the same?"

"It's just..." Castorice, organizing her thoughts.

"Be together, make love, eat, sleep, and then make love again."

She spoke so bluntly that Luo Li almost choked on her food.

"Aren't you... tired of it?" he asked.

"I don't get tired of it." Castorice shook her head and said earnestly, "I never get tired of doing anything with you."

Luo Li's heart softened again.

He put down the plate and hugged her. "Okay, then we'll stay like this for the next three days."

"Mmm." Castorice leaned on his shoulder, "But you have to promise me, you'll tell me if you're tired."

"The same to you."

"Make a deal."

After dinner, the two took a shower and went back to bed.

We didn't have sex this time, we just lay there chatting.

We talked about university, the future, and those trivial little things.

As they chatted, Castorice fell asleep.

Luo Li looked at her peaceful sleeping face and gently kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Castorice," he whispered.

Outside the window, night was deepening.

In the bedroom, the two young people slept in each other's arms.

Three days is a short time, but enough to create many memories.

For Luo Li, the biggest takeaway was that he finally understood that it's okay to admit you're tired in front of the person you love.

Because true "action" is not about showing off, but about knowing how to cherish each other.

Cherish your health, cherish your relationship, cherish every moment you spend together.

This is the most important thing.

As for the issue of physical strength...

Luo Li thought that maybe he should start working out.

In order to love her better.