"I've always wanted to hold you shamelessly like this."
Dong Chengling repeated it softly in Ren Suo's ear, her tone certain.
Though he was soaked through from head to toe, Ren Suo felt parched.
His whole body was stiff as withered roots, yet every cell burned with the fervor of a hungry infant. What flowed through his veins seemed not to be blood but blazing gasoline; what hid in his chest seemed not to be a heart but a concussed fawn; what filled his head was not a brain at all, but a stormy sea.
He clearly wanted to move recklessly, yet he was too nervous to move.
At that moment, Ren Suo felt Dong Chengling's body tremble slightly as well, her arms around him hovering with caution.
She was even more nervous than he was.
And even braver.
He froze for a moment, then relaxed completely. He reached out and drew Chengling into his arms, saying gently, "Me too."
Dong Chengling immediately stopped trembling. Her hands tightened slightly, as if she wanted to knead herself into Ren Suo's body. "I also want to see you every night before I close my eyes."
"No problem. I'll stay up late every day."
"I also want to see you the moment I open my eyes every morning."
"No problem. I'll definitely still be asleep when you wake up."
"You're so lazy."
"But you love me."
Dong Chengling and Ren Suo burst out laughing at the same time. They shared a gentle kiss, then said nothing more, remaining embraced in the bathtub.
The splashing hot water became their only music, the rising white mist like clouds in a fairyland, their breathing and heartbeats the perfect accompaniment.
Strangely enough, Ren Suo realized that he had no other thoughts at all right now. He only