Chapter 63: Are You a Wild Dog?

As the sun set, the temperature in the desert plummeted. The camels had already returned to their pens for the night, but the outdoor livestream at the bed-and-breakfast was still in full swing.

The influencer, who had been wearing a strapless evening gown earlier, now wrapped herself in a goose-down coat. Her assistants and crew, having grossly underestimated the temperature difference between day and night in the northwest, clung to body warmers like lifelines but were still shivering uncontrollably.

Once the sparkling wine from Chixia Winery was out of frame, Shi Ying—who had been smiling and mingling with the team—made a quick exit. After sending photos of the influencer drinking the sparkling wine and screenshots of the livestream to Lao Zhao, he hurriedly borrowed an oil-filled radiator from the employee dormitory and rushed back to the wooden cabin to preheat it for Cheng Simin.

Around nine o’clock in the evening, Cheng Simin left Beibei with her neighbor, Jingang, and officially met up with Shi Ying at the entrance of the desert branch of the bed-and-breakfast.

The moment Cheng Simin stepped out of the ride-share car, Shi Ying draped her in a cashmere blanket, wrapping her from neck to hips.

He took the shopping bag from her hand and hung it on his own wrist while reaching for her hand with his other. His voice was a constant stream of chatter as he asked, “Are you cold? Very cold? It’s just a five-minute walk. The room is warm—I’ve already turned on the heater.”

Cheng Simin wasn’t cold at all. She naturally ran warm, and before leaving home, Shi Ying had repeatedly urged her to bundle up. Being earnest by nature, she’d layered herself three times over, complete with snow boots and a down vest. The desert temperature was barely above freezing—not nearly extreme enough to warrant such insulation—but wrapped up like a dumpling, she was already sweating slightly.

Still, such sweet concern was never unwelcome. Cheng Simin pursed her lips and simply hummed in acknowledgment without denying his assumption.

She pressed his cool palm against her flushed cheek and cooed teasingly, “What about you? Are you cold? Once we’re inside, I’ll warm you up.”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“Shi Ying, seeing you makes me so happy.”

“Cheng Simin, I’m even happier than you.”

Hand in hand, they exchanged saccharine words like parrots mimicking each other, turning what should have been a five-minute walk into a thirty-minute journey.

Midway through, Cheng Simin tiptoed to kiss Shi Ying’s chin. He immediately pulled her closer by the waist and kissed her back, causing the contents of the shopping bag to spill onto the ground. Luckily, the soft sand cushioned the fall, preventing any damage.

They got momentarily lost after kissing, their vision completely blurred by love, unable to see anything but each other’s faces. Despite the golden house number glaring brightly on the wooden cabin, they managed to pass by the correct door three times without noticing.

When they finally found the right room, Cheng Simin was panting from the heat. Stepping onto the small wooden stairs, she opened the glass door to find the interior blazing with warmth. Waves of heat greeted her as soon as she entered.

After removing her mini backpack and peeling off her coat and vest, Cheng Simin resembled a steamed shrimp—her entire body glistened with a thin layer of sweat, her fingertips tinged red.

Shi Ying opened the window to ventilate the room and retrieved a cold drink from the mini-fridge for her. True to his role as a server, he unpacked slippers and arranged them neatly on the floor before meticulously setting up the dining table with the dishes Cheng Simin had brought, wiping down chopsticks.

Cheng Simin kicked off her snow boots and, too lazy to wear slippers, padded barefoot across the wooden floor. Sipping cold water, she strolled lightly around the room.

The cluster of bed-and-breakfasts spanned a vast area—some built near ancient sections of the Great Wall overlooking the Yellow River, others nestled under Helan Mountain surrounded by dense forests.

This particular area was located on the eastern edge of the Tengger Desert, offering stunning desert views. The rooms featured 180-degree panoramic windows, with opportunities for sandboarding and playing nearby. Though compact, the rustic wooden cabins included private bathrooms, making them slightly more luxurious than the neighboring tents meant only for sleeping.

Cheng Simin had no interest in the desert scenery outside. This part of the Tengger Desert was one of Banshan’s oldest 4A-rated tourist spots, offering free admission to locals year-round. As a native of Banshan, her childhood photo albums were filled with pictures of her tanned skin, twin ponytails, and sunny smiles while sliding down sand dunes or riding camels. With that in mind, she drew the linen curtains tightly shut and began inspecting the room’s facilities.

“Shi Ying, how have you been sleeping these past few days? There doesn’t seem to be a bed in here?”

Was he sleeping on the floor? The wooden planks looked hard enough to make her lower back ache later.

Her question was phrased subtly, as if genuinely concerned for him. Without much thought, Shi Ying glanced up and pointed to the wall-like structure behind her. “The bed folds down from the wall. There’s a button to release it. One end rests on this table for support.”

“It’s designed to save space. Once lowered, the room becomes almost entirely occupied by the bed.”

Cheng Simin nodded slowly, thinking inwardly that this suited her perfectly. She walked past the living area and checked the bathroom to confirm whether the shower glass was fully transparent.

A few minutes later, Cheng Simin emerged from the bathroom, pleased with her pre- and post-planning. Seeing Shi Ying still busy arranging things, she plopped onto a cushion next to the dining table and waved him over. “Ah, stop fussing. It’s just something simple I made. If I’d had more time, I would’ve prepared a proper feast—braised chicken or red-braised pork belly or something.”

Inside Cheng Simin’s shopping bag were three containers of varying shapes:

A large bowl of shrimp, peas, and egg fried rice; a small portion of tiger salad (a spicy appetizer); and a shallow stainless steel container filled with two types of fiery red paste. In addition, fearing Shi Ying might not have enough energy, she also packed several packs of shredded beef jerky, instant noodles, sausages, four beers, and a pomelo.

The assortment rivaled the snack carts on trains.

The previously sparse room quickly filled up once Cheng Simin unpacked everything. Even the narrow dining table felt cramped as they sat together.

Cheng Simin started eating first. With no extra bowls available, she used the lid of the container. Noticing Shi Ying quietly peeling the pomelo beside her, she snatched the fruit away and tossed it aside, handing him chopsticks and the fried rice instead. “Look at you—why haven’t you taken off your clothes yet? Take off your coat and eat. Didn’t you say earlier you were starving after working all day?”

Shi Ying was hungry. Supplies were scarce in the desert, and priority went to the influencer’s small team. He hadn’t eaten properly in two days. Hearing Cheng Simin mention it triggered his stomach to growl audibly.

Feeling self-conscious, Shi Ying removed his coat and picked up the container. He couldn’t help but feel awkward—she had gone out of her way to visit him and bring food, making it seem like he was some high-stakes businessman.

In reality, he was just a lowly errand runner, akin to a tiny screw in the machine.

And after their first fight since becoming a couple, it was Cheng Simin who reached out first. How magnanimous she seemed compared to his hesitant demeanor.

The insulated lining of the shopping bag kept the fried rice warm. Shi Ying took a big bite and nearly swooned—it was delicious. Emotions swelled within him.

Eating and talking simultaneously, he expressed his feelings effusively: “Cheng Simin, you’re too good to me. This fried rice is amazing. I’m so moved.”

Not knowing how else to repay her kindness, he proposed various romantic nighttime plans.

“Let’s go stargazing after dinner. There’s a drone light show before the livestream ends at midnight. I’ll buy some fireworks, and we can go outside to set them off.”

While kissing earlier, he’d noticed Cheng Simin had applied makeup today. His thumb still bore traces of her lip gloss.

“I’ll take lots of photos of you.”

All those hours holding reflector boards for the influencer hadn’t been wasted—Shi Ying had learned a thing or two from the photographer. The desert provided a clean, minimalist backdrop, especially at night. With just a flash and close-up shots, he was confident he could capture breathtaking images of Cheng Simin.

Cheng Simin hummed noncommittally, her round deer-like eyes repeatedly glancing at the foldable bed behind Shi Ying.

“We’ll see. Eat first. Talk about it after you’re full.”

The sooner they finished eating and cleared the table, the sooner they could lower the bed!

Frustrated by Shi Ying’s slow pace—he’d only eaten half while she was already full—Cheng Simin set down her chopsticks and lightly touched the back of her neck. “Ugh, I’m all sweaty. I feel uncomfortable. Let me take a shower first.”

“What? Now? Won’t you catch a cold if you go outside afterward? Just wait a bit and shower later.”

For heaven’s sake, was he a wild dog, always wanting to run outside once it got dark?

Cheng Simin cursed inwardly but maintained her composure outwardly. Casually shrugging, she said, “It’s fine. We have a hairdryer, don’t we? If anything, we can go out later.”

“Forget about me. Hurry up and finish eating. After I shower, you should too. I can smell your sweat. You’ve been working all day—it’s unhygienic not to shower.”

To ensure he didn’t resist, she pinched her nose and teased him, scrunching her face and speaking in a high-pitched tone. “You’re not smelling too great either. And you look kind of ugly.”