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At 11 PM, Sheng Li emerged from the bathroom after her shower and began rummaging through her wardrobe. Her impeccable fashion sense was legendary in the industry, often praised by fans and fashion bloggers alike. After much searching, she settled on a plain white T-shirt and denim shorts. After changing, she asked Yuan Yuan, “How’s this?”
Yuan Yuan glanced at her fair, slender legs and shook her head. “These legs are too eye-catching!”
Sheng Li frowned. “Then what should I do? I can’t wear something ugly. Fine, hand me that shawl.”
“Wait a moment.” Yuan Yuan rushed out and returned with a plaid shirt in a nerdy tech style. “Wear this. It’s uglier.”
Sheng Li calmly took it and slipped it on, twirling in front of Yuan Yuan. “Good enough, my Yuan Yuan?”
Yuan Yuan furrowed her brow, muttering under her breath, “Why does she still look so good…”
“Because even if Sheng Li wore a sack, she’d look good,” Sheng Li quipped with a raised eyebrow, pulling on her hat and mask. “Alright, stop looking so gloomy. I’ll be careful. Even if someone takes a picture, we’ll just stroll around for a bit and come right back. Nothing will happen.”
What else could Yuan Yuan say?
If only Lu Xingyu hadn’t mentioned Sheng Li in that tweet, she could have continued filming quietly without drawing attention. Now, they had to be cautious. The nanny van couldn’t drive directly into the neighborhood.
Sheng Li and Yuan Yuan took the elevator to the basement level, where Lao Liu was already waiting in the nanny van. Parked beside it was Wei Cheng’s RV, large enough to block the view.
Two minutes later, the nanny van drove off.
Thirty seconds later, a black SUV slowly followed.
Three minutes later, Sheng Li emerged from behind the RV, tugging her hat low as she exited the parking lot.
She scanned a shared bike at the roadside.
Who would have thought? A top-tier female star like Sheng Li, in the middle of the night, riding a shared bike just to see a boy.
The last time she rode a bike was during a variety show last year. She stuffed a bag of medicine into the basket, hopped on, and wobbled unsteadily across the road.
The nighttime sidewalk was empty and quiet, almost devoid of people. Shadows of trees swayed in the wind, and the streetlights cast a dim, eerie glow. Sheng Li hadn’t walked alone on the streets at night in ages—it made her uneasy. Through her Bluetooth earpiece, Yuan Yuan’s voice crackled, “Li Li, where are you now?”
In the distance, Sheng Li spotted their two cars and gradually relaxed, pedaling forward. “I’ve set off. I can see your cars ahead. Everything’s fine.”
Fifteen minutes later, Sheng Li parked her bike outside Yu Chi’s apartment building.
The old building had twelve floors, no elevator, and motion-sensor lights that barely worked. As Sheng Li stomped her feet in the stairwell, she felt a pang of self-pity. After all this effort, if Yu Chi gave her a cold reception…
She’d…
Just have to take matters into her own hands!
Reaching the tenth floor, Sheng Li leaned against the wall, catching her breath. Into her earpiece, she said, “Yuan Yuan, I’m here. I’ll send you a red envelope tonight when we get back.”
Yuan Yuan, ever the dutiful assistant, rattled off a few reminders over the phone before signing off.
Sheng Li caught her breath, removed the plaid shirt, and stuffed it into her bag. She raised her hand to knock but hesitated, opting instead to call. The phone rang several times before being answered.
On the line, Yu Chi’s voice was low, hoarse, and tinged with irritation from being woken up. “Who is it?”
Sheng Li: “...”
Asleep, huh? And cranky?
A few seconds later, Sheng Li spoke gently. “Yu Xiao Chi, open the door for your sister.”
In the dimly lit bedroom, Yu Chi lay in bed, stunned for several moments before bolting upright. He checked his phone screen.
Last night, he had spiked a fever and lost his voice. To avoid delaying work, he went to the hospital in the afternoon for an IV, hoping to recover quickly.
He had returned home around 8 PM, swallowed some pills, and fallen asleep. His head still felt a bit dizzy, but seeing “Sheng Li” on the screen woke him instantly.
It was 11:38 PM.
Yu Chi turned on the bedside lamp, got out of bed, and headed toward the door. The small apartment meant the entrance was just a couple of steps away. Standing by the door, he heard faint movements in the hallway—the old building had poor soundproofing.
Outside, Sheng Li stamped her foot, letting a sliver of light seep through the gap under the door.
Aside from filming, Sheng Li rarely visited such old buildings. The dim lighting made the place feel eerie, and worst of all—there were mosquitoes! She stamped her foot again, knowing he was awake, and knocked. “Hurry up and open the door! There are mosquitoes out here.”
Yu Chi glanced at the gap under the door, leaning against the wall with a silent smirk. His voice was hoarse but playful. “Want to come in, huh?”
Sheng Li: “...”
She suddenly remembered that prank-like password. Did he really intend to make her say it before opening the door?
Even sick, he was holding a grudge?
Pleadingly, she said, “I went through so much trouble to get here. Hurry up and open the door.”
“Did Sister forget something?” Yu Chi lazily reminded her, his raspy voice adding a mischievous edge. “I said if Sister comes to see me, she has to say the password.”
Sheng Li: “...”
She stared at the heavy iron door, sighing inwardly.
She finally understood—flirting always came with consequences.
Forcing a strained smile, she asked, “What password?”
Yu Chi: “The password you set. Don’t remember?”
Sheng Li: “...”
Back then, she had teased him by setting that ridiculous password.
Yu Chi glared at the door, smirking coldly. “Or did you use so many passwords that you forgot which one you told me?”
“What am I supposed to say? Sister only exchanged passwords with you.” Sheng Li chuckled softly, bending down to scratch her calf. If she stood there any longer, mosquitoes would feast on her legs. Reluctantly, she submitted—
“Squeak, squeak squeak squeak!”
“Are you satisfied now? Can I come in? If you don’t open the door, I’m calling the police.”
Yu Chi’s lips twitched upward as he pressed the switch by the wall and stepped forward to open the door.
The door had barely cracked open when Sheng Li heard a loud click behind her. An irritated middle-aged man grumbled, “Who’s squeaking out here in the middle of the night? Squeaking and threatening to call the police…” His door swung open abruptly. Startled, Sheng Li panicked and lunged into Yu Chi’s arms, nearly knocking him back a step.
The man gripped his doorknob, glaring over.
Yu Chi locked eyes with him, reacting quickly by pulling Sheng Li flush against him. His hand pressed against the doorframe, pinning both of them against it.
BANG—
The sound echoed loudly through the quiet hallway, likely waking the entire building.
After two seconds of silence, the man muttered complaints to his wife. “In the middle of the night, I thought something was squeaking outside. They even said they’d call the police! Turns out it was just some handsome guy’s girlfriend showing up. Couples playing around should know their limits. Disturbing the peace like this is unacceptable!”
With that, he slammed the door shut.
Sheng Li was pressed against the door, breathing heavily, her heart pounding wildly. She looked up at Yu Chi.
Yu Chi still held her, gazing down at her face with complex emotions swirling in his eyes.
He pursed his lips, loosening his grip on her waist. Just as he straightened up, Sheng Li wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her face up. Her beautiful, lively eyes locked onto his. Her voice was soft and teasing. “What’s wrong, handsome? Your girlfriend went through so much trouble to see you. Isn’t it a bit cold to treat her this way?”
Yu Chi: “...”
He looked down at her, his voice dry and hoarse. “Then how do you want me to act? Tell me, Sister. What would count as not being cold?”
That single phrase—”Sister, tell me”—was maddening.
Surrounded by the clean, cool scent of the young man, Sheng Li’s heart raced. Maybe it was because he was sick, but she felt his attitude was more indulgent than before. Staring into his deep, dark eyes, she remembered why she had gone through all this trouble—to see him, to seize the opportunity and claim him.
So, she leaned in flirtatiously, her voice low and seductive. “Obviously, kiss me, then carry me to bed...”
She thought he wouldn’t dare.
The next second, the world spun as she was swept off her feet.
Sheng Li’s eyes widened in shock, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. With his long strides, Yu Chi carried her back to the room in just a few steps.
“You…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she was tossed onto the bed.
Yu Chi loomed over her, pinning her down.
The wooden bed creaked under their movements, startling Sheng Li. But it didn’t stop her heart from racing so fast it felt like it might leap out of her chest. Breathing heavily, she met his deep, dark eyes. A tingling sensation spread from her spine to her toes, leaving her feeling weak all over.
The warm, yellow glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the small bedroom. Sheng Li swallowed hard, her throat dry, her mind racing as she stared at Yu Chi. She never expected him to be so bold!
His hand braced beside her head, pressing down her soft, black hair. His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly as his unusually hoarse voice dripped with menace. “Did Sister think I wouldn’t dare?”
Sheng Li: “...”
She had indeed thought so.
Yu Chi sneered. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t dare. It’s just a matter of whether I want to or not.”
Sheng Li felt like her brain had been scrambled. She stared blankly at Yu Chi, unable to speak for a long moment.
Suddenly, her phone rang loudly beside them.
Sheng Li jumped, her body trembling slightly. The phone had fallen out of her jeans pocket during the fall.
Yu Chi glanced at the screen, where the name “Queen Zhou” flashed.
Zhou Sinuan—a famous actress who years ago had caused Sheng Li to suffer an allergic reaction and miss a crucial film audition. Yu Chi gave Sheng Li one last look, stood up, and walked out of the room, leaving her lying on his bed. After a brief pause, she reached for her phone and answered.
Zhou Sinuan: “Who were you talking to? I’ve been trying to call for half an hour, but your line was busy.”
“No one…” Sheng Li’s voice was dry. She cleared her throat and sat up. “Why are you calling me so late?”
“Why aren’t you asleep either?”
Sheng Li walked to the doorway. The apartment was small but functional, with an open-concept kitchen. A small white dining table stood near the entrance. In the dim living room light, Yu Chi leaned casually against the table, drinking water. He finished one glass and poured another.
All traces of aggression were gone, replaced by the clean, straightforward demeanor of a young man.
She wanted to ask what had just happened, but brushed it off as she responded to Zhou Sinuan. “Yeah, I’m out hunting for fun.”
“Hunting for fun? Who are you hunting?” Zhou Sinuan asked excitedly.
Sheng Li replied nonchalantly, “Not telling you.”
Zhou Sinuan assumed she was bluffing and changed the subject. “What did Lu Xingyu mean by that tweet yesterday? What’s this three-month agreement about?”
“Are you living under a rock? You’re just asking about this now? It’s already off the trending list.”
“It’s literally a bad connection. Yesterday, the filming location had terrible signal—I couldn’t even access Weibo! Did you block me? You didn’t reply to my messages!” Zhou Sinuan scoffed. “What dirty deal did you make with Lu Xingyu?”
Sheng Li grew impatient. “Do you really believe everything Lu Xingyu says?”
Yu Chi set his glass down, casting a cold glance at Sheng Li.
Sheng Li: “???”
Didn’t he just throw me onto the bed? What’s with this cold indifference now?
“I have something to do. I’ll hang up,” Sheng Li told Zhou Sinuan.
“What could you possibly be doing so late?”
“Going to bed.” Sheng Li’s tone was casual. “You interrupted us earlier. Bye.”
“???”
She hung up. True to her word, Zhou Sinuan didn’t call back, but her WeChat messages bombarded Sheng Li nonstop.
Yu Chi watched her expressionlessly. Sheng Li approached him, raising an eyebrow with a smile. “Not continuing?”
“Are you here to see me or to sleep with me?” Yu Chi looked at her coldly, his voice less hoarse after drinking water.
Sheng Li hadn’t forgotten her original purpose—to check on his health. The bag of medicine she dropped at the door earlier was now on the coffee table, along with his medical records. She peeked inside—it contained fever reducers and antibiotics.
“Did you have a fever last night?” she asked, looking up.
Yu Chi gave a faint “Mm.”
Sheng Li pressed further. “Are you still feeling unwell?”
“Not anymore.” Yu Chi moved past her to sit on the couch, lounging lazily against the backrest. He glanced at the bag of medicine, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Last time, she tricked him into delivering medicine to a hotel. This time, she came to bring him medicine and even recited that absurd password.
And… threw her onto the bed.
Maybe the fever had burned away his rationality.
Sheng Li joined him on the couch, smiling brightly as she turned to face him. “Since you’re feeling better, it means your mind is clear. Do you remember what you just did to me?”
Yu Chi looked down at her, self-deprecating. “I remember. I haven’t lost my memory.”
Sheng Li studied him for a few seconds, leaning closer until her face was below his. She raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Even after all this, you still don’t want to date me?”
Yu Chi met her gaze for a moment before asking softly, “How long do you plan to date?”
Who could answer that? Sheng Li paused, reflecting on her recent string of questionable behavior. After a moment of self-reflection, she cupped his face, staring directly into his eyes. “Don’t worry. If you date Sister, she’ll definitely treat you well. It’ll be entirely up to you if you want to break up, okay?”
Such words, coming from her, were half-truths at best and not entirely trustworthy.
But Yu Chi looked into her eyes, and even though he knew she was placating him, he resigned himself to defeat. “Fine.”
Hmm?
He agreed?!
Sheng Li blinked, hardly daring to believe it.
Seeing her incredulous expression, Yu Chi thought she was teasing him again. He smirked bitterly, pulling her hands down and turning away.
Coming to her senses, Sheng Li realized he was retracting his agreement. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. Impatiently, Yu Chi turned back, their noses brushing lightly. Their breaths hitched as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
It was like that night in the car—their lips mere inches apart, breaths mingling. All it would take was a slight movement to kiss.
Sheng Li, still clinging to his neck, lowered her gaze to his thin lips. Tilting her head slightly, she brushed her lips against his in a fleeting touch. Yu Chi stared at the faint shadow her lashes cast on her cheeks, his voice hoarse yet obedient. “I have a cold.”
Sheng Li’s heart raced, her voice teasing. “Then kiss me and see if it’s contagious.”
The next moment, she was pinned against the couch. Yu Chi leaned in, breathing heavily, his kiss rough and possessive, full of frustration and anger.
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