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Lin Zhan woke up with the extremely early biological clock she had developed in those few days. Shen Xi had left at some unknown time.
After a night of tossing and turning, yet still being able to wake up so early, Lin Zhan truly admired him.
Since it was their first day there, it wouldn’t be good to wake up too late. Lin Zhan struggled to sit up, looking at the mess in front of her.
Shen Xi had probably left in a hurry and didn’t have time to clean up.
The humiliation of last night was deeply etched in her mind. Lin Zhan gritted her teeth, and with a strong “desire for revenge,” she managed to put on her clothes.
Humiliation, no dignity, never forget last night’s shame!
After tidying up briefly, she opened the door and went out.
She barely made it to breakfast.
Shen Xi, who was tidying the dishes, saw her and raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised.
During breakfast, Ye Qian looked at her: “Why are your eyes so swollen? Did you cry last night?”
Just a simple cry wouldn’t make them this swollen.
Lin Zhan buried her head in her porridge: “Yes, I watched a tragic movie last night.”
Shen Xi was noncommittal, smiling without a word.
Ye Qian took the opportunity while they were still home to talk about graduation.
“Zhan Zhan is going to be a senior soon, right?”
Lin Zhan: “Yes.”
“Are you planning to pursue a master’s degree?”
This time, Shen Xi answered for her: “We both plan to.”
Even after graduation, they still intended to stay at the university.
“Are you both going to work here in the future?”
After thinking for a moment, Lin Zhan said: “Probably.”
That afternoon, W City snowed again.
Lin Zhan leaned against the window and suggested, “Let’s build a snowman, Shen Xi?”
Shen Xi went into the room to change clothes, and Ye Qian stood beside Lin Zhan, smiling: “He never used to go out when it snowed.”
Lin Zhan built a person struggling to survive on the steps, and to match the scene, she even used paint to dab bloodstains on its mouth.
Shen Xi looked at her and said, “If anyone comes later, they’ll be scared to death by what you’ve built.”
Lin Zhan continued her creation, and after finishing, she looked at the ring on her right middle finger.
She suddenly sighed.
Shen Xi: “Why the sigh?”
Lin Zhan shook her head, saying with regret, “Did I really just agree to you like that, in a daze? Without even a formal proposal?”
Shen Xi: “...”
Lin Zhan asked: “When did you buy the ring?”
Shen Xi tried hard to remember, finally saying: “A long time ago, I can’t recall.”
“A long time ago, huh—” She drew out her words, walked in front of Shen Xi with her hands behind her back, and blinked, “You wanted to marry me that early?”
She was teasing, but Shen Xi took her hands, which were red from building the snowman, and enveloped them in his own palm.
He said:
“Yes, only you.”
“Although you talk a lot, like to make trouble, and are sometimes unreasonable—but that’s only sometimes.”
Lin Zhan retorted, “How am I like that... What about most of the time?”
“Most of the time, you’re very likable.”
Lin Zhan remained unconvinced: “Most of the time likable to ‘people,’ but what about you?”
“I’m different,” he said in a low voice, “I like you all the time.”
________________________________________
The second half of junior year passed in a different kind of busyness.
After the start of senior year, courses clearly decreased.
Those who needed to write graduation theses wrote theses, those who needed to work on graduation projects worked on projects. Soon there would also be school internships.
Lin Zhan also had to prepare for the graduate entrance exams.
Not long after the start of the previous semester, her teacher sought her out to discuss a painting exhibition.
With frequent “face-time” at various events, Lin Zhan gradually gained some recognition and a loyal fan base.
“Everyone thinks your work is ready, and you have a certain popularity. While the school can still help you, you can apply for a student art exhibition as soon as possible.”
When this was said, Lin Zhan was a little stunned.
She maintained an outward composure and thanked the teacher, asking about the process and behind-the-scenes work. When she walked out of the office, her hands were somewhat cold.
Although she had prepared herself mentally, and she knew she didn’t need to be self-deprecating, still... it was too fast, too sudden.
She was a little surprised, a little at a loss, unsure if she could live up to the teacher’s trust.
That feeling was like someone who had been up all night looking up and suddenly seeing the light of day; or like someone who had stumbled through the rain for a long time and suddenly saw blooming flowers and brilliant sunshine before them.
Back in the dorm, she informed them about it, and everyone was very happy.
Especially Luoluo: “What’s fast? Don’t you see how much glory you’ve brought to Weida University? What’s a painting exhibition? I think it’s too little!”
After saying that, she couldn’t stop laughing.
Planning an art exhibition was somewhat complex, and there were many things to prepare.
Lin Zhan rummaged through her old paintings, and the few people in her dorm, along with their supervising teacher, selected the exhibits.
With the school’s support, it was much better than bearing the burden personally.
From application to approval, then selecting exhibits, determining the exhibition theme, and then finding a venue...
After finding the venue, they had to frame the paintings, advertise everywhere, and arrange the exhibition hall.
On the day of the trial exhibition, everyone from the dorm and Shen Xi came.
Everyone adjusted the positions of the paintings with the lighting, working for several hours before stopping.
Lin Zhan was also tired, leaning against the door frame, saying, “After the exhibition, I’ll treat you all to dinner.”
Everyone helped her a lot with this exhibition.
The youngest, a designer, helped Lin Zhan create the posters to be displayed.
The dorm leader, who knew many people, helped Lin Zhan contact places for poster distribution.
Luoluo knew people in the student union and posted many updates for Lin Zhan on the school’s official WeChat account and Weibo.
Shen Xi was the laborer, often helping Lin Zhan move things.
After the trial exhibition ended, Lin Zhan didn’t want to leave, so she sat on the long bench at the entrance to rest.
Everyone else from the dorm had left. Shen Xi saw her sitting there alone, face upturned, eyes unfocused.
He sat beside her and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Did you achieve your goal and now feel like you’ve lost the motivation to move forward?”
After all, her continuous efforts and struggles had always been for the promise she made to Lin Zhengping.
She wanted to gain her freedom, and first, she had to hold this art exhibition.
“I’m just getting started,” Lin Zhan replied, regaining her composure. “I just feel like the road is still very long, and there are so many more things to do.”
Once this is done, there will be the next thing, and the thing after that.
There are countless young painters who can hold exhibitions, and she isn’t even among the best. If she really wants to climb higher, she needs to produce better works and endure more trials.
Lin Zhan: “Just thinking about these things, I feel that the future won’t be easy either.”
“Being tired means you’re going uphill,” he ruffled her hair. “Even if it’s tiring, it won’t be too bad.”
Lin Zhan nodded, staring at her toes, and let out a long sigh: “After all, the hardest part is already solved.”
Shen Xi asked her, “Will you invite your family to the exhibition?”
“Yes, of course, I have to,” Lin Zhan said, “First, I need to let Lin Zhengping know that I did it.”
Shen Xi paused, still not telling her that he had visited her home before.
Lin Zhan said, “I haven’t been back for many years. Although Lin Zhengping might think I’m rebellious, I want to tell him that it’s not rebellion, I just can’t accept his methods. I want to tell him that the art exhibition is a success, and he can no longer interfere with my life.”
No matter how difficult the future might be, she was ready to bear it herself.
________________________________________
She chose a weekend and returned to W City.
This was her first time returning to W City since university, and she came with the intention of going home.
She found that even after years of not walking this path, she was still intimately familiar with every brick and tree, knew every street and shop like the back of her hand, and still felt a lonely sense of familiarity with the destination this road led to.
After all, it was her home, the place where she had lived for eighteen years.
Although Lin Zhengping’s parenting style was flawed, he never intended to harm her.
Love can be so contradictory, Lin Zhan thought, pulling at her hair helplessly.
She ascended the steps, reached the unit door, and took out her access card to open the outermost gate.
Nothing had changed. How could an access card that hadn’t been updated for years still open the door?
A mix of emotions swirled in her heart as she took the elevator to her doorstep.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door, gripping the strap of her crossbody bag, and watched the door crack.
After about a minute, someone came to open the door.
Jiang Wan opened the door, saw her, and blinked in surprise a few times.
“Zhan Zhan, you’re back?!”
The TV in the living room, which had been at a normal volume, was slowly turned down.
Lin Zhan: “Yes, I came to tell you something.”
Jiang Wan gestured: “Come in, come in... Mom bought some lychees two days ago, thinking you’d love them if you were home, and we couldn’t finish them by ourselves...”
She choked up, said nothing, just gripped the strap in her hand tighter.
She walked towards the living room.
Lin Zhengping was watching TV on the sofa. Seeing her, he uncharacteristically said nothing, just silently pressed the TV remote.
She sat on the sofa and reached into her bag to pull out two invitations.
“My solo art exhibition will open in a week. The location is written in the invitation. It’s up to you whether you go or not.”
Jiang Wan happened to bring over the lychees. Seeing the invitations, she paused for a moment.
“So soon?”
“Not fast at all, I’ve been painting for many years and have represented the school in many competitions.”
Lin Zhan explained, then turned her head towards Lin Zhengping.
“I came here to tell you that the agreement we made after the college entrance exam, I fulfilled it. I also hope you’ll no longer interfere with my major in the future. I don’t want to be constrained.”
Jiang Wan smiled: “Alright, you’re finally home. Don’t talk about these things. Have some lychees first, Mom has washed them.”
Lin Zhan ate lychees while listening to the indifferent news broadcast, the hosts’ almost identical broadcasting voices making it feel as if she were in a serious environment.
She didn’t know how many she had eaten when Lin Zhengping picked up the cigarette box from the table and went back to his room alone.
When the lychees were almost finished, Jiang Wan walked over to her and stroked her hair.
“Zhan Zhan, in the years you’ve been away, your father has changed a lot.”
“Go into the room, he has something to say to you.”
Lin Zhan washed her hands and entered the study.
The room, ventilated by the breeze, no longer smelled of smoke.
At some point, a fish tank had been added to the study, and now several goldfish were swimming freely within it.
Lin Zhengping held a box of fish food and sprinkled it, his back to Lin Zhan, but he was speaking to her.
“When I was ten, our family got fish for the first time. I didn’t know then that fish don’t have a sense of fullness. I clung to the fish tank, frantically throwing food in. They couldn’t speak, they just knew how to eat. I thought they would be happy. The next day, I found them dead from overeating.”
Lin Zhan just stood there, watching the goldfish in the tank frantically wag their tails.
Lin Zhengping continued: “At that time, I didn’t feel I was wrong; I just thought I didn’t know those common facts. Since I meant well, I never intended any harm, so whatever I did was unintentional, and I didn’t feel bad about it.”
“At first, I thought you were just rebellious, unable to see how I was good to you, constantly contradicting me because of adolescence, thinking that everything I gave you was the worst.”
“In the years you were gone, I always thought this way, because I believed I was doing what was best for you, so I didn’t feel I was wrong. Instead, I thought you were heartless.”
Lin Zhan listened silently.
“Last year, I think, I saw you once, coming out of the library with Shen Xi. It was the first time I saw you smile so happily, without any burdens. It was then I realized that without this family, you weren’t living as badly as I had imagined.”
“Later, Shen Xi came, which further validated my thoughts. He showed me your paintings, your awards, your interviews and columns. I suddenly realized that many years ago, you weren’t just giving me empty promises. You truly chose a path for yourself and walked it very smoothly. And this path is better than the one I gave you.”
“That night, I reminisced and discovered something astonishing. I always used to think that your achievements today, Lin Zhan, were inseparable from my coercion. But that night, I suddenly realized that every time I forced you into a competition or exam, you never did well.”
“What accompanied you wasn’t applause and flowers, but pressure and insomnia, and even mild manic depression. What did I give you? Your ability to persevere must have always been solely due to your love for art.”
“Even this art exhibition—if I hadn’t made that agreement with you, you would have held it anyway. It’s just that without me, this exhibition would have happened more naturally, without any eagerness for quick success, simply as a testament and product of your artistic development to a certain level. Your creations would be purer, painting just for the sake of good art, not frantically pushing yourself to produce something good just to hold an exhibition within a few years.”
Over the years, his mindset had shifted little by little, from initial disdain and contempt, to doubt, then to self-doubt, and finally, understanding everything, he was willing to admit it.
Lin Zhan, at this moment, finally understood what Lin Zhengping was saying.
The awkward man was using this self-deprecating way to apologize to her.
To tell her—
He admitted that his past thoughts and actions were biased, and he admitted that what she did was right.
Lin Zhan had imagined countless times what her psychological state would be in this situation. She thought she would feel vindicated, would feel like she had let out suppressed anger, would feel relieved. Unexpectedly, she only felt a sense of relaxation.
Perhaps she couldn’t forgive him that quickly, so she would leave everything to time.
After a long while, she looked at the fish tank and said, word by word: “Then go see my art exhibition.”
Lin Zhengping put down the fish food in his hand and turned to look at her.
“I’ve made great progress in these past few years.”
________________________________________
The day before the exhibition, Lin Zhan found a hotel nearby and casually checked in.
Shen Xi had something to do the next day and couldn’t make it.
Lin Zhan naturally felt it was fine; after all, it was just an art exhibition, and she didn’t need to do anything, so she told him to prioritize his own matters.
Shen Xi felt guilty, so he decided to stay with her the night before and rush back early the next morning.
Lying in the double bed, Lin Zhan looked at the ceiling and said, “You don’t have to come, I can stay by myself, you know.”
Shen Xi was reading beside her, turning a page with a rustle, unperturbed. He said, “I’m afraid you’ll be nervous and won’t sleep well.”
“Not anymore,” Lin Zhan rolled over to face him, recalling, “I don’t feel much pressure anymore, because I earned some of those spots myself, and after a few big exams, I feel like none of this is a big deal. Besides, even if I don’t sleep well, it’s fine, I don’t have to do anything tomorrow.”
Shen Xi didn’t even shift his gaze, just chuckled and asked, “Then what should I do? I’m already here. Are you kicking me out of bed?”
Lin Zhan sat up, playfully kicking him twice: “Yes, hurry, go sleep outside.”
Shen Xi remained unmoving and turned another page of his book.
Lin Zhan crawled over, her fingers resting on the corner of his eye, her voice filled with surprise.
“I’m just realizing now, you actually have such a tiny mole under your left eye?”
She repeatedly confirmed, continuously caressing it, causing that patch of skin to itch.
Shen Xi, unable to bear it, tossed the newspaper aside, grabbed her wrist, his voice low and hoarse.
“Had enough touching?” He leaned over her. “Now... is it my turn?”
Lin Zhan laughed nonstop, pushing him away: “Don’t mess around, I have an art exhibition tomorrow.”
“Good that you know,” Shen Xi pinched her cheek. “Was the last lesson not enough? Still dare to tease me?”
________________________________________
The day of the exhibition, the weather was exceptionally good.
The sky was clear and vast, a brilliant blue, with wisps of clouds drifting leisurely, content and light.
Lin Zhan, who had felt nothing in particular, grew nervous as people began to enter.
She feared her paintings weren’t good enough, feared her skill would disappoint everyone, and feared...
Forget it, she shook her head, looking at the text message on her phone, thinking, that’s right, what is there to fear?
What was there to be afraid of?
She had encountered and overcome everything. A mere art exhibition, with such thorough preparation, was foolproof. What was there to be scared of?
Shen Xi sent her a message.
It was a very simple picture.
Seventeen-year-old Lin Zhan, still holed up in the art room after school, holding a palette, intently gazing at her painting.
Sparse sunlight filtered in, casting a delicate glow around her ankles.
She must have been very satisfied with this painting, for when she smiled, it carried a triumphant pride.
She looked beautiful when she painted seriously.
If she, at seventeen, could be so proud, then she, at twenty-two, could still be so.
And would forever be.
________________________________________
The art exhibition went very smoothly, and everyone praised Lin Zhan’s work.
The entire exhibition atmosphere was excellent; everything was perfect.
After the exhibition ended, people gradually left, and Lin Zhan, as the person in charge, had to wait until the very end to leave.
An elder stood before her and shook her hand.
He pointed to the painting “Survivor” on the wall and said to her, “I deeply regret not being born ten years earlier, so I could have been your teacher when I still had the strength. I really love your paintings; no matter how desolate and somber the colors are, they always reveal an unyielding resilience.”
He then pointed to another painting: “However, that one isn’t your style.”
Lin Zhan asked, “Why not?”
The old man chuckled: “It’s not Lin Zhan’s style; it’s the style only people in love would have.”
That painting was of Shen Xi, when he was eighteen. He was tutoring her in the library, and during a short break, he fell asleep with his head on a book.
She didn’t know why, but later when she recalled it, although there were many other scenes more suitable to paint, she always felt that this particular scene held an unprecedented beauty.
At that time, neither of them knew how their future lives would unfold, whether they would attend the same school, or whether one would fall out of love after they started dating...
They hadn’t fully entered society yet; even their love carried a reckless defiance.
After the old man left, Lin Zhan reminisced for a long time before remembering his name.
Indeed, she had seen him before, in an art book.
She began to regret not asking for an autograph.
After the exhibition completely ended, Lin Zhan rubbed her eyes and walked down the steps.
Across the one-way street, bustling with traffic, stood a person.
The sunlight was glorious, and the trees and flowers were growing, but nothing was as dazzling as this person.
It was as if the whole world only saw him.
She used to detest the phrase “the rest of my life,” because it was long and uncertain, filled with unknown dangers and countless variables.
But the thought of spending the rest of her life with this person made it feel poetic and romantic.
Lin Zhan quickened her pace, running towards him and throwing herself into his arms.
The scent of sunshine was as always, with an effervescence and tenderness that was hard to disperse, like being buried in a quilt, comfortable and relaxed, so at peace that she felt she was about to sink into a dream.
Shen Xi stroked her hair and asked with a smile, “You’re not even wearing your glasses. Did you even see who I was before you rushed into my arms?”
—Of course, she knew who he was.
Her ray of hope, her life’s belief.
She met him when she was five, and reunited with him when she was seventeen.
In her twenty-second year, they were still together.
What about later?
A meeting, a lifetime.
[End of the Story]
Author’s Note: This story is dedicated to all girls who have faced low points but still managed to bravely stand up again.
Insomnia, stress, and difficulties will pass. Be more resilient, ride the wind and waves.
I hope everyone can find their ray of hope one day.
Thank you all for accompanying me to the end of this journey. bows
________________________________________
Weibo Extra: Coaxing the Wife to Sleep
The entire hospital knew that Dr. Shen Xi never worked night shifts.
It was said that when the owner of this private hospital paid a high price to poach Shen Xi, he had made a request.
Back then, everyone wasn’t familiar with each other, only knowing there was such a rumor, but not what the specific request was. So, there were many theories: some said a sky-high salary, some said a luxurious office, some said a Manchu Han Imperial Feast. But the rumors remained speculative; no one was sure what kind of enticing conditions Shen Xi would demand to willingly switch jobs.
The first day Dr. Shen arrived at the hospital, his features were refined, his voice clear and resonant, causing many young nurses in the hospital to feel a flutter of romance. However, he was unsmiling and basically never looked at anyone except patients.
Everyone saw this high-and-mighty flower as hard to pick and kept their distance, even speaking very little to him.
After three months, everyone discovered that this Dr. Shen was not as unapproachable as they had imagined.
The reason was that one day, an exquisitely beautiful patient arrived at the hospital.
By the time it was this patient’s turn, it was already closing time.
She held her medical record and leaned against the doorframe of Dr. Shen’s consulting room, arms crossed, watching him.
Everyone exchanged knowing glances. A young nurse whispered, “She means trouble. Is she trying to hit on him using a doctor’s visit as an excuse? The previous ones who tried that were scared off by Dr. Shen’s icy gaze.”
Someone else agreed, “But I think, at least he’d see the patient, right? Even though it’s after hours, she at least came in.”
No one guessed correctly. Shen Xi neither saw the patient nor froze her with his gaze.
Instead, he actually smiled, raising an eyebrow at her.
Wait... he smiled? The young nurse shook her head, confirming she hadn’t seen wrong.
Shen Xi stood up, smoothed the wrinkles in his white coat, and took a couple of steps to leave: “I’m sorry, I won’t be seeing you.”
She raised her hand, hooked her arm around Shen Xi’s waist, and pushed him back inside.
“I paid the fee. Why won’t you see me?”
Shen Xi was noncommittal, opened the medical record, and said, “You paid too little.”
Everyone whispered gossip amongst themselves: “This patient’s name is Lin Zhan. Does anyone know her?”
They all shook their heads.
Suddenly, Lin Zhan turned around.
She faced the onlookers and asked, “Here... do family members not get discounts on medical fees?”
Everyone mumbled, and only one nurse with a straightforward mind said, “You need to bring your family member first, he...”
She waved her hand, pointing at Shen Xi behind her, and calmly said, “My husband is the attending physician, can I get a discount?”
Everyone present was stunned, exchanging glances.
Shen Xi took off his white coat, hung it on the hanger, and then walked out of the consulting room in a few steps, nodding to his colleagues: “My wife came to see me. Everyone doesn’t need to wait, you can go off work.”
Thinking about it, they decided to treat everyone to a meal.
At the dinner table, the usually unsmiling Dr. Shen frequently laughed, and everyone suddenly realized that he wasn’t actually putting on airs. On the contrary, he was very easy to get along with, just a bit quiet.
As the dinner came to an end, somehow the topic of being on duty came up.
Lin Zhan placed her chopsticks on her bowl and suggested, “It seems he hasn’t been on duty for so long. Since I’m free tomorrow night, I can accompany him on duty.”
Shen Xi just smiled without a word.
The next evening, in the on-call room, Shen Xi was organizing things while Lin Zhan played games on the side.
She was coordinating with Sun Hong and the others and had voice chat enabled.
While moving her fingers to cast skills, she complained, “Hospital, hospital, white coat! Can’t you have some positive thoughts in your head all day?”
“What about doctors? It’s none of your business. Why don’t you just make your Lijie go study medicine?”
The game ended, and two big words “VICTORY” appeared on the screen.
She relaxed, tilted her head back, sat up straight, and saw Shen Xi in front of her.
Shen Xi watched her with his arms crossed: “What do you all... discuss every day?”
Lin Zhan then realized she wasn’t just playing games alone at home.
“...”
She tried to cover up, shaking her head: “Absolutely not discussing those kinds of questions. We have reached a high degree of consensus on doctors’ technical skills, and we definitely wouldn’t ask the stupid questions we asked you in college.”
“Oh?” Shen Xi asked calmly, “What questions did you ask me in college?”
Lin Zhan’s fake smile was starting to slip.
She had once, in a moment of irrationality, or perhaps being momentarily bewitched, or more likely just not thinking clearly, asked Shen Xi—[I heard doctors... are very powerful... is that true...?]
Later she learned that asking that was equivalent to digging a pit for herself to jump into, and a bottomless one at that.
The on-call room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The smell of disinfectant was practically a catalyst for the atmosphere, creating a subtle yet dangerous ambiance.
Sure enough, Shen Xi shifted his shoulders, the smile on his lips undiminished.
Clearly, he also remembered Lin Zhan’s classic question.
He couldn’t deal with her back then, but now, times were different.
He stood up, his white coat swaying slightly with his movement.
He unbuttoned a button, his gaze deep and unfathomable: “...Want to try?”
Lin Zhan was instantly speechless. She glanced at the door: “Are you sure? This is the on-call room, someone might come in any minute.”
After saying that, she pressed herself against the on-call bed and moved to the side.
Her skirt, which barely covered her upper thighs, hitched up even further uncontrollably with that movement.
She changed her posture, kneeling on the bed, and began to smooth her skirt.
Just as she finally smoothed her skirt, she heard a “zzzip” sound as her skirt zipper was pulled open.
Both shy and annoyed, she reached out to push Shen Xi, but because she changed her movement, it only made him remove the obstructing clothing faster.
With her legs parted by him, she was so nervous she wanted to immediately check if the door was locked. When she closed her eyes, every auditory nerve was infinitely magnified, terrified of hearing hurried footsteps in the dead silence.
He inserted a finger, and his fingertip was quickly enveloped by softness.
Trying deeper, he hooked his finger, watched her expression, and then added another.
Lin Zhan’s hands, which had been resting on his shoulders, now weakly covered her face.
She felt her pulse pounding fiercely in her neck.
Touching that spot, Shen Xi began to slowly rub and tease, until he felt her silent response and feedback, heard her faint moans, and only then did he gradually increase the pressure and speed.
His other hand wasn’t idle either; he pushed up all her clothes, reached out, and traced her beautiful bust line.
When his fingertips brushed against that erect little point, she almost immediately trembled, her shoulders slightly shrugging.
Beneath her fair skin, blue veins were faintly visible, subtly alluring.
She bit her lip, then hugged Shen Xi’s neck, extending her teeth to bite his shoulder.
Her strength was light, like a teething child biting, not really biting, but extremely ticklish.
Shen Xi withdrew his damp fingers, and she instinctively moved forward to meet him.
Shen Xi looked down and chuckled, teasing, “Don’t rush, I’m not leaving.”
Lin Zhan wanted to grab him, but his clothes were too neat.
Reaching out, she quickly stripped him clean. His supremely abstinent white coat, stained with something, had a damp patch that turned a light blue-gray.
The white coat floated gracefully to the floor.
The moment he was naked, Lin Zhan, in retaliation, scratched his back.
He wasn’t angry; instead, he continued to smile: “You’ll have a chance later.”
A chance to scratch me all you want.
Giving her almost no time to react, he entered deeply.
Lin Zhan made a muffled sound, and then hit him again.
He held her legs, seemingly gently, but his movements were unrestrained.
He knew her body better than she did, even knowing where her critical points were and how to please her.
Lin Zhan bit his shoulder, letting him reach the deepest point each time, then withdraw slightly.
Just as her mind was about to empty, she heard footsteps outside.
High heels clacked rhythmically on the floor.
Lin Zhan made muffled sounds, unable to form a complete sentence. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, sticky and slippery.
Shen Xi didn’t stop, but intensified. Lin Zhan was so flustered she was almost in tears, but her body was soft and weak, unable to control itself in any way.
A voice from outside: “Dr. Shen—”
Lin Zhan’s scalp tingled.
Shen Xi held her, walked to the door, cleared his throat, and then uttered a syllable in response.
He sank in a little deeper.
Lin Zhan gritted her teeth, a stream of air wanting to rush up her throat, but she swallowed it back.
She didn’t dare to cry out, biting Shen Xi’s shoulder tightly, trembling all over, her throat choked.
The person outside: “It’s my time to leave, I’m off.”
Shen Xi spoke, and though he tried to be rational and restrained, his voice still carried an unshakeable hoarseness.
“Okay.”
Hearing the footsteps finally recede, Lin Zhan dared to speak, her complaints broken and incomplete: “Shen Xi... you are too...”
He pinned her against the door, giving her no chance to say more.
Lin Zhan’s spine stiffened, feeling an electric current spread densely along her back, making her tremble and shiver.
Moderate exercise before bed helps with sleep.
Shen Xi had told her this once when he was helping her with her insomnia.
That night, due to exhaustion, Lin Zhan truly slept very well.
The day after their shift, everyone learned that the reason Shen Xi had given for switching jobs was to be off work before 10:30 PM every night.
A gossiper, grinning slyly, asked him: “Dr. Shen, why do you leave so early every night? Is there something important?”
Shen Xi’s expression was normal. He crumpled a piece of scrap paper and threw it into the trash can. His usual cool demeanor softened slightly, revealing a faint tenderness.
“Yes, I have to coax my wife to sleep.”
:)
________________________________________
Post-Marriage Short Play: A
After marriage, Lin Zhan gave birth to a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins.
Their daughter was still young, her personality inherited from her father Shen Xi, but her strength inherited from Lin Zhan.
One day during a family picnic, the little daughter picked up a tree branch for starting a fire and easily snapped it.
Shen Xi saw this as a good teaching opportunity, so he picked up a bundle of branches for his daughter, gathered them together, and handed them to her: “One is easy to break, but what about ten or a hundred? Try again.”
The daughter took the branches.
Shen Xi continued: “So, this is the power of unity...”
Crack! The bundle of branches was easily snapped again.
The little daughter blinked and asked Shen Xi, “Daddy, what did you just say? Say it again, I didn’t hear you.”
“...”
Shen Xi: “...Nothing. Go play with your mom.”
________________________________________
Weibo Extra: What’s in the Zoo?
The currently popular “What’s in the zoo?” has taken over half of Lin Zhan’s social media feed. The picture, filled with dialect, acts like a cute charm; no matter who reads it, it has a charming cuteness.
Lin Zhan naturally wouldn’t let Shen Xi off the hook. That night, she pestered him until he finally agreed to put down his bedtime storybook and read according to what she said.
Fortunately, Shen Xi had a habit of reading bedtime stories to her.
Lin Zhan began: “What’s in the zoo?”
Shen Xi followed: “What’s in the zoo?”
Lin Zhan had already anticipated the effect when Shen Xi read it aloud and couldn’t help but suppress a giggle: “Big li-on.” (大西几 - Dà xī jǐ, a mispronunciation of 大狮子 dà shī zi, big lion)
Shen Xi: “...”
She nudged him with her toe, urging him: “Hurry up.”
Shen Xi was silent for a moment. Just when she thought he wouldn’t read on, he spoke: “Big lion.” (大狮子 - Dà shī zi)
Lin Zhan: “...”
Turning back, he subtly raised an eyebrow at her, indicating that this small difficulty wouldn’t stump him.
Being cute? Not a chance.
Lin Zhan didn’t give up and continued.
“Little ti-ger.” (小脑斧 - Xiǎo nǎo fǔ, a mispronunciation of 小老虎 xiǎo lǎo hǔ, little tiger)
“Little tiger.” (小老虎 - Xiǎo lǎo hǔ)
“Plum blossom anger.” (梅发怒 - Méi fā nù, a mispronunciation of 梅花鹿 méi huā lù, sika deer)
“Sika deer.” (梅花鹿 - Méi huā lù)
“Little sea pain.” (小海疼 - Xiǎo hǎi téng, a mispronunciation of 小海豚 xiǎo hǎi tún, little dolphin)
“Little dolphin.” (小海豚 - Xiǎo hǎi tún)
“Fat butterfly.” (发福蝶 - Fā fú dié, a mispronunciation of 花蝴蝶 huā hú dié, butterfly)
“Butterfly.” (花蝴蝶 - Huā hú dié)
“...Big chicken house.” (大鸡居 - Dà jī jū, a mispronunciation of 大蜘蛛 dà zhī zhū, big spider)
“...”
“Big spider.” (大蜘蛛 - Dà zhī zhū)
“Big flying bag.” (大飞囊 - Dà fēi náng, a mispronunciation of 大灰狼 dà huī láng, big bad wolf)
Silence.
Lin Zhan was triumphant: “Now you can’t think of it, can you? Let’s see what you do.”
The next second, he sat up straight, fingers intertwined, looking calm and composed: “If we continue reading like this, it will go against the original intention of a bedtime story. Too much excitement and tension will also lead to insomnia.”
“So?” She wanted to see what Shen Xi would do in the face of her provocation.
The man reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, his long fingers systematically unbuttoning his pajamas, his voice deep: “So, let’s do something that promotes sleep.”
(The End)
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