0126: The Final Time

The pale light of dawn streamed through the balcony and spilled across the sofa, glimmering on their sweat-dampened skin.

Xu Lin slowly opened his eyes, but the brightness stung, and he hurriedly shut them again. It took several seconds before his vision adjusted.

He tried to move slightly, only to find his body unbearably heavy.

When he opened his eyes once more, he saw a lovely face resting against his chest. Warm breath brushed his skin.

Only then did he suddenly realize what had happened. Yesterday, he had failed to restrain himself once again. He had let her take control, and had gone from being a boy to becoming a man.

Although he thought this over and replayed the events of the previous night in his mind, a smile still crept across his lips.

He was happy, of course, but once that happiness faded, another wave of pressure followed. He did not know how he should face Qin Yunhe.

They had no emotional foundation between them. With Chu Qingchan, Ji Yun, or even Chu Fengyi, he could at least give the other person a definite promise.

But if he made such a promise to Qin Yunhe now, could he truly fulfill it? And yet, if he said nothing at all, he would never get past his own conscience.

Every girl was the cherished treasure of her parents and family, loved and doted upon by everyone around her.

A man also had a responsibility to take responsibility for her. Whatever the reason, once you had done something, you had done it.

“What should I do...?”

“What do you want to do?”

“You’re awake?” Xu Lin froze when he saw her eyes, faintly reddened at the corners.

“Mm. I need a shower. I’m covered in sweat.”

She rose from him as if nothing had happened. Xu Lin also noticed a small smear of blood on the sofa, which only strengthened his resolve to take responsibility for her to the very end.

He stepped forward, scooped up Qin Yunhe—who was limping toward him—and lifted her into his arms.

“What are you doing?! I told you it was only going to happen once. I never asked you to take responsibility for me.”

Qin Yunhe spoke with an indifferent expression, as though she had pulled down her skirt and already disowned him. But Xu Lin knew that she simply did not want him to feel obligated.

Usually, regardless of whether it was a girl’s first time, most women would ask a man to take responsibility. Yet she was doing the opposite.

She was even thinking of his sake. He really was surrounded by good women, and that only made him feel worse.

“I’m taking you to shower.”

“I can go by myself.”

“I need to shower too. My body’s covered in your hair.”

Xu Lin glanced at the stray strands clinging to his skin.

Of course, there were also several thin scratches left by her fingernails. His back burned with pain, and there were probably plenty of bloody marks there as well.

“You were awfully rough.”

“You were worse! It was my first time too...”

“Wasn’t I out of control? I’m sorry... But later on, didn’t you get used to it too?”

“Stop talking about it. Just take me to the bathroom.”

At that, Qin Yunhe finally lost her composure and flushed bright red.

“All right!”

Once they entered the bathroom, Xu Lin set her down in the bathtub and turned on the shower and the heater. As soon as the water began to fall, the pain blazing across his back grew even sharper.

“Ah—!”

“I’ll put some medicine on you later.”

“Mm. By the way, you don’t have any clothes for me to wear, do you? How am I supposed to get home? My clothes were all torn.”

“Wait a moment. I’ll go buy you something.”

“You can barely walk right now...”

“Then wear mine. I have a fairly large shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Put your coat over them and you’ll be fine.”

“No... I mean the clothes underneath.”

“You’re a grown man. Just wear the pants. It’s not as though anyone will be staring.”

Although Qin Yunhe said this, her eyes kept roaming over him. Xu Lin could not take it anymore and turned his body away.

“Aw, are you shy? You little brat.”

“Sister Qin, how am I a little brat?”

“Fine, a big brat. Men and their pride.”

Qin Yunhe’s words left Xu Lin at a loss for how to respond.

He had expected the two of them to remain awkward for a while, but Qin Yunhe was much more open-minded than he was and had already begun joking with him.

“Qin Yunhe, about yesterday—even though it was only an accident, I have to—”

“I told you, as far as I’m concerned, it’s over! You go on with your studies, and I’ll continue with my work. All right?”

Her tone suddenly turned stern. She stood up and began filling the tub, her back to him, and said nothing more.

Xu Lin lowered his head and began washing his hair in silence, looking somewhat dejected.

Qin Yunhe secretly glanced at him, feeling troubled as well. By the later part of the previous night, neither of them had been thinking about any consequences.

But she could not let him promise her anything or take responsibility for her. He was still a student, and she was also connected to him through Wanwan.

She was an adult. She should take responsibility for herself. Besides, the two of them had only known each other for a short while.

Yet, truthfully, she did not know why, but if she and this little fellow failed to end up together in the future, she might never be with another man.

Perhaps she had her own attachment to being someone’s first as well. But most men were afraid of taking responsibility.

He, on the other hand, had become unhappy when she told him not to. This boy was rather adorable.

Looking at Xu Lin’s back, she took a deep breath.

“Come soak in the tub after you finish washing your hair!”

“I’ll come over after you’re done.”

“Just come in now. We’ve already had that kind of intimate contact. Why are you being so fussy?”

At Qin Yunhe’s words, Xu Lin rinsed the foam from his hair and darted straight over. The two of them began wrestling together once more.

More than half an hour later, while Qin Yunhe was applying medicine to him, Xu Lin suddenly remembered something terrifying.

He had not gone home the previous day and had not informed anyone! And there was also Ji Yun—he had told her he would let her know once he arrived home.

He was also supposed to prepare breakfast for them that morning, take them exercising, and, of course, go to school.

He glanced at the clock. It was exactly nine o’clock, which meant the second period at school had already begun.

Damn it. He had really skipped school.

“When I go back, I’m probably going to be dragged aside for a serious talk by my family.”

“Don’t mention what happened between us. I can help you explain it to your parents.”

“Mm. But you really... I can take responsibility! I may be young, but—”

“All right, Xu Lin. I truly don’t want to discuss this. I hope you understand that we aren’t suitable for each other right now, and we shouldn’t be together.”

“Of course, don’t worry. I’m not planning to look for a boyfriend anytime soon either. I just think we still have a lot of time. Some decisions can be made a little more slowly.”

“Give yourself some time, and give me some time too. Let’s learn more about each other before we decide, all right?”

Hearing how considerate Qin Yunhe was, Xu Lin felt a warmth spread through his heart.

He turned around, gently cupped her face, and brushed back the strands of hair beside her ear.

“What are you doing? You can’t do that again. Your body can’t keep being pushed like this, or you’ll have problems sooner or later.”

“I’m not going to do anything bad. I only want to kiss you.”

“Just once.”

“You said that yesterday too.”

“I mean it this time!”

Qin Yunhe raised a small fist. None of her usual bold, spirited manner remained; she looked only shy and adorably flustered.

“Then it’ll be the second time—and the last.”

Qin Yunhe gazed at Xu Lin’s face, her heartbeat quickening.

“The last time... It really has to be the last time.”