After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

After watching the movie, the two walked out of the theater.

"The movie we just watched..." Yan Yuan's voice sounded low and gentle in the rain, "was a bit boring."

"Hmm?" Lin Jianwei turned her head to look at him, the neon lights reflected in the rain reflected in her eyes.

Yan Yuan's ears turned slightly red, but a rare mischievous smile played on his lips. He cleared his throat before whispering, "However... compared to a certain young lady's hand, it's not particularly unbearable." His gaze quickly swept over their clasped hands before swiftly shifting back to the road.

"It's soft and warm, and it feels...mmm...very comfortable to hold."

"Pfft..." Lin Jianwei couldn't help but laugh, then deliberately put on a stern face, pulled her hand out of his grasp, and pretended to punch his shoulder, "Hey, Yan Yuan!"

Before the fist could actually land, it was gently enveloped by his smiling hand, and tucked back under the warm umbrella to the spot where their hands were clasped, gripping even tighter.

"Be careful, watch where you're going," Yan Yuan said softly.

A gust of cold wind, carrying even more moisture, swept by, and Lin Jianwei couldn't help but shrink her neck and shiver slightly.

Yan Yuan immediately noticed this subtle movement.

His arm tentatively reached around from behind her, his warm hand gently resting on her other shoulder, pulling her slender body closer to him.

The umbrella instinctively tilted further towards her, enveloping her in a safe, rain-free little world.

"Is it warmer now?" he asked cautiously, his voice lowered and trembling slightly.

Yan Yuan's strong arms and the warmth emanating from his body shielded him from the cold night wind.

Lin Jianwei turned her head slightly and naturally rested it against the hollow of his neck.

She murmured softly.

"Um……"

The two walked a few steps in a quiet embrace, and Lin Jianwei said softly.

"Actually, it doesn't matter what movie is shown... as long as you're with me, even watching a weather forecast rerun is fine."

The two walked to the parking area.

It was indeed too late, so taking Lin Jianwei back to her apartment seemed like the obvious choice.

The car's heater dispelled the chill of the rainy night, and the windshield wipers moved rhythmically.

Yan Yuan started the car and smoothly merged into the traffic.

Silence filled the car, with only the swishing of the wipers and the low rumble of the engine.

As we approached a fork in the road.

To the left is the main road leading to Lin Jianwei's apartment, and to the right is the road leading to his secluded villa area in North London.

Yan Yuan's fingers gripping the steering wheel unconsciously clenched and then relaxed, his fingertips turning slightly white.

The moment of decision has arrived.

He stared at the long river of car headlights blurred by the rain ahead, took a deep breath, and as if he had made a great decision, his Adam's apple bobbed nervously.

Yan Yuan didn't dare to look even an inch away from the passenger seat. His tone carried a deliberate casualness, but also an undisguised tension and probing:

"Um... my house... seems to be... closer from here?" He paused, seemingly trying to find a reason to support his suggestion, his eyes quickly glancing at the dense rain outside the car window.

"And...look at this rain, it seems to be getting even heavier?"

Outside the window, the drizzle continued, showing no sign of intensifying, making Yan Yuan's excuse rather clumsy.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, his ears burning red, and added, forcing himself to remain calm, his voice strained with tension:

"So, how about... stopping by my place for a bit? Have some hot drinks to warm up? Or... wait until the rain lets up a little, then I'll take you home?"

Yan Yuan didn't want the night to end, and he didn't want to part with her so soon.

The carriage fell silent instantly, with only the monotonous rhythm of the windshield wipers and the two people's heartbeats, which they tried to suppress but were still unusually clear in the small space.

Lin Jianwei's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

Three years older than Yan Yuan, she naturally understood the deeper, more profound meaning behind this simple suggestion.

Her gaze shifted to Yan Yuan's profile, where the lines were taut in the dim light and his ears had a suspicious blush.

Then, Lin Jianwei took a soft breath, the subtle tremor of which was particularly clear in the silence.

Then, a word was spoken with absolute clarity.

"……good."

Upon hearing this answer, Yan Yuan's palms, gripping the steering wheel, instantly became sweaty, and his heart began to race.

His Adam's apple bobbed forcefully as the car smoothly turned the corner and headed towards his home.

……

Yan Yuan's house is large but also empty. He usually lives alone and doesn't have much stuff.

The dim yellow light from the ceiling lamp in the entryway cast long shadows of the two people onto the spacious yet clean marble floor.

"Weiwei, please sit wherever you like..." Yan Yuan said, trying to hide his awkwardness as he changed his shoes.

He quickly took off his coat, hung it up, and went straight to the open kitchen next door.

"Um, shall I boil some water and make you some honey grapefruit tea to warm you up? Ginger tea would be fine too? Or...would you like some coffee?"

Yan Yuan's voice was a little anxious because of nervousness, and his knee almost hit the leg of the high stool next to him when he turned around.

Lin Jianwei took off her down jacket, which had been soaked in the sweat, and hung it on the coat rack in the entryway. She stood in the center of the bright living room wearing only a soft wool cardigan.

The spacious room features a low-key yet luxurious modern style, with several carefully framed group photos from the competition prominently displayed on the wall.

Lin Jianwei was a little reserved, but when she saw Yan Yuan rummaging through the kitchen cabinets and even frantically searching for cups and honey jars, her unease strangely turned into a soft smile.

"Anything is fine, just plain water," she said softly.

Soon, Yan Yuan came over carrying two steaming glasses.

When the cup was handed to Lin Jianwei, he noticed the traces of rain on the hem of her cardigan and a few strands of her still-damp hair.

"Are you cold? Did you get caught in the rain?"

He immediately put down his cup, turned around, and walked a few steps toward the storage room next door.

"I'll go get a dry towel, wait a minute,"

He quickly found a clean, thick, soft towel, walked back to Lin Jianwei, but his movements froze again.

Should I give it to her directly? Or...?

This time, Yan Yuan held a towel and looked at Lin Jianwei's clear eyes quietly gazing at him under the light.

That gaze seemed to have a magical power, instantly soothing all his unease and hesitation.

Yan Yuan reached out, his long, strong fingers brushing aside the slightly damp hair on her cheek.

Then, with the corner of a towel, he gently and carefully wiped the water droplets from the ends of her hair, as if handling some fragile treasure.

Yan Yuan moved slowly and with great focus, his fingertips occasionally brushing unintentionally against her slightly cool earlobe or delicate cheek.

They were very close, close enough that she could smell his clean scent and the slightly hot breath from his holding his breath.

"Phew..." Yan Yuan felt even more nervous at this moment than during his first debut.

The motion of gently wiping the ends of the hair with a towel gradually slowed down until it stopped.

In the quiet living room, only the increasingly clear and rapid breathing of the two remained.

The atmosphere was just right, and Yan Yuan mustered his courage and slowly lowered his head.

Lin Jianwei did not dodge.

She even tilted her head back, tiptoed slightly, closed her eyes, and her long eyelashes fluttered gently like butterfly wings.

This kiss was unlike any kiss the two had ever shared before.

This was a gesture imbued with warmth; both young people were testing each other.

It begins with a gentle kiss on the lips, followed by the careful touch of the tongue, and then a dizzying intertwining and exploration.

Yan Yuan threw away the towel and tightly embraced her slender waist, while her arms climbed up his neck.

The two staggered backward, their bodies crashing into a solid wall. With their fading consciousness, they stumbled and broke open the half-closed bedroom door next to them. The darkness gave them courage.

……

Several hours later, the bedroom was a mess, with the two people's clothes scattered on the floor and the sheets in disarray.

Lin Jianwei lay on Yan Yuan's chest.

She could even hear the pounding echo deep within Yan Yuan's chest.

She herself was also sore all over, as if every bone had been taken apart and then barely put back together, and a kind of almost unbearable soreness came from deep in her waist and back.

Thinking back to that overwhelming, crazy first experience that felt like it was about to shatter her soul, she felt a surge of emotion.

Thinking about how she could no longer bear it and could only sob softly and beg for mercy the fifth time, Lin Jianwei's cheeks felt as hot as if they had been burned.

Yan Yuan's power and desire were so intense that she felt as if she were floating on a cloud.

"You..." She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice thick with nasal tone, carrying a languid aftertaste and a hint of barely perceptible grievance. Her fingertips unconsciously traced circles on his chest as she spoke softly.

"Next time... could you... be a little gentler...? You were just... like a little lion..."

Yan Yuan tightened his grip on Lin Jianwei's arm and nuzzled the top of her head with his chin.

He deliberately dragged out his words, teasingly.

"Okay, be gentler next time. Did I just... score four goals at home?"

Home team... Four goals...

Lin Jianwei certainly knew what "Big Four" meant, but she had never imagined that football terminology could be used in this way.

"Yan Yuan!" Lin Jianwei's face instantly turned red to her ears, and even her neck turned pink.

She was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl under the pillow.

That scoundrel!

You can apply football terminology to something like that?!

She was furious, so she stretched out two fingers and pinched his hard waist muscles hard.

"Ouch!" Yan Yuan cried out in a mocking tone, but his voice was full of indulgence and amusement as he grabbed the offending little hand.

"Hahahahaha... Okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong. Next time... I'll try to be gentler in the next game. I'll increase my ball possession and make sure Coach Lin is satisfied, okay?" Yan Yuan pinched her soft fingers, leaned close to her ear, and his deep breath teased her eardrums.

"Who...who wants to next time..." Lin Jianwei's pretty face was flushed, and she was so ticklish by Yan Yuan's breath that she couldn't help but twist her body to get away.

But as soon as she moved, the soreness deep inside her body immediately followed, causing her to gasp for breath.

Yan Yuan immediately noticed the subtle gasp.

All his joking thoughts vanished instantly, and he became nervous.

Did I really hurt you?

In the darkness, Yan Yuan groped for the bedside lamp to turn it on.

"No! Don't turn on the light!" Lin Jianwei quickly grabbed his hand, her face burning hot in the darkness.

"It's nothing...it's just...a little sore..." Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"I just want to lie in your arms like this for a while..."

Silence descended once more, but this time it was warm and reassuring, filled with the comfort of surviving a catastrophe and the tenderness of being satisfied after exhaustion.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, their skin conveying the real touch and warmth of each other, and their hearts had never beat so closely in sync.

"Does it still hurt?" After a while, Yan Yuan asked again, gently stroking her smooth back with his arm, as if to soothe her.

"Just a little bit..." Lin Jianwei nodded honestly, snuggling closer to him, drawing warmth from his chest, her voice soft and gentle, "But... it feels really good too..."

Outside the window, the rain pattered softly, but inside the bedroom, the warmth of their bodies pressed together kept them cozy.

The intimacy of the first delivery is like an invisible membrane, separating them from the world, leaving only their intertwined breaths and heartbeats.

……

The next morning, sunlight pierced through the clouds and squeezed into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains. They had all slept exceptionally well the night before.

Yan Yuan was the first to wake up due to his biological clock.

Looking at Lin Jianwei, who was still fast asleep in his arms, her simple sleeping face was relaxed and serene, with long eyelashes covering her eyelids, like a defenseless child.

He was incredibly soft-hearted, carefully pulled out his numb arm, and tiptoed out of bed.

The aroma of fried eggs and boiling milk soon wafted from the kitchen.

Yan Yuan, wearing an apron, handled the frying pan with extreme care, afraid that the clanging sounds would wake the people inside.

As the toaster popped out two golden, crispy slices of bread, he glanced at the time and guessed that she should be waking up soon.

Gently pushing open the bedroom door, I saw Lin Jianwei just opening her sleepy eyes, sitting on the bed rubbing her eyes in a daze.

"Did I wake you up?" Yan Yuan stood at the door, his profile unusually soft in the morning light. "If you're awake, go wash up. Breakfast is ready."

Lin Jianwei was stunned when she saw him wearing an apron at the door. Then, all the intimate memories of last night flooded back, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.

She scratched her messy hair, a little embarrassed, and muttered something under her breath.

"Oh... okay."

After she finished washing up, she slowly made her way to the dining room, where Yan Yuan had already placed warm milk, fragrant fried eggs, and golden sandwiches with lettuce and ham on the table.

She pulled out a chair and was about to sit down when a sharp, distinct soreness from her lower back to her legs suddenly struck her, causing her to freeze for a moment and instinctively furrow her brow.

"hiss……"

"Slow down!" Yan Yuan immediately became anxious, almost rushing to her side and supporting her arm as she slowly sat down.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" His eyes were filled with concern and regret. "It's all my fault..."

"No...it's not that serious," Lin Jianwei waved her hand, her face still flushed, and adjusted her posture in the chair to make herself a little more comfortable.

"It's just that... my waist feels like it's been taken apart and put back together, and my legs... I just can't seem to muster any strength."

She took the milk Yan Yuan handed her, sipped it slowly, and the warm sweetness flowed into her stomach, soothing her discomfort.

A simple yet heartwarming breakfast unfolded in a subtle and sweet atmosphere.

Yan Yuan's gaze almost never left her, watching her drink milk, cut sandwiches, and smilingly remind her when she had a bit of jam on her lips. All of this filled his heart with warmth.

As he was finishing his meal, Yan Yuan put down his milk glass and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the smooth glass.

He looked up at Lin Jianwei, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness.

"Um... Weiwei," he began, his voice soft but clear.

"You see... it might not be convenient for you to live alone."

He didn't look into her eyes; his gaze fell on her hand holding the cup, her fingers slightly white from the force she was using.

"My place isn't small, upstairs and downstairs... and there are quite a few empty rooms. The natural light is good, and... it's not too far from your company, so commuting is convenient." He paused, as if finally organizing the most crucial sentence, and raised his eyes.

"So, would you like to... move in with me? It'll save you the trouble of traveling back and forth, and it'll be easier for me to take care of you?"

Lin Jianwei's fingers, gripping the milk cup, suddenly tightened.

She looked up and met his focused and intense gaze; the atmosphere was even more ambiguous than it had been the night before.

Moving? Living together? This idea had never formed so clearly in Lin Jianwei's mind before Yan Yuan extended the invitation last night.

Since she first came to London to study, she has gotten used to her own little apartment and the rhythm of life she leads alone.

However, at this moment, facing this clumsy yet sincere young man, and feeling his desire to get closer to her and take care of her, those habits no longer mattered.

Lin Jianwei did not answer immediately, but her cheeks turned as red as if dripping blood, her long eyelashes trembled and drooped, and she looked at the milk swaying in the cup.

Then, she softly hummed in agreement and nodded.

That one nasal sound and that nod were enough to make Yan Yuan happy.

Yan Yuan suddenly stood up, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

He quickly walked around the table a couple of times, so excited he was a little flustered.

"Then...then shall we move today? Today happens to be my day off. Do you have a lot of stuff? I'll drive over to your place to pick it up!" He couldn't wait to start planning. "Take your time eating, I'll go get the car after I'm done!"

Seeing his excited and restless appearance, Lin Jianwei's slight shyness and concerns were instantly replaced by immense sweetness and satisfaction.

She couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes sparkling.

"You can't just leave like that; you have to go back and pack your things first, right?"

After breakfast, while Yan Yuan was cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen, Lin Jianwei returned to her bedroom and picked up her phone, which was charging.

She quickly swiped her finger across the screen, opened the ticketing app, and found the flight back to China that had been quietly lying in her "not yet traveled" order.

Without hesitation, she decisively clicked "Request a refund".

When filling in the reason for the refund.

Lin Jianwei thought for a moment, a sweet smile curving her lips. She quickly typed a few words into the box and pressed the confirmation button:

Spending my first Christmas with someone I love.