In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

The stall owner was engrossed in the book in his hands, his head bowed, using the light from the neighboring stall. His shoes had a hole in them, and his toes were turning purple from the spring chill, but he was completely unaware of it.

"Boss," Xie Yige began, "how much is this purse?"

The stall owner looked up abruptly, saw the two people in front of him, was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes lit up.

"My benefactor?!" He hurriedly put down his book and stood up, frantically straightening his patched old clothes. Then, he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply to Cui Yutang. "How did you come to be here, my benefactor? Zhang Shen thanks you for saving my life that day!"

Cui Yutang looked at him and said calmly, "It was nothing, don't worry about it."

"Oh, right!" Zhang Shen remembered something and carefully took out a book from his pocket—it was the Analects of Confucius. "The doctor said that my benefactor left this book at the clinic."

He blushed, looking guilty. "I'm so sorry... I couldn't help but look through it. But I was very careful, and it wasn't damaged..."

"It wasn't left behind." Cui Yutang looked at his flustered appearance, and the corners of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile. "It was specially left for you."

Zhang Shen was stunned.

He stared blankly at Cui Yutang, then looked down at the book in his hand, his eyes gradually reddening.

"My benefactor..." his voice trembled, "I...I..."

In his life, he had been driven away, despised, and kicked to the ground. But he never imagined that someone would be willing to give him a book.

It's still the Analects.

"I don't know how to repay you..." He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Studying is not easy," Cui Yutang said calmly. "I hope you will study diligently. If you pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom in the future, serving the people wholeheartedly will be your way of repaying them."

Zhang Shen raised his head, tears welling in his eyes, but his expression was extremely solemn: "Zhang Shen will certainly remember your words, benefactor!"

"Master," a voice called out in Xie Yige's mind, trembling with emotion, "this Cui Langjun is truly a man of great righteousness... He's so kind, I'm so moved..."

Looking at Cui Yutang's aloof profile, Xie Yige felt a sudden surge of intense emotion wash over her, dispelling the icy bitterness in her heart.

Yes.

How could she give up on someone like him just because of a "sense of social class"?

Even if we can't be together in the future, so what?

At least for now, he's right beside her.

"Young Master Zhang," she spoke softly, drawing Zhang Shen's attention back, "how much is this purse?"

Only then did Zhang Shen notice that this extremely beautiful woman was with her benefactor.

"If you don't mind the rough workmanship, my lady," he hurriedly said, "Zhang Shenyuan is willing to give it to you."

"How could I possibly dislike it?" Xie Yige laughed, taking out a copper coin from her purse. "The stitches are neat, the patterns are lively, it's top-notch embroidery. And—"

She paused, her cheeks slightly flushed: "These things only work if you buy them yourself."

As he spoke, he handed over the money and bent down to pick out the pair of purses embroidered with pear blossoms.

Pure white pear blossoms and light green leaves bloom quietly against an indigo background.

"Zhang Shen," Cui Yutang suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat low, "I'll buy one too, to celebrate the festival."

Zhang Shenfu, moved by a sudden inspiration, immediately handed over another purse with both hands—embroidered with vigorous pear branches and a few falling petals.

They are a pair.

He could tell. Although the two hadn't said it aloud, the subtle connection between them couldn't be hidden from someone with a discerning eye.

Xie Yige secretly curled the corners of her lips, feeling as sweet as if a whole jar of honey had been spilled.

They are a couple's wallet.

They carefully tucked their purses into their sleeves, placed them close to their bodies, and continued walking.

The lights on both sides of the long street reflected in Xie Yige's eyes, making her gaze shine even brighter than the pear blossoms that day.

"She's so tiny."

A deep, suppressed male voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

Xie Yige paused, looking at Cui Yutang with a puzzled expression.

He didn't speak.

Is that what she really thinks? Is Dudu up to something?

She instinctively straightened her back—she's not short at all! She's even grown taller this year!

"...I really want to pick him up and kiss him hard."

The next thought followed immediately, a low, hoarse voice carrying a suppressed longing.

Xie Yige's face flushed red.

She abruptly looked away, her heart pounding like a drum, her fingertips trembling.

Just then—

"Yi Ge?"

A familiar voice came from ahead.

Xie Yige looked up and saw her brother Zhou Xuan'an walking towards them. Xie Wanrou followed beside her, her veil removed, her eyes still flushed.

Oops!

She had promised her brother before she left that she would pretend to get separated from him so that they could be alone together!

In a moment of panic, she grabbed Cui Yutang's hand and pulled him aside.

It was a narrow space recessed into the wall, originally a place where a shop stored miscellaneous items. Now it was shrouded in shadow and could barely accommodate two people to hide in.

It's just too narrow.

Xie Yige practically squeezed herself into Cui Yutang's arms. Her back was pressed tightly against his chest, and she could clearly feel his muscles stiffen instantly and his breathing become rapid.

Cui Yutang's hand was still being held tightly by her.

The soft, delicate touch burned from my fingertips all the way to my heart. My nose was filled with the light floral scent of her hair, mixed with a hint of the sweetness of sugar figurines.

His whole body was numb.

She tried to push it away, but her fingers wouldn't obey her commands. Instead, they instinctively clenched together, holding that little hand even tighter in her palm.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to shatter my ribs.

"What should I do if I really want to kiss her..."

That suppressed voice rang in Xie Yige's mind again, clearer and more intense than before.

"...Someone, please save me!"

Xie Yige's ears were burning hot.

She tilted her head slightly, and from this angle, she could see his taut jawline, his bobbing Adam's apple, and his deep, pool-like eyes—which were now staring intently at her profile, their depths swirling with an unfathomable, thick darkness.

The sound of Zhou Xuan'an and Xie Wanrou talking could be heard outside, gradually fading into the distance.

Neither of the two people in the narrow space moved.

Their breaths mingled, their body temperatures mingled. She could even feel the violent rise and fall of his chest, and the burning heat emanating from his clothes.

Xie Yige suddenly remembered that dream.

In his dream, he held her like that, kissed her, and whispered in her ear, "I can't control myself."

My heart is pounding so fast it hurts.

"Young Master Cui," she heard her own voice, so soft it was almost inaudible, "lower your head a little."

Cui Yutang paused, though he didn't know what it meant.

But her body acted before her reason, and she lowered her head as instructed.

The next second—

Soft, warm lips pressed against mine without warning.

Cui Yutang's mind went blank.

All reason, all restraint, all family rules and etiquette collapsed at this moment. Almost instinctively, he tightened his arms, pressing her more forcefully into his embrace, and with his other hand, he held the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

It wasn't the tender, lingering kiss from my dream.

It was scalding hot, fierce, with a kind of desperate, do-or-die plunder. He pried open her teeth, their lips and tongues intertwined, his breath burning, as if he wanted to devour her whole.