His physiological preference

Qin Yuzheng reached out and gently, slowly placed his fingertips on her cheek. Her skin was very soft and smooth.

Afraid of waking her, he used very light force, sliding from the end of her eyebrow to her cheekbone, and from her cheekbone to the bridge of her nose.

His finger paused briefly at the cupid's bow of her upper lip.

Then his fingers slid from her upper lip to her lower lip. Her lips were soft and warm. When his fingertips pressed against them, her lips moved slightly, as if responding to his touch in her sleep.

Qin Yuzheng withdrew his finger.

He knelt on one knee in front of the sofa, looked at her, and said what was in his heart: "Zhiyan, thank you for coming into my life."

Qin Yuzheng was worried that she wouldn't be comfortable sleeping on the sofa.

He stood up, bent down, put one hand under her neck and the other under her knees, and lifted her off the sofa.

Yang Zhiyan was very light, like holding a soft, warm cat.

Yang Zhiyan rested her head on his shoulder, her breath brushing against his neck, warm and even, carrying her unique sweetness.

She shifted slightly in Qin Yuzheng's arms, finding a more comfortable position, and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

Qin Yuzheng carried her towards the bedroom.

This was the first time he had entered her bedroom. The door was ajar, and he slipped in. The room was decorated warmly, with a small lamp on the bedside table. The lampshade was off-white and decorated with a few orchids.

The bed sheets were made of light-colored cotton and linen, and the quilt was folded neatly. On the windowsill was a pot of succulents, plump and pink in the afternoon sunlight.

Next to the pillow was a half-read book with a bookmark tucked between it. The bookmark was a small embroidered piece with a white orchid embroidered on it.

Qin Yuzheng gently placed her on the bed, his movements slow and gentle.

When her head hit the pillow, her brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

Qin Yuzheng stood by the bed, bent down to straighten her legs, turned on the air conditioner, and covered her with the blanket.

He stood by the bed and watched her for a while, etching the image of her sleeping into his heart.

He dared not linger. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't want to leave. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist lying down next to her. He was afraid he would do something he shouldn't.

He turned and walked out of the bedroom, gently closing the door behind him, leaving it ajar.

Qin Yuzheng returned to his side, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. As the cold water poured over him, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back to let the water hit his face.

Cold water flowed down his neck, over his chest, over his abs, over... He turned off the water, stood under the showerhead, and braced his hands against the wall.

He remembered the feel of her feet resting on his thigh. He remembered her soft "hmm." He remembered the warmth of her lips against his fingertips.

He thought to himself, "Qin Yuzheng, you're finished. You really want to eat her."

When he came out of the bathroom, he went over to Yang Zhiyan's side. He sat on the sofa and worked on his computer.

When Yang Zhiyan woke up, it was already dark outside the curtains.

She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, her mind blank. How did she get into the bed?

She remembered sitting on the sofa, and Qin Yuzheng was massaging her feet. She felt very comfortable, and then... she remembered nothing more.

She glanced down at her clothes—a white dress, still there…

Qin Yuzheng carried her in. Yang Zhiyan lay on the bed and touched her cheek with the back of her hand. It was hot.

She sat up in bed, ran her hands through her hair, and went to the bathroom to wash her face. The cold water washed away most of her sleepiness.

She looked at herself in the mirror; her face was still red, her eyes were bright, and she had applied a little lipstick.

Yang Zhiyan walked out of the bedroom.

Qin Yuzheng was out of the living room on official business. Hearing the noise, he turned around and saw her coming out; the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

"Awake?" He stood up, walked over, and stopped in front of her.

"Mmm." Yang Zhiyan lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at him.

Qin Yuzheng didn't give her a chance to dodge. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. One hand was around her waist, and the other was on the back of her head, pressing her head into the crook of his shoulder.

She had just woken up; her body was still soft and warm. She carried her own sweet scent, and he took a deep breath.

"Is the baby hungry?" His voice came from above her head.

Yang Zhiyan's heart started racing again. Every time he called her "baby," her heart would beat faster.

His captivating voice made her ears burn and her heart soften.

"I'm hungry," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"Let's go eat." He let go of her hand, but still held her hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Are we still going out? Can't I do it at home?" Yang Zhiyan looked up at him.

"It's our first date," Qin Yuzheng said, his tone serious and self-assured, "how could we eat at home?"

Yang Zhiyan looked at him; his eyes held light, expectation, and solemnity.

"I've already made arrangements," he said. "We'll go eat first, then watch a movie."

Yang Zhiyan was led out the door by him. They were the only two in the elevator. He didn't let go of her hand; her fingers were nestled between his, the warmth of their palms passing between them.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant located in a small villa in the old town.

There is an osmanthus tree planted at the entrance. It hasn't bloomed yet this season, but its leaves are dark green and glossy under the streetlights.

Qin Yuzheng pushed open the door and stepped aside to let her in first. The restaurant was larger inside than outside, and the warm yellow lighting shone on the dark wooden floor, giving it a gentle glow.

A candle was lit on each table, its flame flickering gently inside the glass dome.

Their seats were on the second floor by the window. The window was an old-fashioned lattice window, and outside the glass was the night view of Haicheng. In the distance, the lights of tall buildings twinkled, and nearby, the branches and leaves of plane trees cast dappled shadows under the streetlights.

A white tablecloth was laid on the table, along with silver cutlery and a small vase containing a red rose.

Yang Zhiyan sat down, picked up the rose and smelled it. It had a faint fragrance, not strong, like the scent of a garden in the early morning.

"Do you like it?" Qin Yuzheng asked.

"Hmm," she put the rose back, "It's so pretty."

Qin Yuzheng ordered the food. The appetizers were salad and bread, the main courses were steak and seafood pasta, and the dessert was tiramisu.

When each dish was served, he would let her taste it first.

"Is it good?" he asked.

"It's delicious," Yang Zhiyan said, cutting a piece of steak and holding a fork to his lips. "Try it."

Qin Yuzheng looked at the fork. There was a small piece of steak on it, glistening in the candlelight, dipped in black pepper sauce.

She fed him.

This was truly a delightful thing; his heart skipped a beat. Qin Yuzheng opened his mouth and bit into the steak.