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The sleeping robe was thin—Dai Chengfeng's palm pressed against her waist, its heat unmistakably clear.
His fingertips traced slow circles over her skin, sending waves of tingling warmth through her body.
"Mmm~"
Liu Erlong's breath hitched. A soft, broken whimper escaped her throat as she clung tighter to Dai Chengfeng, her fingers unconsciously bunching the fabric of his sleep tunic.
In that hazy, breathless moment—when she was certain he would continue, just as he had on the past few nights…
…that he would peel away their clothes and carry her into that intoxicating abyss together…
…Dai Chengfeng gently ended the kiss.
His lips left hers but lingered nearby, brushing tenderly at the corners of her mouth before giving her lower lip one last, feather-light peck. Only then did he pull back slightly.
His hot breath fanned across her face.
He looked down at her—her dazed eyes, flushed cheeks, and swollen, glistening lips—and raised a hand. With the pad of his thumb, he softly wiped a trace of moisture from the corner of her mouth. The gesture was achingly gentle.
Then he drew her close again, tucking her head back against his chest. His other hand resumed its soothing rhythm on her back as he murmured in a low, rough voice:
"Alright. It's really time to sleep now."
"???"
Liu Erlong froze.
The spark he'd just ignited deep inside her hadn't even flared fully before it was doused—cold water dumped right over her smoldering desire.
Her body still thrummed with arousal—skin hypersensitive, breath unsteady…
Yet Dai Chengfeng had stopped. Just like that.
She stared up at him, eyes wide with confusion, bewilderment, and a lingering heat mixed with quiet hurt.
She opened her mouth to speak—but her throat felt dry, words stuck somewhere between shame and longing.
After all… how could she possibly say it? Admit that she wanted more?
Too embarrassed to voice it, she stayed silent.
And Dai Chengfeng simply held her—no further advances, no teasing touches—just calmly stroking her back as if that deeply intimate kiss had been nothing more than a routine goodnight caress.
Liu Erlong lay rigid in his arms. Her body slowly cooled, but the frustration and yearning inside her only burned hotter.
Why had he stopped?
"Am I… not attractive enough?"
Wild guesses swirled in her mind, leaving her heart tangled and restless.
She remained still in his embrace, listening to his heartbeat gradually steady, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek, her gaze fixed on the indistinct shadows of tree branches outside the window. Sleep refused to come.
Night deepened. Moonlight shifted, spilling silver pools across the floor through the lattice of the window.
All was silent, save for the distant chirp of crickets.
Still wide awake, Liu Erlong stole another glance at Dai Chengfeng.
His eyes were closed again, breathing even and calm.
After lying stiffly for what felt like forever, a sudden wave of irritation surged through her.
She gritted her teeth, wriggled out of his hold, turned her back to him, and yanked the quilt up high—covering half her face deliberately.
From behind came a barely audible chuckle. Then his long arm snaked out, effortlessly pulling her back into his embrace from behind.
"Don't be difficult," he murmured against her ear. "Just sleep."
Liu Erlong wanted to kick him—badly—but held back. Huffing quietly, she squeezed her eyes shut and refused to acknowledge him.
But sleep remained impossible.
Time crept by. His breathing behind her grew slow and deep—surely asleep now.
Yet she only grew more alert.
In the darkness, her thoughts warred within her.
How dare he do this?
First, he teased her until her limbs went weak and her mind spun—then pulled away abruptly, playing the perfect gentleman, coaxing her to sleep as if nothing had happened.
What did he think she was?
"Could it be… that I've really lost my appeal?"
She glanced down at herself in the faint moonlight.
Her waist—still slender enough to be encircled by one hand.
Her skin—though prickled slightly in the cool air—remained smooth and supple to the touch.
And… she shifted subtly, feeling the familiar, generous curves beneath her robe.
He'd always been utterly captivated by her body—she knew that well.
This form was mature, lush, undeniably alluring…
The more she thought, the more tangled and suffocated she felt.
Then—suddenly—it hit her.
That morning… when he'd pulled out that little toy…
"Damn you, Dai Chengfeng!"
"He's doing this on purpose!"
Now she understood why he'd been so oddly restrained tonight.
He was waiting for her to make the first move.
"…Fine! I'm ignoring you. Going to sleep!"
She turned her back to him again, clutching the edge of the quilt tightly, and let out a soft, indignant huff through her nose before squeezing her eyes shut.
But in the dark, her senses sharpened.
She could feel every degree of warmth radiating from his chest, the whisper of his breath against the hair at her nape, and—most clearly of all—the frantic drumming of her own heart.
Time dragged on.
She counted sheep—one hundred—but not a single one brought sleep.
"Ugh…"
Finally…
Her shame surrendered to the undeniable truth of her body's craving.
Quietly, she turned to face him, staring into the shadowy outline of his features in the dark.
After a long, trembling pause, she gathered every ounce of courage and whispered—so softly it was nearly lost in the night:
"Dai Chengfeng…"
"Hmm?"
His reply came instantly—clear, awake, and utterly unsurprised.
Liu Erlong stiffened. So he hadn't been sleeping at all!
Humiliation and anger flared in her chest.
"You—you were pretending to sleep!"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled lowly. In the darkness, his lips found hers with uncanny precision, brushing a light kiss against them.
"I wasn't pretending. I just couldn't sleep."
Her cheeks burned—but that single kiss melted away her lingering annoyance.
She bit her lip, hesitated, then buried her face in his chest and murmured in a voice so faint it was barely audible:
"I… I want…"
The words slipped out—and instantly, her whole body ignited with embarrassment. She wished the earth would swallow her whole.
Dai Chengfeng fell silent for a moment before answering softly:
"No. You're tired today. Rest early."
"You… are you angry?" she asked, voice trembling. "Because… because I refused that thing this morning…"
She meant the pale violet "toy."
Though she'd been furious and flustered then, she now wondered if she'd overreacted.
After all, they were lovers—wasn't it just a harmless indulgence?
Had he thought her prudish? Spoiling the mood?
It was just… that thing was so… much…
"No," Dai Chengfeng cut through her spiraling thoughts, pulling her closer. He rested his chin atop her head, his voice tender.
"Don't overthink it. I'm not angry."
"I'm just worried your body can't take it. These past few days… we really have gone too far."
Liu Erlong blinked, relief washing over her—yet tangled with something deeper, more complicated.
She shook her head slightly against his chest, her voice muffled:
"I… I can take it…"
That was the boldest admission she could possibly make.
Dai Chengfeng's throat bobbed. His arms tightened around her, his voice dropping to a rough, strained whisper:
"Erlong… do you know what you're saying?"
Her face burned like fire—but she gave a tiny, determined "Mm," her hand creeping up to clutch the fabric over his chest, fingers trembling with nerves.
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