"Judging by that face,"Nuan said, folding her arms,you're clearly not ready.
Yuxuan frowned. "Not ready for what?"
For anything, she replied bluntly.Go watch a decent romance drama. Maybe you'll learn something useful.He let out a short breath, clearly annoyed but still holding himself back." I've watched them."
" Have you?"she asked, unimpressed.
"Yes,"he said. Then after a pause, more quietly,But real life isn't like that.
Nuan raised an eyebrow.
In dramas, everything is exaggerated,he continued.People just… jump into things. In reality, doing all that before marriage feels a bit unrealistic.For a moment, Nuan just stared at him.Then suddenly—
She laughed.
Now I get it,she said, shaking her head. "You're one of those."
Yuxuan frowned. "What does that mean?"
Family-values type,she said casually.That explains everything.She turned her back to him and resumed what she was doing in the kitchen, as if the topic was already settled.
But something in Yuxuan shifted.He watched her for a second.Then stepped closer.
" So that's how it is?"he said quietly.
Nuan didn't turn around." That's exactly how it is."
Silence.
Then—A sudden movement.Nuan stiffened.
Yuxuan's hand had slipped under the hem of her T-shirt.
Warm.
Careful.
But deliberate.
His fingers brushed lightly against her waist.
Her entire body froze.The spoon in her hand stopped mid-air.Her breath caught.
" …Yuxuan."
Her voice came out lower than she expected.He leaned slightly closer, his voice calm—but with a subtle edge.
" Is this… normal?"
For a second, Nuan didn't answer.Her face was already heating up, the warmth spreading fast.But she forced herself to stay composed." Yes,"she said, though her tone was no longer as steady." That's normal."
Yuxuan didn't stop.His fingers moved slightly—higher this time, slow enough for her to feel every inch of it.
Not aggressive.
Not rushed but intentional.
" And this?"he asked quietly.
That was the moment her composure cracked.Her grip tightened on the counter.
Her breathing lost its rhythm." If you want, she muttered, trying to sound unaffected, "you can even touch more."
The moment the words left her mouth—
She regretted them.
Yuxuan paused.
Completely " What?" he said, clearly caught off guard.Now it was her turn to feel exposed.Her face flushed deeper.She looked away immediately, trying to recover.
But the damage was done.Yuxuan's expression changed.The hesitation in him…
Was gone.
" You were talking confidently earlier,"he said, stepping closer again." What happened?"
His voice dropped slightly.
" Getting embarrassed now?"
Nuan clenched her jaw." I'm not—"
"Then look at me."
She didn't so he leaned closer—
Close enough that his voice brushed against her ear or do you want me to turn you around… so you can see properly too?
That did it.
Her entire body reacted instantly—heat rushing up her neck.But before she could respond—
He added, softly—If you're really that curious… we can go to the bedroom.
Now she snapped.
"Enough!" she said, turning around abruptly and pushing his hand away.Take your hands off me!
Yuxuan didn't look offended.If anything—he looked amused.You were the one pushing me earlier,he said.Now you're backing off?
"That's different!"
"How?"
" You—"she stopped, frustrated, unable to find the right words.Yuxuan tilted his head slightly.You woke something up,he said quietly.And now you're telling me to stop?.
His tone wasn't aggressive but it carried weight." That's not fair."
Nuan stared at him and for the first time—
She realized something.He wasn't just reacting anymore.He was choosing.
Her fingers loosened slightly and in that exact moment—The glass slipped from her hand.
Crash.
The sound shattered the tension instantly.
Both of them froze.Broken glass scattered across the floor." Great,"Nuan muttered under her breath.Before she could step down—
Yuxuan grabbed her waist.
" Don't move."
The sudden lift caught her off guard.He placed her on the kitchen counter effortlessly.If you step on that, you'll get hurt,he said, already crouching down to clean it up.
Nuan blinked." Be careful,"she said instinctively.You might cut your hand.
"I won't,"he replied casually.
Then, without looking up— he say But don't think this changes anything.
Her heart skipped.
"…What do you mean?"
He stood up slowly, placing the last shard aside.Then looked at her directly.Come to the bedroom,he said.Her breath hitched.
" You're serious?"
"I am."
Silence.
Then—Let's talk about that later,she said quickly.Just eat first.Yuxuan didn't move.
" I'm not hungry."
Nuan frowned." What?"
" I'm not in the mood to eat,"he repeated.
She crossed her arms.So you're saying my cooking isn't worth it?.That made him pause.Then he smiled slightly.
"I didn't say that."
He leaned against the table casually.I'll eat it," he said." All of it ".Then his gaze sharpened slightly." But not right now."
Nuan narrowed her eyes." Why?"
He stepped closer slowly.Because right now…" he said quietly,I want something else.
Her heartbeat quickened." What do you mean?".He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped right in front of her—
Placing both hands on the table, trapping her between them then leaned in.Close enough that she could feel his breath.
" I'd rather taste the one who made it,"he whispered.Her eyes widened.And if I eat first,he continued softly,I won't have room for that.Her face turned completely red.
"Yuxuan—!"
She tried to get down but he moved faster.
Their lips met.It wasn't hesitant this time.
It wasn't awkward also it wasn't unsure.
It was direct.
Warm.
Certain.Nuan's eyes widened in shock.
Her body froze instantly.For a split second—
She didn't react at all.
And that moment—
That exact moment—
Was when everything between them changed.