I love you more than you think.

The sound of unsteady footsteps echoed, and the cat curled up in the room perked its ears, glancing toward the door.

First came the beep of the electronic lock. The person supporting Xu Fengluan fumbled to turn on all the lights, instantly flooding the dark space with blinding brightness.
@Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

The drunken figure grumbled, ignoring who was helping, burying their head in the other’s neck to escape the light.

Liu Tingsong stumbled back a few steps, nearly hitting the wall.

But the drunk didn’t care. Taller and broader, Xu Fengluan looked larger, yet now she bent over, pitifully rubbing against Liu Tingsong’s shoulder, comical yet pathetic—like a Samoyed burying its head in a kitten’s belly, oblivious to its own size.

Her breath grazed Liu Tingsong’s collarbone. The shirt, used as a jacket, had slipped off, and the hot, liquor-laced breath flushed her skin.

“Liu Tingsong,” she mumbled, lips brushing skin, thick lashes grazing the pulse beneath.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Liu Tingsong said, ignoring everything else, holding her tighter.

“Be good,” she coaxed, trying to guide Xu Fengluan inside.

But the drunk wouldn’t listen, beyond control, acting on instinct alone.

Xu Fengluan, head low, suddenly blurted, “Why’s there a bite mark here?!”

Her tone was accusatory, as if Liu Tingsong had cheated, full of grievance and anger.

She jerked her head up, eyes hazy from liquor, teetering on tears.

“Which dog bit you?” she growled, teary and fierce.

“Which bad dog did this?” she repeated, muttering.

Jealousy flared out of nowhere.

Liu Tingsong, slightly tipsy herself, was at a loss for words, dragging her inside.

The big Maine Coon leapt off the sofa, striding forward with elegant steps, meowing nonstop—a protest against the humans sneaking out all night.

At least two cans and an hour of playtime were needed to appease it.

But, to the cat’s surprise, the humans strode past.

“Meow!” San Jin yowled, indignant.

“San Jin…” Liu Tingsong finally remembered the cat.

Xu Fengluan turned too, her unfocused eyes struggling to find the cat. Glaring, she huffed, “Did *you* bite her?”

“You big bad cat!”

Even after stumbling forward, she clung to this grudge.

Fuming, she tried to crouch and argue with the cat, but Liu Tingsong yanked her back. Xu Fengluan whined pitifully, “Liu Tingsong, you’ve got another dog out there.”

“You don’t love me anymore.”

“You’re gonna run off with the cat.”

Each sentence was less logical than the last. Liu Tingsong, half-dragging, half-carrying, finally got her to the bedroom.

Though Xu Fengluan was lean, her drunken weight was heavy. Liu Tingsong tried to ease her onto the bed, but as they reached it, her grip slipped, and Xu Fengluan crashed into the soft mattress.

It couldn’t have hurt, but the thud was loud, startling.

“A-Feng,” Liu Tingsong’s worried call was cut off as Xu Fengluan yanked her down, tumbling together.

Xu Fengluan rolled over, pinning her, the light blocked, casting a gray shadow over Liu Tingsong.

“You dropped me,” she accused.

While others went wild when drunk, she turned into a petulant brat.

“You don’t want me either, do you?” Her head hung low, messy white hair half-covering her eyes, unable to hide the redness around them, her grievance spilling over.

But no matter her tantrum, Liu Tingsong deserved it for coaxing her to break her no-drinking rule.

“You don’t want me?”

“You’ve got another dog and don’t want me,” Xu Fengluan grew more aggrieved, tears pooling, falling like beads onto Liu Tingsong’s cheeks.

Liu Tingsong panicked, cradling Xu Fengluan’s face. “I’d never not want you. How could I?”

The weak comfort didn’t help. Xu Fengluan’s brows drooped, her jade-green eyes like a summer pond now pouring rain, tears hitting Liu Tingsong’s cheeks, nose, and lashes.

Xu Fengluan rarely cried. Independent since childhood, she’d rather solve problems than weep in an empty house, forgetting how to cry.

But now, alcohol unearthed those buried instincts.

“You *are* abandoning me.”

“You’re bad.”

“You’ve got another dog out there.”

Her pale skin made the redness around her eyes stark, tears spreading as she sobbed, her usual sharp edge now a fragile, tear-soaked mess.

“You’re just like them,” she accused through gritted teeth.

“I’d never abandon you. How could I?” Liu Tingsong’s voice was hoarse, tears stinging like saltwater. “I could never.”

The speaker might not have meant it, but the listener, guilty, thought of the past.

Her hand brushed Xu Fengluan’s hair, lingering at her earlobe, gently rubbing.

She softened her voice, patiently explaining—

“There’s one,” Xu Fengluan interrupted, pointing at the shoulder mark, starting another tantrum.

“Who bit you?”

“You did,” Liu Tingsong said patiently.

“I don’t believe you!”

Finally finding an outlet, she wouldn’t stop.

Liu Tingsong showed no impatience, coaxing, “No other dog. You bit me at the door today.”

The drunk squinted, unable to recall, then insisted, “I don’t believe you. I’m not the kind of dog who bites randomly.”

Her tone was resolute, as if truly innocent.

Fingers wove through her hair, tucking messy white strands behind her ear.

“How can I make you believe?” Liu Tingsong coaxed.

“Proof,” Xu Fengluan said, blinking, more tears falling.

The one usually in control now seemed a soft, wronged wife.

“Show me proof.”

Luckily, they’d taken a photo earlier. Liu Tingsong pulled out her phone, flipping to the album.

“Is this you biting?” She patted Xu Fengluan’s head.

“Be good, don’t cry.” Her alcohol-softened voice was gentle, endlessly patient.

Xu Fengluan held the phone, confused and dazed. Was it really her?

But then she fussed again, muttering, “Fake. I didn’t bite.”

“I’m not a bad thing that bites people.”

Tossing the phone aside, before Liu Tingsong could argue, Xu Fengluan lunged, biting her neck, whining, “You’re lying. You always lie to me.”

Her sharp teeth ground against thin skin, crying as she bit, as if she were the one wronged.

Liu Tingsong tilted her head, letting her bite, even coaxing, “How could I let anyone else bite me?”

The teeth loosened, revealing red, wet skin. Xu Fengluan paused, seeming to ponder.

Liu Tingsong thought she might reflect, but Xu Fengluan scrunched her face, whining, “Liu Tingsong, my mouth hurts.”

Her expression turned anxious. “Where does it hurt?”

“Too many fries? Too spicy?”

Unlike others, Xu Fengluan’s years of bland eating made her taste buds sensitive. Any spice made her wince, and beer needed food to stomach.

She hadn’t drunk much, padded with two plates of fries. The others, knowing this, stayed mostly sober, laughing at her drunken state.

It wasn’t her fault. She’d barely touched alcohol before adulthood, and after meeting Liu Tingsong, she swore it off entirely.

At the question, Xu Fengluan blinked slowly, then mumbled, “Something’s pinching me.” @Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

Her gaze dropped to the silver lip ring, the clamp-style jewelry that ached after long wear.

Liu Tingsong softened. “I’ll take it off.”

Xu Fengluan nodded obediently, white hair swaying.

Liu Tingsong’s eyes crinkled, unable to resist smiling, praising, “Good girl.”

If sober, Xu Fengluan would’ve caught the tone—identical to praising San Jin for eating, running, or cuddling, as if every small act was a grand feat.

But now, far from sober, she beamed at the praise, leaning into Liu Tingsong’s hand, slightly opening her mouth.

Fingers brushed her lips, unavoidably reaching inside to undo the ring.

“Itchy,” Xu Fengluan mumbled, teeth grazing Liu Tingsong’s fingers.

“It’ll be quick,” Liu Tingsong coaxed patiently.

But she wouldn’t let go, irrational in her drunkenness, repeating, “Itchy.”

Her tongue brushed Liu Tingsong’s fingertips, wet and tingling, tracing the ridges like a maze with no exit.

Liu Tingsong squirmed, curling her fingers, pressing Xu Fengluan’s tongue, her mouth opening wider.

Xu Fengluan looked over pitifully, tears falling again.

“Don’t cry,” Liu Tingsong, soft-hearted, couldn’t stay unmoved. Her fingers froze.

“Liu Tingsong,” Xu Fengluan mumbled, licking her fingertips repeatedly.

The silver ring clinked against her knuckles, a strange sensation pulsing from her sensitive fingers.

Liu Tingsong’s eyes darkened, her breath heavy. She’d barely held back before, teased by Xu Fengluan for days, greedily prolonging kisses. Starved as she was, this provocation…

“Stop… don’t mess around,” she gasped, clinging to reason.

“Baby, please stop, okay?” Her voice softened, pleading, desire flickering in her teary eyes.

“Baby,” her tone dropped, hoarse.

Yet her fingers stayed, contradicting her words.

One side fought restraint; the other craved surrender.

Until Xu Fengluan, chuckling, called out, “Liu Tingsong, you’re turned on.”

Her delicate features gleamed with mischief, the redness around her eyes and the sheen on her lips blurring whether it was intentional or innocent.

“You’re so easy,” she said, naive, like discussing a normal reaction.

“When I was in the hospital, you took cold showers every night,” she exposed bluntly.

“You kissed me secretly at night.”

“So many times,” she emphasized.

Her supposedly hidden actions had long been noticed.

Liu Tingsong bit her lip.

“Liu Tingsong, you’re so thirsty,” she concluded.

In another context, it might’ve been less embarrassing, but now, with Xu Fengluan drunk, her misty eyes innocent yet teasing, her childish mischief shone through.

“Pervert,” she teased. @Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

Liu Tingsong tried to cover her mouth, but Xu Fengluan kissed her palm.

She looked up, as if saying, *See, I know you like it.*

“You’re craving me,” she said confidently.

“You were sneaking looks today—at my waist…” She blinked.

She drawled, “My lip ring.”

“My ears.”

“Do you want to kiss or touch?” She tilted her head, like a student seeking an answer.

“Stop it,” Liu Tingsong pleaded, ears red, no answer given.

Xu Fengluan grabbed her wrist, pressing down, nose to nose, her breath mixed with liquor—not unpleasant, but intoxicating.

“Liu Tingsong, do you really like me?” she asked softly.

Her fluttering lashes brushed Liu Tingsong’s, forcing eye contact, no escape.

“Yes,” Liu Tingsong’s voice was hoarse, barely managing the word.

“Then why would you abandon me?” Her voice turned aggrieved, confused.

“Liu Tingsong, why did you leave?”

The first time since their reunion she’d asked, buried deep, too afraid to bring up, dodging even hints of it—not from indifference, but from caring too much to touch the wound.

Her face crumpled, sobbing, “You don’t like me.”

“No,” Liu Tingsong rushed to explain, her jaw lifting, lips brushing Xu Fengluan’s.

“I like you.”

“How could I not?” she repeated, sighing softly, “I’ve only ever liked you, baby.”

“I’m yours, baby.”

“I love you more than you can imagine.”

She repeated it over and over, but Xu Fengluan didn’t smile, her brows knitting, snapping, “I don’t believe you.”

“You’re a liar.”

Hatred flashed in her eyes, her grip on Liu Tingsong’s wrist tightening, her whole being bristling.

She lunged, biting Liu Tingsong’s lip, the metallic tang of blood spreading.

Liu Tingsong tensed, gasping in pain.

But Xu Fengluan didn’t stop, her voice bitter. “Liu Tingsong, you’ll abandon me like they did.”

“I didn’t…”

Her words were cut off, smothered by fierce, angry kisses, tears streaming, burning Liu Tingsong’s cheeks like branding irons.

Clothes were tugged, calloused hands slipping under the hem, roughly pushing in.

Her knee pressed up, and Liu Tingsong arched, letting out a stifled moan, grabbing Xu Fengluan’s collar.