[Chapter 10] Constraints (2)

Tidal recognized this box of chocolate. It was the same one she’d personally given Chen Xi for Valentine’s Day earlier that year.

【Girls who receive this cry from emotion】

She’d ordered it after seeing that tagline online. But Chen Xi hadn’t cried. She hadn’t even been moved. Instead, she scolded Tidal, telling her not to waste money on such overpriced nonsense.

“This was too expensive. I never had the heart to eat it.”

As she spoke, Chen Xi opened the elegant wooden gift box.

Beneath the lavish packaging, seven colorful, neatly cut chocolates lay in wait.

So all that 1,200 yuan bought was this?

As Tidal stared in disbelief, Chen Xi already picked up a dark chocolate dusted with cocoa powder and pressed it to Tidal’s lips.

“You eat it. I like sweets.”

“This is an order,” Chen Xi said.

“An order?”

“Mm. The first of the ten. Pretty easy, right?”

Tidal didn’t speak—just reluctantly parted her lips. Chen Xi used her fingers to gently pry them open, slipping the chocolate inside.

Cocoa aroma spread through her mouth, followed by a bitter, dry aftertaste.

“Tastes no different from a ten-yuan chocolate,” Tidal frowned.

“Right? That’s why I scolded you. Remember?” Chen Xi tilted her head, smiling.

“Yeah… I remember.”

“Honestly, I thought you’d compliment me or something,” Tidal said with a bitter smile.

“But I was happy,” Chen Xi said. “Even if it was a waste of money, you spent it on me, not someone else.”

“Is that so?” Tidal realized.

“You’re so slow. Penalty.”

Like a prank, Chen Xi playfully pinched Tidal’s tongue, then slowly withdrew her finger.

A thin, glistening thread stretched between them—until it snapped.

“…Done yet?” Tidal gave her a flat look.

She didn’t understand the point of this. Was it fun?

As she pondered, Chen Xi picked up another chocolate—white this time.

“Try this one.”

“I really don’t like sweet things.”

Tidal insisted. But due to their “agreement,” she obediently opened her mouth.

This one was sugary, creamy, with a milky fragrance.

It was tasty—but she still didn’t see the value. The money was clearly wasted.

“I’m done. You eat it.”

After the second piece, Tidal tried to refuse further feeding.

“Okay,” Chen Xi said, surprisingly agreeable.

She took a third chocolate from the box, bringing it to her own lips—then, as if struck by a mischievous idea, grinned and offered it to Tidal instead.

“I said I don’t want it.”

Tidal sighed, but still opened her mouth.

This time, Chen Xi only slid the chocolate into Tidal’s mouth to “lubricate” it—then pulled it out.

“What are you—”

Tidal’s words cut off as Chen Xi pressed the saliva-coated chocolate to her cheek.

“…What are you doing?”

The pressure of the hard candy made her complain. She had no idea what Chen Xi was thinking—but didn’t dare resist.

Chen Xi didn’t explain. She just slowly twisted the chocolate, clearly enjoying herself.

Soon, warmed by saliva and body heat, part of the chocolate began to melt. Chen Xi smeared the sticky paste across Tidal’s cheek.

“Mm, that’s enough.”

She released her grip. A delicate thread of chocolate stretched between finger and skin—then broke.

“Are you a kid? Drawing on people’s faces?”

Tidal grumbled. She touched her cheek—her fingers came away smeared with dark cocoa.

She thought the joke was over. But the next moment, Chen Xi leaned in.

—Lick…

Like a cat grooming its fur, Chen Xi carefully licked the chocolate residue from Tidal’s cheek, making soft shlick-shlick sounds.

“Having fun?”

Tidal didn’t pull away. She shifted her eyes, watching Chen Xi’s face so close to hers.

Chen Xi’s bangs brushed her nose. Her soft tongue traced her cheek… making her whole body tingle.

“Delicious. Truly luxury-grade.”

After finishing, Chen Xi licked her lips, savoring the taste.

“When did you get this fetish?”

Realizing she was being played with, Tidal felt a surge of anger and resentment. But she didn’t show it—just stared at Chen Xi with cold indifference.

“Mad?”

“No.” Tidal shook her head. “Can I go now?”

“Mm, we’ve played enough for today.” Chen Xi stretched.

“One more bite. Say ahhh~”

She picked up another chocolate between thumb and forefinger, sliding it into Tidal’s mouth.

But this time—like it was planned—Tidal bit down with far more force than needed for eating chocolate, clamping down hard on the fingers still in her mouth.

—…?!

The teeth gripping flesh felt the shift in Chen Xi’s emotions.

So Tidal gently increased the pressure, staring at Chen Xi with playful, teasing eyes.

“…It hurts.”

Chen Xi tried to pull her fingers free—but failed. She tried to push Tidal away—but when she saw her porcelain-doll face, so delicate and lovely even in exhaustion, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Maybe the room hadn’t been ventilated—the air had grown unusually hot.

They stayed like this—locked in this strange standoff—until Chen Xi let out a high-pitched plea.

“…I give up!”

Hearing the surrender, Tidal finally released her jaw. She began smugly savoring the leftover chocolate in her mouth.

“Are you a dog?”

“Same to you.”

Tidal extended her right arm, showing the purple bruise and ring of teeth marks.

“You bit deeper,” Chen Xi complained.

She held up her finger to Tidal’s eyes. Once white and elegant, it was now smeared with saliva, cocoa powder, and pale teeth marks—utterly ruined.

For some reason, seeing this, Tidal felt a sudden impulse.

It made sense, really. She had always loved Chen Xi. That inner feeling didn’t change with her form.

So, driven by the moment, Tidal extended her tongue—lightly touching Chen Xi’s fingertip.

A bitter taste—cocoa, not skin.

Then, slowly, she traced her tongue along Chen Xi’s index finger, then thumb. She carefully licked away every speck, making soft shhhhh sounds, until the finger was spotless.

“…”

Chen Xi turned her burning face away. She’d started the game—but she was the one who broke first. The humiliation made her want to disappear.

“Is that enough?”

After finishing, Tidal wiped her mouth, returning to her usual cold demeanor.

“…I’m happy,” Chen Xi whispered, still unable to look at her, face flushed as she relived the moment.

“Good.” Tidal nodded. “If you’re happy… then I’m happy too.”

She smiled.

“Don’t say such corny lines so seriously… idiot.”