The Kiss That Ended the Breakup

The dormitory courtyard was quiet in the early morning, with only a thin layer of sunlight. The young man stood tall and straight beneath the tree, his presence cold and intense, impossible to ignore.

“Since you already know everything… then you should understand even more that this was all a mistake to begin with. We were never meant to be.”

“I mistook you for someone else from the start. I never had those feelings for you. When I said we should break up, I wasn’t throwing a tantrum—I really meant it.”

“Here’s your necklace back. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

Sang Jiuning fired off her words in rapid succession, holding the necklace out toward him, her fingers gripping it tightly. She just wanted him to take it and let her go without a fuss.

When no response came after a long moment, she cautiously glanced up—and met Wen Zhaoci’s deep, dark gaze. His eyes were fixed on her like bottomless pools, and the intensity made her heart tremble. She quickly looked down again.

Wen Zhaoci didn’t take the necklace. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them in one stride. The pressure of his presence instantly enveloped Sang Jiuning.

His voice was low, a little rough, each word landing heavily on her ears: “Sang Jiuning, I don’t agree to break up.”

So what if it was a mistake? So what if they weren’t suited for each other?

Sang Jiuning, don’t even think about shaking him off!

Wen Zhaoci’s gaze bore into her—her fair little face, her cherry-red lips—and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Their eyes locked.

Then Wen Zhaoci lowered his head, one hand cupping the back of her neck, pulling her toward him with a gentle but firm pressure, the other arm wrapping around her back.

The force was deliberate—enough to keep her from escaping.

Their lips met.

It started as a brief, fleeting touch, then deepened into something more—an aggressive, irresistible invasion. It carried the unique, crisp scent of pine that belonged to him alone, wrapping around Sang Jiuning so completely she couldn’t breathe.

She froze entirely, her mind going blank. She even forgot how to breathe. The star necklace box slipped from her fingers and landed in the grass with a soft thud—she didn’t even notice.

Only when Wen Zhaoci finally pulled back, his thumb brushing lightly over her reddened lips, did Sang Jiuning snap back to reality. She shoved against his chest, gripping the hem of his T-shirt, gasping for air, her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg.

She stumbled back two big steps, her voice trembling slightly: “You—you’re a pervert!”

She was ruined. In two lifetimes, this was her first kiss—and it was with the male lead who was supposed to belong to the female protagonist.

Ahhhh, she was tainted. And so was he. Would Su Qingyan end up resenting Wen Zhaoci for this later?

Wen Zhaoci watched her red-rimmed eyes and tightly pressed lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing again. The frustration he’d been holding onto for days had mostly dissipated, though his voice remained low, now laced with unmistakable hoarseness: “Baby, I don’t agree to breaking up. That was your punishment.”

He bent down, picked up the box at his feet, took out the star necklace, and reached around to fasten it around her neck. His fingertips grazed the side of her neck, making her shiver involuntarily.

“The necklace is yours now. There’s no taking it back.” He held her gaze, refusing to let her look away, speaking each word clearly. “Baby, that ‘once a week’ rule you set? Canceled.”

Wen Zhaoci paused, his voice softening, and reached up to ruffle her messy, disheveled hair. How could she be this cute?

“Go change. I’m taking you to get wontons.”

Dazed, Sang Jiuning stumbled back upstairs to change. It wasn’t until she splashed cold water on her face that she finally snapped back to full awareness.

In the mirror, her cheeks were flushed crimson, her lips slightly swollen—clearly the aftermath of being thoroughly kissed.

Sang Jiuning covered her burning face and stomped her foot, slowly letting the ridiculous heat subside. She cursed Wen Zhaoci eight hundred times in her head, but then couldn’t help recalling that kiss—the crisp pine scent, the way it felt—and her heart started racing uncontrollably again, threatening to burst out of her chest.

Thank goodness the dormitory courtyard was quiet and no one saw anything.

By the time she finally finished changing and came back downstairs, Wen Zhaoci was leaning against the tree, waiting. When he saw her emerge, he naturally reached out to take her hand.

Sang Jiuning flinched back instinctively, trying to dodge, but he caught her wrist with perfect precision. His warm palm wrapped firmly around her slightly cool hand—no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

“Don’t pull away.” Wen Zhaoci looked down at her, his tone brooking no refusal. “A boyfriend holding his girlfriend’s hand—there’s nothing more natural than that.”

Sang Jiuning pressed her lips together and said nothing, letting him lead her toward the school gate. Her fingertips brushed against the prominent bones of his wrist, and her heart started racing again.

She stole a glance at his profile. The morning light fell across the bridge of his nose, outlining the clean lines of his jaw. He’d been so domineering just moments ago, yet now the pressure of his fingers was gentle, as if afraid of hurting her.

Would she still be able to break up with him in the future?

Forget it, forget it. The world is wide, but food comes first. At least the Weng Zhicheng situation had been brushed aside so easily…

Sang Jiuning sighed, her fingers moving subtly, accidentally brushing against his palm.

Wen Zhaoci paused mid-step, turning to look at her. A faint smile spread from the corners of his eyes, and he deliberately tickled her palm with his thumb, chuckling softly when he saw her ears turn red: “Don’t tease me. If you keep that up, we’re not going anywhere.”

Sang Jiuning quickly curled her fingers shut, turning her face away and pretending to look at a cat that wasn’t there.

The wind rustled the leaves of the plane trees along the road, stretching their intertwined shadows long and close together, inseparable.

After they finished their wontons and walked back, they stood once again beneath the dormitory building.

Wen Zhaoci ruffled the top of her head, his tone deceptively soft and warm: “A friend of mine opened a hot spring resort. There’s a get-together with friends next weekend—all the guys are bringing their partners. I told them I’d bring you along.”

Before Sang Jiuning could refuse, Wen Zhaoci continued: “Head on up. I’ll wait until you’re inside before I leave.”

Then he gave her a gentle hug from behind, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low: “I’ll come find you tonight. I’ll take you to try that new cake shop at the school gate.”

His warm breath brushed against her ear, and Sang Jiuning froze completely, managing only a stuttering nod.

Back in the dorm, she immediately regretted it. Why had she agreed to see him again tonight? And that hot spring resort—she definitely hadn’t agreed to that.

Shaking her head, she grabbed her CET-4 review materials and headed to the library to grind through practice questions. Tang Tongtong and the other two were already there, with an empty seat beside Tang Tongtong. Sang Jiuning sat down next to her.

Tang Tongtong glanced up at her, poked her arm with a pen, and whispered with a knowing grin: “Where’d you disappear to with the campus god this morning? You’re wearing that star necklace now—spill it. How far have you two gone?”

The other two roommates immediately stopped writing. Qin Ying shot her a gossip-hungry look, while Su Qingyan’s gaze was more neutral.

Sang Jiuning’s ears turned red. She spread her review materials across the table and mumbled vaguely: “Just grabbed breakfast at the school gate. Nothing special. How far could we have gone?”

“You’re wearing a necklace he gave you and you’re saying nothing happened?” Tang Tongtong smirked knowingly. “Your face is as red as an apple. Did you guys kiss?”