One Kiss Was Never Enough

Even though it was nighttime, there were quite a few young couples strolling along the path, intimately wrapped around each other.

Sang Jiuning had even secretly observed several pairs behind the trees—cuddling, hugging, locking lips—and it only made her cheeks burn hotter.

Right, before she’d transmigrated into this book, she’d spent all her time holed up in the art studio. This kind of scene was a first for her.

Wen Zhaoci naturally noticed too. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer, and he subtly steered her away from that particular tree. His voice was low: “Don’t stare.”

Sang Jiuning froze, about to protest that she hadn’t been staring on purpose, when his hand gently tilted her chin up. A warm sensation brushed against the corner of her mouth, and the next moment, a kiss—tinged with the faint aroma of their meal—landed softly.

Sang Jiuning’s eyes went wide. She forgot to breathe entirely, frozen in his arms. It wasn’t until Wen Zhaoci pulled back, his thumb brushing lightly against her reddened lips, that he murmured with a low chuckle: “Better to look at me than at them, hmm?”

Sang Jiuning clutched his shirt, managing only a weak, soft-spoken “You’re being a pervert again,” with absolutely no force behind it.

She felt certain she’d been watched like a monkey—and this was on a campus tree-lined path, not hidden behind a tree!

Wen Zhaoci, amused by her flustered, adorable reaction, laughed even more and pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. “I’m only a pervert to my girlfriend.”

When they reached the dormitory building, Sang Jiuning tried to break free from Wen Zhaoci’s hold, but he tightened his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, turning her to face him.

Wen Zhaoci’s voice dropped to a coaxing murmur: “Baby, one more kiss.”

“No—mmph—”

Her refusal was swallowed.

When she opened her eyes again, her back was pressed against the rough trunk of the camphor tree. Wen Zhaoci’s right hand, still holding the cake bag, braced against the trunk, his other arm wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. His scent—cool and crisp, like pine and grass—enveloped her completely.

This time, he was gentler. The warmth of his tongue brushed lightly against her lips, and Sang Jiuning trembled instinctively, going soft in his arms. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the fabric at his back, her fingertips burning hot.

Wen Zhaoci’s eyes were dark. His left hand gave her slender waist a light squeeze.

Sang Jiuning let out a soft, involuntary sound, her whole body going limp against him. Her brain was severely oxygen-deprived—she was completely short-circuited.

She didn’t know how much time passed before Wen Zhaoci finally released her. His thumb traced gently over her swollen, reddened lips, and seeing her dazed, half-lidded eyes, he leaned down to nuzzle the crown of her head before finally letting go of her waist.

He handed her the cake bag, reached up to pinch her burning cheek, and said softly: “Go on up. Get some rest early.”

Sang Jiuning mumbled an “mm,” her steps unsteady as she rushed into the dormitory building.

Wen Zhaoci only withdrew his deep gaze after her figure had completely disappeared, touching his own lips.

See? A few more kisses, and she’ll get used to it.

Back in the dorm, Sang Jiuning distributed the cakes to her three roommates. Tang Tongtong, being a foodie, immediately dug in, her mouth too full of cake to ask any probing questions. Still, her gaze kept flicking toward Sang Jiuning’s lips, and she wouldn’t stop winking suggestively.

Qin Ying ate her cake while barely suppressing a grin: “Ningning, your lipstick is all smudged.”

Sang Jiuning: …Is there a hole in this dorm? I’d like to crawl into one.

But Su Qingyan didn’t touch her cake at all.

Tang Tongtong couldn’t help asking: “Yanyan, why aren’t you eating? This cake is amazing.”

Su Qingyan’s fingers tightened around the cake box. She forced a smile, pushed it aside on the table, and said: “I’m cutting back on sugar. Can’t have sweets. You guys enjoy it.”

Tang Tongtong, oblivious, finished her portion in a few bites and chattered on about the afternoon elective class, quickly moving past the topic.

Sang Jiuning was still in a daze. After washing up, she lay in bed, her thoughts scattered.

She’d been kissed by Wen Zhaoci for a long time today.

Things had developed far beyond what she’d expected.

Her “cold treatment breakup plan” seemed utterly unconvincing in the face of today’s hot, lingering kiss.

She touched her still-warm lips, her head full of his crisp scent and the warmth of his kiss. She tossed and turned for ages, unable to sleep. Her phone screen lit up and dimmed, dimmed and lit up again. Finally, she couldn’t resist opening her chat with Wen Zhaoci.

After deleting and retyping over and over, her last shred of reason finally pulled her back.

It’s over.

Right now, her mood was like a glass of sparkling water shaken into a frenzy—bubbles endlessly rising, annoyingly persistent.

* * * *

Meanwhile, after seeing Sang Jiuning back to her dorm, Wen Zhaoci headed to the Night Color club again.

In the spacious private room, smoke curled lazily as a few childhood friends lounged around. When they saw him push open the door, Jiang Shangyu let out a whistle and slid a glass of wine toward him. “Oho, you’ve really changed. We ask you out, and you actually show up again.”

Gu Yanshi noticed that Wen Zhaoci’s lips had been curved upward ever since he entered the room. He grabbed Wen Zhaoci and pulled him down to sit beside him. “Something’s off—your mouth’s practically reaching the ceiling. What’s the good news? Share with us, bro.”

Wen Zhaoci took a sip of his wine. The sensation of Sang Jiuning’s soft lips still lingered on his fingertips—and that waist of hers, so soft. His lips curved as he didn’t deny it: “Mm. We kissed.”

“Holy shit!”

“Holy shit!”

“Holy shit!”

“Holy shit!”

Four identical exclamations rang out in the room at once.

Gu Yanshi choked on his drink, coughing and sputtering as he grabbed a napkin: “Holy shit??? No way, no way! Bro Ci, you’re serious?! This million-year-old iceberg actually thawed?! Not only dating, but you actually kissed? That’s insane progress! Tell us—what did it feel like? Heart racing? Maximum atmosphere?”

Jiang Shangyu: “No way! For real, Bro Ci?! The guy who can’t even be bothered to talk to girls for more than two seconds actually kissed one? You’ve been hiding this well! Give us the details—when, where? We didn’t hear a peep!”

Chi Nanli: “Huh?… What? K-kissed? Holy shit?? Bro Ci, you actually… I’m lost, I’m lost.”

Zhao Muze flicked his cigarette ash and raised an eyebrow with a smile: “Tch, expected it. It was only a matter of time. Since you’ve confirmed the relationship, it’s normal to get to this stage. But I didn’t expect you to be the one to bring it up—seems like you really do like that girl.”

Wen Zhaoci said flatly: “That Douyin account you recommended—’A Love That Never Ends’—its advice is pretty good.”