He Almost Kissed Me… Then Stopped at the Last Second

Ning Shixue’s pale cheeks flushed crimson.

He barely suppressed the urge to punch him.

This person did it on purpose.
Whatever made him embarrassed, he would deliberately say.

Xie Zhaozhou’s arm was loosely wrapped around his waist, not holding him too tightly.
But no matter how Ning Shixue tried, he couldn’t pry it off.
He could only give up and lean against Xie Zhaozhou.

The director finally finished announcing the results.
The guests couldn’t stand the cold anymore.
Actually, no one cared what he was saying.
Tang He’an called out to everyone,
“It’s so cold. Let’s go quickly.”

The guests picked up the little ones and turned to leave.
In an instant, only the director was left standing there.

Director: “…”

[What can I say? I just want to say he deserves it. Gloating.jpg]

[Director: In the end, my feelings were misplaced.]

The program team had paid for meals in advance.
These days, they ate at Mu Na’s house.
Tang He’an and He Lin’s father went to help in the kitchen.
Soon, the food was brought out.

The little ones were already starving.
Xie Yaoyao put his little hands on the table, staring eagerly at the roast chicken.

Grandpa Mu pinched his soft cheek, grinning from ear to ear.
He broke off a wing for him.
“Eat up. This one’s not spicy.”
After saying that, he broke off another piece for Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue was stunned.

“You’re so thin. You need to eat more,”
Grandma Mu said, bringing over lamb soup.

She reached out and pinched the back of Ning Shixue’s neck.
It was too thin.
The spinous process was very prominent, pale and fragile.

She had never seen such a thin child.

Ning Shixue was the youngest guest.
His eyelashes were long, his lower eyelids full, adding a touch of softness.
When he wasn’t talking or wearing a cold expression, he seemed about the same age as Mu Yuan.

Maybe even younger.

Wearing so many thick clothes in winter didn’t make him look bulky.
Instead, it made him seem even thinner.
His face was pale and cold, the corners of his eyes red from the chill.
He looked very frail.

When the elders felt the bones on his body, they couldn’t help wanting him to eat more, to gain a little weight.

Ning Shixue was actually a bit awkward.
He found it hard to face others’ kindness, especially from elders.

He was better at dealing with people like Liao Yanwan.
If he didn’t agree, he would just argue with them.
But kindness made him want to retreat.

“…Thank you,”
Ning Shixue said, then took his bowl and ate with Xie Yaoyao.

Xie Zhaozhou sat down next to him.
Halfway through the meal, Xie Zhaozhou put a piece of lamb chop in his bowl.
Staring at the tips of his ears, still red from the cold, the corner of his mouth lifted.
He couldn’t help asking quietly,
“Teacher Xiao Ning, why aren’t you serving me food today?”

Ning Shixue: “…”

With so many tricks up his sleeve, could he really starve?

Xie Zhaozhou lowered his eyes.
It was snowing outside, the sky gloomy.
At first glance, it looked like night had fallen.
The lamplight reflected in his calm eyes, making him seem a bit melancholy.

Ning Shixue, thinking to himself that feeling sorry for the antagonist would bring bad luck, couldn’t help but put some food in his bowl anyway.

Then he saw the corner of the man’s mouth lift again, imperceptibly.
Where was the melancholy and loneliness now?

“…”

If he could act this well, why didn’t he win an Oscar?

As soon as Ning Shixue finished cursing in his mind, he suddenly realized, damn it, this man actually was a film emperor.

Was there anything more annoying in the world?

Ning Shixue lowered his head and ate silently.
No matter what Xie Zhaozhou said, he ignored him.
But before Xie Zhaozhou could finish his meal, he got a call from Song Li.
There was a problem with a cooperation involving a certain real estate company.

Xie Zhaozhou put down his chopsticks, picked up his laptop, and went to handle work.
The director, being tactful, quickly had the cameras near the sofa turned off.

Xie Zhaozhou was suspicious by nature.
Even if someone was originally Old Master Xie’s trusted aide, he couldn’t fully trust them.
Now, within the Xie Group, he had few available people.
Most of them were people he had brought in himself.

With fewer people under him, he was busier.

After eating and resting for a while, around two or three in the afternoon, Grandma Mu took Mu Na out to visit neighbors.
The director mysteriously gathered the guests together.

The little ones stood in a row, their faces blanker than the next, looking up at the director.

[I’m starting to envy the director now. How come he gets to see so many soft little ones every day???]

[Little radish heads.]

“Today, we have a special task!”
the director said, becoming even more mysterious as he took out the task card.

Ning Shixue was also confused.
It wasn’t until he finished listening that he learned today was Mu Na’s birthday.

To thank Mu Na’s family for their hospitality, they would celebrate Mu Na’s birthday together tonight.
Each family would prepare a gift, and the little ones would give it on their behalf.

Mu Na knew nothing.
She hadn’t even remembered it was her birthday.
Following the director’s arrangement, Grandma Mu deliberately took Mu Na out, giving them time to prepare.

Now, there wasn’t much time left.
The program team had already ordered the birthday cake in advance.
The guests just needed to buy gifts and decorate the room a bit.

“It’s still early. We’ll come back for dinner,”
Tang He’an said.

He Lin took Ji Qing and his assistant to drive to the supermarket to buy balloons and streamers.
The others went to buy gifts.

Xie Yaoyao hugged Ning Shixue’s leg, sleepy and confused, looking up.
What were the baby and the others talking about?
He hadn’t even woken up yet.

Ning Shixue poked his soft little hand and asked him,
“What gift do you want to prepare for Little Sister Mu?”

“Why,”
Xie Yaoyao asked, his face full of confusion.
He didn’t dodge when poked, even offering his hand for the baby to poke the soft dimples on his chubby flesh again.
“Need prepare gift?”

Ning Shixue told him,
“Sister is having a birthday tonight.”

Xie Yaoyao’s big, dark eyes instantly lit up.

Birthday!

He immediately stopped being sleepy.
He hugged Ning Shixue’s leg, rubbing his chubby face against it.
“I can also, have birthday?”

He wanted birthday gifts too.
He couldn’t even remember when his last birthday was.

It must have been many, many years ago.

Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t finished his work yet.
But Ning Shixue and the others were close by.
He also heard Xie Yaoyao.
Seeing through his intention at a glance, he reminded him calmly,
“You haven’t even finished unwrapping the birthday gifts you received last time.”

From birth until now, every one of Xie Yaoyao’s birthdays had been grandly celebrated by the Xie family.
Xie Zhaozhou never got involved.
It was all handled by Xie’s father.
The old butler would also go to the old residence to help.

At the banquets, people came and went, giving gifts endlessly.

Besides, there were too many people wanting to curry favor with the Xie family.
Xie Yaoyao received gifts even on ordinary days.
The gifts from his first-month celebration were still in the warehouse.

He probably wouldn’t be able to finish unwrapping them by the time he grew up.

Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King grumbled.
He suddenly remembered he had never received a birthday gift from the baby.

Xie Yaoyao’s chubby face pressed hard against Ning Shixue’s leg.
Ning Shixue couldn’t dodge.
He grabbed a few of Ning Shixue’s fingers, practically trying to stick to him forever, and said pitifully,
“Baby, never gave me birthday gift.”

He was, after all, best friends with the baby.
When Ning Shixue had a birthday, he would give him a gift too.

But Ning Shixue had never given him one.

“I just met you,”
Ning Shixue refused to be falsely accused.

Ning Shixue had indeed just met Xie Yaoyao.
But the original host had seen him many times before.

Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes lifted almost imperceptibly.
They were dark and unreadable.

Xie Zhaozhou was still busy.
Ning Shixue took Xie Yaoyao to go shopping.
He directed Xie Yaoyao to put on his coat and little boots, then took his hand and prepared to go out.

If they bought things early, they could come back early.

Otherwise, the temperature in the northern city would plummet as soon as evening arrived.

Even though they had been here for a few days, the guests still weren’t very familiar with the environment.
Tang He’an asked Mu Yuan,
“Xiao Mu, are there any shops or anything around here?”

The shop where Ning Shixue and Xie Zhaozhou had bought the little lights was very close, but it was old and shabby.

It didn’t seem like a place to buy good gifts.

“There’s a supermarket and a toy store,”
Mu Yuan was very introverted and got nervous talking to strangers.
He anxiously picked up his coat and said,
“I’ll take you there.”

“No need, no need,”
Tang He’an didn’t want to trouble him.
After all, it was cold outside.
He said,
“Just tell me the general direction. We’ll drive there ourselves.”

Grandpa Mu, holding his tobacco pipe, smiled and said,
“It’s fine. He was planning to go out anyway.”

Only then did the guests learn that Mu Yuan was a player on the provincial ice hockey team.
He usually trained all day.
It was only because the program team was filming at their house that he could occasionally get away.

Mu Yuan was a little over 1.8 meters tall.
He was only nineteen and exercised regularly.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, good physique.

[This little brother is also acceptable!!!]

[Dammit, why isn’t this a dating show?! I can already imagine so many couples. Covering mouth crying.jpg]

[No one’s interested in Professor Yan?]

[Professor Yan is that high and unattainable type, can only be admired from afar, not profaned. I’ll just profane my delicate wife.]

[Ningning: ??? Are you polite?]

Mu Yuan rode his motorcycle.
Tang He’an and the others borrowed a car from the program team and followed behind Mu Yuan.

They also gave Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao a ride.

They went to the supermarket first but didn’t find any suitable gifts.
Then they followed Mu Yuan to a nearby toy store.
Tang Haohao initially picked up a toy submachine gun, went ‘rat-a-tat’ a few times, then put it back.
He exchanged it for a talking doll.

The doll had black hair and blue eyes, looking very much like Mu Na.

“Little dinosaur!”
Xie Yaoyao wasn’t interested in the doll.
He pointed excitedly at a little dinosaur plush in the window.

Ning Shixue asked him,
“Do you want to buy this for Little Sister Mu?”

Xie Yaoyao nodded.

“Xie Xingxing, you have to buy something Little Sister Mu might like, not something you like,”
Ning Shixue crouched down to explain.
“But I don’t know what she likes either. Maybe she likes this too. Are you sure you want to buy it?”

Xie Yaoyao thought about it seriously.
He felt this little dinosaur was so soft.
How could anyone not like it?

So he nodded again, vigorously.

Ning Shixue asked the clerk to take out the little dinosaur.
Xie Yaoyao raised his little hands and held it in his arms.
Ning Shixue took him to the counter to pay.
Yan Ting and Tang He’an were just ahead of them.

While Tang He’an was paying, Tang Haohao took the doll out of its box.
The doll’s hair was loose.
He was actually braiding it, and very intricately too.
Ning Shixue was a bit surprised and couldn’t help looking at him a few more times.

Although little boys weren’t necessarily unable to braid hair, he had never seen Tang Haohao play with dolls before.

He didn’t know where he had learned it.

Tang Haohao’s fingers were also chubby, but very nimble.
He quickly finished the braid.
Then he put the doll back in the separately bought gift box and tied it with a ribbon.

He even tied a beautiful, delicate bow on the ribbon.
It would be hard for any girl not to like it.

After that, he absolutely refused to touch the box again.
Tang He’an had to carry it for him.

Tang He’an really didn’t understand what was going on in this kid’s head.
Tang Haohao played well with He Miao and Xie Yaoyao, trading Ultraman cards every day.

He just didn’t want to play with Mu Na.

But he didn’t bully the little girl either.
When Mu Na talked to him, he responded properly.
He just wouldn’t go over and play with her on his own.
So Tang He’an didn’t scold him.

He just asked, puzzled,
“What did that little girl do to you? She even brought you goat’s milk to drink.”

Tang Haohao scrunched up his face and didn’t speak.

On the way, Tang He’an called He Lin.
He Lin said it would take almost another hour to get back.
Tang He’an asked Yan Ting, then turned to Ning Shixue and asked,
“Xiao Ning, do you want to go watch some ice hockey?”

He really wanted to watch.
A ten-minute walk from here was the ice rink.
He had asked Mu Yuan.
The coach said it was okay to come.

But they were still training, so it wasn’t convenient for live streaming.

Ning Shixue had never seen ice hockey either, so he nodded.

They would only be away for a little over an hour.
The director didn’t insist on sending a cameraman.

Ice sports were very developed in the northern city.
Several world-class figure skaters had come from here.
This ice rink was also very large.

Ning Shixue and the others found a spot to watch the game.

Mu Yuan had to come back in the evening for his sister’s birthday anyway.
Ning Shixue and the others waited for Mu Yuan to finish training, then went back with him.
The cake ordered by the program team had already arrived.
He Lin’s father and Grandpa Mu had also made over a dozen dishes.
The room was decorated very warmly.

Hearing footsteps in the yard, Xie Zhaozhou looked up.
Xie Yaoyao pattered in.

Behind him were Ning Shixue and Mu Yuan.

Mu Yuan was slightly taller than Ning Shixue.
He raised his hand to hold the curtain open for Ning Shixue.
Ning Shixue also looked up and spoke to him, his lower eyelids curving in a beautiful arc.

Behind them was the snowy night.
The sleigh was parked at the door.
The little lights were on, their glow falling on both of them.

Mu Yuan wasn’t particularly handsome.
But he was young, only nineteen, with a youthful air.
He had a good figure.
Captured by the camera like this, he surprisingly didn’t lose to some celebrities.

Ning Shixue’s face was especially bright in this snowy night.
The light from above shone down on him.
His sickly paleness seemed to fade a little.
He was stunningly beautiful.

The cameraman almost couldn’t help pulling a slow motion shot.
The atmosphere was too good.
The light and shadow were perfect.

But a chill ran down his spine.
His survival instinct made him stop.

Xie Zhaozhou’s dark eyes paused for a moment.

On the show, Ning Shixue didn’t talk to people much, unless someone talked to him first.
When he was alone, he always had that indifferent, cold look.
He didn’t smile much either.
Even when he did, his eyes were cold.

This was the first time Xie Zhaozhou had seen Ning Shixue proactively talk to someone.

Mu Yuan walked towards the kitchen to help his grandfather.
Ning Shixue called out to him.
He didn’t know what he said.
Mu Yuan scratched his head, a bit shy, smiling at him.

[A bit sorry to Brother Xie, but I’ll ship this for one second. Crying very quietly.jpg]

[I have to say, this drama queen looks good with anyone. It’s such a pity he can’t act. If he could act even a little, I can’t imagine how popular he’d be.]

Xie Zhaozhou’s expression was blank.
His thin lips pressed into a line.
He didn’t look down again until a message arrived on his phone.

Grandma Mu also brought Mu Na back.
When the lights in the house were turned off, only the little lights on the wall were on.

Set against the snow outside, it was especially beautiful.

Mu Na brushed the snow off her clothes and exclaimed in surprise.

He Miao was the first to give her gift.
She gave a children’s smartwatch.
This way, even after the show ended, she could still call Mu Na.
Then the other little ones went over too.

After giving gifts, they sat down to eat.
Grandpa Mu poured a little wine for the adults.
“Drink up to keep warm.”

Ning Shixue couldn’t handle alcohol, but he took a tiny sip.
The colder the place, the higher the alcohol content.
The wine was sweet and spicy, rushing straight to his nose.
Ning Shixue almost choked, tears in his eyes.

But his whole body instantly felt warm.

He held the small cup, sitting in a corner.
His eyes were moist from the choking sensation, his cheeks slightly flushed.
His head felt a bit dizzy.
When they turned off the lights and sang Happy Birthday for Mu Na, the room was dark.
Only the candles on the cake were lit.

Ning Shixue’s eyes were even brighter in that light.

He didn’t sing.
He had never sung Happy Birthday before.
His voice was hoarse, and he couldn’t open his mouth.

He could only awkwardly clap along with everyone.

He Miao also sang a Russian birthday song for Mu Na.
By the fireside in this snowy night, it was especially fitting.

The most surprising was Ji Xiao.
He Miao had only sung it once, and he had already learned how to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in Russian.

Although his voice was milky and his pronunciation not very standard, it sounded pretty good.

[Baby, I’m starting to suspect you have a photographic memory.]

[The director should find a chance to ask Little Mantou what documentaries he’s watched. I suspect he remembers them all.]

During dinner, Xie Zhaozhou went out several times to take calls.
It seemed there was indeed an urgent matter.

Ning Shixue and the others had come second in the snow race.
The director gave out prizes that night.
Their prize was a room key to the luxury hotel.
They could stay there tonight.

Even if it was only for one night.

After celebrating Mu Na’s birthday, around nine in the evening, the guests headed back to their accommodations with the little ones.

Xie Zhaozhou was obviously very busy tonight.
The director tactfully turned off the cameras in their room.

He also didn’t have anyone follow them on the way.

His heart was bleeding.
Without Xie Zhaozhou and Ning Shixue, the live stream’s viewer count instantly dropped significantly.
But there was nothing he could do.
The president of the Xie Group taking a few days out to film their show was already generous.
He couldn’t expect Xie Zhaozhou to be in front of the camera every moment.

Mu Na gave each of them a glow-in-the-dark bracelet.
She had made them that afternoon with the kids in town.

Ning Shixue was still wearing his on his wrist.
In the snowy night, the bracelet was especially bright, reflecting in his eyes, now misty from the alcohol.

Xie Zhaozhou noticed that he seemed to like these shiny things.
The watch he had given him was shiny.
The little lights hanging at home were shiny.
Even Xie Xingxing was shiny.

A little star shining brightly in the sky.

Ning Shixue was a bit drunk and unsteady on his feet.

Afraid he would fall, Xie Zhaozhou carried Xie Yaoyao and kept holding Ning Shixue’s hand.
Halfway, he suddenly asked,
“When is your birthday?”

Ning Shixue was stunned for a moment before he realized Xie Zhaozhou was asking him.
This stumped him.
He didn’t know when the original host’s birthday was.
The original novel hadn’t mentioned it.

He couldn’t just make something up.

Ning Shixue lowered his head, pretending to be drunk.

He could only hope Xie Zhaozhou was socially savvy enough to see that he just didn’t want to answer, okay?

Xie Zhaozhou glanced at him.
Indeed, he didn’t press further.
Ning Shixue breathed a sigh of relief.

At the hotel, Xie Zhaozhou went straight to his room.

Ning Shixue didn’t disturb him.
He took a shower with the chubby kid.
After his shower, he took out his phone, opened a bedtime story app, and lay in bed listening with Xie Yaoyao.

Usually, he would fall asleep after one story.
But tonight, Xie Yaoyao was already asleep.
His soft cheeks were flushed.
His little hands were clenched, resting beside his pillow.

Ning Shixue still had no sleepiness at all.

He lifted the covers and stood up.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then walked towards the room and knocked on the door.

Xie Zhaozhou’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”

The company matters weren’t finished yet.
There was a problem with a shipment overseas, involving too many things.
He had to go abroad.
He had just booked his ticket when Song Li called again, saying the surveillance outside the Xie family’s private hospital had captured someone.

The person had loitered outside the hospital several times.

Their movements were suspicious.

But Song Li had already thoroughly investigated the person, even checking their social network.
It seemed they had no connection to the Xie family.
Going deeper would take time, and might end up with nothing.

He could only come to ask Xie Zhaozhou for instructions.

Xie Zhaozhou’s brow was deeply furrowed.
He looked at the surveillance footage, was silent for a moment, then told Song Li,
“Keep investigating.”

“Okay, President Xie,”
Song Li agreed.
Then he hesitated and asked,
“As for Madam, the hospital says she’s on a hunger strike…”

Liao Yanwan kept wanting to be discharged.
She didn’t think she had a mental problem at all.
Being locked up with those lunatics, she tried every way to contact Xie Zhaozhou.
Xie Zhaozhou ignored her.

Xie’s father was a pushover.
He spoke harshly to Xie Zhaozhou, but didn’t dare defy his decisions.

Besides, Xie Zhaozhou was the head of the Xie family.

And Liao Yanwan had indeed had an episode.
Xie Zhaozhou sending her to the hospital was reasonable.

Even if Old Master Xie came now, unless Xie Zhaozhou agreed, no one would dare let Liao Yanwan out.

Xie Zhaozhou’s Adam’s apple moved.
His eyes were dark, his voice clearly colder.
“You should ask the hospital about their arrangements.”

Song Li realized he had asked a stupid question.
He didn’t even dare breathe loudly and quickly replied,
“I understand, President Xie.”

Dealing with this kind of patient, the hospital naturally had methods.
If Liao Yanwan insisted on not eating, the worst case was that the doctors would insert a nasal feeding tube.
But this was a private hospital, and Liao Yanwan wasn’t an ordinary patient.
The director had to ask.

Xie Zhaozhou hung up.
Ning Shixue had been waiting nearby for a while.
He was only wearing his bathrobe.
But the hotel had underfloor heating, so it wasn’t cold at all.

Only a desk lamp was on in the room.
Xie Zhaozhou’s cold features were almost hidden in the darkness.
When he looked up, his expression softened slightly.
He asked,
“Something on your mind?”

Ning Shixue shook his head.
But he paused, then couldn’t help raising his eyes and asking,
“Second Brother, are you leaving?”

Xie Zhaozhou returned to his usual lazy demeanor in front of him.
His fingers tapped idly on the armrest.
His eyes seemed to smile as he asked softly,
“You’ll miss me?”

“…”

Knowing this person couldn’t say anything good, Ning Shixue still felt his cheeks warm.
He looked away uncomfortably and said indignantly,
“I’m being serious.”

“Just for one day,”
Xie Zhaozhou stopped teasing him on purpose.
“I’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”

Ning Shixue’s lips moved.
Actually, he also wanted to ask what Xie Zhaozhou was going to do.
He seemed to have heard him mention Liao Yanwan to Song Li just now.

Ning Shixue had been thinking about this for the past few days.

The original plot had changed.
Logically, Ji Xiao should have been injured by now, and the main couple’s relationship should have progressed rapidly.
Xie Hanzhou was filming in the northern city.
He should have started coming to the show frequently.

But so far, Xie Hanzhou hadn’t come once.

He even wondered if, at this rate, the main couple would ever get together.

He didn’t care about Xie Hanzhou and Ji Qing.
But he was a bit concerned about how the rest of the original plot would unfold.

In the original story, the original host was drowned in the sea by Xie Zhaozhou.
He was one of the cannon fodders who died at the hands of the main antagonist.

Xie Zhaozhou was indeed ruthless.
He was a lawless maniac.
In the latter part of the novel, he killed many people.

Even… including his own biological mother.

Liao Yanwan already hated Xie Zhaozhou.
After Xie Yaoyao was disabled by the original host, and Xie Zhaozhou refused to hand over the Xie Group to Xie Hanzhou, the resentment in her heart almost consumed her.
For the sake of her youngest son, she hired someone to run Xie Zhaozhou down with a car.

Xie Zhaozhou narrowly escaped death.
When he caught the driver and interrogated him, before Xie Zhaozhou could even speak, the driver confessed directly, crying and sniveling in fear,
“It was Liao Yanwan who made me do it!”

He had also been blinded by greed.
The moment he actually hit him, he started to get scared and regret it.
He was crying like a mess.

Who wouldn’t be afraid of murder?

Only now did he realize that the crazy woman had sent him to hit her own son.

Xie Zhaozhou knew Liao Yanwan didn’t love him.
But he never thought it would come to this.

Liao Yanwan still cared about Xie Sui’s death.
Xie Sui had died in a car accident.
She wanted Xie Zhaozhou to suffer the same pain.

In the original story, Xie Zhaozhou killed Liao Yanwan with his own hands.
He didn’t even hold a funeral for her.
This completely enraged Xie Hanzhou.

But the original story focused on the main couple.
Mentioning these things about Xie Zhaozhou was just to foreshadow his conflict with Xie Hanzhou, using him, a villain who deserved to die, to contrast with the main male lead.

So Ning Shixue didn’t know the specifics.

He hadn’t offended Xie Zhaozhou now.
He probably wouldn’t be killed by him.
What about Liao Yanwan?

Ning Shixue felt that even without the Xie Yaoyao incident, she was still just as crazy.

Ning Shixue was genuinely worried, but he didn’t know how to warn Xie Zhaozhou.
Even if he told him, Xie Zhaozhou might not believe it.
And he didn’t know when Liao Yanwan would hire someone.
He could only hint,
“Second Brother, tell the driver to be careful on the road at night.”

When Xie Zhaozhou returned, he had poured himself a glass of wine.
He picked up the glass and finished the last sip.
There was ice in the glass; the wine was cold.

He stood up, acknowledged, and said,
“Okay.”

“Are you flying tonight?”
Ning Shixue followed him and asked.
“Can flights take off in the snow?”

Xie Zhaozhou was already walking towards the door.

The wine he had drunk that night was very strong.
The effect was too potent.
He had just taken a shower, and now he felt even dizzier.
His mind was in a mess.
He didn’t even care about being embarrassed.
He raised his hand and grabbed Xie Zhaozhou’s wrist, giving it a slight shake.

Xie Zhaozhou’s Adam’s apple moved suddenly.
Half his body went numb from the shake.
He almost cursed under his breath.

He didn’t know who he had learned this from, being so good at acting cute.

Xie Zhaozhou stopped.
His dark eyes, also carrying the effects of alcohol, pressed down on him heavily.
His tone was a bit suggestive.
“Should I report to you after I land?”

He thought Ning Shixue would get angry and refuse again.
But unexpectedly, Ning Shixue nodded.
The tips of his ears were a bit red, but he endured the embarrassment and whispered expectantly,
“Can you?”

Otherwise, he might not sleep well tonight.

The concern on his face was unguarded, even a bit excessive.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t even know what he was worried about.

Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes widened in surprise.
His heart suddenly softened.
He didn’t say anything inappropriate anymore and quietly agreed,
“Okay.”

Only then did Ning Shixue feel relieved.

He was afraid Xie Zhaozhou would get hurt.
He was also afraid Xie Zhaozhou would hurt someone else.
No one knew better than him that some things, once done, were hard to go back to.
The down jacket stained with blood, he still didn’t know how to clean it properly.

In the original story, after Xie Zhaozhou killed himself, the crimes he committed were exposed by the main male lead.
All that remained was contempt and condemnation.

If he did one thing wrong, especially something this serious, everything he had done before would be stained.

Ning Shixue still remembered the night Xie Zhaozhou came on the show with him.
Countless people missed the films he had made.
He wanted Xie Zhaozhou to keep his hands clean.
Even if he didn’t act anymore, he would still be the snow on the mountain peak, the moon in the sky.

Xie Zhaozhou’s flight was the next morning.
He had a video conference that night, so he booked another room next door.

Ning Shixue followed him out of the room.
The alcohol was hitting him.
He walked unsteadily,只能 holding onto Xie Zhaozhou’s arm.

“Want me to carry you?”
Xie Zhaozhou’s voice was cool, but the words sounded anything but innocent.

Ning Shixue, blushing, pushed him.
Maybe emboldened by the alcohol, he leaned against the wall behind him and finally couldn’t help asking quietly,
“What exactly do you want?”

He paused, tilted his head slightly.
Those peach blossom eyes, holding a moist sheen, stared into Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes.
His breath seemed to linger as he asked very directly,
“Do you want to sleep with me?”

As soon as he asked, he regretted it.
Xie Zhaozhou was very enthusiastic about flirting with him.
But when he asked something seriously, Xie Zhaozhou would avoid him.
Asking this would at most give Xie Zhaozhou a chance to be flirtatious.
He certainly wouldn’t answer seriously.

Ning Shixue’s whole body burned uncomfortably.
The tips of his ears, visible through his dark hair, were pale with a red flush.

He turned to leave.
But Xie Zhaozhou grabbed his shoulder.
His phoenix eyes were dark and calm, yet with a hint of rakishness as he asked quietly,
“Can I?”

???

Ning Shixue was mostly sobered up by the shock.
Was that something a human would say?
Would anyone actually ask that?

“What I mean is,”
Xie Zhaozhou still held his shoulder, not letting go.
Those deep, narrow dark eyes curved.
“But I probably… don’t just want that. So wait a bit longer.”

He didn’t even know what he wanted himself.
Naturally, he couldn’t answer Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue’s whole body burned.
He felt his face must be completely red.
From his neck to his collarbone, it was probably red too.

But he still stubbornly insisted,
“What else do you want?”

“I’m still thinking,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, raising the back of his hand to touch Ning Shixue’s burning cheek.
His tone became lazy again as he curved his lips.
“If we sleep together now, you’d have to take responsibility for me. Is Teacher Xiao Ning willing to take responsibility?”

Ning Shixue: “…”

Why should I take responsibility for you? What did I do that requires me to take responsibility? Why don’t you take responsibility for me?

Ning Shixue was furious.
But before he could speak, Xie Zhaozhou suddenly cupped his cheek and lowered his head.
For a moment, Ning Shixue thought Xie Zhaozhou was going to kiss him.

But Xie Zhaozhou just suddenly leaned close.
The hand on his shoulder tightened until the veins stood out.
Then he stopped, hovering.
Their noses almost touched.

Ning Shixue’s heart skipped a beat.
His mind went almost blank.
He forgot to move away.

His eyelashes fluttered, and he met Xie Zhaozhou’s deep dark eyes.
His gaze involuntarily fell on his thin lips.

But Xie Zhaozhou suddenly let him go and stepped back.
He raised his hand and ruffled Ning Shixue’s hair, saying softly,
“I’m off.”