The curtain hung quietly. As soon as Xiao Lian entered the inner room, she saw under the flickering candlelight, the silhouettes inside were blurred, filling the room with an enigmatic atmosphere. She stared blankly at the figures.

Jing Yu knew someone had entered and guessed it was Xiao Lian. However, her tender eyes remained fixed on Su Xi, her movements undeterred as she continued her actions on Su Xi’s body with an instinctual clarity.

Su Xi’s eyes were misty and blurry, unaware of what had just happened in the room. Meanwhile, Jing Yu made heart-stirring sounds which prompted Su Xi to lean down and whisper, “Su Xi, hold me tight…”

Xiao Lian panicked and ran outside, her cold hands covering her burning cheeks. She felt they were doing something shameful that she dared not watch or listen to.

After some time, the moans inside subsided. Xiao Lian’s heart calmed, and the blush on her face faded. Crouching outside, she thought her brother should be fine tonight. His voice carried no pain and even conveyed pleasure. The woman seemed comfortable too. But if she often visited her brother, why didn’t she marry him?

She had heard that if a man gives his innocence to a woman, he must marry her, or he would suffer. Her brother had given his innocence, so marrying her would be best. Yet, after two years, she still hadn’t married him. Her brother seemed happy even after she ‘tormented’ him at night; otherwise, why would he smile at the marks left behind after she left?

The night was cool, with a cold wind blowing. Xiao Lian shivered, hugging herself tighter and crouching outside the room, her eyes slightly reddened. She worried about her brother, often watching him endure wrongs while feeling like a burden. Due to her condition, she would faint suddenly, causing him to worry and cry silently. To ease her worries, he lied about her weakness, but she knew he was sick. In the past six months, her fainting spells had ceased.

After taking Su Xi several times, Jing Yu finally lay next to him. She brushed away the sweat on his face and pushed back the damp strands of hair, her eyes filled with tenderness, a rare display of gentleness.

Su Xi’s face was flushed, his lips slightly parted, breathing heavily, with exhaustion hidden under his long eyelashes. Jing Yu tucked his hair behind his ear, caressing his burning cheek. “You’re tired, just sleep now.”

Su Xi wearily closed his eyes, mumbling in a daze, “I’m not tired… I can still serve you… I can… yes… I can…”

Jing Yu smiled faintly and stroked Su Xi’s shoulders, lingering at his collarbone. She kissed his cheek and whispered, “Perhaps, I can take care of you in the future.”

Su Xi hummed and fell asleep.

Jing Yu put on a coat and tucked Su Xi in carefully. She kissed him again before walking out.

The door creaked open. Xiao Lian, feeling sleepy, suddenly woke and stood up, surprised to see Jing Yu. “You, you’re coming out?”

Jing Yu looked at the night sky and then at Xiao Lian, her voice calm, “Naturally, I have something to do.”

Xiao Lian asked, “You’re leaving now? It’s still deep in the night.”

Jing Yu tilted her head, “Not leaving, but making you go back to sleep. Don’t stay outside anymore. It’s late autumn, and your body is weak. You’ll easily catch a chill.”

Xiao Lian stared at her, feeling warm. Besides her brother, she was the first person who had ever cared for her. Embarrassed, she lowered her head.

In the past, she had always been unkind to her, but Xiao Lian never got angry and continued to care for her and her brother. She resolved to stop disliking her.

Jing Yu lowered her head, aligning her face with Xiao Lian’s. Startled, Xiao Lian gripped the hem of her clothes, held her breath, and flushed red while staring at Jing Yu.

Jing Yu’s face was flushed, with damp hair at her temples from sweat, her clothes loosely draped. She said softly, “If you catch a cold, he will worry again.”

Her mention of “he” was clear; both knew it referred to her brother. Xiao Lian glared at her and turned away. Initially thinking Jing Yu was concerned about her, she realized Jing Yu was worried about her brother instead, softening her expression. Hesitantly, she asked, “Are you worried about my brother?”

Jing Yu glanced towards the room where Su Xi was sleeping and replied softly, “Sort of.”

Xiao Lian, feeling a mix of doubt and sadness, asked, “If you like my brother, why don’t you marry him? He has no one else.”

Jing Yu lowered her eyes and fell silent, perhaps considering that one day she could marry him without worry, if she were still alive by then.

But who knew how much longer her body could hold out? If it weren’t for that matter, she wouldn’t be living so cautiously.

She deliberately tried not to pay attention to his affairs, often wanting to come here but only visiting a few times a month, not wanting to indulge too much in his warmth. Now, she seemed increasingly reluctant to let go.

Seeing her silence, Xiao Lian thought she wouldn’t marry her brother and felt a surge of anger, which was quickly extinguished. What good would her anger do? Jing Yu was already taking good care of them.

Jing Yu glanced at Xiao Lian, whose eyes were lowered, and turned to walk inside. “It’s late. If you don’t want him to worry, go back to your room and sleep.”

The door closed tightly, leaving Xiao Lian alone outside. She stood quietly in place, not knowing how long passed before walking dejectedly to another room.

When Jing Yu returned to the bed, Su Xi’s face was still flushed but fast asleep. Jing Yu caressed his warm face, leaned in to kiss him, and lingered her hand on his shoulder before embracing him to sleep.

With their necks touching, Jing Yu slightly lowered her eyes and kissed his forehead again. Breathing in his calm breath, she closed her eyes. Every time she would come here, spending intimate moments with him, she had touched every inch of his soft, fair skin, each part alluring. He himself was even more attractive.

Being with him would warm her body and heart, but she feared losing herself completely, always holding back.

#

In the ink-colored night, with cold wind blowing, two people embraced each other, warming one another.

#

As dawn broke, Jing Yu felt the person in her arms moving. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, seeing Su Xi still in a dream, nestling closer to her.

Jing Yu smiled softly, her eyes filled with tenderness. The hand around his waist caressed his face, kissing his forehead. They had been intimate for two years, and her feelings for him were unique.

If there was any softness left in her heart, it was only because of Su Xi.

Su Xi hummed and snuggled closer, then suddenly stiffened, sensing something was wrong. He startled awake, moving back and looking at Jing Yu in surprise.

Jing Yu’s voice was gentle as she tucked the blanket, preventing cold air from entering. “You’re awake. Just in time. I just woke up too.”

Confused, Su Xi blinked, realizing the woman before him had not disappeared. “You, how are you…” His face felt warm, recalling their intimacy from the night before.

Jing Yu pulled him into her embrace, caressing his skin. “What do you want to ask?”

Su Xi shyly lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling, his face slightly red.

“You usually leave early in the morning, but today you’re still here…”

“Mm, nothing to do today. Just wanted to sleep a bit longer.”

Su Xi didn’t ask further. He was a male prostitute, and she was his patron; he wasn’t to inquire about her affairs.

Jing Yu kissed Su Xi’s lips, their tongues intertwining, her hands sliding from his back to his waist, caressing and pinching him. Su Xi couldn’t help but moan, his face turning red.