"How far have you read?"
The man sat down silently beside her, startling Mei Ran. The booklet lying open on her knees fell to the floor with a soft *thud*. The little private shadow created by her bowed gaze was now exposed under the bright, glaring light. The room suddenly became so quiet that only her rapid breathing could be heard.
Their gazes met, then simultaneously fell to the floor, to the open page where the images were rendered in exquisite detail, even the expressions of the man and woman were clearly visible.
He chuckled softly, his voice low. "You like this one?"
Mei Ran felt her mouth go dry. She subconsciously licked her lips. Although she had understood the general idea of intimate relations between men and women since high school, it was the first time in her life she had ever looked at such… spirited material. Especially in such a quiet night, with a man sitting so close… Thus, the visual and psychological impact was exceptionally strong.
"Shall we… try this first?" The man looked steadily at her. His clear, penetrating gaze was like a bonfire suddenly ignited in a mountain forest. His breath was scalding, a scent she knew all too well.
Mei Ran's long, curled eyelashes drooped quietly. Her heartstrings were taut. Every cell in her body began to simmer, spreading from her feet to the crown of her head, steaming her face and entire body in a flush of crimson.
"Don't know how?" A damp, low voice brushed past her ear.
"First, you have to pin me down…"
He clearly already understood the drill completely. While explaining the key moves, he physically demonstrated step-by-step, teaching her methodically. Mei Ran's hands were trembling a little. Led by his, she pressed them against his waist. A soft *click*, the faint sound of metal. It was like flipping a switch in the dead of night; from that point on, everything was beyond her control.
She drifted and swayed in the world he created, finally like a small boat battered by a storm returning to a warm harbor, sinking into a deep sleep in his embrace.
In her dreams, she still remembered that fiery red sunrise on the sea. A gentle, warm breeze, the morning glow filling the sky. It seemed like everything had been washed clean in clear water. Then, in a daze, it felt like that water was pouring over her, warm and clean, carrying an indescribable comfort.
"Awake?"
Mei Ran turned over, muttering something softly. The man didn't catch it. "What?"
His voice still carried the usual morning hoarseness, though this time it sounded a bit deeper and huskier, as if laced with a different flavor.
Mei Ran remained motionless, breathing lightly, and drifted off to sleep again.
He couldn't help but feel amused. Wrapping his arms around her soft body from behind, he thought to nap with her a while longer, but sleep wouldn't come.
Last night, she had been more passionate than ever before. As her man, this was a source of pride.
Just then, the voice of the old lady came from outside the door. Fu Shijin withdrew from his reverie, casually picked up his pajamas from the floor and slipped them on before going out to open the door.
The old lady was no stranger to such things; she certainly knew why they had slept in. She didn't spell it out, just gave him a doting glance. "Is Xiao Ran still asleep?"
"Mn."
"I'm going out with Lao Yang later. The dishes for lunch are already prepared; just heat them up in the microwave when you're ready."
The old lady added, "I'm not sure if I'll be back tonight. There are fresh vegetables and meat in the fridge…"
Fu Shijin acknowledged each point. A car horn sounded from downstairs—probably Lao Yang getting impatient. The old lady still seemed a little uneasy and added a few more reminders before heading down.
He returned to the bedroom.
She had no idea how long passed before Mei Ran finally awoke, her charming eyes blinking open. "What time is it?"
"Half past eleven."
The curtains were drawn tightly, not a sliver of light coming through. Mei Ran moved her sore legs under the blanket, thoughts of last night's scenes flooding back. Somehow, she suddenly chuckled.
So, besides being so intimate, a man and a woman could also be intimate… *like that*. It was truly an eye-opener.
"What are you laughing at?" The bed dipped beside her.
She quickly clutched the hand that was trying to tug the blanket away. "Nothing."
"Turn around."
"Hmm?"
"I need to get dressed."
He merely moved his thin lips, but Mei Ran had already guessed what he wanted to say. She hastily covered his mouth. "Don't say anything." Then, grabbing his shoulders, she turned him around.
It wasn't that she was afraid of him seeing—after all, it wasn't like he hadn't seen before. It was the… *consequences* of being seen that were somewhat severe. She had no intention of spending the entire afternoon in bed.
Listening to the rustling sounds behind him, Fu Shijin's mood soared even higher. His brows relaxed, the amusement in his eyes strikingly clear. A breeze rose outside, lifting a corner of the curtain. Sunlight peeked in, casting dancing patterns of light on the floor.
After lunch, Mei Ran took a stroll downstairs. The old lady kept the house in impeccable order. Even the winter-blooming plants in the small backyard garden were thriving under her care. Mei Ran played with the cat on the grass for a while before growing tired. She sat on a chair, lazily basking in the sun.
Fu Shijin was on the second-floor balcony making a phone call, his gaze naturally falling on her. "That's it for now. My assistant will discuss the specifics with you."
"Finished so quickly?"
Mei Ran shielded her eyes with her hand, looking up at the tall, straight figure before her. "Do you have any plans for this afternoon?"
Fu Shijin shook his head slowly.
"Then let's write the wedding invitations." Last night, her father had sent the wedding banquet guest list to her email. She'd skimmed through it and was surprised to find that despite meticulous screening, the number of invitees was still… quite substantial. With today being a day off and tomorrow being New Year's Day, they happened to have time to tackle this task.
The invitations had been designed personally by Old Master Yu's old friend, printed and delivered several days ago. The envelopes were a festive bright red with understated gold borders, looking celebratory yet not ostentatious. Because it was a traditional Chinese-style wedding, the Old Master had paid great attention to every detail, even overseeing the font choice and layout personally.
Mei Hongyuan was swamped at year-end with too many commitments, and Fu Lanxin was still abroad. So, the task naturally fell to the two of them.
White tabletop now dotted with scattered red "flowers." Mei Ran chose the easier job: reading out each name one by one, while Fu Shijin, pen in hand, scribbled the corresponding names with bold, flowing strokes. His posture was straight, the movements of his hand holding and lifting the pen elegant, a truly pleasing sight.
They worked in tandem, occasionally exchanging low murmurs. Mei Ran leaned in to watch him write. Her faint, sweet fragrance drifted around Fu Shijin's nose. He occasionally turned his head to kiss her, causing enough distraction to ruin several invitations with miswritten strokes.
By the time the last one was done, the sun was setting slantwise outside the window.
Mei Ran rubbed her sore shoulders, got up, went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of hot water. She placed one in front of him and took a few sips from the other.
"Why is your handwriting so beautiful?" It was very much like him—robust yet carrying a touch of detached, unconstrained flair.
"Learned it from my maternal grandfather when I was little," Fu Shijin said pensively.
Mei Ran's cheeks had a faint pink flush. He chuckled, reaching out to wipe it, unaware that his finger was also smudged with a bit of ink. He lightly smeared a faint ink streak across her pale, clean face. Seeming to find it interesting and enjoying it thoroughly, he added a few more lines for symmetry.
Completely unaware she'd been turned into a little painted cat, Mei Ran giggled and pushed him away. "I'll go start cooking first. Remember to collect them after the ink dries."
The entire evening, Fu Shijin kept admiring his handiwork. Mei Ran felt somewhat unnerved by his unusually fervent gaze. "What is it?"
"Nothing." His mind was already wandering.
Mei Ran was only half-convinced. It wasn't until she was about to go into the bathroom to bathe that she saw herself clearly in the mirror. She couldn't decide whether to be angry or amused. She cleaned the ink off her face, then opened the door a crack. "Shijin, I forgot my pajamas. Could you bring them for me?"
Hearing his affirmative reply, she pumped the shower gel dispenser a few times, working up a thick lather of white foam in her palms. She timed it just right, pressing her foamy hands onto his face the moment he pushed the door open…
Soon, the bathroom was awash with flying white foam and soft cries for mercy.
Having thoroughly enjoyed themselves last night, and with tonight being New Year's Eve, Fu Shijin only doled out a small, symbolic "punishment." Yet, even just a little was enough. Mei Ran clung limply to the edge of the bathtub, panting heavily, feeling as if most of her strength had been drained.
Coming out after drying her hair, she saw the man changing clothes. Puzzled, she asked, "Are we going out?"
Did they have a special activity for the night?
"Mn." After putting on his coat, he walked over to her. "You get ready too. Remember to dress warmly."
The car moved steadily along the mountain road, the cold nightscape flashing by outside the window. Finally, it came to a stop.
Mei Ran stood at the mountaintop. The wind whipped her hair about wildly, impossible to tame. Luckily, she was bundled up thoroughly and didn't feel cold. The man came up behind her, pulling up the hood of her white down jacket over her head. His large hand gently pressed it down, securing both the hood and her unruly hair.
He began unloading things from the car. She walked over to look and was delighted to see a full trunk of fireworks. "When did you prepare these?!"
Her voice was scattered by the wind, the puffs of warm breath from her lips also dissipated lightly. Yet, the brilliance in her eyes made even the dazzling stars overhead seem to pale in comparison.
The man, clad in a black trench coat, his figure tall and straight, was cloaked in the cool moonlight. A hint of a smile appeared faintly between his brows. "Do you like it?"
Mei Ran nodded vigorously.
It was approaching midnight. Down in the valley below, some had already started setting off fireworks. Faintly, they could hear people shouting the countdown to the New Year. "Five… two, one! Happy New Year!"
The voice suddenly seemed very close, right beside her ear. "Ranran, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
She looked up. He looked down. Their lips met.
This was their first New Year spent together. There would be many, many more to come.
Fireworks rose not far from them, blossoming amidst the moon and stars like countless colorful flowers, blooming unrestrainedly before fading back into stillness.
Mei Ran felt something land on her head, gradually becoming denser, as if grains of sand were falling from the sky. Fu Shijin noticed it too and immediately grabbed her hand, running towards the car.
They were a bit disheveled, but there was more sweetness than anything else.
He had never imagined there would be such a moment in his life—a moment that made him, who had never believed in fate, start believing in eternity and cycles.
He would forever remember the fireworks of this night, and the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms.
Ranran, if there is a next life, please don't make me wait too long.