Li Shaobin felt his spine almost go numb. His gaze became increasingly pitiful. “Ruan Yang, I really want it.”Ruan Yang’s face fell. “What do you want? I’m like this. It’s not that I don’t want to satisfy you. I just can’t.”

“Don’t be misunderstood; I just said it casually. I didn’t want to do anything to you. I’m not that inhumane.” Li Shaobin was afraid she would get angry, so he waved his hands. “I know that women have to rest well when they’re on their period and can’t be too tired. Shall I carry you upstairs?”

Ruan Yang’s expression improved. “Don’t blame me for thinking too much. It’s just that the industry I was in is too dirty. Some men won’t even care about women’s bodies just to satisfy their desires.”

“Oh, I know that. I’m not like that. I’m already used to being best friends with my left and right hands.” Li Shaobin caressed her face panderingly and broke out into a smile.

Ruan Yang stroked his hair. “It’s not very good for your body to keep doing that. Don’t worry—I’ll help you cut down on the times you’ll have to use your hands.”

“Yangyang, you’re so great.” Li Shaobin was all smiles.

…

At night, the two of them slept under the same covers. Li Shaobin hadn’t slept with her for a very long time so he hugged her very tightly.

Ruan Yang said, “Don’t hug me like this. It’s uncomfortable.”

“But it’s comfortable for me to hug you like this.” Li Shaobin could also satisfy his craving for touch. “Yangyang, you’re like a ball of cotton candy.”

“If you keep doing this, you might get my period blood on you,” Ruan Yang said. “I heard from Changqing that there was one time when she accidentally got her period blood on Song Chuyi while sleeping and he had an entire day of bad luck.”

“So be it. It doesn’t matter. I don’t mind.” Li Shaobin didn’t mind at all.

Ruan Yang was speechless. “I can’t sleep with you pressing on me like this, and I’m already exhausted from having a long day. Can you be good? Let’s sleep while holding hands.”

“Mm… alright then.” Li Shaobin hesitated for a while but still agreed.

It seemed pretty interesting to sleep while holding hands. It felt quite romantic.

…

When she got up the next day, their heads and bodies were still stuck closely together. Ruan Yang was sleeping by the edge of the bed which made her neck and waist feel quite uncomfortable. She got up, took a shower, and went to make breakfast.

Li Shaobin only woke up after 9 am. When he saw her busy in the kitchen, he went over quickly and said tenderly, “Yangyang, you’re on your period. It’s hard on you. Don’t cook.”

Ruan Yang glanced at him. “Why don’t you do it then?”

“I don’t know how to,” Li Shaobin said ambiguously. “Let’s eat out.”

“I don’t feel like eating out.” Ruan Yang didn’t pin her hopes on him to do it in case he dirtied the kitchen. “Go prepare the milk.”

When they were having breakfast, Ruan Yang took a sip of the milk and frowned.”My gosh, how much milk powder did you put in this?”

“I don’t know.” Li Shaobin couldn’t remember the specific amount. “I think it was around half a cup.”

Ruan Yang looked at her glass and the corner of her mouth twitched. No wonder… “Don’t tell me you haven’t made milk before?”

Li Shaobin shook his head. “The servants at home usually make it and when I eat out, I don’t have to do it all the more. Why don’t we drink bottled milk? There’s even a fresh milk delivery service. I’ll order fresh milk for you, Ruan Yang.”

Ruan Yang didn’t speak anymore. In the past, she was wondering if she should get him to learn some basic culinary skills. Now, she had totally given up on that thought.

After breakfast, Guo Ming, Li Shaobin’s high school class chairman, called to tell him that there was a class gathering tomorrow night and invited him to join.

Li Shaobin always went to the class gatherings in the past, but this year, he hesitated. “Will Xin Ziao be going?”

“Mm, I haven’t asked him, but Song Chuyi is going,” Guo Ming suddenly said with a chuckle. “Also… also… Zhou Shuyun will also be going. Haven’t you always looked forward to seeing her again? I finally managed to contact her this year. I heard she’s still unmarried and is also single. You’re also single too. Maybe there’s a chance you two can get together. Lots of times, the people who didn’t get together during high school end up growing fond of each other when they meet again after they’re all grown up. Didn’t we have a pair in our class that was like that?”

The volume on Li Shaobin’s phone was rather loud. He didn’t know if Ruan Yang heard that. In any case, he quickly lowered the volume when Zhou Shuyun’s name was mentioned.

“I… already have a girlfriend,” Li Shaobin said.

“What? You already have a girlfriend? That’s a pity,” Guo Ming said. “Then you can bring your girlfriend along. I think everyone should be bringing their family or partners along. Everyone used to laugh at you for being evergreen. Now you can finally make yourself proud.”

“Let me think about it,” Li Shaobin said as his eyes shone.

“What’s there to think about?” Guo Ming said. “You have to come. Teacher Wu is also coming this year.”

“I don’t care to see Teacher Wu,” Li Shaobin said with a pout.

“Haha, that’s true. Teacher Wu has always been annoyed by you. Anyway, you have to come. Everyone is only back in Northern City during the New Year. It’s not easy to get together.” Guo Ming hung up after saying that.

Ruan Yang lifted her head and asked, “Your high school class gathering?”

“Mm, yeah. They asked me to go.” Li Shaobin glanced at her guiltily. “How do you know it was high school?”

“Didn’t you ask about Xin Ziao just now? It must’ve been high school.” Ruan Yang grinned and said, “And you suddenly lowered the volume of your phone so I suppose the classmate you had a crush on will also be going too.”

Li Shaobin stared wide-eyed at her. F*ck, why is Ruan Yang so smart and sensitive? It made him lose even the slightest bit of privacy. “Er… don’t misunderstand. I don’t have any other thoughts. It’s just that my high school class chairman said that she would also be going. I was afraid you would be unhappy, so I lowered the volume.”

Ruan Yang gave off an apparent smile.

Li Shaobin grabbed her hand tightly. “I won’t go if you’re not happy.”

“I’m not unhappy.” Ruan Yang patted the back of his hand. “Go—you still have to keep in contact with your classmates. It helps with networking. Our university class is also planning a class gathering in the coming few days. But I told them I’m not going because I don’t have the time.”

“Then are you going with me?” Li Shaobin glanced at her. “I hope you can go with me.”

“What’s the point of going with you?” Ruan Yang scoffed. “People would use my past with Xin Ziao to laugh at you, silly.”

“I’m not afraid of being laughed at.” Li Shaobin shook his head. “You’re so pretty that they’ll be more than envious.”

“I’m really not going.” Ruan Yang shook her head. “It’s not really appropriate. After all, I’m a public figure. No matter how people think of me, they’ll definitely gawk at me. I don’t like that. Have fun tomorrow. As for your first love, looking is enough. You’re not allowed to have any other thoughts about her.”

Li Shaobin shifted his chair to sit closer to her as he said softly, “Yangyang, you’re the only one in my eyes and my heart. My first love or whatever isn’t as important as a fraction of your finger. Don’t even talk about having other thoughts; I’ll turn away my eyes the moment I see her.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Ruan Yang said with a smile. “Your first love might’ve become uglier, fatter, and unbearable to watch.”

“It’s none of my business whether she becomes uglier or whatever.” Li Shaobin turned his head to kiss her cheek sweetly. “Yangyang, I love you.”

Ruan Yang curled her lips up into a smile and stuffed an entire egg yolk into his mouth.

Li Shaobin stared wide-eyed at her and only managed to swallow the egg yolk, which he hated the most, after trying his very best.

After breakfast, Li Shaobin was called out by his eldest brother to the house of a certain bureau chief in Northern City.

———————————-

In the afternoon, Ruan Yang, Guan Ying, Duoyao, and Changqing went to Teacher Kang’s house to pay her a new year visit.

On the way, two of them chattered after not meeting up for a very long time. Changqing nudged Duoyao, whose face was glowing, and grinned. “Brother Molun went to your house this year for the New Year. How did it go? Are you guys going to settle down?”

“We just talked briefly about it but we haven’t set anything specific into motion. My parents only said that they can’t be bothered about it, so it’s up to me,” Duoyao grinned and said. “Enough of me—ask Ruan Yang. Didn’t Ruan Yang go to Shaobin’s house last night? How were his family members?”

“They’re alright,” Ruan Yang said with a light smile while driving. “They seemed easy to get along with.”

“I think Ruan Yang will definitely get married before me,” Duoyao said seriously. “I have a strong feeling about that.”

“You can’t say that for sure,” Guan Ying said suddenly. “James proposed to me this year during the New Year. I already agreed.”

“You actually only told us about such an important thing today?” Duoyao screamed. “Guan Ying, you’re so unloyal.”

“It’s not your style to agree,” Changqing also said agitatedly. “Didn’t you always want to work hard on your career? Your career is only just picking up.”

Guan Ying smiled and shook her head. ‘Yeah, I’ve also accepted a few lead roles and can be considered slightly popular but there’s no way I could be as popular as Ruan Yang or Duoyao. Actually, I know that although I’m pretty and have good acting skills, I’m not unique enough. If I reject James, we might not still be able to be together. After all, foreigners tend to be more passionate and always like to do things quickly. After a period of time, when our love cools down, I might just pass him by. I might bring my mom along with me to England to live after getting married. After all, my brother and dad have always been awful to my mom. I’ve worked so hard to make a name for myself also to free us from them and to be able to lead a good life. When I’m far away, I might feel calmer, more at peace, and not so snobbish. But I told James that I still want to continue acting for a year and he was also very supportive.”