Zhong Xiran was pressed into his embrace, her hand against his chest, the burning warmth spreading through her palm. She said dryly, "How can I say this... Let me go first, and we'll talk after I shower." Her fair, translucent cheeks instantly took on a rosy blush, a pink that spread all the way to her neck, making it almost impossible to look away. Qi Sinian gently stroked her waist, as if hinting at something. Zhong Xiran felt her lips dry, turned away, and reached out to push him away: "I'm thirsty and need some water. Go shower first..." He thought for a moment, then loosened his grip, and she slipped out immediately. Slamming the bathroom door shut, Zhong Xiran touched her burning cheeks and fanned them with her hand. She then pulled a bottle of iced mineral water from the refrigerator and applied it to her face, which took a long time to cool down. Qi Sinian's figure was truly amazing, his abs and mermaid lines more pronounced than those of any male celebrity in the industry. He was simply overflowing with hormones. She sat on the sofa, lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly heard the sound of water stopping in the bathroom. She was startled. The scene had been too shabby. Seeing Qi Sinian was about to come out, Zhong Xiran, without a second thought, grabbed a pair of pajamas from the closet and went upstairs to shower. She showered slowly, hoping to avoid it any longer. By the time she emerged, Qi Sinian would have largely forgotten what had happened. Over an hour had passed between blow-drying her hair and completing her full treatment. She pushed open the door and cautiously made her way downstairs. Qi Sinian was sitting on the living room sofa, a cigarette in his hand. Hearing the noise, he flicked the ash from his hand and looked up at her: "I thought you were planning to stay there." Zhong Xiran: "..." The words were clearly sarcastic, but his tone was so calm that the sarcasm was much weaker, almost a hint of amusement. Qi Sinian said again, "Come here." Zhong Xiran pursed her lips, walked over obediently, and sat down beside him. Qi Sinian put out his cigarette, making no move to touch her. He said calmly, "Finish what you were going to say." Zhong Xiran twirled her fingers through a strand of hair on her chest and said uncomfortably, "We've pretty much said what we said. How foolish am I in your eyes, still lingering over someone even after they dumped me?" "Am I love-brained?" Qi Sinian glanced at her. Although he didn't say anything, his eyes clearly said yes. Zhong Xiran suddenly remembered the time he'd dragged her back after their failed elopement, and she fell silent. After a few seconds of silence, Qi Sinian seemed to want to come to her rescue, saying, "At least not now." Zhong Xiran: "..." It's better not to. Zhong Xiran: "I wasn't a good person back then, was I? I..." She paused. "Forget it. What happened back then is in the past. There's nothing to say. I went to see Huo Xin this time because..." She suddenly felt a little unsure what to say. Qi Sinian waited quietly. Zhong Xiran thought for a moment and said, "Do you understand ritual?" Qi Sinian: "Maybe." Zhong Xiran looked at Qi Sinian's figure on the living room TV screen and whispered, "I guess I'm one of those people who has a strong sense of ritual. When he left so suddenly without saying a word, I always felt..." She trailed off, "I felt like I didn't say goodbye properly." Qi Sinian waited for a few seconds, then said calmly, "So you feel regret and want to see him." "No," he said, clearly misunderstanding. Zhong Xiran immediately said, "I don't have any regrets about him. I'm going to see him to give myself an account." Qi Sinian didn't respond, as if trying to understand her. After a few minutes, he raised his eyelids and looked at her. "Then why did you hide it from me? Were you afraid I wouldn't let you see him?" "Of course not. I didn't know you would be so..." Zhong Xiran thought for a long time before finally uttering the word, "mature and generous." Qi Sinian: "..." "I simply felt it was better to mind my own business. After all, we weren't... that familiar." Zhong Xiran's voice trailed off as he spoke. Qi Sinian raised an eyebrow. He stood up and walked into the bedroom. "You're tired today, too. Rest now." Tiredness wasn't the main issue. Zhong Xiran was mainly hungry; she hadn't eaten much in the past two days. But it was too late now, and Qi Sinian hadn't slept well in the past few days. She didn't want to bother him any more, so she followed him into the bedroom. They each lay on their own half of the bed, covered with their own thin blankets. Neither spoke a word. The only sound in the quiet air was the sound of each other's breathing. They had slept like this before, without interfering with each other. Zhong Xiran had long been accustomed to it. But today, she couldn't sleep. She felt like their previous conversation wasn't over yet, and she still owed him an apology. After a moment, Zhong Xiran called out tentatively, "Qi Sinian." "What's up?" he said in a low voice. Zhong Xiran took a deep breath in the darkness. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept this from you. It caught you off guard." Qi Sinian said calmly, "Not really." Zhong Xiran turned on the bedside lamp, its dim, warm glow illuminating Qi Sinian's face. She rose slightly, resting her arms on the bed, and suddenly asked him, "Why did you help me so much today?" Qi Sinian opened his eyes. Without his glasses, his eyes softened, but his voice remained calm. "What do you think?" Zhong Xiran pursed her lips. "I'll be a good wife to you from now on. I won't embarrass you again." Qi Sinian's expression was indifferent. "That's good to know." He closed his eyes again. Zhong Xiran noticed the corner of his quilt was askew, and her words about being a good wife flashed through her mind. She reached out and pulled the quilt over him. As she left, her hands, which had been supporting her on the bed, suddenly gave way, and she fell onto Qi Sinian. She jumped up immediately, but Qi Sinian pushed her down again. He caressed her back with his palm, his eyes darkening. "Are you trying to apologize to me this way?" "No, I..." He said this inadvertently, seeming to be both reluctant and willing. She simply lay on top of Qi Sinian, her fingers gently stroking his collar. "Just think of it as my apology, okay?" After all, he loved her body. Qi Sinian's voice was hoarse: "That depends on your sincerity." Zhong Xiran: "..." She was already regretting it.