Chapter 52: Qiao Zhen Acts Shamelessly

At noon, sunlight poured in like golden tassels, filtering through the curtains and scattering patches of light across the room, painting a natural oil masterpiece. Qiao Zhen rubbed her cheek against the pillow and slowly opened her sleepy eyes.

Memories from the previous night surged over her like a tide.

She remembered going to the hot springs with Qin Yichi, nearly being bullied by Yu Wenjian, and Qin Yichi rushing in just in time to carry her back to the hotel. Then… her recollection faded to black.

She remembered nothing else.

Sinking into the softness of the large bed, still out of sorts, Qiao Zhen lazily rolled over.

The next second, her eyes flew wide open, and she abruptly sat upright, blinking in shock.

Wait… why was there someone sitting beside her bed?!

Qin Yichi was lounging on a chair at the bedside, watching her with a relaxed expression, his dark eyes fathomless. “You’re awake? Hungry?”

A bag of soy milk and buns sat on the nightstand, bought earlier and now slightly cold.

Qiao Zhen stared blankly, as if seeing a ghost, clutching the blanket and shrinking back. “Wait, why… why are you here?!”

She quickly glanced down at herself and breathed a sigh of relief—she wasn’t naked, she was wearing her nightgown.

But wait, who had dressed her? And why was it inside out?!

What on earth happened last night?

Qin Yichi took in every nuance of her shock, pressed his lips together, and spoke calmly. “You don’t remember anything from last night?”

Just last night, she’d been a pitiful little crybaby begging him to sleep beside her, holding his fingers and refusing to let him leave. Now, come morning, she’d forgotten everything, acting as if she’d rather retreat a hundred thousand miles away.

Indeed, she was a little rascal.

Qiao Zhen blinked suspiciously at him, her face full of confusion. “…Did I do something?”

Qin Yichi had expected this. He lowered his head, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and took out his phone to play a recording.

The audio was full of Qiao Zhen’s soft, sweet voice, slurred from drink:

—“Qin Yichi, can you… hug me?”

—“I want to touch your Adam’s apple, come closer.”

—“Wuwu… Qin Yichi, don’t go, please don’t go…”

—“Come into the bed quickly, I’ve warmed it up for you!”

The recording ended.

Qiao Zhen: ???

W(?Д?)W

Ahhhhhhh!!!

Her pupils contracted sharply, her scalp tingling, hardly believing her ears.

Qiao Zhen pointed at herself incredulously, her voice trembling and barely audible: “Me?”

Qin Yichi nodded with satisfaction, raising his brow. “Who else?”

He’d only played the most innocuous portion; the truly explosive, shocking bits, he hadn’t dared let her hear, lest she die of embarrassment.

Qiao Zhen’s pale face flushed pink, and she collapsed, hiding her face behind her hands and whispering, “Impossible, I… how could I…”

She’d begged Qin Yichi to stay? Asked to touch him? Even wanted him to crawl into bed with her?

Heavens, how could she…

When she was drunk, she’d actually been so bold—flirting shamelessly with Qin Yichi!

Like a turtle withdrawing into its shell, Qiao Zhen huddled in the corner, clutching the blanket and shivering, apologizing in a low voice: “I’m sorry, it wasn’t on purpose. I was drunk… didn’t have a single thought in my head, remember nothing, please don’t take it to heart…”

After a moment, she added quietly, “Qin Yichi, don’t worry, you’re still innocent.”

Qin Yichi: “?”

Qiao Zhen rubbed her eyes, looking at him sincerely.

She remembered almost nothing, but there was a faint impression, just a hint.

For example, she’d asked Qin Yichi if he liked her, even a little, and he hadn’t replied, silently avoiding the question.

And when she’d said no one else wanted her, Qin Yichi had answered:

—“I want you.”

It was hazy, not clear, and Qiao Zhen didn’t know if it was her imagination, a dream, or something he’d truly said.

But it made her heart feel much more at ease…

Qin Yichi watched her tucked into the corner, her ears burning red, and couldn’t help but lower his head with a quiet laugh.

So this was how she started distancing herself.

Luckily he’d only sat with her all night; if he’d actually gotten under the covers, she’d surely have slapped him awake.

Qin Yichi took a deep breath, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Go freshen up, I bought breakfast.”

“Oh, okay.” Qiao Zhen stared at the faint pinkness on his throat, dazedly nodding.

A flash of light flickered in her mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp its tail.

Did she… did she touch Qin Yichi’s Adam’s apple?

And did she touch anything else?

After washing up, Qiao Zhen took the soy milk, almost in tears, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “Last night, I didn’t do anything even more outrageous, did I?”

Qin Yichi lounged lazily in his chair, his tone enigmatic. “Guess.”

Qiao Zhen: “!!!”

Returning from the resort hotel to her school dorm, Qiao Zhen was full of guilt, feeling out of sorts, with a little voice inside clawing at her nerves.

Meanwhile, rumors at school said Yu Wenjian had suddenly dropped out, reasons unknown. Supposedly he’d transferred abroad and wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

Everyone was delighted; many had long disliked him.

Qiao Zhen quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Her roommates’ eyes shone as they munched on melon seeds, faces full of curiosity. They loved hearing about Qiao Zhen and Qin Yichi’s sweet little moments.

Chen Meixiang propped her chin in her hand, stars in her eyes. “So you accidentally drank high-proof liquor, got completely smashed, and begged Qin Yichi to stay and sleep with you~”

Sheng Lulu took a bite of melon and leaned in. “Oh~~~ So that’s basically the same as sleeping together?”

Qiao Zhen’s cheeks turned crimson, wishing she could bury herself underground, softly protesting, “No… he just sat beside me, and he’s not the type to take advantage.”

Oh, so now she’s defending him~

Sheng Lulu’s face was full of “I ship it,” smiling indulgently as she analyzed boldly and rationally: “Qiao Zhen, he definitely likes you. Maybe he’s had a secret crush for years! And you, you’re absolutely falling for him!”

Those closest can’t see clearly, but bystanders understand. Master Sheng saw it all!

Chen Meixiang and Yun Yue nodded in agreement; all three strategists reached the same conclusion.

Qiao Zhen stared in surprise, heart pounding like a drum, struggling for a long time but unable to say a word, only shaking her head gently.

Qin Yichi secretly in love with her—how could that be possible?

What was there about her to like, to inspire a secret crush…

Qiao Zhen’s eyelashes trembled as she lay her head on the desk, trying to calm herself.

But she could clearly hear those three words echoing in her mind, over and over:

“I want you.”

Her heart thudded wildly, as if a seed had been planted deep inside—a small, vibrant life.

And now, that seed was uncontrollably taking root and sprouting, breaking through the earth, her pulse urgent and strong…