As Sun Lingfei clung to his neck, nestled against his chest, and murmured softly before gradually drifting off to sleep, a faint, bitter smile slowly formed on Xu Ze’s lips.
“So… this is how it is…” Filled with heartache, Xu Ze shook his head slightly and sighed. He carefully lifted Sun Lingfei, carried her to the bed in her room, gently removed her shoes, and draped an air-conditioning blanket over her. Standing by the bedside, he gazed at her delicate, beautiful face for a moment before quietly stepping out.
Looking at the messy dining table, Xu Ze forced a faint smile and began clearing away the leftovers and trash with meticulous care. He carried the dishes into the kitchen, placed them in the sink, and started washing them attentively.
Holding a scrubber, he cleaned each bowl as if it were a priceless piece of porcelain. Occasionally, a drop or two of glistening water fell from above into the sink, sending tiny ripples across the surface.
Xu Ze tidied up the entire kitchen, wiping down every countertop until it was spotless. After a final glance to confirm everything was in order, he finally left the kitchen.
By the time he finished, it was already past eleven. The dormitory would have long been locked by then. After a brief hesitation, Xu Ze straightened the living room sofa and lay down, deciding to spend the night there.
But just as he settled in, he remembered—he had forgotten to turn off the light in Sun Lingfei’s room. With a quiet sigh, he got up and walked toward the bedroom door.
His hand hovered over the light switch as he gazed reluctantly at Sun Lingfei, curled up softly on the bed. Unable to resist, he approached, sat gently on the edge of the bed, and then lay down beside her. Breathing in her faint, intoxicating fragrance, he stared at her lovely face for a long moment before finally leaning down and pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.
“I wonder… if you’ll even remember what you said today when tomorrow comes…” he whispered under his breath.
Lost in melancholy and reluctance, Xu Ze soon drifted into a heavy, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, sunlight spilled gently over Xu Ze’s handsome face. His long brows were slightly furrowed, and his full lips were pressed tightly together beneath his straight nose, as if still weighed down by yesterday’s sorrows.
Sun Lingfei blinked awake and stared in mild confusion at the striking profile beside her, utterly baffled as to how Xu Ze had ended up in her bed.
After studying him for a long moment, she suddenly remembered something and hastily checked her clothes. Relieved to find herself still fully dressed, she exhaled softly. At least I didn’t lose my first time in some drunken haze…
Not that he’s bad-looking—actually, he’s really handsome, and he smells nice… But still, losing it like that would’ve been such a waste…
She grabbed her phone and checked the time—already past seven. Fighting off the lingering headache from last night’s overindulgence, she sat up with effort and nudged Xu Ze lightly.
“Xu Ze… time to wake up…”
At the sound of her voice, Xu Ze frowned and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight. “Why didn’t you close the curtains…” he mumbled drowsily.
Sun Lingfei sighed at his audacity—not only had he taken over her bed, but he’d made her share it all night, and now he had the nerve to complain about being woken up. She pinched his earlobe lightly and tugged.
“Get up already… or you’ll be late for class.”
The slight sting jolted Xu Ze awake. His eyes flew open—only to land on a pair of slender, elegantly curved legs right in front of him.
“Ah—!” He bolted upright in shock.
Sun Lingfei stared at him, startled by his sudden outburst. After a long pause, Xu Ze finally recalled the events of the previous night—but he still feigned ignorance, his cheeks flushing slightly.
“How… how did I end up in your room?”
“Not just in my room,” Sun Lingfei retorted, arching a delicate brow. “You made me share the bed with you all night. So, how are you going to make it up to me?”
It seemed she had completely forgotten how she had clung to him the day before.
“Well… you’re my girlfriend, so what’s the big deal?” Xu Ze grinned mischievously, also choosing to play along as if yesterday had never happened. “Tell you what—tonight, I’ll let you sleep in my bed to even things out. Fair?”
Both pretending to have forgotten everything from their drunken night, they bantered back and forth before scrambling out of bed in mock indignation, neither showing the slightest trace of awkwardness.
A glance at the phone confirmed they were running late. Xu Ze dashed to the bathroom, only to call out moments later:
“Hey—do you have a spare toothbrush? And which cup can I use?”
“You freeloader! Don’t you dare use mine—and not Xiao Rui’s either!” Sun Lingfei grumbled as she rummaged through a box for a spare toothbrush, then hurried to fetch a cup from the living room. She handed it through the door. “And don’t touch anything else in there!”
“Yeah, yeah…” came Xu Ze’s muffled reply from inside.
Half an hour later, they finally rushed out the door. Xu Ze revved the sports car’s engine as they sped onto campus, screeching to a halt near his lecture hall. He leaped out, waved hastily, and left Sun Lingfei sitting alone in the car, exasperated.
…..
In the days that followed, Xu Ze and Sun Lingfei returned to their usual routine, rarely contacting each other. Yet Xu Ze was content simply to maintain their current relationship.
However, something had shifted inside him. Though Sun Lingfei had been drunk that night, her words had revealed her true feelings—and in response, something within Xu Ze had begun to stir.
He knew now that he was falling for her all over again. The pain of his past heartbreak no longer haunted him, but he remembered the devastation all too clearly. This time, he wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
If he truly had feelings for Sun Lingfei now, he would fight for her with everything he had.
The Xu Ze of today was no longer the same person. With Xiao Dao by his side, he now had the means to claim what he desired—though he still needed time.
Fortunately, Sun Lingfei still had over two years before graduation. And with the old master’s backing, there was still hope.
“I’ll work harder than ever,” Xu Ze vowed silently, clenching his fists. “I won’t let someone I love walk away again.”
As Xu Ze pushed himself relentlessly—attending classes, working shifts at the clinic, and spending every spare moment practicing energy circulation—Xiao Dao watched approvingly in the virtual space. If Xu Ze kept this up, he would soon advance to a Level 2 Super Medical Soldier.
Even Old Man Tang noticed the change. Xu Ze’s once-casual demeanor had gradually given way to a newfound determination.
The old man was puzzled but pleased. A man’s maturity was measured by the weight he could shoulder.
The old Xu Ze had been carefree and indifferent, resistant to outside pressure. While such traits might suit an ordinary person, they lacked the drive for greater achievements.
But now, in just a few short days, Xu Ze’s entire aura had shifted—moving steadily toward the kind of resilience Old Man Tang admired. It only strengthened the elder’s resolve to mentor him.
…..
Lying face-down on the massage bed in his cotton shorts, Old Man Tang kept his eyes closed as Xu Ze inserted the acupuncture needles.
Once finished, the old man asked casually, “Xiao Ze… have you run into any trouble lately?”
Xu Ze paused briefly before replying respectfully, “Grandpa Tang, everything’s fine. No troubles at all.”
“Hmm… good. It’s just that you’ve seemed a bit preoccupied recently. I thought something might be bothering you.”
Xu Ze smiled. “Really, Grandpa Tang, there’s nothing. If anything comes up, I’ll definitely tell you.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear.” The old man gave a satisfied hum. “We’ve been doing these acupuncture sessions for a month now. Aside from the angina no longer acting up, I feel better overall.”
“Tang Zhi says it’s all thanks to your careful treatment. So, Xiao Ze, is there anything you’d like? Just name it, and I’ll make it happen.”
Xu Ze shook his head with a chuckle. “Grandpa Tang, you already gave me 100,000 last time, and I haven’t even spent much of it. I don’t need anything else. Besides, as your honorary grandson, taking care of you is my duty. No need for gifts.”
As he spoke, he noticed the needles had stopped vibrating. He stepped forward and flicked each one lightly to reactivate them.
Old Man Tang burst into laughter, his eyes brimming with approval. “Hah! I knew you’d say that. But I’ve already prepared a little something for you. Tang Zhi will show you later—I think you’ll like it.”
“A gift? Really?” Though Xu Ze lacked for nothing, the thought of a present from the old man still delighted him. If Grandpa Tang said he’d like it, then it must be something good.
But what could it be?
Watching the usually composed Xu Ze finally show a flicker of excitement and curiosity, Old Man Tang grinned. The boy might seem mature beyond his years, but he still had that spark of youthful wonder—unlike the ever-stoic Tang Zhi.
At least that made him much more fun to be around.
