Oh no, he's jealous.

As the morning mist drifted through the air, Si Qingchen rose and smoothly began putting on his shirt, buttoning it up one by one.

Behind him, the little one on the bed slowly opened her eyes. She radiated warmth all over, exhaling a continuous, sweet, and delicate fragrance unique to a young maiden.

The man froze in his tracks instantly. He turned back, leaned over, and pressed down upon her with unbridled passion.

Si Qingchen had come to understand the true meaning of insatiability with profound clarity these past few days.

The impulse of not wanting to leave at all, but rather to spend eternity locked in each other's arms, surfaced in his mind more than once. At times, he even felt a reckless urge to wrap the little thing tightly in the duvet and carry her away without a second thought.

Yet, unfortunately, Mu Qingcheng was not a girl he could treat so casually.

He cherished her, adored her, and treasured her as if she were the most precious jade in the world. How could he possibly act willfully against her will?

It was only after he had practically robbed the girl of every ounce of breath in her lungs that the man gritted his teeth and forced himself to pull back slightly.

His long, slender fingers then gently brushed away the traces of moisture lingering on her slightly swollen lips, his gesture both intimate and daring.

The returning touch of her lips was as soft and plump as ever, prompting the man to knead them once more with greedy fondness.

The girl's eyes trembled, the rippling depths of her gaze filled with a naive, flustered innocence.

It seemed that no matter what, Mu Qingcheng could never fully withstand such surging, overwhelming emotions. Perhaps it was due to her youth, or perhaps... because her own heart harbored the exact same joy.

***

As Mu Qingcheng watched Si Qingchen tidy everything up and prepare to leave, a sudden thought crossed her mind. She sat up, clutching the duvet around her, and spoke with some hesitation.

"Um... Brother Chen..."

Si Qingchen turned around once again, pausing his movements momentarily. A pampering and indulgent smile curved the corners of his lips.

"What is it?"

"Well... Do you know if... Si Bei... has someone he likes?"

This question was clearly asked on behalf of Chu Bai.

That woman, who had already shared a bed with the taciturn Si Bei on multiple occasions, had been walking on thin ice all this time, living in constant anxiety.

The reason was simple: from Si Bei's lips, she had never received a single promise. Not even a single word of affection... had ever passed his lips.

Even though Si Bei was willing to sleep with her, it somehow felt as though... he was only ever willing to sleep with her.

Chu Bai was heartbroken yet utterly helpless. Daring not to ask Si Bei directly, she had no choice but to use the only bargaining chip she possessed to trade with Mu Qingcheng, utterly heedless of the consequence of making an enemy of Si Qingchen from that day forward.

...

However, Mu Qingcheng's words left Si Qingchen feeling intensely displeased.

***

The man lowered the hand that had been resting on the window frame, turned around, and sat back down on the edge of the bed. The smile at the corners of his lips had already vanished without a trace.

At this moment, an unmistakable aura of resentment pervaded not only his gaze but his entire being—a resentment so thick it could not be dissolved... akin to that of a neglected wife yearning in her chambers...

Before Mu Qingcheng even had a chance to explain, her chin was pinched by his fingers and forced upward.

"You dare to bring up another man right in front of me, hmm?"

"Another man? No, Brother Chen, I was just—"

"Qingcheng, I am very unhappy."

As soon as he finished speaking, Si Qingchen abruptly released Mu Qingcheng, stood up, and strode swiftly out of the room.

By the time Mu Qingcheng finally snapped out of her daze and rushed to the window, the man's figure was already long gone.

The girl sat dumbly at the head of the bed, running her fingers through her hair in sheer annoyance. After letting out a heavy sigh of defeat, she flopped backward onto the pillow.

Pulling the blanket straight up over her face, she muttered with a helpless resignation,

"Oh no, is this guy... actually jealous?"