I want to pull you into hell, yet I worship you like a god.

The plum rains in June made the entire city feel stuffy and heavy. The rain had just stopped, and the ground was damp.

“Your body, every hair and bit of skin, is a gift from your parents. Not daring to harm it is the beginning of filial piety.”

The girl sitting at the table said in a quiet voice, “I suggest you reconsider. You'll regret getting this tattoo later on.”

This tattoo shop, located across from Pingchuan University, was frequented by many university students every day.

However, most of them weren't there for a tattoo, but for the shop's owner—Xu Zhinan.

The wooden sign at the entrance of the tattoo shop simply read “Tattoo,” with no actual shop name. Outside, a row of several dozen empty liquor bottles, all with English labels, was lined up along the brick wall's ledge.

The shop's interior was dominated by dark tones—gray, white, and black. The walls were covered in many wildly drawn totems. There was a CD wall, a sofa bed cluttered with various things, and shelves next to the work table holding tattoo inks, sealed coil and rotary tattoo machines, and several very thick books.

There were no extra decorations. It was a savage, flamboyant, and very masculine decor.

But the owner herself was a complete mismatch with the shop's environment.

Xu Zhinan was beautiful, but what stood out most about her beauty was her purity. She perfectly blended the two contradictory qualities of sensuousness and innocence.

A high ponytail, a palm-sized face, a pair of clear deer-like eyes, and fair skin. At the moment, she was wearing a simple cotton dress that revealed her elegant and clean-lined collarbones, with a pair of long, slender, and well-proportioned legs below.

On the table before her was a piece of paper, brought by the boy opposite her, showing what he wanted her to tattoo on his shoulder.

The content was very simple. It was her name—Xu Zhinan.

The font was beautiful.

'Another customer using a tattoo as an excuse to hit on her.'

The boy was a physical education student with a muscular build. He listened to her string of “your body, every hair and bit of skin, is a gift from your parents” as if it were a magic spell, let out a laugh, and sat opposite her sideways, looking like a slacker.

“Hey, I'm really serious. How can you turn away business that comes to your door?”

Xu Zhinan looked up at him and reminded him seriously, “This is my name.”

The girl's voice was soft and clear. The corners of her eyes extended outwards and tilted up slightly, making them inexplicably alluring.

The boy was momentarily lost in a daze. He stared for a moment before turning his head and coughing lightly. “But this is what I want to get tattooed.”

“...”

“Senior, I really like you! This tattoo is a symbol of my feelings for you!” he declared, impassioned and moved by his own gesture.

Xu Zhinan's expression didn't change. She got up to pour herself a glass of water, then walked back to the wooden table. “I won't tattoo this for you. If you really want it, go find another shop.”

'The meaning was clear: get it tattooed or don't, she wasn't going to be the one to do it.'

Simply cold and ruthless.

And yet, she had such an obedient and pure face that it was impossible to get angry at her, like a dud firecracker.

The boy left, feeling aggrieved.

The wind chime on the tattoo shop's door jingled again and again. Just as the boy left, another girl came in.

Zhao Qian whistled. “Ah Nan, wasn't that big guy who just left our junior? What's he here for again?”

Zhao Qian and Xu Zhinan were roommates, now in their third year of university. As far as Zhao Qian knew, the big guy was a year below them and had been pursuing Xu Zhinan for a year.

“A tattoo.”

Zhao Qian raised an eyebrow. “Did he get it?”

“No.” Xu Zhinan felt mentally exhausted. “He wanted to tattoo my name.”

Zhao Qian let out a “whoa” and gave her a thumbs-up. “Not bad. He looks pretty simple-minded, but that's a bold move.”

Xu Zhinan couldn't stand it and slapped her lightly. “The move was simple-minded too.”

Zhao Qian rarely heard her talk like that. For such words to come from that face created an indescribable sense of dissonance. She immediately collapsed onto the sofa, laughing.

Xu Zhinan returned to her seat and continued drawing a tattoo design for a client who had contacted her on WeChat. Only after Zhao Qian finished laughing did she ask, “Why did you come to my shop?”

“I was bored.”

Zhao Qian made herself at home, grabbing a can of Coke from the mini-fridge. She gulped down half of it and let out a satisfied “Ahh.”

“By the way, want to go to a bar tonight?”

Xu Zhinan's hand, holding a drawing pen, paused. She looked up. “What for?”

“I heard Lin Qingye will be there tonight. Aren't there rumors recently that his band is going to break up? Plus, he's about to graduate from his fourth year, and I heard he might be entering the entertainment industry.”

Zhao Qian slapped the sofa hard. “A legendary figure like him, once he enters the entertainment industry and blows up, we won't even be able to see him anymore! This is a rare opportunity!”

Xu Zhinan's fine brows furrowed slightly, her thoughts unreadable.

Zhao Qian grabbed her hand and whined coquettishly, “Come on, come on, keep me company.”

“What about Jiang Yue?”

“Isn't she studying for the postgraduate entrance exams? She's holed up in the library every day, she won't come out.”

So Xu Zhinan agreed.

Pingchuan University had two legendary figures.

One was Xu Zhinan. On the strength of her looks, she had won the title of campus belle, “Light of Pingchuan.” She was a student in the Fine Arts and Design department, and the fact that she, with her incredibly pure face, ran a tattoo shop off-campus added to her legendary status.

The other was Lin Qingye.

But their legends were not on the same level at all. Lin Qingye was the true legend of Pingchuan University.

He formed a band at 16, won the Golden Melody Award at 18, yet had no intention of entering the entertainment industry. He continued to be a resident singer at a bar, but still had a tide of fans that couldn't be stopped.

It was currently close to finals week, so business at the tattoo shop was slow.

After finishing the tattoo design and sending it to the client, she confirmed they were satisfied and scheduled an appointment. Xu Zhinan then tidied up a bit and left with Zhao Qian.

It was already dark outside.

Xu Zhinan locked the shop door, and together with Zhao Qian, they walked towards “Ye Bar”—the bar where Lin Qingye was the resident singer.

They arrived early. The bar wasn't crowded yet, and soothing light music was playing. The two of them picked a corner spot with a good view of the stage.

The bartender glanced at Xu Zhinan a couple of extra times before handing over the drink menu.

Zhao Qian, the queen of the dance floor, had an amazing tolerance for alcohol and ordered herself a B52 Bomber. Xu Zhinan didn't like to drink, so she just ordered a low-alcohol cocktail from the menu.

Time passed, minute by minute. The bar grew more crowded, and both the lighting and the music changed. Blinding laser spotlights sliced down from above, the music became deafening, and the drumbeat vibrated against their chests.

They were gradually entering the nightlife state.

“Let's go, let's go! Let's go dance!” Zhao Qian jumped up on the spot, getting high just from hearing the music, her slender arms raised straight above her head.

Xu Zhinan pleaded for mercy, “No, no, you go by yourself.”

“We're already third-years, Ah Nan!” She downed the last of her drink and narrowed her eyes. “Really not going?”

“Not going.” She shook her head with a smile, insistent.

“You know, you look so cool when you're tattooing someone, but right now you're being so well-behaved.”

Leaving those words behind, Zhao Qian happily clicked her way into the crowded dance floor on her high heels. A moment later, Xu Zhinan could no longer find her.

The blinding laser lights swept back and forth inside the bar, stirring up everyone's emotions in waves.

Xu Zhinan nestled into the sofa and gently rubbed the outer part of her ear.

Although it wasn't her first time at a bar, she still found it a bit hard to get used to.

She was good-looking, and her features appeared even more delicate under the lights. Her aura was also different from most of the girls here. Before long, she had already turned down several men who came to hit on her.

Fortunately, this was a proper bar, so they didn't pester her after being rejected.

Suddenly, the bar, which had been filled with music, was set alight once more by high-pitched screams and cheers. The group of pretty girls all raised their arms and waved them frantically, looking towards the stage.

Sitting in the corner, Xu Zhinan followed everyone's gaze and looked over as well.

A dry ice machine had made the stage hazy with fog.

A few people walked out from the back. The one in the lead was wearing a white shirt. The light passed through it, outlining the broad shoulders and narrow waist hidden within. He stood at the very front, gripping the microphone stand.

He coughed lightly. The microphone made some static noise, and then a cool, detached male voice came through it.

“—Black Locust Band, Lin Qingye.”

The screams threatened to blow the roof off.

Xu Zhinan's heart pounded.

She didn't know if it was from the vibrating music or something else.

The screaming continued for over ten seconds before quieting down a little. The young man on stage then added the last two words: “Good evening.”

Still cold and detached, as if it were a routine affair.

Through the gaps between the waving arms, Xu Zhinan finally saw his face.

Monolids, sharp and distinct features, a deep brow bone, a prominent Adam's apple, and a section of his collarbone visible from the shirt's collar.

Pale skin, black hair that now had a blue sheen under the lights. He looked cool and detached, yet roguishly handsome.

The intro started. He held up his guitar, tapping his foot lightly to the rhythm. A string of pleasant melody flowed from his throat in a low voice, clear and clean, yet with a kind of resilience.

Xu Zhinan picked up the cocktail on the table in front of her and listened to him sing quietly.

Unlike the girls around her who were jumping and waving their arms, she was more like a bystander.

Suddenly, the young man under the spotlight seemed to sense something and looked straight at her.

Their gazes crossed over the crowd between them, meeting in mid-air.

Xu Zhinan froze, then quickly looked away. She feigned composure and took a sip of her cocktail, but it burned her throat, and she covered her mouth, coughing violently.

The young man on stage lowered his chin. His long, slender fingers strummed out a transitional note, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

He looked very wicked.

“Ahhhhhh! So handsome, so handsome!” Zhao Qian appeared out of nowhere, screaming and exclaiming as she sat back down next to Xu Zhinan. “Seriously! As long as Lin Qingye is at Pingchuan University, all the other guys in school will pale in comparison!!”

She babbled on excitedly, “Damn, Ah Nan, go for him! You're both from Pingchuan University, don't let a good thing fall into an outsider's hands!”

Xu Zhinan's dark eyelashes fluttered twice. “Huh?”

“Never mind, never mind.” Zhao Qian quickly negated her own idea. “With someone like him, it's better for us to just enjoy the eye candy for free. If you were really targeted by someone like Lin Qingye, there probably wouldn't even be any bones left of you.”

She glanced at Xu Zhinan's face again. Who knows what she imagined, but she clicked her tongue. “A good girl like you could never be his match.”

“...”

The song's bridge, a small climax, ended. Lin Qingye stood on stage, arms outstretched, chin tilted up. As the lights shone down, he gave a roguish smile, contentedly enjoying the cheers and screams from below.

Xu Zhinan tugged on Zhao Qian's clothes. “It's getting late. Let's go back to the dorm.”

“Alright, I'll go to the restroom first.”

Xu Zhinan took her wallet and went to the bar counter to pay.

“Table 28, for two? Someone has already paid for you,” the bartender said, looking at the bill.

Xu Zhinan was taken aback. “Are you sure you're not mistaken?”

The bartender smiled. “No mistake.”

“Then... may I ask who paid for us?”

“We just changed shifts, so I'm not sure.” The bartender closed the menu. “Please come again.”

Zhao Qian ran over after using the restroom. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” Xu Zhinan shook her head. “Let's go.”

Even after walking outside the bar, they could still hear the surging sounds from within.

A song ended, and the pretty girls shouted in unison—

“Lin Qingye!”

“Lin Qingye!”

“Lin Qingye!”

...

It was already ten at night. A few scattered stars hung in the sky. Behind them, the bar's nightlife was just beginning. It was like two different worlds inside and outside the bar.

Xu Zhinan belonged to the world outside the bar. The world inside was like an alternate dimension to her.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated. She had received a text message.

[Brother Qingye: Coming to my place tonight?]

This phone was the passage connecting these two worlds.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3: Chapter 2

 

Zhao Qian walked a few steps and noticed Xu Zhinan hadn't followed. She turned back to look.

The young woman was looking down at her phone. The screen's light cast a faint pinkish-blue glow on her delicate, upturned nose, and her slender brows furrowed slightly.

"Ah Nan?" Zhao Qian asked. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Xu Zhinan pressed her phone screen off against her chest, her steps faltering. "I just remembered I have something to take care of at my shop. You should head back to the dorm first."

Zhao Qian frowned, disapproving. "It's so late."

Xu Zhinan casually made up an excuse. "My customer from this morning isn't quite satisfied with the tattoo design. I need to go redraw it, and my drawing board is still at the shop."

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"No, it's fine." Xu Zhinan smiled. "Remember to send me a message when you get back to the dorm."

"Okay." Zhao Qian bid her farewell. "Come back early, and be safe."

It was early June. It had just rained, leaving small, uneven puddles on the ground.

Xu Zhinan's tattoo shop wasn't far from the bar, just a dozen or so meters away. She ran back to the shop, unlocked the door, went inside, and only then did she pull out her phone again to message Lin Qingye.

[Xu Zhinan: Right now?]

[Brother Qingye: Yeah.]

[Xu Zhinan: Aren't you still at the bar?]

[Brother Qingye: I came out.]

Xu Zhinan stared at the message, dazed for a moment, before replying with an "Okay."

She grabbed a pastel pink backpack from beside the wooden table, put a book and a water bottle inside, then locked the door and left again, heading back toward the bar.

From a distance, she saw Lin Qingye standing by the bar's side door, his figure tall and straight.

The night wind suddenly picked up, and a cold, lonely crescent moon peeked out from behind the thick clouds.

Lin Qingye was wearing a mask and a cap pulled down on his head. The lines of his jaw were sharp and defined. A guitar case was slung over his shoulder as he leaned lazily against the wall.

Xu Zhinan paused, raising a hand to smooth the hair that had been tousled by the wind, and her pace slowed.

She watched as Lin Qingye pulled down his mask, revealing a pale white wrist with clear, blue veins. He then took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and stuck it between his lips. His cheeks hollowed slightly as the tip of the cigarette glowed a scarlet red.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, sensed her gaze, and turned his head to look over, a pair of pitch-black eyes showing from under the brim of his cap.

Then, the hand holding the cigarette lifted slightly, gesturing for her to come over.

At the same time, the weather changed. The sky, which had just cleared up for a bit, suddenly started to rain again. Raindrops pattered down, and Xu Zhinan didn't have time to be stunned; she quickly ran over.

There was an eave above the bar's side door. It was very narrow, and the two of them squeezed together under it.

The hair she had just smoothed down was messed up by the wind again, revealing her clear and pretty forehead. She raised her hand to hold her hair down, tilting her head up to find Lin Qingye's eyes.

"Brother Qingye." She asked softly, "Did you pay for my drink earlier?"

"Yeah." He flicked his cigarette ash, his reply nonchalant. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?"

"It was a last-minute decision with a friend."

Summer rain came down hard and fast, without any warning. Xu Zhinan had left in a hurry and forgotten her umbrella at the shop.

"Did you bring an umbrella?" she asked.

He chuckled, his voice tinged with smoke. "Nope."

"Ah..." Xu Zhinan looked worriedly at the strings of raindrops falling from the eave.

"Run for it?" he asked.

Xu Zhinan froze for a second. The rain was so heavy; she would probably be soaked through if she ran back.

The young woman hesitated, troubled. She had a backpack on her shoulders. Her face wasn't the bony, melon-seed shape; her frame was just small. In fact, she still had a bit of baby fat, which made her look even purer.

Lin Qingye watched her for a moment, then took off his jacket.

He clamped the half-smoked cigarette between his teeth, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pulled her over. He draped the jacket over her, lowered his gaze, and zipped it all the way up.

Then, he grabbed Xu Zhinan by the wrist and ran straight into the curtain of rain.

Caught off guard, Xu Zhinan let out a small cry. She had to stretch her legs to barely keep up with his pace.

They didn't go back to Lin Qingye's apartment but to his nearby studio, which wasn't far from the bar, just through a small alley.

But the alley's surface was uneven, and they stepped in countless small puddles on the way back.

The puddle water splashed up, hitting Xu Zhinan's bare calves, feeling a bit chilly.

A draft howled through the alley. Xu Zhinan was wearing his jacket, which reached her mid-thigh, so she didn't feel cold.

Lin Qingye kept hold of her until they reached the studio door. He took out his key, unlocked the door, pushed her inside, and then reached up to flip the light switch above her head.

He was wearing a cap, so while his body was soaked, his face was mostly fine.

Xu Zhinan was the complete opposite. After taking off his jacket, the dress underneath was dry, but her hair was completely wet. Strands of black hair stuck to her fair neck, a stark contrast in colors.

Lin Qingye none-too-gently ran a hand through her hair, smiling. "I forgot to give you the cap just now."

Xu Zhinan had been to this studio a few times before. It was decorated in a band style, with a dark wallpaper as the main color scheme. The sofa was piled messily with clothes and pillows, and it was fully equipped with an electronic keyboard, a drum set, and the like.

On a wooden shelf to one side were all sorts of albums and records—domestic, foreign, new, and old.

Sometimes when Lin Qingye drank too much at the bar, or when he needed to write songs, he would just sleep here.

He pushed aside the clothes on the coffee table, picked up the air conditioner remote and turned it on, then glanced sideways at Xu Zhinan. "Go take a shower first."

His bathroom was very clean, unlike the messy living room outside.

Xu Zhinan leaned against the door panel and let out a soft breath. Her phone vibrated; it was a message from Zhao Qian.

[Zhao Qian: I'm back at the dorm. Are you almost done?]

At the same time, the sound of a lighter clicking came from outside the door.

[Xu Zhinan: I'll be a while longer. If you guys are tired, just turn off the lights first.]

She had stepped in too many puddles while running over, and her calves were splattered with several mud stains.

After her shower, Xu Zhinan put her original dress back on. She walked out of the bathroom after blow-drying her hair.

The moment she took her first step out, she froze and blinked slowly.

Lin Qingye had also gone into the bedroom. He had taken off his soaked T-shirt and was sitting at the desk with his back to her. A cigarette was clamped between his teeth, a pen was between his fingers, and he would jot down a few strokes from time to time.

Hearing the sound, he turned his head to look over, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe. "Why are you still wearing that?"

"You don't have any of my clothes here."

"Just wear mine. You could wear any of my clothes as a dress."

He was basically calling her short. Although Xu Zhinan wasn't tall, she wasn't short either.

It was just that most people looked short next to Lin Qingye's 188cm height. She discreetly pouted. "It's not that exaggerated."

He let out a low chuckle and didn't argue with her, continuing to write on the paper. "Then don't change."

Xu Zhinan wandered over to his side. "What are you writing?"

"Lyrics."

Xu Zhinan recalled what Zhao Qian had told her that afternoon—Lin Qingye's band was going to break up. Since he was about to graduate from his fourth year of university, she'd heard he was thinking of entering the entertainment industry.

"Brother Qingye, what do you plan to do after graduation?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Don't know." Lin Qingye was habitually lazy, yet he had a knack for captivating people with his every move. "A show producer came to see me recently. We're still in talks."

"What about the band?"

"Guan Chi is getting married soon, so he'll probably inherit the family business. Tonight might have been our band's last show," he said nonchalantly.

Guan Chi was the drummer for the Black Locust Band; Xu Zhinan knew him.

She let out an "Oh," not knowing what to say.

From the sound of it, he really was planning to enter the entertainment industry...

Lin Qingye became famous early. At 18, he won the Golden Melody Award for his song 'Black Locust', becoming the youngest recipient. His future seemed boundless, and countless industry professionals sent him offers, but he rejected them all.

But even so, he still gathered a group of fans.

Xu Zhinan stopped bothering him while he was writing and lifted the covers to sit on the bed. Her gaze fell on his bare back.

The lines and contours were clear—not overly bulky or muscular, but exuding a sense of power.

She suddenly chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?" Lin Qingye asked without turning his head.

"I just suddenly remembered a sentence I saw before. It's a shame not to get cupping done on such a good-looking back."

"I wouldn't give anyone else that privilege." He laughed dismissively and said casually, "Next time, I'll lend you this 'good-looking back' to practice your tattooing on."

"...I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it."

"Then you're not professional enough," he teased.

Xu Zhinan paused, then asked, "What would you want to get tattooed?"

"Whatever." He hadn't given it any serious thought, his pen never stopping as he continued writing lyrics. He added nonchalantly, "How about I get your name tattooed."

He was always like this, sweet words rolling off his tongue so easily, making one's heart race. But when you looked at him again, he still had that same nonchalant and carefree expression.

Xu Zhinan didn't know what kind of spell he had cast on her.

The underclassman who came to her tattoo shop this morning had also said he wanted to get her name tattooed on him. She had thought it was too childish then, but now that Lin Qingye had said the same thing, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks burn.

Even though she knew he was just joking.

Xu Zhinan pressed her lips together and said no more. The room fell silent again.

With nothing to do, she took a book out of her bag.

It was very thick and had probably been read many times. The cover was worn smooth, but the pages were completely undamaged, showing that it had been very well-cared for.

It was a Buddhist scripture. She didn't know which edition it was, but it had some illustrations of Buddhist figures with small lines of text underneath the pictures.

Xu Zhinan calmed her mind and began to read it carefully.

Her relationship with Lin Qingye was strange.

It was obvious they were not from the same world.

Xu Zhinan had been a good girl her whole life. She came from an ordinary family, excelled in her studies, and later developed an interest in art. She worked hard, consistently ranked at the top of her class, and was admitted to the art and design program at Pingchuan University.

Lin Qingye, on the other hand, was her complete opposite. He formed a band at 16, won an award at 18, and at the peak of his fame, he rejected all offers. Unrestrained, he continued to perform at the bar. Crowds of pretty girls adored him. He always lived in the spotlight—flamboyant, free-spirited, arrogant, and rebellious.

Just like in the rain earlier, Xu Zhinan would want to use an umbrella, while Lin Qingye would pull her along to run wild in the rainy night.

Worlds apart.

But after a certain twist of fate, she and Lin Qingye became connected by a thread.

It wasn't a tight connection, but it was hard to describe.

On one hand, she knew she couldn't indulge in it, but on the other, she was inevitably drawn to Lin Qingye.

And she never dared to tell anyone else about their relationship.

Lin Qingye finished the last few words. The lyrics were written on a piece of paper torn from a notebook, the handwriting messy yet attractive.

He folded the paper a few times into an airplane and flew it into the pen holder.

Xu Zhinan was engrossed in the Buddhist scripture and didn't notice the sound he made.

Lin Qingye leaned against the edge of the desk and watched her for a while, then called out, "Ah Nan."

She started and looked up. "What is it?"

He gave a roguish smile. "Time to get down to business."

Before she could process his words, Lin Qingye stepped forward, knelt on the bed, snatched the Buddhist scripture from her hands, and tossed it aside. The pages rustled as they flipped a few times.

Xu Zhinan let out a low cry as she was pushed down, enveloped by the warmth of his body.

The young man's features were sharp, the curve of his jaw lean and smooth, his Adam's apple prominent. Accustomed to being direct, he lowered his head and kissed her on the mouth.

Xu Zhinan's heart sank a little. She tremblingly raised her arms to wrap around his neck, her fingers interlacing behind his nape, and tentatively initiated a kiss.

They separated after a good while. Lin Qingye licked his lips and straightened up.

With her eyes closed, she dared to be a little more proactive. But as soon as she opened them, she was overwhelmed by his presence. She didn't dare to look at him directly, so she glanced to the side.

It would have been fine if she hadn't looked, but her glance revealed that the Buddhist scripture was still open.

The illustration of the Buddha figure was facing her, its faint, zen-like smile seeming to peer into her heart.

Xu Zhinan's heart fluttered with unease.

Below it was a line of small text—

Buddha says there are eight sufferings in life: birth, old age, sickness, death, meeting those one hates, parting from those one loves, not getting what one desires, and the suffering of the five skandhas.

She whimpered and struggled a little.

Lin Qingye raised an eyebrow, his voice slightly husky. "What's wrong?"

Xu Zhinan buried her face in the pillow, as if begging for mercy. "The book... close the book."

Lin Qingye glanced to the side and let out a brazen sneer. He even found a moment to tease her, "Is that Guanyin, the bestower of children?"

What do you mean, Guanyin, the bestower of children?

The Bodhisattva Guanyin clearly doesn't look like that.

His tone was absolutely wicked, disrespectfully blaspheming the divine image. Xu Zhinan was displeased, and for once, her voice held a hint of emotion in front of him. "Of course not."

But those few words came out limp and soft from her mouth, holding no intimidating power and sounding more like she was pouting coquettishly.

Lin Qingye closed the book and tossed it to a corner of the bed. Its shimmering golden spine was still facing her.

Xu Zhinan squeezed her eyes shut, letting Lin Qingye take control. She felt caught in the middle, a sense of immorality and taboo washing over her.

Outside, the rain continued to drizzle.

Her heart pounded like thunder. She kept her eyes tightly shut, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, pretending the Buddhist scripture on the headboard didn't exist.

The light on the ceiling shone brightly down on them.

A moment later, Lin Qingye stopped his movements. The searing light above her head went out, and then, the young man whispered in her ear with his pleasant voice.

"Little nun, open your eyes."