Love and Desire [Complete] - 3

Love and Desire (17)

Chapter Fifteen

Ouyang Yiming's various examinations were all normal. After the morning rounds, the expert had a nurse call him to the office, explained some precautions after discharge, and told him that all medications had been stopped and he could be discharged at any time. Ouyang Yiming bowed and thanked the expert. The expert said, "I heard from our colleagues in the department that you study very hard and admire you very much. They all have a very good opinion of you. The afternoon you were hospitalized, the leaders of your school came to see you and specially introduced your situation. I have been very impressed with you since then. When you get back to school, make up for the classes you missed. Come and visit us when you have time." Ouyang Yiming blushed and said, "You gave me my life. I don't know what to say to express my gratitude. Thank you." His eyes were red as he spoke.

The expert, who had witnessed the scene, smiled and said, "Saving lives is our duty as doctors. There's nothing to thank me for. It's just a pity you're not studying medicine; if you were, I believe you would become a very accomplished doctor. Okay, go and contact the head nurse to see when you can be discharged." Ouyang Yiming said, "I also need to tell the school." The expert said,

"Alright, you can be discharged anytime." Ouyang Yiming bowed again to thank the expert and went out to find the head nurse.

Liu Yan saw him enter the nurses' office and glanced at him. Ouyang Yiming met her gaze and walked up to the head nurse, saying, "Head Nurse, the director asked me to talk to you about your discharge." As he spoke, he glanced at Liu Yan and noticed the complex expression on her face. The head nurse smiled and said, "You're willing to leave here?" Ouyang Yiming blushed. The head nurse turned to look at Liu Yan, took two steps to the side, and whispered, "There are people here who are reluctant to see you go." Ouyang Yiming chuckled twice. Liu Yan, who had followed, also blushed upon hearing the head nurse's words. The head nurse looked at Liu Yan and said, "Isn't that right, Liu Yan?" Liu Yan blushed and called out "Head Nurse" sweetly.

The head nurse smiled and asked Ouyang Yiming, "When do you plan to be discharged?" Before Ouyang Yiming could answer, Liu Yan interjected, "Tomorrow!" The head nurse laughed out loud, and the other two nurses in the office looked at them.

Ouyang Yiming's face also turned bright red. Liu Yan tugged at the head nurse, and the three of them moved two steps to the side. Ouyang Yiming said, "I still need to talk to the school. Let's do it tomorrow then." The head nurse smiled and said, "Liu Yan said so, you can't very well not listen, right?" She paused and said, "Okay, then let's do it tomorrow as you've decided. I'm available anytime. Come visit often in the future. You've really won over quite a few people these past few days." Ouyang Yiming blushed and smiled shyly, saying, "I've troubled you all so much these past few days. You even arranged a special place for me to study. I'm truly grateful." The head nurse said, "Don't thank me. It was all Liu Yan's idea. You should thank Liu Yan properly in the future. But it's a promise, you're not allowed to bully our nurses, or I won't allow it." As she spoke, she glanced at Liu Yan with a smile. Ouyang Yiming felt extremely uncomfortable and said, "Head Nurse, I'll contact the school this afternoon. I'm leaving."

After Ouyang Yiming left, blushing, the head nurse whispered to Liu Yan, "Are you already in a relationship?" Liu Yan hurriedly shook her head and said, "No." The head nurse stared at her and asked, "Really not?"

Liu Yan blushed and said shyly, "I just don't." The head nurse said, "Anyone can see that you two are interested in each other. To be honest, you two are really well-matched. Ouyang is a good kid, really good. But..." The head nurse paused, and Liu Yan looked up at her.

The head nurse continued, "Does Ouyang know what your parents do?" Liu Yan thought for a moment and said, "He probably doesn't. I haven't told him, and I don't know if anyone else has." The head nurse said, "You need to think carefully about whether your family will accept him and whether they will agree to your relationship. A family like yours needs to be cautious about finding a partner, not only for your own sake but also for Ouyang Yiming's. If you fall in love but can't be together because of family ties, it will hurt you and, even more so, Ouyang Yiming. So you need to be careful. In my opinion, you should let him know your parents' status before you two publicly acknowledge your relationship. That way, he'll have something to consider. Ouyang seems like a very strong-willed child, as you can see from his attitude towards his studies. Don't let him have any reservations later."

Liu Yan felt a little heavy-hearted, nodded, and looked up to ask, "Head Nurse, you and my parents aren't that far apart in age. If you were my parents, would you ..." "After meeting and getting to know Ouyang Yiming, will you agree to our relationship?"

The head nurse thought for a moment and said, "I don't have the same feelings as your parents, but I think if I were in their position, I might consider it. However, I can say that if family reasons weren't a factor, any parent would be happy for their daughter to marry such a hardworking, ambitious, and handsome young man." Liu Yan thought for a moment and said, "I think my parents would have the same opinion as you. Oh well, let's not talk about it now, there's no problem yet." The head nurse smiled and said, "Judging from your attitude, I can imagine what will happen between you two in the future.

You must carefully consider your family before making a decision." Liu Yan nodded and said, "I will consider it seriously. But I think, since two people love each other, why care about family?" The head nurse said, "Don't oversimplify the issue, be more cautious." Liu Yan nodded again, feeling increasingly heavy-hearted.

After returning to his ward, Ouyang Yiming felt no excitement about his discharge, but rather a sense of loss. He was restless, distracted, and even somewhat melancholic and confused. Ouyang Yiming knew all of this stemmed from Liu Yan. Although he knew it was just a discharge from the hospital, and he and Liu Yan would still live in the same city and see each other frequently, he couldn't control his emotions. He started packing his things, not knowing why he was in such a hurry. He just packed, without putting anything into any bags, leaving everything neatly arranged in its place. At that moment, he desperately wanted to talk to Liu Yan, desperately wanted to be with her. His roommate, seeing him packing, asked if he was being discharged, but Ouyang Yiming said it wasn't finalized yet. After a while, he returned to his room where he read.

Ouyang Yiming sat blankly in his chair. This room held deep emotional significance for him and would become a permanent memory. Here, he and Liu Yan had shared countless emotions and words, from their initial acquaintance to their later expressions of affection. He stacked the books on the table, picked up a pen, put it in his pocket, then carefully placed it on top of the books, staring blankly at the doorway. In the room at the very end of the corridor, few people frequented the doorway; only he and Liu Yan often went there.

He heard light footsteps and immediately became excited. He knew Liu Yan's footsteps all too well. He stood up and quickly walked to the door. Opening it, he saw Liu Yan standing there, her arm raised as if to knock. The two looked at each other in the doorway, their eyes filled with tender affection. Liu Yan stepped inside, and Ouyang Yiming closed the door, pulling her into his arms, their lips meeting in a kiss. At

that moment, it seemed that only in this way could they express their feelings. Ouyang Yiming noticed that Liu Yan was crying, tasting the salty bitterness of her tears. He released her lips, looked at her, and wiped away the tears from her face. As if suddenly remembering something, Liu Yan hurriedly pushed Ouyang Yiming away and said, "Open the door quickly." She then hastily pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away the tears on her face before sitting down in a chair.

Ouyang Yiming opened the door and returned to sit down, only to hear Liu Yan say, "Look at us, acting like children. It's not like we're facing life and death. We were just too impulsive. What if someone came here and saw us with the door closed? Wouldn't they be suspicious?" Ouyang Yiming blushed and said, "I couldn't control myself. Even now that I know I'm leaving, it still feels like a dream." Liu Yan said, "Me too. When I heard you were being discharged, I lost my composure in front of the head nurse. Sigh, it was all involuntary." Ouyang Yiming said, "My heart was racing the whole time." Liu Yan said,

"Didn't I feel the same way?"

Liu Yan looked at him intently and said, "Aren't you going back to school to talk to them?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I need to go back and have someone from the school come to process my discharge." Liu Yan said, "How about this, you go back now. I think we should go out tonight." Ouyang Yiming's eyes lit up with excitement, and he nodded. Liu Yan said, "Can you take all your things with you? Can you bring some back with you?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I don't have much." After thinking for a moment, he said, "I'll still bring some back." Liu Yan said, "Then hurry back. Come back for lunch."

Ouyang Yiming agreed. Liu Yan said, "I'm going to the office. They'll be nagging me later."

Ouyang Yiming rushed to the school and went to his dormitory first. His classmates were all in class. After putting his books and other things in the dormitory, he went to his counselor. The counselor was a nearly thirty-year-old unmarried woman, not tall, slightly plump, with excellent eloquence and a very warm personality. She was a woman with high aspirations and great abilities. She had been in many relationships and dated many boyfriends, but none of them led to marriage. This is related to her personality. Although she is not particularly beautiful, she cannot tolerate male dominance. Deep down, she wants to control her future husband, not be manipulated by him.

I recently heard that he's dating a lecturer from another university, and I don't know if they'll get married. I told her I was being discharged from the hospital and said I'd pack my things that afternoon to prepare for discharge tomorrow.

The counselor said she'd report to the school that afternoon and I'd go to complete the discharge procedures tomorrow morning.

Ouyang Yiming didn't even go to the classroom to check on things, thinking that if he saw Jiang Yuqi and the others, they might not be able to go back to the hospital at noon, and he'd have to exchange useless pleasantries. His biggest wish now was to go back to the hospital and be with Liu Yan.

After dinner, Ouyang Yiming went to Wuchaomen Park. As he walked towards the park after getting off the car, he saw Liu Yan already waiting there. The two walked hand in hand for a while before disappearing under a tree. After a passionate kiss, Ouyang Yiming sat down, and Liu Yan moved to sit on his lap, giggling, "I find the ground too cold. A boyfriend's lap is for sitting on." Ouyang Yiming chuckled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking." Liu Yan blushed, remembering the dream she had last night, but she knew she couldn't tell Ouyang Yiming about it.

Liu Yan sighed and said, "Being with you makes me forget my troubles. Thinking about it, our day has really been a bit ridiculous, but I just can't help it." Ouyang Yiming said, "That's exactly it, I've been like a lost soul all day." Liu Yan said, "Actually, there's a reason for what we're like. Think about it, even though you've been in the hospital these past few days, we've hardly left each other's rooms, it's like we're living at home. Being apart like this brings on these emotions. Yesterday I was saying you should be discharged soon, I was worried it would interfere with your studies. This afternoon I was also thinking, will this affect your studies? Seeing you like that all day, I'm worried, will you be able to concentrate on your studies when you get to school?"

Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "I might be unsettled for the first few days, but I think it will get better after a while." Liu Yan said, "I think so too." "Okay. This afternoon I was thinking that we can't go on dates so frequently, every few days. It will definitely interfere with your studies. I wanted to discuss it with you, and we can meet once a week on Saturdays from now on." Ouyang Yiming frowned and said, "I don't know if I can resist the urge." Liu Yan said, "Yes, definitely. This is for you. I wish I could see you every day, but I know I have to control myself. I can't let you neglect your studies because of these few dates." Ouyang Yiming said, "I'll listen to you."

Liu Yan said, "I have the afternoon shift tomorrow, so I won't go to see you off. I think it would be hard for both of us to see you leave. After we part tonight, I won't be able to see you in the ward tomorrow when I'm at work. It's still hard to think about." As she spoke, her heart ached, and her eyes reddened. She composed herself and said, "But it will be soon. Today is Monday, and we can meet again this Saturday. It's only a few days." Ouyang Yiming also felt a pang of sadness and nodded without saying a word.

Liu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Ouyang, do you know what I'm most afraid of?" Ouyang Yiming was bewildered by her seemingly random question and shook his head, asking, "What are you afraid of?" Liu Yan sighed softly and said, "I didn't want to say, but I keep thinking about it. To be honest, I'm afraid that when you go back to school, you'll have some kind of relationship with Xu Hui." Ouyang Yiming said, "We talked a lot last night, and you still want to bring this up." Liu Yan said, "I don't know why, I just keep thinking about it. Maybe it's because I'm jealous that she can be with you every day, or maybe it's because she's very pretty. Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, it's really annoying. I just hope you're sincere towards me." Ouyang Yiming said, "Saying anything more is pointless. If you trust me, don't bring it up again."

Ouyang Yiming said this, but he was still uneasy about Xu Hui's feelings for him. But he thought that he would never betray Liu Yan.

Liu Yan sighed and said, "Okay, I won't say anymore. You'll only annoy me. I don't want to annoy you either." Ouyang Yiming lowered his head and kissed her, saying, "That's right, men only like obedient women. If you're obedient, how can I be annoyed?" Liu Yan chuckled and said, "Get lost! Don't even think about making me suffer from your temper. You'd better be obedient in front of me. I'm older than you, you have to listen to me." Ouyang Yiming said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Would I dare disobey?" He then pressed his lips to hers, and Liu Yan immediately responded.

Suddenly, Liu Yan felt Ouyang Yiming's hand slip inside her clothes on her back, caressing her bare back. Liu Yan was startled, parted their kissing lips, and looked up at him. Ouyang Yiming's breathing quickened; he didn't dare look Liu Yan in the eye, and his lips pressed against hers again.

Liu Yan felt the hardness between her legs growing harder and harder. This thing made her heart race. She didn't know what to do; she tried to get up but felt too weak. Suddenly, she felt Ouyang Yiming's hand moving towards her chest, slowly, slowly… until finally, the hand touched one of her breasts. Liu Yan gasped in shock, reaching out to pull the hand away, her voice trembling as she said, "No, you can't." Ouyang Yiming, panting, said, "I… I want to." Liu Yan said, "No, you can't do this." Ouyang Yiming said, "I… I'll just touch it." Liu Yan struggled to get up and squatted down, saying, "Listen to me, you can't do this now." Ouyang

Yiming seemed to be in great pain, lowering his head and saying, "I really can't take it." Liu Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she said, "If you do this, I… I can't take it either." Ouyang Yiming lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at her and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know why, I just can't control myself." Liu Yan sighed and said, "That's normal." Ouyang Yiming looked at her, puzzled. Liu Yan said, "There must be a reaction to this kind of physical contact between men and women. Not only you, but I do too. It would be abnormal if we didn't. But we want to control it. I'm scared when I think about Jin Ling." Ouyang Yiming said, "But I just want to..." Liu Yan said, "I understand, but you will be even more unable to bear it if you do that. Get up, let's go for a walk."

Ouyang Yiming stood up reluctantly. Liu Yan then hugged him again and said, "I can feel that you can't bear it. Listen to me, sooner or later I will be yours. If something happens between us now, it may interfere with your studies. We still need to control it now." Ouyang Yiming nodded. Liu Yan's lips were then pressed against Ouyang Yiming's lips.

Love and Desire (18)

Chapter Sixteen
After Ouyang Yiming was discharged from the hospital and returned to school, that afternoon, Jiang Yuqi, Zhu Haitao, and Ge Guangcheng discussed having a small gathering at a restaurant outside to celebrate Ouyang Yiming's recovery and return to school.

The two agreed. After informing Ouyang Yiming, the group chatted and laughed as they walked out of the school gate before the cafeteria opened. Unexpectedly, they ran into Xu Hui and Li Xuan at the school gate.

The two women were returning from a shop outside the school. Seeing the group walking towards the school gate in high spirits, Li Xuan pulled Xu Hui to greet them.

"Where are you going?" Li Xuan asked.

Jiang Yuqi smiled at her and said, "Ouyang survived a great ordeal, a small gathering to celebrate."

Li Xuan looked excited and tugged at Xu Hui's sleeve, saying, "We'll go too." Zhu Haitao said, "A men's gathering, you're going too?

It's a bit... a bit inappropriate." Xu Hui glared at him without saying a word, feeling annoyed, thinking, "Why is he always with Ouyang Yiming, wherever he goes?"

Li Xuan yelled at him, "If you hadn't said that, we wouldn't have gone. What's with all this talk about men and women?" Jiang Yuqi glanced at Zhu Haitao, then looked at Li Xuan and said, "Exactly, this guy's all he talks about is men and women. Isn't he annoying?" Li Xuan smiled but didn't respond, her mind immediately recalling what Wu Yingying had said about Jiang Yuqi liking her.

Jiang Yuqi then said, "Can you drink? Men have to drink. Are you guys going to drink?" Li Xuan snorted at him dismissively and said, "You're always talking about alcohol, you're practically drowning in a vat of liquor. What's so great about drinking? I'll drink with you." Ge Guangcheng raised his hand and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Heroine, don't forget that when you're busy eating." Li Xuan said, "You little brat, you think you can look down on people?" Ge Guangcheng said, "It's not that I'm looking down on you, it's just that I'm afraid you two will get drunk at the sight of alcohol." Jiang Yuqi said to Ge Guangcheng, "Small in stature but full of talk." He turned to Li Xuan and said, "Let's go, ignore this little thing."

Everyone laughed and walked forward.

Li Xuan asked Jiang Yuqi, "Who invited Ouyang today?" Ge Guangcheng interrupted, "We split the bill. You two..." Before he could finish, Jiang Yuqi smacked him on the head, saying,

"Can't you speak properly?" Ge Guangcheng blushed. Li Xuan wouldn't let it go, shouting, "You stingy little devil! When will you grow up? No wonder you're always so tall!"

Xu Hui then said, "I'll pay for dinner tonight, nobody else needs to pay."

The others were stunned for a moment. Ouyang Yiming turned to look at her.

Li Xuan pouted at Ge Guangcheng and said, "You're still a man! Look at Xu Hui! Aren't you ashamed?" Ge Guangcheng blushed and said, "Xu Hui, Xu Hui is a bourgeois, and we proletarians..." Before he could finish, Xu Hui raised her hand and punched Ge Guangcheng, laughing, "Who's a bourgeois? You're just afraid we'll freeload off you, aren't you? We don't want to be accused of freeloading, otherwise you'll say we owe you so much."

Ouyang Yiming, who had been laughing at their bickering, chimed in, "Stop arguing, I'll pay tonight. I promised Jiang Yuqi and Zhu Haitao when I was in the hospital." Jiang Yuqi laughed and said, "That was just a joke. It's not right for you to pay for your discharge celebration. Stop talking, tonight it's just the three of us: me, Zhu Haitao, and Ge Guangcheng." Li Xuan glanced at Ge Guangcheng and said,

"Won't that make Ge Guangcheng miserable?" Everyone laughed.

A group of people took a bus for two stops and arrived at a small, clean restaurant with only seven or eight tables. The proprietress greeted them warmly. Jiang Yuqi, clearly familiar with the place, asked if the private room at the back was occupied. The proprietress said it was, and invited them to go there first. She then asked a waiter to bring tea. Jiang Yuqi and Zhu Haitao ordered their food.

Ge Guangcheng sat next to Ouyang Yiming, with Xu Hui and Li Xuan two seats away from him. Jiang Yuqi looked at Ge Guangcheng and asked, "Guangcheng, tell me, how tall are you?" Ge Guangcheng looked at him and said, "1.58 meters, why?" Jiang Yuqi chuckled and said, "Do you look disproportionate sitting next to Ouyang?" Everyone burst into laughter. Ge Guangcheng blushed and looked at him, saying, "Then where do you think I should sit?" Jiang Yuqi laughed and said, "You're so blind! To celebrate Ouyang's birthday, he should be in a good mood. He should be accompanied by beautiful women on both sides, what do you look like sitting there?!"

Ouyang Yiming blushed instantly, pointed at Jiang Yuqi, and said sarcastically, "You're talking nonsense." Jiang Yuqi laughed and said, "That's how it should be!" Xu Hui blushed slightly, stood up, moved to the seat Ge Guangcheng had given up, and sat down generously next to Ouyang Yiming. She then invited Li Xuan to sit on Ouyang Yiming's other side. Li Xuan turned her head and glanced at Jiang Yuqi sitting on her other side, saying,

"Satisfied now!" Jiang Yuqi smiled smugly.

Four cold dishes were served, and the waiter brought two bottles of wine. Xu Hui said, "Two bottles? Can you finish them?" Jiang Yuqi said, "It's just two bottles, there are six of us." Xu Hui said, "I don't drink alcohol, and Ouyang can't drink either since he just recovered from his illness." Ouyang Yiming said, "Yes, the doctor said so. I had an intestinal problem, and I can't drink alcohol now that I'm better." Xu Hui said,

"Bring a bottle of soft drink." Ge Guangcheng shouted, "Ouyang can't drink, but you can't not drink. We agreed to drink." Li Xuan chimed in, "I said we'd drink, Xu Hui didn't say that." So the waiter brought another

bottle of soft drink. Ge Guangcheng poured the wine from the bottle, using a glass teacup. Ouyang Yiming said to pour only a little bit. Xu Hui poured herself a soft drink and whispered to Ouyang Yiming, "You should drink the soft drink too."

Ouyang Yiming whispered, "The doctor said I can't drink too much soft drink either. I'll drink a little alcohol, but they gathered here for me, so it's not good to not drink at all." Xu Hui said, "Just drink what's in this glass, don't pour any more." Ouyang Yiming agreed.

Li Xuan let Ge Guangcheng pour her a little less than half a glass of wine, smiling nonchalantly.

Ouyang Yiming, looking at Li Xuan, said with concern, "Li Xuan, you should have a drink too. They're just joking." Li Xuan smiled at him and said, "It's okay." Xu Hui quietly tugged at Ouyang Yiming's sleeve under the table and whispered in his ear, "Don't worry about it. They probably can't outdrink her, even with all those people." Ouyang Yiming was shocked and said, "Really?!" Xu Hui smiled and said, "She said it herself; alcohol doesn't seem to work on her. She said her mother is the same way; once her mother drank three bottles of baijiu and was fine." Ouyang Yiming was even more amazed.

Jiang Yuqi, seeing the two of them huddled together whispering, suddenly laughed and said, "A handsome man and a beautiful woman sitting together is quite a sight." All eyes immediately turned to them. Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui blushed. Seeing this, Li Xuan said, "You talk too much! The wine is already poured and ready to be enjoyed."

She stood up, picked up her glass, and looked at Ouyang Yiming, saying, "Ouyang, shouldn't you say a few words first?" Ouyang Yiming smiled and stood up, saying, "Of course." He cleared his throat, picked up his glass, and said, "During my hospitalization, everyone went to great lengths to visit me, and today you've gathered here for me. I'm truly grateful. Words of thanks are unnecessary; they're all in the wine. Let's toast to everyone." Zhu Haitao said, "Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. Cheers to Ouyang's rebirth!" Xu Hui, displeased by this, glanced at him discreetly but remained silent. The glasses clinked together, and everyone except Xu Hui, who was drinking a soft drink, downed their drinks. As

everyone sat down, Ge Guangcheng poured wine for Ouyang Yiming, but Xu Hui stopped him, saying, "He can't drink anymore." Ge Guangcheng looked at Ouyang Yiming. Ouyang Yiming blushed and said, "That's what the doctor advised, so I won't drink it." Jiang Yuqi said, "Just pour a little and put it in front of you, that's the same thing." Ouyang Yiming nodded. Ge Guangcheng poured a little into his glass.

Everyone had their drinks poured, and Li Xuan glanced at everyone and asked, "How should we drink this?" Zhu Haitao asked, "How do you think we should drink it?"

Li Xuan smiled and said, "I think we should toast everyone in a circle first, and then each person in turn toasts everyone in turn, except for Ouyang and Xu Hui, of course. What do you think?"

Everyone was stunned by this, and after casting questioning glances at Li Xuan, they looked at each other and remained silent for a moment. Xu Hui laughed and said, "What's wrong? Scared? Women keep their word. You all said you wanted to drink with her when you came." Jiang Yuqi said, "Who's scared? Just drink as she says, do you think grown men are afraid of her?!"

So Li Xuan started toasting in a clockwise direction. After one round, Li Xuan sat down without changing her expression. Li Xuan picked up some food and put it in her mouth, then nudged Jiang Yuqi, saying, "It's your turn." Jiang Yuqi felt uneasy seeing Li Xuan's attitude. He said, "Isn't this drinking too fast? How about we play a guessing game?" Li Xuan objected, saying, "You're cheating! I've already gone around once, and you haven't touched anything. Now you want to play a guessing game? No way!"

Jiang Yuqi scratched his head and said, "I just feel this is too fast. The hot dishes haven't even arrived yet, and half the drinks are gone." Xu Hui sarcastically said, "You just said you were grown men, and now you're backing out after toasting a whole group of girls. You said men should drink when we came. Don't worry, I'm paying today, so whatever you drink is mine." Li Xuan said, "That's right, you said that, and now you don't want to drink anymore. Are you scared?!"

Jiang Yuqi, forcing a smile, said, "You really think we're afraid of you?" He stood up, picked up his glass, and toasted everyone in turn. Soon, another round was completed. In no time, everyone had been toasted. The bottle of wine was almost empty.

They ate a few bites of the hot dishes. Li Xuan turned to Jiang Yuqi and asked, "What's next?" Seeing that she remained expressionless and showed no signs of alcohol, Jiang Yuqi felt uneasy. He reluctantly said, "You decide." Li Xuan said, "Alright, let's have another round, starting with me again. What do you all think?"

Everyone was startled. Zhu Haitao said, "I can't take it anymore. You guys go first, I forfeit." His face was as red as if he'd applied rouge. Jiang Yuqi looked at Li Xuan suspiciously and asked,

"Grandma, how much can you drink?" Everyone stared at Li Xuan. Li Xuan smiled but didn't answer.

Jiang Yuqi shook his head and said, "I admit defeat. At this rate, we won't be able to get back to school. Let's drink slowly while we play the game." Everyone agreed. So they asked the waiter for another bottle of wine. Jiang Yuqi took out a few matches and asked Li Xuan, "You go ahead." Li Xuan shook her head and said, "I don't know anything about this stuff. How about this: when it's my turn to guess, I'll drink a glass regardless of whether I win or lose."

This statement startled everyone. Ouyang Yiming leaned over and asked, "Li Xuan, have you ever tried how much you can drink?" Li Xuan laughed and said, "I don't know. I remember the most I drank was last summer when a classmate from my middle school got married. I drank more than a bottle of baijiu. I didn't have any reaction. Alcohol doesn't work on me. I'm just wasting my time drinking." Everyone sighed. Ge Guangcheng said to Jiang Yuqi, "Today, the wine immortal has met the wine maiden. The world has changed."

Amidst the laughter and guessing games, half a bottle of wine was gone. Jiang Yuqi was already tipsy. Ouyang Yiming said, "Don't drink anymore. Drinking too much will have a bad influence when you go back to school." Li Xuan said to Jiang Yuqi,

"Ouyang is right, stop being so stubborn, just admit defeat." Xu Hui, seeing Li Xuan's smug expression, glanced at everyone and smiled, "There are always people more capable than you, remember that saying from now on."

Everyone looked at Li Xuan and couldn't help but admire her.

A sweet and sour fish dish was served. Xu Hui, having heard Ouyang Yiming say it was his favorite, reached for her chopsticks first, picked up a large piece from the belly of the fish, and placed it on Ouyang Yiming's plate before inviting everyone to eat. Everyone chuckled. Ouyang Yiming blushed and whispered to Xu Hui, "I can do it myself."

Xu Hui's actions were unintentional, and hearing Ouyang Yiming's words, she blushed even more.

Jiang Yuqi was already seven-tenths drunk. He had seen Xu Hui serving food to Ouyang Yiming earlier, and now, seeing them talking quietly, he felt envious, thinking that they were truly a perfect match and deeply in love. He said,

"Ouyang, I feel that of the two of you, you've gained the most from these three years of university." Ouyang Yiming looked at him suspiciously, not understanding the meaning of his words. Jiang Yuqi said, "Actually, everyone knows in their hearts that you and Xu Hui are a match made in heaven."

Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui were shocked that Jiang Yuqi would say such a thing in front of them, their hearts pounding and their faces turning bright red. He glanced at Xu Hui and saw her lowering her head in embarrassment. All eyes were on Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui. Seeing this, Li Xuan raised her hand and slapped Jiang Yuqi, saying, "Are you drunk? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Jiang Yuqi looked at Li Xuan and said, "I'm not drunk. There are no outsiders here, aren't they all Ouyang's close friends? Don't you think they're a perfect couple?" Li Xuan didn't know what to say, seeing Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui lowering their heads in embarrassment, she quietly tugged at Jiang Yuqi. Jiang Yuqi glared at her and said, "Why are you pulling me? I'm just speaking from the heart. Actually, everyone knows what's going on."

Ouyang Yiming raised his head, his face flushed, and continued, "I think you're really drunk, talking nonsense." Jiang Yuqi glared at Ouyang Yiming and said, "Nonsense? Ouyang, you're the person I admire most. You know how Xu Hui treats you, and everyone knows that too. I'm telling you, you have to treat Xu Hui well, otherwise I won't consider you my brother. I just want to say that only you, Ouyang, are worthy of a beauty like Xu Hui. And you, Ouyang, are only worthy of Xu Hui. I'm speaking from the heart, sincerely wishing you both a harmonious and long-lasting marriage..."

Seeing that he was talking more and more, and becoming increasingly incoherent, and noticing that Ouyang and Xu Hui's expressions were becoming more and more unnatural, Li Xuan reached out and pinched Jiang Yuqi's thigh hard. This time it was definitely not light, and Jiang Yuqi cried out and stood up. Everyone was puzzled. Li Xuan laughed loudly, saying, "Let's see if this can shut your stinking mouth up." Jiang Yuqi feigned pain, covering the spot where he had been pinched with one hand, and complained with a bitter face, "You shouldn't have pinched so hard! You pinched off a piece of flesh!" Everyone then understood and burst into laughter.

While eating and chatting, Jiang Yuqi frequently glanced at Li Xuan. Li Xuan noticed Jiang Yuqi's gaze and blushed. Seeing her flushed cheeks, Jiang Yuqi felt a tingling sensation of affection and secretly reached under the table to grab Li Xuan's hand. Li Xuan was startled, and the chopsticks she was about to put in her mouth stopped. She hurriedly tried to shake off Jiang Yuqi's hand, but he held on firmly. Impatient, Li Xuan stomped hard on Jiang Yuqi's foot. Jiang Yuqi cried out "Ouch!" and released his grip on Li Xuan's hand.

Everyone looked at Jiang Yuqi with suspicion again. Li Xuan turned to Jiang Yuqi and deliberately asked, "What's wrong now? You're so jumpy. Does the spot where I pinched you still hurt?" Jiang Yuqi looked at her in pain, his foot, which Li Xuan had stomped on, trembling under the table. He said, "There, there. A fishbone got stuck in my tooth." He then pretended to pull two fingers out of his mouth and turned away.

Everyone laughed again. Li Xuan said, "Look at you, what good are you? You can even get a fishbone stuck in your tooth." Jiang Yuqi glanced at her but didn't say anything. Li Xuan put the food in her mouth and leaned closer to Jiang Yuqi, whispering, "Serves you right." Her

heart pounded again as she thought about what Wu Yingying had said about Jiang Yuqi liking her, and she secretly blamed herself for kicking him too hard. Turning back to look at Jiang Yuqi, she saw that he still looked pained, and his two fingers were still in his mouth. Li Xuan felt secretly guilty. After a while, Jiang Yuqi turned around, and Li Xuan asked, "Did you pull it out?" Jiang Yuqi glanced at her but didn't say anything.

After the soup and dishes were served, Xu Hui drank a few sips, then reached out from behind Ouyang Yiming and pulled Li Xuan, gesturing for them to leave. The two stood up and left the private room. At the counter, Xu Hui took out her money to pay, and Li Xuan hurriedly reached into her purse as well, but Xu Hui stopped her. She paid the bill herself, then asked for directions to the restroom, which the waiter told them was across the street. The two walked out arm in arm.

On the way back, Li Xuan said, "Xu Hui, actually, what Jiang Yuqi said was true. Everyone can see how good you are to Ouyang, and everyone feels that you and he are a perfect match. Jiang Yuqi drank a bit too much today, but he was telling the truth." Xu Hui said, "I already knew what my classmates thought." Li Xuan said, "Of course, many girls like him, that's an undeniable fact. But everyone also knows that only you are a good match for him." Xu Hui said somewhat proudly, "I'm still just like you guys." Li Xuan said, "That's different. You're so beautiful, there's no one else like you in the whole school."

Xu Hui smiled. Li Xuan asked softly, "Have you and Ouyang made your relationship clear?" Xu Hui replied, "No, neither of us has mentioned it." Li Xuan said, "Ouyang's diligence in his studies is both his strength and his weakness. He should have been the one to make things clear first. He's such a bookworm." Xu Hui laughed and said, "Isn't this fine? What difference would it make if we made it clear?"

Li Xuan thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "You two are both very rational. I really admire you both. Yes, now that you've made it clear, Ouyang will probably think about how it will interfere with his studies. Actually, you both have feelings for each other. That's something about you two that's quite admirable."

Hearing Li Xuan's praise of Ouyang Yiming, Xu Hui felt a surge of pride.

Li Xuan lowered her head and took two steps, saying, "To be honest, I really envy you, really." Xu Hui suddenly noticed a tremor in her voice and looked at her, puzzled. Seeing a hint of worry on her face, she asked, "What's wrong?" Li Xuan smiled bitterly and said, "Nothing, I just really envy you. I envy that you have someone as outstanding and lovable as Ouyang. You guys are so lucky.

I'm different from you. Sigh, I'm just a girl from the countryside. My biggest hope is to stay in a big city like this. I don't dare to dream of having a lovable and outstanding man like you."

Xu Hui listened to Li Xuan's words with sadness. Turning to look at her, she vaguely saw tears glistening in her eyes. She said, "Why be so sad? Our better circumstances are all thanks to our parents. Ultimately, we have to rely on ourselves. So what if you're from the countryside? You're a college graduate just like us. With your personality, I believe you'll be very capable once you get a job. You won't have to worry about not finding a good man to love you." Li Xuan said, "Thank you for your kind words."

After a moment's hesitation, she said with unusual determination, "I will, Xu Hui. Don't worry, I definitely will." Xu Hui sensed something unusual in Li Xuan's expression and tone, and although she was puzzled, she didn't think too much of it. She said, "With this ambition, you will succeed. I believe in you." Li Xuan instantly smiled and said, "I hope so. Pray for me." Xu Hui laughed, "You're just worrying unnecessarily."

They both laughed.

Upon entering the private room, Jiang Yuqi immediately exclaimed, "Xu Hui, you're really not treating us like men!" Xu Hui and Li Xuan stared at him, bewildered. Jiang Yuqi said, "You two secretly went out to pay the bill, making us lose face. Guangcheng was just joking with you when we came." Xu Hui laughed and said, "It's all the same." Li Xuan looked at Jiang Yuqi and said, "Hypocritical, taking advantage and then acting innocent." Jiang Yuqi said, "I'm just speaking from the heart." Li Xuan laughed and said, "Alright, that's the thought that counts. Next time, remember to pay first, don't forget again."

The moonlight was bright tonight, and although the autumn night was a bit chilly, the people, after drinking, felt refreshed in the temperature. Ge Guangcheng suggested walking back, saying they wanted to savor the romance of the autumn night. Everyone agreed. So the group marched forward in a grand procession. Li Xuan hummed Chi Zhiqiang's song "Money": "Who made money, you act like a tyrant in the world..." Several men joined in, their voices growing louder and louder, attracting the attention of many passersby. Xu Hui said, "Everyone, please be careful, this is on the street." Hearing this, the crowd felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered their voices.

Li Xuan and Xu Hui walked arm in arm beside Ouyang Yiming. Jiang Yuqi, seeing this, quietly tugged at Li Xuan's sleeve. Li Xuan looked at him questioningly, and Jiang Yuqi winked at Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui. Li Xuan understood, released her arm from Xu Hui's, and ran ahead.

Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui followed side by side behind the group. Xu Hui said, "I drank quite a bit today, but it was still pretty fun." Ouyang Yiming said, "Yes. Jiang Yuqi drank too much."

Xu Hui thought Ouyang Yiming meant that Jiang Yuqi had talked about them during the meal, and blushed slightly, saying, "Let them talk, it's nothing. Jiang Yuqi said it to our faces today. Who knows what they're saying behind our backs. It's just that we don't know."

Ouyang Yiming knew that Xu Hui had misunderstood him and didn't know how to explain. So he changed the subject, saying, "You don't need to pay today, I've already prepared. They said they'd chip in, and I didn't want to say anything. I was planning to pay when we came, and just then Jiang Yuqi came back and said you'd already paid." Xu Hui said, "We're both the same, aren't we? They only came out to get together because of you, so it's not right for them to pay. It's only right that I pay."

Ouyang Yiming understood from her words what kind of person Xu Hui thought of him. His heart sank again, and he naturally thought of Liu Yan. He thought to himself: Xu Hui has feelings for me, but I love Liu Yan. Xu Hui continues to treat me this way; what will happen if this continues? What if Xu Hui finds out about my relationship with Liu Yan one day? Wouldn't that hurt her? Thinking about this, a wave of panic and guilt washed over him; he felt like he had done something wrong to Xu Hui, a sinner's guilt. He

walked with his head down, his heart pounding, not daring to look at Xu Hui. Seeing his silence, Xu Hui assumed he was still thinking about it and said, "Don't think about it anymore. These days, many couples in school are open about it. What's the big deal?" Ouyang Yiming's heart sank again, and he said, "I'm thinking about something else."

Seeing his expression, Xu Hui assumed he didn't want to talk about it anymore, so she didn't bring it up again. She knew Ouyang Yiming valued his reputation highly. Although student relationships were semi-public in schools, she knew Ouyang Yiming didn't want it; no matter what, teachers were still very averse to students dating on campus.

She thought: their relationship might only be made public before graduation.

Love and Desire (19)

Chapter

Seventeen On Saturday afternoon, Ouyang Yiming told Jiang Yuqi that he would go to Fan Xurui's place at the Medical University that night. At 6:30 pm, Ouyang Yiming took the bus to Wuchaomen Park. In the few days since returning to school, he couldn't help but miss Liu Yan, especially when he was resting at night, he would always recall every detail of being with Liu Yan. But he was able to concentrate in the atmosphere of seeking knowledge. He was satisfied with himself for this. He thought that as long as he could adjust his mindset, he would not delay his studies.

The moon was very round and bright tonight, and the silver moonlight spread its soft and clear light across the earth. The trees in the park were covered with silver halo, which made them quiet and peaceful, mysterious and gorgeous.

Stepping on the hazy earth under the moonlight, facing the slight autumn wind, Ouyang Yiming got off the bus and walked quickly towards the park. His heart was filled with anxiety, longing, and sweetness. He wanted to see the woman who had haunted his dreams for days.

He saw her; she was pacing on the grass, her hands behind her back, head bowed as if deep in thought. Her well-tailored military uniform, clad on her slender frame, looked exceptionally dignified in the moonlight. She saw him too, and a flush of excitement instantly spread across her face. The alluring blush on her handsome face should have been radiant and captivating, but unfortunately, the moonlight concealed this beautiful glow, and Ouyang Yiming couldn't see it clearly. She stepped forward to meet him.

They stopped before each other, their passionate gazes meeting, as if trying to find the lingering longing in each other's eyes. For a moment, neither of them uttered a word.

Liu Yan reached out and took Ouyang Yiming's hand. They walked a few steps into the park, hand in hand. Liu Yan whispered, "I really missed you." Hearing the tremor in her voice, Ouyang Yiming squeezed her hand slightly and said, "Me too." They turned to look at each other. Liu Yan said, "I've been looking forward to seeing you." Ouyang Yiming said, "Me too." They smiled at each other.

They walked slowly, and Liu Yan said, "I'm off today. I went to the mall this afternoon and bought you a sweater. I came over after dinner and waited for you for a while." Ouyang Yiming then noticed the dark plastic bag she was carrying in her other hand and was quite surprised. "I have a sweater, why did you buy this?" He was touched for a moment.

Liu Yan turned to look at him and said, "It's thin, you can wear it in a while. I didn't know if you had one, I've been thinking about buying it for you these past few days. I told the salesperson about your size, and I think it would fit, but the color is red, I don't know if you like it. I think this color will look good on you."

Ouyang Yiming said excitedly, "Of course I like what you like, but... why spend the money?" Liu Yan smiled and said, "If you have one, you can wear it in rotation, how can it be superfluous?!" Ouyang Yiming said,

"I'm touched by your words." Liu Yan smiled and said, "Now I realize you college students are being a little sentimental."

Ouyang Yiming laughed. After a moment, he asked, "What should I buy you?" Liu Yan hurriedly replied, "Don't buy me anything. My clothes were all issued by the army, I don't lack anything. You're still a student, where would you get money? I'm not trying to show off, but you can't compare to me now. I have a monthly salary, and my mother often sends me money. Do you think that if I buy you something, you'll buy me something in return? Wait until you're financially independent before buying anything."

Ouyang Yiming said, "It's only polite to reciprocate." Liu Yan laughed and said, "Looking at you makes me jealous. To be honest, if you really buy me something, I'll get really angry."

As they spoke, they arrived at the pine tree. Ouyang Yiming listened for any movement, then pulled Liu Yan down to lean inside. Once they were steady, Ouyang Yiming hugged Liu Yan tightly, and their two hot lips met. For this couple, the kiss had evolved from initial novelty and awkwardness to tenderness and skill.

Their eyes met, blazing with desire. They closed their eyes, constantly shifting their mouths, caressing each other's faces, their tongues swirling and churning inside each other's mouths.

"The melody of love stirs up two waves, splashing onto those four entwined lips." [Gortai's words] Liu Yan straightened her clothes, took the sweater from her bag, and said, "Try it on to see if it fits. If not, we'll exchange it tomorrow. I already told the salesperson."

Ouyang Yiming took off his coat and put on the pure wool V-neck sweater. Liu Yan tugged at his shoulder, adjusted the hem, and looked him up and down, saying with satisfaction, "It fits perfectly. I just can't tell if the color suits you, but I feel red should suit your skin tone." Ouyang Yiming said, "I have a purplish-red sweater, my mom knitted it for me, and people say it looks pretty good." Liu Yan said, "This one is bright red, I think it will look good too." Ouyang Yiming said, "Your taste is never wrong."

As he spoke, he took off the sweater and said, "I just feel a little bad about letting you spend money on it." Liu Yan glanced at him, took the sweater, and folded it as she said, "I bought you this sweater with a purpose.

I want you to think of me when you wear it, so you won't forget me." Ouyang Yiming laughed and said, "I think about you countless times every day, how could I forget you?" Liu Yan said, "I'm still worried. To be honest, have you and her been very happy these past few days?" Ouyang Yiming's heart sank. His face turned unnatural as he said, "Look at you, bringing this up the moment we meet."

Liu Yan, unable to see Ouyang Yiming's expression, said, "It's better to remind you often!" Looking down at her feet, she tugged at Ouyang's

arm and said, "I've been standing for a while waiting for you, you must be tired, sit down." Ouyang Yiming sat down, and before Liu Yan's bottom even touched the ground, he pulled her onto his lap, saying, "The ground's cold." Liu Yan pointed to his forehead and laughed, "Do you think I don't know what's on your mind?" Ouyang Yiming chuckled sheepishly.

Ouyang Yiming suddenly remembered Jinling and asked, "Has Jinling left yet?" Liu Yan said, "She must be touched by your concern for her. She left this morning. Some procedures are still being processed, considering her current situation, so they let her report first and complete the formalities later. This time it was quite fast; otherwise, according to the normal procedure, it would take a while." Ouyang Yiming said,

"It's all thanks to your aunt. Was Jinling's boyfriend dealt with the way you said last time?" Liu Yan nodded and said, "Yes. He was discharged from the military and escorted back." Ouyang Yiming said, "That's quite shameful." Liu Yan said, "It's not that shameful; a man can do that for love. Jinling even cried for a while last night, wondering if Liang Chao's parents would blame her in the future. I said, isn't this Liang Chao's own business? Even if her parents blame you, what can they do? It's not like you'll be living with her parents in the future. Don't you think so?" Ouyang Yiming nodded.

Liu Yan continued, "Actually, the biggest blow this time should be to Jinling. Even though Jinling is gone, people in the hospital will still talk about it as a joke. She won't have the face to come back and visit. The women are the ones who are hurt the most." Ouyang Yiming nodded and said, "Yes." He thought to himself, "This world is really unfair. Men can brag about things like this, but women are only subjected to vicious gossip."

Liu Yan said, "Let's not talk about them. I've been so busy with Jinling's situation these past few days. Tell me about what's been going on at school." Ouyang Yiming said, "Isn't going to school just about classes? What else could it be?"

Liu Yan fiddled with the zipper of Ouyang Yiming's coat with one hand, and after a moment of silence, said, "There's something I want to tell you. Don't be angry." Ouyang Yiming didn't know what it was about and felt uneasy. He asked, "What is it?" Liu Yan said, "I don't know if all women are like this, or if I'm just too narrow-minded, but I know you truly love me. I don't want to think about it, but I keep thinking about it.

" Yiming knew Liu Yan was going to bring up Xu Hui again, and his heart tightened, but he still asked, "What are you thinking about?" Liu Yan said, "I always have a premonition that Xu Hui will take you away from me." Even though Yiming had already thought of this, he was still startled and said, "Why do you keep having these thoughts?"

Liu Yan said sadly, "I don't know why, these thoughts just keep swirling in my head, I can't get rid of them."

Yiming then silently wondered why Liu Yan only had these thoughts about Xu Hui, even though Xu Hui was indeed interested in him. Was there some kind of unspoken connection?

Liu Yan said, "When I think about these things, I get very upset, worried, and afraid. Do you think I'm being paranoid?"

Yiming felt a tremor in his heart, even a sense of fear. He felt as if Liu Yan had seen right through him. He felt a strong sense of guilt.

Ouyang Yiming said, "You are my true love, and I will never do anything to betray you." Liu Yan said, "I believe that, and I tell myself that too. But I just can't stop myself from thinking about it. You won't blame me, will you?"

Ouyang Yiming said, "How could I blame you! I know you've opened your heart to me. To be honest, you're the first girl in my life who has made me feel such a strong urge to love. Before this, I had liked some girls, including Xu Hui, of course. But I've never felt the same way I did when I saw you. I don't know why, but the moment I saw you, I felt that kind of heart-fluttering sensation. I don't deny liking Xu Hui, but that's just liking, a man's appreciation of a beautiful woman. I've been studying with her for three years, and I've never felt that inexplicable heart-fluttering sensation I felt when I saw you. I think you'll tolerate liking a beautiful girl, or just appreciating her beauty. I won't have a romantic relationship with her. The kind of love we have isn't..." "It's not forced, but a result that can only come from a meeting of souls. It requires fate."

Liu Yan exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, you're absolutely right, it requires fate. I feel the same way you do; the moment I saw you, I had that inexplicable feeling for you. I think all lovers in the world are like this, it requires fate." Ouyang Yiming said, "Fate is truly predetermined. I think that's how it is. Before coming to the hospital, I never dreamed I would fall in love with a soldier. Even after we started dating, I still thought about it; it all seemed like it was all preordained. Buddha said that it takes five hundred years of looking back in a past life to exchange for a mere brush in this life, so how many times must we look back in a past life to be able to fall in love in this life? I cherish it, I will cherish it." Liu Yan said with tears in her eyes, "I will too."

Ouyang Yiming wanted to change the subject, even though he was so clear about his love for Liu Yan, he still felt guilty about his feelings for Xu Hui. He didn't want to think about it, much less reveal it to Liu Yan.

So he said, "I didn't expect you to buy me a sweater, but I wanted to ask you for something." Liu Yan asked, "What do you want?" Ouyang Yiming said, "These past few days I haven't been able to stop missing you, I just want to see you, I want a picture of you." Liu Yan exclaimed in surprise, "How come we always think of the same thing! I've thought about that many times too. I even brought it for you." As she spoke, she took out a photo wrapped in paper from her pocket and said, "I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it."

Ouyang Yiming took it and was about to open it when Liu Yan asked, "Where's yours?" Ouyang Yiming said embarrassedly, "I did think about it, and I even picked out a few, but I forgot when I came. It's also because I miss you." "I'm so eager," Liu Yan said, somewhat disappointed. "You never intended to give it to me in the first place." Ouyang Yiming said, "You're really wronging me. I really forgot." Liu Yan pouted and complained, "How could you possibly think about my feelings? It'll be another week before I can see you." Suddenly, she snatched the photo from Ouyang's hand and said, "I won't give it to you either. Bring yours next week and I'll give it to you then."

This time, Ouyang Yiming panicked and pleaded, "I was wrong. Next time, even if I forget myself, I won't forget the photo." Liu Yan chuckled and said, "Forgetting you is even worse. I'll hold the photo and hug it. I want the photo, but I want you even more."

Ouyang Yiming chuckled. He took the photo, opened it, and looked at it in the sliver of moonlight that shone in. Liu Yan asked, "You think you can see that clearly?" Ouyang Yiming smiled and said, "I can see a little bit." There were five photos, and Ouyang Yiming flipped through them one by one. Although he couldn't see them very clearly, he was excited and said, "My wife is so beautiful." Liu Yan raised her hand and flicked his nose, saying shyly, "Who's your wife? Aren't you ashamed!" Ouyang Yiming just grinned foolishly.

Ouyang Yiming carefully wrapped the photo and placed it in the inside pocket of his coat. Then he hugged her again and kissed her passionately. Liu Yan asked, "How are your parents?" Ouyang Yiming replied, "They're both in good health. They've been running every morning for years. My dad, even at his age, still often plays basketball with the younger teachers." Thinking of his parents, Ouyang Yiming felt a surge of happiness.

Liu Yan asked, "Is your physique like your dad's?" Ouyang Yiming said, "My dad's physique is probably better than mine. I'm about the same height as him, but not as robust. My mom is also in good health and has a very good personality. She has never laid a hand on us siblings. If we make a mistake, she patiently tries to reason with us. It's strange, but even though my mom doesn't hit us, we're all afraid of her from the bottom of our hearts. My dad doesn't talk much, but occasionally he'll talk to us about principles of life. In my heart, I feel that it's a blessing for us siblings to have such parents."

Seeing Ouyang Yiming completely immersed in happiness, Liu Yan couldn't help but be infected by his emotions. She thought of her own parents. To her, their affection didn't seem as intense as Ouyang Yiming's. Both her parents were soldiers; her mother and father had lived apart for many years, and she and her brother had grown up with their father in the military camp, raised by a nanny. Her father was easygoing, but even the most easygoing man lacked a woman's maternal instincts. She didn't even remember him giving them any serious advice or guidance; even parent-teacher conferences at school were attended by the nanny. Her mother was transferred to her father's unit, and she was already ten years old when the family was reunited. Only then was she able to truly experience the long-lost maternal love. Her grades had always been poor, and when she graduated from middle school at fifteen, her parents used an internal recruitment program to send her to the army. From then on, she left home to become a soldier.

At this moment, she secretly envied Ouyang Yiming for having such a warm and happy family, and for having such parents. Liu Yan said, "I envy you so much. Your parents are both intellectuals; were they university classmates?" Ouyang Yiming said, "My dad graduated with a bachelor's degree, and my mom graduated from a teacher's college with a junior college diploma, but she's now a senior teacher. My maternal grandfather, my mom's father, is also a teacher." Liu Yan said with some emotion, "Children from intellectual families usually receive a good upbringing, like you, who loves learning." Ouyang Yiming said, "But some children from teacher families don't succeed either. I think it's because their parenting methods are lacking. I'm very fortunate to have good parents."

Liu Yan thoughtfully hummed in agreement, her eyes fixed on a tree branch in front of her, pondering something. After a moment, she turned to Ouyang Yiming and said, "Now I..." "I'm a little worried about whether your parents will accept me, their uneducated daughter-in-law." Ouyang Yiming laughed upon hearing this and said, "But you're the one who said you're our daughter-in-law."

Liu Yan's face flushed red, and she said shyly, "I didn't say that at all. You just have sharp ears like a police dog." Ouyang Yiming chuckled and continued, "Are you in a hurry to go to my house?" Liu Yan raised her hand to hit him and said, "I'm being serious." Ouyang Yiming stopped laughing and said, "I think they will definitely accept you. A girl as outstanding as you, they'll probably be overjoyed to see you." Liu Yan said, "What's so outstanding about me? You're just good with words." Ouyang Yiming said, "But in my eyes, you are the most outstanding woman in the world." Liu Yan smiled and said,

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Ouyang Yiming said, "But I feel you are even more beautiful than Xi Shi." Liu Yan said, "You're so cheeky." And she smiled sweetly as well. Ouyang Yiming said, "I'm still worried about whether your parents will accept me. After all, they're both high-ranking officials. Would they let you, the daughter of a high-ranking official, marry into a commoner family?" Liu Yan said, "We've come back to this again. Don't worry about it, I'll handle it."

Both of them thought about the disparity in their family backgrounds, and their hearts sank.

After a moment of silence, Liu Yan asked Ouyang Yiming, "What are you thinking about?" Ouyang Yiming didn't want to talk about Liu Yan's family anymore, so he smiled and said, "Thinking about you." Liu Yan said, "You're being naughty. I'm in your arms, what else could I be thinking about?" Ouyang Yiming turned her head and said, "Thinking about this." He then pressed his lips to hers, their mouths opened, and their tongues intertwined.

Ouyang Yiming's hands tightly embraced Liu Yan's back, his mouth holding her fragrant tongue, his nostrils flaring as he slowly and gently sucked on it. Liu Yan moaned softly, her breath sweet as orchids, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying unparalleled pleasure. Their mouths remained locked together for a long time, neither wanting to separate for even a second.

Ouyang Yiming, his eyes glazed with intoxication, glanced at the woman lost in pleasure. One hand reached out and stroked Liu Yan's back, moving to her shoulder, then her neck, finally touching her earlobe. The earlobe was soft, slightly warm, smooth and delicate. A tremor ran through him. He released her and took the earlobe into his mouth, his tongue licking it as if it were a pearl or a grape.

Liu Yan chuckled, slapping his head and saying, "What's there to kiss? It tickles!" She pulled away. Ouyang Yiming didn't speak, but suddenly reached out and lifted Liu Yan, spreading her legs to sit on his lap. Liu Yan was startled but allowed him to hold her like that, their mouths meeting again.

Ouyang Yiming's entire tongue was inside Liu Yan's mouth, but his mind flashed back to the scene of Jin Ling and Liang Chao making love. Instantly, his body burned, his mind became clouded, and his genitals swelled. Dragging Liu Yan's buttocks, Ouyang Yiming began to move gently, the friction bringing him a pleasurable sensation.

Liu Yan felt the hard object moving between her legs, an indescribable excitement making her feel hot all over, a tingling, electric-like sensation coursing through her body. She wanted to enjoy this intoxicating pleasure; she didn't want to give up this captivating bliss. But she quickly understood what Ouyang Yiming was doing. Her face flushed crimson, she released her clenched tongue, struggling to get up. But Ouyang Yiming held her tightly. Liu Yan's heart pounded. She rested her head against Ouyang Yiming's chest, breathing heavily, without a word.

Ouyang Yiming felt a sense of loss as she released her tongue, but the friction's pleasure made him unwilling to give up. So, as he reached to hold Liu Yan's buttocks again, Liu Yan raised her head, her voice trembling, saying, "No, no, no." Ouyang Yiming dared not move again, but held Liu Yan's body tightly. The force was strong, and Liu Yan felt breathless. She said, "Be gentle, you're choking me." Ouyang Yiming loosened his grip a little, burying his chin in Liu Yan's shoulder, panting heavily for a while.

After a while, Liu Yan whispered, "Let me up." Ouyang Yiming looked at her and released his arms. Liu Yan stood up, lifted her leg, and squatted down beside Ouyang Yiming, immediately feeling her crotch wet again. Blushing, she softly said, "I can't sit in your lap like that." Ouyang Yiming understood what she meant and felt a little embarrassed and flustered. Liu Yan said, "We both can't handle that." Ouyang Yiming nodded. Liu Yan shifted and sat sideways on his lap, saying, "Like this." Ouyang Yiming embraced her.

Liu Yan looked at him and buried her head in his chest. They were both silent for a moment.

Ouyang Yiming rested his chin on Liu Yan's neck, thinking about their actions just now and feeling somewhat unable to control himself. His mind drifted back to what he'd done with that woman in the movie theater, and then to what Jin Ling and Liang Chao had done. His body reacted, and his manhood swelled again.

At that moment, he couldn't control his emotions. He turned Liu Yan's head and placed it in the crook of his arm, pressing his lips to hers. They kissed passionately for a while. His hands began to act on their own; the hand that had been supporting her waist started to move, seemingly unintentionally but deliberately touching one of Liu Yan's breasts. He quickly pulled his hand away when he touched that soft, yielding area, as if struck by lightning. But in an instant, a mere second, that hand covered that protruding area.

Liu Yan trembled in shock, parting their lips, and tried to pry the hand off her breast with one hand, but it was too strong. She looked up and pleaded, "Don't do this, please don't do this!" Ouyang Yiming remained silent, his eyes burning with lust. He leaned down and silenced Liu Yan's pleading mouth with another.

Liu Yan fell silent, experiencing boundless pleasure as Ouyang Yiming's large hand caressed her. They continued for a while, amidst Ouyang Yiming's caresses through her clothes and their passionate kisses.

Ouyang Yiming's thoughts grew increasingly muddled; the things he had done with the woman in the movie theater flashed vividly through his mind. His hand moved downwards involuntarily, trembling, slowly.

Suddenly, the hand touched Liu Yan's most intimate area between her legs.

Liu Yan's body trembled violently, instantly understanding Ouyang Yiming's actions, and she raised her hand to grab it. The hand pressed firmly there, and Liu Yan couldn't pull it away; her hand was caught in Ouyang Yiming's grasp.

Ouyang Yiming's mouth pressed tightly against Liu Yan's lips, preventing her from speaking. Liu Yan shook her head and finally managed to open her mouth, her eyes fixed on the pair of fiery eyes so close to hers, and said in a low but unusually stern voice, "Take it away!" Ouyang Yiming froze for a moment. But the hand didn't move. Liu Yan abruptly pulled her hand away, stood up abruptly, straightened her hair and clothes, and looked out through the gaps in the bushes. Ouyang Yiming, after

a moment of stunned silence, came to his senses, and instantly, a wave of shame washed over him. He buried his head between his legs, keeping it very low.

For a long time, Liu Yan didn't turn around, and Ouyang Yiming didn't look up.

Slightly regaining his senses, Ouyang Yiming looked up at her and stammered, "I'm sorry, I..." before lowering his head again.

Liu Yan turned back and saw Ouyang Yiming sitting there with his head down. His voice sounded pitiful, and her heart softened. She sat down beside him and said, "We can't do this now."

Ouyang Yiming didn't answer.

Liu Yan said, "I understand, I know you lost control for a moment. But, but we can't do this now."

For some reason, Ouyang Yiming felt a pang of sadness, and tears streamed down his face. At that moment, he felt the self-reproach of a child who had done something wrong. Tears flowed like a broken string of pearls.

Liu Yan didn't notice and continued, "Just now, just now, what we did, I almost lost control too. But we have to control ourselves." Ouyang Yiming was now completely unable to control his emotions and began to sob. Liu Yan was startled and reached out to turn Ouyang Yiming's head, only then realizing that his face was covered in tears. A pang of pity struck her. She pulled Ouyang Yiming's head into her arms, stroking his hair with one hand, and said, "I'm not blaming you." She paused, then emphasized, "I'm not blaming you either, am I? Don't... don't be like this, okay?" Ouyang Yiming said, feeling wronged, "I... I don't know what happened to me, I... I didn't mean to." Liu Yan said, "I know, I know. You look like a child. Don't cry, okay?"

As she spoke, her heart ached, and she rested her chin on Ouyang Yiming's head, holding his head tightly with both hands, struggling to hold back her tears. After a short pause, Liu Yan calmed herself and said,

"I understand completely, I wanted to... I almost lost control just now too."

Ouyang Yiming looked up at her with tearful eyes. Liu Yan said, "I'm telling the truth, you... really did control me. Men and women both have needs in this area, but we can't do this now. I'm afraid you won't be able to control yourself, afraid you'll do something even worse, do you understand?" Ouyang Yiming nodded.

Liu Yan sighed softly and said, "I don't want to hide it from you. To be honest, I also want to, I also want you to, to touch me. But I'm afraid you'll continue to do that kind of thing." Ouyang Yiming thought to himself, his thoughts were so muddled just now, if he continued, he would definitely do that kind of thing. If he really did, what would Liu Yan think? She was already angry just now, if… Liu Yan let go of his arms, stood up and said, "Don't act like a child, a grown man like you crying, aren't you ashamed?!" Ouyang Yiming became shy. Liu Yan smiled and said, "Quickly wipe your tears. In the end, you're still young, you can't deny that." Ouyang Yiming forced a smile.

Liu Yan turned around and sat down on his lap again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her head against his chest, and paused before saying, "You men are so bold at times like this, while we women are just nervous and scared. I'm a medical student, so I know more about this than you do. Actually, your actions are perfectly normal, I understand."

Ouyang Yiming said shyly, "Don't say anything, I..." Liu Yan laughed and said, "You're actually shy now, after all that boldness just now." Ouyang Yiming chuckled twice and didn't speak. Liu Yan stared at him and asked, "Did I scare you just now?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I've never seen you so angry before." Liu Yan asked, "Was I very fierce just now?" Ouyang Yiming said, "You scared me with that one shout. It wasn't loud, but it was really frightening."

Liu Yan giggled and said, "Am I fierce? You'd better watch out next time. I'm quite fierce." Ouyang Yiming smiled and said, "I've learned my lesson today." By this time, his mind had calmed down. Liu Yan said, "I don't want you to be afraid of me. I was just nervous and scared. You can't treat me like a tigress." Ouyang Yiming said, "I really did feel that way."

Liu Yan slapped him and said, "Get lost! I'm not like that at all." After a pause, she looked up at his face and asked, "Do you really think that way?" Ouyang Yiming deliberately nodded.

Liu Yan's heart sank, and she regretted her tone just now. She thought that perhaps Ouyang Yiming really thought that way, but she couldn't explain anything anymore. So she took a finger and drew circles on Ouyang Yiming's chest.

Seeing her speechless for a moment, Ouyang Yiming looked down and asked, "What are you thinking about?" Liu Yan said, "I really scared you, I didn't mean to." Seeing that she was still thinking about it, Ouyang Yiming laughed and said, "I was just teasing you." Liu Yan said in a trembling voice, "I know that in my heart." Seeing that she was really serious, Ouyang Yiming felt a little anxious and said, "I really didn't lie to you, I was just teasing you. How could I be afraid of you? I'm a grown man."

Liu Yan looked up at him again, thinking that he was just comforting her, and said, "I was just worried that I really scared you. It's good that I didn't." Ouyang Yiming chuckled twice, didn't say anything, but hugged her tightly. Just then, he noticed that Liu Yan was staring intently at him, breathing heavily through her nose. When their eyes met, Liu Yan asked softly, "Still thinking about it?" Ouyang Yiming was startled and asked, "Thinking about what?" Liu Yan didn't speak, but raised her hand and took one of his hands, placing it on one of her breasts. Startled, Ouyang Yiming hastily withdrew his hand, but Liu Yan took it back, her voice trembling as she said, "Touch, but only here." Ouyang Yiming's heart pounded, and his hand, which had been resting on her breast, could no longer move.

Liu Yan dared not meet Ouyang Yiming's gaze, and abruptly looked up, pressing her lips to his.

Ouyang Yiming's tongue was sucked by Liu Yan, and his body instantly surged with passion again, his hand moving involuntarily. The two writhed, panting heavily. After a moment, Liu Yan released her mouth, panting softly, "Like this, promise me it can only be like this, don't..." Ouyang Yiming nodded. Their lips met again.

Animal instincts surged again in such a short time; Ouyang Yiming completely forgot his previous shame and fear, primal desire coursing through his body. His body heated up again, and his penis became erect once more. Liu Yan felt it; she felt the hard object pressing against her crotch, and an indescribable desire welled up within her.

She could also feel the fluid flowing from her lower body, and at that moment, she truly longed to move her private parts to that hard, erect member.

But just then, she felt Ouyang's hand lift the hem of her shirt and slip inside, instantly reaching her bra. Liu Yan was startled, saying no, but she didn't struggle forcefully. A moment later, she felt Ouyang Yiming's hand inside her bra begin to wriggle. Her body trembled again, and she tightly hugged Ouyang Yiming's head, pressing her face against his, breathing heavily.

After a while, Liu Yan suddenly woke up, sat up, and said, "No, we can't keep doing this, you'll be..." She then pulled away from him and stood up, saying, "Let's go for a walk. If this continues..."

The bus was about to pass by the hospital where Liu Yan worked, and stopped at a stop not far from the hospital entrance. Before getting up, Liu Yan turned to Ouyang Yiming and whispered, "Don't forget next time." Ouyang Yiming knew she was talking about the photos, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry." Liu Yan reluctantly took her leave, but turned back to look at him one last time before the bus door, her eyes filled with affection.

Ouyang Yiming's eyes followed her the whole time. As the bus started moving, the two waved goodbye at the window. Liu Yan watched the bus drive away. Ouyang Yiming also looked back out the window until Liu Yan disappeared from his sight.

In the back seat, a middle-aged woman in her forties, still possessing a certain charm, had been watching them. She must have been a beautiful woman in her youth. But her expression was strange, her face unreadable—a mixture of envy, joy, and helplessness. She shook her head slightly more than once, even letting out an unintentional, cold laugh. Finally, she turned to look out the window, lost in thought.

What was she thinking? Was she reminiscing about her first love, about her youthful romances? Was it fulfilling or broken? What did her helplessness and cold laugh signify?

Ouyang Yiming didn't see any of this. His eyes were fixed on the window, his mind still reliving the details of his time with Liu Yan, his heart filled with happiness and sweetness.

The streets leading into the city center were vibrant and colorful; the ancient city, even under the night sky, was still bustling with traffic and people. On the sidewalks, many couples walked hand in hand, arm in arm, or with their arms around each other, chatting and laughing, their faces radiating happiness.

Ouyang Yiming watched them, thinking of Liu Yan. When his car stopped at a red light at an intersection, a scene that suddenly caught his eye made him hold his breath. At that moment, he couldn't believe his eyes. His heart pounded wildly. His eyes were fixed on the couple walking arm in arm on the sidewalk, who were turning into a side street in an instant.

Love and Desire (20)

Chapter 18

He wasn't mistaken. The woman was Li Xuan. The man was Gao Peng, the school cafeteria manager, a single man in his thirties who had been divorced for two years. He was a local who had taken over the school after graduating from junior high school.

Gao Peng was usually not very talkative and always had a smile on his face. His appearance could not be described as handsome. He was not tall, about 1.7 meters, and slightly fat. Unfortunately, his hair was very thick. Although he was only thirty-five years old, he had no hair from his forehead to the top of his head, making his forehead look particularly large. Some classmate gave him the nickname "Searchlight", meaning that his forehead was particularly bright.

Ouyang Yiming had vaguely heard that his ex-wife was quite attractive and worked in the sales department of a radio factory. Two years ago, she had an affair with a workshop director more than ten years her senior, which was discovered by the director's wife, causing a huge scandal. The director and his wife subsequently divorced, and the wife took the child.

Shortly after, Gao Peng's wife also filed for divorce. Initially, Gao Peng refused. His wife frequently argued with him, and later simply moved into the apartment the director had rented for her with the child. This dragged on for nearly a year. Seeing no other way, and with repeated persuasion from family and friends, Gao Peng finally agreed to the divorce. His ex-wife demanded to take the child, and during the agreement, he stipulated that he would not pay child support. The woman signed the papers without saying a word.

At this moment, Ouyang Yiming was shocked and confused. He couldn't understand why Li Xuan would be with a man so much older than her, and divorced. Judging from their intimate behavior, their relationship seemed unusual. Could Li Xuan have gotten together with him?

How could a girl with three years of higher education fall in love with a man who only graduated from junior high school, was divorced, and more than ten years her senior? Ouyang Yiming racked his brains, utterly baffled. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it, even if someone told him. That night, he thought a lot. But what terrified him most was whether Li Xuan was being deceived by that mature man's sweet talk, whether he was toying with an innocent girl.

Li Xuan came from a poor mountainous area in Suining, Sichuan. She was about 1.6 meters tall, with a well-proportioned figure, a typical oval face, large, bright eyes, and beautifully folded double eyelids. Her eyebrows were slightly thick and dark. She had a high nose bridge and a small mouth. While not exceptionally beautiful, she possessed the unique charm of a Sichuan girl that was quite endearing.

She was quite outgoing, optimistic, and always seemed carefree. This side of her personality only became apparent almost a semester after she started school.

Ouyang Yiming still remembered Li Xuan's naive and shy demeanor when she first came to the school. She seemed so respectful to everyone, speaking in a soft, almost whispered voice. As they got to know each other better, her personality gradually changed. That simple, rustic air was slowly replaced by a cheerful and elegant air of city life. Perhaps this was simply her true nature.

Li Xuan rarely talked about her family. Ouyang Yiming only heard Xu Hui mention that her family was somewhat poor, and her hometown was quite underdeveloped. Li Xuan was nineteen when she entered university, starting later due to poverty. She was the oldest in her class. This stubborn and strong-willed girl's greatest hope was to leave her impoverished mountain village. She knew that the only way to achieve the better life she longed for was through a good education and diligent study. She wasn't a naturally gifted girl; her university admission was entirely the result of her hard work.

Ouyang Yiming was puzzled. Judging from the intimate expressions he saw on Li Xuan and Gao Peng, Li Xuan seemed happy and joyful. Could it be that Li Xuan had truly fallen in love with Gao Peng? After pondering for a while, he firmly rejected this idea. There was no reason for Li Xuan to fall in love with such a man. So why was it?

In the end, he concluded that Li Xuan had been deceived by this mature man. At this moment, he inwardly blamed Li Xuan. How could she be so foolish? Wasn't she ruining herself?

The next morning in the cafeteria, Ouyang Yiming saw Gao Peng, nicknamed "Searchlight." He paid special attention to this man who was often the subject of jokes among his classmates. With his appearance, demeanor, and age, Ouyang Yiming couldn't reconcile him with the fairly pretty, college-aged Li Xuan. At that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of disgust towards the man's smile. It seemed that something in that smile had bewitched Li Xuan. He was certain in his heart that Li Xuan had been seduced by this man.

After getting his food, he saw Xu Hui and walked over with his bowl, sitting down opposite her. He couldn't help but want to tell her about Li Xuan. Xu Hui smiled at him, feeling strange. Before this, Ouyang Yiming had never sat with her in such a public place as the cafeteria. Xu Hui's heart skipped a beat.

The two ate in silence. Xu Hui glanced at Ouyang Yiming from time to time, noticing his furrowed brows and unhappy expression, as if something was on his mind, and her heart sank. She also noticed that Ouyang Yiming looked at her several times as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, thinking that something might have happened to him. She couldn't help but ask softly, "You don't look too good. Is something wrong?" Ouyang Yiming said, "No."

Xu Hui looked at him suspiciously, then, feeling anxious, said, "You don't seem to be alright. What is it?" Ouyang Yiming looked at her, opened his mouth, and said, "I'll tell you when we go out." Xu Hui felt uneasy, a sense of unease settling in her heart.

As soon as they left the cafeteria, Ouyang Yiming eagerly asked Xu Hui, "Have you heard that Li Xuan is in a relationship?" Xu Hui widened her eyes and said, "Li Xuan! I haven't heard of her!" When she answered him, Xu Hui saw his expression and knew that he was unhappy about this. She became suspicious: Why was Ouyang Yiming so concerned about whether Li Xuan was in a relationship?

Ouyang Yiming said with a grim face, "She's in love." Xu Hui asked, "With whom?" Ouyang Yiming said, "You wouldn't believe it, you'd never guess. She's dating that cafeteria manager surnamed Gao." Xu Hui was shocked and stared at him, asking, "You mean that...that 'spotlight'?" Ouyang Yiming nodded and said, "Yes, it's him."

Xu Hui thought for a moment and said, "Are you kidding me? How could that be?!" Ouyang Yiming said coldly, "I also think it's impossible. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it."

Xu Hui was extremely surprised and asked, "You saw it? You saw it with your own eyes? Where?"

Ouyang Yiming's heart skipped a beat at Xu Hui's question. He couldn't say that he saw it last night when he came back from his date with Liu Yan. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Last night I went to visit my fellow villager at the medical university, and I saw it on the bus on my way back." So he recounted what he had seen last night.

Xu Hui listened with wide eyes. After Ouyang Yiming finished speaking, Xu Hui asked in surprise, "Really? Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Ouyang Yiming said confidently, "I thought I was mistaken at first glance, but after confirming it was them, there's no mistake." Xu Hui was puzzled, lowered her head to think for a moment, shook her head, and said, "I still don't believe it." Ouyang Yiming became a little anxious and said, "You're absolutely sure you're not mistaken."

Seeing how certain he was, Xu Hui had no choice but to believe him, muttering, "How could this be? It's unbelievable."

Ouyang Yiming said, "I find it unbelievable too. I thought about it for a long time last night. There's no reason for them to be together. Then I wondered if it was because of Li Xuan's family background that Gao Peng used some material things to lure her, and Li Xuan was deceived by him. She's a girl from the countryside; what social experience does she have?"

Xu Hui pondered for a while and said, "Li Xuan isn't the same person she was when she first entered university. I don't believe anyone could deceive her. She's older than all of us; she should be more thoughtful than us." Ouyang Yiming said, "I've thought about that too, but I can't understand it. How could a college student who has received several years of higher education get together with a divorced man who is more than ten years older than her?"

Xu Hui said, "Yes, I can't understand it. But I think Li Xuan might have other reasons." "I don't think she'd consider marrying this man," Ouyang Yiming said. "So, Li Xuan's motives are also questionable?" Xu Hui said, "It's hard to say. Don't let Li Xuan's usual carefree demeanor fool you; she's actually quite shrewd. Whether she has ulterior motives or is using Gao Peng for something, nobody can say for sure." Ouyang Yiming said, "Li Xuan wouldn't risk her youth and reputation. She's a girl, a student at a prestigious university; she wouldn't do this without considering these things."

Xu Hui shook her head and said, "Who dares to say? But I still can't figure it out." Ouyang Yiming lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "I think Li Xuan has been deceived by him. Gao Peng might just be playing with her." Xu Hui shook her head and said, "Logically speaking, with Li Xuan's intelligence, she shouldn't. But this is really hard to fathom."

The two walked in silence for a while, heads bowed.

Ouyang Yiming suddenly looked up and said, "If Li Xuan has really been deceived by him, we should help her." Xu Hui looked at him and said, "How can we help?" Ouyang Yiming said, "What if Li Xuan did something foolish in a moment of confusion? It might affect her whole life." At that moment, he thought of Jin Ling's matter. A chill ran down his spine.

Xu Hui pondered for a moment and said, "Yes. Girls can be quite naive sometimes; maybe she's just confused for a moment. But how can we help her?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I think you should try to find out more from her." Xu Hui frowned and looked at him, saying, "Will she tell us the truth?" Ouyang Yiming said, "Let's try. I'm really worried that this will ruin her. It's not easy for a college student to come from such a poor mountain area. If she really goes astray, wouldn't that ruin her life?!"

Xu Hui nodded and said, "How about this, I'll find a suitable opportunity to get some information out of her." Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. Don't tell anyone about this again." Xu Hui rolled her eyes at him and said, "I know. I still need to think about how to properly tell her about this."

At lunchtime, Xu Hui and Ouyang Yiming, who was eating not far away, exchanged a few glances. Xu Hui secretly winked, and Ouyang Yiming understood. After lunch, Xu Hui and Wu Yingying walked slowly back to their dormitory, waiting for Ouyang Yiming.

After Ouyang Yiming caught up, Xu Hui asked Wu Yingying to take a few steps so she could speak with him. Wu Yingying smiled mysteriously and walked forward. Xu Hui said to Ouyang Yiming, "I went to see Li Xuan this morning, but when we met, I didn't know what to say. You know, girls don't like to talk about things like this. So I told her we were going to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum this afternoon, and she agreed. I was thinking you should come too. We can talk to her together then, and I'll feel more at ease if you're there."

Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "If I'm there, will she be comfortable telling me? You're both girls, so it's easier for you to communicate. My presence might backfire." Xu Hui said, "It's okay. I've thought about it. I'll talk to her first, and you don't need to be there. If she tells me, we can try to persuade her together. If she insists on denying it,

we shouldn't force her. It's her personal matter, her privacy. Even though we mean well and care about her, if she doesn't want to talk to us, or if she doesn't appreciate it at all, we don't need to care anymore. It might backfire."

Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "That's true." I'm just worried that she was deceived. If Li Xuan really likes him and loves him, what can we say. Xu Hui smiled and said, "I won't believe that Li Xuan will fall in love with her." She is a girl with a very high character, maybe there is some special reason. Don't think too much about it. You will go there alone in a car later, and Li Xuan and I will go there together.

Ouyang Yiming asked hesitantly: "Do you really need me to come too?" Xu Hui said: "Look, you are so concerned about this matter, and now you are giving up." Do you blame all this on me?

Ouyang Yiming scratched his head and said, "That's not what I meant. I just thought, today is Sunday, and I will meet people from our school there..." Xu Hui smiled and said, "I knew you were afraid of this." You, I am not afraid of a girl, but you are a grown man. It’s not like the two of us are together, there’s also Li Xuan. After a pause, he blushed again and said in a lower voice: "I haven't played in a long time. You can just go with me to play." "

Ouyang Yiming's heart sank after hearing this, and Liu Yan flashed in his mind. So he didn't speak. Seeing that he didn't respond, Xu Hui became a little angry and said, "Are you going or not? If you're not going, I'm not going either. Look at you being so clingy. It's not that you're doing this out of kindness, but it's like I'm begging you."

Seeing this, Ouyang Yiming couldn't very well refuse. He forced a smile and said, "I didn't say I wasn't going, it's just..." Xu Hui interrupted him, her tone slightly angry, "Scared, scared, scared! I can't stand seeing you being so cautious in everything

you do." Ouyang Yiming gave an awkward, silly laugh, his cheeks flushed. Seeing his expression, Xu Hui was both angry and fond of him, and realized she had been a bit harsh. So she said in a tender tone, "You... I don't know what to say to you. Okay, that's settled then. Get ready and go. If you're going to arrive first, wait by the bronze statue. I'll go find Li Xuan now." Ouyang Yiming nodded and said, "What else do I need to prepare? I'll be there in a bit." Xu Hui glanced at him tenderly and called out to Wu Yingying, who was ahead of them.

After arriving at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum alone, Ouyang Yiming noticed that Xu Hui and Li Xuan weren't around the bronze statue. He wandered around for a while, then noticed a group of people standing under a tree in the distance. In the center of the group, a woman with permed hair sat on the ground, head bowed, weeping. Beside her sat a tall, thin man in his thirties, nearly 1.8 meters tall, his face contorted with anger. Ouyang Yiming overheard a woman in her forties muttering, "They have the nerve to talk about this here? A shameless pair." She shook her head dismissively and walked away.

Then he heard the man say, "I've never seen anyone as shameless as you. You dumped the child at home to find some random man, and you've been gone for days. You better tell me clearly today, who is that man? I'll fucking kill him!" The woman just kept crying. The man said, "You're such a slut! You said you forgave me last year for being with that guy, you said you'd change, you said you'd live a good life with me. And now, less than a year later, you've hooked up with another one. You're a fucking bitch, always going around like a slut!" The woman whispered back, "Your mother's the bitch."

The tall, thin man kicked the woman's butt, pointing at her and cursing, "If you argue with me again, I'll fucking kill you right now." The woman suddenly raised her head and said, "Go ahead and kill me!

You're not human if you don't kill me today!" The tall, thin man glared and kicked her again. The woman with the perm jumped up and cursed, "Go ahead and hit me, you're not human if you don't kill me today!"

The tall, thin man was about to step forward when a man in his forties grabbed him and said, "Brother, don't be so impulsive. Let's talk about this at home. Look at all these people watching, it's not a good situation."

The tall, thin man said, "You don't know, brother, this rotten woman is shameless. Ever since I married her, she's been with countless men." The man in his forties shook his head and said, "Calm down, brother."

At this moment, a woman in her fifties said to the tall, thin man, "Young man, how can you say such things here? It's so embarrassing. Calm down and talk about it at home." The tall, thin man said, "Who in our area doesn't know she's shameless? I've already lost all face." The woman with the perm said, "Everyone knows I'm shameless, and that's all I am. Why the hell don't you divorce me?" The tall, thin man said, "I just won't divorce you, let you worry about it." The woman with the perm said, "Then don't even think about stopping me from finding another man. You're useless, but I can't find a useful man!"

The tall, thin man's face instantly turned red, and he said, "Who the hell are you calling useless? You..." The woman with the perm said, "If you were useful, would I still be able to find another man? Tell me, besides when we first got married, have you ever been able to get an erection in all these years?" The group of people burst into laughter. Just as the man was about to strike the woman again, a loud shout rang out: "Don't move!"

Ouyang Yiming looked in the direction of the voice and saw two policemen enter from outside the crowd. They stopped and said, "Both of you, come with us to the duty room." The tall, thin man and the woman with the perm obediently followed the police. The crowd dispersed. Then, a voice mimicking the woman's voice said, "Have you ever gotten an erection all these years?" The departing crowd burst into laughter again. Ouyang Yiming shook his head.

Ouyang Yiming walked towards the bronze statue and saw Xu Hui and Li Xuan standing there in the distance. As he approached, Li Xuan saw him first and said, "So, Xu Hui suddenly said she wanted to come here for a visit today. It turns out you two were on a date and dragged me along as a third wheel." Ouyang Yiming smiled awkwardly. Xu Hui blushed and said, "Who knew he was here too?" Li Xuan laughed loudly, "Don't lie to his face! How could anyone know?" Both Xu Hui and Ouyang Yiming's faces turned red.

Ouyang Yiming thought to himself, "Li Xuan seems so cute and smart, how could she do something so silly?"

Xu Hui turned and went to the photo booth next door to buy a roll of film. She asked the clerk to load it, grabbed her camera, and, arm in arm with Li Xuan, the three of them walked towards the archway. They stopped in the square in front of the archway. Xu Hui asked Ouyang Yiming to take a picture of the two of them together, and then asked a tourist to take a picture of the three of them. Li Xuan said, "I'll take a picture of you two." Ouyang Yiming hurriedly waved his hand, about to leave, but Xu Hui grabbed him.

Li Xuan laughed. Looking at them through the photo frame, she saw Ouyang Yiming looking uncomfortable. She looked up and said, "Ouyang, why do you look like that? It's like someone's missing a few 'penises'! In this happy moment, your expression should be bright, sunny, and sweet." Xu Hui turned to look at him. Ouyang Yiming was amused by Li Xuan's words, his face flushed as he grinned foolishly. Xu Hui turned back and said,

"You silly girl, stop joking, okay?" Li Xuan laughed and said, "Xu Hui, you two should move closer. I think you should hold Ouyang's arm." Xu Hui blushed and glanced at Ouyang Yiming, seeing his face was completely red. She then said to Li Xuan, "Hurry up." Li Xuan focused and pressed the shutter. Ouyang Yiming felt himself sweating at that moment.

The three of them continued up the steps, taking pictures at every platform. Ouyang Yiming was preoccupied, and seeing Xu Hui and Li Xuan chatting and laughing as if nothing was wrong, he quietly tugged at Xu Hui. Xu Hui understood. She whispered, "Wait a little while, we need to wait for the right time." Ouyang Yiming didn't say anything more.

After climbing all 392 stone steps and passing through 8 platforms, they returned, but Xu Hui still hadn't mentioned the issue to Li Xuan. Ouyang Yiming couldn't help but feel anxious. He looked at her questioningly. Li Xuan, however, had seen everything clearly. She smiled and said, "You two have something to do, right? I'll excuse myself." She turned to leave, but Xu Hui stopped her, saying, "No." She smiled at Ouyang Yiming and said, "Li Xuan and I are going to the restroom. Why don't you go down first and wait for us at the music stage?" She handed him the camera as she spoke. Ouyang Yiming understood and turned to leave.

He found a secluded spot on the lawn by the music stage and sat down, wondering how Xu Hui should tell Li Xuan about this, and whether Li Xuan would tell Xu Hui the truth. Were Li Xuan and Gao Peng truly sincere?

About ten minutes later, Xu Hui and Li Xuan returned. Xu Hui handed him a bottle of soda. Ouyang Yiming looked at her questioningly, and Xu Hui gently shook her head. Ouyang Yiming grew anxious. He glanced at Li Xuan, walked up to Xu Hui, pulled her aside, and asked, "What did she say?" Xu Hui replied, "I asked her, and she insisted she wasn't dating." Ouyang Yiming asked, "How did you ask her?"

Xu Hui said, "I subtly asked her if she had a crush, if she was dating. She said no." Ouyang Yiming asked, "Didn't you mention I saw it?" Xu Hui glared at him and said, "Are you stupid? How could you ask someone like that? What if you really saw it wrong? How could you take it back after asking her like that?" She continued, "This is what I told her: I heard from others that you're dating, why are you hiding it from me? She asked who told her, who I'm dating? I said, I heard it's someone from our school..." . She said there was no such thing.

Ouyang Yiming frowned and thought for a moment and said: "Since I said it, I came here specifically for this matter today, why are you still caring about Gu Na?" It doesn't matter if you just mention the senior administrator. Xu Hui said: "In case you are wrong, Li Xuan has nothing to do with him. Isn't this just burying her?" I still suspect that you are wrong. Ouyang Yiming said: "I am absolutely right." Hey, did you ask her what she did last night? Xu Hui frowned and said, "Yes, why didn't I think of asking her like this?"

Ouyang Yiming waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let me ask." " Turning around to leave, Xu Hui stopped him and said, "Look at you, you are so excited, don't do the opposite. "Ouyang Yiming looked at her and walked towards Li Xuan without saying anything.

Sea of Love (21)

Chapter 19

The two walked over, Xu Hui sat down next to Li Xuan, took a sip of soda and pretended to be relaxed and smiled and said: "I'm really tired after walking up and down these steps.

Li Xuan said "Oh" expressionlessly. He lowered his head, thought for a moment, then looked up at them and asked, "Just tell me straight, is there something you want to ask me today?"

Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui exchanged glances. Xu Hui couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, secretly blaming Ouyang Yiming for being nosy. Now it seemed that Li Xuan might have some thoughts on her mind.

Ouyang Yiming also sensed that Li Xuan's words and expression were somewhat displeased, and for a moment his own expression became unnatural.

Ouyang Yiming looked at Li Xuan and said, "Yes, there's something." Li Xuan said, "I knew what you wanted to ask me, but don't ask yet. I'm asking you, did you hear some rumors about me?" Ouyang Yiming said, "It wasn't just hearsay, I saw it with my own eyes. We... we just find it a bit unbelievable. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

Li Xuan stared wide-eyed in astonishment, her mouth slightly agape for a moment, before urgently asking, "What did you see? Where? What did you see?"

Ouyang Yiming blushed and stammered, "Last night..."

Xu Hui glanced at Ouyang Yiming and interjected, "We... we were just saying... you're our good friend. Ouyang is... he's doing this for your own good."

Seeing their expressions and hearing their tone, Li Xuan realized she had been too nervous and that her words might have been misunderstood. She felt a little guilty and... Li Xuan said, "I'm sorry, I was also surprised. I didn't mean anything by it. I know you two are doing this for my own good, otherwise you wouldn't have asked me this."

Xu Hui said, "Yes, you know Ouyang, and you know me. We've always considered you our best friend, so Ouyang has been worried ever since he saw it last night."

Li Xuan nodded and remained silent for a while, then said with a dark face, "I was afraid that this would be found out sooner or later. I've been very careful, but still..." Xu Hui said, "Only Ouyang saw it, and he only told me. He wanted to discuss it with me. He was afraid you'd been deceived."

Li Xuan's eyes reddened, and tears welled up instantly. Looking at Ouyang Yiming, she said, "Thank you, I know you're doing this for my own good." After saying that, she lowered her head and buried it deeply between her legs, sobbing.

Xu Hui put her arm around Li Xuan's shoulder and asked, "What exactly happened?" Seeing Li Xuan so upset, Ouyang Yiming was even more convinced that she had been deceived by Gao Peng. He was furious and asked, "Just tell me what happened. He bullied you, and we classmates won't let him get away with it. We have the school and the organization, we can deal with him."

Li Xuan sobbed, "Ouyang, it's not what you think, no, he didn't bully me."

Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui looked at each other in confusion again. Xu Hui asked, "Then you... love him?" Li Xuan gently shook her head and said, "No, I don't love him."

Now Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui were truly bewildered.

Ouyang Yiming said, "What you're saying is incomprehensible." Xu Hui gave Ouyang Yiming a wink and said to Li Xuan, "Calm down." She tapped the soda bottle against Li Xuan's leg and said, "Drink some water. Tell me what's wrong. We're such good friends, Ouyang and I will do our best to help you if we can."

Li Xuan stopped crying, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, took a sip of soda, and said calmly, "Thank you both, I'm truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. But you can't help me. Nobody can help me. I can only rely on myself."

Xu Hui looked at Ouyang Yiming and shook her head, then turned to Li Xuan and said, "If it's hard to say, then don't say it."

Li Xuan sighed softly and said, "I've already told you both. Do you think I don't know that you're genuinely trying to help me?" "Ah. I didn't want to tell anyone about this.

But now I can't hide it from you two. When Xu Hui asked me about it upstairs, I felt you probably already knew. I haven't told you because I said I had something difficult to say."

Li Xuan stared blankly at the ground in front of her and said, "Let me tell you about my family first. After you hear it, you might understand my actions." She took a sip of her soda and said, "You know I'm from the countryside. We were poor, very poor. That kind of life is unimaginable for you city kids. There are five of us siblings, and I'm the fourth oldest. My father has chronic bronchitis. Ever since I was born, I've seen him constantly on his medicine cabinet. We didn't have money to buy medicine for him, so the Chinese medicine he took was all gathered by my mother from the mountains."

“My mother was stubborn, and she supported our family of seven on her own. Without any able-bodied workers, we couldn't get many work points from the production team. So our family was even poorer than other families.

I remember I never had enough to eat growing up. Even though my mother always tried to find wild vegetables and tree leaves to mix with coarse grains, it still wasn't enough to fill the stomachs of all seven of us. My two older brothers were growing up, and they ate a lot. Moreover, the old custom of male superiority over females was still very serious in the countryside, so my mother would show favoritism and try to give them more food.”

“One year, I remember I wasn’t in school, maybe when I was eight years old, one of our family’s laying hens died of fowl plague. That was our family’s only source of income, which we could exchange for salt. My mother cried, but I was quite happy, thinking that we could finally eat meat. Later, my mother plucked the chicken and roasted it for us to eat. You don’t know, for families like ours, we could only eat a little meat during festivals each year, and what we bought was mostly fatty meat. We had to render the fat into oil before we could eat the cracklings. There was only a tiny bit of lean meat, and even that was considered a delicacy by us.”

"That day, the chicken was in the pot, and we kids leaned against the kitchen doorway, drooling. It smelled so good, I still remember it vividly. When the chicken was cooked, the whole family sat at the table watching. My mother felt sorry for the chicken and cried, refusing to touch it. None of us dared to eat until she said, 'Eat,' and only then did my siblings and I dare to pick up our chopsticks. We were young and ignorant, so we fought over the food. My parents ate very little. After we finished eating that day, I saw my mother picking up the bones we had left and gnawing on them. I will never forget that scene."

"When my eldest brother reached school age, my mother sent him to school. But he wasn't cut out for school; he didn't want to go anymore after fourth grade. Strangely enough, even though we never had enough to eat, he grew very tall. After dropping out of school, he worked in the production team and earned work points. This made our family's situation a little better."

"My second brother was honest. When it was time for him to go to school, Mom sent him. He had good grades and studied hard. But after graduating from elementary school, he absolutely refused to go back. Back then, you know, everyone said that going to school was useless. My second brother matured early and felt that continuing to go to school wouldn't change anything. Seeing that my eldest brother could earn work points for the family and ease the burden, he also refused to go to school and went to work in the production team."

"When it was my sister's turn to go to school, Mom wouldn't let her go, saying that it was useless for girls to go to school, so my sister stayed home and did housework. When I was in high school, my sister married the son of the brigade secretary of our neighboring village. My brother-in-law was a cripple, a sequela of polio he had as a child. You haven't seen my sister; she's much prettier than me. But my brother-in-law's father was the brigade secretary, and his family was well-off. Even though my sister was unwilling, she still married him. Now she has two children."

“When it was time for me to go to school, my mother wouldn’t let me. But when I saw all the kids I played with going to school, I wanted to go too. But my mother just wouldn’t let me, and there was nothing I could do. Everyone in our family was afraid of my mother. That year, my mother wanted to borrow a piglet to feed. She went to the family that had piglets, but they thought we were too poor to lend us any.”

"A few days later, there was a funeral in our village, and the whole village went to drink the funeral wine. That's how people in the countryside are; you have to go when there's a funeral, otherwise people won't come if something happens to their own family. Who doesn't need help when someone dies? That day, my mother took me there. We sat at the same table with the man who sold piglets on credit. He offered my mother some wine, but she had never drunk alcohol before and refused. The man jokingly said, 'If you can drink a bowl of wine, I'll give you a pig on credit.' We drink wine in bowls, and a full bowl weighs about a pound. My mother said, 'If I drink two bowls, would you give me a piglet?' The man agreed without thinking. How could he believe my mother would drink so much wine? My mother really did drink two bowls and was fine. Then she drank another bowl.

People in the countryside are still very honest and simple; they keep their word. The man had no choice but to give us the smallest piglet. That's how people know my mother can drink three pounds of wine."

"After my family started raising that pig, I would let it graze every day because I wanted to go to school and hear the sound of students reading aloud. I would sneak peeks and try to learn from the students, so I would always let it graze near the school. One day, I was so engrossed in watching and learning from the students at school that I forgot about the pig. It ran away and ate a piece of someone's sweet potato. They demanded compensation. My mother paid them half a sack of rice. That day, my mother beat me, really badly, with a tree branch; several pieces broke off. It hurt, but I didn't cry. I knew I had done wrong."

"That night, I couldn't sleep because of the pain. My mother came in, and I pretended to be asleep. She saw the marks on my body from the tree branch she had used. She cried, though not loudly, but I knew that was the saddest cry she had ever heard. I don't blame my mother."

"After Mom left, I heard her tell Dad that Xiao Si Zi wanted to study and might have the potential to go to school. None of the other children were going to school, so even the girl had to go. She said she would be sent to school the next day. I cried when I heard Mom's words, and I cried for half the night. I cried silently, because I was afraid they would hear me. But I was also happy. I could finally go to school like the other children. The next day, Mom took me to school. I still remember clearly that Mom sewed up my brother's old schoolbag for me, and I wore clothes that she usually didn't want me to wear, and the flowered jacket that my sister had outgrown and only had two patches. From that day on, I started school. I was nine years old that year, two years later than the other children. But I was more sensible than them. I loved learning because I wanted to go to school. At that time, I wasn't called Li Xuan. Li Xuan was the name my teacher gave me when I started school. Before I started school, everyone called me Xiao Si Zi."

“Back then, I didn’t have any ambitions about going to school. I just wanted to be able to go. Later, I went to middle school, which was in our town, more than 20 miles away from my home. I could only go home once a week because I had to bring a week’s worth of food to school. It was in middle school that I gradually realized that for us rural children, only going to a good school was the only way out. Only then could we have enough to eat and a good life. So I studied very hard, and later I was admitted to the county’s top middle school, and then to university.”

Li Xuan paused, looked at them and said, “Perhaps you are wondering why I am telling you these things. Because only by letting you know these things can you understand what I am doing today.”

Ouyang Yiming and Xu Hui had no idea about Li Xuan's life, even though their own childhoods hadn't been easy. Li Xuan's childhood truly shocked them. Their hearts trembled. Ouyang Yiming's eyes welled with tears. Xu Hui was already in tears. They were speechless.

Li Xuan took a sip of her soda and continued, "After getting into university, my eyes were dazzled when I first came to this metropolis. Although I went to the county's top high school, our area was underdeveloped; it wasn't even comparable to a town here. But back then, I thought our county was huge, and I dreamed of having a job there, like heaven. After coming here, I realized there were such big cities and such good schools. I secretly thought that after graduating, I would definitely stay here to work. Later, I realized that staying here wasn't entirely up to me. I might still have to go back to my hometown after graduation. To be honest, I absolutely didn't want to go back. I wanted to stay here, to stay in this big city."

"As you all know, I had no connections at school, so what good cities could I be assigned to? If I really went back to my hometown, what good jobs would I find in a county like ours? With my family background, I had no connections in the county, so what kind of job could I get? Would a good company even consider someone like me with no connections? But I could only think about it, and there was nothing I could do. I had to leave it

to fate. Sometimes I thought, no matter what, all those years of studying weren't wasted. Even if I went back, I would at least have a job and be able to eat the same grain rations as city people. At least I would have left my poor mountain village. I felt at peace."

“I met Gao Peng last year. My brother wrote to me saying that my mother was sick with a perforated stomach. The hospital said she needed surgery, which would cost more than 2,000 yuan. Good heavens, that's an astronomical figure for a family like ours. So my mother didn't want to be hospitalized because we couldn't afford the medical expenses. My brother said in his letter that he could hear my mother crying out in pain every night. After receiving the letter, I was at a loss and didn't know what to do. Thinking about how my mother has worked so hard for our family and us children all her life, I had hoped that after graduation she could enjoy a few days with me, but now, if she doesn't get treatment, she might leave me at any time, and she has to suffer so much pain. I just can't bear it.”

"That night, I went to a secluded spot by Xuanwu Lake and cried alone. It seemed destined that I would have this kind of relationship with Gao Peng. Coincidentally, Gao Peng also happened to be by the lake that day. I later learned that he was there to clear his head because he was upset about his divorce. Although I wasn't crying loudly, he still heard me. He thought I might be heartbroken and was worried I might jump into the lake, so he came over to comfort me. I didn't look up at the time and didn't know who he was. I remember him saying, 'Girl, you have to think things through.' I turned around and realized he was from our cafeteria. He looked somewhat familiar and asked if I was from the school. I didn't hide it from him and said yes. He asked which department I was in, which class, and why I was crying alone there that night. I saw that his tone was very gentle and caring, and I really wanted to confide in someone, so I told him everything." "After I told him, he thought for a while and said to me, 'Don't be sad, I'll help you with your mother's medical expenses.' Do you know how I felt when I heard that? I thought my mother was saved; he was her savior! But then I thought, we're not related, how could I use his money? So I refused. He said, 'Saving your mother's life is the most important thing. Consider this money a loan; you can pay me back when you have it.' I insisted on not doing it. He said, 'How about this, I'll give you the money, and you give me an IOU.' I thought to myself, my mother's life is the most important thing; I'll find a way to pay him back later. So I agreed." "

The next day, I went to his office, got the money, gave him an IOU, and sent the money home. My mother's condition was very stable after the surgery. So I'm truly grateful to him; he saved my mother's life." "

Ouyang Yiming thought to himself, 'Could I really be with him just for this money, just for this gratitude? Can this be love?' But he remained silent.

Li Xuan continued, 'That's how we became acquainted. I also learned about him and his wife. You might find it a bit legendary. If this hadn't happened to me, I would have felt the same way. However, for a long time, we didn't have the relationship we have now, and he never made any unreasonable demands. Until one day, during a casual conversation, I mentioned that I hoped to stay in this city. He said he might have a way. I didn't believe him. A few days later, he took me to the house of one of his relatives, saying it was his uncle's son who worked at the Municipal Personnel Bureau. He told his cousin about my desire to stay in the city, and his cousin said it wasn't difficult and that he could help. He even said that having a fiancé here would make it even easier. Later, I thought Gao Peng might have been scheming; he might have already told his cousin about me. That's why his cousin said those things. After returning, I secretly inquired and found out it was true, and only then did I believe it.'" Later, he brought up the topic of dating. I really couldn't accept him at the time, but then I thought about it, and although he was about ten years older than me, he had a really good heart, and he could help me stay here, so I agreed. But I demanded that he could only marry me after I had a job arranged for him. "

You don't know how attractive this city is to a kid from the mountains. I know there's no love between us, to be honest, I can't love him.

But for a country kid like me to stay here, I have to pay a price. I know that better than anyone. I think being able to stay here is just the beginning, and I will achieve my higher goals in the future. I want to help my two older brothers get married, I want to bring my mother to this city to enjoy a better life, I want to support my younger brother's university education. I also want to..."

He hesitated for a moment and continued, "There are some things that are not appropriate to say now. Maybe I still have a lot of ambitions. That's why I'm with him. You may not understand, but I have to do this. Even though I don't love him, I have to do it, not only for myself, but also for my family. I envy you, but I can't compare to you." I thought no one would know about him and me before graduation. Last night he asked me to go out to dinner, and I didn't want to go, but I couldn't persuade him, and then Ouyang found out. "

Ouyang Yiming said, "Why didn't you tell our classmates or the school when your mother was sick?" He then regretted his words. Li Xuan made it clear that she did this to fulfill her wish.

Li Xuan smiled bitterly and said, "You all know my personality. I usually seem cheerful, but I'm suffering inside. I don't want others to know. Besides, my classmates and the school helped me with my mother's surgery, and I owe so many favors. Who can help me stay in this city? I know your intentions, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I understand your meaning, but I can't go against my plan."

"After hearing this, you will definitely think my behavior is despicable. Yes, this is not a thought or behavior that can be exposed to the public. If my thoughts and actions spread in the school, I think it might cause a sensation or a heated debate among the students." "Then I'll be the center of attention at school. I might end up being scorned by everyone. You'll say I'm using him, and yes, I don't deny that's what I think. Ask yourself, a girl with years of higher education wants to be with a man she doesn't love, and only agrees to marry him after achieving her goal—what is that if not using him? But conversely, isn't he using me too? His ultimate goal is to get me, to get a girl more than ten years younger than him, to get a college graduate as his wife. He gets not only the body of a virgin, but also the prestige of having a college graduate as his wife. He can even brag about it to his ex-wife and friends. He'll be satisfied. So, we're mutually using each other; that's an undeniable fact."

Xu Hui blushed after hearing Li Xuan's words.

Li Xuan said, "I've never experienced true love between men and women my own age. I've never had that experience. Although I've longed for it, this beautiful feeling that every young girl yearns for hasn't come my way, so I've never had the chance to experience it. Now I'm with him, and I plan to live with him in the future. I don't love him, but I want to live with him—what is that if not using him? I also believe that couples who live together comfortably in a loveless marriage are all using each other. The only difference is the purpose of the use.

For example, the most primitive use is to enjoy each other's bodies to satisfy their own instinctive needs. Of course, there are many other forms of use. You might..." "I'm wondering, is this the kind of thinking a college student should have? I also think it shouldn't. People with higher education shouldn't just be materialistic; they should have lofty spiritual pursuits. And how I wish I could! But reality doesn't allow me to think about these things, fate doesn't allow me to pursue them. I am insignificant, and I'm not afraid you two will laugh at me, and I don't think you two will either. But others who know my thoughts and actions will laugh at me, ridicule me, and even criticize me. So I hope you'll keep this a secret from me."

Xu Hui hurriedly said, "Don't worry, this will never leak out of our mouths." She now truly regretted that she and Ouyang Yiming knew about Li Xuan's affairs.

Ouyang Yiming was genuinely shocked by Li Xuan's thoughts and actions. They couldn't believe that the seemingly weak Li Xuan harbored such complex and unexpected thoughts. Although he didn't agree with her ideas and beliefs, he couldn't refute them either.

Xu Hui sighed softly and shook her head.

Ouyang Yiming glanced at Xu Hui, then sighed helplessly and lowered his head in thought.

Li Xuan said, "Gao Peng is a very good person, kind-hearted and honest. I asked him later why he thought of borrowing money for my mother's medical treatment. He said he lost his mother when he was very young and envied children who had mothers. He said he felt sorry for me at the time and was moved by my crying for my mother. He said we were in the same school and he didn't think too much about it. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and he's just an ordinary person. Although I don't love him, I think I can still accept him."

Xu Hui said, "Actually, Ouyang and I initially thought you would be deceived by him. We didn't expect you to have such a background and mindset. You know Ouyang, and he was afraid you would go astray and ruin your future. He was very worried about you. He said he didn't want to ask you directly, so he discussed it with me. This morning, I didn't know what to say, so I invited you here. We thought we couldn't ignore you since we have such a good relationship. Now, we can't comment on your thoughts and actions, and we won't interfere. Everyone has their own ambitions and plans. We just hope..." "I hope you can be happy. I wouldn't dare say perfect, but at least you should be joyful. We understand that you don't want others to know, and please believe us we will never tell anyone. However, since you don't want others to know, you should be more careful in the future, otherwise, others might see it and spread it. Don't you think so?"

Li Xuan nodded and said, "I will. Xu Hui, no matter whether this gets out or not, I will never doubt that you two told anyone. I know your personalities and character well. Okay, let's leave it at that. I won't say thank you, but I will remember your kindness to me."

Xu Hui said, "What's there to thank? I just hope you can treat us as close friends in the future. If you have any difficulties that are hard to solve, just tell us, and we'll do our best. It wouldn't be in vain that we've been classmates, right?"

Li Xuan's eyes welled up with tears again, and she nodded and said, "I will." Then she looked at them, smiling, and said, "I really envy you two. I sincerely wish you happiness and fulfillment."

Xu Hui glanced at Ouyang Yiming and smiled shyly. Ouyang Yiming's heart skipped a beat. ( Chapter 20 of

"Love and Desire" - Part 22) Although it was still early, none of the three were in the mood to play anymore. On the bus back, Ouyang Yiming thought he couldn't go back to school with Xu Hui and Li Xuan, otherwise his classmates would gossip. So he told Xu Hui and Li Xuan that he was going to Fan Xurui's place at the medical university. Xu Hui glanced at Ouyang Yiming and whispered, "Going drinking again? You're almost as good as Jiang Yuqi." Ouyang Yiming blushed and smiled. After getting off at Xinjiekou and transferring, Ouyang Yiming sat on the bus, looking out the window, still thinking about Li Xuan, and sighing inwardly. He thought that although Li Xuan had her reasons for doing this, he absolutely did not approve of it. A college student from a prestigious university, willing to marry a divorced man more than ten years her senior, and a man she didn't love, just to stay in this city—it was too unfair. Wasn't she playing with her life? Could such a marriage last? He knew that neither he nor Xu Hui could say anything more to Li Xuan; Li Xuan had made up her mind. Given Li Xuan's thoughts, he had no reason to persuade her. Everyone has their own way of living, and no one can impose their own ideas on others. He secretly felt ridiculous for worrying about Li Xuan since last night, and regretted letting Li Xuan know he had seen him and Gao Peng. If he had known Li Xuan's true thoughts earlier, he wouldn't have worried and been anxious for so long. Suddenly, he remembered Li Xuan's last words about him and Xu Hui, and his heart became uneasy again. At that moment, he was nudged and turned around to see a woman in her thirties sitting next to him. She looked familiar. The woman blushed and looked at him softly, asking, "Don't you recognize me?" Ouyang Yiming searched his memory and shook his head, feeling flustered. The woman leaned closer and whispered, "In the movie theater..." Ouyang Yiming's mind went blank; in an instant, he knew this woman was the one he had done that thing with that day. He was so startled he stopped breathing, then blushed, his heart pounded, and he lowered his head, trembling with nervousness. He hadn't really looked at the woman's face closely in the movie theater that day, so when he saw her again, she just looked familiar, but he didn't recognize her. The woman said, "I saw you as soon as I got on the bus, and after thinking about it, it was you! We're really destined to meet. Where are you going?" Ouyang Yiming didn't dare look at her, and said in a trembling voice, "I... I'm going to a friend's." The woman asked, "Going to run errands?" Ouyang Yiming said, "No, no, I'm going... going to have some fun." He regretted saying it as soon as he finished. The woman said "Oh," and didn't speak for a while. Ouyang Yiming timidly glanced at her and saw that her face was also red, and she was looking down, thinking about something. The woman said, "I'm getting off at the next stop. Can you get off with me?" Ouyang Yiming trembled with shock, turning to look at her and asking, "What...what do you want?" The woman didn't look at him, saying, "Do you think I'd eat you? I just want to talk to you." Ouyang Yiming hurriedly said, "I...I have something to do, I...I have something to do." The woman said, "Didn't you say you were going to have fun? Be good." Hearing her emphasize the word "be good," Ouyang Yiming's heart pounded again. His heart was pounding wildly. He was flustered and couldn't speak. A moment later, the bus pulled into the station, and the woman said, "We're here. Get off." Ouyang Yiming glanced at her, stood up with her, and obediently followed her off the bus like prey in this woman's hands. The woman walked beside him and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person, what are you afraid of? I just want to talk to you." Ouyang Yiming looked at her timidly and said, "I really have something to do." The woman said, "Are you on a date with your girlfriend?" Ouyang Yiming said, "No, no, it's a man." The woman turned to look at him and asked, "What is it?" Ouyang Yiming couldn't come up with a lie for a moment, so he stammered, "I-I just...I have something to do." The woman laughed and said, "You can't even lie properly. It seems you don't have anything urgent. Listen to me, just talk to me. Don't you think we're destined to meet? It's such a coincidence that we sat together in the movie theater and even bumped into each other on the bus. It's really not easy in such a big city. Heaven arranged for us to be friends." Ouyang Yiming felt very scared at this moment and said in a trembling voice, "Sister, I...I really have something to do." The woman turned to look at him and said, "I don't want to say anything here on the street. Why don't you come and talk to me for a while?" Ouyang Yiming heard that her voice was low but her tone was heavy, so he didn't dare to speak anymore.

After walking for a while, they entered an alley. The woman said, "Don't be afraid, really. Do I look like a bad person? To tell you the truth, I'm from Shanghai. I was assigned to work here after graduating from university. My husband is a seaman for a shipping company; he doesn't work in this city. I'm also an intellectual, but I don't want to tell you exactly where I work right now, and I won't ask where you work. I just feel we're destined to meet, and I wanted to talk to you. Don't worry, I absolutely won't hurt you."

Ouyang Yiming said with a bitter face, "But aren't you forcing me like this?" The woman blushed. She frowned, looked at him, and said, "What did I force you to do? You're much taller than me, what am I supposed to do with you? To be honest, I really like you. Last time we met at the movie theater, I liked you at first sight, so that's why..." She paused and said, "Don't think of me as a promiscuous woman, that was my first time too." Ouyang Yiming said, "Then where are you taking me?" The woman said, "To my house for a bit."

Ouyang Yiming paused, his mind filled with the woman's words at the movie theater that she was taking him to her house. He felt a tingling sensation and a great deal of fear. The woman stopped and asked, "What's wrong?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I...I'm going...why am I going to your house?" The woman blushed and said, "Didn't we say we were just going to talk? Let's go, look, someone's coming over there, we'll arouse suspicion if we do this." Ouyang Yiming glanced at the two people walking towards him and then took another step. The woman said, "We'll be there soon. When you meet someone you know, I'll say you're my cousin. Just act naturally, don't arouse suspicion."

She then entered a residential area, and without seeing anyone speak to her, she went into a building. On the third floor, the woman took out her key, opened a door, and said, "This is my home. The house across the street is usually empty, so no one will see us." She then went inside and closed the door. Ouyang Yiming instantly felt a loss of freedom.

He looked around the apartment. It was a two-bedroom unit, extremely clean. The living room had a pair of single sofas and a three-seater sofa. Opposite the single sofas was a low cabinet with a color television covered by a white gauze cloth. A square table stood against one wall. A refrigerator stood in one corner. Several framed landscape paintings hung on the wall.

The woman asked Ouyang Yiming to sit on the sofa and said, "Would you like to watch TV?" Ouyang Yiming shook his head. The woman smiled and said, "I'll make you a bowl of water chestnut noodles."

Ouyang Yiming said, "I...I don't want any. Let's talk for a bit, I...I have to go back." The woman smiled at him and said, "Sit here for a while." She turned and went into the kitchen. A moment later, she brought out two bowls of water chestnut noodles and placed them on the coffee table in front of him. She sat down beside him and said

, "Eat up, don't be shy." Ouyang Yiming glanced at her but didn't dare touch them. The woman picked up a spoon, took a spoonful, and then turned to look at him, saying, "Why aren't you eating?" Ouyang Yiming looked at her as she picked up her bowl. The woman ate while asking, "Are you twenty-three this year?" Ouyang Yiming hummed in response. The woman said, "At your age, you really haven't been in a relationship?" Ouyang Yiming shook his head. The woman said, "I don't believe it at all. How could someone as handsome as you not have?!" Ouyang Yiming didn't speak. The woman said, "Last time I saw you like that in the movie theater, I really believed you hadn't done 'that' with a woman."

Ouyang Yiming shuddered and said, "I really haven't." The woman smiled.

Ouyang Yiming's heart skipped a beat when she brought up the topic, and that inexplicable feeling returned, making his body feel hot. He glanced at the woman and asked, "Do you live alone in this house?"

The woman replied, "My mother and daughter live here too. A few days ago, my father wasn't feeling well, so my mother took my daughter back to Shanghai." Ouyang Yiming's heart pounded, thinking that something was bound to happen between him and this daughter today. He turned to her and asked, "How old are you this year?" The woman looked at him and asked, "How old do you think I am?" Ouyang Yiming said, "You're probably thirty, right?" The woman said, "To be honest, I'm twenty-eight years old this year." Ouyang Yiming didn't say anything. The woman asked, "Do I look old?" Ouyang Yiming looked at her and said, "No."

After finishing her meal, the woman picked up her bowl and went into the kitchen. A while later, she came out and sat down next to Ouyang Yiming, looking at him and asking, "Are you upset with me?" Ouyang Yiming frowned and said, "You brought me to your house like this, I... I'm not very comfortable." A strange expression appeared on the woman's face. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "I also feel this isn't right, but would you have come with me if I hadn't?" Ouyang Yiming's heart pounded. He lowered his head and said, "Why did you bring me here?" The woman blushed and said, "I..." "I just wanted to talk to you. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to forget you since I last saw you. But don't worry, I won't fall in love with you, I just like you. I love my husband, and I won't give that love to anyone else."

Ouyang Yiming was a little confused and looked at her with puzzlement, asking, "Then why did you bring me to your house like this? Last time you even..." The woman said, "This has nothing to do with love. I just like you. My husband and I were classmates in high school, and we fell in love in high school. I won't give you the same love I have for him." Ouyang Yiming became more and more confused, glanced at her, and lowered his head. He felt somewhat comforted, and his tense mood gradually eased.

The woman said, “You might not understand, but I know what I'm doing. Don’t worry, you’re several years younger than me. No matter how outstanding or dashing you are, I have no intention of marrying you. You have your own happiness, and you may have someone else you love. I won’t interfere with you, and I won’t be jealous. Let me say it again, I love my husband, I love him very much.”

Ouyang Yiming was surprised: If she kept saying she loved her husband, why would she betray him and use such threatening means to bring him to her house? He knew what this woman wanted from him. But he couldn’t refuse; he was timid, intimidated by the woman’s words and tone. But he couldn’t deny that he still harbored a faint longing. This longing was unspeakable, involuntary. The woman

tilted her head to look at him, and Ouyang Yiming dared not meet her gaze. The woman asked, “Do you know why I like you?” Ouyang Yiming shook his head. The woman said, "You resemble my husband in some ways. I noticed you the first time I saw you in the movie theater." Ouyang Yiming looked at her. The woman said, "Your cheeks and chin are very similar to his. But he's not as handsome as you."

Ouyang Yiming remained silent. The woman asked, "Would you like to see him?" Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and shook his head.

The woman stood up, took Ouyang Yiming's hand, and said, "Come on, I'll show you his picture." Ouyang Yiming's heart trembled when the woman took his hand. Yet, he unconsciously stood up with her. The woman led him by the hand to the door of a room.

This was the woman's bedroom. Ouyang Yiming hesitated at the door. The woman turned her head and looked at him, saying, "What's wrong? Come in." Ouyang Yiming went in and saw a large brown bed in the center of the room. The thin quilt on the bed was neatly folded, and the pink sheets were without a single wrinkle. Two simple pillows covered with elegant pillowcases were placed side by side at the head of the bed. A row of wardrobes stood against one wall, and a small bookcase stood against the other, next to which was a small table. Above the bed hung a plaque with an oil painting of a foreign nude woman.

The woman pulled him to the table, picked up a small framed picture, and said, "Look, this is my husband." Ouyang Yiming glanced at it and saw that the man in the photo was quite handsome. Suddenly, he felt a sense of fear and turned away, saying, "Why are you making me look at him?" The woman paused, then smiled, put the frame down, and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't consider your feelings. Okay, I won't look at him." As soon as she finished speaking, she hugged Ouyang Yiming tightly. Ouyang Yiming struggled and said, "This...this isn't right." The woman looked up at him and said, "I love you," and then pressed her lips to his. Ouyang Yiming responded after a moment.

After a brief kiss, the woman, panting, looked up at him, her face flushed, and asked, "You've really never done it with a woman before?" Ouyang Yiming shook his head. The woman said, "I still don't quite believe it." Ouyang Yiming said, "Really, no." The woman's hand reached down. Ouyang Yiming's body trembled again. He knew in his heart that this time it wouldn't be just a touch like in the movie theater last time; it would definitely develop into actual sex. But at this moment, he couldn't control himself.

The woman's hand lingered under his crotch for a while, then she sucked on Ouyang Yiming's tongue. She pulled away, her face flushed, and looked up at him, saying, "It's hard." Ouyang Yiming didn't answer. The woman asked:
"Do you want to?" Ouyang Yiming closed his eyes. The woman bent down to unbuckle Ouyang Yiming's belt, pulling down his trousers. Ouyang Yiming's penis sprang out, head held high. The woman let out a soft "Ah," grabbed it, looked down for a moment, then released it, standing up and unbuttoning Ouyang Yiming's shirt, removing it piece by piece until Ouyang Yiming's strong, naked body was exposed before her. The woman

raised her hand and gently stroked Ouyang Yiming's chest, softly saying, "Let's go to the bed." Ouyang Yiming was pushed to sit on the edge of the bed by her. The woman bent down, pulled off his trousers, got up, and pushed him onto the bed, quickly stripping off her own clothes. A fair, tender body came into Ouyang Yiming's view. He wanted to close his eyes, but he couldn't resist the temptation of the woman's beautiful, naked body; he couldn't help but look.

He saw her pair of still firm, white breasts; he saw her peanut-sized nipples and the rosy areolas; he saw her smooth, delicate abdomen; he saw her sparse breasts; he saw her slightly protruding area… All of this filled Ouyang Yiming with a sense of novelty and excitement. His body began to tremble slightly… The woman climbed onto the bed and sat down beside Ouyang Yiming, her hands caressing his erection, her two plump breasts swaying before his eyes. After a moment, she reached out and pulled one of Ouyang Yiming's hands to her crotch. Ouyang Yiming felt that area was already wet.

His mind was already clouded, and the moment he touched that territory, he inserted a finger. The woman made an "oh" sound, then suddenly leaned down and took his erection into her mouth. Ouyang Yiming gasped in surprise, instantly feeling an unprecedented tingling and pleasurable sensation… Then the woman lay down beside him, still holding Ouyang Yiming's erection in her hand. After a few moments of heavy breathing, she sprang up, straddling Ouyang Yiming's body, and, still holding his erection, inserted it into her own body, moaning as she thrust… Ouyang Yiming felt a powerful shock as the woman inserted his erection into her warm, lubricated body. He couldn't help but reach out and tightly embrace the woman's slender waist, cooperating with her movements. The woman's eyes were tightly closed, her face showing a pleasurable pain, her slightly open mouth emitting alluring moans. These beautiful moans grew louder, accompanied by even more intense thrusting from the woman. Ouyang Yiming lost control amidst these sounds and movements, his body suddenly trembling violently as he ejaculated… At this moment, the woman opened her eyes, staring intently at Ouyang Yiming's face, then suddenly cried out a few times, her body trembling as she stopped moving. Ouyang Yiming felt his still-erect penis enveloped by a warm body that tightened and loosened. After a while, the woman's throbbing gradually subsided. The woman lay on top of him, breathing heavily, then got off, took a roll of toilet paper from the bedside table, tore off some to wipe herself, then cleaned Ouyang Yiming's genitals, before lying down and nestling against his chest. Ouyang Yiming held her tightly, and the two remained silent for a long time.

Finally, the woman spoke: "Was it comfortable?" Ouyang Yiming nodded. The woman stroked his chest with her delicate, white hand and said, "You're amazing!" Ouyang Yiming didn't reply.

The woman asked, "Is this really your first time?" Ouyang Yiming replied, "Yes, it is." The woman said, "You're really amazing. I haven't enjoyed this in a long time." Ouyang Yiming said, "I never imagined I'd do this with you, with a complete stranger." The woman said, "It's fate, isn't it? I won't lie to you, besides my husband, you're my first man."

Ouyang Yiming looked at her, clearly not believing her.

The woman said, "I'm telling the truth. Do I look like the kind of promiscuous woman?"

Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "You really can't tell from your appearance, but... but why did you want to be with me?"

The woman smiled and said, "Don't you think it's fate? I don't know why, but the first time I met you at the movie theater, I really wanted to sleep with you. I couldn't resist that time, and I did that with you. I was a little scared afterward. I don't understand why I did that with you. I haven't forgotten you since then. I thought I would never see you again, but I didn't expect it to happen like this today. Have you thought about me?"

Ouyang Yiming said, "I have thought about what we did. To be honest, I don't remember your face." The woman said, "Is that so? Okay, now look closely, I hope you can remember me." As she spoke, the woman sat up.

Only then did Ouyang Yiming lean forward, intentionally observing this woman more closely.

The woman had fair, smooth skin, large, bright eyes, and small glasses perched on her nose. Her eyebrows were thin and curved, her eyes were long with beautifully folded double eyelids, and her nose was high and straight, curving slightly at the tip. Her lips were slightly full, and her small, round mouth revealed two rows of neat, white teeth. Her hair was jet black, cascading down her slender neck. She had thin shoulders, and her breasts, though not large, were firm. Between her breasts was a small, black mole.

Ouyang Yiming couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart; this woman was indeed beautiful.

The woman smiled slightly and asked, "Did you see clearly? Did you remember?" Ouyang Yiming blushed slightly.

The woman lay down and said, "No wonder, you didn't dare look at me much that day. You were even more nervous looking at me today. How was I? Did I do well?" Ouyang Yiming said, "I just don't understand."

The woman asked, "You don't understand why I'm so bold with you, or rather, you might think I'm promiscuous." Ouyang Yiming said, "What you and I did has nothing to do with your appearance. You seem to be a very elegant and cultured woman."

The woman blushed and said, "Yes, many people at work think that way about me. I'm very ladylike and proper in front of them. No one associates me with such things, but no one knows my inner..." The anguish in my heart. Sexual desire is both pleasurable and torturous. You don't understand women, or perhaps not just women. You haven't done it before, but you will in the future. Didn't you feel it was a wonderful thing just now?"

Ouyang Yiming said, "I've thought about such things, but I never expected it to feel like this. What I don't understand is, you say you love your husband, so why did you betray him?"

The woman said frankly, "It depends on how you interpret it. I believe I haven't betrayed him; I love him, I have him in my heart, and I will always feel this way. But sex and love have nothing to do with each other; that's how I understand it, and perhaps no one can understand me like that. Human physiological needs are also very important. My husband..." My husband is away from home for long periods; you can't imagine the physical torment a woman endures for such a long time.

To be honest, my husband understands me very well. He once told me that if I met someone I liked, he would allow me to have sex with him, but emphasized that he couldn't know. He loves me very much; I don't think any other man would say such a thing to his wife. Even if he did, it would be extremely rare. Only someone who loves their wife deeply could understand her like that. I won't develop feelings for you, and I won't be jealous of any other woman you fall for. I just like you and only hope you can satisfy my sexual desires. Of course, I will only have sex with very outstanding men. You are outstanding, I... "I can see and feel that you're not just some ordinary, uncultured man. I admire you, that's why I'm with you. I wouldn't even bother with those I consider uncultured. I won't mess around; I'm a highly educated, cultured woman. My parents are both highly educated intellectuals. I don't want to tell you about my family. I won't inquire about you, what you do, or anything else. I only hope you won't forget me."

Ouyang Yiming said, "There are some things you're saying that I don't understand, but I feel like you're..." The woman smiled and said, "Perhaps you'll understand later. There are some things you can't understand now."

She paused for a moment and said, "To be honest, are you in love?" Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I am." The woman asked, "Did you go to her place today?" Ouyang Yiming said, "No, I went to a friend's place. I was planning to go out for a few drinks with him tonight, but I didn't expect to run into you." The woman said, "It was really an accident for me to meet you. As I said before, I thought I would never see you again after that movie theater incident, maybe never in my life. To be honest, I was really scared after that, and I was even a little afraid to see you. Do you know when I saw you? I saw you as soon as you got on the bus at Xinjiekou, but I didn't dare to greet you. I thought you wouldn't recognize me. I think something is bound to happen between us in this life, otherwise, we wouldn't have met like this in such a big city. That's why I went to your side."

Ouyang Yiming thought to himself, "Yes, is it really fate that I'm destined to have this kind of relationship with this woman?" When he returned with Xu Hui and Li Xuan, he only remembered he was going to Fan Xurui's place halfway there, and unexpectedly, he ran into her after changing buses.

The woman asked, "Is your lover beautiful?" Ouyang Yiming said, "She is very beautiful." The woman asked, "Compared to me?" Ouyang Yiming said, "Beautifuler than you." The woman stared at him and said, "Really?" Ouyang Yiming said affirmatively, "Yes." The woman blushed and said, "I can imagine." She then asked, "You and she haven't done anything like that?" Ouyang Yiming said, "No."

At this moment, Ouyang Yiming's heart pounded wildly, and he became extremely uneasy. He said, "I'm sorry for what happened between us." The woman thought for a moment and said, "Are you really bothered by not giving her your virginity?" Ouyang Yiming felt a pang of sadness and said, "I really am bothered by it now, but... but I can't help it." The woman asked, "Do you blame me?" Ouyang Yiming said, "To be honest, I do." He sighed heavily and said, "It's too late to say anything now."

The woman was silent for a while, then said, "You're very honest. To be honest, I also feel a little sorry for you now. But I really like you. The fact that you think this way shows that you care about her and love her." But how many men would only love one woman their entire lives, and only have sex with one woman? Nobody can. Even if some men could only have sex with one woman, my understanding is that such a man is definitely a coward. No woman likes him, and he can't help but think about having sex with other women. "I'm not going to say anything more, I'll go make some food, eat before you leave." Ouyang Yiming said, "No need, I'll go back right away." The woman

gazed at him for a while, then said softly, "Just have a meal with me, after you leave, you might... you might never see me again, I have a feeling." Her eyes reddened as she spoke. Ouyang Yiming's heart skipped a beat.

The woman looked at him with a gentle and charming smile, "Just have a meal with me, it's rare for us to have met." Ouyang Yiming thought for a moment and nodded. The woman seemed very excited, climbed out of bed and started getting dressed. As she

tidied her hair, she said, "Just sleep for a while, I'll go to the street corner to buy some groceries. I'll be back in a bit."

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