He just never said it out loud.

"Arnold."

She called him with a voice that was both sweet and gentle.

She slipped her hand inside his coat, separated only by a layer of fabric.

Her fingers lightly grazed.

Arnold quickly grabbed the mischievous hand, "Hannah, don’t move around."

"What did you call me?" She looked up at him, her eyes bright and sparkling.

Arnold corrected himself, "Hannah."

She nodded in satisfaction, then said, "I didn’t move around just now."

Arnold looked down at his own shirt which was now disheveled.

"But last time in the dense forest you treated me the same way."

Coat, shirt, all of it...

She blinked, her lips curving up.

Her smile was sly, like a cat, like a fox.

Like all those carnivorous animals that use their fuzzy appearances to beguile.

But Arnold just liked her this way.

Liked her so much he couldn’t stay away for even a moment.

Their relationship seemed like a one-sided tilt from Arnold.

But just a little response from Hannah was enough to drive him wild.

He reached out, pulled her out of sight of others, then bent down and kissed her.

Just like she said, like that time in the forest.

With suppressed conquest and madness.

Hannah tiptoed to wrap her arms around his neck, and he immediately bent down to spare her any discomfort.

"Arnold."

During a breath, she called his name.

"Mmm," his voice was full of huskiness and tenderness, "Hannah."

...

Unable to see the two, Gregory Lawrence looked down.

His palm was full of red marks pressed out by his fingertips.

Do you like Hannah?

Nicholas had asked him that before.

His response was, "I am a monk."

A monk doesn’t engage in romantic love.

But at this moment, he tasted the sourness welling up in his heart.

He had thought they could go on like that forever.

She would tease him, call him little monk, and bring him his favorite mung bean cakes.

But no one had ever told him that such a life could change.

Gregory’s silence drew Gregory Lawrence’s attention.

He turned the conversation to him and asked, "Gregory, how long have you known Hannah?"

Gregory looked up a little slowly and first said, "Sorry."

For his previous distraction.

Gregory Lawrence waved his hand nonchalantly, quite curious, "Does Hannah often bully you?"

He felt that someone with Gregory’s mild temperament was quite susceptible to being bullied.

Just like him.

He was often bullied by Hannah.

But as soon as he asked this question, the usually gentle Gregory took on a serious tone, his voice slightly stern, "Hannah treats me very well."

Gregory Lawrence was taken aback by his serious demeanor, "Whoa, you’re really sticking up for Hannah?"

"Hannah is very good," Gregory emphasized again.

Gregory Lawrence could only nod, fearing that Gregory might get upset, "Okay, okay, she’s a good person."

Gregory fell silent again, as if retreating back into his own world.

A group of people continued to chat.

Gregory Lawrence and Sixth Hoffman had the most fun talking.

He had already started calling Sixth Hoffman casually, feeling completely at ease.

After a while, Hannah and Arnold returned.

Someone called Hannah’s name.

Gregory instantly looked up, but upon seeing Arnold standing next to her, he looked down again.

Hannah walked over and asked him, "Are you feeling better?"

Gregory didn’t dare look up, afraid to meet her eyes; his hand tightened subconsciously on his lap, "Much better."

Hannah then asked him, "Do you still have enough herbs left?"