Chapter 541: Chapter 539: Long-Awaited Time for Two

It was unknown how long they stayed like that before they reluctantly let go of each other. Lin Xi cradled Xue Yang’s face, looking from left to right as if she could never get enough of him.

Xue Yang saw his own reflection in Xiao Naimao’s eyes. He gently tapped the tip of her full nose.

After a month apart, Xue Yang had almost gone crazy with longing. Now, he was finally holding her in his arms again. Only then did he feel like he was still alive.

Lin Xi noticed something was off about Xue Yang’s gaze. She asked anxiously, "Xue Yang, what’s wrong?"

"You’re a bit darker."

Lin Xi touched her own face and asked, "Really?" She had been trying so hard to use sunscreen. Besides, her skin wasn’t the type that tanned easily, and she remembered Si Wen saying she hadn’t gotten darker at all. But Xue Yang said she had. How could this be?

"Just a little bit. But it doesn’t matter, you’re still beautiful."

Actually, she hadn’t gotten any darker; Xue Yang had only said that because she was scrutinizing herself so intensely.

"Then I have to fix it right away." Even the slightest tan was unacceptable to her.

Seeing Lin Xi’s attention diverted, Xue Yang quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Xi went to the bathroom, pulled out a drawer full of her skincare products, and began meticulously sorting through everything inside. Xue Yang leaned against the doorway, watching her bustle about.

Sometimes he really wondered, didn’t girls get tired of applying so many skincare products every day? Not only was the variety of products staggering, but the routine involved numerous steps, each with its own specific application method. It was bewildering to watch. He really couldn’t understand the point of it all. However, when he looked back at Lin Xi’s flawless face, he had to admit that skincare really did seem to work.

"I’ll help you."

"Do you know how?" It wasn’t that Lin Xi was belittling Xue Yang, but sometimes, even she took a long time to sort through them all.

"Doubting me?"

"Not at all. In that case, my handsome, radiant fiancé, please start by helping me apply this facial mask." Lin Xi took out a mask and placed it in Xue Yang’s hand.

Xue Yang smiled as he took it, tore open the packaging, and carefully laid the sheet mask on her face. During the process, intimate contact was inevitable. Although they were no longer as easily flustered as when they had first started dating, they could still hear each other’s heartbeats in the confined space. Sometimes, a couple needed heartbeats like these to keep the freshness alive.

Lin Xi’s skincare products were all custom-made for her skin type. After using the mask, her skin indeed regained its fair, hydrated appearance. It was even more lustrous and radiant than before.

Skincare products are truly miraculous; no wonder all the girls love them.

After her skincare routine, Lin Xi fiddled with her products for a while longer, then prepared to take a shower. Xue Yang blushed and stepped out of the bathroom.

About an hour later, she emerged from her shower. Xue Yang glanced at the myriad of bottles and jars on the washstand, then silently picked up a single bar of soap. Ten minutes later, he also emerged, freshly showered.

Lin Xi’s hair wasn’t even dry yet. "Do you guys always shower that quickly?"

Every time Xue Yang showered, Lin Xi wondered if he even had enough time to take his clothes off.

Xue Yang leaned in. "Smell."

The familiar masculine scent washed over her, sending a certain Xiao Naimao’s heart into a flurry. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

His goal achieved, Xue Yang took the hairdryer from Lin Xi’s hand and began to dry her hair. The two of them didn’t speak. The only sound in the room was the whirring of the hairdryer, while a silent intimacy blossomed in the air.

After her hair was dry, they lay on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. An indeterminable amount of time passed before Lin Xi turned her head to look at Xue Yang. "Xue Yang, I feel like you’ve gotten thinner recently."

"Have I?" Xue Yang touched his cheek. It seems I’ve been found out.

"Yes." Lin Xi suddenly pounced on Xue Yang, facing him. Looking at him this closely, it was even clearer. Xue Yang had indeed grown much more haggard, and it was obvious he was suffering from a lack of sleep.

Xue Yang turned his face to the side. "It’s just an illusion because you haven’t seen me for so long."

Lin Xi gently turned his head back to face her, her slender fingers tracing the lines of his face. Just a month ago, he was so spirited and full of life.

"You’ve clearly lost weight. Look at the dark circles under your eyes." The more she observed him, the more her heart ached. "Has a lot happened lately? Or have you not been eating properly? That must be it. When you get busy, you always forget to eat on time."

Lin Xi pretended to be angry. "Next time you do this..."

Suddenly, the large hand on her waist tightened, and Lin Xi felt the world spin as their positions were reversed. She was on the bottom, and he was on top. Lin Xi immediately forgot what she was about to say.

The next day, Lin Xi woke up early for her eight o’clock class. Xue Yang, however, had woken up even earlier.

"Morning, Xiao Naimao."

Somehow, it felt as if after just one night, a certain someone had completely recharged his spirit. He had reverted to his former bright and handsome self, and there was even a subtle, devilishly charming air about him. If the country hadn’t forbidden creatures from gaining spiritual powers after its founding, she’d have suspected he had consumed some magical elixir.

"Don’t you have an eight o’clock class? Still not getting up?!"

Lin Xi’s mind snapped back to the present, and she hurriedly jumped up. But as soon as she stood, her legs gave out and she collapsed back onto the bed.

"This is all your fault," she glanced reproachfully at Xue Yang.

Ever since they got engaged, this guy seemed to know no restraint. Add to that the month-long separation for military training...

"My fault, my fault. How about you give me another bite?" Xue Yang extended his arm, on which faint red teeth marks were still visible.

Lin Xi’s face flushed. She gave his chest a light punch before getting up, one hand supporting her sore lower back. "Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore."

A clear, refreshing laugh rang out from behind her. It made Lin Xi wonder if the haggard man she had seen last night was just an illusion.

After breakfast, Xue Yang went to the office while Lin Xi headed to school for her classes.

After her first class, Lin Xi and Si Wen hurried to their next one.

"I really don’t understand why the school schedules classes in classrooms so far apart," Si Wen complained while running. "The time between them is so tight. If you run even a little too slow, you’ll be late."

"Come on, let’s run, or we’ll be late!"

The two of them quickened their pace. After finally finishing their second class, it was time for lunch.

"Let’s go, let’s get something to eat."

The second classroom wasn’t close to the cafeteria either, so they decided to use the back gate and go to the pedestrian street for food. They hadn’t walked far when Cui Hao suddenly appeared and blocked their path.

"Lin Xi, please talk to Xue Yang."

"What’s wrong with him?" Lin Xi asked nervously, her attention immediately caught by the mention of his name.

"Lately, he’s been like a madman, desperate to make money. It doesn’t matter if the sum is big or small, he goes after it. If this keeps up, I’m really worried his health will suffer."

"Cui Hao, can you tell me what’s been happening while I was away for military training?"

This was exactly what Cui Hao had intended. They found a quiet spot to sit down.

...