Xia Zhen gently applied medicine to Lu Jin’s injury, dipping her fingers into a little ointment and carefully smoothing it over the bruised skin. It wasn’t a particularly effective medicine—just something ordinary from a first aid box at home—but it was all she could do for now. At the very least, it brought a little comfort, even if only in the heart.It was already late.She wanted Lu Jin to sleep in her bed for a while, just until morning. But he refused.
Xia Zhen could guess what he was thinking—that he might dirty her sheets, that he didn’t belong in such a clean, soft place. She reached for his hand, her fingers wrapping around his cool ones.“Lu Jin,” she said softly, “I really don’t mind if you sleep in my bed.”
The house wasn’t large, but it wasn’t cramped either. Three bedrooms and one living room. Xia Zhen had her own room. Aunt Fang (a live-in caretaker) had hers. The third was a small, slightly messy spare room that no one used properly. She didn’t want him sleeping in someone else’s space like a guest who didn’t belong.
Lu Jin said stubbornly, “I’m not tired.”Xia Zhen lifted her hand and gently touched the corner of his eye. His beautiful, clear eyes were bloodshot, faint red veins spreading beneath the surface.How could he not be tired?In a family like his, perhaps he had rarely known what true rest felt like.
His brows curved faintly, almost imperceptibly. “I’ll just lie down on the sofa for a bit.”That was already his compromise.Xia Zhen understood that some walls couldn’t be broken down all at once. She glanced at the sofa, then suddenly seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up.
“Okay,” she said brightly. “I’ll help you.”
In truth, Lu Jin had long been used to handling things on his own. But Xia Zhen insisted on helping him lie down anyway, adjusting the cushion and guiding him gently.He had barely settled when the girl suddenly climbed onto the sofa too, squeezing herself in and pushing him further toward the inside.“It’s narrow,” she said seriously. “Move over a bit more.”Only then did Lu Jin realize why she had agreed so easily.
When he didn’t move, she knelt on the very edge of the sofa. Her body swayed slightly, precariously balanced.“I’m going to fall,” she said pitifully.As if to prove her point, she really did sway.Before he could even think, his hand had already wrapped around her waist.She smiled instantly, taking advantage of the situation, pressing herself closer. To steady her, he had no choice but to shift inward again, giving her space.
But the sofa was only so wide.
Even though he tried his best to make room for her to lie on her side, their bodies were still pressed tightly together. And she kept fidgeting deliberately, as if she might tumble off at any moment, so his arm around her waist never had the chance to loosen.
The poor little white cat, who had been sleeping peacefully beside them, was abruptly disturbed by the commotion. It opened one eye, glanced at the boy and girl radiating an unmistakable, foolish aura of young hormones, and let out a disdainful “meow” before jumping onto the coffee table to continue its nap.Xia Zhen pulled a small blanket over the two of them, then nestled even closer to him.Her mischievous plan had succeeded.Her eyes curved with satisfaction as she looked up at him.
“Lu Jin,” she whispered, “if I fall off the sofa, I’ll definitely cry from the pain.”
“…You can go back to your room to sleep.”
“No. You’re here. I want to sleep here.”
His pale face showed no visible expression, but she could clearly feel his hand at her waist tighten slightly.Honestly, the sofa was better than the bed.Her bed was too big. On a bed that wide, she would never have found an excuse to be pressed so close to him.She shifted again, raising her upper body slightly. He could only adjust as well, allowing her to lean softly against his chest.She listened to his heartbeat—steady, strong.
Looking up at him, she smiled with unconcealed happiness.
“Lu Jin, does this count as sharing a bed?”He answered calmly, always rational. “This is a sofa, not a bed.”
“If you have a will in your heart, anywhere can be a bed.”Her logic was always crooked yet delivered with absolute confidence. His scent filled her nose—a clean, faint smell of soap and boyish warmth. She narrowed her eyes like someone slightly drunk.
“Lu Jin, you smell really nice. I like it.”His ears warmed faintly.He lifted a hand and pressed gently on the back of her head, guiding her face against his chest so she couldn’t look up at him.His voice remained composed.
“Don’t say things like that when you’re alone with someone of the opposite sex.”Now she couldn’t see his face, and she pouted slightly. One hand crept up and poked his chest lightly.
“What? Are you going to turn into a beast and eat me?”His voice changed almost imperceptibly.“Xia Zhen.”
“Call me Zhenzhen.”He fell silent for a moment.
“…Zhenzhen.”
She laughed immediately. “I’m listening. What do you want me to do?”Her fingers continued to poke at his chest. The light touch made his entire body feel faintly tingling, like a soft current spreading under his skin.He caught her mischievous hand and held it down gently, his voice lowering.
“Behave.”She lifted her face again, glaring at him with exaggerated displeasure.
“Lu Jin, do you even understand romance?”
“No.”
She was outraged.In one swift motion, she pushed herself up and straddled him, cupping his face in her hands and leaning close, staring directly into his eyes.“You’re not allowed to reject my advances,” she declared fiercely. “That’s what romance is. Don’t you understand?”She looked genuinely angry, as if deeply disappointed in him.Lu Jin lay still beneath her.Perhaps it was the lamplight, warm and gentle, but when her face came into view, a faint smile flickered across his usually cool, light-colored eyes.
The anger in Xia Zhen’s heart melted instantly.Who could resist a usually distant, aloof young man suddenly revealing such quiet warmth?He lifted one hand and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips, slightly cool, grazed her ear unintentionally. The simple touch carried an indescribable electricity.A soft, sweet warmth filled the air.Her heart softened completely.Still sitting on his waist, she caught his hand—the one still bearing faint injury marks—and held it carefully.
“Does it really not hurt anymore?” she asked gently.Lu Jin shook his head. “It really doesn’t.”She placed his hand against her cheek.The difference in temperature between their skin sent a secret thrill through her body. It felt like a rush of dopamine, like the sweetest kind of painkiller.His voice grew slightly hoarse.
“I’m really fine.”She smiled and hummed in response.From beginning to end, she had never asked how he got hurt.Lu Jin knew that if he didn’t tell her, she would never force him to. But she would tell him everything—big or small.She called it sharing.Whether joy or sorrow, speaking it aloud to someone close somehow made it feel softer… almost romantic.
“Today is Lu Ci’s birthday,” he said quietly. “Mom and Dad bought him a cake.”Xia Zhen was surprised that he spoke first, but she remained silent, waiting.Only the first sentence was hard. After that, the words flowed more easily.“There was a scratch on the cake on the table,” he continued calmly, as if narrating something that had nothing to do with him. “They said Xiao Bai did it. But Xiao Bai was in the room with me the whole time.”Xiao Bai—their small white cat.
Xia Zhen didn’t need further explanation.He had tried to protect the cat.And for that, he had been beaten… and thrown out.A sharp ache rose in her chest. Her eyes grew misty.
“If I hadn’t come,” she asked softly, “would you have had to stay outside all night?”He had never been favored by fate.Life had taught him long ago not to dwell on pain.But now—There was a girl grieving for him.It was an unfamiliar feeling.Lu Jin sat up and pulled her into his arms.She leaned against his chest again, hearing his strong heartbeat. Somehow, it made her even sadder.
He rested his chin lightly on the top of her head.
“They know I can’t go far,” he said quietly. “And they know if something happens to me, people will talk. So at most, I can only stay out for three or four hours before going back.”Gossip mattered to them more than his pain.Xia Zhen clutched his school uniform jacket tightly.He hadn’t even changed clothes.That meant he had been driven out in a hurry.
“Zhenzhen,” he murmured, “I won’t die out there. Don’t be afraid.”She straightened and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his.
“Lu Jin.”
“Mm.”
“When it’s your birthday,” she whispered, “I’ll definitely make you a big cake.”His eyes lowered in the warm glow of the lamp.
“…Okay.The girl could openly lie on top of the boy.
Xia Zhen knew he would have to go home soon. Time was limited, fragile. So she didn’t stir up any more mischief. Instead, she obediently curled against his chest, surrounded by his faint, clean scent, and closed her eyes as if savoring something precious.A hand gently stroked the top of her head.
“Zhenzhen.”She didn’t open her eyes. Her voice was lazy and soft. “Mm?”
“Don’t run out alone again.”The city was considered safe. But she was a girl. A well-protected, beautiful girl at that.It was strange—once he realized how important she had become to him, the world suddenly seemed full of hidden dangers. Every shadow carried a threat.He wanted to keep her just like this forever. To hold her. To keep her within his sight, within his reach.The intensity of that feeling frightened him.For someone as calm and self-controlled as Lu Jin, the surge of possessive emotion was overwhelming—almost terrifying.Xia Zhen opened her eyes.
From her angle, she could see his clean, sharp jawline. The lines were firm, cool—but she knew his heart was soft.She smiled sweetly. “Okay.”
Whether she would truly keep that promise… that was another matter entirely.The sofa was narrow with two people squeezed onto it. And yet, Lu Jin—unexpectedly—slept deeply.Xia Zhen, on the other hand, was wide awake.For her, this closeness was entirely new.
His faint breathing.
The subtle rise and fall of his chest.
The way his arms around her never loosened, even in sleep…
She felt she loved everything about him.A wave of gratitude washed over her.Thankfully, she had left the banquet early that day (a formal family social gathering, common in wealthy circles). Otherwise, how would she have found such a precious treasure sitting alone by the roadside?
Lu Jin had slept for just over two hours when he woke at three in the morning.His first sensation was weight.He blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light, and saw a fluffy head resting against him.He stared for a moment before reaching out and gently touching her cheek.
Warm.
Soft.
Comforting.
Addictive.
Completely different from the feeling of petting Xiao Bai, the little white cat.Xia Zhen had only been lightly asleep. The moment he moved, she caught his hand instinctively.She knew he was leaving.But she didn’t want to let go.His voice, usually cool, carried a trace of rare languor.
“Zhenzhen.”
Just hearing him say her name made her entire body soften.
If Lu Jin failed to return home as usual, it would attract attention from the Lu family—a family that clung like leeches. If they ever realized Xia Zhen’s value, they would swarm toward her without hesitation.And Lu Ci…A faint shadow crossed Lu Jin’s eyes.Since childhood, he had possessed very little. Yet even so, whatever he had, Lu Ci would take—out of curiosity, out of boredom, out of sheer impulse.Xia Zhen slid off him reluctantly and stared at him.
“You won’t pretend you don’t know me once we step outside this room, right?”
“No,” he said. Then paused. “But—”
“There’s a ‘but’?!”Her sharp interruption startled him. For no clear reason, he felt faintly guilty.
“If others find out,” he explained quietly, “there will be trouble.”She understood immediately.
“So… you mean we have to keep our distance in public?”
He nodded. “Yes.”So this meant—A secret relationship?Her heart leaped with excitement.How thrilling! Lu Jin had expected resistance. But instead, she leaned forward and kissed him lightly, smiling brightly.
“Okay!”He was certain she constantly entertained thoughts he could never quite follow.He didn’t let her walk him out, and she didn’t insist.Standing by the door, she bent down slightly and whispered into his ear, “I’ll be home all weekend.”His eyes flickered, but reason prevailed.
“I’m worried about you being alone.”“Who said I’m alone?” Her smug expression sparkled with excitement. “Aren’t we in a secret relationship now? Whether you dare sneak to my door in the middle of the night is up to you.”
Lu Jin: “…”
It sounded exactly like something a lonely young wife might whisper to her forbidden lover while her husband was away on business.What kind of dramatic fantasies were brewing inside her head?
—
The Lu family home was dark.No lights were on. No one waited for him.Or perhaps they knew very well that Lu Jin had nowhere else to go—he would always return.When he was very young, he had once naively believed that if he “ran away from home” (a childish form of silent protest), his parents might regret how they treated him. They might come looking for him.
Maybe they would even give him some of the snacks meant for his younger brother.
Not half.
Just a little.
A tiny bit.
That would have been enough.
But no one came.
It was winter.Although his legs weren’t injured yet back then, spending an entire night outside nearly froze him.In the end, neighbors found him and took him to the hospital.His parents arrived late, looking anxious and tearful. They lamented loudly about how exhausting it was to raise such a troublesome child—how physically and emotionally draining he was.Soon, everyone in the neighborhood believed the Lu family’s narrative:
They had a withdrawn, temperamental, disabled son—but they never abandoned him. They cared for him so diligently.No one knew that after leaving the hospital that day, he was beaten with a clothes hanger at home.Under the pale moonlight streaming through the window, Lu Jin carried Xiao Bai back into his small, dim room.He stroked the kitten’s head gently.“Xiao Bai,” he whispered, “I will protect her.”The kitten gave a soft meow.
Kindergarten toys.
Primary school award-winning crafts.
A first-prize essay from middle school.
Even his parents’ approval.
He could give up all of it.
But that girl—He would not give her to anyone.
—
In another room where the light was still on, Xia Zhen rolled onto her stomach on the sofa. The faint scent of youth still lingered in the cushions.
She lay there, unmoving, suddenly realizing—She seemed a little like a pervert.
No.She couldn’t just sit still.She grabbed her phone and found a friend overseas in her contacts.
【Does your family run a charity foundation?】
(A private philanthropic foundation is common among wealthy families, often used for both public image and genuine donation work.)
A reply came quickly.
【Yes. Why?】
It was three in the morning here. Fortunately, there was a time difference.
Xia Zhen typed decisively:
【I want to donate.】
The friend immediately responded:
【Xia Zhen, you’re not still upset about Song Heng, are you?】
Otherwise, why would this young lady suddenly want to donate? In their social circle, donations were often for appearances—reputation projects managed carefully for public image. Xia Yu usually handled such matters for the Xia family.
Why would Xia Zhen personally intervene?Xia Zhen asked calmly, “Can you guarantee the money will truly reach those in need?”“Of course! I can’t vouch for everyone else, but you’re my best friend!”She had many “best friends” like that.Xia Zhen didn’t transfer everything at once. She tested small amounts first, then larger sums.After each donation, she received a star-shaped candy icon on the game interface: white, then pink, then red, and finally gold.After she emptied her savings, the stars stopped increasing.
So there was a limit.She ignored the exaggerated praise her friend posted on social media and in their group chat.Instead, she opened the game and fed all the star-shaped candies to the little boy avatar lying in the hospital bed.When she fed him the golden candy, a “time capsule” suddenly appeared on the screen.She sat up straight.
But before tapping it, she quietly put on a coat from her closet and slipped into white sneakers.Then, solemnly, she tapped the capsule.A wave of dizziness washed over her.She heard the wind. When her vision cleared—
It was snowing.
A winter night.
She was still dressed a little too lightly. Pulling her coat tighter, she looked around through the swirling snow.Soon, she saw him.A small figure huddled beneath the awning of a trash bin.A thin child crouched there, head lowered, arms wrapped around himself.He was wearing his school uniform. Snowflakes rested on his white hair, making it hard to tell which was purer—the snow or his hair.
Her heart clenched painfully.
“Lu Jin!”At the sound of his name, the boy looked up quickly.
Seeing a strange older girl, the faint hope in his eyes dimmed again.He lowered his head.Every child wishes that the one who comes looking for them will be their parents.Perhaps he had misheard. Perhaps she hadn’t called him.The crunch of footsteps in snow approached.
His heart beat faster for no reason.
He saw her small white shoes stop in front of him.
He looked up again—
And suddenly, he was pulled into a warm embrace.
He forgot how to speak.
His clear eyes were filled with confusion.
Xia Zhen crouched down and wrapped him tightly in her arms.
Only then did she breathe out slowly in relief.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said gently. “I’m not a bad person.”Shielded from the biting wind by her coat, he felt too tired to resist.
He could hear her heartbeat—warm and steady.
“I don’t know you,” he murmured hesitantly.
“You will,” she said with a bright smile. “I’ll be your future girlfriend.”
He blinked, bewildered.
“Girlfriend?”She had meant to pinch his cheek playfully, but his skin was cold.
Instead, she cupped his cheek gently in her palm, warming it.
“Yes,” she said, eyes crinkling. “And in the future, you’re going to chase after me desperately.”She felt absolutely no guilt about teasing a child like this.
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