He lowered his head and captured her lips, deepening the kiss with urgency. Shen Ning instinctively curled her hands against his chest.
Sensing her struggle for breath, he broke the kiss, his dark eyes brimming with desire. Without a word, he leaned forward, opened the drawer on the bedside table, and retrieved a packet of condoms, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
"Mm... Ah—" Shen Ning's soft protests dissolved as his lips claimed hers again, silencing her with warmth and a gentle insistence.
Later, three used condoms lay discarded in the trash.
He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead and murmured, "Go to sleep. It's nearly 1 o'clock."
Her voice, still heavy with drowsiness, carried a faint edge of irritation. "You knew I have class tomorrow, and yet you still did this!"
A playful smile tugged at his lips as he leaned closer to her ear. In a low, teasing voice, he whispered, "Perhaps it's because you have classes tomorrow that I finished early. Otherwise..." He trailed off, but the implication sent a faint blush to her cheeks.
He patted her back softly, coaxing her into sleep, his voice gentle. "Rest now. You'll need your energy for tomorrow."
-----
The next day at Beijing Medical College.
Shen Ning barely made it to class, arriving just five minutes before the lecture started.
Lu Nan and Yun Xi, her closest friends, waved her over with knowing smiles, their eyes sparkling with gossip.
She had just sat down when the bell rang, and their Physics professor strode in, carrying a stack of papers.
He placed them on the desk and cleared his throat. "The results from the last test are here."
The room fell silent.
"Shi Xiao, first. Nie Suejing, second. Shen Ning, third."
He nodded approvingly. "These students performed exceptionally well. The rest of you have shown improvement, but there's still room to grow. Shi Xiao, come distribute the papers."
Shi Xiao rose from his seat with the effortless grace that only added to his campus hunk reputation. The heir of a second-tier wealthy family, Shi Xiao exuded confidence. Though his family lived nearby, he chose the dormitory for its independence and charm.
As he handed out the papers, his demeanor remained calm, ignoring the fluttering stares of several girls who watched him intently. His gaze stayed fixed on his task, unaffected by the silent adoration around him.
When he reached Shen Ning's desk, he paused, offering her a smile. "Congratulations," he said warmly.
"Thank you," Shen Ning replied, her tone polite, her smile equally reserved.
This was why the girls didn't confess to Shi Xiao—they all knew his aloof attention was drawn to Shen Ning, the poised beauty who carried herself with a quiet elegance.
Though some were jealous, none resented her openly. Shen Ning had a way of disarming people with her genuine personality. To those she knew well, she was warm and engaging. To those she didn't, she remained politely distant—just as she was with Shi Xiao.
She unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the marks. Her physics scores were improving, though there was still room for growth.
Their chatter continued as the teacher moved on to the next part of the lesson. The topic today was more challenging than usual, but Shen Ning found herself leaning into the complexity.
As the lesson progressed, she took notes diligently, occasionally exchanging glances with Yun Xi, who was equally engrossed in the material.
When the bell rang and class ended, Lu Nan and Yun Xi turned to her, both wearing teasing smiles.
"So, tell us," Lu Nan said, nudging her with an amused smile. "Do you have a boyfriend? You didn't tell us, your friends!"
Shen Ning looked at them and chuckled. "Not boyfriend."
Yun Xi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Still denying? Then who was that person you posted about yesterday on WeChat Moments?"
Shen Ning chuckled, shaking her head. "Husband."
"Oh. So he is your husband." Then Yun Xi's eyes widened in shock. "What?! You're married?!"
Shen Ning nodded, her expression calm. "Yes. I got married not long before I joined college."
"So you and your husband are in love?" Lu Nan asked her curiously.
Shen Ning nodded.
As they walked together, Yun Xi couldn't resist asking again. "Was it a love marriage?"
"Maybe not," Shen Ning said with a slight shrug. "At the time, my husband was in love with me. I resented him... and my parents, for agreeing to the marriage. But later..." Her voice trailed off as her cheeks flushed.