Since he couldn't do extreme sports anymore, Ji Zhaoxi and Zhou Chiye could only travel around, while Ji Huaichuan focused on making money like crazy.
While some people were still spending money, he had already saved his first pot of gold.
Ji Huaichuan finally experienced the charm of learning, finally experienced the charm of knowledge.
But if it couldn't help him make money, he probably wouldn't have appreciated that charm for the rest of his life.
Foreign universities started their semesters earlier than domestic ones. After Zhou Chiye returned, he went back home for a visit.
Zhou's mother looked at Zhou Chiye, who looked like a wild man, and was silent for a moment: "Did you go to the seaside?"
Zhou Chiye coughed sheepishly: "Yeah."
Ji Zhaoxi had initially wanted to put sunscreen on him, but Zhou Chiye refused. He'd been doing outdoor sports for so long and had never used any.
Then the next day, Zhou Chiye behaved himself, begging Ji Zhaoxi to apply it for him, but the darkened parts of his skin would probably take a while to lighten again.
Zhou's mother watched Zhou Chiye still hugging his bear and was silent for a moment—was he now traveling with that bear too?
Yes, and Zhou Chiye even took the bear with him abroad.
"How are things between you and Ji Zhaoxi now?"
Zhou Chiye's ears instantly turned bright red: "Pretty good."
The corner of Zhou's mother's mouth twitched—she had only asked, why was he blushing like that?
Tomorrow, Zhou Chiye would be leaving. Father Zhou was giving him some reminders, but as he talked, he noticed Zhou Chiye kept looking at the time.
Father Zhou: ...
"Alright, alright, just take these documents and go."
"Okay, Dad." Zhou Chiye didn't hesitate for a second.
"Do you want your mother and me to see you off tomorrow?"
"No need, you and Mom should rest well. Someone's seeing me off," Zhou Chiye immediately refused.
The butler watching quietly from the side thought to himself—the young master still didn't know how to talk properly.
If he had to relay the message, he would tell Father Zhou: "The young master said there's no need because he doesn't want to disturb your rest."
That evening, Zhou Chiye immediately went to see Ji Zhaoxi. He said it was to pack his things, but in truth, there was something else he wanted to do more.
But he didn't know if Ji Zhaoxi would agree, and he had been so embarrassed last time...
Thinking about last time, Zhou Chiye's face turned bright red again.
Zhou Chiye was about to leave, and Ji Zhaoxi was very reluctant. Her eyes kept welling up. Seeing her like this, Zhou Chiye found it hard to bring up his request.
But then—one thing at a time!
Feeling sorry for her red eyes was one thing, but that other thing was another matter entirely—the two didn't conflict.
Without a word, Zhou Chiye buried himself in Ji Zhaoxi's arms. He muttered softly, "Is that offer from last time—you letting me kiss you—still valid?"
Ji Zhaoxi's face instantly turned red: "No, it's not valid. When I offered, you didn't kiss me."
But back then, she had only dared to say that because she knew Zhou Chiye wouldn't dare to kiss her.
Now, though, it was absolutely out of the question.
Zhou Chiye's gaze lingered on her lips. From his ears to his neck, everything was flushed red. His palms were sweating, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest.
Ji Zhaoxi avoided his eyes. She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her hand. She was so nervous she stammered, "Didn't you still need to pack the bear?"
Zhou Chiye stared at her, his voice very soft: "It's long since been packed. You're just trying to change the subject because you don't want me to kiss me, aren't you?"
She was usually so clueless, but now she was sharp as a tack.
Ji Zhaoxi did everything she could to avoid his gaze. Zhou Chiye's breath landed on her, and she felt as if her whole body was going numb.
Just then, Zhou Chiye gently brushed his lips against hers, but he quickly pulled away.
Both of their faces were shockingly red. The atmosphere was thick and syrupy. Aside from their breathing, they couldn't hear a single sound.
The light in the study—Zhou Chiye had accidentally knocked it out somewhere—plunged the room into pitch black. The loss of sight amplified all other senses, and Ji Zhaoxi felt like she could barely breathe from the tension.
Zhou Chiye kissed her neck lightly, moving gradually upward. Finally, his lips met hers again. His kiss was clumsy. He sucked in a raw, awkward way, tentatively slipping into her mouth.
Their hot breaths intertwined. Ji Zhaoxi went completely limp in his arms. Zhou Chiye held her tight, his hand stroking the skin on her waist. His tongue pressed her teeth apart, exploring deeper and deeper.
The room was thick with an intimate atmosphere.
Their breathing was a mess. The room was filled not only with the sounds of their breathing but also the soft sounds of lips meeting. Zhou Chiye's kisses moved downward, gently biting her collarbone.
He wanted so badly to bite her...
Sometimes, he felt a destructive urge toward her; but he restrained it with all his might.
After that first kiss, Zhou Chiye immediately wanted a second one. He nibbled her ear, his voice carrying a hint of grievance: "Just one more time, okay? I'm leaving tomorrow..."
Ji Zhaoxi's mind was completely blank from his kisses. Before she could react, Zhou Chiye's lips were on hers again.
The night was dark, filled everywhere with the chirping of cicadas.
At that moment, Ji Huaichuan was making money at a student's home.
The parents looked at the scene in the study and nodded in satisfaction.
So this was what it was like for a student who got into a prestigious school.
Ji Huaichuan naturally noticed the parents' gaze.
A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Not long after, Ji Zhaoxi and Ji Huaichuan also started their semester.
Ji Zhaoxi didn't live in the dorms; she lived off-campus. It was the same chef from before, but unlike before, the chef only came to cook and left as soon as it was done.
Perhaps because she wasn't living in the dorms, her relationship with her classmates wasn't as close as it had been in high school. But she found another girl who lived off-campus, and they could team up for future group projects.
Ji Zhaoxi studied with utmost seriousness, and Ji Huaichuan made money with the same intensity.
But both of them firmly believed that the only one capable of reviving the fortunes of their Ji family was themselves.
Ji Zhaoxi had originally thought Zhou Chiye would come back once a month or every two months at the most. But she had really overestimated him—this guy came back once a week...
Every time he came back, he'd cling to her, asking about school, and then subtly probing whether anyone had a crush on her.
He'd come back on Saturday night and leave Monday night, always like this.
And that bear would come back with him too.
Zhou Chiye felt like he was addicted to Ji Zhaoxi, or that she had put a spell on him, because why else would he always be like this?
He gently bit Ji Zhaoxi's neck, his face burning red. Looking at her with pitiful eyes, he kissed her over and over.
"Xixi..."
He didn't want to be like this.
Ji Zhaoxi's face was red enough to bleed. She didn't dare to look at him. Zhou Chiye kept gazing at her with those pitiful eyes.
"Just once, okay..."
Zhou Chiye carefully took her hand and drew it closer to him. He kissed her lips, his voice hoarse beyond belief, his face full of longing.
"Xixi, next time, I'll do whatever you say..."
He guided her hand. Zhou Chiye buried his face against her. His breathing grew faster and faster, his face redder and redder, and his consciousness began to fade away.
The sultry air kept spreading. Ji Zhaoxi hid her face in his chest, her ears crimson. No matter how much Zhou Chiye called her name, she didn't make a sound.
No one knew how long had passed. Zhou Chiye finally stopped. His eyes were full of satisfaction.
He carried Ji Zhaoxi to the sink to wash her hands, coaxing in a low voice, “Xixi, next time I’ll help you too.”
“I don’t need your help!”
