Seeing her daughter’s odd expression, Xia Qin assumed she hadn’t met Zhong Tingyue yet and said cheerfully, "Zixia, I bought a lot of special ingredients today. Tonight, I’m having your brother bring your sister-in-law over so you can meet her."

Li Zixia’s eyes widened as she glanced at the large bag of ingredients Xia Qin was carrying. "Mom, you mean you didn’t buy these just for me? They’re for my sister-in-law!"

Xia Qin glared. "Silly girl, when I cook, you get to eat too, don’t you? Now, hurry home and help me clean the crabs."

"I know, I know!" Li Zixia muttered.

All the way home, Li Zixia kept stealing glances at her mother, feeling extremely hesitant. She didn’t know if she should tell her the truth. After much deliberation, she ultimately chose to keep the news to herself, fearing her mother wouldn’t be able to accept it. To this day, she still couldn’t accept it herself.

After the two returned home, Xia Qin finished preparing the elaborate meal she had planned, then picked up her phone to call Li Yuan.

From the other end of the line came a somewhat deep voice.

"Mom, what is it?"

Xia Qin laughed. "Yuan, bring Tingyue home for dinner tonight. I’ve prepared a few of my specialty dishes."

Silence suddenly fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, Li Yuan’s voice came through.

"Mom, I have something at the company tonight. I might not make it back."

Xia Qin was taken aback and replied instinctively, "What company business could you have? Don’t you just write your books at home?"

"It’s... something else," Li Yuan coughed. "I’ll bring her home another day. I can’t talk right now, I’m busy. Don’t wait up."

With that, he hung up.

...

「Inside the luxurious presidential suite of the Hilton Hotel.」

Li Yuan looked at Jiang Zhiyu sitting nervously on the edge of the bed, his emotions a complex mix.

After leaving school, at Jiang Zhiyu’s insistence, they went to a five-star hotel, where Li Yuan booked a luxurious presidential suite.

"Xia Hua, have you finished checking?" Jiang Zhiyu’s voice was noticeably tense. "Could there really be hidden cameras in this room?"

Li Yuan shook his head. "There probably aren’t any in a presidential suite of a five-star hotel like this. Some of the smaller hotels might have them, though."

"Xia Hua," Jiang Zhiyu stared at him shyly, "aren’t you... coming over?"

Li Yuan walked to the bedside. As he looked down at Jiang Zhiyu, the air was so quiet he could hear both of their hearts pounding.

Jiang Zhiyu was incredibly nervous. She sat bolt upright, her hands gripping the bedsheets. Her gaze was a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, and her whole body was rigid.

Li Yuan sat down beside her. He gently stroked her head, trying to calm his own nerves as he offered a gentle smile.

"Little Fish, you seem a little too tense."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded shyly and let out a soft hum. "Well, it is my first time. It’s normal to be nervous, right?"

"Yes, it’s completely normal," Li Yuan agreed. Anyone would be nervous their first time, unless they weren’t fully conscious.

Suddenly, Jiang Zhiyu reached out and grabbed Li Yuan’s large hand. She looked at him shyly, her lips parted slightly as she called out in a strange voice, "Xia Hua!"

Li Yuan’s heart leaped. Meeting her gaze felt like getting hit by an electric shock, a current surging through his body.

Before he could say a word, Jiang Zhiyu leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

"Xia Hua, let me truly be your girlfriend..."

Jiang Zhiyu’s sweet voice was like a charging bugle, blowing open the gates to a new world. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Xia Hua, will you love me forever?"

"Yes, I will. Forever!"

"I’m a little scared, but I’m also looking forward to it... looking forward to becoming your real girlfriend. Once is enough."

"Little Fish, maybe... we should wait a little longer? Wait until you’ve thought it through so you don’t have any regrets."

"Xia Hua, for you, I’ll have no regrets. I’ve already held back for so long."

"Xia Hua... stop talking. Take me..."

...

*The following ten thousand words are omitted...*

...

When Li Yuan finally breached her final defenses and forcefully claimed her completely, Jiang Zhiyu’s first experience of making love reached its peak.

Since this was her very first time, Jiang Zhiyu had no experience whatsoever. Li Yuan kept things gentle and didn’t press for more, doing his best to give her a perfect memory.

Under the covers, Jiang Zhiyu lay in Li Yuan’s arms, her head pillowed on his strong arm. Glistening tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

She lifted her head to gaze at Li Yuan’s profile and whispered softly to herself, "Xia Hua... I’m so happy. I’m finally your real girlfriend."