At these words, Yaxi opened her eyes, no longer sleepy. "The day you saved me, we discussed this too. You said: 'Seeing me in such a sorry state woke you up; liking me in the past was an illusion.'"
Chen Ling's speech quickened. "At the time, I thought maybe at our age, both men and women might feel curious about intimacy. You took me in, cared for me—perhaps out of curiosity."
"Your memory is sharp, and your analysis aren't wrong," Yaxi commented coolly. In the darkness, her eyes remained open, catching the faint glimmers of fluorescent particles dancing in the air, her thoughts swirling wildly.
"But if it were merely curiosity, you wouldn't have gone to such lengths to save me. Someone as perceptive as you must know that associating with me isn't safe. There are eyes watching us…" Chen Ling paused, changing his tone. "Yaxi, why are you so kind to me?"
"Kind?" Yaxi laughed. "I forbid you from meeting anyone from your past, refuse to send you to the police to resolve your troubles, trample on your dignity, demand absolute obedience, and use you to satisfy my desires whenever I please. Is this kindness? Or is it because you're secretly an M, and I'm giving you space to express it freely?"
"Whether I need mental torment or physical pain depends entirely on you. If you wish to dominate, I'll submit. If you crave control, I can dominate instead."
"Why?" Yaxi truly didn't understand. Given his fiery temperament in the past, she never expected to trap him here for good. Tricking him for three years was part of the negotiation. She was always prepared to come home one day and find him gone.
"Yaxi, it's because you treat me well."
"Don't twist logic with me," Yaxi cut him off sharply, fearing he'd dig deeper. "You mentioned curiosity earlier, but that's inaccurate. It should be lust. You used to be the center of attention, while I lingered on the fringes of everyone's world. Now, the tables have turned. You've become my caged bird. Watching you struggle satisfies me. Even if you're on the brink of release, unless I give the command, you can't climax. In front of me, you can only obey, yield, endure, and say 'yes.' Understand?"
Having vented her frustration, Yaxi added firmly, "No further questions allowed!"
"Yes," Chen Ling complied immediately. "I understand."
His voice was sincere, warm against her ear: "I belong to you. Every inch of my body, every corner of my soul, belongs to you."
Once again, cold air seeped into the blanket, causing Yaxi to shiver. Then, a warm arm gently wrapped around her. Chen Ling had turned back. His chest pressed against her back, radiating heat like a furnace.
For the Yaxi of a month ago, this would have been enough. She would return home from school, braving the winter winds, sitting by the window on the bus, counting the trees lining the road. At home, there would be warm lights, food, and someone waiting. Someone she once liked, but whom she knew she'd eventually forget. He would still hold her while she slept. Even if it was all an act, she had experienced turbulence and pain firsthand. She didn't need to stay vigilant to remain clear-headed. So she accepted everything freely, waiting only for the moment their paths crossed again, ready to exchange a casual goodbye and move on separately.
Her mind and heart were clear. Bathed in this warmth, she exhaled slowly and drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, someone teased her chest, making her itch and ache simultaneously. She grabbed the intruder's hand and bit it, then turned around and thoroughly groped the intruder's chest in retaliation.
When she woke up the next morning, the space beside her was empty. Wrapping herself in a coat, she stepped out of the room to find Chen Ling placing fried luncheon meat atop egg-topped toast. Yaxi rubbed her eyes, ensuring she wasn't imagining things. There were bite marks on Chen Ling's hand. Noticing her odd expression, Chen Ling asked, "What's wrong?"
"So, you were the intruder after all," Yaxi teased, grabbing his hand and biting the same spot again.