Almost as soon as it ended, Si Jiang fell fast asleep.
He lay prone on the bed, his fingers still hooked into the sheets. Because his hair was cropped very short, only half of his sharp, well-defined features were visible as he slept with his face turned to the side.
Propped up on her pillow, Zong Yan studied his skin with an expressionless gaze. The scars were so faint that one had to be extremely close to see the faint lines of the texture. Her former pet’s eyelashes fluttered occasionally, as if he had entered a dream that was far from peaceful.
Zong Yan unfastened the items from her body and sat on the other side of the bed. She was covered in sweat, but she wasn't in a hurry to clean herself up just yet.
The man sleeping beside her breathed deeply, his back rising and falling. His graceful muscular lines were covered in fierce marks.
She had to admit, she had considered some... specialized methods.
But she felt that doing so might be too cruel. Si Jiang was a pampered young master who couldn't handle the slightest bit of hardship; he would exaggerate the smallest pain tenfold. He likely wouldn't be able to endure it. Besides, mastering the right amount of force with things like whips probably wasn't simple.
Though, Zong Yan didn't doubt her own ability to learn.
It was just...
She glanced at Si Jiang’s neck.
The two of them still had no official relationship.
Zong Yan took a quick shower, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and stepped out of the bathroom. It was already late at night. How long had they been at it? It was hard to say.
Zong Yan caught a glimpse of the scratch and bite marks on her shoulder. She thought that if they had gone on any longer, there probably wouldn't be a single patch of intact skin left on her.
Having exerted herself for so long, her body’s energy and hydration were depleted. Zong Yan wandered into the living room to find some water.
There had originally been a rug in the center of the living room, but it was gone now. All that remained were stubborn black scorch marks on the floor and ceiling. They looked as though someone had scrubbed them fiercely, yet they remained firmly imprinted on the surfaces.
It would likely take some kind of paint or a total replacement to completely hide the traces of that trauma. But even if they were covered, the marks would still exist beneath the layers of pigment. If she were to replace them, changing only that one area would make it clash with the rest. Replacing everything would be equivalent to starting over.
Was it worth it?
Zong Yan crouched down. Her fingers brushed against the rough, fire-ravaged wounds. For a fleeting moment, she seemed to see Si Jiang standing across from her, losing his mind in the face of the raging flames. The pits and hollows she was touching now were his soul after its explosion.
At that thought, she suddenly smiled.
She stood up, took a blanket from the sofa, and draped it over the spot.
***
As the leaves turned yellow and the wind began to carry the heavy scent of autumn, the semester entered its second half.
Zong Yan’s current class had actually made it into the quarterfinals of the school basketball tournament for the first time. No one in the class could believe it. Since they had enrolled, they had always been the bottom-feeders who were crushed in every game.
Now, thanks to Si Jiang joining the team, they had somehow dazed their way into a ranking they had never dared to dream of.
As for the championship—they didn't even fantasize about it. Who could compete with those sports majors? They were satisfied just to have made it this far. Consequently, they treated every subsequent match as if it were their last, fighting with everything they had.
The whole class was on high alert. Even Zong Yan was pulled into the logistics team by the girls, helping to arrange and purchase the necessary supplies.
This was the first time in Zong Yan’s life that she had participated in such a collective activity. In middle and high school, she had always been the one drifting on the periphery. Whether it was by choice or by force, Zong Yan had ultimately been quite content with that arrangement.
She was naturally unsuited for groups. Zong Yan had always believed this.
So, when the logistics team sat in a circle for a meeting, racking their brains over how to get the most resources with the smallest class budget, she somehow found herself speaking up.
“The prices for these items at a market in Dongying are much lower than the fixed prices, and you can haggle there.”
Zong Yan knew better than anyone how to live a life of poverty and frugality.
“!! Sister Zong Yan, you’re amazing! How do you even know that?”
“You’re practically our class’s lucky star!”
The girls, most of whom had only recently turned eighteen, rushed over enthusiastically, looking like they wanted to give Zong Yan an exaggerated hug.
Zong Yan instinctively dodged.
They froze for a moment but didn't seem to mind. The senior was clearly a "high-cold" introvert with strong boundaries; they understood.
“Sister Zong Yan, then we’ll have to trouble you to lead us there!”
“Sure. But we might have to transfer buses several times. It’s a bit far.”
Zong Yan estimated the distance from the school to the market. That market was very close to her former home, but it was quite far from here. It would take at least an hour and a half to get there.
“Huh? That far?” Someone’s face fell. “I’ll definitely get motion sickness if I’m on a bus for that long.”
“Me too. Reporting to the General Affairs Rep: can we apply for funds to take a taxi?”
“In your dreams,” the girl wearing glasses replied coldbloodedly.
Everyone’s faces slumped.
Zong Yan said, “I can just go by myself.”
It worked out perfectly; acting as part of a crowd wasn't something she was used to anyway.
“That won't work. There are so many things; how could you carry them all?”
Just then, a group of boys wearing basketball jerseys walked in, chatting heatedly. Their arms and legs—some muscular, some lean, some slender—were exposed, drawing many eyes.
The General Affairs Rep pushed up her glasses.
“Look at these big lugs. They have more strength than they know what to do with. Let’s make them do the heavy lifting!”
“Hey! You college boys over there!” she called out, waving her hand.
A group of confused, goofy faces looked over.
“The organization is handing down a sacred mission. We need one or two hot-blooded young men to help transport our vital supplies. Any volunteers?”
The boys looked at each other. It sounded like manual labor; they weren't stupid.
Si Jiang looked indifferent. With his hands in his pockets and a basketball tucked under his arm, he prepared to walk past.
The General Affairs Rep rolled her eyes at them in disdain. Then, she respectfully handed a pen to Zong Yan.
“Then we’ll just have to pick our champions. Sister Zong Yan, you choose. This is your harem of varying quality; feel free to flip whichever name tag you like.”
Si Jiang’s footsteps stopped.
Zong Yan twirled the pen once, her gaze sweeping over him.
Si Jiang gritted his teeth. He had no intention of doing that kind of grunt work.
Zong Yan withdrew her gaze, accustomed to Si Jiang maintaining his distance in public. She spoke calmly, “Then let’s go with—”
“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”
The Sports Representative stood up, flexing his toned muscles at them. “Such an important mission—it is my generation’s duty!”
He gave a cheeky grin, then stole a shy, darting glance at Zong Yan before quickly looking away.
One of the girls immediately let out a long, knowing “Oh—!”
Someone’s heart was fluttering.
Then again, someone like Sister Zong Yan was a rare find. That meathead Sports Rep actually had good taste for once. They had always assumed a muscle-brain like him would prefer the "internet celebrity" look.
Unaware that his feelings had been discovered, the Sports Rep continued, “Just Senior Zong Yan and I will be enough. I’m very strong.”
His intentions were as clear as day. The other guys caught on and stayed quiet.
The girls looked at Zong Yan. “Sister Zong Yan, are you satisfied with this fine specimen?”
A glint of amusement flashed in Zong Yan’s eyes. Entertained by their exaggerated antics, she was about to nod.
“No matter how strong you are, you only have two hands, right?”
“Can they compete with four wheels?”
Someone spoke up coldly. The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.
“Uh... we’re taking the bus,” the Sports Rep muttered, scratching his head as he looked at the class’s star player—Si Jiang.
“Taking that much stuff? Aren't you worried about inconveniencing other passengers?”
“What if something falls off along the way? Wouldn't that be a waste of the class budget?”
“Well? Say something.”
Si Jiang’s lips were pressed into a thin line as he directed a mocking glare at the Sports Rep.
“...”
Had he offended Si Jiang somehow? the Sports Rep couldn't help but wonder. Otherwise, why would they have been playing basketball and cooperating perfectly just moments ago, only for him to be suddenly attacked like this?
He could only answer cautiously, “I’m not that careless...”
“What if?”
The General Affairs Rep couldn't watch anymore. This felt like a scene where a high-ranking imperial consort was bullying a new concubine.
“Then does Senior Si Jiang have a suggestion?”
She really hadn't expected that such a handsome face would come with such a poisonous tongue.
Zong Yan twirled the pen in her hand again.
“I have a car,” Si Jiang answered stiffly.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 东营 | Dongying | A specific district or location mentioned in the text. |
| 体育委员 (体委) | Sports Representative | A student officer in charge of sports activities (Tiyu Weiyuan). |
| 生活委员 | General Affairs Representative | A student officer in charge of class logistics/daily life (Shenghuo Weiyuan). |
| 秀男 | Fine specimen / Show boy | Literally "show man," used here in a playful "harem selection" context. |
| 翻牌子 | Flip a name tag | A reference to Qing Dynasty emperors choosing a concubine for the night by flipping a jade tablet. |
| i人 | Introvert | Internet slang based on the MBTI "I" (Introversion) type. |
| 答应 | Concubine | A low-ranking consort in the imperial harem. |
