Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

After an unknown amount of time, Pei Yu'an gradually stopped moving.

He buried his face deep in the crook of her neck, his breathing heavy and rapid, his hot breath brushing against her sweaty skin.

His fingertips lingered on her bare back, with a languid and fond aftertaste, gently tracing the slightly undulating lines of her spine.

"Sister Liu..." he called her in a hoarse voice, his tone filled with undisguised satisfaction and sighs.

Liu Yunshu was completely exhausted and it took her a while to recover.

Gathering a bit of strength, I reached out and gave his strong forearm a light pinch.

She glared at him, her eyes still misty with tears, a mixture of shame and anger, but her gaze was weak and lacked any real threat.

"You did that on purpose!"

She made her accusation in a low voice, her voice still slightly hoarse from the emotion she was experiencing.

If he hadn't deliberately caused trouble, she wouldn't have lost her composure on the phone...

Pei Yu'an chuckled softly, his chest heaving with a mischievous smugness.

He opened his mouth and gently bit a strand of her slightly damp hair, murmuring like a puppy whining:

"It's because Sister Liu's voice was so alluring when she was on the phone just now."

He paused, then tightened his grip on her, almost as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones, his tone filled with intense possessiveness.

"Besides, I just want you to only see me."

Liu Yunshu turned her head to the side and let out a soft snort from her nose as a response, but did not rebuke her further.

Seeing this, Pei Yu'an took advantage of the situation and snuggled closer to her soft embrace.

He reached out and pulled a few tissues from the bar, gently wiping away the fine beads of sweat remaining on her forehead and neck.

His tone was so soft it was almost dripping with tenderness, carrying a cautious, ingratiating quality.

"Sister Liu, don't be angry. I'll treat you to Western food tonight, okay? That French restaurant you said you wanted to try last time."

Liu Yunshu glanced at him sideways, and in the blink of her eyes, most of her embarrassment and annoyance had already dissipated, leaving only a few traces of helplessness and coquettishness.

"You only know how to coax me with food."

Even so, she subtly loosened her grip on the edge of his hoodie, which was originally her fingertips, thus tacitly agreeing to his suggestion.

Pei Yu'an immediately beamed, like a puppy that had just received a reward, and leaned down to give her a loud kiss on the corner of her lips, making a "cheep" sound.

"I'll book a table right now!"

As he spoke, he reached for his phone, but the arm around her waist remained tightly wrapped around her, showing no sign of loosening its grip.

"Let go of me first," Liu Yunshu patted his taut forearm, her tone tinged with a helpless indulgence.

"I feel sticky and uncomfortable, so I need to take a shower, change my clothes, and pack my luggage."

She paused, then looked up at him, deliberately putting on a stern face.

"Also, tidy this place up, don't leave any... messy traces."

Pei Yu'an nodded hurriedly, saying "okay" as he picked her up and carried her steadily toward the bedroom.

"I'll get Sister Liu some clean clothes," he said matter-of-factly.

As he passed the living room sofa, his gaze fell upon the overturned picture frame, and his eyes suddenly darkened.

Without making a sound, he gently pushed the photo frame further into the shadows under the sofa with his toes.

He muttered in a low voice, his tone filled with disgust, "I never want to see that thing again."

Liu Yunshu was amused by his childish behavior and reached out to ruffle his slightly messy black hair.

"Stop fooling around, put me down right now."

Pei Yu'an gently put her down at the bedroom door as instructed, his eyes shining brightly with a hint of slyness.

"I'll be guarding the door while Sister Liu changes clothes, I promise I won't peek... So, don't lock the door."

"You dare to peek, just try it."

Liu Yunshu snorted softly, forcefully pulled her hand back, and clicked the door lock in front of him, blocking his burning gaze.

However, the moment the door was completely closed, she leaned against it and couldn't help but smile, a faint but genuine smile spreading across her eyes.

Outside the door, Pei Yu'an unconsciously rubbed his fingertips together, savoring the lingering warmth and softness of her touch.

His lips couldn't help but curve upwards, and the smile overflowed from his eyes, impossible to hide.

He hummed an off-key song in high spirits, turned around and walked back to the living room, where he quickly began to clean up the "battlefield".

He put the overturned water glass back in its place and carefully smoothed out every wrinkle on the crumpled tablecloth.

As he tidied up the bar stool where the two had been arguing, he noticed a small puddle of water on the clean floor.

He first curled the corners of his mouth smugly before turning around and going into the bathroom to get a damp rag.

He squatted on the ground and carefully wiped it several times.

Only when the floor tile was so shiny it could reflect a mirror, leaving no trace of ambiguity, did he straighten up with satisfaction.

He had just washed and hung the rag to dry when the bedroom door clicked open from the inside.

Liu Yunshu had already changed her outfit; the smooth texture of her off-white silk shirt made her skin appear even whiter.

Pair it with khaki straight-leg pants for a neat and stylish look.

Her previously loose, wavy hair was loosely tied into a low ponytail.

She has lost some of the dazzling glamour of her previous crimson dress, but gained a more intellectual and dashing air of nonchalance.

Pei Yu'an's eyes lit up, and he almost immediately leaned over, his amazement undisguised.

"Sister Liu looks so good in this! So cool yet so gentle, like...like she stepped right out of a magazine!"

Liu Yunshu raised an eyebrow and smiled, reaching out to straighten the hoodie of his sweatshirt, which had been slightly askew from being rubbed against it, her tone carrying her usual teasing:

"You're such a chatterbox. Have you packed everything?"

"Make sure it's spotless! Restore it to its original state!"

Pei Yu'an patted his chest to assure them, then picked up the suitcase placed in the corner like a treasure and strode towards the entrance.

"Sister Liu, have you gathered everything you needed? Give me the heavy stuff."

He has amazing arm strength, and he can lift a suitcase with one hand with ease.

His other hand reached out naturally and firmly grasped hers, their fingers intertwined.

After settling in at the bar, the two went to the elegant French restaurant as agreed.

Soft lighting, elegant surroundings, and the aroma of food and red wine filling the air.

"Sister Liu..."

Pei Yu'an put down his knife and fork, leaned forward slightly, and looked on with anticipation in his eyes.

"Our school has a pretty important basketball league finals in a few days... Do you want to come watch me play?"

He was cutting the filet mignon on his plate, but his movements were somewhat absent-minded, his eyes fixed on her.

Liu Yunshu gracefully forked a piece of sweet asparagus and put it in her mouth.

Seeing his nervous yet excited expression, the smile in her eyes deepened, and she deliberately dragged out her words: "What? Want me to be your cheerleader?"

"I want to! I really want to!"

Pei Yu'an nodded vigorously, his eyes shining even brighter, almost overflowing with light.

"I'll give it my all and win the scoring title to prove you wrong!"

As he spoke, he excitedly raised his hand and made a shooting motion in the air.

His youthful spirit drew the attention of guests at the next table.

Liu Yunshu was amused by his undisguised enthusiasm and gently tapped the back of his hand with her fingertips.

"Tone it down, Pei, this is a Western restaurant."

His words carried a slight reproach, but his tone was very gentle.

"Okay, I'll go. What time exactly? I'll arrange things at the bar in advance."

Pei Yu'an's face instantly broke into a big, dazzling smile, and he hurriedly reported the time.

"Next Saturday at 2 PM! The stadium! I've reserved the best seat for you in the first row, absolutely the closest to me!"

He excitedly cut off the best piece of steak from his plate and eagerly offered it to her lips.

"Sister Liu, eat more to replenish your energy, so you can cheer me on loudly when the time comes!"

A gentle smile spread across Liu Yunshu's eyes as she lowered her head and took a small bite.

After chewing slowly and carefully, she looked up at him with a hint of mockery.

"I know, Xiao Pei. Don't get so nervous that your hands and feet go numb and you embarrass me."

"Absolutely not! I promise!"

Pei Yu'an patted his chest confidently and then hurriedly poured her some lemon water.

"I'll wear jersey number 17, and I'll be the most eye-catching one! Oh, and after the game, we can go to that dessert shop you like and celebrate with tiramisu!"

The two chatted and ate as the sun set outside the window, its warm golden rays streaming in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

A soft glow outlined each other's silhouettes, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and soft, sweet whispers.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before long, the day of the competition arrived, and Liu Yunshu came as instructed.

She changed into a comfortable tracksuit, tied her long hair up, and wore a black baseball cap.

The brim of the hat was pulled down slightly, covering part of the eyebrows and eyes, but it made the jawline appear even more delicate and smooth.

She arrived at the stadium ten minutes early, and the stands were already bustling with noise and excitement.

Pei Yu'an indeed reserved a seat for her in the very center of the first row.

A bottle of chilled mineral water, steaming cold, was thoughtfully placed next to it, with fine water droplets condensing on its surface.

Liu Yunshu walked over and sat down, looking up at the arena.

Pei Yu'an was doing warm-up exercises with his teammates.

The striking red number 17 jersey, worn by his tall and upright figure, made him appear even more energetic.

He dribbles, jumps, and shoots with fluid and powerful movements, each step brimming with the sharpness and vitality unique to young people.

His gaze kept drifting towards the first row of the stands, a barely perceptible anxiety in his eyes, clearly as he searched for her.