I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Gu Yan gripped her waist and flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.

The movements were swift and clean, giving her no time to react.

When Shu Zi came to her senses, she was already lying on her back on the bed, with his shadow looming over her.

He rested one hand on her ear, while the other remained on her waist, his palm pressed against her skin through the thin nightgown, its temperature shockingly hot.

Shu Zi's breath hitched.

It seems... I've gotten into trouble.

She instinctively wanted to shrink back, but there was nowhere to retreat.

In the darkness, she couldn't see his expression, but she could feel his breath as he leaned down, warm against her cheek, carrying a dangerous, languid smile.

His voice came from above, low and slightly hoarse: "Have you touched enough?"

Shu Zi's eyelashes trembled, her heart pounded wildly, and for some reason, she blurted out, "No."

Gu Yan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to answer that way.

In the darkness, she felt his breathing seem a little heavier.

Then he spoke, his voice even lower than before, the last syllable sinking slightly, his voice incredibly hoarse: "Nuonuo."

"Mmm," Shu Zi responded softly.

She looked up at him: "Gu Yan, I want to kiss you, what should I do?"

She didn't speak again, but met his gaze in the darkness, then slightly raised her head and gently touched the corner of his mouth with her lips.

She touched it and then tried to back away.

But Gu Yan didn't let her back out.

Just as she was about to leave, he raised the hand that was supporting her on the side, gripped the back of her neck, and dug his fingertips into her hair. The force was not strong, but it carried an unyielding meaning.

He pulled her back towards him, lowered his head, and kissed her.

He took her lower lip into his mouth, sucked on it gently, and then his tongue slowly traced along the seam of her lips, as if tracing her shape, or as if waiting for her to open it for him.

Shu Zi's breathing became completely disordered, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the collar of his shirt.

She felt his tongue push against her teeth, probe in, entwine with her tongue, and slowly and deeply stir.

The kiss wasn't rushed, but it carried a possessiveness that made her weak in the knees, as if it wanted to devour her whole.

Her scalp tingled from the kiss, and her fingers clenched even tighter.

His hand slid from the back of her neck to her back, his palm burning hot through her thin nightgown, pressing down inch by inch, drawing her closer to him.

She could almost feel the warmth of his chest seeping through her clothes onto her skin, an undeniable presence.

As the kiss deepened, Shu Zi's breathing became more and more rapid, and soft sobs escaped from her nose, as if she could no longer bear it.

Gu Yan noticed, and stepped back slightly, his lips still pressed against hers, and whispered:

"Baby, breathe."

His voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

Shu Zi gasped for breath, still groggy, and before she could catch her breath, he pressed down on her again.

This time it was gentler than before, but still tender, as if trying to make up for the brief separation.

It took him a long time before he finally let her go.

Shu Zi lay on her back on the bed, her chest heaving violently, her lips slightly swollen and glistening with moisture.

Gu Yan leaned over her, looking down at her.

In the darkness, his thumb gently stroked her burning cheek, a soothing touch, his voice even hoarser than before, carrying a restrained smile:

"Now I know what to do."

Shu Zi's eyes were still unfocused, and she seemed to have all her strength drained away, becoming as limp as a puddle of water.

Hearing his words, her ears burned, but she retorted defiantly:

"...So what if I know?"

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Yan lowered his head and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

His breath was hot, hitting the skin above her collarbone with a suppressed, uneven rhythm.

His arms were still wrapped tightly around her waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his bones, but then he suddenly stopped at a certain critical point.

He didn't move again, just buried his face in her neck.

Shu Zi froze in his arms, able to feel his tense muscles and suppressed breathing, and could clearly sense the changes in his body.

Her cheeks were burning hot. Her hand hovered behind him. After hesitating for a moment, she gently lowered it and placed it on his back. She didn't use any force; she just let it rest.

After a long while, Gu Yan's voice finally came out muffled from the crook of her neck, carrying a lingering hoarseness and a hint of helpless bitterness:

"...Baby, don't move, let me rest for a bit."

"you……"

She said just one word, and I could feel the changes in his body becoming even more obvious.

She didn't dare to move or speak.

After a while, Gu Yan seemed to have finally recovered.

But he didn't look up immediately. Instead, he gently nuzzled against her neck, like a large dog making its final farewell.

Then he slowly propped himself up and looked down at her.

His expression was difficult to discern in the darkness, but his voice had regained about 70-80% of its usual composure, though it still carried a slight hoarseness.

"Were you scared?"

Shu Zi shook her head, then nodded, and finally turned her face away from him, her voice muffled: "...No."

Gu Yan chuckled softly.

He rolled over, got off her, and lay back down beside her.

Then he reached out and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head:

"Go to sleep, I won't bother you anymore."

Shu Zi's heart was still racing even as he held her in his arms.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "...Gu Yan."

"Um?"

"What did you just call me?"

Gu Yan remained silent for a moment.

Then she felt a low chuckle from his chest, his voice coming down from above her head, lazy: "Baby."

Shu Zi's face instantly flushed red.

Gu Yan's smile deepened, and he tightened his arms around her, holding her more securely.

Shu Zi was quiet for a while and felt his breathing gradually become steady.

She thought he was about to fall asleep, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "...Gu Yan."

"Um."

He responded quickly, his voice low and slightly nasal, not like he was asleep.

Shu Zi paused, then called out again, "Gu Yan."

This time, he did not respond immediately.

But the arms around her waist tightened, and then he flipped her over so she was facing him.

The action came so suddenly that Shu Zi hadn't even had time to react before she met his gaze.

His eyes were still clear in the darkness, looking down at her with a deep, dark gaze.

He still had one hand on her waist, his fingertips lightly brushing against the edge of her clothes, sending a slight shiver down her spine.

His voice came from above, lower than before, with a hint of a half-smile:

"Can't sleep? How about we do something else?"