“Master Lin, the room is ready for you. Come in and rest.” Zhang Hong leaned against the doorframe, her silhouette softly illuminated by the warm light. The sheer white shirt she wore revealed the gentle curves of her figure, and her graceful stance carried an air of quiet allure.

  Lin Tao swallowed hard, feeling an unexpected dryness in his throat. He quickly nodded, trying to maintain his composure. “Oh… oh! Coming, coming!”

  Zhang Hong gently took his arm and led him inside. As she moved, Lin Tao couldn’t help but notice the warmth of her presence. In an attempt to steady himself, he asked, “Did you change the bedsheets?”

  “They weren’t changed, but they were covered with an extra bnket earlier. The sheets are clean,” Zhang Hong replied, her eyes gleaming pyfully.

  “Oh, but there’s no bnket now? Maybe I should check another room for one,” Lin Tao said, preparing to leave. However, Zhang Hong reached out and gently held him back. With a teasing smile, she murmured, “Do we really need a bnket? The temperature is just right.”

  She bit her lip lightly, casting a meaningful gnce at Lin Tao before leaning in closer. Her voice, soft as a whisper, brushed against his ear. “Besides… I doubt we’ll be needing one ter. It’s warm enough as it is.”

  A wave of heat rushed through Lin Tao, making it difficult to think clearly. Before he knew it, he found himself sitting by the bed, captivated by the way Zhang Hong’s eyes shimmered under the dim light. He chuckled awkwardly, trying to distract himself. “Uh… where’s my dog? Where did it go to sleep?”

  Zhang Hong let out a soft ugh. “Master Lin, you’re thinking about your dog at a time like this?” She gracefully extended a leg and nudged the door closed before walking up to him. Gazing at him with an intensity that made his heart race, she reached for the buttons of her shirt. Just as her fingers hesitated over them, she leaned forward, whispering near his ear, “Tonight, you only need to take care of yourself.”

  Lin Tao felt as if something had exploded in his mind. His st shred of restraint crumbled as he pulled Zhang Hong into his arms. She melted into his embrace, her ughter as light as a breeze. The night unfolded in a haze of whispered words and tender closeness.

  As the early morning light filtered through the curtains, Zhang Hong nestled against Lin Tao’s arm, her cheeks still tinged with the soft glow of warmth. She pyfully tapped his chest. “You’re terrible, you know that? This is only my second time ever… Even my ex-husband never convinced me before, yet you…”

  Lin Tao ughed, wrapping an arm around her. “I was just surprised, that’s all. You seemed so natural. You must learn quickly.”

  Zhang Hong chuckled, tilting her head up to look at him. “Honestly, I used to find the idea unappealing. But once I got used to it… it wasn’t so bad.” She picked up a napkin from the bedside table, dabbing at her lips before fshing him a mischievous smile. “It’s actually kind of fascinating.”

  Lin Tao shook his head with amusement. “So… you were married before?”

  Zhang Hong’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly masked it with a teasing gre. “What? Are you going to dislike me now?”

  “Of course not,” Lin Tao reassured her. “It’s just… you don’t seem like someone who’s been married. You look so youthful.”

  Zhang Hong rolled her eyes pyfully. “What, would you have preferred me to be different?” She gave his chest a light smack before resting her head back against him. “My marriage was never really real. He was a pilot, I was a flight attendant. He pursued me for years, and eventually, I gave in because I felt pressured by family and age. But we were never truly compatible.”

  She sighed, her voice ced with a hint of sadness. “And as it turns out, forced retionships rarely lead to happiness. Less than a year into our marriage, I caught him with another woman—one of the newer attendants from our crew. From then on, we lived separate lives, staying together in name only.”

  Lin Tao traced gentle circles on her back. “Do you still resent him?”

  “I did, at first,” Zhang Hong admitted. “I mean, think about it—I had everything going for me. I was beautiful, independent, well-educated, and loyal. And yet, he was the one who betrayed me. At the time, I was furious. But now… it barely even crosses my mind. Especially after everything that’s happened in the world. He might not even be alive anymore.” She let out a small, wistful ugh. “Who knows? Maybe he’s one of those mindless creatures wandering out there now.”

  She turned to look at Lin Tao, her gaze filled with vulnerability. “You’re a difficult man to keep an eye on, you know that? There are so many women out there watching you. I know I took my chance tonight, but if the others find out, they’ll probably tease me endlessly.” She tightened her hold around him. “But listen—you better not just abandon me after this. No matter where we go, you have to take me with you. I’m sticking to you for life now.”

  Lin Tao chuckled, stroking her hair affectionately. “I’m not that kind of person. I believe in mutual respect and understanding.”

  Zhang Hong smirked. “That’s easy for you to say. You might not go after them, but what if they come after you? I know I can’t stop that. But promise me this—even if you end up with others, I want to be the one you love most.”

  Lin Tao sighed with a smile. “You’re thirty years old and still acting like a little girl.”

  “Age has nothing to do with it,” Zhang Hong huffed. “No matter how old a woman gets, she’ll always be like a young girl in front of the man she loves. Besides, I’m only a year or two older than you. You should feel lucky!”

  Lin Tao gnced at the time and patted her pyfully. “It’s te. I need to switch shifts with the others.”

  Zhang Hong pouted and clung to him. “Just a little longer. They can wait.”

  “I can’t,” Lin Tao grinned. “If I stay, I might not be able to leave at all.”

  Zhang Hong’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she pulled him back down. “Then don’t leave,” she murmured. “Stay a little longer… just for me.”

  Lin Tao sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. “You little temptress… fine, you win.”

  As he surrendered to her embrace, Zhang Hong’s delighted ughter filled the quiet room, wrapping them both in the warmth of the moment.