Tonight, a bright moon hung high in the sky, and a gentle evening breeze whispered through the air. It was the perfect moment for moon-gazing and stargazing.
The “old spot” Shen An had mentioned wasn’t anything novel or strange. It was the rooftop of the teaching building, a place the two of them had visited before.
Among all the teaching buildings in the Central District, this one was the only one that didn’t lock its doors at night.
The doors might have stayed open, but all the lights were turned off, leaving the place in pitch blackness. It was so dark that even finding the stairs was a challenge.
Under those conditions, the elevators naturally weren’t running.
So when Shen An realized what was going on, he immediately wanted to turn tail and run.
Unfortunately, Chen Nannan grabbed him firmly and yanked him back. She pouted with righteous indignation. “Didn’t you say we were going to watch the moon? Why are you running away?”
Shen An’s mouth twitched. “I do want to watch the moon, but I don’t want to climb dozens of flights of stairs.”
“How about we pick somewhere else instead? Like the sports field over there. The lighting’s pretty good too.”
But Chen Nannan was stubbornly determined. She shook her head firmly. “It’s just a few flights of stairs. I’m a girl and I’m not scared. Why are you, a boy, afraid?”
Shen An narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying you’re pretty brave, huh?”
Chen Nannan let out a cute huff, released her grip on him, and resolutely started up the stairs. “I’m just not as weak as you.”
“Alright, alright. Then I’ll risk my life to keep a lady company—oh wait, I mean Senior Sister.”
With Shen An’s currently enhanced physique, dozens of flights of stairs were no big deal for him.
He simply didn’t want Chen Nannan to wear herself out.
But since she was showing such resolve, he had no choice but to humor her. He silently followed her up the stairs.
Then, in the enveloping darkness, the two fools made their way step by step toward the rooftop. They borrowed the faint moonlight filtering in through the windows.
They reached the tenth floor.
Shen An: “Senior Sister? How’s it going? Want to take a break?”
Chen Nannan: “Only the tenth floor and you’re tired already? You need to work out more.”
They reached the fifteenth floor.
Shen An: “Senior Sister, the light seems a bit brighter over here.”
Chen Nannan: “Huff~ huff~ Really? I didn’t notice.”
They reached the twentieth floor.
Shen An was still full of energy, even casually commenting on the layout of the stairwell.
But Chen Nannan…
Chen Nannan: “Are… are you tired?”
Shen An: “Me? Not at all.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his hand was viciously pinched.
Chen Nannan stubbornly lifted her little face, her lips pouting slightly.
Shen An immediately changed his tune. “Tired. I’m exhausted.”
Chen Nannan let out a light hum. “I’m a bit tired too. How about we rest for a bit?”
The moonlight streaming in from the window was their only source of light.
She stood by the window, and in its glow, Shen An could clearly see her face.
Sweat droplets glistened on her forehead and cheeks, and her nose and cheeks were flushed bright red.
Chen Nannan wasn’t just a little tired—she was utterly spent.
Yet she was holding on strong, pretending she was only somewhat fatigued.
A teasing smile tugged at Shen An’s lips. “Taking a break already? I think we can keep going. The rooftop isn’t far now. We can rest when we get there.”
Chen Nannan gritted her teeth inwardly, hating him to her core.
“Senior Sister? If you can’t keep going, we can rest right here.”
Shen An said it with feigned concern.
Chen Nannan pressed her lips together, panting heavily. She gritted out, “Not tired! Let’s keep going.”
With that, as if to prove her stamina, she switched to big strides, even taking stairs two at a time.
And so they pressed on for a few more floors.
By the twenty-fourth floor, Chen Nannan was completely spent. She had no strength left.
She’d been running low around the twentieth floor, but her stubborn big steps had only accelerated the drain.
Luckily, just before her strength gave out entirely, she caught herself. She gripped the handrail tightly and slowly squatted down.
Otherwise, who knew what kind of mishap might have occurred.
Her hair was damp with sweat, and her fair skin was flushed a vivid red—even in the darkness, it stood out.
Faced with Shen An’s playfully appraising gaze, she shot back a look full of deep resentment.
He slowly crouched down, his tone downright infuriating. “Tired now?”
Chen Nannan rolled her eyes, not even wanting to acknowledge the jerk.
The budding warmth of their intimate moment had been mostly ruined by his suicidal teasing. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to kick him down the stairs.
Shen An chuckled and reached out to tousle her damp hair. “It’s all wet. You haven’t showered yet, have you, Senior Sister?”
Chen Nannan panted. “Can you just be quiet and let me rest?”
“No, this is exactly what I wanted.”
Shen An shook his head, looking at her with utmost seriousness.
Chen Nannan’s mouth twitched, her voice hoarse. “What’s in it for you if I drop dead from exhaustion?”
“Plenty.”
The corners of Shen An’s mouth curved up. “This way, you won’t have the strength to resist me.”
Huh?
Chen Nannan blinked in confusion. Had she heard that right? Resist?
She soon found out exactly what Shen An had in mind.
He reached out, wrapped one arm around her waist and the other under her knees, then stood up abruptly. “Hold on tight.”
Before Chen Nannan could react, her little hands moved faster than her brain. Instinctively, she grabbed the back of his neck.
Shen An carried Chen Nannan upward, one step at a time.
Seeing the unabashed smile on his face, Chen Nannan gradually pieced it together from her daze.
She let out a helpless laugh. “So this was your plan? Wear me out so you could carry me the rest of the way?”
“Yep.”
Shen An saw nothing wrong with his strategy.
He explained earnestly, “With your stubborn personality, Senior Sister, if I’d offered to carry you from the start, you definitely would’ve refused.”
“So I had to make you face the harsh reality first. That way, you’d give in!”
The harsh reality…
Chen Nannan was equal parts exasperated and amused by the odd phrasing.
But just a slight tilt of her head brought his face into view, and in the dim light tinged with faint glow, it sent a strange flutter through her heart.
She hugged him tighter, pressing close to his chest. “Aren’t you tired?”
“Not really.”
Shen An arched a brow. “Though, Senior Sister, you could stand to lose a little weight.”
“You jerk!”
Chen Nannan pinched him in shy annoyance right away. “You’re the fat one!”
“I’m… I’m only fifty kilos! Way lighter than you!”
Shen An shrugged. “But I’m six foot one.”
Chen Nannan: …
She huffed lightly. “Do you have to die if you don’t talk?”
“Alright, then. I’ll shut up.”
Shen An obediently fell silent. In the quiet stairwell, only the crisp sound of his footsteps echoed.
A moment later, Chen Nannan murmured softly, “Am I really that heavy?”
Shen An paused, looking down into her eyes. “Actually, no. Carrying you feels like nothing. I was just teasing earlier.”
Chen Nannan pouted. “Now I feel like you’re the one lying.”
“Hey, if I say you’re heavy, you’re not happy. If I say you’re not, you don’t believe me. You’re impossible to please.”
Shen An chuckled lightly.
Chen Nannan’s gaze flickered as she spoke softly. “That’s because you tease me. If you tease me, I’ll start doubting you.”
“If you’d been honest from the start, I wouldn’t be so suspicious.”
Shen An narrowed his eyes. “You’re right, but I just can’t help it.”
“Hm? Can’t help what?”
“Can’t help wanting to bully you.” As he spoke, the hand wrapped around her waist gave the soft flesh there a gentle pinch.
The double assault of words and touch made Chen Nannan’s body tremble sharply. A mix of shyness and embarrassment colored her voice. “Shut up.”
“Tch, are you embarrassed, Senior Sister?”
“Shut up, shut up, shut up!!” Chen Nannan reached out with her little hand and clamped it firmly over his mouth.
“Mmph, you… be careful. We might fall.”
Startled by her antics, Shen An quickly steadied himself, afraid they’d both tumble down.
“Then be quiet!”
“Alright, I won’t say a word.”
“Hmph.”
Only then did Chen Nannan smugly withdraw her hand, placing it back on the nape of his neck and holding tight.
Taking advantage of his rare silence, Chen Nannan pressed her cheek to his chest again, as if listening to his heartbeat.
But oddly, as she listened, she noticed something strange about Shen An’s heartbeat.
It was faint, and the rhythm and frequency seemed off from a normal person’s.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it—the sound was too unclear.
What’s wrong?
Worry bubbled up in Chen Nannan. She lifted her head slightly and looked at his face.
Shen An looked down, meeting her concerned eyes.
He raised a brow, puzzled.
But true to his principle of silence, he didn’t speak.
Chen Nannan pressed her lips together, asking with concern, “Your… your heartbeat…”
“Hm? What’s wrong with my heartbeat?” Shen An finally spoke now that she’d asked.
“I…”
Chen Nannan bit her lip. “I don’t know how to explain it, but your heartbeat… it doesn’t seem normal.”
“Do you… have something… different about you?”
“Hah?”
Shen An froze.
No way…
He frowned. “I’ll set you down first, Senior Sister. Be careful.”
“Okay.”
Chen Nannan steadied herself against the wall. Her toes touched down slowly, and then she let go.
Then Shen An pressed his hand to his chest, right over his heart, feeling his heartbeat.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
That familiar rhythm…
Shen An’s face instantly darkened.
Chen Nannan watched him cautiously. Seeing his grim expression, her heart clenched. She couldn’t help but grab his hand. “What’s wrong? Should we go to the hospital and get it checked?”
“Were you listening right here?” Shen An asked, pointing to the spot.
“Uh…” Chen Nannan gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let go.
“We’re done for…”
He murmured.
“You… what’s really wrong?” Panic flickered across Chen Nannan’s face, her voice trembling. “Let’s go to the hospital right now. Come on, let’s go.”
Shen An sighed. “No need… I’m fine.”
“How can you say you’re fine?” Chen Nannan said urgently. “You’re trying to fool me again, aren’t you?”
“No, I really am fine.”
Shen An’s eyes shifted, and he spoke softly. “I just wanted to tell you… I think you listened to the wrong spot.”
Chen Nannan: ???
Her big eyes blinked with thick confusion.
What did he mean?
The corners of Shen An’s mouth quirked up. He pulled Chen Nannan’s little face close and pressed her cheek against the left side of his chest.
“Listen here.”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The heartbeat rang out, crisp as drumbeats.
Chen Nannan listened intently for a full minute… then fell silent.
Shen An cleared his throat lightly. “Want to go to the hospital?”
Chen Nannan bowed her head. “Let’s head upstairs first.”
“No, I think you should still get checked out at the hospital.” Shen An looked utterly serious.
“What hospital?!” Chen Nannan snapped, embarrassed and annoyed. “You’re fine!”
“No, I mean, don’t you think you should get yourself checked?”
Pfft.
Shen An couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Aaah! I’m gonna strangle you, you jerk!”
Chen Nannan’s little face flushed bright red. Her small hands pounded furiously against Shen An’s body.
She…
She had listened to the wrong side.
Shen An laughed so hard he could barely catch his breath. But with his tough build, he just stood there letting her pummel him. In the end, Chen Nannan tired herself out first.
She stomped her foot in humiliated fury, her little face taut as she huffed. “Squat down.”
“Huh?”
“Squat!”
“Oh.” Shen An obediently crouched down.
Chen Nannan lifted her chin proudly, then leapt onto his back with a plop.
Shen An didn’t budge, hoisting her up steadily. “You like this position, huh?”
Chen Nannan’s face was still red. “As if! Look how late it is—stop messing around.”
“But the North District Apartment doesn’t have a curfew.”
“I don’t care. I have class tomorrow!”
Alright, alright. Shen An forgave her tsundere outburst.
He gripped her thighs firmly and kept climbing.
Meanwhile, Chen Nannan, hiding behind him, felt her face burning.
Had she lost her mind?
How could she mix up the position?
She had no idea what had come over her earlier—just some inexplicable trance, leaving her utterly dazed.
And she’d chosen to be carried on his back instead of in his arms.
For one thing, she didn’t want him seeing her current blushing mess of a face.
For another, piggyback was way less taxing on his strength than a bridal carry.
She did care about him, after all.
If only his mouth could stay shut in time—then she’d care even more.
“By the way, Senior Sister, I’ve got a suggestion,” Shen An said suddenly, his voice light.
From behind him, Chen Nannan grumbled, “I don’t wanna hear it. It’s definitely not a good one.”
“Oh~”
Shen An actually dropped it.
Chen Nannan grabbed his shoulder in annoyance. “What suggestion?”
“I was thinking… next time you want a piggyback, could you wear shorts?”
As he spoke, he even pinched her thigh, wrapped snugly in denim.
Chen Nannan clenched her teeth in silence and let her actions speak: a perfect chokehold locked right in.
Shen An: Mmph mmph mmph.
“Shut up,” Chen Nannan said, mortified.
“I… I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant the jeans are chafing my hands…”
“Shut up!!!”
