“How many women have you slept with?” Lu Xiaoxiao asked out of the blue.
Lin Cheng had just chugged a big mouthful of beer when her question made his eyes bulge. He nearly choked to death, turning to stare at her. “Why do you wanna know that?”
“Curiosity.”
“I’ll satisfy your curiosity, but you’ve gotta return the favor. Fair trade.” Lin Cheng tilted his head.
“Fine.”
Lin Cheng scratched his head, then started counting on his fingers. After running out, he switched to counting his knuckles, mumbling under his breath for a good while before finally turning to Lu Xiaoxiao. “Three.”
“Three?” Lu Xiaoxiao let out a cold laugh, not buying it for a second.
“First off, you already think I’m a total scumbag deep down. Second, I’ve got zero interest in hitting on you—I even taught you my secret technique. Once you know the principle behind it, it’s cracked wide open. So, no reason for me to lie.”
“You… don’t seem like the type.” Lu Xiaoxiao’s skepticism was well-founded. As she said it, her eyes darted away just a little.
Sure, she’d gotten drunk that night, but her memory of what happened wasn’t all that fuzzy. She just remembered Lin Cheng pushing her away, and then her inexplicable competitive streak drawing her closer. After that, she’d slept like a baby—clearly her first time.
She’d looked it up out of curiosity before. Most girls’ first experiences weren’t exactly pleasant. But that night… Now that she thought about it, Lu Xiaoxiao quietly pressed her legs together.
He was so good at kissing, so good at teasing, so good at…
“Maybe because one of the first two did it with me too many, many, many, many, many times.” Lin Cheng strung out five “manys.”
“And then?”
“And then… we got sick of each other and just tossed one another aside.” Lin Cheng shrugged innocently.
“How many relationships have you been in?” Lu Xiaoxiao pressed.
Lin Cheng looked up at the sky. A few seconds later, he let out a soft sigh. “What counts as a relationship?”
“Mutually acknowledging it and telling your social circles.”
Lin Cheng shook his head. “Then none.”
“Doubt it.”
“I told you, no reason to lie! Why would I make up something kinda embarrassing just to fool you?” Lin Cheng looked a tiny bit unhinged.
“So you and that woman you did it ‘many, many times’ with—you weren’t dating?”
“Nope. I was the one getting drained dry.” Lin Cheng replied wistfully.
“Tell me about it.”
“That’s another tragic tale of heartbreak. Back when I was seventeen or eighteen, I was still a pure, innocent boy. Then one day, a wicked woman captured and defiled me. Later, she dumped me, and that’s how I turned into… this.” Lin Cheng said it all with a goofy grin, utterly unconvincing.
… Definitely not the truth.
Lu Xiaoxiao wasn’t buying it anyway. She pursed her lips. He didn’t seem eager to elaborate. “What about the third one?”
“Oh… that was just once. Total fluke.”
…And you absolutely, positively do not want to know who she is, Lin Cheng muttered to himself.
Lu Xiaoxiao doubted Lin Cheng’s answers, but he really had no reason to lie. She had a ton more questions, but suddenly she spotted a logical hole.
“Wait—you used to be kept by a rich lady, right?”
“Yeah, but we only connected on a spiritual level. No physical stuff.”
“Didn’t you say the scars on your body were from her husband beating you?”
Lin Cheng gave her a wry look. “For a guy, stealing his woman’s heart is way scarier than just sleeping with her. It’s not just killing the body—you’ve gotta destroy the soul too… I barely escaped with my life back then.”
Lu Xiaoxiao mulled it over. Made sense. Her logic chain was almost complete, just one piece missing. She shot Lin Cheng a sideways glance. “But don’t you still have that one rich lady you keep in touch with?”
“She’s asexual, into platonic love. Keeps dragging me off to debate literature, philosophy, that kinda thing. To keep her happy, I had to cram a bunch of books. Good thing she’s generous with cash and doesn’t crave my body.”
“But last time you said her husband came home and you didn’t even have time to get dressed?”
“We were both naked, gazing into each other’s souls while discussing the meaning of spirit and reality. It’s purer that way. You have no idea how tough that gig is—one slip-up and you’re fired. Heh, women are terrifying.”
“You sure you’re not just spinning stories to mess with me?” Lu Xiaoxiao harbored doubts.
She’d heard plenty of weird kinks in her circles—people with money and power who chased mental thrills when the usual stuff got boring.
But Lin Cheng, talking complete bullshit like that, didn’t seem genuine.
“Believe it or not, up to you.” Lin Cheng didn’t care. He rubbed his hands eagerly. “My turn to ask.”
Lu Xiaoxiao let out a soft hum, tilting her chin up, her eyes full of undisguised disdain.
“This is kinda embarrassing, might be too forward, but… your…”
“White, lace-trimmed, cute girly style. Next question.” Lu Xiaoxiao cut him off, seizing the initiative.
Lin Cheng paused, his lips curving up. “What if that’s not what I was gonna ask?”
“Then just keep going.” Lu Xiaoxiao’s expression stayed calm. She turned her face back to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked in midair, and Lin Cheng caught the spark of competition in hers.
“So… if I kissed you right now, would you slap me?”
Lu Xiaoxiao’s lips curved. “You can try.”
Heh, with that smile on her face right now, trying would mean instant death.
“Is it because it’s not romantic enough?”
“What’s romantic?” Lu Xiaoxiao shot back.
“It’s that divine, heaven-sent moment. Like now—the streetlights, the mountaintop, the evening breeze. Everything so serene. Or if a sudden downpour shattered it all—that’s my idea of romantic.”
“That might fool little girls.”
“So, rejected?” Lin Cheng said wistfully.
“Unless it starts snowing right now.” Lu Xiaoxiao sneered.
“It’s March. Snow in March?” Lin Cheng looked glum. “You accepted my roses today—that was my romantic gesture.”
“Money transferred.”
“Oh, total of 408.” Lin Cheng pulled out his phone for her to scan his friend-add code. Lu Xiaoxiao’s lips quirked up again. “You scan me.”
“No, you scan me.”
“You scan me.”
“Then no add.” Lin Cheng got weirdly stubborn.
“Fine, no add.” Lu Xiaoxiao crossed her arms.
Lin Cheng huffed, looking up at the moon. But the moon was fading, hiding behind dark clouds. The wind picked up, strong enough that Lu Xiaoxiao felt a chill.
“Looks like rain. You cold?”
“Cold.”
“Oh.”
Lin Cheng quietly buttoned up his suit jacket. “Me too.”
Lu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth slightly. She checked her phone—the forecast said light rain tonight. But this wind felt like a storm brewing. The trees in the woods rustled wildly, the gusts growing fiercer, like a deluge was coming.
It was clearly spring.
The wind forced Lu Xiaoxiao to press down her skirt hem lightly. Her dark hair whipped around, a few strands brushing Lin Cheng’s face, tickling him.
The roar of wind-tossed leaves filled her ears. The streetlight shadows swayed. Lu Xiaoxiao stared into the darkness ahead. Pear blossoms scattered on the ground were swept up by the gale, petals filling the air like a dreamlike, fragile flurry in the dim light.
Something clicked for her, and she zoned out for a second. Beside her, Lin Cheng suddenly stood and walked out of the gazebo.
He reached the edge and murmured softly, “It’s snowing.”
White petals drifted into the gazebo too, like a real snowfall. Thunder rumbled. Lightning cracked the night sky, lighting the world as bright as day. In that instant, Lin Cheng turned to look at her.
Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes met his.
She held her breath. The scene felt surreal, and Lin Cheng’s gaze was profoundly unreadable. Her fingers clutched her skirt hem. Just as she opened her mouth, Lin Cheng bolted from the gazebo.
“Where are you going?”
“Got something in the car! Don’t let it get wet!”
He dashed back soon after, cradling a small Bluetooth speaker.
Lin Cheng connected his phone to it and sat beside Lu Xiaoxiao again. He started playing music. She had no clue what he was up to—his playlist was bizarre. She figured maybe some pure instrumental, or blues jazz, or at worst a pop hit. Instead, out blared “You Spin Me Round.”
Paired with his suit, it was pure magical realism.
Lin Cheng stood, unbuttoned his jacket, and handed it to Lu Xiaoxiao. She hesitated one second before taking it and slipping it on. She fastened the buttons, easing the chill a bit.
…She wasn’t really that cold.
…But for some reason, she’d taken it without thinking. Did she want to see him shivering?
…Was that it? Yeah… right? Or not? Yeah?
“What’s with this crap song…” Lu Xiaoxiao eyed him wistfully, clearly unimpressed with his choice.
“Nah, rain sounds make me sleepy. Gotta blast something upbeat.”
“What kinda problem is that?”
“Two years back, bad insomnia. I hunted down nature rain sounds and white noise tracks. Now any rain at night knocks me right out… What if I pass out—who’s driving you down the mountain?”
Lin Cheng’s voice held a touch of helplessness, so Lu Xiaoxiao dropped the protest. His jacket was warm on her. She sneaked a glance at him. He sat obediently, his white shirt looking thin. His hands rested on his thighs, eyes fixed seriously on the rain ahead. The petals had stopped falling. The snow was over.
“How’s it suddenly pouring like this…” Lu Xiaoxiao muttered softly.
“Who knows?” Lin Cheng gave a helpless smile, picked up the last of the beer, and drained it. Softly, he said, “I’ll drive you home once the rain stops.”
