Don't

Seeing that Lin Yu enjoyed the meal, Xia Muzhu felt happy as well.

She tucked the strands of black hair clinging to the side of her face behind her ear, then pulled a tissue from the box to dab the light sweat on her forehead. She explained to Lin Yu,

"I added some pork belly and two cans of beer while stewing the fish."

"My friend said this helps remove the fishy smell and enhances the flavor."

"It's my first time cooking fish this way."

"Really good," Lin Yu mumbled through a mouthful of rice, raising a thumb without looking up, praising generously,

"Amazing!"

"So delicious!"

"Eat more if you like it."

Xia Muzhu’s eyes curved into crescents, but the look she gave Lin Yu wasn’t just filled with warmth and tenderness. Unbeknownst to even herself, her gaze had gradually grown somewhat... infatuated.

Lin Yu finished one bowl of rice, then another, and didn’t stop until he had emptied three bowls, leaving only the fish head and bones on the plate. Finally, he set down his chopsticks and straightened up, satisfied.

"Sis Muzhu, this fish is incredible!"

"Best in the world—"

Mid-praise, Lin Yu suddenly noticed the change in her expression.

At some point, her fair skin had flushed that enticing shade of pink again, and her eyes had taken on an unusual haze—glistening, almost liquid with desire, as if her gaze could tangle into silk.

"Sis Muzhu?"

"Are you okay?"

Lin Yu grew concerned.

The air conditioning was running, and the living room wasn’t hot. There was no reason for her face to be so red.

"Wh-what about me?"

Xia Muzhu seemed flustered, as if caught thinking something improper.

"Your face is burning up."

"Are you coming down with a fever?"

Lin Yu studied her obviously abnormal complexion, worry creeping into his voice.

"I..."

Xia Muzhu instinctively touched her cheek and immediately registered the unnatural heat.

Her guilt became even more palpable. She hunched slightly, not daring to meet his eyes.

"P-probably."

"I... I should rest in my room for a bit."

"Keep eating."

After hurriedly tossing out those words, she fled to her bedroom like a startled rabbit.

Left alone at the table, surrounded by an array of dishes, Lin Yu hesitated—should he stay or go?

After a moment’s thought, he decided to clear the table first.

Sis Muzhu seemed unwell.

Better not trouble her further.

While tidying up, he took a moment to boil water—she might need it for medicine later.

Lin Yu worked efficiently, soon finishing the cleanup.

As he waited in the kitchen for the water to boil, a sudden wave of heat surged through him.

The scorching sensation came swiftly, overwhelming him before he could react.

At the same time, his mind grew foggy.

His usually sharp thoughts now felt sluggish, as if rusted over.

Before he could process what was happening, an even fiercer wave of heat crashed over him, accompanied by a dizzying rush that made his head spin.

In an instant, his legs threatened to give out.

He grabbed a nearby stool and sat down, barely managing to steady himself.

Wiping his forehead, his hand came away drenched.

Lin Yu stared at the sweat coating his palm. He should have realized something was wrong.

But his current state left no room for rational thought.

He sat motionless on the stool, silently waiting for the kettle to whistle.

Every now and then, he wiped his forehead again, each time collecting another palmful of sweat.

The kitchen was quiet, save for the growing rumble of boiling water, which drowned out his ragged breathing.

His mind was a haze. Even when his body reacted in an unmistakable way, he merely glanced down, then looked away, fixating blankly on the bubbling kettle without a single coherent thought.

Once the water boiled, instinct drove him to carry out his earlier plan—

Deliver the water to Xia Muzhu, then leave.

Gripping the cup’s handle, he walked to her bedroom door.

His foggy mind forgot to knock. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Xia Muzhu sat propped against the headboard. Perhaps due to the heat, she had shed her thin outerwear, leaving only a generously sized undergarment—the kind rarely found in stores—struggling to contain the soft, ample curves beneath.

Spotting Lin Yu, she froze for a second before snapping back to reality. She hastily pulled the blanket over herself, her already flushed face turning crimson.

Lin Yu stared at her, his mind blank. He moved slowly to the bedside and set the cup on the nightstand.

But after placing it down, he didn’t leave. He didn’t even remember what to say.

Xia Muzhu clutched the blanket to her chest, shielding most of her exposed skin—yet it did nothing to quell the fire raging inside Lin Yu.

Just the sight of her smooth shoulders and the sliver of skin that escaped concealment was enough to make his breath hitch and his pulse roar.

He didn’t speak. His intentions were laid bare in his gaze, unmistakable and unrestrained.

He didn’t pounce. Instead, he inched closer—first stepping to the bed, then kneeling with one knee, then the other.

Then, his body gradually leaned over her.

In Xia Muzhu’s blue eyes, fear and desire swirled together.

She didn’t stop him. She didn’t tighten her grip on the blanket. She only retreated, arching back as he pressed down, until her back met the mattress with nowhere left to go.

Lin Yu continued descending. When they were close enough to feel each other’s breath, Xia Muzhu finally succumbed to her fear.

She pressed a trembling hand against his chest, her voice frail and pleading—

"Don’t."

The word made him pause.

Then, in the next instant, Lin Yu crushed his lips against hers.