Fading Beauty

How could that be?

Shu Yunyi was certain she didn’t have smelly feet, so her reaction was exaggerated.

Yet Shen Yi was fanning his nose, his tone dead serious,

"Don’t believe me? Then smell for yourself."

Now even Shu Yunyi began to doubt herself. She recalled standing all day,

wearing socks and shoes—maybe they really had trapped some odor.

Half-convinced, she sat up slightly, curled her leg, and brought her foot close to her nose for a sniff.

The moment she did, realization struck.

It wasn’t entirely odorless, but it was nowhere near as bad as Shen Yi had made it seem.

"Hahahaha!"

"You fell for it."

Shen Yi had already burst into laughter the moment Shu Yunyi lowered her head.

Shu Yunyi, torn between annoyance and amusement, scolded him with a laugh:

"You... you’re so childish, so ridiculous!"

Still unsatisfied, she kicked him twice more, grumbling,

"Since you tricked me, you’re punished—massage my legs."

"Your wish is my command."

Shen Yi chuckled, obliging as he began kneading her calves.

"Ow—!"

The moment his hands touched her, Shu Yunyi sucked in a sharp breath, wincing.

"Be gentler!"

"Gentle won’t help. This is lactic acid buildup—you need to work it out."

Shen Yi tapped her fair, soft calf for emphasis.

What followed was a session that left Shu Yunyi grimacing and contorting, every expression worthy of a meme.

She gave up on her phone, her toes curling like twisted dough, pleading for mercy.

Shen Yi ignored her protests, pretending not to hear until the knots were finally loosened.

Tears welled in Shu Yunyi’s eyes, her lips pressed tight, reduced to whimpers.

The mix of soreness and pain was torture, a relentless cycle of agony.

"Whew..."

When Shen Yi finally stopped, Shu Yunyi exhaled deeply, collapsing limply.

"That should do it. You’ve been active lately, plus all that standing today."

"Everyone goes through this when they start exercising—it’s normal."

Shen Yi casually shook her leg, relaxed.

Shu Yunyi couldn’t even muster a reply, sprawled on the sofa with her phone propped on her chest, half-watching a drama.

After resting for a while, she gradually caught her breath.

Now well-fed and fully relaxed, another kind of craving slowly stirred within her.

The drama lost her attention, so she turned it off.

Her mouth tingled, her heart fluttering.

Sitting up, she tugged at her hair, letting the high bun unravel into cascading waves.

The loose strands softened her mature makeup, instantly shaving years off her appearance.

Shen Yi glanced up from his phone, studying her.

"What’s up?"

Shu Yunyi answered with a sultry look.

She stood, walked to the window, and drew the curtains. Turning back with a sidelong smirk, she purred,

"Come. Follow me to the bedroom."

Grabbing his arm, she dragged him toward the room, muttering,

"You ignored me earlier? Well, tonight I’ll make you beg for mercy."

Petty as ever, she was determined to repay him for the earlier torment.

Seated on the bed, their eyes locked—the battle was imminent.

Clothes slipped to the floor one by one, revealing a figure like polished jade, breathtaking enough to steal one’s breath.

"Where’s the... thing?"

"In... the drawer..."

Much later.

"Begging yet?"

"I surrender, I give up!"

Shu Yunyi lay beside Shen Yi, whispering weakly.

Her record tonight: 0 wins, 3 losses. Pride was no longer an option.

Shen Yi snorted but spared her further teasing, simply pulling her close to stroke her smooth back.

Catching her breath, Shu Yunyi basked in the quiet aftermath.

In the hush of night, buried emotions surfaced. Suddenly, she spoke:

"Xiao Yi... I only have about forty years left..."

Knowing one’s lifespan breeds dread—like being forced onto a fixed path.

No matter what, the end looms ahead, leaving no detours.

Shu Yunyi knew she was lucky, yet greed lingered—for more time, more moments with the one she loved.

Shen Yi understood. He patted her back, soothing her.

"Don’t overthink it."

"That prediction was based on your old habits—poor sleep, heavy drinking."

"Now you’ve quit alcohol and exercise regularly. Things will be different."

Turning to face her, he cupped her cheek, teasing,

"Worrying like this? Even the man from Qi didn’t fret so much. Leave tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow’s you."

"If you spend every day anxious, how will you enjoy the years ahead?"

Shu Yunyi nodded, aware her mindset was skewed.

"True, but..."

She knew the logic, yet one reason went unspoken.

The root was their age gap—nearly a decade apart.

She couldn’t shake the melancholy of "I was born too soon, you too late."

This wasn’t paranoia. In her past life, she’d aged past fifty. Despite care, time had dulled her beauty.

Shen Yi, though? Time seemed to skip him.

Even pretending to be older, he looked barely thirty.

How could she not worry?

The deeper the love, the harder to let go—a vicious cycle.

With a sigh, she conceded one point: overthinking was futile.

Decades from now could wait for the future her.

Pushing aside her thoughts, she changed the subject:

"Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon..."

"Xiao Yi, let’s find a spot to admire the moon, okay?"

Moon-viewing was tradition, though modern skies often hid it, requiring careful planning.

"Sure."

Shen Yi agreed casually.

He pictured it—mooncakes, tea, just the two of them under the moonlight. Perfect.

Business settled, Shu Yunyi studied Shen Yi’s silent profile.

Shoulders straight, chest lifted, she gathered her hair, then shot him a smoldering glance, twisting her waist slightly.

Revived after their earlier bout, she felt ready for round two.

Another challenge was issued.