Adult Decorum or Momentary Impulse

The atmosphere was just right.

Lin Yu naturally seized the moment; he couldn't just stop halfway.

His hand, resting against Mao Ruirui's back, gently pressed forward.

Mao Ruirui offered almost no resistance, yielding entirely to Lin Yu's desires.

The moment their lips met.

Mao Ruirui's mind went completely blank.

It was different from their previous encounter during morning exercises on the field.

Though they were kissing just like before.

The current environment and Lin Yu's drunken state meant this couldn't be dismissed as a "restrained" display of affection.

Mao Ruirui had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen.

Was it moving too fast?

Perhaps a little.

But if they were both completely sober, would they have even made it this far?

Or rather.

How much longer would it have taken them to reach this point?

Between adults, maintaining appearances is important.

But occasionally, a moment of sheer impulse is exactly what's needed.

Mao Ruirui completely dropped her guard as the two of them squeezed onto the small single bed.

...

Before long.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

"Meow!"

"Hiss!"

"..."

Hearing the rhythmic slapping noises, the animals in the pet shop began to bark and meow in a chorus.

The sheltered cats and dogs had no idea what was actually going on.

They thought...

A demolition crew had invaded the shop!

It was hard to believe such a massive commotion was coming from the tiny break room.

And why did it sound like the "demolition worker" was their owner?

Throughout this "renovation process," the other person seemed to be the one calling the shots.

Their normally dignified owner was just following orders, repeatedly answering with soft gasps of "okay," "mm," and "yes."

This was Lin Yu's first time experiencing a summer afternoon in the pet shop like this.

The ruckus from the cats and dogs actually added a unique, charming layer to their escapade.

...

A little after five in the afternoon.

The "renovation" finally came to an end.

On the narrow single bed, Lin Yu held Mao Ruirui in his arms, his eyes closed in deep, satisfied contentment.

Mao Ruirui, who had been dripping with sweat, had finally caught her breath.

They lay in silence for a long time.

Mao Ruirui was the first to speak, asking softly:

"Little Yu, were you... really drunk earlier?"

From the moment the "renovation" began, Mao Ruirui had started to suspect something.

Lin Yu's mind seemed much clearer than when he had first stumbled in.

If he was truly drunk, how could his thoughts be so coherent?

Thinking back on it.

Mao Ruirui couldn't shake the feeling that she had been played...

Lin Yu gently stroked Mao Ruirui's shoulder and replied:

"You caught me... I wasn't actually drunk."

[Ding!]

[Outstanding move! The Holy Son's honesty towards his Dao Companion has made her feel both sweet and reassured!]

[Reward: 100 Spirit Stones]

Mao Ruirui gave Lin Yu's arm a light pinch to vent her mild indignation.

Even though Lin Yu had gotten his way.

Hearing his unhesitating honesty actually made her feel very happy.

Lin Yu quickly begged for mercy, saying:

"Ow, ow, ow! Have mercy on me, Ruirui."

"If I hadn't used the alcohol as an excuse, I really wouldn't have had the courage..."

"It's so rare for us to get a chance to be alone together, and I really didn't want to let it slip away."

"Even if we hadn't gone all the way, just hugging and kissing you would have been wonderful..."

"But since things turned out this way, I can only beg for your forgiveness!"

Lin Yu's rather shameless excuse made Mao Ruirui blush all over again.

According to his logic, it seemed that getting to this point wasn't entirely his doing alone.

Did she have to bear some of the responsibility too?

The worst part was...

She actually felt he made a fair point, leaving her completely unable to refute him.

After all, it takes two to tango.

If one person was truly unwilling to cooperate, things could never have progressed this far.

The moment it all started, she had known exactly what she was doing.

In truth, she had been looking forward to this day just as much as he had.

That was the only reason they ended up having a "renovation session" that sent the little animals into a frenzy.

"Then... I forgive you."

Mao Ruirui said softly.

Her gentle tone made Lin Yu's heart flutter.

With such a carefree and passionate life, what was there left to worry about?

He gently patted her shoulder and asked:

"Ruirui, is it really okay for you to keep the shop closed for this long?"

"Do you want to get up so I can help you clean up a bit?"

"When we were... you know... earlier, those little guys wouldn't stop making a racket!"

"Once I'm up, I definitely need to lay down some ground rules for them!"

"Let's see who dares to make a peep the next time we do this!"

Lin Yu's words made Mao Ruirui burst into laughter.

She said playfully:

"Haha, are you seriously picking a fight with the pets in my shop?"

"They were just..."

Halfway through her sentence, Mao Ruirui suddenly stopped.

Being a little slow on the uptake, she only just realized the key implication of what Lin Yu had said.

Why had the pets been making so much noise in the first place?

It was obviously because they had heard some very particular sounds!

As the manager of the pet shop, how could she not understand the quirks of her own animals?

And then there was the other point Lin Yu had made...

Next time!

Didn't that clearly imply that he planned on making this a regular occurrence?

At the thought of this.

Mao Ruirui became so flushed with embarrassment that she couldn't speak.

She just began lightly pounding her small fists against Lin Yu's chest.

...

At half past six in the evening.

Lin Yu and Mao Ruirui had dinner together.

They didn't go out anywhere special; they simply ordered some food and had a casual meal right there in the pet shop.

Mao Ruirui thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

She was in an even better mood than she had been on the night of Lin Yu's birthday party.

Some people love a bustling crowd, while others prefer the quiet.

Mao Ruirui had fantasized countless times about finding her soulmate.

They wouldn't need to do anything grand or dramatic; they would just cozy up together in her little shop.

Spending their days taking care of the pets, eating meals, and chatting.

This simple life was what she longed for the most.

When she first moved into the apartment building and met Lin Yu, he had just started his freshman year of college.

At the time, she never could have imagined.

That just a short while later, their relationship would evolve to the point where they became lovers.

Fate truly was a wonderful thing.

"Ruirui, stop giving me so much beef."

"Look at my food container, does it look like there's any room left?"

"Are you thinking I did too much physical labor today and need to replenish my energy?"

"Even if I do, you don't need to feed me this much!"

Staring at the overflowing container, Lin Yu couldn't help but tease her.

Mao Ruirui was gradually starting to get used to his playful banter.

This time, she remained perfectly composed and replied with a smile:

"I was just worried you wouldn't get enough to eat..."

"I know you've got great stamina, okay?"

Lin Yu: "!!!"

Having grown used to Sister Ruirui blushing and remaining silent in these situations, hearing her respond so bluntly caught him off guard.

Besides the initial shock, Lin Yu felt a small surge of pleasant surprise.

Sure enough.

No one's personality stays exactly the same forever.

As their relationship continued to deepen, it was only a matter of time before her attitude shifted.

Mimicking her actions, Lin Yu picked up a piece of chicken breast and placed it into her bowl.

Keeping a completely straight face, he said:

"They say eating a certain part nourishes that same part of your body. It's high time we gave you some proper nourishment."