Wan Tong’s only reliable backer in B City was Chu Yuanxun.
He had just bought an apartment, with three bedrooms and a living room, but he rarely stayed there.
Before entering the building, Wan Tong reached out and grabbed Chu Yuanxun’s sleeve, her expression serious as she clarified, “I don’t easily go to a man’s home. You’re the first.”
Since they hadn’t interacted much during the show’s filming, she didn’t want him to misunderstand.
Chu Yuanxun lowered his head, his gaze shifting from her fingers pinching his sleeve to her face. Her fair skin was delicate and beautiful, her clear eyes shimmering with light. Her long lashes trembled slightly, as if she was afraid he might misinterpret something.
“Mm, I know.” He responded in a low voice, grasping her wrist and leading her inside.
He was afraid she would suddenly run away.
The apartment’s decor matched Wan Tong’s aesthetic taste, and the rooms were spotless.
She opened the bathroom door, stepping out amidst the rising steam. Her oversized T-shirt reached her thighs, while her rolled-up sweatpants clung loosely to her frame. The drawstring at her waist was tied in a knot to keep them from slipping, and her fair feet were tucked into a pair of oversized black men’s slippers.
A knock at the door startled her. Wan Tong quickly jumped onto the bed, wrapping herself in the blanket before responding, “Come in.”
She had only managed to buy disposable underwear on the way, and she wasn’t wearing anything else on top.
Chu Yuanxun opened the door, leaning in slightly as his eyes darkened.
The girl sat on the bed, wrapped in a white blanket. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her flushed cheeks looked soft and dewy. Her dark eyes were like pools of water, filled with a hint of timidity. At that moment, her chin and lips were hidden beneath the blanket, making her look like something freshly unwrapped…
Chu Yuanxun’s grip on the doorknob tightened, and a sudden heat surged through his gaze.
—So cute.
“Where are your clothes? I can dry them for you.” His naturally husky voice sounded even rougher.
Wan Tong instinctively wanted to point to the bathroom but hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed. She shook her head. “No need, I’ll do it later myself…”
Her voice was muffled by the blanket, soft and sweet, making the air feel thick and sticky. “A’Xun, do you have a jacket I can borrow?”
Chu Yuanxun paused for a moment, then nodded and turned to fetch one.
Not long after, he returned with a sports jacket and handed it to her.
He lingered by the door for a while. The door wasn’t fully closed, so he could hear her shifting in the blankets, getting out of bed, and the rustling sound of her putting on the jacket.
The thought of her wearing his clothes made something swell inside him, a heat spreading through his body, desperate to escape.
He walked over to the table, poured himself a full glass of cold water, and downed it in one go.
“I’m ready.”
When Wan Tong emerged, she was wearing his oversized sports jacket, which draped down to her thighs. The zipper was pulled up tight, and her slightly damp black hair framed her small, delicate face, making her look even more alluring.
She was holding a washbasin filled with freshly hand-washed clothes.
Only then did she notice that Chu Yuanxun had changed into loungewear, his hair tousled. He had shed his composed demeanor and returned to the lazy, casual persona she had seen on the show.
But he seemed perpetually thirsty. After she spoke, he took another half-glass of water before looking at her.
“Are you really that thirsty?” she asked, recalling that he often did the same during filming.
Wan Tong shuffled toward him in the oversized slippers, her fair feet nearly dragging the shoes along, making a soft *tap tap* sound.
Chu Yuanxun’s gaze drifted from her pink toes to her water-colored lips. As if burned, he quickly looked away, staring down at his glass. His voice was hoarse. “Yeah, very thirsty.”
His fingers traced the rim of the glass absentmindedly, and suddenly, he was reminded of the sensation of touching her skin before, how intoxicating it had been.
Wan Tong wasn’t oblivious. She caught the hint of desire in his darkened eyes, the slight bob of his Adam’s apple, and she started feeling uneasy.
A man and a woman alone together, in an ambiguous relationship… it didn’t take much imagination to see where this could lead.
“I’ll… go dry my clothes first.” She pointed aimlessly, trying to change the subject.
Chu Yuanxun led her to the dryer. She insisted on doing it herself, only to realize she had no idea how to operate the machine.
In the end, she could only stand there, face flushed, as he helped her.
By the time everything was settled, it was already past eleven.
Wan Tong’s phone had finished charging. She sent her uncle a quick message to let him know she was safe, then opened Weibo.
It was still lagging.
She tapped on her notifications, finding them flooded with gossip messages.
Most of them were asking if she was really Jian Wantong.
She was trending twice, though the heat was already dying down.
#B University Jian Wantong#
#Jian Wantong x Chu Yuanxun CP#
Someone had spotted her at B University’s entrance, but they couldn’t confirm her identity. After all, she rarely appeared in public, having spent most of her time abroad.
Meanwhile, after Episode 7 aired, her three-person date with Chu Yuanxun and Yuan Qingqing had completely shattered the XunYuan CP fandom.
They had waited so long for XunYuan CP to finally be ‘confirmed,’ only for an unpopular ‘Female #4’ with a bad reputation to show up and ruin everything. It was no surprise that fans were upset.
As a result, many netizens and fans were flooding the discussion threads, accusing Wan Tong of using her connections and a prearranged script to stir up drama.
Of course, some viewers were drawn in by her looks, and she had gained quite a few ‘face fans.’
But those fans were there purely to admire her beauty, and wouldn’t risk backlash by defending her.
In short, Wan Tong was being relentlessly dragged online.
Fortunately, the elders in her family didn’t often pay attention to gossip news, and for now, only her Cousin and Uncle knew about her participation in the second season of the reality show… If they didn’t want to be lectured, they’d have to get past the elders first. With them taking the blame, Wan Tong had nothing to worry about.
She tossed her phone aside, hugged the blanket, and rolled over.
Strange. Why did the pillow smell like Chu Yuanxun? Could it be the laundry detergent?
Sniffing the faint fragrance on the pillow, Wan Tong felt drowsiness creeping in.
When Chu Yuanxun came out after showering, he glanced into the master bedroom.
On the pristine white bed, the girl was already fast asleep, wrapped up in the blanket.
He picked up her phone and walked to the living room.
Dialing a number, he waited for the call to connect.
“Tongtong, what’s wrong? Did Chu Yuanxun bully you? Where are you? Tell your Uncle, and I’ll send Shitong to get you!” Zheng Tianqiong’s voice came through.
Chu Yuanxun didn’t interrupt. He waited for him to finish speaking before leaning back on the sofa and saying in a deep voice, “You lied to me.”
His gaze was icy, his tone devoid of any respect.
Zheng Tianqiong paused, his tone shifting as well. “Chu Yuanxun, where’s Tongtong?”
“She’s fine.”
“What do you want?” Zheng Tianqiong’s heart tensed.
Zheng Tianqiong had indeed deceived Chu Yuanxun. They had spoken privately before. If Chu Yuanxun gave up confessing his feelings, Zheng Tianqiong would allow him to stay in contact with Wan Tong after the show ended.
Zheng Tianqiong was a man who had seen the ugliest sides of human nature. He didn’t believe in ridiculous notions like love at first sight. He had always thought Chu Yuanxun had ulterior motives for Wan Tong.
So, after the show ended, he went back on his word.
He even severed all the ways Chu Yuanxun could reach Wantong.
No matter how much she pouted and pleaded, he refused to give her Chu Yuanxun’s contact information.
But that only made her more rebellious. She had gone to B City alone to find him.
“I just want to tell you, I’m going to pursue her. She can only be with me.” Chu Yuanxun’s voice was firm and domineering.
Before tonight, he hadn’t dared to say such a thing because he wasn’t sure of her feelings.
But now, he could clearly sense her acceptance.
Zheng Tianqiong sneered. “And what makes you think you can say that? Do you even understand the Jian family? I’m not the only obstacle you’ll have to face.”
Chu Yuanxun’s expression remained calm, his words slow and composed. “The only person I need to win over has always been her.”
Zheng Tianqiong was momentarily stunned. As he listened to the system tone signaling the call’s end, he frowned, but a strange sense of calm settled over his once-agitated heart.
Wan Tong had never acted this recklessly before. On the show, the happiness in her smile when she was around Chu Yuanxun was impossible to hide.
She liked that seemingly carefree yet deeply enigmatic man.
Just then, Jian Shitong called. Zheng Tianqiong casually mentioned Chu Yuanxun to him and then added, “As for Wan Tong… let Shiyu keep an eye on her. He’s got nothing better to do anyway.”
Jian Shiyu, Jian Shitong’s younger brother, was studying at a university in T City, which was only an hour or so away from B City.
Wan Tong was a sound sleeper, and her biological clock woke her at seven on the dot.
She got out of bed and pulled open the curtains. The morning sunlight streamed in, casting a golden glow. As she stepped onto the soft carpet, yawning, she started walking outside.
But after just a few steps, something tripped her foot, causing her to stumble forward.
“Ah!” she yelped, expecting to hit the floor, only to find herself falling into Chu Yuanxun instead.
He must have woken up at the sound of her voice. Still half-asleep, his arms instinctively wrapped around her, his dark eyes hazy as if covered in mist, oddly adorable.
“Tongtong…” he murmured hoarsely, then suddenly flipped their positions.
His hand, which had been supporting her waist, gently moved up to her cheek. Chu Yuanxun narrowed his black eyes slightly, and his slightly parted lips pressed against hers, lingering and deepening.
At first, Wan Tong thought he would just kiss her briefly, like last night.
But this time, he didn’t stop. Instead, he grew more and more passionate.
A few minutes later, Wan Tong panicked and bit his earlobe, finally stopping his increasingly intense actions.
“Chu Yuanxun, what’s wrong with you? Let me go,” she demanded hurriedly.
She still had so many questions to ask him. Wasn’t this a bit too fast?
Her voice was urgent, clear, and sharp against his eardrum.
His movements suddenly stiffened. The misty daze in his dark eyes dissipated, and a faint red mark bloomed where she had bitten his ear, the blush spreading all the way to his neck.
He opened his mouth, but it felt like something was blocking his throat. His voice came out hoarse and strained. “Sorry… I thought I was dreaming.”
His low, gravelly voice sent a ripple through Wan Tong’s heart, making it skip a beat.
So, in his dreams, this was how he treated her without restraint…
Damn, was this a spring dream or what?
Wan Tong didn’t dare to move. Her face was burning, but she had to remind him softly, “Your hand…”
Not just his hand, his ‘little Yuanxun’ was still pressing against her!
Chu Yuanxun’s hand froze. Slowly, he withdrew it from beneath her clothes and braced himself on the bed beside her before sitting up, his head slightly lowered.
Wan Tong quickly sat up as well. From her angle, his lips looked unusually red…
For a moment, she didn’t even know where to look.
Calling Chu Yuanxun innocent seemed laughable at times. His actions could be far too wild.
“Did I hurt you when I stumbled upon you?” she asked.
Chu Yuanxun shook his head, his gaze drifting from her face to her chest. “Did I…” squeeze you too hard?
Before he could finish, Wan Tong cut him off quickly. “I’m fine! It didn’t hurt!”
She didn’t even need to think to know what he was about to ask. Could he not be so shameless?
“Why were you… sleeping on the floor?” she changed the topic, her eyes catching sight of something. She grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Chu Yuanxun.
What she really wanted to ask was, why was he in her room?
Chu Yuanxun used the pillow to cover a certain part of himself. When he lifted his gaze to her, his dark eyes still held an inexplicable intensity, a heat that was almost searing.
“The master bedroom is the only one with a bed,” he explained, his voice husky.
Wan Tong froze for a second and glanced around the room. So this was the master bedroom? The one he usually stayed in?
She had been so foolish. The room had an en-suite bathroom, of course, it was the master bedroom. But when she saw how tidy and minimalist everything was last night, she assumed it was a guest room…
“Sorry, I didn’t know… You should have woken me up.” She was small enough to sleep on the couch, but he obviously wasn’t.
Guilt flickered in Wan Tong’s eyes, making them glisten even more. Her lips, slightly pursed, looked more tempting than ever.
In an instant, Chu Yuanxun leaned in, one hand propped against the edge of the bed behind her. His dark eyes burned with intensity, and the breath he exhaled was scorching. “Jian Wantong, can you have a little sense of danger? I’m a normal man…”
By the time he finished speaking, his voice was trembling slightly, the deep, husky tone landing straight in Wan Tong’s ears, making them burn. Her heart quivered along with it.
The biggest difference between Chu Yuanxun now and the one she knew from the reality show was that he no longer bothered hiding his desire for her.
“I—I do have a sense of danger,” Wan Tong replied, only to realize too late how soft and weak her voice sounded.
The slight upward lilt at the end of her sentence carried an unmistakable hint of something delicate and entangled.
There was still a pillow between them, but even so, Wan Tong could feel the heat radiating from his body.
She placed both hands against his chest, and he took the hint, withdrawing and standing up to head for the bathroom.
As the door shut, the only sound left in the room was Wan Tong’s heavy breathing.
She didn’t dare stay in the room any longer. After tidying up the jacket she wore, she bolted out.
After changing into her own clothes, she went to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of ice water, and took a few sips.
This cohabitation arrangement was going to be the death of her.
Her heart couldn’t take this kind of stress.