「 ✦ Extra 2 ✦ 」

The two hailed a taxi.

As the car slowly moved forward, light snow began to fall from the sky, and Wen Yao seemed to feel the chill, leaning into Jiang Shuyi's embrace.

"Are you tired?" Jiang Shuyi asked.

"Mm." Wen Yao's voice sounded lethargic.

The car passed many streetlights, residential buildings, and the night sky was as black as ink.

"Your birthday is coming up soon." Jiang Shuyi said with a smile.

"Is it?" Wen Yao responded wearily, closing her eyes for a moment.

---

"Professor Wen, you need a faculty card to check out this book." the librarian said.

Wen Yao acknowledged him in the library and took a card from her bag.

At the moment she took the card, she inadvertently looked up and, through the glass door, saw a flash of red walking by from the other side.

She paused for a few seconds before lowering her head again and handing the card to the librarian.

With the book in hand, Wen Yao walked to the study room.

"Professor, happy birthday."

As soon as Wen Yao entered the study room and hung up her coat, students began congratulating her.

Wen Yao paused for a moment, glanced at the calendar in the lab, and then remembered that today was her birthday.

She often forgot her own birthday.

For her, a birthday was just like any other day of the year—there was no need to pay special attention to it or celebrate.

"Thank you." she said, sitting back down at her desk.

"Professor, I made this for you. Please try it! It's a birthday gift."

Another student approached her, handing her a cute packaged bag.

Inside the bag were handmade cookies and nougat.

Wen Yao didn't refuse, she accepted the gift and nodded. "Thank you."

Because of the snow, there weren't many people who came to the lab in the morning to write materials and work on projects, but by the afternoon, as classes were wrapping up, students gradually started to arrive.

Before long, the door was pushed open again.

"So, Senior, why don't you come with me to see for yourself?" Lin Siyun said to the person next to her, taking off her white coat.

"But the zoo is quite far." Jiang Shuyi also removed her red down jacket, furrowing her brow.

Wen Yao looked at the two of them, slowly shifting her gaze away. However, when her eyes swept over the gift bag in Jiang Shuyi's hand, her fingers, which were flipping through a book, couldn't help but retract slightly.

Jiang Shuyi watched as the student in front of Wen Yao walked away, then handed over the paper bag that Wen Yao had noticed earlier.

"Professor, happy birthday."

Jiang Shuyi seemed to have stayed outside for too long, as her ears and fingertips were red from the cold.

Wen Yao somehow accepted the bag.

She maintained her usual demeanor and glanced inside the bag.

Inside the bag was a box, and the logo on it was from a well-known fountain pen brand.

Because she understood that there is nothing more expensive than free things, Wen Yao was not good at accepting others' kindness.

When someone gave her something, she always felt the need to return something in order to feel at ease.

A fountain pen at this price point was probably not something an average student could afford.

Wen Yao didn't immediately open the box, but instead raised her head to look at Jiang Shuyi.

Jiang Shuyi stood still, her black eyes seeming to be waiting for something as they gazed at her.

Wen Yao withdrew her gaze and opened the box.

Inside the black box lay a sapphire-blue fountain pen, shimmering in the light.

Wen Yao reached out and touched the pen.

Although the metal texture felt cold, the moment her fingers touched it, it felt warm and smooth.

This pen had been in Jiang Shuyi's hands just yesterday.

Perhaps Jiang Shuyi had also touched the pen like she did, feeling the same sensation.

Wen Yao turned the pen around, looking at the inscription on the cap, momentarily paused for a moment due to a certain emotion that flashed through her heart.

— Does Jiang Shuyi know what this inscription means?

". . ." She glanced at Jiang Shuyi, then at Lin Siyun not far away.

— Probably not.

Wen Yao thought, retracting her fingers and closing the box.

For a moment, she felt that her action of closing the box might seem a bit too constrained and revealing something, but in the end, she remained silent for a moment before saying:

"...Thank you."

She said quietly, put the box back into the bag, and placed the bag in a discreet shadow near the desk.

This was not something she should accept.

She thought.

Jiang Shuyi watched her actions in silence for a moment, as if reproaching her response, her gaze lowered.

Wen Yao lowered her eyelashes, but in the end, she pretended not to notice the look in Jiang Shuyi's eyes.

Lin Siyun walked up behind Jiang Shuyi and leaned in.

"What did you give, Senior Jiang?"

"Just some snacks."

Jiang Shuyi was about to answer when Wen Yao cut in.

Wen Yao took off her glasses and rubbed the corner of her eye.

She realized that the feeling from the fountain pen lingered at her fingertips, as if it were still entwined with her fingers.

Before long, she saw Lin Siyun pulling on Jiang Shuyi's arm, laughing and saying something. Wen Yao watched the two of them in silence.

Lin Siyun was very affectionate as she tugged at Jiang Shuyi's sleeve.

Jiang Shuyi seemed to complain a bit, but she was clearly not truly angry, smiling instead.

Lin Siyun and the other students laughed at her.

These two might become lovers soon. For some reason, this thought crossed Wen Yao's mind.

But she didn't dwell on why such a thought appeared at that moment, she simply closed the book in front of her, picked up her coat from the rack, and glanced at the paper bag that she would return tomorrow.

After all, it was just a pen.

—Taking the pen, what meaning does it hold?

She turned to the students inside the lab, "Let's have dinner together today, I'll treat you all."

---

After getting out of the taxi, Jiang Shuyi helped Wen Yao onto the sofa and poured her a glass of honey water, handing it to her. "Wen Yao, drink some honey water, it'll make you feel better."

Wen Yao kept her head down and didn't take the cup. Instead, she slowly sat up and sipped from the rim of the cup that Jiang Shuyi was holding, some of the water spilling onto her fair neck.

Jiang Shuyi leaned down, reaching out to wipe away the droplet, while Wen Yao watched her, reaching out to wrap her arms around Jiang Shuyi's neck, resting her chin on her shoulder.

"Jiang Shuyi..."

"Mm? What's wrong?" Jiang Shuyi gently patted her back, asking quietly.

"I actually really like that pen." Wen Yao suddenly said.

Jiang Shuyi paused for a moment.

Wen Yao didn't specify which pen, when it was, or what kind of pen, or whose pen it was.

But Jiang Shuyi knew what she was talking about.

Jiang Shuyi patted her shoulder, "Is that so."

"I've been regretting it." Wen Yao said, her arm still around Jiang Shuyi's neck.

Jiang Shuyi gently stroked her back, feeling the rise and fall of Wen Yao's back through her shoulder bones, transmitting to her fingers.

Snow fell quietly outside the window.

"I can give it to you again, as long as you like it."

Jiang Shuyi leaned over and kissed Wen Yao softly.

"I want to—" Wen Yao's voice was a bit broken as she leaned into Jiang Shuyi, kissing her softly.

Jiang Shuyi smiled, picking her up. "How about we take a shower first?"

Wen Yao's head hung low, and she gave a soft "mm."

The two of them stepped into the bathtub together.

The warm water in the bathtub instantly warmed their slightly numb bodies, the hot water enveloping them, as if seeping into their veins with a comforting warmth.

After soaking for a while, Jiang Shuyi felt her body starting to relax.

Watching the mist swirl on the bathroom ceiling, Jiang Shuyi felt a sense of relaxation.

Jiang Shuyi smiled and glanced at Wen Yao. "Feeling warmer?"

Wen Yao nodded leaning against her.

Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao with a smile. "Feeling better now?"

Moist and warm breath, carrying a hint of refreshing lemon balm scent, gently brushed against Wen Yao's cheeks.

"Mm." Wen Yao wrapped her arms around Jiang Shuyi's neck.

Jiang Shuyi playfully nudged Wen Yao's foot with her own, their soles pressing together.

Wen Yao's toes curled slightly, but she still hooked her arms around Jiang Shuyi's neck.

Looking at Jiang Shuyi, Wen Yao's hand around Jiang Shuyi's neck tightened a bit, her fingers sliding over Jiang Shuyi's neck, shoulder, firmly against her skin, stirring up some emotions.

The mingling heat and the scents of the two intertwined. After a while, Jiang Shuyi gently kissed Wen Yao on the cheek, her palm resting on Wen Yao's face, and Wen Yao closed her eyes in contentment.

"I want to go back to the room." Wen Yao whispered softly in Jiang Shuyi's ear.

Jiang Shuyi looked at her and, with a smile, said, "I was just thinking the same thing."

They kissed as they returned to the bedroom.

The scent of roses intertwined with the lemon balm, filling the entire room with a fragrant aroma.

"You're quite clingy today." Jiang Shuyi chuckled.

"Is that annoying?" Wen Yao's eyelashes quietly drooped.

Jiang Shuyi leaned in, hugging her shoulder, and lay down, pulling them both into the soft down comforter.

"I find it cute."

Wen Yao seemed to not particularly like the term 'cute', furrowing her brows slightly.

"Continue." she said, closing her eyes and slowly curling her fingers around Jiang Shuyi's neck, indicating to continue kissing.

"Okay."

---

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