11: Chapter 11 Aftermath, you're amazing, so strong.

"Why are you so good to me?"

Yu Bo smiled and kissed her earlobe.

"Because it's you," he said. "Because you are Yin Tianxue, not someone else."

"What if I become someone else?"

"You won't," Yu Bo said. "You will always be you."

Yin Tianxue closed her eyes, and tears once again slid from the corners of her eyes.

"Yu Bo, I'm scared," she said softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability it never had before. "I'm afraid this is a dream, and when I wake up, everything will be gone."

Yu Bo stopped his movements, propped himself up, and looked at her seriously under the moonlight.

"It's not a dream," he said, taking her hand and placing it on his chest. "Feel my heartbeat. It's beating so fast right now because of you."

Yin Tianxue's palm pressed against his chest, feeling that powerful, rapid heartbeat.

"Do you feel it?" Yu Bo asked.

Yin Tianxue nodded.

"Do you believe me now?" Yu Bo continued to ask. "Believe that I am real, and all of this is real."

Yin Tianxue looked at him for a long time, then nodded gently.

"I believe you," she said.

"Then don't be afraid anymore." Yu Bo leaned down again and kissed her forehead. "With me here, you don't have to fear anything."

Yin Tianxue reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him close.

"Yu Bo," she whispered between kisses.

"Hmm?"

"Hold me tight."

"Okay." Yu Bo tightened his arms, pulling her entirely into his embrace.

...

Their clothes lay scattered on the carpet at some unknown point, their overlapping silhouettes outlined by the moonlight.

In her daze, Yin Tianxue only remembered him calling her name over and over, gentle yet firm. There were also her own uncontrolled whimpers and near-broken responses.

When the morning light seeped through the gaps in the curtains, Yin Tianxue woke up first.

She opened her eyes and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for a few seconds before the memories of last night flooded back like a tide. A clear soreness radiated from all over her body, even more intense than the first time, reminding her of what had happened.

Yu Bo's arm was still draped across her waist, feeling heavy. She moved gently, trying to back out of his embrace.

"Awake?" Yu Bo's voice carried the raspiness of someone who had just woken up, yet his arm tightened further.

Yin Tianxue's body stiffened for a moment before she relaxed, burying her face into the crook of his shoulder.

"Mm," she replied, her voice muffled.

"It's still early, sleep a bit longer." Yu Bo kissed the top of her head.

Yin Tianxue didn't move or speak. After a while, she spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of mock-reproach and an unbelievable laziness.

"Yu Bo."

"Hmm?"

"How are you... so..." She paused, seemingly unable to find the right word, finally squeezing out, "so powerful? I've heard..."

Yu Bo chuckled, his chest vibrating.

"Are you complimenting me?"

"I'm complaining." Yin Tianxue lifted her face, her eyes looking at him mistily. "I have no strength left at all. Truly."

Looking at her flushed cheeks and weary eyes, Yu Bo's heart turned into a complete mess of softness.

"Then don't get up," he said, pulling her closer into his arms. "You can sleep as long as you want."

"I can't." Even as Yin Tianxue said this, her body honestly curled further into his embrace. "I have a meeting."

"What time?"

"Ten o'clock."

Yu Bo glanced at the clock on the bedside table—8:30.

"It's still early," he said. "Lie down for a while longer."

Yin Tianxue didn't object again. She closed her eyes once more, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on his chest.

"Yu Bo," she called him again.

"Hmm?"

"Am I being too clingy like this?"

Yu Bo smiled and caught her mischievous hand.

"I like you being clingy," he said. "Only cling to me."

Yin Tianxue opened her eyes and looked at him.

"And you?" she asked. "Will you only cling to me?"

"Yes," Yu Bo said without hesitation. "Starting from last night, I only cling to you."

Yin Tianxue stared at him for a few seconds, then leaned in and lightly pressed a kiss onto his lips.

"Sealed with a kiss," she said. "No backing out."

"No backing out." Yu Bo deepened the kiss, his hand sliding naughtily under the quilt again.

Yin Tianxue pushed him gently.

"Stop it... I really have no strength left."

"I'm not making trouble." Even as Yu Bo said this, his hand didn't stop. "Just a hug."

"Is that a hug?" Yin Tianxue glared at him with a red face.

"Isn't it?" Yu Bo looked innocent. "I think it is."

Yin Tianxue could do nothing with him and could only let him have his way.

The sunlight gradually moved onto the bed, shining on the two of them, feeling warm and cozy.

Yin Tianxue found a comfortable position in Yu Bo's arms and closed her eyes. Although her body was sore and limp, her heart felt more settled than ever before.

"Yu Bo," she said softly.

"Hmm?"

"After work today, I'll go over to your place," she said.

Yu Bo was stunned for a moment: "My house?"

"Mm," Yin Tianxue said. "Go to Residence Name. I've had Manager Zhou handle all the procedures."

Yu Bo looked at her, a warm current surging in his heart.

"Okay," he said. "I'll pick you up when you finish work."

Yin Tianxue smiled and closed her eyes again.

"Then I'll sleep a little longer," she said. "Just half an hour."

"Sleep then." Yu Bo kissed her forehead. "I'm here, I'll wake you when it's time."

Yin Tianxue soon fell asleep, her breathing even and long.

Half an hour later, Yu Bo gently woke Yin Tianxue up.

She was dazed with sleep, burrowing into his arms as she mumbled, "Five more minutes..."

"Any longer and you'll be late." Yu Bo pinched her nose. "The ten o'clock meeting, remember?"

Only then did Yin Tianxue reluctantly open her eyes, her gaze still carrying the haze of someone who had just woken up. Looking at her like this, Yu Bo's heart softened completely, and he lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

"Get up, I'll drive you."

While Yin Tianxue was washing up, Yu Bo went to the kitchen and made a simple breakfast—fried eggs, toast, and milk. By the time she came out after getting ready, breakfast was already set on the dining table.

"You know how to cook?" Yin Tianxue was somewhat surprised.

"Only simple things." Yu Bo pushed the milk in front of her. "Try it."

Yin Tianxue sat down and took a bite of the fried egg; the heat was just right.

"Not bad," she evaluated.

Yu Bo smiled and sat opposite her, watching her eat. The morning light spilled over her through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was wearing his shirt as pajamas with the sleeves rolled up, revealing her slender wrists, her hair loosely tied up with a few stray strands scattered by her neck.

There was a domestic, soft beauty about her.

"What are you looking at?" Yin Tianxue looked up.

"Looking at you, you're so beautiful," Yu Bo said. "No wonder the ancients often said a beautiful woman is a feast for the eyes."

Yin Tianxue's face turned slightly red as she lowered her head to continue eating.

After finishing breakfast, Yu Bo drove her to the company. Sitting in the passenger seat, Yin Tianxue watched the street scenery flash past the window and suddenly spoke: "Yu Bo."

"Hmm?"

"About last night..." She paused. "Do you think I was too proactive?"

Yu Bo glanced at her and smiled.

"No," he said. "I like your proactiveness."

Yin Tianxue's face turned even redder as she looked away.

The car stopped downstairs at Yin Tianxue's company—one of the tallest office buildings in Jiangzhou, the headquarters of the Yin Group.

Yu Bo got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for her. Just as Yin Tianxue was about to get out, she suddenly heard someone call her name.

"Tianxue!"

A man wearing a suit and holding a large bouquet of roses walked over quickly. He was about thirty years old, refined in appearance, but his eyes carried a clear sense of fawning.

"Tianxue, good morning." The man handed over the roses. "I passed by a flower shop and thought these flowers suited you well, so I bought them."

Yin Tianxue didn't take them, her brow furrowing imperceptibly.