The hot wind kisses me.

It was daytime, so the overhead lights in the living room remained off. With the silvery daylight serving as a backdrop, a warm yellow floor lamp illuminated a single corner, casting a soft and cozy glow.

Jiang Chen sat under the light, leaning back against his chair, smiling silently. "Why couldn't you imagine that I was the one who sent those flowers?"

"Did you send them?" She tilted her head, her eyes brightening a little more. "You actually know about Christmas?"

She had assumed that someone as serious and gentle as Jiang Chen poured all his energy into his work and had no time to concern himself with such things.

Jiang Chen said with a chuckle, "Ye Mian, I am also a person who looks at a calendar."

Besides, when she had called earlier, the first thing she said was "Merry Christmas," and she had even followed it up with a question about the economics of the holiday. It would have been difficult for him not to know.

Ye Mian hugged the flowers and admired them, wanting to laugh at his words. In her eyes, Jiang Chen truly did seem to possess an ethereal quality, as if he were untainted by the world. Despite having emerged from the mud, he lacked any of the usual worldly desires.

She shook her head earnestly. "No, in my eyes, you might not even be human."

Jiang Chen: "..."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a harsh insult."

Ye Mian rolled her eyes, moved over to stand in front of him, and said with a beaming smile, "In my eyes, you're more like a 'male bodhisattva.'"

At least, that was true whenever he wasn't secretly trying to charm her.

"..."

Jiang Chen stared at her, raising his brows as he fell silent for a moment. His gentle eyes held a hint of a smile, and his voice drawled slightly. "That’s fine too. I thought that in your eyes, I had always been just a male model."

Ye Mian: "..."

There he went again. Could he please just let that joke go?!

"I..." She felt so awkward she didn't know where to put her hands. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Feeling a sense of relief, she blurted out, "I'll go get the delivery," and hurried away from the scene.

Watching the young girl's panicked, rabbit-like retreat, Jiang Chen felt an inexplicable sense of amusement. Though he didn't laugh aloud, the corners of his lips curved upward significantly.

When Ye Mian returned, she was holding that bouquet of red roses. Each vibrant flower head was as large as a palm, wrapped in black decorative paper and exuding the rich, heady fragrance of purebred roses. It was clear the seller had put great effort into it; the bouquet was as exquisite and beautiful as the pictures.

She placed the flowers on Jiang Chen's desk and offered a soft smile. "I bought you flowers, too. Happy Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas."

After saying this, she scurried over to her shopping bag, rummaged through it for a moment, and pulled out an apple gift box in a reindeer-print pouch, carefully placing it next to the bouquet. "I also bought you apples. On Christmas Eve and Christmas, people give apples, which symbolizes the wish that you will always be safe and sound."

In truth, aside from following the trends of her classmates back in school, Ye Mian had never seriously given much thought to Christmas. But this time, her well-wishes were completely sincere.

Ever since Jiang Chen had been injured, she had come to realize that his success had not been a smooth journey. Even though deep down she always felt he was an omnipotent titan, she understood now that his wealth and danger were proportional; he was flesh and blood, he could get hurt, and severe injuries could even lead to death.

Therefore, she hoped with all her heart that the legend—that sending apples on Christmas Eve brings safety—was true. At the very least, for every year to come, she hoped Jiang Chen would be safe.

Jiang Chen looked at the girl's crescent-shaped, smiling eyes, momentarily stunned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and for a moment, he couldn't find the words to respond. He truly didn't know how to react to such a surprise.

The December weather was snowy outside, yet the room was as warm as spring. As she stood beside the bouquet, she looked even more delicate and vibrant than the flowers themselves. What he had once buried deep in his heart, never daring to even imagine, converged in this moment.

In his barren life, only the moonlight he adored now wished for his safety. He felt an emotion he couldn't even fathom himself—a fear that it might be an illusion, yet a willingness to pay any price to hold onto this moment.

Outside the window, snow fell with a rustling sound, accompanied by the faint, rhythmic tapping against the glass. Seeing him remain silent for so long, Ye Mian assumed he didn't like the gift. Her fingers clenched together in distress, and a prickle of soreness stung her nose.

"If you don't like it, just listen to the well-wishes. I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to be the only one being good to me—I want to be good to you, too."

Seeing the look on the girl's face, Jiang Chen felt a sharp sting in his heart, yet it was a bittersweet, softening ache, with only his emotions tugging at the pain of his wounds.

"Don't be sad."

His slender fingers took her hand, careful not to use too much force, and gently pulled her toward him. The distance was too close. His breath was warm, lingering near her ear.

"May I?"

Ye Mian didn't know what he was referring to. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she asked timidly, "May you what?"

His other hand gently lifted her chin. His devilishly handsome features magnified before her. He didn't close his eyes; his smoke-gray pupils stared straight into hers, dangerously alluring.

"Kiss you."

Ye Mian's mind exploded. She gave a faint, slight nod.

The kiss descended without further ado.

Departing from his usual gentleness and propriety, the man's kiss this time carried an intense possessiveness, even a domineering quality that left Ye Mian no time to prepare. The scent of ebony and mint on him raged—mature and intoxicating—instantly seizing all of Ye Mian's senses.

She could only stare blankly at his exquisite, bewitching eyes. The skin of the hand he held was burning, and she could see her own bewildered expression reflected in his smoke-gray gaze. Her breathing grew ragged.

He wasn't closing his eyes!

Ye Mian only just realized this. Who in their right mind doesn't close their eyes while kissing?!

Her heart was about to leap out of her throat. Not wanting the man to see how shy she looked, she tried to pull her hand away to cover his eyes, but he gripped her firmly. This time, there was no escaping.

It was another kiss that left her breathless. Amidst deep, heavy breaths, her chin was easily lifted by the man once more as he stared unblinkingly into her eyes.

Ye Mian was stunned again. She had seen this look before, back when Jiang Chen left the old district—it contained an ambition that could not be ignored.

The man didn't pull away from her lips, his voice low and seductive. "I like it very much. Thank you."

Ye Mian felt there were only two meanings to his words. Either he liked her flowers, or he liked her kiss. She accepted the former with composure, but the latter left her shy, yet unable to suppress her feelings.

Her breathing was still uneven. Unlike the suffocating sensation from a moment ago, she now felt her chest filled with a scorching heat, leaving only a trace of ragged breath to be exhaled to maintain a shred of her sanity.

Jiang Chen peered down at her, but that gaze lacked any signs of intoxication; it held only a deep, lingering, and gentle smile.

It stirred her heart into total disarray, setting it pounding wildly.

Ye Mian’s face was hot and flushed. She pressed her fingers against the cool corner of the desk to soothe the heat in her palms before covering her face and saying, "Why didn't you close your eyes?"

He didn't follow the basic rules at all!!!