(Two chapters were updated at once, everyone please check the previous chapter; if nothing unexpected happens, there should be another update tonight.) Putting my phone down again, Zhang Xiaoya had already chosen a gift for me. After I paid, Zhang Xiaoya led me into an urban village area.

“The house burned down. My dad and I are renting here temporarily. The conditions are very crude; don’t laugh at them,” Zhang Xiaoya said apologetically before entering the doorway.

“I won’t. I’m not some son of a high-ranking official; I don’t have that many airs about me.”

Old Zhang came out to greet us. He took one look at me and exclaimed, “Xiaoya, this is him! He’s the tofu seller! How did you two end up together?”

Zhang Xiaoya replied, “Dad, he was my classmate in high school. We ran into each other at the alumni gathering yesterday, and I didn’t mention it because I was afraid you’d worry when you called.”

Old Zhang pulled me into the house. “Young man, you are a hero. My daughter owes you a great debt for saving her. Otherwise, my old self and I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you today.”

Before I could offer my customary polite remarks, Zhang Xiaoya interjected, “Dad, you don’t need to be so polite. Who told him he’s my classmate? If he didn’t save me, who would?”

I quickly followed up, “Yes, Uncle. It was just a lucky coincidence that I ran into her. Anyone else would have saved Xiaoya too.”

“Hmph, do you think this old man has senile dementia? So many people were watching, but who stepped forward to save my child? Look at you—burned so badly you have skin but no hair. You poor child.”

Zhang Xiaoya pulled me into her room. “Sit here for a moment. There’s a bathhouse right outside; I’m going to take a shower and change.”

The place Zhang Xiaoya rented had only two rooms. Zhang Xiaoya had a small room to herself, and the other, larger room served as her father’s bedroom, kitchen, and dining area.

Old Zhang said he was going out to buy groceries, leaving me alone in the house. I took a good look around the interior; it was meager. Apart from a bed and bedding, there were no other furnishings or decorations. That fire had been thorough; it left nothing behind for the father and daughter.

Sitting on Zhang Xiaoya’s bed, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from the duvet, I felt quite content. Casually, I slipped my hand under the pillow and actually touched a notebook.

My curiosity immediately flared. It must be Zhang Xiaoya’s diary, right? What would she write? What secrets could this stunning beauty hold?

Although I often considered myself a promising young man in society, faced with a beautiful woman’s secrets, even a monk would be tempted. Besides, it was only peeking; as long as Zhang Xiaoya didn’t know, it was fine.

On the first page of the diary were several large characters: “Who are you?”

Strange. This was the first time I had seen someone start a diary like this.

“Who are you? Since you walked into my life, you shouldn’t have vanished without a trace. Dad said you’re a tofu vendor; I don’t believe it. You are a hero. No matter how humble a hero’s origins, he remains a hero; whereas a coward, no matter how noble his birth, remains a coward.”

It seemed Zhang Xiaoya was writing about me, which made me even more compelled to read on. I turned to the next page.

“We searched all the places you usually frequent, but we couldn’t find the young man who sells Iron Bull brand tofu anywhere. Were you burned by the fire that day? A neighbor said your hair and eyebrows were completely burned off, and your clothes were tattered rags. Do you know how worried I was? Even if you wanted to be a new-era Lei Feng, you should have at least reported that you were safe.”

The tone on the following pages was much less polite. Apparently, Zhang Xiaoya’s temper had flared after her fruitless search.

“Do you think hiding away means you can escape our gratitude? Actually, I don’t want to thank you at all; I want to curse you. Are you afraid I’ll pester you? You had the ability to face the raging fire, so why not face me! Was it because I was too ugly that you couldn’t even spare a glance? Or do you already have a girlfriend and simply don’t care about an ordinary girl like me?”

“Who exactly are you? I hate you, I hate you so much! If you didn’t want to see me again, then you shouldn’t have saved me! But since you did save me, you have to take responsibility for me! You couldn’t have failed to see me dressed like that that day. If you have a girlfriend, I can only sigh that we met too late, say a ‘thank you,’ and slip away quietly; but if you are still single, why won’t you show up for a single meeting? Do I really disgust you that much!”

I dared not read the subsequent pages. Zhang Xiaoya had clearly turned her initial good feelings for her rescuer into resentment. The handwriting was messy, and the tone was filled with deep accusation. If I had been beside her while she was writing the diary, I might have been beaten into severe disability.

It seemed Zhang Xiaoya had developed feelings for the person who saved her in the beginning. It was a pity I didn’t know! If I had known, I would have surely sought her out secretly. But now, it appeared her endless longing had turned into deep disappointment with that person.

The sound of a door opening outside startled me, and I quickly closed the diary and shoved it back under the pillow. Zhang Xiaoya had changed out of her sexy qipao and was now wearing a knee-length pleated skirt paired with a loose-fitting T-shirt.

“I’m sorry, all my clothes were burned in that fire. This outfit is a bit of a mismatch.”

I praised her sincerely, “No, you look wonderful. You are beautiful in anything you wear.”

Zhang Xiaoya tossed her wet hair back. “Is that so? You like it?”

That simple gesture of tossing her hair stunned me. The just-bathed Zhang Xiaoya radiated an alluring beauty that provoked an impulse to trespass. “Yes, any man would like it.”

“But you’re not a man! You—you were reading my diary!” Zhang Xiaoya’s tone shifted abruptly. She took two steps forward, cornering me.

My eyes involuntarily darted towards the pillow currently pressing down the diary. No gaps. I distinctly remembered placing it back carefully; there shouldn’t have been any mistake.

Lacking confidence, my denial was a little clumsy. “N-no, I didn’t.”

“Still not admitting it? Dare you swear on Zhao Fen that you didn’t peek at the diary under my pillow? If you lie, may Zhao Fen leave your side.”

Damn it, that was vicious! I really hadn't expected such thoughts from such a refined young woman.

Zhang Xiaoya pressed forward another two steps. With nowhere left to retreat, I plopped back onto her bed. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoya boldly sat right onto my lap. “Zhao Qian, if you have the courage to do something, why not the courage to face it! No girl likes a coward!”

I was about to break out in a cold sweat. I swore I would never sneak a look at anything I shouldn’t again. “Classmate Zhang Xiaoya, I—I was wrong. I shouldn’t have read your diary. I admit my mistake. I’ll never dare to do it again.”

Zhang Xiaoya stared at me intently, her eyes looking as if they might spill water. “I’m not talking about that. Since you read the diary, you should know—you saw my body that day, didn’t you? Do I really hold no attraction for you at all? Am I so repulsive that you won’t even come to see me?”

Zhang Xiaoya pressed tightly against my chest. Her rich fragrance, mixed with the scent of shampoo, inflamed my desires, especially since, sitting on my lap, her knee-length pleated skirt had automatically ridden up to her thigh roots. Her fair, delicate legs were a sheet of pristine white; looking at them felt slick.

Zhang Xiaoya’s ample bosom was no less than Zhao Fen’s, perhaps more so. I didn’t know if she was braless under the T-shirt, but the two mounds of flesh pressed against my chest felt incredibly real.

I wanted to push Zhang Xiaoya away because her seductive power was simply overwhelming. I wasn't an innocent virgin; how could I withstand such stimulation? My heart felt like a pump with the accelerator floored, injecting torrents of lust into every vessel. If we stayed this close, I would collapse.

When I reached out to push, my hand unfortunately landed directly on Zhang Xiaoya’s chest. I don't know if it was intentional; my brain was already clouded by lust. It seemed that wretched, mischievous snake in my life had truly left its flirtatious mark, otherwise, how could my hand have landed so accurately?

Zhang Xiaoya let out a soft moan and wrapped her arms around me, refusing to let go. I roared in response, deciding to hell with everything. I’d already been with two girlfriends; what else could be so bad?

Zhang Xiaoya’s earlobe was right by my mouth. I gently bit down on it, licking across it with my tongue. Zhang Xiaoya’s body was extremely responsive; her reaction was violent. Not only did she let out involuntary gasps of pleasure, but she even turned and kissed me back!

Even if I had wanted to remain polite, I couldn't control myself. I pulled Zhang Xiaoya down onto the bed, and my tongue naturally slipped past her lips, intertwining with hers. My hands certainly weren’t idle. The T-shirt was loose enough for both my hands to slide underneath.

Indeed, Zhang Xiaoya wore no bra underneath. My hands immediately grasped the fullness of her breasts, finding the hard nubs beneath, and I began squeezing them without restraint.

Zhang Xiaoya suddenly bit down hard on my tongue. Although my body was in a state I thought could withstand machine-gun fire, the sensation was painfully real. In an instant, all the lust evaporated, and I cried out, “Ow! That hurts!”

Since Zhang Xiaoya kept biting my tongue, her words were muffled: “You know pain, do you? I thought you were heartless and couldn’t feel anything. Take your hands out. Didn’t you see enough that day? Today you’re so bold as to touch! You squeezed them so hard just now, and I didn’t even cry out.”

Thinking about it, I had been too impulsive. Kissing was fine, but I had to go and touch her chest too! The development was too fast. So, I obediently removed my hands.

Zhang Xiaoya released my tongue and reached down to pull her pleated skirt, which had ridden up to expose her panties, back into place. Blushing, she sat beside me. “Dad will be back soon; it wouldn't be good if he saw.”

Lying beside Zhang Xiaoya, hearing her words which held no trace of blame, and smelling her fragrance, my spirits soared. I reached out and wrapped my arm around her slender waist. “Xiaoya, I truly didn’t recognize you that day. Otherwise, I would have certainly come to the hospital to check on you.”

Zhang Xiaoya’s voice trembled slightly. “I don’t care about that! How bad would it be if your girlfriend found out? She’d surely think I was seducing you.”

Through the T-shirt, my hand became restless again and rested on her chest. Zhang Xiaoya didn’t resist. It seemed the curses in her diary were just things she said in anger. I asked cautiously, “You’re not mad anymore? We’re old classmates who just met; getting close is only natural. I think Zhao Fen would understand.”

Zhang Xiaoya slapped my hand away. “Understand my foot! You think all the good things in the world are for you to grab? Even old classmates getting intimate shouldn’t be like this. You were so rude just now! My first kiss is gone just like that, and you shouldn’t have touched me below the neck.”

I was becoming confused myself. Why couldn’t I control myself? Fang Yanmeng was one example; with Yi Xiaorou, the first time I was drunk, but every time after that, I was the one initiating. Now, facing Zhang Xiaoya, my immune system was even weaker. How would this ever end? Not to mention Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang!

Seeing I wasn't speaking, Zhang Xiaoya thought I was upset. “Are you angry? Actually, I was a bit impulsive too; it’s not entirely your fault. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you, and I won’t tell Zhao Fen.”

I didn't dare lie on Zhang Xiaoya’s bed anymore. If Old Zhang suddenly returned, we’d be in deep trouble. Because of that sudden burst of passion, we sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed for a while, unable to find a topic of conversation.

“Zhao Qian, do you still remember what I looked like in high school?”

“I remember. You had two little braids, you weren’t tall, and you were very thin. I never expected you to have developed so maturely now.”

Zhang Xiaoya playfully hit me. “Not a single serious word from you. Where is the eraser you borrowed from me? When will you return it? And that time you pulled my braids and made me cry in pain—how do you plan to compensate me?”

I quietly placed my hand on Zhang Xiaoya’s shoulder. Seeing she didn't object, I pulled her into my arms. “How do you plan for me to compensate you? I’m penniless right now; I don’t seem worth extorting.”

Zhang Xiaoya actually leaned closer to me. “I have a flight mission tomorrow; I’ll be gone for a week this time. I want you to pick me up at the airport in a week.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all. Are you afraid your girlfriend will get jealous and won’t let you come?”

“No, I’ll definitely be there. A week from now, right? Text me the time, and I’ll go, even if it’s through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire.”

The two of us were getting closer and closer in posture. If Old Zhang hadn’t returned, I doubt we would have stopped before ending up on the bed again. Father and daughter worked together, and a table full of food was quickly prepared.

During the meal, Old Zhang asked me, “Little Zhao, where are you from? Who’s in your family?”

Zhang Xiaoya interrupted her father’s questioning. “Dad, my classmate has a girlfriend; don’t conduct an interrogation.”

Old Zhang looked disappointed. “Oh, is that so.”

I finally understood why men loved playing the hero saving the beauty. Girls liked strong, protective men. If another chance arose, I would save someone again. Whether my own home could hold up later was another matter entirely.