Traffic was sparse at this hour, allowing Jing Pei to reach her destination in under half an hour.

The closer she got, the more nervous she felt. Her fingers tapped the car door frame to match her fast heartbeat while her other hand scrolled through her chat logs with Qiu Fa. She knew how strong he was. Unless an attack killed him right away, he would recover. Still, a faint worry wouldn’t leave her.

It hit even harder knowing this was the third loop. Qiu Fa had already died twice in previous timelines.

Every time that thought surfaced, a sharp ache tugged at her heart.

She needed to see him with her own eyes—alive, breathing, and safe past his original doom in the novel. She had endured the suspense for a full day already.

Suddenly, the chat screen blinked with a prompt showing Qiu Fa was typing.

The typing flickered for ages without sending a single word. After ten minutes of quiet, it started up again. So, the big cat was thinking of her, too. But then again, he wasn’t great at romance. Yesterday’s rare moment of looking for sympathy must have used up all his brainpower.

Sure enough, even as her car pulled to a stop, no message arrived.

Jing Pei tucked her phone away, grabbed the cake box, and stepped out. Rain instantly lashed against her face. The driver rushed to hand her an umbrella, but she was already running toward the building, shielding the cake box with her body.

Inside his apartment, Qiu Fa sat on the bed, staring at his phone. He had thought about her all day. Since she was probably busy, he couldn’t think of a good reason to message her.

He wanted to see her. It had not even been twenty-four hours since they parted.

He shifted restlessly on the bed. Then, footsteps echoed outside his door.

His brow furrowed before a sudden realization made him freeze. In a flash, he crossed the room and pulled the door open.

There stood the little dragon, damp-haired and clutching a cake box to her chest. She had been about to smooth herself down when the door opened. Surprised dark eyes looked up at him, and Qiu Fa felt that familiar impact strike his chest once more.

It wasn’t the first time. No matter how she looked, she could make him lose his guard in an instant.

“You…” His voice sounded raspy as his gaze remained fixed on her. “Why are you here?”

Jing Pei spared two seconds to care about her disheveled state before breaking into a smile. She lifted the cake box in her arms. “Happy birthday, Qiu Fa. You made it through another year.”

Looking at the box she had kept dry, he remembered his birthday was not over yet. He knew why she had braved the storm at midnight, but hearing those words still struck a powerful chord in his chest.

A surge of warmth flooded his pulse, so overwhelming it almost physically hurt.

“…Thank you.” Qiu Fa stepped aside to let her in.

Midnight was almost here. Jing Pei set the box down and opened it, wanting him to make a wish before the hour passed. When she turned around, Qiu Fa was taking a towel and a clean shirt from his closet.

“The towel is clean. The shirt is a fresh issue from the Tribunal Division, never worn.”

“I’m a dragon, I won’t catch cold. Come over here.” Even so, the damp clothes clinging to her in midwinter felt far from cozy.

Qiu Fa remained firm, standing beside the bathroom door. “Go wash up.”

Fine. It was his birthday, so he made the rules. Jing Pei took the items and slipped into the bathroom.

Qiu Fa searched his drawers for a hair dryer. Having kept a buzz cut for years, he never needed one. There was one back at the dorms for drying laundry, but his apartment lacked one entirely.

Just then, a squeaky, mischievous voice piped up from inside the closet. “Fool! Who needs a hair dryer now? Sit behind her, wrap your legs around her, and dry her hair with the towel! Hehehe…”

“Shut up. One more word and I’ll rip your tongue out.” So crude.

“Do you even know how to romance someone? This is how it’s done!” complained the Ring of Truthful Tongues.

“She and I… aren’t dating yet.” Qiu Fa kept his voice low, wary of Jing Pei hearing him.

“Then confess already! You’re her type, she likes you, and then you can dry her off proper! Hehehe…”

Veins throbbed on Qiu Fa’s forehead. If this atavist item were not so useful for interrogations, he would have smashed it to bits. How could such a shameless artifact exist? He would haul it back to the Tribunal Division tomorrow.

The bathroom door opened. Qiu Fa shot a glare at the Ring of Truthful Tongues, shut the drawer, and closed the closet door. Sensing real danger, the ring wisely went silent.

Qiu Fa’s shirt proved far too large for Jing Pei. It slipped off one smooth shoulder, falling long enough to serve as a makeshift dress that left her pale legs bare.

Qiu Fa immediately averted his eyes. Picking up the remote, he cranked up the heater, his throat suddenly dry as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Jing Pei held off on teasing him for the moment. Focused on finishing the birthday ritual before midnight, she sat back down by the cake and lit the candles. “Hurry, come over and make a wish before twelve.”

Qiu Fa crossed the room and sat opposite her.

“Take it seriously. You only get one birthday a year, and three wishes. Make them count!”

Qiu Fa had never believed in birthday wishes, yet hearing her say it made the moment feel too precious to waste.

He closed his eyes and thought carefully.

First, peace and safety for the nation.

Second, happiness and wellness for his parents in their next life.

Third, everlasting joy and safety for the girl sitting across from him, and may all her dreams come true.

He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.

Jing Pei clapped her hands. “Every wish will come true! Now cut the cake.”

This was the part she anticipated most—she had poured real effort into making it.

The cake looked tempting enough, smothered in thick cream and topped with colorful fresh fruit. While it clearly lacked a pastry chef’s polish, the thought that she had baked it herself rendered it superior to anything money could buy.

Under her eager gaze, Qiu Fa pressed the knife down. It sliced through soft cream and sponge before hitting an unexpected texture in the middle.

He parted the slice. Inside lay a generous filling of thick-cut raw tuna sashimi. He stared in silence.

“Surprised?” Jing Pei grinned. Knowing he had little sweet tooth, she had substituted fruits with his favorite raw tuna—which she loved too.

Looking at her proud, expectant expression, Qiu Fa lowered his head and took a quiet breath, unable to hide the curve of his lips. “It’s a wonderful surprise. I love it. Thank you.”

For the first time, he realized how endearing someone could be.

Jing Pei beamed. “Taste it! I want a piece too.”

Qiu Fa cut a large portion for her.

She took a bite and nodded in satisfaction. With such fine ingredients, it was bound to taste good.

“Not bad, right?”

“It’s great.”

She laughed softly.

A soft chuckle escaped him in response.

In the quiet warmth of the apartment on a rainy night, the two shared the weird cake. A sweet mood drifted through the room, seeping into every corner.

Without a drop of alcohol, Qiu Fa felt light-headed, his eyes pulled toward her again and again.

It made sense then. Ever since he first met her grown-up self, his eyes had kept going to her face. That sudden feeling back then was what people called love at first sight.

Jing Pei turned to meet his eyes, amusement dancing in her dark gaze. She stood up, stepped around the coffee table between the bed and sofa, and stopped in front of him.

Qiu Fa looked up.

Jing Pei pressed her hands to his shoulders and straddled his lap. Her cool fingers slipped beneath his hem, brushing against firm, warm muscle.

Qiu Fa snapped fully awake. Not a dream!

“You!” Qiu Fa caught her wrist, his eyes widening as he looked at her. Dressed in his oversized shirt with her legs exposed, sitting right in his lap—this was far too much.

Jing Pei saw nothing wrong with it. She slipped her hand free and reached up again. “Hold still. Let me check.”

“No!” Qiu Fa caught her hand once more, his skin heating up rapidly.

“Why not?” Jing Pei looked at him, puzzled.

Qiu Fa avoided her eyes, a flush creeping up his face. “It’s too soon.”

“When is the right time, then?”

“…Give it time.” They had not even defined their relationship, and she had just come of age. He refused to rush things like a scoundrel.

“If we wait, your wounds will be all healed. What’s the point of checking then?” she asked, looking innocent.

Qiu Fa froze. Glancing up, he caught the mischievous glint in her eyes and realized he had been played again. This scheming information broker, a dragon whose every word danced between truth and trickery!

Flustered, Qiu Fa tried to push her back and create distance, but as soon as he shifted, Jing Pei pressed him back onto the bed.

“Jing Pei!”

“All right, don’t be mad. It was just a little teasing. Or you could arrest me for assaulting an officer.”

Before he could speak, she leaned in again. The loose shirt brushed his cheek, bringing her subtle scent. By the time his head cleared, she was straddling his lap once more.

“Honestly, I was worried sick about you. I couldn’t sleep all night. Let me see how the wounds are doing.” Her expression turned serious as her dark eyes searched his face.

Qiu Fa felt completely at her mercy.

He wore a loose black cashmere sweater. To check his injuries, he had to pull it up.

With a small huff, Qiu Fa pulled the sweater up over his chest, revealing the scars there. He had no idea how good that looked.

“These are minor,” he muttered, brow furrowed. “They’ll fade in a few days.”

Jing Pei forced her focus onto the injuries, trying to ignore his toned waist, defined abs, and firm chest.

The sight worked, quickly quelling her shameless thoughts.

The wounds were scabbing over. Since Atavist healing works on the organs before the skin, those scabs meant the damage inside was just about healed.

Even so, a pang of sympathy tightened in her chest. Scars fading did not erase the pain he had endured. His body had been broken and rebuilt countless times—how could she, as the author, have been so cruel to him in her original plot?

She gently reached out to touch the healing marks.

Where her fingers touched, his skin grew warm and tingling. Watching her long lashes flutter, Qiu Fa tensed, his breathing growing heavy as heat pooled in his pulse. Unable to take it any longer, he caught her hand and pulled his sweater down.

“There. You saw it. Just minor injuries.” Wary of revealing his composure slipping, he tried to create space, but Jing Pei leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek.

Qiu Fa stared at her, his amber eyes intense. “Don’t toy with me.”

Jing Pei looked back into his eyes. “Not even for a lifetime?”

His grip on her waist tightened, still guarded against another prank.

Jing Pei cupped his face, leaned in, and pressed her lips to his.

Qiu Fa shuddered, his breath catching as his heart hammered against his ribs.

The air in the room grew warm and thick.

Tense muscle, soft lips, and warm breath melded as their bodies pressed close, feeling each other’s pulse until a light sheen of sweat warmed their skin.

The bedsheets grew tangled as Qiu Fa’s white tiger tail wound tightly around her waist.

After a long, breathless kiss, Jing Pei’s hand began slipping beneath his hem again. Qiu Fa caught her wrist and gently pulled back.

“Wait,” he rasped, breathing heavily.

“What does it matter?” Jing Pei leaned in for another kiss, her other hand wandering. “I’m an adult.”

Sweat beaded on Qiu Fa’s brow. “Hold on. Not yet.”

“I don’t want to wait. Life is short.”

“Please, don’t…”

Flustered and flushed, Qiu Fa managed to secure her wrists, gritting his teeth. “Don’t test me like this. The doctor strictly forbade any strenuous exercise.”

Even Jing Pei felt a flush warm her cheeks. Resting her head against his broad chest, she chuckled softly. “Would it be that strenuous?”

She placed deliberate emphasis on the word.

Qiu Fa remained silent.

“Fine, I’ll let you off the hook until you’re healed in a couple of days. After all, I’m a dragon. Someone who can’t handle strenuous exercise won’t satisfy—”

Qiu Fa sealed her mouth with another kiss before she could finish the shameless sentence. What a little perverted dragon.