Serenade

Early July, the blazing sun.

Bo Yan stood ramrod straight on the plastic track field, his arms pressed tightly to his sides. His strong, dark brows were knitted together as he stared straight ahead, his expression stern.

Beads of sweat trickled down his cheek as his chest was soaked with perspiration, leaving a conspicuous dark patch.

Under the shade of the trees, Instructor Yan watched him with folded arms. He drawled, "You can leave after you admit your mistake and report to me."

Bo Yan stood firm, not uttering a word.

"Still defiant, huh? No one can discipline you, right? Then stand there and roast!"

He was determined to break this stubborn kid today.

Jin Xi peeked from behind a tree, holding a small sun umbrella. She watched Bo Yan suffering under the blazing sun.

Facing the sun, he knitted his long narrow phoenix eyes into slits. His deep red lips were chapped.

Instructor Yan noticed Jin Xi lurking under the tree and asked casually, "Student, what are you looking at?"

"Ah..."

Jin Xi's attention was fully on Bo Yan. She did not notice Instructor Yan nearby.

Instructor Yan lived up to his nickname the Asura Instructor. With his fierce look, one knit of his brows and glare was enough to make Jin Xi's legs go soft.

"Tea...teacher, good morning."

Instructor Yan asked suspiciously, "What is a female student like you doing on the training field at this hour?"

"I'm just roaming around." Jin Xi stared at Bo Yan. "Can I not look for him?"

Instructor Yan said coldly, "Stand properly. Don't mind other people's business."

Bo Yan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed the dry saliva. Then he shouted vigorously,

"Instructor, it's hot. Let her leave!"

Instructor Yan glanced at Jin Xi. She was also gazing at Bo Yan, full of concern.

"Is Bo Yan hurt because of you?"

Just as Jin Xi was about to explain, Bo Yan interrupted again, "Instructor, she has nothing to do with this!"

Instructor Yan scolded, "I'm not asking you. Shut up! Give me 20 push ups!"

Bo Yan got down and started doing push ups. Sweat dripped onto the ground, instantly absorbed by the rubber granules.

Instructor Yan asked Jin Xi again, "Are you his girlfriend?"

Jin Xi retreated fearfully and said evasively, "Tea...teacher, I'm sorry."

Seeing how frightened Jin Xi was, trembling like a startled fawn, Instructor Yan started reflecting. He was not that fierce, was he? How could he scare a young girl like this?

"Which year and faculty are you in, student?"

"Faculty of Arts, year one."

"Don't you know national defense students cannot date?"

"Ah..."

Jin Xi was at a loss for words. She hugged her sun umbrella tightly as if holding on to a lifeline, and murmured softly, "I'm sorry."

Indeed, it was prohibited for national defense students to date, so as not to distract their training. However, these brats were at their peak of youth and overflowing with hormones. How could they really abstain? The teachers would often turn a blind eye, after all everyone had been young before.

After completing the push ups, Bo Yan repeated, "Instructor, it's hot. Let her leave!"

Instructor Yan said to Jin Xi, "You heard him. The rascal doesn't want you standing here under the sun. Go back."

Jin Xi nodded apprehensively and scurried off. But she did not leave. Instead she circled back to the other side of the training field and watched discreetly.

Instructor Yan stood guard for another half an hour. Seeing that the girl was determined not to leave, his own stomach started rumbling. He decided to take his leave.

As he walked away, he said to Bo Yan, "Just keep standing there. I'll be back after my meal to deal with you!"

As soon as Instructor Yan left, Jin Xi hurried over to Bo Yan on her scooter. She took out a thermos from her bag and passed it to Bo Yan, "It's so hot. You must be getting heat stroke. Drink some water quickly."

Bo Yan did not move a muscle.

He was a soldier. He could not move without an order.

Jin Xi took the initiative to unscrew the thermos lid and brought it to his mouth.

Bo Yan clamped his lips tightly. No matter how she tried, she could not get him to drink.

"Please drink a little, I'm begging you."

Bo Yan lowered his eyes and looked at her. Her little face was flushed red and beads of sweat dotted her nose.

After some hesitation, he finally opened his mouth.

Jin Xi tiptoed to slowly feed him the water.

The icy cold water was refreshing. It invigorated his spirit and cleared his mind. He drank large gulps until the thermos was almost empty.

After Jin Xi put away the thermos, she magically took out a pack of soda crackers from her bag too.

Seeing her bloated backpack, Bo Yan thought - this girl came fully equipped.

Jin Xi broke the crackers into small pieces and fed them into his mouth. She said distressingly, "My poor baby must be starving."

When doting on him, she liked to call him baby. This nickname made Bo Yan's heart flutter. This young girl was trying to compensate for the maternal love he lacked all these years.

Bo Yan chewed the crackers noisily and grunted in acknowledgment. Looking at his girlfriend, his heart ached. He blinked hard and swallowed the bitterness.

No matter what others thought or said about him, no matter how the instructor punished him, he did not take it to heart or feel any resentment. But one look from his girlfriend and he felt wronged, his heart of stone instantly turned soft as clay.

How he wished to hug this girl tightly and kiss her, to never let go for the rest of his life.

Jin Xi did not notice the surging emotions beneath Bo Yan's tough exterior.

She chatted away while breaking the crackers, "Why don't you just apologize and get it over with? How long more do you have to stand here? What if you get heat stroke? Even if you don't, you'll be fried like a mudfish."

Bo Yan did not respond. He just looked at her tenderly, his eyes full of affection.

After feeding him water and food, Jin Xi lingered reluctantly.

Bo Yan had been standing like a statue for at least three hours. Now that he was fed, Jin Xi started worrying about other issues.

She suggested considerately, "Baby, do you need to pee? The instructor isn't around. You can go relieve yourself in the woods. Don't hold it in, I won't laugh at you."

Bo Yan: ...

He would rather die than reveal himself to pee in front of his girlfriend.

Jin Xi looked up at the sky. The noon sun was brutal. Hot air rose from the rubber track field. Even the wind was warm.

She took out her sun umbrella and held it over him, casting a cool shade on his face. Bo Yan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down again. Sweat trickled down his neck.

"Go back." His voice was low. He finally spoke.

"It's fine. I'll keep you company." Jin Xi took out a palm-sized portable Doraemon mini fan from her bag and held it to his face to fan him.

Bo Yan grinned, "You really came fully prepared."

"Of course!"

Soon, Jin Xi's arm tired from holding up the umbrella. She switched to her other arm.

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Bo Yan was distressed, "Be good and go back."

"It's nothing. I'll stay here with you." Jin Xi took out yet another item from her bag - soda crackers. She broke them into small pieces and fed them into his mouth, saying distressfully, "My poor baby must be starving."

When doting on him, she liked to call him 'baby'. This nickname made Bo Yan feel warm inside. This young girl was trying to makeup for the maternal love he lacked over the years.

Bo Yan chewed the crackers noisily. Looking at his girlfriend, his heart ached. He blinked hard to swallow the sourness.

No matter how others viewed or talked about him, no matter how the instructors punished him, he did not take it to heart or feel wronged. But one look from his girlfriend and he would feel aggrieved, his heart of stone instantly turned soft like clay.

How he wished he could hug this girl tightly and kiss her, to never let go for life.

Jin Xi did not notice the swirling emotions beneath Bo Yan's tough exterior.

She chatted on while breaking the crackers, "Why don't you just apologize and get it over with? How long more do you have to stand here? What if you get heat stroke? Even if you don't, your skin will be fried like a mudfish."

Bo Yan did not respond. He just looked at her affectionately, his eyes full of tenderness.

After feeding him water and food, Jin Xi was reluctant to leave.

Bo Yan had been standing like a statue for at least three hours now. Now that he was fed, Jin Xi started worrying about other matters.

She suggested considerately, "Baby, do you need to pee? The instructor's not around. Go relieve yourself in the woods. Don't hold it in, I won't laugh at you."

Bo Yan: ...

He would rather die than reveal himself to pee in front of his girlfriend.

Jin Xi looked up at the sky. The noon sun was brutal. Hot air rose from the rubber track field. Even the wind was warm.

She took out her sun umbrella and held it over him, casting a cool shade on his face. Bo Yan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down again. Sweat trickled down his neck.

"Go back." His voice was low. He finally spoke.

"It's fine, I'll accompany you." Jin Xi took out a palm-sized portable Doraemon mini fan from her bag and held it to his face to fan him.

Bo Yan grinned, "You really came fully equipped."

"Of course!"

Soon, Jin Xi's arm tired from holding up the umbrella. She switched to her other arm.

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Bo Yan felt distressed, "Be good and go back."

"It's nothing, I'll stay here with you." Jin Xi took out yet another item from her bag - soda crackers. She broke them into small pieces and fed them into his mouth, saying distressfully, "My poor baby must be starving."

Today, Jin Xi pouted and mumbled, "I apologize. I have a bad temper and I'm used to arguing with Shen Ping Chuan. I spoke without thinking. I never meant to compare you with Shen Ping Chuan. You are both the most important people to me."

Bo Yan's insides twisted up again. After a long while, he suppressed the heartache and said the same three words: "Don't worry about it."

Jin Xi had bared her heart to him, but he remained stubborn. She was frustrated and anxious. She closed the sun umbrella and turned to leave, "Who cares about you? You don't appreciate kindness!"

Muttering, she walked halfway across the field. Looking back at Bo Yan, he still stood tall under the blazing sun. His shadow beneath him was short and narrow.

Jin Xi stamped her feet, nearly mad with anger. This guy was as stubborn as a rock.

Soon, the little short legs ran back. She propped up the sun umbrella for him again.

Bo Yan's gaze lowered. Seeing her huffy beside him like an angry goldfish, he pressed his lips together and refused to speak.

Without a word, she stood with him for over forty minutes until Instructor Yan returned.

Jin Xi's heart thumped wildly. She shrank behind Bo Yan, afraid but not leaving his side.

"Girl student, why are you still here?"

"Teacher, Bo Yan knows he was wrong," Jin Xi pleaded. "He really knows. After standing so long, please let him off."

"Whether he knows he's wrong or not, let him say it himself."

Jin Xi elbowed Bo Yan, but he clenched his lips and stubbornly stayed silent.

Instructor Yan sneered coldly, "See, he's stubborn. He doesn't listen to anyone and thinks he knows best. Don't expect him to admit wrongdoing. I advise you to break up with him. Being with this guy will only make you suffer!"

"I won't break up with him. If he wrongs me, I'll tell my brother!"

"Oh? Who's your brother?"

"Shen Ping Chuan."

"Ah! Your brother is Shen Ping Chuan from student council. I know him. He's a down-to-earth good kid who has helped me a lot, much better than this one."

"That's right. My brother studies hard and is very capable." Jin Xi was proud to hear others praise Shen Ping Chuan. "So, for my brother's sake, please let Bo Yan off. I'll have my brother lecture him properly."

"No way."

"..."

Jin Xi leaned against Bo Yan and continued holding the umbrella over him, standing with him.

B City was surrounded by mountains. The blazing summer heat was hard to dispel. It was like a giant oven, stifling hot. After a while, Jin Xi grew dizzy. She leaned against Bo Yan for support, barely holding herself up.

Bo Yan could tell the girl beside him wouldn't last much longer. She had been spoiled by Shen Ping Chuan since childhood. How could she endure this?

No matter how much he told her to leave, she stubbornly stayed.

"Sir!" Bo Yan finally spoke. "I was wrong!"

Instructor Yan crossed his arms, frowning at him in surprise. He didn't expect Bo Yan to admit wrongdoing.

But soon he understood. It wasn't because Bo Yan couldn't take it anymore. It was because the girl beside him couldn't take it. Bo Yan was being considerate of his girlfriend.

Bo Yan was usually stubborn and unyielding. Once he made up his mind, ten oxen couldn't pull him back. But for this girl, he lowered his head and admitted he was wrong.

Rare.

Instructor Yan pressed while the iron was hot, "What were you wrong about?"

"I shouldn't have been reckless and hurt myself."

"What else?"

"I was disrespectful and arrogant."

Instructor Yan's anger was mostly quelled. He coughed lightly, "Alright, go on."

Relieved, Bo Yan pulled Jin Xi and raced to the shade of the trees.

Jin Xi stumbled after him, practically carried under his arm.

Under the cool parasol trees, a breeze brought refreshing coolness, easing the stuffy feeling in her chest. Her mind cleared up a bit too.

Bo Yan's hand gripped her arm tightly. Through his palm, she could feel the scorching heat of his body.

He crushed her in a fierce embrace, hugging her like a bear pouncing on prey. Jin Xi tiptoed with her body stretched taut to meet his hot, tight embrace.

It seemed...too tight. She felt smothered by his powerful muscles and could barely breathe.

Her jaw pressed against his chest. His shirt was soaked with sweat but didn't smell. If anything, it was the scent of sunshine permeating from his body heat.

Jin Xi felt her nose bend under the pressure of his chest. She couldn't even open her eyes fully.

She instinctively pushed at him.

The wild beast only hugged her more forcefully, even more desperately, wanting to meld her into his flesh and blood.

The soft girl felt like a doll in his arms. Her neck had a faint citrus scent.

Jin Xi finally turned her face sideways. Her ear pressed against his chest cavity, the mad thumping of his heart clear to her.

Scorching summer heat, tightly embracing, yet not feeling stuffy at all.

Jin Xi's hand rested on his waist, gripping lightly.

"Are you done hugging yet?"

Rather than answering, Bo Yan lowered his head. His eyes brimmed with dangerous desire.

Jin Xi sensed trouble, but too late. He lowered his head and clamped her soft lips in his mouth.

"!" Jin Xi was caught off guard and quickly pushed him.

But her strength meant nothing to this "beastly" man.

He sucked her lower lip, forcefully pressing it. She kept her teeth clenched. He wasn't impatient. He sucked her lower lip, licked it for a while before moving to her upper lip, tangling tongues to tease and entice her. His soft tongue slowly licked her all over.

Jin Xi's mind went blank, hotter than sunstroke, restless and unbearable. She clearly heard him swallowing saliva and the wet smacking sounds of their tangled tongues, seductively rippling.

Although Bo Yan's tongue tried to pry open her teeth, Jin Xi staunchly guarded like a loyal general, not letting him succeed.

After an unknown time, Bo Yan slowly released her.

Dizzy, Jin Xi's lips were flushed and moist with swollen fullness, extremely tempting.

Her ears were also flushed. She lowered her head and lightly pushed him.

"You...hateful."

Too shy to look at him.

Bo Yan smiled, phoenix eyes crinkling with his usual arrogance.

These days, Jin Xi had only seen him taut-faced until now when he finally smiled again.

Seeing his smile lightened Jin Xi's mood too.

She gently touched her lips, thinking of what just happened. He had forcibly and dictatorially stolen her first kiss. And he had...kissed her like that.

She had imagined her first kiss to be in a picturesque scene like in idol dramas. He would stand under a cherry blossom tree in a proper suit, ceremonially kissing her after she had put on makeup and worn a dress!

How could it be so casually just...

Both were sweaty wrecks, hair askew, ugly hot messes.

Jin Xi felt her brain boil like a kettle, gurgling noisily.

Bo Yan knocked her head, "Seems you're quite disappointed?"

Jin Xi glared at him, "Who...who agreed you could do that to me!"

"Why can't I do that to you?"

"I...I wasn't ready."

She was scared to death!

Bo Yan smiled, "Then get ready again."

He lowered his head and kissed her before she could respond. This time no longer a whirlwind battle, but gentle and slow, tenderly caressing and entwining, kissing with lingering affection.

Jin Xi opened her eyes looking at him up close.

His eyes were closed, long lush lashes lightly brushing his lower lids like a brush. So he had a soft side too. His lips, soft and moist.

After a long time, he also opened his eyes. The two of them gazed at each other from inches away, blinking back and forth. The atmosphere suddenly took a bizarre, happy turn, and Jin Xi couldn't help laughing as she reached out and pinched his soft earlobe, taking the initiative to kiss his lower lip.

"Bo Yan, I really like you."