1
After my shower, I stood behind the door wrapped in a towel and twisted the handle—
Sure enough, the deadbolt was jammed. No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't budge.
"Zhou Xu..." My voice trembled through the door. "Is it really broken?"
"Yeah, just tried it. The deadbolt mechanism fell inside." His voice was low, tinged with innocence. "I grabbed the tools. Gotta disassemble the lock cylinder."
I glanced down at myself: towel + damp hair. Opening the door like this? Safety factor: negative.
"You... you go wash up in the guest bathroom first. I'll wait for you to finish before coming out."
"What are you afraid of?" he chuckled. "I wouldn't—"
"Won't what?"
"I won't just watch and not take responsibility."
"..."
I snatched the bathrobe and wrapped myself up like a dumpling, deciding to play dead.
2
Ten minutes later, the faint sound of a screwdriver came from the doorway.
My back pressed against the door, I heard him humming a tune—Twinkle Twinkle Little Star—so off-key it sounded like it was coming from the other side of the moon.
My tension suddenly dissolved into laughter: so even the seemingly all-knowing neighbor boy had a tone-deaf side.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked, as if he could see right through me.
"You're off-key!"
"Then come out and teach me."
"Don't even think about it!"
Another five minutes passed before the lock clicked and the door creaked open a crack.
My reflexes kicked in—I stepped back, slipped, and fell forward—
The towel!
At the last possible moment, Zhou Xu reached out, catching me and the towel in his arms.
"Whoa—" he gasped, "Nice towel."
I looked up, meeting his dark, frightening eyes, and quickly clutched the collar of my shirt. "Don't look!"
"I already have."
"Zhou Xu!"
"Don't worry," his voice was low and hoarse, "I'll close my eyes."
With that, he truly closed his eyes, scooped me up horizontally, carried me across the room to my bedroom in a few strides, tucked me under the covers, and flipped off the bedside nightlight.
"Put on your pajamas. I'm going to take a shower."
He turned and walked faster than usual, his ears red as blood.
I curled up beneath the covers, my heart pounding like a drum: just now, the heat radiating from his waist through the towel had been terrifyingly intense.
3
I changed into my pajamas and had just finished drying my hair when a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Zhou Xu stood there in long sleeves and pants, his hair dripping wet, holding... a pillow.
"The lock cylinder's broken. The door won't close." He gestured down the hallway. "The guest room faces the stairwell. It's drafty. I'm cold."
I understood instantly, gripping the corner of my blanket tighter. "So... you'll sleep on the floor?"
"Sure."
He smiled gently, turned to rummage through the closet for blankets, and made the bed with practiced ease.
Ten minutes later, a neatly folded blanket lay on the floor.
I turned off the main light, leaving only a nightlight. In the dim, yellow glow, we lay one above the other, our breaths audible.
"Xiali."
"Hmm?"
"Good night."
"...Good night."
I rolled over, turning my back to him. Before I could count five sheep, lightning flashed outside the window, followed by a thunderous roar.
I shuddered in fright, and the bed dipped beside me—
Zhou Xu pulled back the covers and climbed in, wrapping his arms around me from behind. His palm rested on my lower abdomen as he murmured softly, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
His warmth radiated through the nightgown like a natural heater. I stiffened, but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to push him away.
"Just hold," he murmured, kissing the nape of my neck. "No moving."
I murmured softly, "If you dare cross the line..."
"I'll be at your mercy."
As he spoke, his long legs wrapped around me. His breathing soon steadied, and he actually fell asleep.
I stared through the curtain slits, counting his heartbeats—one, two...
Tension gave way to an inexplicable sense of security, and I drifted into a deep, sweet sleep.
4
When I opened my eyes again, dawn was breaking.
I was curled up in Zhou Xu's embrace, my legs draped over his waist, my hand clutching his collar, drool soaking a small patch of fabric.
I peeked up quietly—
He hadn't woken yet. His eyelashes cast delicate shadows in the morning light, but the corners of his lips curved upward, as if he'd been dreaming sweetly.
I held my breath, preparing to slip away. The moment I stirred, his arm tightened around me, his voice rough with sleep: "Morning, girlfriend."
My cheeks flushed to my ears: "Morning..."
He leaned down, kissing my forehead, then my nose, finally landing a light peck on my lips. "Did you sleep well last night?"
I nodded honestly: "No dreams."
"I had a dream."
"What?"
"I dreamed you agreed to marry me."
I froze, my heart racing.
He just smiled, ruffling my hair. "Take your time. I'll hold you to it."
With that, he got out of bed first, stretching his back toward me. The curve of his waistline disappeared beneath his robe, sending a rush through my veins.
"I'll make breakfast," he said, turning back. "Got a date today."
"Where to?"
"It's a secret for now."
5
At nine in the morning, I received a WeChat location share—
[West City Wetland Park · Lighthouse]
My head was filled with question marks, but he shoved me into the passenger seat and buckled me in tight.
"You'll find out when we get there."
As the car pulled out of the neighborhood, the sky was thick with dark clouds, as if brewing a downpour.
I muttered, "If it pours, I hope we don't lose power again."
He held the steering wheel with one hand while rubbing the top of my head with the other. "Don't worry, there'll be lights tonight."
6
The wetland park stretched open and empty, the wind rustling through the reeds.
Zhou Xu held my hand as we walked to the deepest part—
to an old lighthouse.
The tower was rust-stained, yet the stairs had been freshly painted.
"Shall we go up?"
"Hold me tight if you're afraid of heights."
I stubbornly insisted, "I'm not afraid!"
Climbing to the top, the platform offered sweeping views. Dark clouds hung low over the city, and distant lightning flickered like silver snakes.
He glanced at his watch and began counting down in a low voice: "Ten, nine, eight..."
"What are you doing?"
"Three, two, one—"
Snap!
All the light bands on the lighthouse ignited instantly, a white glow circling the tower like a halo drawn around the gray world.
I gasped, but the wind scattered my voice.
Zhou Xu pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed the second button—
Beneath the tower, a row of ground lights ignited in succession, forming a colossal... sunflower.
I covered my mouth, tears welling up unexpectedly.
He turned to face me, his back to the city lights and the raging storm.
"Xiali," his words scattered by the wind, yet each one struck my heart, "That ring was an old model. Today, I'm making up for it with a light show."
"You..."
"My second day as a full-time employee," he smiled. "I had to let the whole city know I'm taken."
I sobbed until I hiccupped. He cupped my face, wiping my tears with his fingertips. "Don't cry. The main event is just beginning."
7
As he finished speaking, the first bolt of lightning cracked overhead, and raindrops began to fall.
Zhou Xu pulled me into his embrace, pressed one hand against the back of my head, and leaned down to kiss me.
The wind howled and the rain fell hard, yet the lighthouse's beam remained steady overhead, as if the world had pressed a spotlight button.
This kiss carried the chill of rainwater and the heat of his lips and tongue—a dual sensation of ice and fire.
My fingers gripped the damp collar of his shirt as I stood on tiptoe to meet him.
In the distance, tourists gasped, flashing their phones at the lighthouse.
Yet I heard nothing else—only the beat of his heart, merging with mine—
Thump, thump, beating in perfect unison.
After a long while, he pulled back slightly, his forehead pressed against mine, his voice low and hoarse: "Xiali, the whole world is watching. You can't get out of this now."
I laughed through my tears: "Then... I won't deny it."
He kissed me again. The wind blew slanting rain threads toward us, twisting them into a transparent curtain that briefly shielded us from the world.
In that moment, I understood—
Romance is kissing the world in the eye of a storm.
8
On the way back, I curled up in the passenger seat, wrapped in his jacket, my nose filled with his scent.
My phone buzzed incessantly—
My high school class group exploded:
[Someone caught an epic kiss at the Wetland Park!!!]
[Looks like the female lead is our class beauty, Xia Li?]
[The guy is Zhou Xu, the school heartthrob from next door!!!]
My face flushed as I handed him my phone. He glanced at it and laughed carelessly: "Official announcement successful."
I covered my face: "How am I supposed to face anyone now..."
"Showing affection isn't illegal."
As he spoke, he stopped the car at a red light, cupped the back of my neck, and leaned in for another kiss. "Interest paid in full. The rest of my life is yours to guide."
I whispered back, "Teach me for a lifetime."
9
At 11 PM, we sat side by side on the sofa after showering and came across a short video—
"Kiss Under the Lighthouse in the Rain" had over 100,000 likes, with comments flooding the screen: "I believe in love again."
Nestled in his arm, I couldn't bring myself to look up.
Zhou Xu suddenly held the phone away, snapped a selfie of us, then bent down to edit:
[Meet my fiancée, Xia Li.]
He hit send.
My eyes widened: "Fiancée?"
"Just a rehearsal," he murmured, leaning down to kiss me. "Once you graduate, we'll swap it for a marriage certificate."
I opened my mouth to protest, but his fingertip pressed against my lips: "Refusal is futile. Auntie already liked it."
I instantly opened WeChat—
Mom: [@Xiao Xu Go for it! Bring Li Li to try on wedding dresses next month!]
Me: ...
The world fell silent, leaving only his low chuckle and the new moon peeking through the window after the rain.