SWNOVELS Chapter 1
Chapter 1 – Turn Off the Lights
Serena Woodsen thought her first time would be guarded by her until the end of time, until the day she died, and that she would never have the opportunity to experience what her best friend Blair Abrams said: “Living to die, and dying to live–You’ll only know what that means when you experience what men and women do together.”
It’s not that she was particularly conservative, but between her time in school and working, she never had practical experience until she met the man in front of her.
Her first experience had been particularly good. Her partner was a gentleman and cared for her feelings. Even after he had satisfied himself, he didn’t get up and leave but held her like an intimate lover for a long time, making her feel respected and even deeply loved. His tenderness completely offset her initial nervousness and self–doubt.
Of course, she didn’t tell the man that it was her first time. First, she didn’t want to burden him psychologically, and second, she didn’t want him to feel proud. So in the beginning, she quickly seized the initiative in an attempt to appear skillful and experienced. However, when they got to the last step, she couldn’t help but say, “Turn off the lights!”
The man heard her words and laughed softly, very softly and gently like a breeze. He rubbed her hair, obediently got up, and turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. Serena Woodsen was finally relieved and glad that the lights were off. She didn’t want him to see her crazy side.
Click!
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The man got up and turned on the lamp beside the bed. The light was soft, and it set off the man’s straight and smooth waist and back. Serena’s mouth instantly went dry again. She had just sweated a lot and felt sticky and uncomfortable.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
Before he turned around, she wrapped the sheets around her and slipped into the bathroom, looking almost like she was running away. She didn’t fully calm down until a dense mist filled the bathroom.
She had made a mistake.
Her best friend, Blair Abrams, was her sex ed “teacher“. He had repeatedly drilled it into her head not to get involved with people she already knew, especially with how inexperienced she was. It could easily lead to trouble.
But could she really consider the man outside an acquaintance?
Penn Humphery, a well–known figure in New York, was certainly someone she knew. But since he didn’t really remember her, could they be considered strangers?
Tonight had purely been an accident. She had not attended class reunions for many years. Her only high school friend, Jenny Bass, was in New York for business and had organized a get–together with some high school classmates who also lived in the state. She couldn’t get out of it, so she attended and ended up seeing Penn Humphery.
Penn Humphery wasn’t their classmate. He had majored in science while she was in arts, so they hardly crossed paths. The only connection they had was that he and their class president, Nate Waldorf. were childhood friends, and Nate was also in New York.
During the party, Nate hadn’t specifically introduced Penn. He’d only
Chapter 1–Tum Off the Lights
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mentioned in passing that he’d been discussing with a business partner and happened to bring him along for a meal.
Penn Humphery needed no introduction. Anyone familiar with New York’s social scene knew who he was. In fact, when drinking and boasting on a regular day, people would often say they went to high school with Penn, who was a genius and stood out in high school, and then share some details to show that they were close to him.
But now that they were face to face, everyone was reserved, not knowing how to start a conversation win him. It wasn’t their fault; Penn was cold and distant, making him difficult to get along with. Nate said he came to mooch off the food, and that was exactly what he did. Once seated, he ate as if no one was around, not participating in any conversation.
Serena was not very involved either, and if it weren’t for Jenny, she would never have come to the high school reunion. But Nate, who hadn’t seen her in a long time, was overly enthusiastic, and within three sentences, the topic was drawn to her.