Only a warm yellow floor lamp was left on in the living room, its light soft as a thin veil.
The man walked into the living room and saw Tan Qinyin curled up on the sofa, having fallen asleep at some point.
The woman was covered only by a thin blanket, her long hair softly spread over the pillow. Her small face was slightly tilted, her lips gently pressed together, like a well-behaved, soft little rabbit.
Chu Nanyu instinctively softened his movements, stepping closer step by step, his gaze lingering on those rosy lips.
After a moment, he shifted his gaze away, leaned down, and carefully extended his arms—one hand slipping under her knees, the other supporting her back. With gentle, deliberate movements, he lifted her into a horizontal carry.
Tan Qinyin’s slender frame felt almost weightless in his arms. Her soft body pressed against his chest, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance that instantly enveloped all his senses.
Chu Nanyu held her, moving with extreme slowness as he prepared to carry her upstairs.
After just two steps, the person in his arms stirred. Her long eyelashes fluttered lightly, like the wings of a butterfly.
The next moment, Tan Qinyin slowly opened her eyes. Her hazy gaze cleared the moment she recognized him, and a faint smile spread across her face. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and affectionately called out, “Husband, you’re back.”
Chu Nanyu’s arms tightened around her almost imperceptibly, his eyelashes flickering slightly. “Why didn’t you go back to your room to sleep? It’s easy to catch a cold on the sofa.”
Tan Qinyin nuzzled her cheek against the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing against his skin. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
Chu Nanyu’s throat tightened. He looked down at the person in his arms, his voice low and soft. “Next time you’re tired, remember to go back to your room.”
Tan Qinyin snuggled into the man’s embrace and softly murmured, “Mm-hmm.”
Chu Nanyu continued carrying her upstairs. When they passed Tan Qinyin’s room, his footsteps paused.
Tan Qinyin noticed his hesitation and looked up. “Are you coming to my room tonight, or should I go to yours?”
Chu Nanyu looked at her, his eyelids lowering slightly. He didn’t respond immediately.
He pushed the door open, walked in, and gently placed her on the bed. After tucking her in, he finally spoke. “You sleep first. I’ll go back to my room to take a shower.”
So he was planning to come to her room. Tan Qinyin blinked. “Okay.”
Back in his own room, Chu Nanyu loosened his tie and tossed it aside, then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
Sitting down on the sofa, his usually cool and detached expression was now veiled in a faint haze. He pressed his fingertips against his brow, his entire being enveloped in a heavy silence. He sat motionless for a long time before finally getting up and heading into the bathroom.
Over half an hour later.
Tan Qinyin lay on her side in bed, idly scrolling through her phone. She glanced at the door. Why was it taking so long?
Just as she was wondering, the door was gently pushed open. The man stood at the doorway, dressed in a set of navy blue loungewear.
Tan Qinyin immediately put down her phone. “All done?”
“Mm,” Chu Nanyu paused for a moment before slowly walking closer.
Only a dim bedside lamp was on in the room, making it hard to discern the expression on his face.
He sat down on the other side of the bed, lying down stiffly and maintaining a clear distance from Tan Qinyin, as if separated by an invisible boundary. Closing his eyes, he said calmly, “Sleep. Goodnight.”
Tan Qinyin turned to face him. Seeing the distance between them—wide enough to fit two more people—she proactively shifted closer to his side.
Feeling her approach, Chu Nanyu’s body tensed even more. The sound of his heartbeat echoed in his ears, yet he remained completely still, as if already asleep.
Tan Qinyin moved to his side and then remained still, softly replying, “Good night, husband.”
After this “good night,” she slowly closed her eyes.
Only when the woman beside him was breathing evenly did Chu Nanyu open his eyes.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, quietly got up, glanced back at Tan Qinyin, and gently closed the door.
**
The next day.
Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains into the room, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds outside the window.
Tan Qinyin slowly opened her eyes, looking around, but Chu Nanyu was already gone.
Where was he?
Up so early?
She raised her hand to rub her sleepy eyes, and her fingertips brushed against the slightly cool sheets beside her, finally waking up completely.
Why was there no lingering warmth at all?
Tan Qinyin frowned slightly, pushed back the covers, and got up.
After washing up and going downstairs, Auntie Liang greeted her with a smile, “Good morning, Miss Tan.”
“Good morning, Auntie Liang,” Tan Qinyin looked around. “Have you seen Nan Yu?”
Auntie Liang shook her head, “No, sir probably hasn’t come down yet.”
Tan Qinyin glanced toward the second floor.
Still not up?
“Miss Tan, would you like some milk?” Auntie Liang asked.
Tan Qinyin withdrew her gaze, “Yes.”
“Alright.”
Auntie Liang brought the milk over, and Tan Qinyin sat at the dining table, taking small sips. Halfway through her milk, there was movement from the staircase.
It was Chu Nanyu coming downstairs.
Seeing her, the man paused for a moment before walking over as usual and sitting down opposite her, “Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”
Tan Qinyin pursed her lips, her clear lake-like eyes fixed on him without saying a word.
Chu Nanyu lowered his gaze slightly and softly explained, “Last night, I… might have had a sleepwalking episode. I woke up this morning in my own room.”
Tan Qinyin lightly tapped the side of her cup with her fingertip, pausing for two seconds before speaking softly, “Oh, I thought you didn’t want to sleep with me and sneaked away while I was asleep.”
Chu Nanyu: “…”
**
In the afternoon, just like the day before, Chu Nanyu returned early from the company to accompany Tan Qinyin to the hospital for a bandage change, after which they headed to the private restaurant where they had arranged to meet Tan Yan.
Tan Yan had almost finished his work here and was returning to Nan City tomorrow, so they were having dinner together that evening.
After getting out of the car at the location, Tan Qinyin naturally linked arms with Chu Nanyu as they walked inside.
For her, being physically close to someone she was intimate with was the most ordinary thing.
Pushing open the private room door, besides her brother, Tan Qinyin was surprised to see another person.
Lu Yanzhi looked up at her, and when his gaze fell on her arm linked with Chu Nanyu’s, the smile on his face froze.
Tan Yan glanced at him. If it weren’t for the fact that appropriate contact with Lu Yanzhi could help Yinyin recover her memory, he wouldn’t want to see this scoundrel at all!
He cleared his throat and spoke first, “Yinyin, come sit down quickly.”
Chu Nanyu’s eyes met Lu Yanzhi’s for a moment but didn’t linger. He turned slightly and took two steps forward, pulling out the chair beside Tan Yan and gesturing for Tan Qinyin to sit.
Lu Yanzhi had also intended to stand up and pull out a chair, but his movement was a step too slow. His outstretched hand froze mid-air before he subtly withdrew it.
Tan Qinyin curved her lips into a smile and obediently sat down, first sweetly calling out “Brother,” then politely greeting Lu Yanzhi, “Brother Lu.”
Lu Yanzhi felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart, but his face remained as gentle as ever, “Mm.”
With everyone present, the waiter brought out the pre-ordered dishes one after another, most of which were tailored to Tan Qinyin’s tastes.
At the dining table, most of the conversation was casual chatter between the siblings.
Tan Qinyin had practically been raised by Tan Yan since childhood, so their bond had always been strong, and they never lacked topics to discuss.
While the siblings were chatting, Lu Yanzhi slowly stood up and walked over to Chu Nanyu’s side. “Care to step out for a smoke?”
He wore a faint smile, appearing casual, yet his gesture carried an air of insistence.
Chu Nanyu glanced at him briefly before silently rising to his feet, hands tucked in his pockets.
Once outside in the corridor, neither of them reached for a cigarette.
Lu Yanzhi spoke first. “Chu Nanyu, thank you for being willing to help take care of my wife.”
“No need,” Chu Nanyu replied, his voice indifferent as he toyed with a lighter in his pocket. “After all, I’m helping the younger sister of a good friend. It has nothing to do with you.”
Lu Yanzhi’s expression remained unchanged as he continued, “Regardless of your reasons, as Yinyin’s husband, I should still thank you.”
“And one more thing,” he paused briefly. “Yinyin mistaking you for me was merely a coincidence. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Mistaking me for you?”
Chu Nanyu let out a derisive laugh. “If you’re so easily replaceable, it seems you’re not all that important.”
The smile faded from Lu Yanzhi’s face, his voice turning cold. “Still more important than an outsider like you.”
Chu Nanyu glanced at him, his tone flat. “We’ll see about that once she remembers you.”
Lu Yanzhi’s eyes sharpened as he took a step closer. “We’re husband and wife. Of course she’ll remember me.”
“As for you,” he emphasized each word, “don’t think I haven’t noticed. You’d better not have any ulterior motives, or don’t blame me for being impolite!”
After his words, the corridor fell silent, with only the rustle of the wind breaking the stillness.
Chu Nanyu didn’t respond further.
He simply lifted his gaze, his eyes resting calmly on Lu Yanzhi’s face.
Those eyes were deep, like an unfathomable haze of cold mist.
Quietly, word by word, they took in every trace of Lu Yanzhi’s emotions.
The air grew taut as a drawn bowstring.
A few seconds later, Chu Nanyu let out a low chuckle, slowly shifted his gaze away, and turned to walk back toward the private room.