In the deep of night, time slipped away quietly.
The initial tension and lingering tremors from the nightmare were gradually swallowed by exhaustion.
Rhythmic breathing sounded from both ends of the bed.
In her sleep, Wen Yan unconsciously adjusted her position.
The bed was soft and warm, and her curled-up body slowly stretched out, instinctively seeking a more comfortable heat source and support.
In her hazy consciousness, she felt as if there was a solid, warm “pillow” beside her, emitting a soothing, faint, pleasant scent.
Unconsciously, she nuzzled closer, her arm naturally wrapping around it.
Her cheek pressed against the warm “pillow,” and even one leg restlessly draped over it. Like a koala, she clung tightly to the heat source, letting out a contented, barely audible murmur.
Li Yanzhou, whom she had mistaken for a “pillow,” was abruptly awakened from his sleep by this sudden, heavy, and tight sense of restraint.
He regained clarity almost instantly, his senses exceptionally sharp in the darkness.
A warm body with a light fragrance pressed tightly against him, an arm wrapped around his waist, a cheek resting against his shoulder blade, and a leg draped over his own.
The grip was firm, holding him securely.
Li Yanzhou’s body stiffened for a moment.
He had never been in such intimate physical contact with anyone, especially while sleeping.
This feeling of being wholly relied upon and entangled was unfamiliar and intensely invasive.
“Wen Yan,” he called softly, trying to wake her from her sleep and have her release him on her own.
The person clinging to him showed no response, her breathing long and steady. Even the slight vibration of his chest from his voice made her nuzzle closer, her arm tightening around him as if confirming the stability of her “pillow.”
Li Yanzhou tried gently prying her arm from around his waist.
However, Wen Yan seemed displeased in her sleep. Instead of letting go, she murmured and held on even tighter, burying her face deeper into his chest.
Her strength was unexpectedly strong—or perhaps, in this unconscious state of complete reliance, her limbs were entangled with remarkable tenacity.
Li Yanzhou stopped moving.
In the darkness, he remained still, held tightly in her embrace.
His brow furrowed slightly, as if he were quickly weighing his options.
Forcefully push her away? That would undoubtedly startle her awake. If they were to face each other, limbs still entangled, the situation would likely be even more awkward and embarrassing than it already was.
Wake her up? She seemed to be sleeping so soundly that she hadn’t even stirred at his earlier call. Trying again would likely be futile and might only frighten her upon waking.
Let her hold him like this until morning?
Even he found this option absurd when it crossed his mind.
But…
The warmth and softness of Wen Yan’s touch, the light and even breaths against his neck, and the faint scent of her lingering around him—though unfamiliar, it strangely didn’t feel entirely unpleasant.
Perhaps it was because she was sleeping so deeply, completely unguarded, even childlike in her dependence, which softened the sense of threat and invasiveness brought by such intimacy.
And she seemed… very warm.
Li Yanzhou closed his eyes and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
Fine.
He gave up struggling, his body gradually relaxing as he readjusted to a relatively comfortable position, tolerating the presence of the “human-shaped accessory” beside him.
A helpless thought crossed his mind: just think of it as an extra layer of a moving, somewhat heavy blanket.
Amid Wen Yan’s even breathing and the warm, enveloping sensation, Li Yanzhou slowly drifted into sleep as well.
…
The faint light of dawn seeped through the gaps in the heavy curtains.
Her biological clock woke Wen Yan at her usual time.
Before her consciousness fully returned, she first felt an unprecedented sense of comfort and warmth.
Beneath her, she seemed to be leaning against something particularly solid and warm…
She stirred groggily, instinctively tightening her arms and nuzzling her cheek against the warm “cushion.”
Wait…
The texture felt off…
Her eyes snapped open.
What greeted her was a firm, masculine physique…
Her arms were intimately wrapped around his slender waist.
Her face was buried in his chest.
Her leg was even draped ungracefully over his!
She was clinging to Li Yanzhou like an octopus!
“Boom”—blood rushed to her head, and Wen Yan’s cheeks instantly burned hot enough to fry an egg.
As if scalded by fire, she jerked her hands away as if electrocuted, scrambling backward at the fastest speed possible, practically tumbling and crawling into a sitting position. Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
Wide-eyed, she stared in disbelief at the man she had held all night beside her.
Li Yanzhou woke the moment she jolted awake and released her arms.
Slowly, with the slight sluggishness of waking, he turned his gaze to Wen Yan.
In the dim morning light, their eyes met.
Wen Yan’s hair was slightly disheveled from sleep, a few strands clinging to her flushed cheeks. Her eyes were wide and round, filled with panic, embarrassment, helplessness, and a trace of sleep-induced confusion.
Her pajamas were slightly loose from her earlier movements, the collar slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and a small patch of fair skin.
As for Li Yanzhou, the usual sternness in his brow had softened upon waking, replaced by a hint of laziness and faint weariness.
His hair was not as meticulously styled as usual, with a few black strands casually falling across his forehead.
His deep eyes looked at her, showing no obvious emotion, only the calmness of someone just awakened.
He noticed the blush on her face and the panic in her eyes.
The air froze for a few seconds.
Wen Yan opened her mouth, wanting to explain, to apologize, but found her throat dry, unable to utter a single word.
All she wanted now was to dig a hole and disappear or vanish on the spot.
In the end, it was Li Yanzhou who spoke first.
His voice carried the low, husky quality unique to someone just awakened, calm and unreadable:
“Morning.”
Just one word.
Wen Yan’s face flushed even redder, almost as if it could drip blood.
Mechanically, in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, she replied:
“…Morning.”
Then, she quickly averted her gaze, not daring to look at him again. She fumbled to straighten her sleep-wrinkled pajamas and smoothed her hair, her movements as stiff as a wind-up doll.
Li Yanzhou said nothing more. He simply sat up, stretched his shoulders and arms, which had grown slightly numb from being pressed all night, then threw off the covers and got out of bed.
He walked toward the bathroom with steady steps, his back straight and tall, as if nothing had just happened.
Left alone on the bed, Wen Yan stared at the messy sheets and the empty half of the bed, feeling so frustrated she could have banged her head against the floor.
Oh my god… what had she done?!
She had held Li Yanzhou and slept with him all night?!
How was she supposed to face him after this?!
Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Li Yanzhou closed the door and looked at his slightly tired face in the mirror. Yet, his mind couldn’t help but recall the warm, soft sensation of Wen Yan and her panicked, startled-deer-like eyes after she woke up.
He turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on his face.
The icy droplets slid down his cheeks, bringing with them complete clarity.