Inside the room, thick velvet curtains in deep ink-black shut out the dense night.
Lu Jingyan casually sat down by the bed, while Shen Nanyin moved in front of him with a hairdryer.
From her perspective, she could see the black tattoo spreading from beneath the man’s collarbone, forming a stark contrast against his cool, pale skin.
Such tension easily stirred one’s curiosity.
Her slender, pale fingers combed through his hair. Steadying her thoughts, she pursed her lips and averted her gaze, her expression as serious as if she were tackling a difficult math assignment.
On the nightstand, Lu Jingyan’s phone chimed with a notification.
She was about to step aside when he grabbed her wrist, holding her in place.
The man glanced over, his tone casual, “Ignore it.”
Shen Nanyin obediently stayed still and turned the hairdryer back on.
Standing between his legs, she couldn’t help but occasionally brush against the inside of his thighs, even as she tried to avoid it. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to… spread them a little wider.
Her silk nightgown was thin, and wherever it touched, warmth seemed to seep through.
Shen Nanyin tightened her grip on the hairdryer, silently focusing on his hair to distract herself.
Before long, Lu Jingyan stopped her.
He raised a hand to press against her wrist. “Aren’t your arms tired from holding it up for so long?”
It had been less than five minutes. She shook her head. “It’s fine.”
Lu Jingyan said nothing more. Taking the hairdryer, he lightly patted her waist. “Go to sleep.”
He picked up his phone, read the message, and sent a brief reply before withdrawing from all boxing and racing club-related activities.
These had been for excitement, but now they were no longer needed.
Ignoring the protests from other club members, he coldly turned off his phone.
When he looked up, he saw the girl obediently curled up in his bed.
Only a stiff, small lump under the covers was visible, as if she were burying herself like an ostrich.
Suppressing a smile, he asked, “What would you like for breakfast tomorrow?”
The lump shifted, first revealing slender fingers, then a tousled head.
Shen Nanyin clutched the blanket, only her eyes peeking out.
Her features were delicate and cool, but the slight upward curve of her eyes held a hint of allure.
She tried to sound calm. “Anything is fine.”
Lu Jingyan raised an eyebrow. “There’s no such thing as ‘anything’ on the menu.”
Shen Nanyin: “…Xiaolongbao.”
He nodded, taking mercy on her and deciding not to tease her further. “Rest well. I’ll sleep in the living room.”
With that, he opened the door and walked out.
The soft click of the door closing snapped Shen Nanyin out of her daze.
After all the mental preparation she’d done, it had turned out to be completely unnecessary.
Wait, the living room? Wasn’t there only a sofa there?
Shen Nanyin unconsciously tightened her grip on the blanket. Was this really okay? Letting her benefactor sleep on the sofa…
The hands of the clock moved slowly.
After Lu Jingyan left, she did feel more relaxed, but her guilty conscience kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She could only stare blankly at the ceiling.
After a while, she finally got up and cautiously walked to the door.
Gently pressing the handle, she pushed the door open just a crack.
In the dimly lit living room, only a gauzy moonlight spilled in, reflecting coldly off the black marble floor.
The sofa wasn’t small, but with the tall, long-legged man lying on it, it somehow seemed cramped and uncomfortable.
He wore an eye mask, revealing only the lower half of his face—sharp and detached, with a high nose and thin lips, his jawline clean and defined.
He seemed to be asleep already. His expressionless face looked cold and aloof, making him seem unapproachable.
The face, identical to the one from the masquerade ball, seemed to sear Shen Nanyin’s gaze, leaving her flustered as she quickly shut the door and lay back down.