Shen Yuqing didn’t have so many thoughts. From his perspective, Pei Yiyan’s recovery of sight was still a long way off.
He dried his hair but noticed Pei Yiyan still standing motionless in the same spot.
Puzzled, he asked, “Are you standing there as a door god or something?”
Only then did Pei Yiyan stir, slowly walking toward him.
Shen Yuqing asked, “What’s wrong?”
Pei Yiyan replied, “Nothing, just tired.”
Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but yawn as well. “Then go wash up. Why are you following me?”
He had merely said it offhand, but Pei Yiyan’s expression suddenly changed dramatically, as if he had heard something shocking. However, his demeanor quickly returned to normal. “Mm.”
After responding, he smoothly headed toward the bedroom.
His change of clothes were always placed in the same spot by Xiao Zhao. Grabbing them, he entered the bathroom, where the faint scent of shower gel still lingered left behind by Shen Yuqing just moments ago.
Pei Yiyan closed the door and, upon looking up, caught his own reflection in the mirror. Though his expression remained as composed as ever, his heart was already in turmoil.
All because of Shen Yuqing’s earlier words.
Why are you following me?
He hadn’t even realized it himself. Only after hearing those words did he become aware of his own actions. Confusion. He was confused too.
Why had he, for no apparent reason, inexplicably drawn closer?
Pei Yiyan closed his eyes, feeling a slight headache coming on. He turned on the shower, and the sound of running water soon filled the room.
Not long after, Shen Yuqing also entered. Listening to the water, he climbed into bed. Xiao Zhao had bought new toys and a cat house for Lucky, who had abandoned the two of them tonight and hadn’t come over.
Shen Yuqing yawned again, turned the air conditioning down a bit, and sent a message to Song Wangzhuo via his neural link.
[Feeling better?]
Song Wangzhuo, also still awake, quickly replied: [Much better.]
Then came a second message: [Did you get home safely?]
Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but chuckle at this. How long had it been since he left Song Wangzhuo’s place? Wasn’t this question a bit late?
Still, he answered honestly: [Yeah, already getting ready for bed.]
Song Wangzhuo replied: [Good. See you tomorrow.]
Shen Yuqing sent back an “OK” gesture and was about to turn off his neural link when he hesitated, then opened another contact instead the caregiver he had hired to look after Song Wangzhuo.
[How’s he doing?]
The caregiver replied promptly: [Doing well, in good spirits too. Alpha wounds heal fast, so no need to worry.]
Shen Yuqing transferred the day’s payment to the caregiver and reminded him to stay attentive to Song Wangzhuo’s needs.
Truthfully, the academy had also arranged for a caregiver, but Shen Yuqing feared someone might tamper with their selection. So, he personally handpicked one instead. Coincidentally, thanks to the system’s tip, he learned that the Shen family had, in previous years, funded orphanages and nursing homes as part of their charity work. The caregivers there were top-notch, highly experienced, and fiercely loyal.
Shen Yuqing happened to find one on leave and hired them.
Once everything was settled, he removed his neural link and set it aside. It had to be said having wealth and power really was convenient.
With that done, he picked up his phone, planning to play a game while waiting for Pei Yiyan to finish in the shower.
This had become a habit no matter how sleepy he was, Shen Yuqing would always wait until Pei Yiyan went to bed first.
Shen Yuqing yawned again and called out to the system: [By the way, is there really nothing wrong with my body?]
The system was puzzled: [What’s the matter, Host?]
Shen Yuqing said: [I feel like I’ve been getting drowsy more and more often lately.]
The system scanned Shen Yuqing’s body and replied: [There are no issues with your health.]
Shen Yuqing asked: [Then why do I get so tired so easily?]
The system thought for a moment: [It might be because too much has happened recently. Plus, Pei Yiyan clinging to you at night probably disrupts your sleep. Once his nightmares stop, things should improve.]
Shen Yuqing could only accept this explanation: [When will his nightmares end?]
He thought about it carefully it had been nearly ten days already. Just what was happening in those dreams?
The system replied: [I can’t detect that. But judging by how things are progressing, once his nightmares end, something is bound to change.]
That’s how it always went in novels. Whenever the protagonist started acting strange, some unexpected transformation would follow like breaking through to the Golden Core overnight or ascending to immortality in a single night.
Pei Yiyan’s condition fit the pattern perfectly.
Shen Yuqing sighed: [Who can say for sure?]
Both man and system let out a sigh in unison.
This mission was truly difficult.
Shen Yuqing had already stopped thinking about how to deal with the third male lead.
Pei Yiyan stepped out of the bathroom and saw Shen Yuqing lost in thought.
He dried his damp hair with a towel and walked over slowly.
Shen Yuqing snapped out of his daze and looked up at him. “Hmm? What’s up?”
Pei Yiyan said, “Hair.”
Shen Yuqing glanced at his wet hair. Ever since he had blow-dried Pei Yiyan’s hair that one time, it had become a regular task. Occasionally, Xiao Zhao would take over, but Pei Yiyan didn’t seem to like that.
Shen Yuqing made an acknowledging sound, turned off his phone, and set it aside. “I’ll get the hairdryer.”
Pei Yiyan sat down in a nearby chair with practiced ease, waiting for Shen Yuqing to return with the hairdryer.
Just then, the communicator on the counter lit up with an incoming message. Pei Yiyan glanced at it.
Shen Yuqing hadn’t set the communicator to privacy mode, so Pei Yiyan caught a few words: [Tomorrow, you come—]
The rest was hidden unless the virtual screen was opened.
What did “Tomorrow, you come” mean?
Pei Yiyan frowned. Where was Shen Yuqing going tomorrow?
But at that moment, Shen Yuqing returned with the hairdryer. Standing behind Pei Yiyan, he turned it on and started drying his hair without another word.
“Your hair’s getting long,” he remarked. “Are you going out tomorrow?”
Pei Yiyan had been about to say yes, but his schedule wasn’t particularly busy Wu Yi could handle the meeting in his place.
He changed his answer: “No.”
Shen Yuqing nodded. “Alright, let’s go get haircuts together tomorrow morning. Mine’s getting long too.”
Pei Yiyan hummed in agreement. “Sure.”
Shen Yuqing spent a while drying Pei Yiyan’s hair before finally turning off the hairdryer and putting it away. By the time he returned, Pei Yiyan was already lying down, clearly exhausted.
Shen Yuqing yawned, took off his shoes, and climbed into bed as well.
Pei Yiyan had been observing his movements, but Shen Yuqing didn’t touch the neural interface again, unaware that new messages had arrived.
He watched as Shen Yuqing adjusted his pillow, took a deep breath, then reached out to turn off the light.
The room fell into silence. Shen Yuqing murmured, “Pei Yiyan, goodnight.”
Pei Yiyan didn’t respond had he fallen asleep so quickly?
Day after day, there’s always so much going on.
Shen Yuqing exhaled and closed his eyes, ready to rest, but then he sensed movement on the other side of the bed.
“Hmm?”
He turned his head, but the room was too dim to make out anything. Softly, he called, “Pei Yiyan?”
Still no answer. It seemed he really was asleep.
Shen Yuqing yawned. How strange he actually fell asleep faster than me.
His thoughts began to drift as drowsiness took over.
Just as he teetered on the edge of sleep, he felt someone nudge closer.
The nightmares are coming early tonight.
Yet, with the last of his willpower, he rolled onto his back and relaxed, allowing Pei Yiyan to press against him and cling.
Listening to the steady breathing beside him, Pei Yiyan rested his forehead lightly against Shen Yuqing’s shoulder. He’s this unguarded around me now?
But thinking was one thing; acting was another. Even as his mind deliberated, his limbs had already wrapped around Shen Yuqing faster than his thoughts could catch up.
Shen Yuqing was like warm jade exceptionally cozy in the chilly room, exceptionally soothing to his nerves.
Pei Yiyan knew this was shameful, but he had grown accustomed to sleeping like this. Only by coiling tightly around Shen Yuqing, like a serpent, could he sleep more soundly and deeply.
The scent gland at the nape of his neck burned faintly, releasing a subtle, distinctive fragrance into the air.
A pity both of them were already asleep neither could smell it.
