Xie Xuanchenrealised that she was awake as he put her gently on the bed. Then, he touched the top of her head, “Are you awake?”
“Mm.”
“Why did you fall asleep on the table? You should be careful in case you catch a cold. Does your shoulder hurt?”
If left unmentioned, she didn’t think much of it. However, once he said this, Mu Mingtang could feel that the back of her neck was indeed a little sore. Xie Xuanchen understood when he saw Mu Mingtang’s expression. He sighed helplessly and kneaded the muscles in her shoulders and neck.
“If you feel sleepy, go to sleep first. You don’t have to wait for me.”
Xie Xuanchen now bent his arms to support Mu Mingtang and slowly relaxed her shoulders and neck with his other hand. The two were so close that they could feel each other’s breath on their skin.
Mu Mingtang was somewhat in pain but it also felt comfortable. She snorted softly and stretched out her hands to hang them over Xie Xuanchen’s neck, “If I didn’t wait for you, you, as such a petty person, might remember this and get back at me one day.”
Xie Xuanchen was helpless, “I never did.”
“You have.”
“Okay, that’s indeed true,” Xie Xuanchen admitted happily. He lowered his head and bit Mu Mingtang’s lips lightly as he said, “I’m very happy that you can wait for me, but if I see you getting cold waiting for me, I won’t be able to forgive myself. Next time, be good and wait for me in bed.”
After Xie Xuanchen finished speaking, he was pinched by Mu Mingtang. Xie Xuanchen paused, confused, but later he added, “Actually, I just meant for you to sleep in bed, but if you want to wait for me in that way, by all means, go ahead.”
Mu Mingtang opened her eyes and glanced at him angrily, “Shut up, you’re always fooling around.”
Xie Xuanchen turned over and laid on the bed with Mu Mingtang in his arms, latching one hand around her waist and another around her shoulders. Mu Mingtang became nervous at the proximity of their contact. Just as she was about to struggle, Xie Xuanchen stopped her threateningly, “Don’t move. If you move again, I won’t let you sleep well.”
With that, Mu Mingtang really didn’t dare to move. Xie Xuanchen put his arm around his wife’s slender and soft waist as he continued to use his other hand to relax her shoulders and neck. The fragrance of Mu Mingtang’s body came in waves. He felt a little bad for her needing to suffer uncomfortably by following him around like this, so he tried to control himself. Merely leaning on Mu Mingtang’s shoulder, he inhaled her scent as he murmured to her, “Sleep peacefully.”
Mu Mingtang, though, was doubtful and said, “I’m still wearing my normal clothes, so I still need to change into my nightdress.”
“I’ll change it for you when you fall asleep.”
Mu Mingtang saw that coming from miles away, so she slapped Xie Xuanchen’s hand away in disgust and got up to change her clothes. However, the government office residence was severely damaged in the chaos. The screen was tattered and scratched, so Mu Mingtang had already asked the servants to move it out. After taking her outfit out from her suitcase did she realise that there wasn’t a screen around to offer her privacy.
Mu Mingtang held the clothes in her hands, feeling a little embarrassed. Xie Xuanchen laid on the bed and looked at her leisurely, “Why don’t you change?”
Mu Mingtang became angry and turned around to glare at him, “Close your eyes.”
“I won’t. If you have the ability, you can cover them for me.”