Chapter 26: 026 A bit cold
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Luo Xiyun came out of the bathroom after taking a shower and saw that Chen Xu had already laid out his bedding on the floor and was asleep. She said, “You’re still injured. Why don’t you come and sleep on the bed?”
Chen Xu lifted his head and smiled, “It’s fine, it’s the same anywhere.”
[He must be worried that I wouldn’t be comfortable.]
This thought surfaced in Luo Xiyun’s mind. She walked to the bed, slipped under the covers, and turned off the light. The room plunged into darkness.
Lying on the bed, she reminisced about these past months, reflecting on the little moments with Chen Xu. After her impression of him changed and she looked back at his various behaviors, she could discover many things she had overlooked before.
...
[Actually, he’s a very considerate person.]
As she thought about this, waves rippled through her heart.
His consideration was restrained, hidden behind the social mask he used to keep his distance from others.
In their interactions, he never intruded into her psychological comfort zone. The things he said and did always left her with plenty of space.
Previously, she merely felt that Chen Xu had a good sense of boundaries. Now, she realized that such boundaries also concealed a type of consideration, didn’t they?
A different perspective allowed her to see a different side of a person.
It was at this moment she realized she had never truly understood the man lying a few meters away.
“Xiyun.”
In the darkness, Chen Xu suddenly called her softly. It was the first time she heard him say her name, and there was a slight strange sensation in her heart. When she replied, her voice was a little tense, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m a bit cold.” In the darkness, the man’s voice was slightly trembling.
“Huh? What should we do then?”
She was a little anxious, turned her body to the side, and reached out to turn on the light. Suddenly, she felt the quilt behind her lifted, and a body slipped in, lying close beside her.
Her body stiffened, “What, what are you doing?”
“Let’s sleep together. This way, it’ll be warmer,” the man’s voice sounded from behind her.
[What should I do?]
[He said he was cold, possibly from being in the snow. If ignored, his condition might worsen.]
[He just wants to be warmer. It should be fine, right?]
The words of refusal reached her lips but were swallowed back. Thus, she lay facing away from Chen Xu, on her side.
She felt her heart racing. Even though she was facing away, she could clearly feel the man behind her was very close, almost touching her.
After a while, the man spoke again, “Let’s sleep a little closer, otherwise, all the warmth will escape.”
[No, I shouldn’t do this.]
[But he is just sick, feeling cold, and wanting to cuddle for warmth.]
This hesitation led her to do nothing.
“Your body is so hot. Do you have a fever?”
Suddenly, Chen Xu’s voice came from behind her.
“No…” She was about to speak when a large hand reached her forehead, then touched her face.
“It’s a bit warm. Let me check.”
With a click, the bedside lamp turned on. The soft, orange light was warm and not at all harsh.
“I’m fine…” She reached out to push Chen Xu’s hand away, but couldn’t, as those hands only increased their grip.
…