That old man is just incorrigible!
Shi Lingyan scrubbed himself from head to toe, nearly wearing out his skin before he finally stopped.
His skin turned red from the friction, particularly striking against his well-defined muscles.
When Shi Lingyan came out, Shi Mei had already fallen back asleep.
Only a small night light was left on in the room, casting a soft glow over the girl in bed and filling the room with tranquility.
But Shi Lingyan was inexplicably restless.
He pulled a cigarette pack from the bedside drawer, lit a cigarette, and quietly sat down on the sofa.
Shi Mei was woken by the smell of tobacco.
but extremely familiar.
Shi Lingyan rarely smoked in the bedroom.
Because she had said that the smell of smoke affected her sleep.
Since then, Shi Lingyan had tried to avoid it.
Shi Mei frowned slightly, twisted her body to adjust her position, and mumbled sleepily, "Honey..."
Shi Lingyan thought she was talking in her sleep, but seconds later, he saw her climbing out of bed.
The sofa wasn’t far from the bed.
Shi Mei, dragging her blanket, moved inch by inch towards him, her delicate, fair hand reaching out to grab him.
Shi Lingyan stood up without a word, flicked off the ash, and asked softly, "Awake?"
Shi Mei puffed up her cheeks, her voice tender, and exclaimed, "I want to sleep with Honey!"
Shi Lingyan really hated hearing that phrase. He inhaled deeply from his cigarette and snuffed it out.
As the pale smoke exhaled, Shi Lingyan’s voice seemed to sigh, "Let’s talk."
Shi Mei was surprised.
This was the first time Shi Lingyan had initiated such a conversation with the "little fool,"--well, as if he was talking to a normal person.
Shi Mei immediately grinned, threw off the covers, and lunged towards him, yelling, "Hug!"
Shi Lingyan’s eyelid twitched, and he held her back, saying, "Go back."
Shi Mei looked puzzled.
Shi Lingyan, losing his patience, repeated, "Go back to bed."
"Oh." Shi Mei picked up her cute red nightgown, cheerfully did a roll on the bed, and then lay sprawled out, yelling, "Okay!"
Shi Lingyan suddenly couldn’t quite understand what this little fool was thinking.
"Honey, I’m ready, come on," Shi Mei said with an innocent and cheerful face, lying on the bed without a shred of shyness, warmly inviting, "Let’s sleep together!"
What have those people been teaching her?!
Shi Lingyan couldn’t stand it anymore; he grabbed a pillow and threw it at her, growling, "Sit still."
"Oh!" Shi Mei immediately got up and sat very straight.
Shi Lingyan finally felt relieved, walked over with graceful steps, his voice deep as he said, "You’ve been here almost a week now; do you miss home?"
"Not at all!" Shi Mei replied without hesitation.
Shi Lingyan: "...Your parents will miss you."
"Not likely," Shi Mei pouted, "Shi Mei has no parents; Shi Mei’s parents are dead!"
How could she not play by the rules?
He had no response to that!
Shi Mei blinked, suddenly as if she had figured something out.
Her previously lively and clever face drooped, and she asked cautiously, "Honey, do you not want me anymore?"
Though foolish, she was quite self-aware.
Seeing he didn’t respond, Shi Mei’s voice also became despondent, "Do you... want to abandon Shi Mei too?"
Wan Lili: Drama queen supreme [Applause applause]