After all of Lin Zixi’s test results came back normal, the doctor discharged her. As she left the hospital, the doctor reminded her to get plenty of rest, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and avoid staying up late.
Ye Can stood by, counting on her fingers to memorize every instruction. Tong Lin drove them back to the hotel, and along the way, Ye Can relayed the doctor’s advice, ordering Tong Lin, “Find me a nutritionist later and have them put together a meal plan.”
Tong Lin nodded in agreement. Ye Can turned to Lin Zixi and said, “Once we’re back, you’ll start training in martial arts with me every day?”
Lin Zixi stared at her in shock. “Martial arts? Like learning swordplay from you?”
Ye Can shook her head. “Nah, just some basic punches and kicks to build up your strength. Your body’s too frail—how else could you collapse like that out of nowhere?” Of course, Lin Zixi’s fainting spell was likely the Immoral God’s doing. But since the doctor had emphasized it, Ye Can—who was genuinely worried about her health—decided to help toughen her up anyway.
Lin Zixi sighed, looking at Ye Can helplessly. “This is another non-negotiable, isn’t it? I have no choice but to go along with you.”
Ye Can nodded firmly, and Lin Zixi gave a wry smile. “Ye Can, I think you shouldn’t be surnamed Ye. You should be surnamed ‘Ba’.”
Ye Can blinked in confusion, so Lin Zixi continued, “Your real name should be Ba Zong.”
Tong Lin, driving up front, nearly burst out laughing. Ye Can shot Lin Zixi a cool glance and retorted, “Why not just call me a tyrant while you’re at it?”
The ride passed in silence after that. Back at the hotel, Ye Can grabbed Lin Zixi and dragged her to her room to pack her bags.
Lin Zixi couldn’t resist her, so she returned to her room and gathered her things. She didn’t have much—just some clothes, skincare products, her laptop, and her tablet.
Ye Can directed Tong Lin to help, and in short order, they had everything packed. Together, they hauled the bags toward Ye Can’s suite.
The suite was on the top floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened, Ye Can eagerly led Lin Zixi inside, leaving Tong Lin—who was loaded down with bags—to trail behind.
Ye Can guided Lin Zixi through the room, past the large sofa in the outer area, and straight into the master bedroom. Once inside, she pointed at the king-sized bed with a beaming smile. “You’ll sleep here from now on. It’s super spacious.”
Lin Zixi glanced at the bed, then at Ye Can, and asked curiously, “If I sleep in your bed, where will you sleep? On the sofa outside?”
Ye Can shook her head. “This isn’t my bed—I’ve never slept in it. The sofa’s for Tong Lin. No way I’m crashing there.”
Lin Zixi was stunned. “You don’t sleep in the bed or on the sofa? So where do you sleep?”
Ye Can pointed to the bay window. “Right there.” Lin Zixi followed her gesture and spotted a set of meditation cushions arranged around a small tea table by the window. She said in disbelief, “You normally sleep on the cushions?”
Ye Can hummed in affirmation, looking completely unfazed. “Yeah, for meditation. I don’t like sleeping anyway.”
Lin Zixi grew curious. “Why don’t you like sleeping?”
Ye Can let out an “Aiya,” scratched her cheek, and averted her eyes. “I just… I just don’t like it, okay?”
Lin Zixi pressed, “Do you have insomnia?” Ye Can shook her head, so Lin Zixi gazed at her puzzled. “Then why not? Is there some secret you absolutely can’t tell me?”
Ye Can glanced at her several times, her expression sheepish. Seeing her hesitation, Lin Zixi softened her tone. “If it’s not too much, could you tell me?”
Ye Can pursed her lips, covered her face with one hand, and leaned in close to whisper in Lin Zixi’s ear, “I… I have nightmares when I fall asleep.” Lin Zixi looked up in surprise, meeting Ye Can’s wide, childlike eyes, and her heart suddenly melted.
There was clear shyness and evasion in Ye Can’s gaze, like a child revealing their biggest secret—hesitant and uneasy. She no longer seemed profound and philosophical; instead, she was like a bashful kid, full of pure innocence.
An indescribable emotion quietly bloomed in Lin Zixi’s heart for a moment. She lowered her eyes, hiding the flicker of palpitation.
Seeing her silence, Ye Can thought she was secretly mocking her and stammered, “I… I’m not scared of the nightmares themselves. It’s just that afterward, my head hurts a lot, my mood tanks, and sometimes I sleepwalk and hurt people, so…”
She fumbled like a flustered child, her awkward explanation making her pretty, clever face look utterly adorable.
Lin Zixi saw her anxiety and gently pressed down her flailing hands, calling softly, “Ye Can…”
Ye Can froze and immediately quieted, looking at her. “What?”
Lin Zixi lowered her gaze to Ye Can’s slender, pale fingers and asked gently, “What are your nightmares like?”
Ye Can’s tension eased at once. She tilted her head, recalling childhood memories, and told Lin Zixi, “People… tons of headless people surrounding me. They hold lanterns, wear blood-soaked clothes, and there’s a gaping hole in their shoulders spewing blood…”
“I see blood spraying out like a fountain from that hole as soon as I fall asleep…”
Ye Can’s tone was matter-of-fact, but Lin Zixi’s gaze filled with pity. “So you’ve been too scared to sleep.”
Ye Can shrugged candidly this time. “I was scared as a kid. Now it’s just habit.”
She hated pity and didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. Lin Zixi nodded as if she understood, casually changing the subject. “Do you have energy during the day if you don’t sleep at night?”
Ye Can replied, “Yep, I cultivate. My energy and spirit are great.”
Lin Zixi asked more. “Besides cultivating, what else do you do?”
Ye Can counted on her fingers. “Lots—attend banquets, read books, and so on…”
Reading books? No wonder she’s a genius. Lin Zixi nodded and didn’t pry further. She turned, placed her hand on the bed, and gave it a soft press. “This bed’s pretty comfy. Want to try it?”
“Oh, no need. If you think it’s comfy and like it, that’s fine.”
With her back to Ye Can, Lin Zixi smiled down and said softly, “Ye Can, are you really not going to see a doctor like this?” Chronic sleep avoidance with her personality made Lin Zixi worry about her mental state.
Ye Can frowned. “Out of nowhere, why bring up seeing a doctor again? I told you, my brain’s messed up—the incurable kind.”
Lin Zixi lifted her eyes and glanced at her. “You’re serious?”
Ye Can nodded. “Yeah, I’m really sick. Not lying.”
Lin Zixi took a deep breath and looked at her earnestly. “What do you mean your brain’s messed up? Do you have some major illness?”
Her casual “brain disease” talk was so frank that Lin Zixi started believing it. She even wondered if Ye Can’s “incurable” condition was brain cancer.
She’s so young. Probably not, right?
Ye Can eyed Lin Zixi’s worried gaze, puzzled by the concern. She squinted, trying to read her. “You’re worried about me? About my brain issue?”
Lin Zixi nodded, then hesitated. “Ye Can, what’s wrong with you exactly?”
Ye Can blinked innocently. “What else? A brain thing. My mind’s off—different from normal people.”
Lin Zixi had heard plenty of people calling others crazy, but never someone owning it about themselves.
She fell silent for several seconds. Confirming there were no physical issues from this “illness,” she decided to drop it. She really does have a screw loose compared to normal people.
Maybe this is what they call snake spirit illness.
Lin Zixi felt silly for even asking.
Seeing her quiet, Ye Can pointed at the bed. “If you have nothing else, rest up. Doctor’s orders. Sleep now—the bed’s right here.”
Lin Zixi turned to her. “What if I don’t want to sleep?”
Ye Can glared. “What’ll you do instead? Stay up?”
Lin Zixi said coolly, “I have plenty to do, like writing scripts or heading to set.”
Ye Can panicked. “You’re still thinking about work? No work! Rest!” She pushed Lin Zixi’s shoulder, pinning her to the bed with one hand while tucking her in with the other. “No going out. Lie here properly.”
Lin Zixi was caught off guard by the sudden attack. She struggled to break free, raising her voice. “Ye Can… Ye Can, let go! What are you doing?!”
Ye Can ignored her, clamping one hand on her shoulder while rolling the blanket around her with the other, wrapping her up like a silkworm chrysalis in seconds.
Trapped and struggling to breathe, Lin Zixi flushed red and glared at Ye Can. “Let me go! I won’t work—I was just joking!”
Ye Can gave a perfunctory smile. “Too late. You said it, so you meant it. Can’t let you go now.”
She bent down, scooped Lin Zixi up blanket and all in a bridal carry. The sheer strength startled Lin Zixi—her scream caught in her throat as Ye Can tossed her neatly onto the bed.
Moments later, Ye Can hugged her through the blanket, half-draped over her. Resting her chin on the covers, she gazed at Lin Zixi with sparkling eyes. “Go to sleep!”
“You probably didn’t sleep well during your collapse last night. I’ll watch you—no more accidents. Sleep, quick!”
Wrapped tight, Lin Zixi stared at the magnified beauty of Ye Can’s face, face burning. After a long moment, she took a deep breath, swallowed her anger, and called, “Ye Can…”
Ye Can tilted her head and blinked. “Hm?”
Lin Zixi ground out, “You’re heavy.”
