Chapter 33: Hidden in the Dead of Night

The guitar practice upstairs hadn’t ended yet, a few strings plucked as if screaming for help, completely ruining the mood.

The night was thick like freshly bought ink, the indoor lights bright and warm, the air conditioner and fan scattering the stuffy heat in the house.

Having experienced a full day of power outage in the peak of summer, she knew just how fortunate this moment was.

Gan Xun bent down to straighten the sagging sofa cover, an old item left by the landlord. Due to psychological factors, she always felt uneasy sitting without laying down clean fabric.

She naturally thought during this time that on the night of the blackout, Zhao Chiyun had nearly tripped here, and she had supported her too roughly in her panic.

In the pitch dark, neither of them mentioned it.

The next night, Zhao Chiyun wore underwear under her nightgown, and Gan Xun knew she minded.

It had nothing to do with sexual orientation; keeping a certain distance from unfamiliar people was human instinct—even if conditions forced them to sleep on the same bed.

Gan Xun thought these boundaries were normal.

Including her tactful refusal after saying she’d come back to try on the skirt for her to see.

But when did she start getting angry?

Gan Xun carefully recalled, starting to think about the turning point when Zhao Chiyun’s attitude changed.

If it was just because of the nightgown, she should have flared up when reminded to return it at the mall.

In fact, when leaving the bookstore, she still had smiles in her eyes and brows, proactively helping to carry the shopping bags.

At dinner, she chatted and laughed with Cui Can, discussing work, commenting on the dishes, talking about the gossip she heard at banquets in the Mirror Country, and asking how Cui Can had fallen for Xu Yanyan.

No abnormalities at all.

But after leaving the restaurant, Zhao Chiyun’s mood faded a lot, and she didn’t say much in the car.

Gan Xun looked back at her several times, but she ignored her, even closing her eyes to rest for a while.

Gan Xun hadn’t thought much of it at the time, because Zhao Chiyun usually looked aloof when not speaking; maybe she was just tired from shopping.

It wasn’t until they were alone together that she realized Zhao Chiyun was unhappy.

This was truly strange; the County Princess had always been the type to voice her displeasure directly.

When unhappy, she would shout “Insolent!” or “Audacious!” on the spot, even if she was practically living under someone else’s roof. She was the kind who wouldn’t tolerate unsatisfied needs.

How could she hold a grudge in such a sneaky way?

Gan Xun didn’t know if she had misunderstood; maybe it wasn’t that at all.

The County Princess was bored and just picking on her casually.

She removed the tags from the new clothes one by one, sorted and stored the reusable shopping bags, and put the clothes into a laundry bag.

Her phone suddenly vibrated—Cui Can’s voice message popped up, asking Gan Xun to figure out a way to get Zhao Chiyun an ID card.

On the morning she decided to officially keep her, Gan Xun had already been thinking of ways, searching the procedures; it was a bit difficult, after all, she was someone who appeared out of nowhere for no reason.

She knew who to find for a quicker process, but hadn’t mustered the resolve yet.

Now that Zhao Chiyun wanted to work and stay long-term, she had to do it.

She returned to the living room and sat down, glanced at the time, and realized Zhao Chiyun was taking too long to change, several minutes already.

Worried, she went over and knocked on the door. “Chiyun, are you done? Can’t put it on?”

No one answered, so she called out “County Princess” again.

This time, there was movement behind the door; the person inside shuffled over slowly, leaned against it, and stayed quiet for a moment.

Gan Xun couldn’t help but worry. “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Chiyun’s voice came softly through. “I’ve put it on.”

“Then come out.”

“What you say is right; this dress doesn’t suit me.”

“Where doesn’t it suit?”

“Wearing it is like not wearing anything.”

Now it was Gan Xun’s turn to burst into laughter.

Originally, she had felt a bit lost thinking that Zhao Chiyun, this transmigrated guest, had quickly switched to modern mode without even telling her.

The one who couldn’t keep up would always overthink.

She had good intentions advising the County Princess to change into a homey nightgown, but she was reluctant; otherwise, she thought, she would have mocked her instead, almost directly calling her a fake prude.

Gan Xun did feel guilty; thinking about it, it was a bit fake prude.

She wasn’t conservative, hadn’t deliberately worn more in front of Zhao Chiyun, and wouldn’t get aroused just seeing a girl dressed revealingly.

It was just Cui Can’s prophetic-style joke that made her guilty, so she was a bit sensitive, afraid to face any ambiguity.

Actually, she wanted to see it; she wasn’t afraid to look. Who wouldn’t want to see a great beauty in pretty clothes?

So when she saw Zhao Chiyun speaking out of spite, she apologized quickly.

But she hadn’t expected that some people had the aura but couldn’t accept the exposure when it was actually on them.

Maybe the model was too slim, making Zhao Chiyun think the skirt was modest.

Her mischievous side stirring, Gan Xun saw Zhao Chiyun hoist a rock only to drop it on her own foot—not only did she not help rub it, she got interested.

“No problem, it’s just us at home; even if it’s revealing, it’s fine. Comfort is what matters.”

“Come out first; I’ll take a look.”

Zhao Chiyun’s voice was muffled from the bathroom, laced with annoyed embarrassment. “Can’t be seen.”

“Then don’t treat me like a person.”

Gan Xun said it with a wicked grin.

Just moments ago, who had been flailing dramatically, acting like disrespecting her skirt was insolence, and not looking at her try-on was presumptuous.

Acting like they were about to cut ties.

Now things were good; the money was spent, no returns possible, and someone was late to the shyness party.

“Open the door; I’ll look once and give advice. Can’t return it anyway; if you really don’t like it, I’ll wear it. I’m not shy.”

Gan Xun pretended to twist the doorknob.

Zhao Chiyun blocked it from inside.

After a long silence, she finally opened the door, sweating from the heat inside.

Out of respect, Gan Xun didn’t let her gaze wander at first, just met Zhao Chiyun’s eyes and smiled reassuringly.

Zhao Chiyun’s brows, eyes, and lips had a rich, intense flavor, like a meticulously preserved ancient painting, vibrant colors drawing one in.

Only her nose was elegantly straight, balancing it into beauty with spirit.

What a magnificent face.

Zhao Chiyun didn’t step out fully, using the door to shield half her body. She stood on a small floral tile like a palace crane startled by ripples, her slender neck bent unusually, gripping the nightgown’s neckline tightly.

It was like changing clothes had possessed her, swapping her temperament.

Gan Xun wanted to laugh but tried to play nice. “Embarrassed? Isn’t this a symbol of wealth, purple qi from the east? Come out and walk a bit; let me bask in some prosperity.”

Zhao Chiyun glared fiercely at her. “Gan Xun, you’re insolent and vulgar.”

Gan Xun took the scolding happily. Thinking back to their first meeting, she had hidden under the covers, glaring death at her; her scoldings sounded nice.

Her voice was pleasant, her tone too.

While pushing the door against the wall, Gan Xun “helped” her out from behind it irresistibly, inevitable body contact and more scolding ensuing.

“Very pretty; it’s what you like. Why hide?”

If Zhao Chiyun didn’t like it, she wouldn’t have hesitated so long without taking it off; it was just that mental hurdle while wanting to keep it.

She had stood in the bathroom for ages, sweat trickling from her forehead, dampening a few strands of hair. Fine beads glistened on her neck, shimmering heart-stirringly.

Her beautiful shoulder and neck lines seemed tailor-made for the spaghetti strap dress. She still wore her underwear; the V-neck revealed white bra where skin should be. Trying to cover only made it more obvious, half-hidden half-exposed.

As a nightgown, it had no waist cinch, but the cut was flirtatious and flowing, accentuating her figure. The length fell short of the knees, shorter than Gan Xun’s two nightgowns, so Zhao Chiyun was even less used to it.

Gan Xun was beyond saving, thinking even Zhao Chiyun’s knees were sexy—probably never sun-exposed, blindingly white, seamlessly connecting to her slender legs.

She couldn’t resist glancing in the mirror; her back was covered by hair, but otherwise would be beautiful too.

Gan Xun couldn’t help it; she brushed the hair from Zhao Chiyun’s shoulders to behind, leaning down slightly to meet her eyes. “No need to cover; you’re beautiful.”

Hearing the sincere praise, Zhao Chiyun’s face reddened, and she called out for no reason: “Gan Xun.”

She called Gan Xun without follow-up, just to call, laced with classical shyness mixed with unyielding poise and nobility.

Gan Xun felt her blood heating up, surging eagerly around her heart until it burned the last oxygen, leaving her breathless, as if dying in that instant.

But she wouldn’t die; she’d breathe, though heavier than usual, making her sound less innocent.

She could only pretend nothing was wrong with a smile. “See, I know how to appreciate. The County Princess’s charm is unmatched; I know it better than anyone. Don’t say things about tarnishing your reputation anymore.”

“It’s just an ordinary skirt; no big deal. Plenty of people wear them like this on the street; I saw some at dinner today.”

Under her encouragement, Zhao Chiyun let her hands drop naturally, no longer covering.

Taking the first step out, the rest came easily.

She raised her head. “Didn’t you avoid Cui Can like the plague, afraid she’d misunderstand, afraid her words would give me delusions, afraid someone would cling to you?”

She knew she was straight, but straight girls were so annoying, always talking boundaries and rules, as if anyone would eat them.

Zhao Chiyun felt deeply displeased. She was the one hugging and kissing her, and the one acting righteous in front of Cui Can.

Would she “block” her if they got any closer?

Then better to maintain distance now; no more friends, just roommates.

“Unjustly accused; that’s not what I meant. Don’t believe me? Call Cui Can to testify. If I’m scared of anything, it’s ruining your reputation—after all, you’re the County Princess.”

Gan Xun bowed her head respectfully in a nod.

It seemed as long as she acted respectful, her indecent thoughts would settle and not resurface.

She understood herself; she was two-faced, not as calm as she appeared, and had never seen such a scene.

Zhao Chiyun never underestimated herself and immediately believed it, figuring it out—it made sense.

If Gan Xun were truly aloof and unwilling to get close, there wouldn’t be today’s companionship; she would have sent her away long ago.

The only explanation was that Gan Xun was a rule-follower who respected her noble status, not daring to neglect or offend her, hence the awkward verbosity.

A commoner, interacting with such a noble guest for the first time, flustered and foolish—not likable, but common.

For the sake of her full efforts in supporting her, Zhao Chiyun magnanimously let it slide.

“Truly good-looking and appropriate?”

“Truly.”

In the end, the nightgown stayed. Gan Xun hand-washed it while picturing Zhao Chiyun wearing it, then hung it to dry.

She felt herself repeatedly torn apart and reassembled into something unrecognizable.

The more she feared, the closer she got to that endpoint.

Though spoken in spite, once out, words couldn’t be retracted.

Zhao Chiyun didn’t deny it. “But I think boundaries are still needed; I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Gan Xun shut down her plan with one sentence.

“Then I’d have to run two air conditioners overnight; very power-hungry, and you don’t pay rent.”

She feigned deep distress.

“Miser! Once I earn silver, I’ll pay your rent.”

Zhao Chiyun huffed onto the bed, flung the blanket over herself, and comfortably leaned against the headboard enjoying the air conditioner.

Gan Xun: “…”

She started reading the book bought today, and this time it was easier; the parts she didn’t understand were content-related.

She asked Gan Xun, who said to read a book a hundred times and its meaning would appear naturally.

Unable to rely on her, Zhao Chiyun read by herself.

Amid the page-turning sounds, Gan Xun hunched over the small table doing practice problems, her error rate high—high enough that she’d fail any exam.

But now she didn’t know what else to do.

Throw resumes and job hunt immediately?

She didn’t want to; she felt exhausted.

When she checked on Zhao Chiyun again, she had fallen asleep at some point, breathing evenly, as if dreaming something beautiful.

The night suddenly refreshed in that instant.

Gan Xun felt the scene before her brighten.

She watched for who knows how long before snapping out of it, quietly clearing the desk. She stood, bent forward carefully, and gently pulled the book from beside Zhao Chiyun’s face.

Gan Xun turned off the light, lay down slowly, facing Zhao Chiyun’s direction.

At that moment, Zhao Chiyun rolled over, seeming to nestle into her embrace.

As her hair swept across Gan Xun’s neck in the motion, Gan Xun held her breath, as if kissed, shuddering.

Gan Xun didn’t dare move, afraid of waking her.

Too close. In the darkness, she felt some despair, because she wanted to touch Zhao Chiyun again.

Deep down, there was even a voice tempting her that even if she kissed Zhao Chiyun right now, Zhao Chiyun might not even notice. A single kiss wouldn’t matter.

It would matter.

Once could be called losing control, or consolation. Twice was something else entirely.

But they were so close, and in the darkness, when she recalled the scene from the bathroom earlier that day, her heart malfunctioned like a broken machine.

She had never known that one day she would crave intimate contact with someone so desperately.

Gan Xun tried hard to remind herself that no matter what, Zhao Chiyun did not belong to her. She belonged to her Mirror Country, to the people she liked and disliked back there.

This place was merely where she was staying temporarily.

Gan Xun hoped she enjoyed herself, but she did not want to drink poison to quench her thirst.

Not wanting to face the temptation head-on any longer, Gan Xun rolled over, turning her back to the desire hidden in the dead of night.

Zhao Chiyun reached from behind and placed her hand on Gan Xun’s waist.