Wen Xin slept soundly in Shi Qianyu’s arms until the early hours of the morning.
No curtains covered the windows, so moonlight poured through the cracks, bathing Shi Qianyu in its glow. By that faint light, Wen Xin gazed at her face and realized that Shi Qianyu had fallen asleep without her noticing.
Even though much time had passed, their positions hadn’t changed. Shi Qianyu still held her tightly, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other hand resting against her cheek.
Her hand felt so warm.
Wen Xin instinctively sensed that her own body temperature had dropped—otherwise, why would Shi Qianyu’s warmth feel so pronounced? As her mind cleared, she recalled the events from earlier and felt embarrassed about breaking down in tears in her arms.
Why had she cried again? Illness always made people inexplicably fragile. Only now, with the fever broken, did she finally feel clear-headed.
It was then that she belatedly realized Shi Qianyu probably still hadn’t eaten.
Work had been insanely busy after the holidays. Shi Qianyu had spent the whole day out and about, and when she finally got home, she deserved some personal time to unwind. But Wen Xin had shown up out of the blue, dumping all her negative emotions on her, ruining her rest and forcing her to spend ages comforting Wen Xin instead.
It shouldn’t have been like that.
Yet if she had the chance to do it all over again, she might act the exact same way.
Wen Xin realized she truly depended on Shi Qianyu.
And that realization was no longer something that came as an afterthought.
Afraid of waking her, Wen Xin didn’t dare move. She simply nestled in her arms, quietly watching her for a long time. Perhaps sensing the gaze upon her, Shi Qianyu opened her eyes a moment later.
Wen Xin jumped in surprise. “…A-Yu, why are you awake?”
“Did I wake you up?” Her voice was soft, and her warm breath brushed against Shi Qianyu’s neck—warm and a little ticklish.
“No.” Shi Qianyu shook her head. In the next instant, she opened her palm and gently pressed it to Wen Xin’s forehead.
It wasn’t hot anymore; the fever had completely broken.
“Does anywhere else still hurt?” She met Wen Xin’s eyes, catching the reflection of the moonlight in them. The light was pure and beautiful, making those eyes seem even clearer and more limpid.
They were gentle eyes—soft and innocent, so straightforward that they seemed incapable of hiding any secrets or worries.
But Shi Qianyu knew Wen Xin was keeping something from her. She wanted to pry, but since Wen Xin wasn’t willing to share, Shi Qianyu wouldn’t push. Instead, she’d pay even closer attention going forward, hoping to spot some clues.
She wanted to ease Wen Xin’s burdens and hoped that one day, she’d open her heart fully to her without holding anything back.
“No.” Wen Xin shook her head, looking a touch nervous, as if she feared further questions.
Shi Qianyu noticed and paused for a moment before a smile curved her lips. “That’s good.”
“By the way, I have a question. Are you…”
The person in her arms clearly held her breath. “What?”
Shi Qianyu lightly kissed her forehead and nuzzled her cheek affectionately before saying, “Are you hungry?”
“Want something to eat?” She fished out her phone to check the time, her smile widening. “It’s two-thirty in the morning—perfect timing for a late-night dinner together.”
“What do you think, Sister?”
~~~
Life with Shi Qianyu always felt fresh and exciting.
Take right now, for example. Wen Xin had initially been worried only about Shi Qianyu not eating, but her own stomach was equally empty. Situations like this cropped up often enough—when work got too hectic, when she was in a bad mood, or when life pulled her in a dozen directions.
Even as a child, those experiences had taught her to tough it out. A little hunger was no big deal; she’d grit her teeth and bear it, or distract herself by reminiscing about past feasts or fast-forwarding in her mind to tomorrow’s meals.
But things were different with Shi Qianyu. In the dead of night, the two of them had actually gotten out of bed together to eat.
Worried she’d catch a chill and get sick again, Shi Qianyu draped a blanket over her shoulders and settled her on the sofa before heading into the kitchen. A short while later, she emerged with two steaming bowls of noodles.
Rather than calling Wen Xin over, she accommodated her completely, setting the bowls on the coffee table and sitting down beside her.
“Sorry for the wait.” The night air was chilly, but the rising steam filled the space with warmth and aroma, stirring her senses and whetting her appetite tremendously.
Wen Xin had been feverish all day and had felt nauseous at the sight of food before. Now that her fever had broken, her appetite returned in full force. Despite her claims to the contrary, her stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl.
“Give it a try?” Shi Qianyu handed her a pair of chopsticks.
“Okay.” Wen Xin nodded and cradled the warm bowl. It was a double-walled design—not too hot to hold, but warm enough to seep comforting heat from her palms straight to her heart.
“It’s delicious—so fragrant.” She took one bite and couldn’t help praising it effusively.
“That’s good.” Shi Qianyu smiled and began eating as well, mirroring her.
This side of Shi Qianyu felt so down-to-earth and full of everyday charm.
Wen Xin stole a glance at her. With the weather turning cooler, she’d added a fluffy layer to her soft pajamas. Her beautiful long hair was half-tied back, revealing glimpses of her soft neck. A simple wash had removed her makeup, leaving her face clean and bare—still stunning, but even more approachable and endearing.
Wen Xin loved this version of Shi Qianyu, the private side no one else got to see.
“Tomorrow… can I still crash at your place?” For some reason, Wen Xin spoke up hesitantly.
“Of course.” Shi Qianyu looked over quietly. “Of course you can.”
“It won’t be a bother?”
“No.” Shi Qianyu leaned in affectionately, resting her chin on Wen Xin’s shoulder as her lovely eyes blinked up at her. “I like having Sister stay.”
Wen Xin felt a flush of shyness and lowered her gaze to her noodles. It was a while before she murmured, “I really love A-Yu’s noodles.”
Love.
Shi Qianyu’s lips curved in a soft smile, catching the echo in their words.
~~~
In the morning, Shi Qianyu checked Wen Xin’s temperature again.
Fortunately, the fever hadn’t returned. Sensing the touch even in her sleep, Wen Xin slowly opened her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Time for work?” Still groggy, she tried to sit up, only for the woman before her to stop her.
“Take the day off.” Shi Qianyu shook her head and tucked her back under the covers, pulling rank as director. “I’ve already spoken to Manager Liu.”
“But…” Wen Xin still seemed hesitant.
Shi Qianyu didn’t give her a chance to argue, interrupting gently. “It’s still early. Sleep a bit more.”
“I’ve got a client meeting today and need to head out. I’ll be back around ten or so. Text me what you want to eat when you wake up.”
To forestall any protests, she wheedled playfully first. “Okay, Sister?”
Sure enough, Wen Xin relented. “Okay.”
Shi Qianyu caressed her cheek and said her goodbyes. “See you later.”
Her voice was gentle, like the midday sun—bright and warm, filling Wen Xin with a sense of peace. Influenced by it, she watched Shi Qianyu’s retreating back for a moment before drifting off into deep sleep once more.
After tidying up a bit, Shi Qianyu headed downstairs, got in her car, and met her client as planned. Everything went smoothly, wrapping up a full half-hour earlier than expected.
With time to spare, she didn’t rush home. Instead, she drove to Wen Xin’s neighborhood to pick up some essentials for her.
Wen Xin had rarely volunteered to stay over like this, and Shi Qianyu hoped to use the opportunity to encourage her to stick around longer.
After a short wait, the elevator reached the right floor.
Using the spare key, Shi Qianyu unlocked the door and looked around. Wen Xin loved cleanliness—even in this tiny, outdated rental with its worn furniture, she’d kept everything spotless and well-maintained.
But not this time. The place looked like something had happened; it was far messier than before. An ornament that had been on the table lay shattered on the floor in pieces.
At first, Shi Qianyu thought there might have been a break-in, but a quick scan showed nothing valuable missing. Three cups with tea dregs sat on the coffee table, hinting that “guests” had been there recently.
Before she could dwell on it, a woman’s voice came from outside. “Are you… related to the young lady who lives here?”
Shi Qianyu turned toward the sound. “I’m her friend. And you are?”
“Oh, I’m her neighbor.” The woman was in her fifties, with kind features and a gentle tone that put people at ease. “I saw the door open and got worried, so I came to check.”
“Is she not home today?” Wen Xin was about the same age as the woman’s child, and she had always liked the polite, mild-mannered girl.
That day, when the ferocious-looking couple had come barging in, the woman happened to be home. She had overheard the quarrel and commotion from inside the house, along with Wen Xin’s uncontrollable sobs. Although she had knocked on the door later to ask about it, Wen Xin had been too distraught to say much, leaving the woman unable to get a clear picture of what had happened.
The incident had weighed on the woman’s mind ever since. Now, seeing Wen Xin’s friend show up, she couldn’t help but speak up and inquire.
“She went out on some business,” Shi Qianyu replied with a polite smile. “She won’t be back for a while and asked me to come pick up a few daily necessities.”
Sensing that the woman probably knew something, Shi Qianyu followed up, “If I may ask, did something happen here before?”
The woman nodded and explained everything she knew.
“Yes.”
