The dusk was like fire.
The sunset glow spread slowly across the horizon, swallowing the vast clear sky, staining the entire world a delicate rose color before finally ceasing.
Jiang Bomu stood by the window, gazing at the magnificent sunset, sparing a glance for her phone to freeze the moment.
When not busy, she liked recording the most beautiful moment of dusk. Her album held over a thousand such pictures. Whenever feeling restless or uneasy, she’d look through them, and her heart would be miraculously calmed.
Just as she was about to put the phone away, it suddenly buzzed. She lowered her eyes and opened WeChat.
[Still need sleep-coaxing services tonight?]
She gazed long and hard at that line of text.
The remaining sunset burned out. Night fell. Outside the window, a myriad of lights shone brilliantly. Yet room 701 remained dark, only the faint glow of the small phone screen flickering like a tiny spark in the vast dark.
Jiang Bomu put away her phone. The last sliver of light vanished too. Only the huge LED screen not far away cast some faint light, making her silhouette shimmer.
She had already realized her feelings towards Gu Yu were somewhat different. She couldn’t let this continue. Gu Yu had someone she liked. Sharing a bed every night was inappropriate.
Furthermore, Gu Yu was young and didn’t know where to draw the line. She herself was twenty-seven; she should know when to stop.
Before sinking deeper.
Jiang Bomu lifted her eyes, looking at the faint Milky Way formed by the streams of traffic. She smiled bitterly.
After all these years, the type of person she liked hadn’t changed one bit.
Gu Yu and the person in her memory… their personalities were truly too similar. When they first started living together, she had tried hard to find the differences between them, afraid of treating Gu Yu as a substitute.
But whenever she managed to distinguish them, she would always feel a momentary daze because they had said the exact same things.
It took her a long time to find their differences and finally treat Gu Yu purely as Gu Yu.
But now, it seemed her heart was slowly stirring again. Jiang Bomu sighed and warned herself not to repeat past mistakes.
Then she paused, feeling ashamed of her own despicable thoughts.
Gu Yu was just Gu Yu. She wouldn’t be like that person.
Across the hall from 701, Gu Yu opened her door and took the takeout from the delivery driver. After thanking him, she glanced at 701. It was quiet, not a single sliver of light leaking out.
Could she really be asleep?
She closed the door regretfully, feeling powerless at her own indecisiveness. It was her who wanted to share a bed. Why hadn’t she just asked before they parted ways?
Why put on airs?
Dejected, Gu Yu opened the takeout packaging and ate half-heartedly. She had been quite hungry, but now she had no appetite at all.
A WeChat message popped up. It was Jian Ya asking how the battle was going.
Gu Yu let out a long sigh: [Don’t even mention it. No reply at all.]
Jian Ya’s reply was infuriatingly smug: [That bad, huh? But my little vet replied to me. Dog holding rose in mouth.jpg.]
Gu Yu: [Go die!]
Then, with infinite melancholy, she poured out her heart: [The thought of missing the chance to cuddle with my goddess tonight is making me lose my appetite entirely.]
Jian Ya: [Look on the bright side.]
Gu Yu perked up: [I’m all ears.]
This time, Jian Ya took an unusually long time to reply. Gu Yu gritted her teeth. She must be chatting with that little vet! Sacrificing friends for love!
[Maybe you won’t get to cuddle ever again. You’ll lose 20 pounds!]
Through the internet, Gu Yu could practically hear her triumphant laughter. Fuming, she sent a “kicking you” sticker and stopped replying.
She turned her grief into appetite and wolfed down the food.
So what if they couldn’t sleep together for now? Once she won her over, she’d send Jian Ya photos of them sharing a bed every single day! That’d show her!
Full and satisfied, Gu Yu went to take a bath. Too tired yesterday to do more than a quick rinse, today she wanted a proper soak, to relax fully and wash away her restless mood.
While the tub filled, she brushed her teeth. Her eyes kept darting to her phone screen, hoping for a turnaround—what if Jiang Bomu woke up after a short sleep?
She checked over a dozen times in three minutes. Each time before checking, she had a strong premonition that “she’s replied!” but was disappointed every time.
It was seriously affecting her relaxation!
After brushing her teeth, she resolutely tossed her phone onto the bed, shut the bathroom door, and cut herself off from the world.
Steam rose, like a fairyland.
Gu Yu stepped barefoot into the water, closed her eyes, and sighed in comfort. In her mind flashed those long, slender legs, the delicate shoulder blades, and that incredibly sensual tiny mole.
What she hadn’t had time to savor during the day now began to magnify endlessly in the night.
The steam dotted Gu Yu’s face with a faint rouge. She suddenly had another powerful premonition—Jiang Bomu had replied.
…Forget it. As if.
Gu Yu soaked for an hour before getting out. Just as she was about to blow-dry her hair, she discovered the hair dryer was broken. Late at night, she couldn’t be bothered to call someone to fix it. She picked up her phone to ask Tao Tao if she was still awake. Her eyes landed on the pinned chat. Her heart skipped a beat.
sunset: [No need.]
Sent ten minutes ago.
Gu Yu’s lips curled into a smile. It fell right into her lap.
She sent a pitiful voice message: “Sister, the hair dryer in my room is broken. Can I use yours?”
A minute passed. Jiang Bomu didn’t respond.
Just as Gu Yu was starting to suspect she might have fallen asleep again, the reply came: [Come over.]
Oh yeah!
Afraid she’d change her mind, Gu Yu instantly changed into the camisole nightgown and dashed to knock on the door. Just one knock, and the door opened, unexpectedly meeting Jiang Bomu’s gaze directly.
She was still wearing the same outfit from the day. The citrus perfume still carried a faint, lingering fragrance. Gu Yu desperately fought the urge to take a deep breath of it.
“Come in,” Jiang Bomu stepped aside. “What are you standing outside for?”
Gu Yu feigned nonchalance. “I thought Sister would just hand it to me at the door.”
Jiang Bomu chuckled. “Do I seem that cold-hearted?”
Refusing her sleep-coaxing services was indeed cold-hearted. Gu Yu grumbled internally as she entered the room.
The bed sheets had been changed again, this time a pale purple, looking perfect for sleep. However, the spare blanket had been put away. It seemed her mind was made up not to share the bed tonight.
She withdrew her gaze and, without immediately mentioning the hair dryer, asked, “Did you just wake up?”
“Yes,” Jiang Bomu lied without blushing. “Just woke up.”
Actually, she hadn’t slept at all. She’d watched an episode of a TV drama and taken a shower before replying. Never expected the best-laid plans could go awry like this.
“Will you be able to fall asleep again later?”
Seeing Gu Yu unhurriedly continuing the chat, Jiang Bomu frowned, noticing her hair was very wet. That wasn’t good for her health. She went to the bathroom, fetched the hair dryer, and said, “Sit down. I’ll help you dry it.”
Gu Yu blinked. She had originally planned to dry her hair here but hadn’t figured out how to bring it up. So she’d just made small talk to stall. She never expected Jiang Bomu would actually offer to dry her hair!
She’d hit the jackpot!
She obediently sat down, feeling the warm breeze skim past her ear to the crown of her head. A soft hand lifted her long hair, occasionally brushing against the nape of her neck, causing an indescribable, trembling numbness.
In the past, when her mother helped dry her hair, they’d chat loudly. It was warm and cozy.
But this was different.
Silence reigned, yet something flowed quietly between them. Time seemed to slow to a crawl, as endless as the years past.
“Sister,” she finally couldn’t hold it in and spoke, “you’re so gentle.”
Despite that cool, aloof face.
Yet everywhere was a gentle haven.
Jiang Bomu didn’t hear clearly and raised her voice, “What did you say?”
“I said,” Gu Yu murmured, “I like you.”
The faint whisper was swallowed by the noise of the hair dryer, swept away by the hot wind.
Only at moments like this could she dare to speak her true feelings without reservation.
Like you. Like you so much.
Fell for you at first sight. A single backward glance from you captivated me completely. Meeting again, getting to know you, I was won over by your character. My fondness grows day by day. I’m holding it in so tight I’m about to go crazy, not knowing when the words will slip out involuntarily.
The next second, the hair dryer suddenly stopped. Their breaths could be heard.
Gu Yu’s heart stopped. Her voice had been so low. Had Jiang Bomu heard her?
“Xunxun, I really didn’t hear,” Jiang Bomu said helplessly. “What did you say?”
Thank goodness.
Gu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, turned her face, and repeated with a bright smile, “I said, you’re so gentle. Your touch is so light, I’m practically falling asleep from comfort.”
“I thought something was wrong,” Jiang Bomu turned the switch back on. “Finish drying, then go to sleep. Tomorrow’s another busy day.”
Gu Yu obediently agreed, but wicked thoughts brewed inside her.
A minute later, her head started drooping. After a moment, she jerked it back up, ramming straight into the hot air vent. The heat was blocked, scalding her scalp painfully.
Gu Yu grimaced, clutching the back of her head. She’d put a little too much force into that! It hurt like crazy!
“Xunxun!” Jiang Bomu was startled. She turned off the switch and tossed it onto the bed, guiltily saying, “It’s all my fault for not paying attention. Are you okay?”
It’s fine, it’s fine,” Gu Yu gritted her teeth and endured. “Doesn’t hurt. I was just feeling sleepy. Not your fault.”
Despite her words, Jiang Bomu still felt the spot. The sound had been so loud. Seeing no swelling or bump, she finally relaxed.
“Sister, keep drying,” Gu Yu yawned. “I’m so sleepy.”
The hair dryer soon whirred back to life. When her hair was almost dry and the time was ripe, Gu Yu simply closed her eyes and flopped sideways onto the bed.
Anyway, she was staying here tonight. She didn’t believe Jiang Bomu could be so heartless as to throw her out!
Jiang Bomu didn’t suspect for a second that she was acting. She was stunned. How could she just fall asleep like that? She glanced at the still-damp hair, hesitated for a second, then continued drying.
Once it was dry, she turned off the hair dryer. The person on the bed frowned and turned over in her sleep, her long hair becoming disheveled, revealing a delicate little face—a harmless, peacefully sleeping beauty.
Perhaps the air conditioning was too cold, Gu Yu hugged her arms and shivered. She instinctively kicked off her slippers, curling her whole body up for warmth. Her knee-length nightgown had ridden up to her thighs. Above that, the curve was alluring.
After just one glance, Jiang Bomu lowered her eyes. She fetched the spare blanket and gently covered her.
Gu Yu had originally been feigning sleep, but once she was sure she’d be staying the night, she’d dropped a huge weight off her shoulders. And with the bed so soft and the blanket so warm, she gradually actually became sleepy.
But why wasn’t Jiang Bomu coming to bed yet?
She forced herself to stay faintly conscious. After an unknown time, a hint of citrus fragrance lingered at her nostrils. Jiang Bomu was coming over.
She finally relaxed, though a stray thought flickered in her mind: she still hadn’t showered…
Before she could think any more, Gu Yu sank into dreamland.
On the other side, Jiang Bomu tugged at the blanket underneath Gu Yu. But the harder she pulled, the tighter Gu Yu hugged it. She had no choice but to give up. Her gaze fell on the one covering Gu Yu.
After a moment of silence, she lifted the blanket and slipped inside.
