Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Oh.” Gu Nianzhi obediently snuggled against Huo Shaoheng as he carried her to the bed. It was the same brand of mattress she was accustomed to, while the mahogany bed frame was simply designed and sturdy. Huo Shaoheng set Gu Nianzhi on the mattress and reached over to pull her towel off. Gu Nianzhi quickly rolled away to a corner of the bed and frowned. “Aren’t you going to shower?” Huo Shaoheng is already undressed, so he must be going to shower, she thought.
Unexpectedly, he also climbed onto the bed and smoothly drew the covers up before closing his eyes. “I showered before I came to pick you up.”
Gu Nianzhi blinked her misty eyes, more confused than ever but not yet totally drunk. She seemed to understand what was going on, but her logic was completely out the window. All the things she normally never dared to say or do now consumed her mind. She grew bolder. After staring at Huo Shaoheng, Gu Nianzhi slowly inched over and sprawled on the pillow beside him. She propped her head up on an arm and stared steadily at him.
Her gaze was so intense that Huo Shaoheng felt it even though his eyes were closed. Reaching over without opening his eyes, he drew Gu Nianzhi closer from on top of the pillow. “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” He moved the blanket away and pulled Gu Nianzhi inside. Her towel had somehow been left on top of the blankets. Feeling a chill, Gu Nianzhi instinctively moved away, but the blanket was so warm that her body moved to the source of heat before she could even decide what to do. Huo Shaoheng trailed his fingers up and down her back with his calloused hand.
In the haze, Gu Nianzhi somehow ended up inside the blankets. After struggling for a bit, she still couldn’t overcome the cold of an early spring night and helplessly shrunk back into the warmth. She lay next to Huo Shaoheng for a while, but saw that he wasn’t moving so she quietly turned over and laid on her stomach, fumbling for something under the pillow. Huo Shaoheng didn’t know what she was taking so long to look for, but could feel the blanket being kicked and rustled. She was like a little marmot intently and meticulously burrowing into the bed. Huo Shaoheng’s lips curved into a smile and he reached an arm out to drag Gu Nianzhi back against him. “Just sleep. What are you searching around for anyway?”
Gu Nianzhi shook the sheets helplessly. “I’m looking for my pajamas. I definitely put it under the pillow.”
Huo Shaoheng chuckled. He had forgotten to replace Gu Nianzhi’s pajamas under the pillow. Gu Nianzhi’s favourite set of pajamas was Huo Shaoheng’s black short sleeved T-shirt. Even though it was as baggy as a potato sack on her slender frame, it was very comfortable and nice to wear to bed. “Stop looking, it’s not there.” Huo Shaoheng used an arm to secure Gu Nianzhi from fumbling around. “Sleep.”
Gu Nianzhi pouted and complained drunkenly, “But I put it under the pillow this morning when I got up!”
Huo Shaoheng finally opened his eyes and looked down at the childish Gu Nianzhi in his arms. “Where did you sleep this morning?” Was she mixing up places?
Gu Nianzhi’s frown grew deeper, “It was right here. I definitely remember doing it. Look, it’s the same pillows, sheets and blankets:”
Huo Shaoheng was speechless; she was really drunk now. In order to help Gu Nianzhi sleep comfortably, Huo Shaoheng had especially selected all the bedding she was used to. Everything was the same style and brand as her bed in the dorm room, but he had never thought that she would get this confused with a few glasses of liquor in her. She would never make this mistake sober. Huo Shaoheng decoded not to explain and rubbed her delicate shoulder. “That’s fine. You don’t need pajamas when you’re sleeping with me.”
Gu Nianzhi agreed easily before lying still next to him. Huo Shaoheng was a man of few words and was busy with work, so he avoided speaking unless necessary in order to conserve energy. On the other hand, Gu Nianzhi was a chatterbox and she would often be the only one talking, or she would typically chat with Yin Shixiong back when she had lived with Huo Shaoheng. The quiet atmosphere didn’t last long however, before Gu Nianzhi began rolling on the bed again. She turned her back against Huo Shaoheng for a while, but kept feeling something strange. Flipping over again, she faced Huo Shaoheng and looked up at him with her huge and misty eyes. In the dim yellow light, his exquisite features were illuminated and ignited a heat in her heart. After staring at him for a while, she nudged closer to blow at his ear. “Are you really asleep?”
Huo Shaoheng remained silent and didn’t open his eyes. He appeared for all intents and purposes, asleep.
“Are you really asleep? I guess I’ll sleep too,” Gu Nianzhi said threateningly as she pinched his arm. “Don’t regret it.”
The corners of Huo Shaoheng’s lips twitched and he reached out to stop Gu Nianzhi. “Don’t fuss.”
“Did you really pick me up just so that could drink and sleep?” Gu Nianzhi emphasized the last word.
“What did you think then?” Finally opening his eyes, Huo Shaoheng gave her a suggestive look. His eyes were roving over her body—the scorching gaze made Gu Nianzhi’s cheeks warm.
“Well, that’s fine then.” Gu Nianzhi lay flat on the bed with trepidation and was just about to close her eyes when she saw Huo Shaoheng loom over her. Gu Nianzhi pushed his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“I’m not going to sleep. I’m going to sleep with you.” Huo Shaoheng’s husky voice rang in Gu Nianzhi’s ear.
“You’re such a liar.” Gu Nianzhi accused him as her body trembled, expectant.
“If you think we’re going to sleep, you are sorely mistaken.” Seeing her bite her fingernails, Huo Shaoheng was slightly annoyed and pulled her fingers away, sucking on them. “Pay attention: If you still have energy to bicker with me, then that means I didn’t work hard enough.” He used one hand to grasp her thick hair and pull her head back, exposing her neck. As Gu Nianzhi’s eyes shimmered up at him with anticipation, his fingers dug into her waist as he lowered his hips to hers, making her gasp in surprise and pleasure. He nuzzled her neck and listened to their mingled breathing get faster from the teasing, at last saying into her ear, “I’m going to make it so you can’t sleep without longing for me.”
Huo Shaoheng had originally planned on building up Gu Nianzhi’s desire so that he could control the rhythm. In the end, he had ended up more crazy than her.
…
After they made love, Gu Nianzhi’s mind went blank and she was reacting far slower than normal. She composed herself and found that she was totally exhausted and covered in sweat. Her body was aching but not unpleasantly, yet she had no energy to get up right away. Huo Shaoheng removed the wet towel and tossed it onto the single seater sofa by the bed. He sat up from the bed and draped on a sleeping robe that was laying beside the bed. Gu Nianzhi was slightly relieved but still couldn’t get up. She lay on her side next to Huo Shaoheng to rest.
Huo Shaoheng wanted to smoke badly but it was unwise to do so in a bedroom. Controlling his urge, he reached out to stroke Gu Nianzhi’s head. Her long hair was still slightly damp so he removed the blankets to get off the bed and grab a hairdryer for her. As soon as he moved, Gu Nianzhi put her hand on him. “Don’t cling onto me.” Huo Shaoheng gently scolded Gu Nianzhi.
She looked up at him and removed her hand. Shrinking back inside the blankets, she grumbled, “How annoying. I still have to shower later.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t have showered alone; how wasteful. If you asked to shower with me earlier, you wouldn’t have to do it twice,” Huo Shaoheng said calmly and got off the bed to get the hair dryer and also Gu Nianzhi’s black T-shirt for her.
Gu Nianzhi was exhausted beyond words. She continued to lie down for a bit before she was finally able to get up and put on the large black T-shirt. She sat down at the vanity to dry her hair. Stretching out his long legs, Huo Shaoheng sat on the bed lazily and propped the back of his head against his hands as he watched Gu Nianzhi. After she finished drying her hair, he finally asked, “Where did He Zhichu’s previous teaching assistant go?”
“Are you talking about Wen Shouyi?” Gu Nianzhi paused and set the hair dryer on the table. “I heard that Professor He sent her home and she won’t be coming back again.”
“Back home? Where?” Huo Shaoheng appeared slightly more alert. “Did He Zhichu tell you?”
Gu Nianzhiy tried to recall. “I think it was her hometown, but I’m not sure. It’s not like I can ask Professor He about this sort of thing in detail anyway. It has nothing to do with me.”
Huo Shaoheng knew this made sense and stopped asking Gu Nianzhi. Leaving the room, he called Zhao Liangze and asked him to check Wen Shouyi’s border records. He Zhichu and Wen Shouyi has come to the Huaxia Empire from the United States; if his hunch was right, then that should be where Wen Shouyi returned to.
