Wide Awake

When Ye Shuang saw Chen Qin crying again, he momentarily felt at a loss but still patiently tried to comfort her.

"It hurts, you jerk!"

"Then hit me back."

"I can’t bear to! You think I’m like you?" Chen Qin looked up and suddenly found Ye Shuang’s cautious face very close to hers. For some reason, the sight of his expression made her want to laugh, and she ended up both crying and giggling as she repeatedly smacked his shoulders. "You idiot, you idiot!"

"You said you couldn’t bear to, yet you’re hitting me so hard now." Ye Shuang let her continue, teasing her.

"It’s different!"

"Fine, it’s different."

But Ye Shuang knew Chen Qin had already been soothed. Honestly, she was always easy to cheer up—sometimes she’d start laughing out of nowhere even when she was angry.

"Knock knock." A sound came from the door.

Ye Shuang got up to answer it, while Chen Qin quickly sat on the edge of the bed, wiping the tears from her face with a tissue.

When the door opened, a familiar figure stood outside—a long-haired girl in a cute pale yellow nightgown, hugging a pillow. She tilted her pretty face up. "Ye Shuang… let’s sleep together."

"Who dried your hair for you?" Ye Shuang caught the pleasant scent of shampoo from Bai Yuyou’s hair and asked.

"A… sister."

Sister?

Ye Shuang first brought Yuyou inside, then turned to Chen Qin with a puzzled look. "Did you dry it for her?"

"Of course not. It was the live-in auntie." Chen Qin waved her hand dismissively.

"But she said ‘sister.’"

"The live-in auntie is just her job title. There’s a new one—just graduated from university, even from a top-tier school." Seeing that it was Bai Yuyou at the door, Chen Qin motioned for her to come sit, though she didn’t like how close Ye Shuang was with her, she still had a soft spot for Yuyou herself.

"Just graduated?"

"Yep. Our family pays the live-in auntie 30K a month—higher than most of my employees. That girl said she’d work till retirement."

"Not surprising." Ye Shuang wasn’t shocked at all, especially after recalling his own salary as a school doctor.

Bai Yuyou placed her slightly smaller pillow next to Ye Shuang’s on the bed, then tugged at his sleeve. "Sleep?"

Ye Shuang checked the time—it was still early.

"Yuyou, let’s do a face mask first," Chen Qin suggested with a smile.

"Face mask?"

"Yeah." Chen Qin opened the bedside drawer and pulled out a few sheet masks. "Lie down."

Though Bai Yuyou didn’t quite understand, she complied. Chen Qin expertly unfolded the mask and applied it to the girl’s face. After finishing, she put one on herself and turned to Ye Shuang.

"Your turn."

"I’ll pass," Ye Shuang said. "Besides, Yuyou’s still young—she doesn’t need a face mask."

Youth was the best cosmetic. Bai Yuyou was naturally beautiful with flawless skin, so Ye Shuang didn’t think she needed extra hydration.

"So you’re saying I’m old?" Chen Qin’s large eyes glared at him from behind her white mask.

Ye Shuang twitched his lips. "That’s not what I meant."

"Lie down!"

"Fine."

Ye Shuang had no choice but to comply, letting Chen Qin do as she pleased.

Soon, all three of them were wearing masks, looking rather comical. Ye Shuang asked Bai Yuyou, "How does it feel?"

"Cool…"

Chen Qin took out her phone and snapped a selfie of the trio, preserving the moment forever.

"Ye Shuang… looks weird," Bai Yuyou murmured, eyeing his masked face.

"That’s how masks look."

"Oh."

After removing the masks, Chen Qin sat beside Bai Yuyou, explaining skincare tips and chatting about school. Ye Shuang, unable to contribute, opted to scroll through his phone.

As the night deepened, Bai Yuyou grew drowsy and tugged at Ye Shuang’s sleeve, signaling it was time to sleep.

"You two still insist on sleeping together even at my place?" Chen Qin remarked, her expression complicated. Though she’d expected this when she saw Bai Yuyou earlier, it still bothered her.

Ye Shuang reassured her, "I won’t do anything inappropriate."

"Who knows? Hmph."

"Then why don’t you join us to supervise?" Ye Shuang joked.

To his surprise, Chen Qin raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "Good idea—alright!"

Ye Shuang: "…"

Chen Qin actually lay down, patting the space between them with a smirk. "Ye Shuang, sit!"

Ye Shuang’s scalp prickled. He forced a laugh.

"Just kidding. I’ll sleep in another room."

He couldn’t even imagine the scenario.

But before he could leave, both girls grabbed him. Bai Yuyou slowly sat up. "Ye Shuang… I’ll go too."

Chen Qin yanked him down, then draped a leg over him, glaring. "What, you’ll sleep with her but not me?!"

"You know why…"

"No excuses! Lie down, young man!"

Meanwhile, Bai Yuyou snuggled against his arm, closing her eyes to sleep.

Chen Qin propped her head up, amused by his discomfort. "What, scared I’ll eat you?"

Ye Shuang felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. If Chen’s father found out about this, he’d be in deep trouble—this wasn’t some novel, but real life.

"Let’s sleep," Ye Shuang said sternly, already planning to slip away later. There were plenty of other rooms.

Chen Qin, seeing through him, snapped another photo with her phone. She lazily waved it. "Ye Shuang, you wouldn’t want my dad to see this, right?"

"Miss Chen, please be reasonable."

"I am being reasonable. If you can sleep with Yuyou, why not me?" She grinned and whispered, "Now, lie down."

With a deep breath, Ye Shuang complied.

Chen Qin turned off the light and nestled into his arms, mimicking Bai Yuyou. Hidden in the dark, her cheeks flushed—this was the first time she’d taken such initiative, and it felt oddly satisfying.

Even if forced affection wasn’t sweet, she’d pluck the fruit anyway!

She’d decided—Ye Shuang was hers for life.

Bai Yuyou had already fallen asleep, her soft breaths warm against Ye Shuang’s shoulder.

In the dim room, Ye Shuang lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling, trapped between them. The mingled fragrance of the two girls filled his senses.

Sleep was the last thing on his mind.