Sleeping Together

"Let me make it clear, today is just an exception. To avoid any misunderstandings, I’ll place a pillow in the middle of the bed as a barrier," Ye Feng said as he sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Xie Yuyan, who was already lying down with her back turned to him.

"Got it, let’s sleep already. I’m so tired~" came a faint voice from Xie Yuyan’s side.

"Ugh," Ye Feng sighed deeply. He never imagined things would turn out like this. It all started earlier...

......

"What should I do, Ye Feng? Am I really going to lie here all alone, cold and scared, on this lifeless couch, waiting for my time to run out?" Xie Yuyan put on a look of utter despair, the bed sheet she had been clutching falling to the floor as she spoke in a dejected tone.

"Even the weather is against me. In this vast world, where do I truly belong? Don’t worry, Ye Feng, even if I freeze to death in this icy living room, I won’t act like a thief and take over your room... I just... I just want to spend a little more time with you before the end."

"......"

Why does it feel like there’s more to her words than meets the eye? She’s really missing her calling as an actress.

After delivering her carefully prepared lines, Xie Yuyan sneakily glanced at Ye Feng. Seeing that he remained unmoved, she doubled down on her pitiful act.

"Making you a delicious breakfast every morning was the happiest part of my day. I haven’t even finished learning all the recipes, and now I’ll lose that chance. It’s so unfair... so unfair~"

Ye Feng couldn’t take it anymore. If this went on, Xie Yuyan’s one-woman show would drive him insane.

"How about... you just sleep in my bed tonight..."

"Deal!"

Before Ye Feng could even finish his sentence, Xie Yuyan dropped her exaggerated act. Under Ye Feng’s watchful gaze, she grabbed the pillow and thin bed sheet from the couch and stood before him.

"I’m ready!"

"......"

Now she’s not even pretending anymore, huh?

"Xie Yuyan, maybe I should just sleep on the couch tonight. I’m sure I’ll be fine for one night."

Ye Feng proposed another solution, but Xie Yuyan’s lips twitched slightly before she quickly regained her composure.

"So, Ye Feng, you really hate me that much? Even in a special situation like this, you don’t want to be near me? If I’m such a burden to you..."

"Wait, stop right there!"

Ye Feng quickly interrupted her before she could go any further. He realized that Xie Yuyan wouldn’t let this go unless she got her way tonight.

"Fine, I won’t sleep on the couch. Happy now?"

"Hehe~"

Xie Yuyan flashed a triumphant smile as Ye Feng reluctantly gave in. She happily padded over to Ye Feng’s room in her slippers, pausing at the doorway to add,

"Thank you, kind soul. I’ll make it up to you~"

"Alright, alright. I’ll go wash your bed sheet."

"Thanks for the trouble~"

......

Although Ye Feng usually came across as calm and collected, sitting on the edge of the bed while Xie Yuyan lay in his bed made it impossible for him to hide his nervousness.

Fortunately, Xie Yuyan didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Maybe she really just needed to borrow his bed for the night.

"Xie Yuyan."

Ye Feng softly called her name to check if she was asleep. Normally, she’d be quite sensitive to any noise, but this time, there was no response.

Is she really asleep? That fast? No way! Someone as sharp as her, who notices even the slightest movement, couldn’t possibly fall asleep so quickly.

Ye Feng saw right through Xie Yuyan’s act. Annoyed, he walked over to the other side of the bed to see what she was up to.

There she was, wide awake, staring silently at the wardrobe in front of her.

"What are you thinking about? Why didn’t you answer me when I called you?"

"Ye Feng, have you fallen?"

Xie Yuyan pouted as she looked at him.

"Fallen? What are you talking about, Xie Yuyan?"

"Hmph, I guess I’ll have to show you the evidence before you admit it. I thought you’d at least try to explain..."

Under Ye Feng’s puzzled gaze, Xie Yuyan slowly pulled out a brand-new smartphone from her pocket and waved it in front of him.

"So? The evidence is clear. What do you have to say for yourself now?"

As she spoke, her expression grew increasingly strange, and she began muttering things Ye Feng couldn’t quite make out.

"I’ve been thinking all night, and I can’t find any reason to deceive myself... I wanted to pretend it didn’t exist, but... this phone is like a thorn in my heart. To you, I must just be a burden, right?"

"Can you stop being so sensitive? This phone was forced on me by Li Mucheng. I didn’t want it, but I had no choice but to take it."

"Is that so?"

"Of course! Look, I’m still using my own phone at home, aren’t I?"

Ye Feng sighed in exasperation, but then it hit him—how did Xie Yuyan know about the other phone in his pocket?

"Fine, but next time, don’t accept anything from her! People like her only give you things because they want something in return! I’m the only one who’s truly sincere and has no ulterior motives, got it?"

"Even you don’t believe that when you say it, do you?"

"Ugh... I don’t care! You’re not allowed to use the phone she gave you!"

"Alright, alright. Now that we’ve cleared this up, can you finally sleep?"

"Mm."

Once the misunderstanding was resolved, Xie Yuyan nodded contentedly. In truth, she had discovered the phone while Ye Feng was showering. Seeing that the phone’s interface was clean and hadn’t even gone through the initial setup, she knew Ye Feng had likely been pressured into accepting it. Her earlier silence was just her simmering anger at Li Mucheng’s actions.

"Ye Feng..."

"Yeah?"

"Let me buy you a phone next time, okay?"

"Sure."

"Then it’s settled. Only I can buy you a phone~"

"Alright, let’s sleep now."

"Mm, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

As the lights went out, Xie Yuyan lay quietly in bed, breathing in the familiar scent of Ye Feng’s sheets, her heart filled with joy.

Finally... finally, I’m sharing a bed with Ye Feng! Even if it’s just for now, this is a huge step toward a better future!