Volume One, Chapter 50: Scared Away

Frightened and caught in a thunderstorm, it was a night when Song Qingyu truly did not want to be alone. Pei Jingmo understood that when Song Qingyu spoke of “sleep,” she meant nothing more than simply sleeping.

“Alright,” he replied.

His face was calm as a tranquil lake, but inside, waves crashed violently. He lifted the blanket and climbed into bed, lying beside Song Qingyu. Aside from those few times Pei Jingmo had sleepwalked, Song Qingyu only ever shared a bed with him while fully awake.

Pei Jingmo lay flat on his back, while she turned her back to him.

After a while, Song Qingyu spoke softly, “Aren’t you going to ask what happened to me?”

Pei Jingmo gazed at her frail, slender silhouette, yearning to pull her into his arms, but fearing it would startle her further, he restrained himself.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

Song Qingyu shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“Then let’s not talk about it. Just sleep,” he said.

Pei Jingmo was always so considerate. After a few seconds of silence, Song Qingyu asked, “Could you… turn the other way?”

Assuming she didn’t want to see him, Pei Jingmo felt a twinge of irritation, but still agreed, “Alright.”

He turned his back to Song Qingyu, his dark eyes fixed on the wall, deep and unsettling.

Suddenly—

Those eyes seemed to find light, brightening in an instant.

He sensed Song Qingyu behind him inching closer, bit by bit.

She—

She actually pressed her face against his back of her own accord.

In that moment, it felt as if all the world was cheering for him—the joy surged like molten lava in his heart.

He suppressed every wild and terrifying impulse, enduring without turning around.

Only when he felt her shallow breathing against his back did he carefully turn, gently wrapping her in his arms.

That night, Song Qingyu slept uneasily.

Nightmares plagued her, waking her every so often in fright.

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid,” Pei Jingmo soothed her, lightly patting her back, comforting her without pause.

Each time she heard Pei Jingmo’s voice, calm returned to her.

After a restless night, Song Qingyu awoke to find herself entirely enveloped in Pei Jingmo’s embrace.

Her face rested against the artery in his neck, and she could clearly feel the pulse beneath her skin.

How did she end up in his arms again?!

As soon as Song Qingyu stirred, Pei Jingmo, as if by reflex, gently patted her back. “Be good. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

With that, he kissed her forehead.

Song Qingyu’s heart quivered violently.

Was this how he coaxed her to sleep all night?

No wonder the man who always woke punctually for his morning run hadn’t gotten up today—he must have been exhausted last night.

Maybe—

Let him sleep a little longer?

After all, it was Sunday, no work, no rush to rise.

Having decided, Song Qingyu quietly watched Pei Jingmo.

It was her first time observing this man so closely. He must have been keeping her in mind, for even in sleep, his brow was not relaxed, a faint furrow between his straight eyebrows.

Her heart felt as if tiny currents were running through it, tingling and numb.

Her gaze settled on his eyes. She’d never noticed before, but his lashes were quite long.

His nose was tall and well-shaped, the lines smooth.

Suddenly, she remembered a comment Zhenzhen had shown her recently: “I want to slide down my brother’s nose like a slide.”

At the time, Xie Liuzhen had said that celebrity’s nose was obviously fake, very unnatural.

Pei Jingmo’s nose, though, was definitely real.

Should she touch it and see?

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Song Qingyu’s hand reached out.

Her slender, jade-like fingertip gently traced down the bridge of his nose, finally resting on the tip.

It was real, after all—

“Heh…”

Song Qingyu couldn’t help but laugh softly.

But in that instant, something dormant suddenly awoke, pressing against her leg.

What was that?

At first, Song Qingyu didn’t register it, but when she realized something was wrong, her eyes widened in shock.

At the same moment, Pei Jingmo’s eyes opened.

Their gazes locked—

The air seemed to freeze, a strange tension and embarrassment spreading between them.

It felt like ages had passed, though perhaps only a second or two.

Song Qingyu’s cheeks flushed crimson. She shoved Pei Jingmo away and scrambled into the bathroom.

“Careful—”

Pei Jingmo tried to warn her, but she’d already slammed the door shut.

Looking down at his spirited condition, Pei Jingmo ran his tongue along his molars.

Damn!

It was just a touch on the nose—how did he lose control?

Actually, he’d been awake when Song Qingyu woke up. He hadn’t moved because he couldn’t bear to let her go, and wanted to see how she’d react to discovering them in such a position.

Her touching his nose was unexpected, and before he could savor it, that troublesome part of him raised its head, eager and unrestrained.

He’d scared her off!

Staring at the tightly closed bathroom door, Pei Jingmo rubbed his forehead.

It had taken so much effort to coax the snail into poking out its head, only for it to retreat back into its shell.

Song Qingyu was mortified!

If she’d known it would be so awkward, she’d never have let Pei Jingmo sleep beside her last night.

And this morning!

She should have gotten up immediately!

Why did she have to touch his nose?

Song Qingyu slapped her own hand. “It’s always you! Why do you keep causing trouble?”

How was she supposed to face him now?

Song Qingyu leaned against the bathroom door, listening for any sounds outside.

Hearing nothing, she assumed he’d left.

She quietly opened the door to peek—bed neatly made, Pei Jingmo indeed gone.

She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly locked the door behind her.

It wasn’t that she was guarding against anyone, just that she didn’t know how to face Pei Jingmo.

Knock, knock, knock—

After a while, someone knocked.

“Qingqing, breakfast is ready.”

Song Qingyu was mindlessly scrolling through short videos, not taking in a single thing, as if keeping herself busy would keep the morning’s events from her mind.

“I’m not hungry. You eat first.”

Of course Pei Jingmo knew Song Qingyu was avoiding him.

He didn’t act immediately, but waited half an hour for her to settle, then knocked again.

“I’m really not hungry…”

“Open the door. Let’s talk.”

Song Qingyu: “…”

How could she talk about it?

“Or do you plan on never seeing me again?” he said.

After a moment’s struggle, Song Qingyu went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Pei Jingmo swept her up in his arms. Song Qingyu startled, “What are you doing?”

Without answering, Pei Jingmo carried her to a chair in the dining room and set her down.

When she tried to leave, he pressed his hands to either side of the chair, enclosing her completely.

Pei Jingmo rarely showed such dominance, and Song Qingyu felt uneasy.

Before she could react, Pei Jingmo asked, “You know that’s a normal reaction for a man, right?”

Song Qingyu’s cheeks burned. She wanted to say, “How would I know? I’m not a man.”

Suddenly, she remembered something from biology class, and nodded stiffly.

“Mm.”

“If I had no reaction to you at all, that would be abnormal, wouldn’t it?”

Song Qingyu nodded, then realized something was off. What did he mean, not reacting to her would be abnormal?