Chapter 59: Spending the Night

At this moment, Wen Yichen dared not move a muscle. The blood in his veins surged with such intensity that he was left at a loss as to what to do. It was January, and though there was no heating in the house, Wen Yichen felt unbearably hot, so much so that he wished he could fling open all the doors and windows to let the cold wind pour in unchecked.

Jiang Muwen stared at him in a daze, an inexplicable sensation stirring within her, as though every cell in her body suddenly came alive, leaving her restless and unsteady. The young man before her had fair, delicate skin, his clean face tinged with a rosy hue. The gentle light bathed him, casting a shimmer in his eyes—like the glimmer of stars reflected across a vast sea. A boy like this seemed to fulfill every dream a young girl could ever harbor.

No, she mustn’t... Jiang Muwen averted her gaze. She couldn’t look any longer—something was bound to happen if she did.

As she mulled over this, she carefully inched her body away, hoping to slip off him unnoticed. She had no idea, however, that for Wen Yichen, every subtle movement was pure torment.

His body tensed, his brows drawing together ever so slightly. “Don’t move,” he said.

At his words, Jiang Muwen obediently froze. The hand she had just lifted to retreat landed clumsily on his arm when he told her not to move.

His sweater was soft—surprisingly comfortable. The sensation made Jiang Muwen curl her fingers, then, as if testing the waters, she brushed her hand back and forth a couple of times.

The brush of her fingertips sent a jolt through him, as if a current had run right through his body, making him shudder involuntarily.

“Jiang Muwen, get down,” Wen Yichen murmured, his voice low and unfamiliar.

“But didn't you just tell me...” she started.

“Get down. Now.”

“Oh...” Jiang Muwen complied, gingerly climbing off of him.

She nestled obediently beside Wen Yichen, looking for all the world like a tamed kitten. Petite to begin with, she seemed even smaller curled up at his side.

Whether it was because the TV program was too dull, or because she was simply exhausted, it wasn’t long before sleep crept over Jiang Muwen. She didn’t even remember when she drifted off, only that when she did, it was still just the two of them in the house.

Night deepened. Wen Yichen switched the main light for the small lamp by the sofa, and the room grew quiet, with only the television chattering in the background.

Wen Yichen was watching the screen when suddenly there was a weight on his shoulder. He looked down to find Jiang Muwen resting her head against him.

In the gentle light, he could see her body rise and fall with each breath. The flickering TV cast a pale glow over her face, and for a fleeting moment, he was seized by the urge to lean down and press a soft kiss to her forehead.

Lost in thought, he unconsciously edged closer to her.

But just as his lips brushed her forehead, his phone vibrated on the sofa—a faint buzz, yet it startled Wen Yichen so much that he flinched, then straightened guiltily and picked up his phone.

The message was from his mother: “Little Piggy, we're not coming home tonight. Take good care of Xiao Wenwen.”

Wen Yichen stared at the message, then looked over at Jiang Muwen. Perhaps even he failed to notice the tender warmth that softened his gaze, or the fondness blooming within it.

She was sleeping soundly—so soundly that he didn’t have the heart to wake her.

Recalling the message from Su Yu earlier, Wen Yichen smiled helplessly. Since Jiang Muwen would be staying the night at his house, he might as well let her sleep comfortably in the bedroom.

When Jiang Muwen awoke, it was already daylight. She stretched lazily, then opened her drowsy eyes—only to find herself wide awake in an instant.

This wasn’t her room. This was... Wen Yichen’s room!

She sat up abruptly, her mind whirring. Where were her parents? Why was she still at Wen Yichen’s house? Not only that, but why was she in his bedroom? Wasn’t she on the sofa earlier that night? If she was in Wen Yichen’s bedroom, then where was Wen Yichen?

A barrage of questions exploded in her mind. She sat there, bewildered—how had the whole world changed overnight?

As she pondered, there was a knock at the bedroom door. The door opened, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway—Wen Yichen.

The moment he entered, Jiang Muwen’s heart gave a heavy thump. Such was the strange magic of secret love; every time the beloved appeared, a sweet, anxious thrill would ripple through her.

He paused at the threshold, his lips parted as if about to speak.

“Morning...” Jiang Muwen greeted him before he could say a word.

The sudden greeting seemed to catch Wen Yichen off guard. He hesitated, then returned her good morning.

“I’ve bought breakfast,” he said. “Since you’re up, you should eat.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Wen Yichen...” she called after him.

He stopped obediently.

“How did I end up here?” she asked.

A flush crept over the tips of Wen Yichen’s ears.

How had she ended up here? Wasn’t it because he’d carried her in last night...

He remembered how, in his arms, her hands had wandered here and there, like a newborn kitten kneading its soft little paws against him, testing his limits in the most innocent of ways.

But to someone as reserved as Wen Yichen, these were things he simply could not say aloud.

“What do you think?” he replied.

“If I knew, would I be asking you?” Jiang Muwen muttered, thinking he wouldn’t hear her. But Wen Yichen caught every word, loud and clear.

Had he known she’d interrogate him like this in the morning, he never would have carried her in: “I dragged you in. You slept like a log—”