Chapter 20 Sending the Puppy Away: I Want to Hold You While I Sleep

Cheng Guo stared in disbelief as Shen Zhui effortlessly climbed in through the window. Thinking of Ruan Ningshu's mention of the empress's position, she realized this man had become bolder after realizing his place. She sat up, suppressing a laugh, and asked, "Finished the call?"

The thin, soft blanket slipped off her shoulders. The balcony light was on, and under its soft glow, Cheng Guo's hair fell loosely over her rounded shoulders. The delicate and sexy straps of her nightgown adorned her straight collarbone, giving her a light and gentle aura.

The person who had swaggered in through the window paused, looking at her as if she wasn't going to question him before walking to the bedside.

The bed is about 1.8 meters wide. Her phone is usually placed on the bedside table to charge. Cheng Guo tends to sleep on this side. Chen Zhui squats down beside the bed and takes her fingertips, which are resting on the thin blanket, in his hand: "My mom just called to congratulate me."

"Congratulations?" Cheng Guo's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated and asked, "Does Auntie know about us?"

More than just knowing.

Shen Zhui didn't dare mention that his mother had asked him to add Cheng Guo to his family group chat to receive a batch of red envelopes, but he had suppressed the request. He simply explained to her, "Qi Yun is my agent and my cousin. She and my mother talk about everything."

The very next second after he was on a voice call with Qi Yun, asking her to prepare a public relations plan, Qi Yun sent a message to Shen Qingli saying that congratulations were in order for Shen Zhui to finally give himself away.

"My mom knows your name, and she also knows that I've liked you for a long time."

Looking into Cheng Guo's smiling eyes, Shen Zhui longed to kiss her. He thought that once he had secured his position, he would have to reveal that his family was relatively wealthy. They were going to get married in the future, and their family situation couldn't be kept secret. A reasonable and magnanimous person like Dr. Cheng would definitely not reject him just because of the little trick he used to get close to her.

Cheng Guo had never imagined that Shen Zhui would be having an affair with another woman behind her back. Although she was shocked to learn that the person on the other end of the phone was his mother, she nodded in agreement. Compared to Shen Zhui's honest expression of love and his early disclosure of her existence to his family, Yu Muying was completely unaware of Shen Zhui's existence. Cheng Guo felt guilty, and she knew that Yu Muying would not accept her being with Shen Zhui so easily.

Yu Muying's bottom line is that she cannot accept her seeing a doctor, but judging from past experience, Yu Muying has a very high unspoken threshold for her future son-in-law. Although she will not give up her own ideas because of Yu Muying's opposition, she still hopes to receive Yu Muying's blessing if possible.

Cheng Guo wasn't the type to make promises lightly without being sure of them. On the first day of their relationship, she didn't want to spoil the mood by bringing up her family's issues, so after thinking about it, she honestly told Xu Qingnian about her situation.

"After Xu Qingnian returned to China, his family arranged everything for him: a job, a wedding house, and blind dates, hoping that a girl would keep him in Licheng. This only strengthened his idea of ​​living in the city. Later, he contacted me, hoping that I could help him stall for time and deal with his family, so that he wouldn't have to meet the next blind date right after failing to meet the first one, and then have to act like he had tried very hard but just couldn't find the right person. I happened to need someone's help, so I agreed."

Shen Zhui snorted, got up and sat on the edge of the bed, subtly invading her territory, saying that Xu Qingnian had no taste, "Who wouldn't like someone as outstanding as my girlfriend?"

But his face showed an expression that said, "Don't anyone come near my girlfriend."

Cheng Guo sat steadily on the bed without moving. She glanced at him and pulled his hand away. "Alright, everything's explained. Go to sleep now."

Shen Zhui paused in his movement as he slid closer to her bed. "Isn't it more than just kissing?"

In the darkness, Cheng Guo's cheeks flushed, but her tone remained steady: "I didn't say today."

"..."

Having finally gained entry, Shen Zhui was unwilling to leave. He looked at her with considerable resentment, then at the half-empty bed, saying, "I'm going to sleep on that half tonight."

“No,” Cheng Guo refused decisively. She wasn’t afraid of Shen Zhui playing hardball with her, but she was afraid of his current resentful, soft, puppy-like eyes. In the end, she couldn’t resist and compromised by leaning over and pecking him on the lips. “Okay, go to sleep.”

"..."

To appease the puppy.

Shen Zhui was unhappy; this was too different from his expectations. He chased after her and kissed her until she was breathless before pressing his forehead against hers and asking, "Is it really not okay?"

"If you don't agree, I promise I won't do anything, I'll just hold you while we sleep."

I can't guarantee it.

Cheng Guo was dizzy from the kisses. Chen Zhui's hand was on her waist. Although there was a nightgown between them, he didn't move around too much. But the warmth and presence of his palm were undeniable. She retained a sliver of reason and refused, "No."

After receiving a light but not heavy bite on the shoulder, Chen Zhui got up, opened the door, and went out after venting his anger.

The warmth on her waist was gone, and his breath was gone too. Cheng Guo felt a void in her heart. Before the feeling of reluctance could even spread, the person who had left strode back.

Shen Zhui's face loomed large before her eyes. He bent down, wrapped the blanket around her, and scooped her up in his arms. Ignoring her phone that she had left on the bedside table, he strode over and carried her to the sofa, then squeezed in next to her, his eyes full of smugness. "If you won't let me sleep in the bed, then you can sleep on the sofa with me."

Cheng Guo was amused by his shameless behavior, her heart was filled again, and she looked at Chen Zhui with a smile.

The living room lights were on, and he lay down within earshot of her breath. Her reflection was in his dim eyes, her eyelashes clearly defined, and the small, light-colored mole at the corner of her eye became blurred as he drew closer.

Cheng Guo had always known that Shen Zhui liked kissing. After she kissed him for the first time, he pinned her to his seat and kissed her for half the movie. From his initial recklessness and lack of technique, he eventually kissed her until she was breathless. In early spring, she was still wearing a sweater, and her back was covered in sweat. Her face was as red as if she had a high fever, and her hands and feet were weak.

This time too.

The living room sofa was already quite full when one person was lying down, but now the two of them were pressed together so tightly that there wasn't a single gap. At first, it was fine; his kisses were gentle, their lips and tongues licking and their breaths mingling. But soon, the wildness in the boy's bones was released, and he hugged her tightly, pressing her against him. Cheng Guo was wrapped in a blanket, but her exposed hand tightly gripped the hem of his T-shirt, her fingers rubbing against his waist and abdomen. His breathing became heavy, and his sucking made her tongue numb.

He buried his head in the crook of her neck, his warm breath washing over her neck and shoulders, his body's reaction laid bare.

Cheng Guo's cheeks and ear tips burned, and she shifted her legs uncomfortably.

"Don't move." Shen Zhui took a deep breath, grabbed a pillow to put under his stomach, grabbed her hand and tucked it into the blanket, then hugged her tightly again. "Don't touch me."

Cheng Guo was wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon. The excitement and eroticism she had felt earlier slowly subsided. Because of Shen Zhui's condition, she smiled and kindly suggested, "I'll go back."

"No, I want to sleep holding you." Shen Zhui insisted.

He seemed to sense her obvious smile and became angry and embarrassed, saying, "I'm a normal man."

He buried his head in her neck again, saying, "It's better than not responding to you at all."

He muttered again, "I just like you so much."

Cheng Guo felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but that didn't stop her from laughing with trembling shoulders, and then, inappropriately, letting out a sleepy yawn.

Shen Zhui raised his head in disbelief, his eyes filled with questions like, "How could you be sleepy at a time like this?"

Cheng Guo closed her mouth, blinked, and kissed him. The tears that had welled up from her yawn were still wet on her eyelashes. Chen Zhui looked at her for a while, then buried his head back in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled: "Go to sleep."

Having scheduled surgeries all day, and knowing she'd never need to go on blind dates again, Cheng Guo felt a surge of physical and mental exhaustion. Smelling Chen Zhui's fragrant hair and feeling the strength of his embrace, she closed her eyes in comfort.

In her hazy state, someone whispered in her ear.

"Are you really asleep?"

"You really don't care about me?"

"Do you really think I can remain unmoved by a woman in my lap?"

She was bitten on the lip as if in anger, but it didn't hurt. Then she was gently kissed. She tried to pull her arms away to hug him, but he pressed her down firmly. After a while, the weight on her body suddenly disappeared, and something was stuffed next to her.

Cheng Guo struggled to open her eyes. Shen Zhui was closing the bathroom door. She was still lying in the same spot, with a pillow placed next to the sofa.

Are you afraid she'll fall down?

The sound of pattering water continued for an unknown amount of time until someone, covered in a thin layer of water mist, hugged her again, and Cheng Guo finally fell asleep again.

Cheng Guo didn't mean to lie to Shen Zhui today. She just found out that her period had come early while she was taking a shower. Shen Zhui found out about this in the middle of the night, and Cheng Guo found out that Shen Zhui found out the next morning. She had left her unwashed underwear hanging on the clothes rack on the balcony the night before.

Even though they had already hugged, kissed, and slept in each other's arms all night, Cheng Guo's cheeks turned as red as if they had been scalded by soap when she thought about Shen Zhui slowly scrubbing the dirt off her clothes.

Fortunately, she wasn't a lonely shrimp. When Shen Zhui saw her coming from the balcony with her ears red, he stuffed a few pieces of dark chocolate into her bag and insisted on taking her to work and picking her up after get off work.

Cheng Guo has been extremely busy lately. She received revision comments for one of her SCI papers. She works during the day and then buries herself in her desk after get off work. Three days later, Shen Zhui had his opinion and moved her computer and books directly to the living room after dinner. When she was busy, he would take a notebook and sit next to her.

The difference is that he can no longer see the back of her head.

The scratching sound of the pen tip rubbing against the paper was incessant, like natural white noise. Cheng Guo moved her aching neck, and immediately a large hand came over and gently massaged the back of her neck.

The calluses on Shen Zhui's fingers were still there, and the rough fingertips tingled as they pinched her neck. Cheng Guo's shoulders straightened, and she glanced at him. Shen Zhui was sitting with his back against the sofa, one leg crossed and the other propped up, a notebook on his knee. He was looking down, his left hand still pinching the back of her neck, and the pencil twirled around his right fingertip as he continued to write and draw.

It must be the design of the storyboard.

Just as Cheng Guo was about to look away, she heard him speak: "Why are you peeking at your deskmate?"

Cheng Guo hadn't heard the term "deskmate" in a long time. She laughed. Her thesis was already revised, so she simply leaned back on the sofa like him. "How would you know I was watching you if you weren't peeking at me?"

Shen Zhui withdrew his left hand and turned his head to look at her. "I've been secretly watching you."

Seeing that she had finished her work, he threw the paper and pen on the carpet, moved closer to her, and pressed his soft lips against hers.

These past few days, kissing has become a daily routine—before bed, after waking up, before leaving the house, and after returning home. It seems like Shen Zhui can't get enough of kissing Cheng Guo, whose lips are often numb.

This time, after only a few kisses, Qi Yun called. Chen Zhui, sitting next to Cheng Guo, answered the call and discussed his schedule for recording a variety show and making a cameo appearance in a movie.

Cheng Guo licked her lips, listening absentmindedly as he and Qi Yun confirmed the departure time for tomorrow, and then picked up her phone.

A series of messages appeared in the group chat. Shu Shu sent a link to the group, asking her to vote for the group she was currently following. Cheng Guo didn't scroll down but clicked on the link directly. The group had many members, so she could see the photos at a glance. After she finished voting, she was about to go back when a hand reached out from the side.

Shen Zhui had just finished his call and put down his phone when he looked at her. "You voted for them?"

Cheng Guo glanced at his tense face, then looked at her phone, and saw Chen Zhui's photo in first place.

That's awkward.

Cheng Guo bit her tongue, smiled and praised him, "You are more charming than them, many people like you."

Shen Zhui snorted coldly, put his arm on his raised knee, and half-pulled her into his arms, clearly indicating that this matter was not over yet.

Cheng Guo blinked, looking exasperated. "I'll vote for you."

"You can only submit your application once a day."

"I'll submit it for you tomorrow."

"You voted for someone else today."

"Didn't I not see you?"

"Yeah, I didn't see a boyfriend who's so big, but I saw a bunch of kids."

"Oh, I'm going to their concert tomorrow night," Shen Zhui added sourly.

Cheng Guo was both amused and exasperated. Seeing his expression as if he wanted to coax her, she negotiated with him, "I'll campaign for you."

Seeing that he raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything more, Cheng Guo returned to WeChat and scrolled down to see that Shu Shu had told her to submit the message secretly and not let Shen Zhui see it.

This is hindsight.

Ruan Ning had already cast her vote. Cheng Guo thought for a moment, then forwarded the link to Xu Qingnian. Xu Qingnian immediately replied with a question mark and asked, "[Vote for your boyfriend?]"

Beside her, Shen Zhui raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. Cheng Guo didn't need to look to know his smugness. She smiled and typed: "[Okay, thank you]"

"Send another message to Jiang Heng," Shen Zhui said.

Cheng Guo glanced at him and did as he was told.

"You didn't delete Yuanman's WeChat, did you?" he asked.

"That's enough," Cheng Guo said with a smile as she put away her phone. "Are you worried he won't know you're the one who beat him up?"

"Let me think about it," Shen Zhui leaned back on the sofa, turning his head to look at her. "What was the name of your first blind date, Chen something?"

Shut up!

Cheng Guo laughed and threw the cushion at his face. She got up and was about to leave when Shen Zhui, who easily brushed the cushion aside, grabbed her waist. Both of them moved quickly and didn't care much. When he hugged her, he first felt that her waist was slender and that he could easily wrap his arm around it. Then he noticed the faint fragrance and softness at the tip of his nose, as well as the fair skin with its curves under his eyes.

Cheng Guo's breathing became slightly disordered due to this unexpected situation. She raised her arms for a while before remembering to push away the big boy who was buried in her chest and wouldn't move.

These past few days, Shen Zhui has been very well-behaved. He doesn't dare to go too deep when kissing, and always stops short. He still wants to hold her while sleeping, but he doesn't allow her to wear a sundress. She also often hears the sound of water in the middle of the night.

The romance between the two is even more innocent than a novel on Jinjiang Literature City, with absolutely no subplot below the neck.

But everyone knows that the longer you suppress your feelings, the more violently they will erupt.

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Author's Note: Here it comes!

The author, kneeling on the keyboard, says [facepalm and crying emoji][facepalm and crying emoji]

Updates have been a bit slow lately, but don't worry, I definitely won't abandon this project! It will be completed this month!

To keep myself in check, see you in the next chapter tomorrow! [kiss][kiss]