Good morning kiss

On a winter morning, the light comes late. It's only a little past six, and outside the window, it's still a deep, dark blue, with only a faint glimmer of pale white on the horizon. Inside, the heating is strong and the air is warm and cozy, creating a world apart from the fine frost that has formed on the glass.

Qi Shuo's biological clock is so precise it's as if it's etched into his bones; no matter how late he goes to bed, he will always wake up automatically at this time.

The moment his consciousness returned, the first thing he felt was the warm, soft body in his arms and the even, shallow breaths that gently brushed against his neck with a reassuring rhythm.

He slowly opened his eyes, not moving immediately, but turning his head slightly to quietly look at the person beside him, using the faint light of the city lights that were still shining through the gap in the curtains.

Tan Huaiyu was still fast asleep. He lay on his side, his face turned toward Qi Shuo, most of his face buried in the fluffy, soft feather pillow, only his smooth forehead, tightly closed eyebrows and eyes, and a small section of his straight nose were visible.

Thick, long eyelashes cast two small fan-shaped shadows under the eyelids, trembling very slightly with each breath, like the wings of a perched butterfly.

His lips parted slightly, their color a healthy pale pink, characteristic of sleep, and moved gently with each breath.

Qi Shuo's gaze greedily traced his lover's sleeping face inch by inch. From the relaxed brows to the closed eyeliner, from the straight nose to the slightly parted lips, then to the beautifully shaped jawline, and the small section of fair neck hidden under the covers.

When Tan Huaiyu is asleep, there is a kind of unguarded, almost childlike purity.

The cool sharpness and strategic shrewdness he displayed as a lawyer during the day had all faded away, leaving only his most genuine softness and tranquility.

This softened even the hardest part of Qi Shuo's heart.

He watched intently, even breathing very softly, as if afraid of disturbing this tranquil beauty.

The occasional, extremely faint sound of an early morning bus passing by outside the window only served to accentuate the tranquility inside.

Amber was probably in the cat bed in the living room, and there was no sound. The whole world seemed to consist only of the two of them and this warm little world under the covers.

As he looked, Qi Shuo's gaze involuntarily fell on Tan Huaiyu's lips. Those two pale pink lips looked especially soft in her sleep.

He remembered how those lips had uttered soft, sweet murmurs before he fell asleep last night, and how they had become red, swollen, and moist with each of his repeated requests…

His throat felt involuntarily dry. Qi Shuo swallowed softly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

As if drawn by invisible threads, he slowly, very slowly, lowered his head. He stopped just inches away from those lips.

He held his breath, tracing the beautiful shape of those lips with his eyes, a gesture of deep appreciation. Then, he tilted his head slightly and gently pressed his lips to Tan Huaiyu's forehead.

It was a kiss devoid of any lust, pure and tender. Like a feather brushing against each other, it touched and then parted.

Tan Huaiyu seemed to sense something in her sleep. She unconsciously smacked her lips, rubbed her head against the pillow, and made a muffled nasal sound. Her long eyelashes trembled, but she did not wake up. Instead, she buried herself deeper into Qi Shuo's neck, found a more comfortable position, and her breathing became long and steady again.

Qi Shuo's lips involuntarily curved upwards. The softest part of his heart seemed to be filled with something, swelling and warming him.

He maintained this posture and watched quietly for a while, until the sky outside the window brightened a little more, before carefully and slowly pulling his arm out from under Tan Huaiyu's neck.

The movement was extremely subtle, but Tan Huaiyu still felt it. His brows furrowed slightly, as if he was unhappy about the heat source leaving. He mumbled something indistinctly and his arm instinctively reached out to his side.

Qi Shuo quickly stuffed his own pillow into Tan Huaiyu's arms. Tan Huaiyu hugged the pillow that carried Qi Shuo's scent, his brows relaxed, he rubbed his face against the pillow, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Qi Shuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. As if he had completed a difficult task, he carefully lifted a corner of the quilt, quickly got out of bed, and carefully tucked the quilt back in to make sure that not a single cold breeze would get in.

Although the room temperature is not low in winter, you can still feel a chill when you get out of bed.

He quickly put on his pajamas, then glanced back at the person on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, hugging a pillow, sleeping soundly, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Quietly closing the door, Qi Shuo began his morning routine. He first went to check on Amber in the cat bed in the living room; the little guy was sleeping sprawled out, his fluffy belly exposed.

Qi Shuo added food and water to its food supply and then gently patted its little head. He then went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

He puts extra care into preparing breakfasts for winter. A pot of soft, sticky millet porridge simmers, its warm bubbles rising gently.

I'm steaming the custard buns and shumai I bought yesterday in the steamer. In the frying pan, golden fried eggs and sizzling bacon are emitting an enticing aroma.

He even cut some fruit and mixed it with yogurt. The aroma of the food gradually filled the air, dispelling the last chill of the morning and enveloping the whole house in a comforting and warm atmosphere.

Everything was ready, and the porridge was cooked just right. Qi Shuo checked the time; it was almost eight o'clock. It was time to wake up that lazybones who loved to stay in bed, or he'd be late for work.

He took off his apron, washed his hands, soaked a soft towel in warm water, wrung it out until it was half dry, and then went to the bedroom.

Pushing open the door, the room was still dimly lit, the curtains drawn, with only light filtering through the crack in the door, outlining the bulge on the bed. Tan Huaiyu was still in the same position, hugging his pillow, fast asleep, half his face buried in the pillow, breathing heavily.

Qi Shuo walked over quietly and sat down by the bed. He didn't call for help immediately, but instead watched quietly for a few more seconds.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow on his face. His sleeping expression was so serene and beautiful that it was breathtaking.

"Huaiyu," Qi Shuo reached out and gently patted the bulge under the covers, his voice carrying the gentleness unique to the morning, "It's time to get up."

The person under the covers stirred, letting out a dissatisfied groan, burying their face deeper into the pillow, and muttering indistinctly, "...um...five more minutes..."

Typical lines from someone who loves to stay in bed. Qi Shuo chuckled and gently wiped Tan Huaiyu's exposed cheeks and neck with a warm towel. "No, the porridge will get cold. Be good, get up and eat something before going back to sleep, okay?"

The warm towel felt very comfortable, and Tan Huaiyu subconsciously rubbed it against him. He opened his eyes a crack, his amber eyes still covered with a thick layer of sleepiness, looking at Qi Shuo with a hazy, confused look, like a lazy, sleepy big cat.

This unguarded, dependent, and dazed look instantly struck Qi Shuo's heart, making him completely melt. He couldn't help but lean down and kiss him on the forehead again, his voice even softer: "Get up, my great lawyer."

Tan Huaiyu seemed to be soothed by the kiss, or perhaps convinced by the fact that "the porridge is getting cold," and finally reluctantly and slowly opened his eyes.

He released the pillow from his arms, and naturally stretched out his arms towards Qi Shuo, his voice thick with a nasal tone and a hint of coquetry: "...Cold...hug..."

Qi Shuo's heart melted. He bent down, preparing to scoop the person out of bed as usual—

In the blink of an eye, just as he leaned closer, a sly smile flashed across Tan Huaiyu's eyes, which had been half-asleep. He stretched out his arm with lightning speed, not waiting to be hugged, but precisely grabbing Qi Shuo's neck.

Then, before Qi Shuo could react, Tan Huaiyu exerted force in his waist and abdomen, and his arm suddenly pulled downwards. At the same time, the blanket wrapped around him was lifted up like a large net, covering the unsuspecting Qi Shuo and himself together.

"Why--"

Qi Shuo only had time to let out a short cry of surprise before he was pulled off balance by an irresistible force. In a dizzying moment, he fell into the soft, warm bed, or more accurately, into Tan Huaiyu's arms.

"Tan Huaiyu!" Qi Shuo was both annoyed and amused, and tried to get up. But Tan Huaiyu seemed to have planned it all along, using both hands and feet to wrap around him, like an octopus, locking him tightly in his arms, and even wrapping the two of them up tightly with the blanket.

"Shh—don't move." Tan Huaiyu buried her face in Qi Shuo's neck, greedily inhaling his clean, pleasant scent mixed with the faint warmth of the sun. Her voice was muffled, carrying a triumphant chuckle and a satisfied sigh, "It's cold outside...it's warm inside..."

Qi Shuo was held tightly in his arms, his warm body pressed against him, carrying the warm body temperature of someone who had just woken up, and the clean and refreshing scent that belonged only to Tan Huaiyu.

His pajamas, still slightly chilly from the outside, were quickly warmed by the warmth of the blankets and Tan Huaiyu's body temperature. His struggling movements ceased without him even realizing it.

Qi Shuo sighed helplessly, but his body honestly relaxed, and he wrapped his arms around Tan Huaiyu's waist, pulling him closer to him so that the two of them were pressed even closer together.

The bed was dark, warm, and enclosed, filled with each other's scent.

Tan Huaiyu's breath tickled and warmed his neck. Qi Shuo could feel the steady heartbeat in his chest, gradually synchronizing with his own.

"Did you steal a kiss from me just now?" Tan Huaiyu suddenly whispered in his ear, her warm breath entering his earlobe with a smile.

Qi Shuo's body stiffened, his ears burning slightly, but he refused to admit it: "No."

“Lying.” Tan Huaiyu chuckled and looked up. In the dim light of the bed, his eyes sparkled, as if they had fallen into stars. He leaned closer and gave Qi Shuo a quick, light peck on the lips, his voice slightly hoarse and tinged with amusement. “Tit for tat.”

The kiss was like a feather, gently brushing against Qi Shuo's heart.

Before Qi Shuo could respond, Tan Huaiyu's kiss landed again. This time, it wasn't just a fleeting touch. He kissed Qi Shuo's brow, his nose, his cheeks, and finally, returned to his lips, gently and tenderly sucking. His arms were tightly wrapped around Qi Shuo's neck, and his body pressed even closer, as if he wanted to give him all his warmth.

Qi Shuo closed his eyes, letting himself immerse himself in this warm, lingering, and endlessly affectionate good morning kiss.

He responded, their tongues entwining, exchanging breaths. The temperature inside the blankets seemed to rise a few degrees because of this kiss.

When the kiss ended, both of them were a little breathless. Tan Huaiyu pressed her forehead against Qi Shuo's, looking at him at very close range. Her amber eyes reflected Qi Shuo's features and were filled with undisguised love and satisfaction.

"Brother Qi Shuo." He called his name, his voice soft and sweet.

"Mmm." Qi Shuo responded, his thumb gently stroking the smooth skin on the back of his neck.

"I love you," Tan Huaiyu said, her tone a statement, a confirmation, the simplest and most sincere love confession she wanted to say every morning when she woke up.

Qi Shuo's heart felt as if it were being soaked in warm honey, soft and sweet. He tightened his arms, pulling the man closer into his embrace, resting his chin on the top of his head, and taking a deep breath of his pleasant scent.

"I love you too," he whispered in response, his voice resonating through the vibrations of his chest and reaching Tan Huaiyu's heart.

Outside the window, the winter sun finally broke free from the clouds and shone brightly, casting dappled light and shadow on the quilt through the gaps in the curtains.