Two people and a cat
The room was silent, the only sounds were the mingling breaths of the two of them, and the warmth of the sun dancing on their eyelids. Lin Xiyan was tightly embraced by Jiang Yibai, her cheek pressed against his warm chest. She could clearly hear the steady, strong heartbeat. Beat after beat, like a reassuring rhythm.
Jiang Yibai seemed to be truly asleep. His breathing became long and even, and the arm around his waist relaxed, but still held tightly, an unconscious, possessive gesture.
Lin Xiyan lay motionless, afraid that the slightest movement would wake him. He knew how sleep-deprived Jiang Yibai had been recently, and the faint blue tint in his eyes couldn't be deceiving. It was rare to be able to sleep so defenselessly like this.
He quietly raised his eyes, looking over Jiang Yibai's shoulder and out the window. It was already completely bright, a rare sunny day. The sun poured in unimpeded, illuminating the room so brightly that even the tiny dust particles floating in the air could be seen clearly.
At this moment when it was so quiet that time seemed to have stopped, there was a very slight "click" sound from the door, and it was pushed open a crack by something.
A small, furry, orange-white head poked in. Bai Yan tilted his head, his large amber eyes rolling around. He first glanced at the two people hugging each other on the bed, then walked in with elegant and silent steps.
It walked to the bedside, hopped up lightly, and began to find a place between the two of them, stepping on the soft quilt. It first rubbed its head against Jiang Yibai's arm, which was draped around Lin Xiyan's waist, but found that he didn't react. Then it turned around and touched Lin Xiyan's chin with its wet nose, making a small "meow" sound, as if complaining that the two bipeds were occupying its territory.
Lin Xiyan looked at it trying to squeeze in and felt like laughing, but he was afraid of waking Jiang Yibai. He moved very slightly, trying to make some room for Baiyan.
But as soon as he moved, Jiang Yibai subconsciously tightened his arms in his sleep, grunted in dissatisfaction, hugged him tighter, and rubbed his cheek against his hair, as if to confirm his presence.
Bai Yan recoiled at the sudden movement, swishing his tail in dissatisfaction. Unwilling to give up, he tried again, this time choosing to squeeze in through the gap between Lin Xiyan's chest and Jiang Yibai's arm.
The furry body rubbed against his skin, bringing a subtle itch. Lin Xiyan couldn't help but shrink his neck, but there was nowhere to escape. He looked down at Bai Yan's persistent expression and sighed helplessly.
It seems that this cat is determined to join today.
He hesitated for a moment, then stretched out his relatively free hand, gently and tentatively placed it on the back of Bai Yan's neck and scratched it.
Bai Yan immediately made a satisfied "gurgling" sound and rubbed his hand more diligently.
Lin Xiyan's heart softened. Carefully and slowly, he nudged Bai Yan closer to him. Following the force of his arm, the kitten finally found a relatively comfortable position—lying sideways between Lin Xiyan's chest and Jiang Yibai's arm, its head resting right under Lin Xiyan's chin.
A very... crowded, yet strangely harmonious location.
Bai Yan curled up contentedly, purring even louder, the tip of his tail swaying gently in contentment.
Lin Xiyan was completely terrified. A warm, heavy cat lay on his chest, and an even heavier, tighter arm wrapped around his waist. He was completely wrapped up, as if trapped in some warm, soft cocoon.
The air she breathed was filled with the clean scent of Jiang Yibai and the smell of sunshine, mixed with the faint, warm scent of Bai Yan's fur.
He lowered his head slightly, his chin touching the top of Bai Yan's furry head. The kitten's ears trembled slightly on his skin, making it itchy.
The sun shone warmly, and time seemed to stretch out, becoming thick and slow. Endless exercises, endless books to memorize, the countdown drawing closer... all those suffocating pressures were, at this moment, strangely isolated from the warmth of the bed.
Lin Xiyan closed her eyes, feeling the rise and fall of the cat's breathing against her chest, and the steady heartbeat of Jiang Yibai behind her. The two different rhythms intertwined wonderfully, forming a soothing symphony.
He suddenly remembered that long ago, in that cold, shabby rented house, he often woke up from the cold on winter nights, hugged his knees, and listened to the whistling wind outside the window until dawn. At that time, he never thought that one day he would be like this, surrounded by so much warmth, so much that it was almost overflowing.
Even if it's only temporary and stolen.
He also felt that... he could hold on for a very long time.
After an unknown amount of time, he felt the weight on his chest shift. Bai Yan seemed to have gotten enough sleep. He stretched, his paw unconsciously tapping on his pajamas, and then he lightly jumped out of bed, probably to get some water.
His arms felt empty, and a chill invaded him. Lin Xiyan subconsciously shrank towards the source of heat behind him.
Almost at the same time, Jiang Yibai's arms tightened a little, as if instinctively wanting to retain that warmth. His breathing rhythm changed, and then he hummed very softly, as if he was about to wake up.
Lin Xiyan immediately held his breath, closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
He felt Jiang Yibai move, his head rubbing against his head, and then he let out a sleepy, contented sigh. The hand around his waist didn't loosen, but instead touched it again as if to confirm.
"What time is it..." Jiang Yibai's voice was unclear and hoarse from just waking up, and his hot breath sprayed behind Lin Xiyan's ears.
Lin Xiyan didn't dare to say anything and continued to pretend to be asleep.
Jiang Yibai waited for a while, but received no response, and seemed to drift off again. But this time he wasn't completely asleep, his arms still loosely wrapped around her, his fingers unconsciously twisting a strand of Lin Xiyan's hair and playing with it.
The sun was growing warmer, and the room was so quiet that one could faintly hear the sound of traffic coming from the distant street.
Lin Xiyan maintained a stiff posture, but his heart felt like it was being soaked in warm water, gradually relaxing. He could even feel the subtle, heart-pounding touch of Jiang Yibai's fingertips entwined in his hair.
Just when he thought Jiang Yibai had fallen asleep again, he heard someone behind him mutter in a very low voice, with a hint of laziness and nasal sound, like someone who had just woken up:
"It seems... I dreamed of a cat... It was so suffocating..."
Lin Xiyan: “…”
He tried hard not to laugh out loud, and his shoulders shook slightly.
Jiang Yibai was completely awake now. He felt the movement of the person in his arms, lowered his head, and rested his chin on the top of Lin Xiyan's head. His voice became clearer, with a hint of smile: "Pretending to sleep?"
Lin Xiyan couldn't pretend anymore, so she slowly turned around and faced him. When she raised her eyes, she ran into Jiang Yibai's purple eyes, which were hazy with sleep, but clearly reflected his shadow.
The distance was so close that I could hear my breathing.
Lin Xiyan's face turned red instantly, and her eyes were evasive, not knowing where to look.
"Bai Yan just came." He whispered, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, I feel it." Jiang Yibai responded lazily, his fingers sliding from Lin Xiyan's hair to his cheek, touching it very lightly, "That boy, he just knows how to get into your arms."
His fingertips were warm from just waking up, and when they touched my skin, it felt like a tiny electric current.
Lin Xiyan shrank his neck but didn't dodge.
Jiang Yibai looked at his red ears and twinkling eyes, and felt itchy inside. He moved closer, his forehead almost touching Lin Xiyan's, and asked in a low voice: "Did I wake you?"
Lin Xiyan shook his head.
"Then... lie down for a while?" Jiang Yibai's voice was coaxing, "It's the weekend anyway."
His eyes were too focused and the distance was too close. Lin Xiyan felt her heart beating unreasonably fast and her mind was blank. She could only follow his meaning and nodded slightly.
Jiang Yibai smiled with satisfaction, and hugged him again, adjusting to a more comfortable position. This time, he did not fall asleep again, but just held him quietly, his fingers occasionally and gently patting Lin Xiyan's back.
It's like a silent comfort and companionship.
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, enveloping the two people hugging each other in a golden halo.
Outside the window is a busy world, inside the window is the stolen tranquility and warmth.
Lin Xiyan buried her face in Jiang Yibai's shoulder and closed her eyes.
Suddenly I feel that senior year of high school... isn't that hard to endure.
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