Chapter 36
The warm air and humming sound of the hairdryer filled the small, quiet bathroom. Chen Yan ran his fingers through Lin Qi's soft hair, moving gently to ensure every strand was thoroughly dried.
Finally, he turned off the hair dryer and felt her hair with his hands. It was completely dry and fluffy.
"Okay." He put down the hair dryer and used a comb to help her comb her hair neatly.
He raised his eyes and met her clear gaze in the mirror. He paused for a moment when he heard her question, and then a very faint, knowing smile appeared on his lips. He turned around and faced her.
"Waiting for you." He answered her first question first, his voice was very soft and direct, "I can't rest assured until you are settled."
Then, he looked at her and answered her second and most crucial question naturally.
"The sofa in the study is too hard and uncomfortable to sleep on."
He looked into her eyes and said slowly in a normal, matter-of-fact tone, "Of course, I sleep here too."
He saw her eyes slightly widen because of these words, and saw her look a little bewildered for a moment, so he immediately added in a lower, softer tone, as if he was comforting a frightened kitten.
"You've been tired all day, don't think about anything."
He reached out his hand, but without touching her, he restrainedly helped her push aside a strand of hair that hung on her forehead.
"I'll sleep next to you and keep you company. I won't disturb your rest." He looked into her eyes, as if seeking her consent, "...Okay?"
Before she could nod or shake her head, he had already naturally taken her hand and led her back to the bed.
"Okay, lie down quickly." He pushed her to sit on the edge of the bed, then helped her pull open the quilt, "Close your eyes and go to sleep."
He tucked in the corners of the quilt for her, as if he was taking care of a child.
"I'll just go rinse off and be right back."
After saying that, he didn't look at her again. He just turned around and turned off the glaring lights in the room, leaving only the dim bedside lamp. Then he closed the door and walked out, leaving her a moment of quiet space where she could adapt herself.
Chen Yan walked into the guest bathroom and turned on the shower.
The warm water washed over him, and his nerves, tense for days, finally relaxed completely. The sound of the water blocked out everything outside, giving him a brief moment of solitude to sort out his thoughts.
He leaned against the cool tiles, closed his eyes, and couldn't help laughing.
A few hours ago, he was in the basement, waiting to pick up his girlfriend, exhausted from working overtime. And now, his legitimate girlfriend was lying in his bed. The faint scent of her shampoo lingered in his bathroom. In his kitchen refrigerator, the unfinished braised beef stew they'd made together last time sat. And next to the shoe cabinet in the entranceway sat a pair of small, unassuming women's slippers that didn't belong to him.
This quiet and somewhat deserted house where he had lived alone for many years, seemed to be silently filled with her breath and traces in every corner tonight.
This feeling... is very strange.
But, very good.
He showered as quickly as possible, changed into his pajamas, and quietly opened the door to the master bedroom.
The room was dark, with only the lamp by the bed still on.
Lin Qi was already asleep, lying on her side, facing the side he was about to lie on, her breathing even and long. Perhaps because she had finally let go of all her defenses, her sleeping face was peaceful, like a child.
He stood by the bed for a long time, just looking at her quietly, and somewhere in his heart, he felt completely soft.
Then, very carefully, he lifted the quilt from the other side and lay down. He tried to make his movements as light as possible, for fear of disturbing her sleep.
He lay flat on his back, his hands folded on his abdomen, and could clearly feel the warmth and breathing of another person beside him. He turned his head and saw her peaceful profile in the dim light.
He didn't move or speak again.
He just felt that in the past ten years, there had never been a night like this one that made him feel... so at peace.
He reached out and gently turned on the bedside lamp.
The room was completely plunged into warm and peaceful darkness.
Good night, Linqi.
His, Lin Qi.
The biological clock is always more accurate than the set alarm clock.
It was just dawn, and the morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft band of light in the room. Chen Yan opened his eyes on time.
Didn't get up immediately.
He just turned his head and looked quietly at Lin Qi who was still sleeping beside him in the dim morning light.
This was the first time he had ever seen a face that didn't belong to him, a face that was fresh and alive, sleeping in bed early in the morning. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from sleep, her breathing was even and long, a few strands of unruly hair stuck to her face. She had shed all her usual intelligence and strength, appearing exceptionally soft and defenseless.
His heart seemed to be hit lightly by something.
He felt that all his solitary, calm and composed mornings over the past thirty-five years had been just a preparation for this moment.
He sat up from the bed very carefully and slowly, then very gently lifted the quilt and got out of bed, fearing that the slightest movement would disturb her.
After helping her tuck in the corner of the quilt that had slipped off, he walked out of the bedroom barefoot and quietly.
Instead of washing up, he went straight into the kitchen.
He took out the leftover rice from last night's refrigerator, rinsed it, and put it in a casserole. He added enough water, turned on low heat, and simmered it slowly. He also took out two preserved eggs and a few green onions from the cupboard.
He thought that when she woke up, she should be able to drink a bowl of steaming, stomach-warming century egg and lean meat porridge.
When the aroma of porridge began to spread throughout the room, he estimated that it was about time, so he poured a glass of warm water and walked back to the bedroom.
He pushed open the door and found that she was awake as expected. She was leaning against the headboard, still a little dazed, looking out the window.
She turned around when she heard the door open.
When their eyes met, she was a little dazed, as if she had not yet fully adapted to this unfamiliar environment.
Chen Yan smiled, walked to the bedside, and handed her the cup of warm water in his hand.
"Awake?" His voice sounded particularly clear in the quiet room in the early morning.
"Did you sleep well?"
He watched her take the cup of water, then naturally reached out and touched her forehead to make sure she didn't catch a cold because her hair wasn't dry last night.
"I made some porridge." He took his hand back and said gently, "Don't worry, you can drink it when you come out after you wash up."
Lin Qi finished drinking the water, handed the cup back to him, and asked softly, "Did you sleep well?"
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