25
"If you're not going to sleep, what do you want to do?" Ji Shengsheng lay back down, finding a comfortable position.
Xu Yu could feel Ji Shengsheng's breathing, on her neck, on her shoulders, and on her chest. She was always subtly shifting.
The head is not behaving properly.
The hair is unruly.
The arms are also very unruly.
"I'd like to hear about what happened during your time studying abroad," Xu Yu sighed softly.
He has always been very good at being patient.
“When I was studying abroad…” Ji Shengsheng, “that’s a long story.”
She chose to study in this country because of its richer artistic atmosphere and relatively cheaper tuition fees.
"...I also have classmates who went to other countries. Although it was more expensive, they finished their studies quickly and returned home." Speaking of this, Ji Shengsheng felt regretful. "You didn't even ask me why it took me three years to come back..."
"Um?"
“...I studied the language for ten months.” She didn’t really want to bring it up, but the conversation had gotten to this point. “I really studied very hard, thinking that once I reached the standard, I could pass the later studies smoothly, but I found that I still couldn’t understand anything.”
"I hardly went anywhere for the first two years."
Besides completing her academic tasks, she also took on commercial writing assignments every day. Her life was very fulfilling, and she was almost numb with exhaustion.
“Graduation was fraught with difficulties, and I almost had to extend my studies,” Ji Shengsheng recalled. “I was devastated at the time. The thought of not being able to go home for almost four years made me feel like giving up, so I simply went on a trip to several countries.”
"Later, when I ran out of money, I had a change of heart. I went back to focusing on painting."
Perhaps she felt much more relaxed, or perhaps the accumulation of her previous efforts had led to a qualitative leap. That year, she published two fan art books, which received very positive feedback. She accumulated some savings and gained some supporters.
"You're amazing. You can do so many things so well."
"……Thanks."
In recent years, she has occasionally seen and heard discussions about her illustrations and fan art collections. Most people think that she has no talent but is prolific and hardworking.
She herself thought so too.
Diligence can make up for lack of talent. Just like her relationship with Xu Yu.
As they were talking, Ji Shengsheng's phone vibrated dozens of times.
Ji Shengsheng quickly turned on the bedside lamp.
She thought Xing Xing had run into some trouble again.
Xu Yu did not follow her movements to look at her phone screen.
The result was Zhu Xiaodan.
That evening, she told Zhu Xiaodan about having dinner with Xu Yu the next day. It was around the time of shift change, and Zhu Xiaodan didn't have time to check her phone.
After finishing her night shift, Zhu Xiaodan sent a series of shocked emojis and messages.
Zhu Xiaodan was still quite nervous about having dinner with Xu Yu.
Firstly, because she had said too many bad things about Xu Yu; secondly, the image of Xu Yu conveyed by Ji Shengsheng was too aloof, and Zhu Xiaodan hated awkward silences more than anything. Thirdly…
...She's a fan of the Ji Shengsheng and Xing Xing couple, and now she's having dinner with their rival?
After replying to Zhu Xiaodan's message, Ji Shengsheng leaned back onto Xu Yu.
The bedside lamp shone brightly on Xu Yu's face. His eyelashes were thick and long, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were moist and full.
"There's something I want to tell you..."
"Um?"
“Before, I misunderstood your relationship with Shao Yun and said some bad things about you to my friends…” Ji Shengsheng leaned over and kissed Xu Yu’s lips. “If they are not so friendly to you, it is because of what happened before. I will find an opportunity to explain things to them slowly later.”
"It's okay." Xu Yu gently patted Ji Shengsheng's back. He didn't mind.
"Really?" Ji Shengsheng looked up. "Then kiss me."
Xu Yu sat up and, mimicking what she had just done, kissed the corner of her mouth.
Ji Shengsheng said contentedly, "I'm so sleepy..."
In Xu Yu's perception, it seemed that Ji Shengsheng had fallen asleep before even finishing those three words.
She lay quietly beside him.
Since Ji Shengsheng returned, those events have flashed through his mind one after another.
Their current situation and the speed of their development would likely surprise anyone who knew.
He didn't know what Ji Shengsheng thought or how he viewed things; he was the one being controlled and having his decisions made.
He would grant Ji Shengsheng's every wish.
Having not slept all night, Ji Shengsheng opened her eyes, and Xu Yu's gaze immediately followed her.
They ate dinner with Zhu Xiaodan in the evening, leaving them with a whole day to waste together.
Ji Shengsheng tossed and turned all night. Although Xu Yu pulled her close several times, when she woke up in the morning, Ji Shengsheng was still wrapped in a blanket and huddled on the edge of the bed.
Xu Yu saw her hug the blanket and snuggle up to him, hugging his arm again, and then she suddenly sat up.
Xu Yu closed his eyes and felt a warmth on his cheek, then on the tip of his nose, the corner of his mouth...
Xu Yu grabbed Ji Shengsheng's wrist.
His patience is limited, and he cannot withstand repeated teasing.
"You're awake!" Ji Shengsheng jumped out of bed almost immediately. "...Then I'll go, I'll go cook something to eat."
Watching her hurriedly go to wash up and then flee into the kitchen as if escaping a disaster, Xu Yu shook his head helplessly.
The toiletries that Ji Shengsheng prepared for him were all very cute. He had noticed them yesterday, but he was too busy in the evening to take a closer look.
Apart from the men's items that Ji Shengsheng had prepared for him, there were no other men's belongings in the restroom.
After washing up, I went into the kitchen.
The bottle of protein powder and the health supplements for strengthening the body also disappeared.
Xu Yu stood behind Ji Shengsheng: "I'll do it."
"...Are you hungry?" Ji Shengsheng looked up at Xu Yu.
"I'm fine, how about you?" Xu Yu lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then reached out to hug her from behind.
There were a few moments when he felt he truly possessed it.
“I’m not hungry either. I just wanted to show you that my sleep schedule is very healthy…” Ji Shengsheng couldn’t help but yawn. “Actually, I’m so sleepy. I usually stay in bed until the afternoon at times like this.”
"Then let's go back to bed and stay in bed."
He has a stable routine and likes a consistent, regular life, but that's not something he can't change.
Nothing is unchangeable.
"Wait a minute, I have something to give you."
Xu Yu felt his arms go empty. His gaze followed Ji Shengsheng to the locker. He watched her squatting in front of the locker, rummaging through it. After a while, she pulled out a small notebook and ran excitedly to him.
"What is it?" He reached out to take it, but Ji Shengsheng blushed and refused.
"I want to stay in bed while I show you this~"
Xu Yu tilted her head and looked at Ji Shengsheng: "Are you shy?"
“…just a little bit.” After being pointed out, Ji Shengsheng quickly hugged Xu Yu to prevent him from seeing her face.
Xu Yu raised his hand and patted her back, then easily picked her up and carried her in his arms.
Feeling her feet leave the ground, Ji Shengsheng quickly hugged Xu Yu's neck tightly.
Only when she reached the bedside did Ji Shengsheng dare to look at the other person.
"Xu Yu".
"Um?"
Ji Shengsheng raised her hands and cupped Xu Yu's face: "I like you, do you like me?"
If, if Xu Yu said he liked her, then she would kiss him. That's what Ji Shengsheng thought.
The wait was short because she avoided it.
After Xu Yu didn't answer her immediately, Ji Shengsheng quickly changed the subject: "Let me down first?"
They had never been in the same room together during the day; they were still lying together.
Xu Yu watched as Ji Shengsheng opened the small notebook.
"When I first went there, I missed you every day. So I started drawing."
"This is the first time I saw you; you were playing the piano."
"What a calm and composed boy, what beautiful hands..." Ji Shengsheng recalled while looking at Xu Yu, "I think I liked you the first time I saw you."
Is this your first time seeing this?
Xu Yu recalled Ji Shengsheng from that time. Her intense gaze compelled him to notice the girl.
In the choir, despite her amazing singing ability, many people surrounded her, perhaps due to her personality or her appearance.
With a poor sense of rhythm and a tendency to sing off-key, all these factors combined meant that he needed to give Ji Shengsheng individual "tutoring."
This wasn't part of his job, but his teacher asked him to help. When he saw that Ji Shengsheng was among those he was supposed to help, he agreed.
Then, he convinced himself to keep his distance.
Ji Shengsheng's affection was very open and uninhibited; she paid attention to everything about him and wanted to do anything for him.
Innocence and dedication are perfectly combined in this girl.
Then, he convinced himself to withdraw as soon as possible.
Then, all persuasion ceased to work. He stopped trying to persuade.
“This was the first time you saw me off at the gate of the Academy of Fine Arts,” Ji Shengsheng turned to the second page, “After you turned and left, I watched you for a long time.”
"When is this?" Xu Yu asked, pointing to the third painting.
Ji Shengsheng quickly flipped to the page: "..."
It was after a choir performance that Xu Yu fell asleep leaning against the back of a chair in the lecture hall. She secretly took a picture and drew it.
"The collarbone doesn't look right."
Ji Shengsheng: "...?"
Of course, the collarbone doesn't look like it... She had never seen Xu Yu's complete collarbone in person.
She only saw a small part of it, and filled in the rest with her imagination.
"You can watch it now."
Ji Shengsheng turned her head away: "...How can I see you when you're dressed?"
Moreover, the sun was high in the sky, and she dared not look at it.
Then, Ji Shengsheng watched as Xu Yu took her hand and unbuttoned a few buttons on his collar.
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
When Ji Shengsheng saw Xu Yu's collarbone, his hands trembled slightly.
"...No, stop untying it." Ji Shengsheng quickly withdrew her hand.
"Have you decided?"
“…Watch closely.”
Have you seen enough?
“…I haven’t seen enough.” Ji Shengsheng quickly shook her head. “No, no…let’s stop here for today.”
She wasn't ready.
Ji Shengsheng fell asleep after reading the seventh or eighth page, leaving Xu Yu alone to look at this belated gift.
There were many moments he had forgotten, which Ji Shengsheng helped him record.
On the last few pages of the notebook—different handwriting, different colors, with notes indicating that these were written by Ji Shengsheng's classmates from different countries.
She taught her new friend to write Chinese, and all he wrote was his name.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
