Chapter 44 Sleeping
The next morning, Yu Bai went downstairs to throw out the trash. When he opened the door, he saw Jiang Jizhou still outside. He was slumped against the wall, with empty beer cans scattered around him, looking disheveled.
Seeing Yu Bai come out, Jiang Jizhou stood up. His black coat was a little wrinkled, and he reeked of alcohol. His eyelids drooped, as if he hadn't slept all night. His face was flushed. He slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse from the alcohol, "Bai Bai."
Yu Bai didn't want to see Jiang Jizhou, so she turned to go inside, but he hugged her from behind. Yu Bai stiffened and tried to break free, but Jiang Jizhou was very careful, like a piece of glass about to shatter, fragile and vulnerable. "Bai Bai, let me hug you."
The arrogant, self-important prince who once possessed everything seemed to have vanished. Now, he was as humble as a stray dog abandoned by its owner, wagging his tail and begging for a trace of her warm and comforting aura.
Yu Bai did not move; her hands hung limply at her sides.
Jiang Jizhou hugged her even tighter, greedily savoring the warmth of her body.
How did they get to this point? Yu Bai felt a dull pain in his heart. Countless beautiful moments had led them to their doom.
After a moment, Yu Bai spoke, "That's enough."
Jiang Jizhou rested his chin on her shoulder, his breath still carrying the smell of alcohol. "Sleep with me for a while. I haven't slept all night, I'm so sleepy."
Yu Bai gritted his teeth, "Jiang Jizhou, don't push your luck."
Jiang Jizhou smiled, her eyes still sleepy, and asked casually, "Are you afraid your boyfriend will find out?"
Yu Bai was completely enraged by his words. She broke free from his embrace and warned him one last time, "Jiang Jizhou, can you stop sticking to me like a leech?"
Jiang Jizhou wasn't annoyed by what she said. He stared at her intently with his beautiful peach blossom eyes and said softly, "No."
Yu Bai replied, "Jiang Jizhou, don't you know that the best ex is like a dead person? Please stay away from me, I don't want to play along with your act anymore."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jizhou's eyes flickered slightly, then he smiled faintly, "Bai Bai, but I did not agree to your suggestion of breaking up."
Yu Bai raised his eyes and stared intently at Jiang Jizhou, his eyes gradually reddening. "Jiang Jizhou, have some shame."
After saying that, Yu Bai went into the house and was about to close the door, but Jiang Jizhou entered the house before her. He was even more shameless than she had thought. Yu Bai was furious and couldn't understand why Jiang Jizhou, who had been so cruel and heartless before, was now acting as if he was completely obsessed with her.
Jiang Jizhou entered the house. The house was small, but it was cozy. A vase of elegant flowers on the coffee table added a touch of charm.
Yu Bai crossed his arms and glared coldly at Jiang Jizhou from a few steps away.
Jiang Jizhou looked up; he was extremely sleepy and just wanted to hold Yu Bai and get a good night's sleep.
"Sleep with me for a while, then I'll leave."
Yu Bai sneered, "Jiang Jizhou, you are truly shameless."
Jiang Jizhou lowered his eyes, a pang of pain shooting through his heart, but a smile played on his lips. "Bai Bai, is that alright?"
Yu Bai remained expressionless. "What if I say no?"
"Do you want your boyfriend to see this?"
Yu Bai bit her lip, "You know perfectly well that I have a boyfriend, so why don't you leave?"
Jiang Jizhou smiled and said, "So what if I have it?"
"Bastard," Yu Bai cursed at him.
"Would you like to sleep with me for a while? I promise I won't show up in front of you until you go back to Nancheng." Jiang Jizhou's eyes were red, and his tone was pleading.
But Yu Bai just stared at him and said, "Impossible."
Jiang Jizhou walked towards Yu Bai, but Yu Bai retreated step by step, her voice somewhat flustered, "Jiang Jizhou, don't do this."
Jiang Jizhou's eyes showed a hint of hurt. "Bai Bai, do you think I would hurt you?"
Yu Bai stopped. "Then why don't you just disappear?"
Jiang Jizhou forced a smile, "Then you can sleep with me for a while and let me hug you."
Yu Bai leaned against the cold wall behind her, feeling physically and mentally exhausted from Jiang Jizhou's entanglement and torment. She said to Jiang Jizhou, "You can go back to Nancheng after you get some sleep."
Jiang Jizhou immediately wagged his tail like a dog that had been rewarded, a bright light flashing in his sleepy eyes.
Yu Bai led Jiang Jizhou into his room. This was the first time Jiang Jizhou had seen the room where Yu Bai lived when he was a child. The room was filled with a faint fragrance, pink wall stickers, books neatly arranged on the desk, and a bunch of cute dolls sitting on the bed. It was spotless.
Jiang Jizhou took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.
He was so sleepy that he lay down on the bed. Yu Bai was caught off guard when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her down onto the bed as well. She gasped in surprise, and the next second she was tightly embraced by Jiang Jizhou.
Because of Jiang Jizhou's presence, the small bed was completely occupied.
Yu Bai felt uncomfortable being held so tightly by him and wanted to break free, but she couldn't resist Jiang Jizhou's embrace. She protested, "Jiang Jizhou, you're pressing on my hair."
Jiang Jizhou smiled and said, "It smells delicious."
Yu Bai tried to struggle, but Jiang Jizhou wouldn't allow it. "Alright, Bai Bai, I'm so sleepy. Sleep with me."
He pinched Yu Bai's cheek, and only a moment after he finished speaking, Jiang Jizhou's steady breathing reached Yu Bai's ears. He was sleeping soundly, but Yu Bai was not sleepy at all. His familiar scent filled the surroundings, and Yu Bai could not escape it.
Jiang Jizhou was really sleepy. Since Yu Bai left, he hadn't had a good night's sleep for a long, long time. But now, in Yu Bai's arms, he was sleeping soundly and had no more nightmares because she was right beside him.
When I woke up, I heard Yu Bai talking on the phone.
Just as Jiang Jizhou was about to speak, Yu Bai covered his mouth, signaling him to be quiet for a while.
"No need, I can take a taxi myself," Yu Bai said to the person on the other end of the phone.
"It's okay, Bai Bai, I'm already downstairs at your place." Chi Qinghe smiled gently and patiently comforted Yu Bai, "It's alright, take your time packing, no rush."
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Yu Bai hung up the phone.
Jiang Jizhou rubbed against Yu Bai's neck, feeling aggrieved and ticklish.
Is he your boyfriend?
Yu Bai pushed him away, "We agreed, you've slept well, go back to Nancheng, don't bother me anymore."
Jiang Jizhou gave a bitter smile, then looked up at Yu Bai's face and asked, "Are you afraid he'll find out?"
Yu Bai frowned. "No, I just don't want you bothering me."
Jiang Jizhou smiled, feeling slightly happier, at least he wasn't being driven away because of that man.
"You should leave now." Yu Bai tried to get up, but Jiang Jizhou kept her locked in his arms.
Jiang Jizhou suddenly asked her, "Do you like him?"
She pressed her face very close to his, almost kissing his lips. Yu Bai had no choice but to meet his gaze. He was as quiet as the sea, yet one could vaguely sense the turbulent waves beneath the surface. Afraid that he would go crazy again, Yu Bai simply said, "We are a good match."
Jiang Jizhou's breath hitched. "So you want to marry him?"
Yu Bai also stared at Jiang Jizhou's face, the face she had once loved deeply. It hadn't changed much since she was young; his roguish handsome features and his gentle, affectionate peach blossom eyes were the most ruthless.
A young girl's heart is always poetic. Yu Bai once fantasized about marrying Jiang Jizhou in a sacred and solemn church. He would be dressed in a white suit, tall and handsome, gently lifting her veil and reverently kissing her lips. Rose petals would fall everywhere, the most common yet most beautiful romance.
Yu Bai's eyes were a little red. She lowered her eyes and avoided Jiang Jizhou's gaze.
"You should go now."
Jiang Jizhou's eyes reddened. "Answer me."
"I don't know," Yu Bai said with a helpless smile.
Her hesitation tore at Jiang Jizhou's heart.
If he turns around and gives up, then Yu Bai will walk away without looking back and marry another stranger. Jiang Jizhou can't help but go crazy just thinking about it.
Jiang Jizhou accepted that Yu Bai was no longer the Yu Bai who had devoted all her pure love to him in her youth, but to this day, she was still his only one.
He couldn't live without her, while she weighed the pros and cons among people other than him. She had long since moved on from that past, and he was no longer in her future.
Jiang Jizhou has never been unable to get anything he wanted since he was a child; the only thing he could choose was what he didn't want, and he was never chosen by anyone.
Now, in Yu Bai's heart, he's not even a backup option.
Even after realizing this fact, Jiang Jizhou still couldn't help but love her.
"You should go now, Jiang Jizhou." Yu Bai got up from the bed, told Jiang Jizhou to leave, and changed his clothes in the bedroom.
Jiang Jizhou stood outside the bedroom, his head still aching from the hangover. He walked to the coffee table and reached out to touch the flower petals. A faint fragrance lingered in his nose. He stared at the bouquet in a daze until Yu Bai pushed open the bedroom door and came out. He then looked at Yu Bai.
Yu Bai wore a white cotton long dress, a light purple sweater, and her side braid was gentle and charming.
It's as beautiful as the bouquet in the vase.
Jiang Jizhou stared at Yu Bai with a half-smile, "Did he send these flowers?"
Yu Bai's brows twitched. She frowned slightly, not answering his question, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Jiang Jizhou confirmed his answer, then left without saying a word.
Stepping outside, the wind from the corridor rushed into Jiang Jizhou's body, and he became fully awake. He didn't take the elevator but instead took the stairs. After a few minutes, he went down from the sixth floor. The wind downstairs was even colder, blowing directly onto Jiang Jizhou's face.
A tall, refined man stood downstairs, holding a bouquet of flowers in his arms, the same style as the bouquet he had seen at Yu Bai's house.
Noticing Jiang Jizhou's gaze, Chi Qinghe looked up and met Jiang Jizhou's eyes. Jiang Jizhou was a handsome and rugged man, but there was a strong sense of hostility between his brows and eyes, as if he had a subtle hostility towards him. However, Chi Qinghe was certain that he had never seen Jiang Jizhou before. He smiled slightly and then looked away.
Jiang Jizhou passed by Chi Qinghe, then slowed his pace, seemingly intending to linger.
As Yu Bai stepped out of the elevator, she saw Chi Qinghe and Jiang Jizhou together. She almost held her breath, wanting to retreat but it was impossible. Chi Qinghe had already seen her. He walked towards her with a smile on his lips, his eyes only on her. "Bai Bai, you look so beautiful today."
Yu Bai slowly moved closer to Chi Qinghe, her gaze still fixed on Jiang Jizhou's back, afraid that he would stop. Only when that figure gradually disappeared into the distance did she feel relieved.
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