Morning Serenity
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the couch.
Jiu Che woke up first.
The moment his consciousness returned, the uncontrollable, intense, almost frenzied memories of last night flooded his mind like a tidal wave. His body stiffened slightly, and he turned his head to look at the pillow beside him.
Qi Yuan was still fast asleep. Her long, ink-black hair was spread out on the snow-white pillow, a few strands of sweat clinging to her smooth forehead and cheeks. Her phoenix eyes, usually sharp or languid, were tightly closed, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them, making her appear unusually quiet, even somewhat vulnerable. The brocade quilt had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing her beautifully shaped collarbone and a clear, ambiguous red mark on it, belonging only to him.
His gaze lingered on the mark for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his clear eyes—satisfaction, bewilderment, a hint of barely perceptible panic, and a deeper pity that even he himself had not fully understood.
He sat up with extremely slight movements, wanting to leave quietly as usual, attributing this out-of-control night to a dream.
However, as soon as he moved, the person beside him let out a very soft moan, her long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Qi Yuan's eyes were initially hazy with the light of waking, but when she saw Jiu Che's handsome face, so close to hers, which had regained most of its coldness but couldn't hide a trace of weariness and... a subtle emotion, the memories of last night instantly flooded back. A faint blush uncontrollably rose to her cheeks, her eyes flickered, and she subconsciously wanted to pull the quilt up to cover herself, but then felt that the action was too pretentious, so she stopped herself and finally just turned her face away slightly.
An awkward silence spread through the air.
Finally, Jiu Che spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse from the early morning, but he tried his best to keep it steady: "...I'm awake."
“…Hmm.” Qi Yuan responded softly, his gaze fixed on a point in the void, not daring to look at him.
Jiu Che remained silent for a moment, then got up from the bed, picked up the slightly disheveled snow-white robes scattered on the ground, and put them on one by one with his back to her. His movements were still elegant, but a little slower than usual.
Qi Yuan leaned against the couch, watching his back as he dressed, his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and... the clear red marks on his back left by her fingertips. Her heart raced again.
After putting on his robes, Jiu Che did not leave immediately. He walked to the table, poured a glass of warm water, and then... carried the glass to the couch.
He handed her the water glass.
Qi Yuan paused for a moment, then looked up at him.
His gaze was still somewhat complex, but it no longer held the madness of last night, nor the extreme coldness of his usual self. Instead, it carried an indescribable gentleness and a touch of clumsy thoughtfulness.
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the water glass. As their fingertips touched, they inadvertently brushed against his. Both of them recoiled as if struck by a faint electric current.
Qi Yuan lowered his head and took small sips of water. The warm liquid slid down his dry throat, as if soothing some of his chaotic thoughts.
Jiu Che stood by the couch, quietly watching her drink water, neither urging her nor leaving.
She continued drinking until she finished the water and handed the empty cup back to him.
He took the cup and placed it back on the table. Then, he turned to look at her, as if he wanted to say something; his lips moved, but in the end, he only uttered one sentence:
"...I will come later."
After saying that, as if he was afraid that he would lose control if he stayed any longer, he turned around and left the side hall quickly. However, no matter how you looked at his back, there was a hint of haste that was hard to detect.
The door was gently closed.
Qi Yuan leaned against the couch alone, listening to his receding footsteps, feeling the lingering scent of him and the hidden aches on his body, his heart in turmoil.
There were no promises, no tender words spoken afterward.
There was only a glass of warm water and the words, "Come back later."
But for some reason, this simple, almost deprived treatment felt more comforting to her than any sweet words...
A genuine sense of peace.
She slowly lay down, pulled up the quilt, buried herself in the bedding that still carried his scent, closed her eyes, and her lips curved into a very shallow, faint smile.
The first light of dawn,
Silent and still.
Some things,
Things are different now.
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