Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Hearing this answer, Song Nian was taken aback, his eyes shimmering, and he stayed quiet for a long while.

Just a moment ago, when Song Nian offered to get him some water, Li Yanchuan had been so reluctant to let him go that he’d rather go thirsty than loosen his hold.

And even when he was eventually persuaded to loosen his hold, he had grudgingly given him only a minute.

But when it came to Song Nian going to get water for himself, he immediately set a five-minute limit and even let go on his own.

Although he still looked extremely reluctant, he was visibly wrestling with his separation anxiety, worried that Song Nian might get thirsty and not have anything to drink.

Here was a man with a deeply possessive and controlling nature, yet he was trying to learn to give the people around him some space.

Wasn’t this a clumsy form of care and growth?

Looking at the man before him, Song Nian’s lips curved involuntarily, a wave of warmth washing over him.

“Alright, wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he turned and ran downstairs again.

Even though he wasn’t thirsty, he couldn’t waste this kindness.

But when he came back upstairs, he didn’t directly appear at the bedroom door. Instead, he quietly crept over to the wall, leaned against it, and peeked into the room.

Inside, Li Yanchuan was sitting on the bed, lips pressed tightly together, silent, his fingers drumming on his arm, looking somewhat agitated.

He kept his head lowered, his gaze fixed on the white bedsheet. Several times he seemed about to look up at the door, but he physically held back the impulse.

He didn’t want to appear too eager, nor did he mean to rush him, yet not being able to see him left a hollowness inside him, a void like sand slipping through his fingers.

This contradictory behavior, in Song Nian’s eyes, was ridiculously adorable.

He hadn’t expected that when drunk, Li Yanchuan’s true emotions, mingled with his usual possessiveness, would show up in such an amusing way.

A smile crept onto his lips as he swiftly stepped forward.

Hearing footsteps, Li Yanchuan jerked his head up. The moment he saw the figure returning, his unfocused pupils finally slightly focused, locking onto the approaching man.

“I didn’t lie to you. I’m back.”

Song Nian said softly.

As soon as he sat down on the edge of the bed, that large hand moved like a snake, quickly wrapping around Song Nian’s, interlacing their fingers in an unyielding grip.

Seeing this, he had to use his free hand to help Li Yanchuan lie down.

Adorable as he was, the drunk Li Yanchuan was just too clingy, wasn’t he?

Where was the usual cold, aloof demeanor?

“It’s getting late. You should get some rest.”

Just as Song Nian got up to return to his own room, their interlocked hand suddenly yanked him back, and another strong arm wrapped around his waist.

The next second, the world spun. By the time he recovered, he found himself lying on his back on the master bed.

Li Yanchuan, without a word, pulled the covers over him, tucking him in tightly.

The corners were tucked in so tightly that he looked like a big silkworm cocoon—he couldn’t get out of bed, let alone move.

His arm swept across, pulling Song Nian, blankets and all, into his embrace.

“Hus—husband, what are you doing?”

Lying on the same pillow, with Li Yanchuan’s face so close, even catching the scent of a mix of woody cologne and alcohol on him, Song Nian’s face instantly burned red, almost wondering if he himself was drunk.

But the man opposite said nothing. His deep gaze bore into Song Nian, the darkness in his eyes thicker than the night outside the window, as if about to swallow him whole.

Unable to struggle free, Song Nian blinked slowly. It took him a while to figure out the situation.

Was this just drunken antics, or did he actually want to sleep together?

Soon, Li Yanchuan gave his answer in a hoarse voice:

“Sleep.”

“But my room isn’t here.”

Even after this explanation, the arm around his waist didn’t loosen a bit.

The implication was clear: he wanted him to sleep there.

“Are you sure you want me to sleep in the same bed as you?”

Swallowing hard, Song Nian asked to confirm.

“Don’t leave my sight.”

His narrowed, scrutinizing gaze was like a surveillance camera, tracking every move of Song Nian, as if once he disappeared from view, he would vanish forever.

Alright, with this attitude, there was no way he would be let go.

Forcibly insisting on leaving didn’t seem realistic—the arm around his waist was like iron, impossible to pry open, and his own strength was no match for Li Yanchuan’s anyway.

Besides, it was Li Yanchuan who had started this. Even if he sobered up the next day, Song Nian would have the upper hand.

If he dared to be grumpy, he would snap right back!

After all this fuss, he was too tired to move anyway, and this bed was big enough and comfortable.

Despite being firm, the chest he leaned against was also soft and comfortable.

Thinking it over, staying seemed better. At worst, he would get up early tomorrow and slip away first.

So Song Nian shifted, found a comfortable spot in the man’s broad chest, and settled in to sleep peacefully.

“Good night. Now close your eyes and go to sleep. Don’t you dare throw me off the bed tomorrow morning, okay?”

He hummed twice, then closed his eyes and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Beside him, Li Yanchuan’s gaze was deep and dark. The slight drunkenness formed a mist over his pupils, but beneath that mist, fiery flames could be seen roiling and burning.

His hungry gaze traced over the sleeping face, the surging desire threatening to devour him whole.

No one was allowed to take him. No one was allowed to even want him.

Mine. Only mine…

Malicious thoughts began to grow; that pale, fragile neck would look perfect in a collar, firmly leashed in his hand, never to leave his side again.

Once such an idea took root, it spiraled out of control, and he wished he could lock his precious person away where only he could see him.

But in the end, Li Yanchuan did nothing.

He just silently pulled the person in his arms a little closer, as if that could meld him into his own bones.

His chin rested on top of Song Nian’s head, arms wrapped around his slender waist, long legs pressed over the other’s body, in a possessive posture as he held him close and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Outside the window, the stars and moon slept together in the night sky, perfectly harmonious.

————

The next day, the curtains fluttered gently as the first rays of sunlight heralded the dawn.

Song Nian did not get up first and slip away as he'd planned the night before.

Instead, it was Li Yanchuan who opened his eyes first.

The sunlight streaming into the room made him squint, and he waited until his eyes fully adjusted before opening them completely.

The first thing that came into view was a peaceful sleeping face.

Song Nian in his arms slept soundly, breathing evenly, his long, feathery lashes casting shadows onto the soft white flesh of his slightly squeezed cheek.

Slightly tousled chestnut-brown sideburns framed his face, not messy, but naturally cute.

This sleeping face was so calm it melted your heart; he involuntarily slowed his movements and slowed his breathing, afraid to disturb him.

Seeing Song Nian first thing in the morning, Li Yanchuan was a bit dazed. It took him a moment to recall what had happened the previous night.

He was the one who had insisted on holding him down.

Last night was the most peaceful and comfortable sleep he'd had since the car accident.

The menacing nightmares that had been haunting him in his dreams for days were engulfed and washed away by surging tides, receding until nothing remained, leaving only a calm beach.

The ebb and flow of the tide, the crashing waves sounding like a lullaby, soothed all the restlessness in his heart.

Was it because of Song Nian?

Thinking this, he lowered his eyes and couldn't help but pull him closer.

The sleeping face he could only previously steal glimpses of through a screen was now within reach, less than a foot away.

He could touch it if he just reached out.

Just as Li Yanchuan instinctively reached out to touch that soft cheek, the person in his arms suddenly stirred.

"Mm—"

A long, sleepy murmur came muffled from his throat, with the final syllable stretched long. His limbs instinctively stretched straight, but he still didn't open his eyes.

His face was all scrunched up like a bitter melon, still fighting to stay in a pleasant dream.

It was like a dog doing a downward-dog stretch.

After all that movement, Song Nian still hadn't woken up.

Seeing this, Li Yanchuan chuckled softly, and his fingers gently smoothed the stray hairs at his temples.

His deep gaze fell, and a fiery passion burned and swirled in his eyes as he greedily stared at the person's sleeping face.

After a long while, the young man finally woke up.

“Mm... I still want to sleep...”

After a good night's rest, Song Nian felt warm all over like a warm little puppy, reluctant to get out of bed.

“Then sleep a bit longer.”

Hearing this, he mumbled a reply, stretched languidly, then yawned and slowly opened his eyes.

What met his eyes wasn't the familiar room.

Instead, it was Li Yanchuan's face, even more familiar but out of place.

Looking more closely, they were even sharing the same pillow.

His sluggish brain slowly churned, almost thinking he was seeing things. Song Nian blinked slowly.

Meeting the man's scorching gaze, he was sure: it wasn't an illusion.

“Morning.”

The man beside him greeted in a low voice.

“Mo-morning... ah!”

His sluggish brain finally kicked in, and he remembered that after all the commotion last night, he had just gone to sleep in the master bedroom.

He had even planned to get up early and slip away, but instead he was the one fast asleep while the other was awake!

With a shout, Song Nian threw off the covers and shot up like a bullet. The moment he was about to jump off the bed, he was pulled back by the man, blanket and all.

“If I said you were the one who insisted I stay last night, would you believe me?”

Sweating bullets, he swallowed hard and asked nervously, afraid of being thrown out.

To his surprise, Li Yanchuan was surprisingly agreeable. He nodded to show he believed him, not at all offended, and even tucked the blanket around him:

“Didn’t you say you wanted to sleep more? It’s still early; you can sleep a bit longer.”

“Are you sure you won’t throw me off the bed?”

Song Nian asked suspiciously.

“I wouldn't do something so boring.”

Seeing the man’s gentle attitude, after a quick internal struggle between sleeping in and getting up, he quickly made his choice.

—No one can resist sleeping in.

“Then I'll... sleep just a little longer.”

He held up one finger to the man.

Then he closed his eyes.

But the thought of Li Yanchuan sleeping right next to him, and that he was lying on his side looking at him from such a close distance, it felt like he was on fire—there was no way he could calm down.

Forget sleeping—he was practically sweating buckets.

Song Nian cautiously cracked open one eye, and sure enough, found himself staring straight into Li Yanchuan's eyes.

Seeing him open his eyes again, the man asked:

"Not sleeping?"

At that, Song Nian opened both eyes wide and shook his head.

Then he backed up until he was nearly teetering off the edge of the bed, leaving enough space for another person to lie between them before stopping.

"Good night."

With that, he turned over, turning his back on the man, and tried to go back to sleep.

But still, no luck.

Even with his back turned, he could still feel that scorching gaze on him—those blazing eyes seemed to take physical form, their presence even more intense than before.

Like a hunter locking onto its prey, an oppressive pressure washed over him.

How could anyone sleep like this?

Song Nian cursed silently in his head, then suddenly threw off the covers and sat up, glaring at the man.

"Slept enough already?"

"How can I sleep with you staring at me like that!"

"Why can't you sleep?"

As if he truly didn't understand the question, Li Yanchuan frowned, his gaze becoming even more intense as he gave him a once-over.

Song Nian: ...

Forget it—there's no reasoning with a villain like you!

Unable to explain himself, his face fell, and he resigned to giving up on sleeping in, getting ready to get up, tears welling in his eyes.

Just then, the man behind him suddenly spoke again, calling his name—his tone light, yet carrying an irresolvable weight:

"Song Nian, even though I was drunk, I remember everything from last night."

"If I told you my plan is to completely overthrow the Li family, would you think I'm too ruthless?"