Chapter 111: Waking in the Heat

Rong Shen raised his arm to stop An Tong’s action, his low voice always gentle. “How about you open it for me?”

An Tong gladly agreed, placing the gift box on her lap, tearing off the bow, and lifting the lid.

Inside was a bed of raffia grass. She reached in, feeling around, and pulled out a palm-sized white bear plush toy.

An Tong: “…”

This Christmas gift was clearly not meant for him.

She buried the plush back into the raffia and picked up another small box. “I was mistaken. This box is yours.”

She spoke to herself as Rong Shen sat beside her, his gaze warm and tender.

When An Tong opened the second rectangular box, a silver bracelet for women lay quietly inside…

Her expression turned strange as she poked at the silver chain, her mood souring.

Most gifts prepared by the organizers were aimed at female clients, which was understandable.

What truly affected her mood, however, was her own oversight.

Only belatedly did An Tong realize that for their first Christmas together, she had forgotten to prepare a gift for Rong Shen.

She closed the box gloomily, staring at the wall opposite, pouting and sighing.

“Why the sigh?” The man caught the sadness in her eyes and, amused, pulled her close, draping an arm over her shoulder. “Don’t like the gift?”

An Tong looked at Rong Shen with hopeful eyes, words on her tongue but hard to express.

Giving a gift to someone you care about at Christmas was only natural.

So how had she forgotten?

Frustrated and self-reproaching, she buried her face in his neck, her once joyful mood visibly sinking.

Rong Shen lifted her face, his deep eyes seemingly seeing through everything, studying her carefully. “Why the sudden unhappiness? Hmm?”

“Nothing.” An Tong avoided his gaze, forcing a smile. “Just a little tired.”

He pressed his thin lips together, his eyes briefly flickering over the gift boxes by her hands.

Some things, even if she didn’t say, he could guess.

Rong Shen smiled silently, caressing her cheek gently. “If you’re tired, go wash up first and get to bed early tonight.”

An Tong nodded listlessly and stood from his embrace. “I’ll go wash up.”

With that, she absentmindedly walked toward the… kitchen.

Rong Shen watched the scene leisurely, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Three seconds later, An Tong emerged from the kitchen without a word, cheeks flushed, and quietly slipped into the bathroom.

…

Because she had failed to prepare a Christmas gift for Rong Shen, An Tong’s mood remained unsettled and her thoughts distracted.

Only after washing up and entering the bedroom, seeing the massive double bed over two meters wide, did she nervously tug at her sweater sleeve, wondering how she should sleep tonight.

Simply sharing the bed?

Or did he have other plans?

Her mind grew confused, and amid her nervousness, she began pondering alternative possibilities.

If all else failed, should she sleep on the couch?

“Not tired? Then why are you standing there daydreaming?”

Before she could devise a plan, footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door, accompanied by the man’s deep, rich voice.

An Tong turned to face him but kept her hands behind her back, her eyes darting awkwardly around, unsure what to say to break the intimate and delicate atmosphere.

Yet Rong Shen approached directly, seemingly holding something.

She didn’t dare meet his eyes, partly from avoidance but more from shy embarrassment at the prospect of sharing a bed.

“Change your clothes and get some rest early,” the man said, handing her a garment bag. His dark, profound eyes were as calm and sincere as ever. “I have some things to take care of and will be back late.”

An Tong’s tense nerves instantly relaxed.

She took the garment bag and opened it to find the coral fleece nightdress she had worn at the Yue Mansion.

“When did you get this?” she asked.

He hadn’t mentioned staying out that night when he left at noon.

There was no way she would have thought of such details.

Clearly, Rong Shen had planned ahead, indirectly proving that bringing her to the Christmas bonfire event was no spur-of-the-moment decision.

The man said nothing further, merely reminding her to rest early before leaving the bedroom, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

An Tong unfolded the nightdress in her hands, delighted by his meticulous care. Just as a smile lifted the corners of her mouth, thoughts of the gift returned and quickly brought her mood down again.

She changed into the nightdress, climbed onto the far side of the large bed, and lay down, clutching the blanket to cover the lower half of her face.

Her body was indeed tired, but her mind remained clear and alert, sleep utterly elusive, her thoughts once more occupied by Rong Shen.

She knew clearly that his so-called “business” excuse was likely just a way to ease her worries.

A mature and steady man always planned carefully in everything he did.

He would never act recklessly.

That night, An Tong didn’t know when she drifted to sleep.

Perhaps from exhaustion, for when the man returned, she was already soundly asleep.

…

Shortly after ten o’clock, the bedroom was lit by a dim bedside lamp.

Rong Shen sat sideways on the bed, elegantly undoing his cufflinks, his gaze tracing the sleeping face beside the bed.

An Tong’s sleep was peaceful and serene, a natural smile faintly pressed on her lips. Her curled fingers gently gripped the edge of the blanket, like an innocent little girl unaware of the world.

After a moment, the man unbuttoned his shirt collar and rose to go to the bathroom.

When he returned, he wore only a thin gray robe.

Rong Shen lifted the blanket and lay down. In her sleep, An Tong seemed to sense a chill, curling up and burrowing deeper under the covers, her forehead unconsciously resting against the man’s arm.

…

At six in the morning, An Tong was awakened by heat.

Wearing the non-breathable coral fleece nightdress and covered by the blanket, plus the warmth radiating from the living being beside her, she half-slept and half-woke, thinking the pet An An had climbed onto the bed again.

Burying her face, she murmured in a dreamlike voice, “An An, it’s hot, get down…”

The living being remained motionless.

An Tong immediately became annoyed.

She tousled her messy hair, then squinted to look to the side—

In the dim bedroom light, she vaguely saw the outline by the bed and the man’s sleeping profile.

Holding her breath, she was instantly fully awake.

Looking more closely, her palm was still pressed against Rong Shen’s chest.

An Tong felt even hotter.

She carefully withdrew her hand and silently scooted back.

Memories of last night flooded her mind. She stared blankly at the man beside her, her breathing growing much softer.

Sometimes, the more hazy the moment, the more it touches the heart.

Just like the silent, dim bedroom now, every sense was amplified without sound.

The man’s breathing, his Adam’s apple, and under the open robe, the clear and distinct lines and textures of his body.

An Tong swallowed and slowly, gently moved closer to the center of the bed.

She wanted to see more clearly, while he was still asleep…

(End of chapter)