After taking a bath, Xu Yinchen returned to the room. Before entering the bedroom, he knocked softly on the door, then pushed it open.
His gaze landed on the bed, and he paused for a moment.
Qin Lian was already lying on the far left side, stiff and straight like a board. The cotton blanket was pulled up to her neck, and her eyes were shut tightly as if she were fast asleep.
Seeing the way her brows were tightly knitted, it was clear she wasn't really asleep.
But it was a little too obvious.
An amused chuckle escaped his lips, but he immediately straightened his expression.
He quietly closed the door behind him. The faint click made Qin Lian flinch under the blanket, though she kept her eyes shut tight.
Did... did he just close the door? Why?
Can't we just leave it open? What's wrong with that?
She pressed her lips together, staying completely still like a mannequin on display.
Her heart pounded as she heard the sound of the wardrobe door opening. She could hear him moving around but didn't dare to open her eyes.
Then came the soft click of the light switch. The room went dark.
Why did he turn off the light?!
Can't we sleep with the lights on? Is that too much to ask?! She screamed inside her head.
Although she had been in a relationship for three years, apart from holding hands and the occasional kiss, which she could count on her fingers, they had never gone any further.
Their relationship had always been that hollow. Yet, like a fool, she had seriously planned a future with a man like that.
Qin Lian took a deep breath and shook her head, trying to push away those useless thoughts.
Just thinking about how she had blindly trusted that shameless man, how she stayed loyal and stuck in that so-called relationship for three whole years, made her skin crawl.
Three years. Wasted.
She couldn't believe how naïve she had been.
Thank God she had discovered the truth before they crossed that line. If things had gone further, she would've been disgusted, not just with him, but with herself for letting it happen.
She tried to push those negative thoughts aside and clear her mind. But then she realized something strange.
The man she had expected to be sleeping beside her still hadn't shown up. Her brows furrowed as she cautiously opened one eye to check.
The lights were off.
The room was dark, but soft moonlight filtered through the window, along with a cool breeze that stirred the curtain. She glanced to her side. The space next to her was empty.
Her eyes widened slightly. Where did he go?
She sat up slowly, her gaze scanning the room. That's when she saw him.
Xu Yinchen had arranged a bedding for himself on the floor. He was already lying down flat on his back, eyes closed, his posture straight and quietly disciplined.
She blinked in surprise.
He didn't even try to sleep on the bed?
A flicker of guilt rose in her chest. Maybe she had been too quick to claim the bed without asking.
Should she have offered to sleep on the floor instead? Or… at least suggested sharing the bed?
It was large enough for two people to sleep on their own sides without even touching. However, along with the guilt, came a quiet sense of relief.
He hadn't said anything. He hadn't made her uncomfortable. Without a word, he simply gave her space.
That quiet consideration. No fuss, no show of being noble, which touched her more than she expected.
She pulled the blanket closer.
It wasn't anything dramatic, but it made her feel warm. And unexpectedly safe.
While she was staring at his face under the moonlight, she couldn't help but take a closer look.
His features were sharp and well-defined. A straight nose and refined jawline. He looked manly, yet unexpectedly handsome in a calm, restrained way.
As her gaze lingered on his peaceful expression and disciplined posture, a low voice suddenly caught her off guard.
"How long do you plan on continuing to stare?"
Startled, she nearly toppled back onto the bed. She had been leaning on one arm while sneaking a glance at him, and his sudden words completely threw her off.
At this point, pretending to be asleep would only be more embarrassing.
Trying to play it cool, she straightened up, brushed her hair behind her ear, and replied with a nervous cough, "I... I wasn't staring at you. I just... got thirsty and woke up to get some water. Don't mind me. Go back to sleep."
Xu Yinchen raised a brow, opening his eyes to look at her.
Under the moonlight, she sat there in her pajamas, long black hair cascading around her shoulders. There was something quiet and unexpectedly gentle about her appearance.
He didn't say a word. Instead, he looked away and stood up.
Qin Lian blinked as he turned on the room's light and walked toward the door.
"Wait—where are you going at this hour?" she asked, unable to hide her confusion.
Xu Yinchen, dressed in cotton-checked pajama pants and a loose black t-shirt, looked far more casual than his earlier look. His slightly tousled hair and laid-back appearance somehow made him even more attractive.
He glanced at her and answered calmly, "Didn't you say you were thirsty? I'm going downstairs to get some water. There's none in the room. Do you need anything else?"
She blinked as she was caught off guard by his words. She hadn't expected him to get up immediately just to get her water.
What surprised her more was that he didn't tell her to get it herself or ignore her completely.
"Oh... no, thanks. Water is enough," she said quickly, feeling a bit guilty about it.
After all, she wasn't even thirsty. It had just been an excuse.
Still, the fact that he didn't question it or make a fuss…It made her heart stir a little.
When he went downstairs, she glanced at his pillow on the floor and noticed it was damp. That's when she remembered his still-wet hair.
'Did he not dry himself properly because she had taken all the towels?' The thought made her feel slightly embarrassed.
...
When Xu Yinchen returned to the room, Qin Lian was still sitting on the bed, waiting for him.
He paused at the door, a little stunned to see her looking at him with those bright, smiling eyes as if she was waiting for him.
Her smiling gaze made him uncomfortable for some reason. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he walked over and handed her a glass of water.
Then, he placed the water jar on the bedside table next to her.
As she drank, he extended his hand toward her, and there was a small white pill on his palm.
Qin Lian looked at him in confusion. "What's this?"
His gaze briefly shifted to the bandage on her head. He pursed his lips before speaking. "You're hurt," he said softly. "This will help with the pain and swelling and help you sleep better tonight."
She blinked, a little surprised.
Only now did she realize how stiff her body felt and how the dull ache in her head had worsened.
Unknowingly, she had been frowning, even massaging her temple now and then. But she hadn't paid much attention to it.
She was used to working through pain. She never really cared.
But he had.
From the moment she arrived, Xu Yinchen had noticed the way she winced occasionally or touched her head as if trying to ease the discomfort.
The bandage was carelessly wrapped and uneven, clearly not done by a professional doctor. From the looks of it, she hadn't even been properly treated yet.
Moved by his quiet attentiveness, Qin Lian took the pill without a word and swallowed it with a sip of water.
As she finished and moved to place the glass back on the bedside table, Xu Yinchen, still standing in front of her, reached out before she could.
He took the glass from her hand, placed it on the table, and carefully covered it with an old coaster.
Watching this meticulous and quietly organized man, Qin Lian couldn't help but smile in admiration.
"You should go to bed now," he said, gently urging her to rest.
"Oh, yes. I'm sleeping. You should sleep, too. Good night," she replied with a warm smile.
Hearing her words, Xu Yinchen glanced at her. The moment his eyes landed on her smiling face, he froze for a second.
A fleeting smile tugged at his lips, one that vanished almost immediately as he gave a stiff nod and said, "Go to sleep."
Then, without another word, he quickly turned off the lights and went to lie down.
Qin Lian blinked, a little surprised by how fast he retreated to bed. But... had she just seen him smile?
Or was it just her imagination?
She couldn't help but wonder if her eyes were playing tricks on her.