She could clearly feel the warmth of her body.
Jiang Lai was lying on Shen Ruxue’s lap, her cheek pressed against the other woman’s warm knee, occasionally shifting slightly as Shen Ruxue flipped through documents.
Everything around her was quiet and cozy, letting her nerves, which had been tense just moments ago, relax completely.
She quietly closed her eyes, burying her face deeper, and even her breathing softened.
She didn’t know how much time passed.
Her consciousness gradually grew hazy.
She had only meant to stay still for a while, but in this sense of security, drowsiness slowly crept in.
Her eyelids grew heavier, and the rustling sound beside her seemed to turn into a gentle lullaby, unknowingly pulling her into a light sleep.
Shen Ruxue finished processing one document and was about to reach for the next folder.
The moment her fingertips touched the paper, she felt the person on her lap shift slightly.
It wasn’t the movement of waking up—instead, it seemed like Jiang Lai had fallen deeper asleep.
Her cheek rubbed against Shen Ruxue’s knee again, and her long lashes fluttered softly, like a sleeping little animal.
Shen Ruxue’s movements froze instantly, and even her breathing slowed.
She looked down at Jiang Lai, who was fast asleep on her lap.
Her lashes were long and distinct, the tip of her nose small and delicate, and her lips were slightly pursed in relaxation, exuding a childlike softness.
It made Shen Ruxue’s heart melt.
Shen Ruxue gently brushed her fingertips across Jiang Lai’s cheek.
The touch was smooth and warm.
Afraid that Jiang Lai might be uncomfortable, she quietly adjusted her sitting position, keeping her legs as steady as possible, and then gently raised the air conditioner temperature by two degrees, worried that she might catch a chill.
When she returned to handling the documents, Shen Ruxue’s movements became even softer.
When flipping pages, she first placed her fingertips on the edge of the paper and slowly lifted it to avoid making any sound.
When writing, she deliberately slowed down, applying lighter pressure with the pen tip.
Even when furrowing her brow in thought, she unconsciously slowed her breathing, afraid of disturbing the person on her lap.
But when the white noise of flipping pages stopped, Jiang Lai quietly opened her eyes and saw Shen Ruxue’s cautious demeanor…
“Am I disturbing your work by lying here?”
Jiang Lai lifted her head, her bright, sparkling eyes fixed on Shen Ruxue.
Her long lashes were still slightly damp, like a fawn that had just woken up.
Shen Ruxue’s fingertips paused on the document.
Her gaze fell on the top of Jiang Lai’s fluffy head.
She put down her pen, freed her right hand, gently cupped Jiang Lai’s chin, and rubbed her thumb across Jiang Lai’s soft lips.
“It’s not a bother. With you here, I can finish faster instead—because I feel very happy, very happy. You’re relying on me like this. You’re clinging to me like this.”
Jiang Lai’s cheeks instantly flushed.
She quickly turned her head away to avoid her touch, buried her face in Shen Ruxue’s knee, and let out a muffled hum.
“You just know how to say sweet things. You were flipping pages so slowly just now.”
She knew Shen Ruxue was afraid of waking her.
Even though she was handling important work, she had split half of her attention on her.
She could clearly feel the warmth of Shen Ruxue’s legs and the light touch of her fingertips on her hair.
Every movement was so gentle it made her heart tremble.
Right now, if she were a little more sensible, she should obediently stay by the side and wait for Shen Ruxue to finish her work before clinging to her again.
But she didn’t want to.
Right now, she just wanted to be willful.
“Don’t worry about me. Just work normally. I just want to lie on your lap for a while. I’m not actually tired—I closed my eyes so I could feel you better.”
“Alright… then I’ll ‘work’ first.”
Shen Ruxue let out a low laugh.
Her left hand picked up the pen again, her gaze returning to the document, but the pen tip hesitated, not falling.
She could feel the little head on her leg move slightly.
Jiang Lai’s hair brushed against her pant leg, bringing a faint, ticklish sensation.
In the Shen Family, she was seen as a “useful” tool, a sharp edge for controlling the company.
Everyone only valued her abilities.
But only in front of Jiang Lai could she be herself.
Shen Ruxue’s pen tip hovered over the document for two seconds before she finally set it down gently.
She tilted her head to look at Jiang Lai on her lap, her fingertips slowly sliding from the ends of her hair to behind her ear.
Her voice was as soft as a fall on cotton.
“You don’t have to accommodate me. If you want to talk, or play, you can.”
Jiang Lai turned her face a little, only revealing half of her eyes.
Her long lashes brushed against Shen Ruxue’s pant leg.
“I don’t want to talk, and I don’t want to play. I just want to stay like this.”
As she spoke, she rubbed gently against Shen Ruxue’s palm, like a kitten that had found a warm spot.
“I want to feel your warmth, your scent, your touch properly. I’m going back tomorrow, and I’m worried that after I leave, I’ll feel like I didn’t hold you enough…”
“It’s not like there won’t be other chances.”
Shen Ruxue was amused by her words.
“In that case, do you want to sit on my lap and lean into my arms?”
Jiang Lai’s ears instantly turned bright red.
As if scalded, she shrank deeper into Shen Ruxue’s knees, her voice barely a whisper.
“N-no need… this is fine.”
She stole a glance and met Shen Ruxue’s smiling eyes.
That gaze was as soft as melted sugar, making her heart skip another beat.
In truth, she did want it.
She wanted to curl up in Shen Ruxue’s arms like a protected little animal.
But she was afraid of actually delaying Shen Ruxue’s work, so she could only hide this little thought in her heart.
How could Shen Ruxue not see her embarrassment and anticipation?
She gently pinched Jiang Lai’s earlobe, her tone indulgent.
“What are you afraid of? Can’t my arms hold you?”
With that, she rose slightly, freed one hand, and carefully helped Jiang Lai shift forward.
Jiang Lai didn’t dare to refuse again.
She followed Shen Ruxue’s guidance and slowly sat up.
Shen Ruxue’s hand stayed on her waist, and when she was settled on Shen Ruxue’s lap, she was almost half-embedded in the other woman’s embrace, the tip of her nose against the collar of Shen Ruxue’s blouse.
“Is this… too cramped?”
Jiang Lai asked in a low voice, her hands still stiff at her sides, afraid to touch Shen Ruxue.
Shen Ruxue looked down at her, the smile in her eyes impossible to hide.
Her left hand gently encircled Jiang Lai’s waist, pulling her closer.
“Not cramped at all. It doesn’t affect anything…”
With that, Shen Ruxue picked up the pen, her right hand reaching over Jiang Lai’s shoulder and resting lightly on the document.
“See? I can still write.”
After all, they were both girls, so sitting in one spot wasn’t too tight.
Other than the fact that no matter how close she got, no matter how much she pressed their chests together until they were slightly deformed, she still couldn’t press Jiang Lai extremely close—that was the only flaw.
Otherwise, this hugging position was perfect.
Although Shen Ruxue had been acting calm all along, she really didn’t want to let Jiang Lai go.
If it were possible, she didn’t want Jiang Lai to go back at all.
She just wanted her to stay here, by her side alone.