The night was deep.
Quiet. Peaceful.
A muffled rumble of thunder broke through the stillness. Outside, the trees rustled violently in the wind, and then, with a rhythmic patter-patter, fat raindrops began to beat against the windowpane.
Shen Xiyan had always liked rainy nights. For as long as he could remember, he loved lying in bed, listening to the soft pattering of rain outside.
It made his heart feel strangely calm.
Sometimes he listened alone.
Sometimes, there was someone beside him.
In the beginning—right after his parents passed away—Wenwen wasn’t close to his aunt yet.
During thunderstorms, she would quietly sneak into his room, crawl into his bed, curl up in his arms, and cover her ears with her tiny hands.
Back then, Shen Xiyan would hold her close, covering her ears for her, the warmth between their bodies reminding them that they still had family—still had each other.
That feeling of shared solace meant everything.
Later, it was Qin Sheng who curled into his bed. Only in his arms could she sleep soundly.
They shared a pillow. He only had to turn his head slightly to see her flawless, serene face in slumber.
Shen Xiyan would listen to the rain, counting her eyelashes one by one.
Time passed. Life was gentle…
Or so he thought.
Like hell it was.
Shen Xiyan rolled over with a frustrated grunt.
Normally, he didn’t wear pajamas to bed—just boxers. But tonight, he was sleeping in the living room, people coming and going, so he had to compromise.
He wasn’t used to sleeping without the bedroom AC either. Maybe that’s why he felt hot. He shifted onto his side and unconsciously tugged up his T-shirt, revealing his defined abs.
The mood?
Unexpectedly tender.
Half-asleep, he heard a soft rustling from the bedroom.
The door creaked open.
“Xiyan?” came a quiet, tentative voice.
Qin Sheng.
He was about to respond—but stopped himself. He wanted to see what she was up to.
She must’ve fought off her drowsiness to come out here. Her face looked tired, but her eyes sparkled—filled with sweetness and joy. Her heart was full to bursting.
Ever since the car crash, Qin Sheng had been waking up from nightmares. Each time, she would reach out on instinct, trying to grab onto the person next to her.
Trying to catch even a trace of Xiyan’s scent to calm herself down.
But every time, her hands met empty sheets.
She would slowly curl in on herself, biting her lips hard to hold back the sobs.
What does it mean to lose and then find again?
Qin Sheng had thought about it a lot. About how she’d finally seduce him tonight.
But now, standing there watching him sleep, watching his peaceful face so close to hers… she realized that just this quiet happiness, this warmth in her chest, meant more to her than anything physical.
Just as she reached out to touch this moment—she froze.
Wait a second.
Xiyan never sleeps on his side. When he’s out, he’s out. How the hell did he pull off this pose?
He’s faking.
This bastard is pretending to be asleep?!
Her heart skipped a beat. But instead of getting mad, a soft, sly smile bloomed on her lips. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered sweetly:
“Xiyan~~”
Shen Xiyan’s heart did a little somersault.
What is this woman trying to do in the middle of the night?
He forced himself to keep breathing steadily, eyes shut, pretending to be sound asleep.
“You know,” Qin Sheng whispered, “the moment I met you, I heard Heaven whisper four words in my ear.”
What four words?
He asked instinctively in his mind.
She answered with a smile:
“Destined to fall.”
Goddamn.
That kind of straight-shot confession—coming from someone like her—could destroy any man’s self-control.
His heart thumped twice, fast… then calmed again.
Qin Sheng got up.
Just as Shen Xiyan was about to relax, she suddenly bent down and planted a soft, feather-light kiss on his forehead.
Then, as if she hadn’t just blown his mind, she sat down beside him, resting her head on his arm and letting out a long sigh of contentment.
Shen Xiyan didn’t push her away.
(Well, of course not—he was supposed to be asleep.)
And just like that, Qin Sheng had earned herself a milestone-level cuddle opportunity.
According to her original plan, she was supposed to seize the future from here. But right now, she just wanted to soak in the peace.
The living room was silent, the night deep.
Qin Sheng lay right beside him, her head just a finger’s width away. Her soft scent drifted into his nose.
Shen Xiyan’s mind spiraled.
And then—he was hit with a wave of shame for his own dirty thoughts.
If he actually acted on those ideas, the family rules would probably skin him alive.
He used to laugh at Cheng-ge for being whipped. Look who’s on the chopping block now.
So, he started counting sheep to distract himself…
Qin Sheng, on the other hand, slept like a baby on his arm. But Xiyan stayed stiff as a board, not daring to move in case he woke her.
He didn’t know how much time passed before he finally dared to shift just a little—pretending to roll over as he slowly, carefully pulled his arm out from under her.
In the dim light, he couldn’t really see her face. Just felt her warm breath on his skin—soft, steady.
“What’s the point of this…” he murmured under his breath with a sigh.
He leaned down, one arm under her knees, the other supporting her back, fingers curled beneath her arm.
Qin Sheng, ever cooperative, clung softly to his neck, her arms gentle and relaxed. With a bit of strength from his waist and arms, he lifted her up easily.
As she was lifted into his arms, a delicious tingle spread through her limbs. She rubbed her legs together shyly, her love practically spilling over.
Her face pressed close to his jaw, she could see his Adam’s apple bob with each breath.
As they passed through a flash of lightning, it lit up his profile—and Qin Sheng was momentarily dazzled.
Every love story starts with a spark—pure, intense. Though time might dull it into something quieter, more stable, or let it fade entirely… that first heartbeat always lingers. Etched into memory. Unforgettable.
Qin Sheng smiled, eyes gleaming with delight.
Suddenly—Click.
The living room light flipped on.
Qin Sheng immediately shut her eyes and went limp.
Aunt Jiang’s voice rang out, stunned and horrified:
“Xiyan! What are you doing?!”
“Shh!!” he hissed back.
“I woke up and found her sleeping beside me. I’m just carrying her back—quietly—”
“???!!”
“I’ll be out in a second. Turn off the light!”
Jiang Xi: “???”
Shen Xiyan felt like his brain was about to explode. He finally placed Qin Sheng on the bed and then—realized something tragic.
Why the hell was I being so careful?
Qin Sheng sleeping beside me was her problem. If I woke her while going to the bathroom—totally normal!
Damn it.
Habit is a scary thing.
In their past life, whenever he worked late, Qin Sheng would fall asleep waiting for him on the couch. And he’d always carry her to bed.
“Shen Xiyan! Are you stupid?!”
“Nope~”
“???”
Suddenly, Qin Sheng’s arms tightened around his neck. She looked up and—awkwardly planted a kiss on his lips.
His eyes flew open.
“You weren’t asleep?!”
“I was… but then you woke me up…” she said with a giggle.
“Princess carry, huh? So romantic!”
Her gaze was soft, dreamy, and utterly captivating.
Then she slipped out of his arms, blocked the door, and—
Whipped off her pajamas.
Underneath?
A black lace lingerie set, her pale skin glowing against the dark fabric.
Blinding.
Shen Xiyan’s brain stopped.
It wasn’t that she had a huge chest or anything—he already knew she had an amazing figure.
But this set of lingerie?
Definitely new.
And everyone knows: Women don’t buy lingerie for themselves.
“Kr…”
“Shhh!” Qin Sheng lunged forward and clamped a hand over his mouth, smiling like a mischievous cat.
“Auntie’s in the bathroom. You don’t want her walking in on… this, do you?”
In that moment, Shen Xiyan felt like he was the heroine in some shameless romance manga.