Chapter 28: An Unexpected Morning and a Late Arrival

By the time Ouyang Xiyue returned, Shangguan Yun had already fallen into a deep slumber.

Gazing at Shangguan Yun’s weary face and the two arms peeking from beneath the covers, Ouyang Xiyue couldn’t help but offer a wry smile.

With light, cautious steps, he drew near, gently tucking Shangguan Yun’s arms back into the warmth of the quilt.

Just as Ouyang Xiyue was about to slip away unnoticed, he suddenly felt a hand gently tugging at his sleeve.

His gaze flickered downwards, finding it was Shangguan Yun’s hand.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, as if ensnared by an unseen worry.

“‘Perhaps she’s caught in a terrible nightmare? Or is it simply exhaustion? Ah, I once urged you not to overexert yourself, yet you can never truly go against your own nature… Well, this is just the real you, isn’t it?'”

A faint smile touched Ouyang Xiyue’s lips.

He then quietly moved a nearby stool and settled gently by Shangguan Yun’s bedside.

Ouyang Xiyue had intended to slowly withdraw his sleeve, but to his surprise, Shangguan Yun’s grip was remarkably firm.

To forcibly pull away would undoubtedly disturb her peaceful sleep.

“‘Oh, never mind then. Sleep soundly.'”

Unwilling to break the serene slumber, Ouyang Xiyue allowed Shangguan Yun to hold his hand, and slowly, he too drifted off to sleep by her bedside.

As morning light gently spilled into the room, Ouyang Xiyue felt something lightly poking his cheek, an irritating tickle accompanied by a faint prickle of pain.

He wanted to open his eyes and investigate, but having spent the entire night hunched by the bed, his body ached terribly, making him reluctant to move even an inch.

Thus, he simply let the poking continue.

The ‘culprit’ behind the cheek-poking was none other than Shangguan Yun, who had just stirred from her sleep.

Her eyes still heavy with sleep, she stared at the small, alabaster hand, as white as mutton-fat jade, that she held tightly.

Her face instantly drained of color in shock, and she quickly released it.

Shangguan Yun’s cheeks flushed crimson as she shyly looked at Ouyang Xiyue, still slumped by the bed.

Recalling how she had clutched His Excellency Xiyue’s hand so tightly, she couldn’t help but scratch her head in embarrassment.

Memories flooded back: she vaguely remembered someone covering her with a blanket the previous night, and then she had instinctively grabbed something.

To her dismay, it had been His Excellency Xiyue’s hand, a truly mortifying realization.

Shangguan Yun looked closer, noticing that Ouyang Xiyue’s hand bore red marks from her grip.

Her gaze lingered on the still-sleeping Ouyang Xiyue.

‘Is this the young man the Princess adores? He truly is incredibly gentle; no wonder the Princess holds him in such high regard. If judging purely by appearance, ‘beautiful maiden’ seems a far more fitting description for him.’

Shangguan Yun gazed at Ouyang Xiyue, utterly captivated, her heart brimming with awe.

As a man, His Excellency Xiyue’s beauty surpassed that of every woman she knew, even the peerlessly captivating Princess.

She could barely believe her eyes, repeatedly questioning herself: ‘Is this a man or a woman? From every angle, they are clearly a girl!’

Yet, reality was often cruel.

If His Excellency Xiyue truly were a woman, wouldn’t the world gain another angel like the previous Saintess? A ‘femme fatale’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘hongyan huoshui,’ referring to a beautiful woman who brings disaster)? No, that was impossible.

The previous Saintess also possessed silver hair, just like His Excellency Xiyue.

In all her memories, she had only ever seen two individuals with silver hair: the former Saintess and His Excellency Xiyue.

A legend within the Holy Light Church spoke of those with silver hair: if male, they were destined to become a Holy Son; if female, a Saintess.

Though merely a legend, white symbolized the light of angels, and the world often held such uncanny coincidences.

Could His Excellency Xiyue become the next Saintess? No, His Excellency Xiyue was a man; he should be a Holy Son.

Regardless, His Excellency Xiyue’s gender held little significance for her; after all, she was merely a humble servant.

Lost in thought, Shangguan Yun slowly extended a hand and gently poked Ouyang Xiyue’s cheek.

The touch was soft and resilient.

In that instant, her eyes gleamed as if she had discovered a rare treasure.

Before long, Shangguan Yun launched a series of ‘assaults’ on Ouyang Xiyue’s cheek.

Seeing His Excellency Xiyue offer no resistance, she grew bolder, kneading and pinching without restraint.

Only when her phone alarm abruptly blared did she snap back to reality.

Shangguan Yun glanced at the alarm; it was exactly eight o’clock in the morning, time for work.

She looked at Ouyang Xiyue by the bed, her heart heavy with reluctance, and let out a helpless sigh.

Soon after, she changed her clothes and finished washing up.

Gently, she lifted the sleeping Ouyang Xiyue, placed him on the bed, and tucked him in.

Unable to resist, she gave his adorable cheek one last pinch before reluctantly leaving the room.

****

In the living room, Ye Jia dialed Ouyang Xiyue’s number.

The phone rang for a long time, and just as it was about to automatically disconnect, a voice finally answered from the other end.

– Hello? Is that Ye Jia? What’s wrong? You sound so flustered. I’m fine, I’m at home right now. – Ouyang Xiyue’s voice was tinged with laziness and grogginess.

– Sister Xiyue, judging by your voice, did you just wake up? – Ye Jia asked in surprise.

– Yes… Little Sister Ye Jia, what can I do for you? –

Hearing the utterly sleepy voice from the other end, Ye Jia knew Sister Xiyue wasn’t fully awake.

– Sister Xiyue, have you forgotten that today is Sunday? Look at the time, the sun’s already high in the sky! – Ye Jia sighed helplessly.

– Huh? Today is Sunday! Oh no, I completely forgot! – Ouyang Xiyue exclaimed, as if suddenly waking up, his voice carrying from the phone.

Ouyang Xiyue, on the other end of the line, inadvertently glanced at the phone’s clock, and his heart leaped in alarm, a silent cry of ‘This is bad!’ escaping him.

The hour hand mercilessly pointed to a quarter past ten; he was already an hour and fifteen minutes late.

‘I’m doomed, I’m doomed!’ he screamed internally, as if already seeing the terrifying scene of the other person glaring furiously and threatening to ‘flay him alive.’

No, he absolutely couldn’t delay any longer.

He had to rush over immediately, making every second count.

Midday was quietly approaching, and he had planned to finish cooking before taking his leave.

Moreover, Brother Yu and the others were coming over in the afternoon.

So, he quickly said to Ye Jia over the phone: – Little Sister Ye Jia, thank you so much! I’ll remember this kindness, and I’ll definitely treat you to a meal another day. I’ll get ready now; I’ll be there in twenty minutes! –

The phone immediately clicked off with a ‘beep-beep’ sound.

Ye Jia sighed softly, musing to herself: ‘Why does Sister Xiyue, still sounding a bit sleepy, give off such a naive, adorable vibe?’