Chapter 29 part 1: Cohabitation

“Can you come up and hold me to sleep?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the entire room fell silent, save for Jiang Xihan’s slightly rapid breathing.

Ji Pei knew exactly what Jiang Xihan was getting at. Even if she were dense about emotions, how could she miss the meaning behind those words?

What a cunning, deceitful woman.

But Ji Pei had hurt Jiang Xihan first, and guilt weighed on her. If Jiang Xihan asked her to run outside naked, Ji Pei might actually consider it.

“Really that cold?”

Ji Pei pretended not to catch the hidden meaning, grabbing Jiang Xihan’s wrist to check her palm’s temperature. It was quite warm.

“Your hand’s hot.”

Jiang Xihan curled up. “My body’s cold.”

Ji Pei’s eyes darted, and she turned to leave. “I’ll grab another blanket…”

“Ji Pei.”

Jiang Xihan gripped her wrist, her once-hazy eyes suddenly clear.

“Come up.”

Ji Pei froze, her wrist caught, unable to move. She turned, looked at Jiang Xihan, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed.

The sheets and blanket carried Jiang Xihan’s warmth and scent—a faint citrus fragrance, maybe perfume.

Ji Pei sank into the soft, warm embrace. No sooner had she lain down than Jiang Xihan wrapped her arms and legs around her.

“Really that cold?”

How did the sick Jiang Xihan become so clingy? Was she using her illness as an excuse?

Ji Pei shifted to face her, loosely circling Jiang Xihan’s waist, enveloping her in her arms.

She ignored the triumphant smirk on Jiang Xihan’s lips, gently patting her back.

“When I was sick as a kid, my grandma would hold me like this, pat my back, and sing to lull me to sleep.”

Jiang Xihan buried her face in Ji Pei’s chest, inhaling her unique scent, her voice hoarse. “I want to hear you sing.”

Ji Pei blinked, racking her brain for songs, but came up blank, unable to recall a single title.

Her grandma’s lullabies felt awkward to sing to Jiang Xihan, too embarrassing.

“What do you want to hear?”

Jiang Xihan’s hand rested on Ji Pei’s stomach, warming it. Ji Pei’s palm covered her hand, close to her ear.

“How about ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’?”

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”

“How I wonder what you are.”

“…”

Jiang Xihan, nestled in Ji Pei’s chest, couldn’t stop laughing.

Ji Pei sighed. “Now you know why I don’t sing. Tone-deaf and off-key.”

She recalled when Bai Yin invited her and Ye Wenzhu to karaoke. After their duet, Bai Yin’s shocked expression said it all.

The person in her arms kept trembling with laughter. Ji Pei couldn’t resist pinching Jiang Xihan’s waist lightly.

“You told me to sing, and now you’re awake.”

Ji Pei checked her phone in the dark.

It was almost ten at night. Neither had slept, eyes locked on each other.

Ji Pei finally blinked. “Didn’t you say you sleep at ten every night? Why aren’t you closing your eyes?”

She wanted to wait for Jiang Xihan to sleep, then sneak off to wash up and sleep in the next room.

Jiang Xihan could sleep in tomorrow, no classes.

Jiang Xihan’s gaze never wavered, scanning Ji Pei’s face, settling on her eyes.

“No one’s ever taken care of me like you.”

Hearing her words, Ji Pei opened her mouth, then remembered Jiang Xihan’s parents were gone, her only sister a vegetable.

Jiang Xihan asked, “Do you care for others like this?”

Ji Pei cupped Jiang Xihan’s warm cheeks, placing a soft kiss on her slightly cooler forehead.

“No, you’re my love. I’m only this good to you.”

Her face burned as she spoke. She bit her lip and kissed Jiang Xihan’s mouth.

Sick people get paranoid. Jiang Xihan asked, “Really?”

Ji Pei nodded firmly. “Really.”

***

Half an hour later, Jiang Xihan’s temperature dropped.

Ji Pei checked with the ear thermometer—thirty-seven point five, normal range.

Jiang Xihan was sweaty and sticky, wanting a bath, but Ji Pei stopped her.

“You can’t bathe now.”

Jiang Xihan stared at Ji Pei’s flushed lips, saying slowly, “The doctor said someone could help me.”

Ji Pei: “…”

The thought invaded her mind completely.

“That was before your fever broke. You can’t bathe or wipe down now, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Seeing Jiang Xihan’s act, Ji Pei knew she was fine, just faking. She wouldn’t fall for it.

Ji Pei had had fevers herself; she wasn’t fooled.

But…

She climbed off the bed, tucked Jiang Xihan in, and kissed her nose.

“I’m going to shower. I’ll be quick. Don’t wander.”

In the bathroom, Ji Pei locked the door, stripped to her underwear, and locked it again.

Sharing a space with Jiang Xihan made her cautious—what if she barged in?

With the door secured, Ji Pei relaxed, soaking in the bathtub.

Jiang Xihan, lying in bed, touched her forehead. It wasn’t hot anymore.

Her mind cleared. Recalling her words to Ji Pei, she smiled.

Sticky with sweat, she felt uncomfortable and started unbuttoning her shirt. Then Ji Pei, wrapped in a towel, drying her hair, returned.

Seeing Jiang Xihan sitting up, one leg out, Ji Pei asked, “What’s wrong? Thirsty?”

Jiang Xihan shook her head. “I want to change. The sweat’s gross.”

Ji Pei wiped her dripping hair and approached. “Lie down. I’ll get you clothes.”

Jiang Xihan obeyed, lying back, smiling. “Do you know my measurements?”

Ji Pei’s face heated. “Of course. I’ve touched you. We’re about the same.”

Jiang Xihan pressed, “What’s my chest size?”

Ji Pei: “…”

She grabbed the towel and fled. “It’s not bigger than mine!”

Returning, Ji Pei had swapped the towel for pink bunny pajamas, holding another set.

The underwear was clean. Ji Pei’s face was red as she placed it on the bed, lifting Jiang Xihan’s blanket.

“Here. Put these on.”

As she turned to leave, Jiang Xihan said, “My arm hurts. Can you help?”

Ji Pei: “…”

She turned stiffly, eyes darting, but gave in.

Jiang Xihan’s long legs dangled on the carpet. She sat upright, calm.

Ji Pei, unbuttoning her shirt, blushed as if she were the one exposed.

The sweaty shirt came off, revealing Jiang Xihan’s fair, smooth skin.

Ji Pei glanced, her eyes overwhelmed by the sight, holding her breath, looking away.

But her breath caught.

The needle mark on Jiang Xihan’s left arm had darkened, a stark bruise on her pale skin.

Noticing Ji Pei’s gaze, Jiang Xihan glanced at it.

Ji Pei frowned. “Why’s it like that? Does it hurt?”

Jiang Xihan shook her head. Her first vaccine, she hadn’t expected this.

“It hurts. Sore and aching.”

She wasn’t exaggerating—her left arm was immobile, every move painful.

With the shirt off, Ji Pei faced a challenge.

She’d studied anatomy but never been this close to an unclothed person.

Especially Jiang Xihan, whom she adored.

Holding her breath, Ji Pei reached around Jiang Xihan’s shoulders to unhook her bra.

Her damp hair fell on Jiang Xihan’s neck, carrying a strong rose scent with a hint of fruit.

Ji Pei nearly suffocated, sneaking a breath, then holding it again, afraid Jiang Xihan would notice her uneven breathing.

Damn clasp, why was it so hard?

Her fingers fumbled, tangling more.

It was a simple clasp, seconds to undo, yet it felt like a century.

What if Jiang Xihan thought she was doing it on purpose?

Gritting her teeth, Ji Pei’s shoulder brushed Jiang Xihan’s chest, finally unhooking it.

She feigned calm, removing the bra, her heart pounding.

Steady!

Ji Pei!

You’re human!

If you can’t control yourself, you’re no better than a beast!

Quickly finishing, Ji Pei grabbed the new clothes, dressing Jiang Xihan, asking, “How’s it feel? Too tight?”

“Didn’t you say you’re bigger?”

“I’m not asking your size. Don’t dodge.”

Jiang Xihan chuckled. “Not tight. Perfect.”

Ji Pei stole a glance, guilty yet addicted, until Jiang Xihan grabbed her hand, pressing it to her chest.

“Why so shy? Aren’t we a couple?”

Jiang Xihan saw Ji Pei’s awkwardness, her lips curving ambiguously.

“Why not look openly? You don’t need permission to touch.”

Ji Pei took a deep breath, pulling her hand back.

Her fingertips retained the faint scent and warmth of soft skin. Hearing Jiang Xihan’s boldness, she pursed her lips, swallowed, and stared.

Jiang Xihan’s chest was full, barely covered, her waist and legs revealing a stunning figure.

In her usual fitted shirts, nothing showed, but bare, she had everything.

A warm drop hit Ji Pei’s hand. She looked down, confused.

“…”

She had a nosebleed!

Ji Pei leapt off the bed, hands covering her face, sprinting to the bathroom.

Jiang Xihan, in the matching bunny pajamas, holding her soiled clothes, followed.

Ji Pei slapped her forehead, trying to stop the bleeding.

It backflowed, nearly choking her. She leaned over the sink, letting the blood drip.

Red streamed from her nose, her throat tasting of sweet rust.

She swore it wasn’t from seeing Jiang Xihan’s chest—it was B City’s dry weather, lack of hydration.

Right! That’s it!

After convincing herself, the bleeding slowed. As she relaxed, she saw Jiang Xihan in the mirror behind her.

Holding the dirty clothes, Jiang Xihan studied her subtly.

Ji Pei sniffled, eyes red, turning innocently to face her.

“Don’t look at me.”

Her voice trembled. Jiang Xihan placed the clothes in the hamper, hugging her from behind.

“Not looking. Can I hold you?”

Ji Pei rubbed her nose, wiping blood with a tissue, pouting.

“Do you think I’m a coward?”

Jiang Xihan, pressed against her, nuzzled her jaw with her nose.

“How could I? You’re not a coward or useless.”

Her fingers patted Ji Pei’s stomach, soothing. “Just a nosebleed. It’s dry. Drink more water.”

Ji Pei sniffled hard, the bleeding stopped, but the rusty taste lingered.

Too embarrassed to look at Jiang Xihan, she saw they wore matching pajamas and smiled.

“You look cute in bunny pajamas.”

Jiang Xihan tugged the bunny ears, brushing Ji Pei’s hand.

“Let’s go to bed.”

Ji Pei touched Jiang Xihan’s forehead with a cool hand. “Feels good?”

Jiang Xihan held her wrist, pressing it to her face. “Very.”

***

In bed, before sleep, Ji Pei checked Jiang Xihan thoroughly.

She examined her right ankle, relieved to see no swelling.

“Does it still hurt?”

Jiang Xihan shook her head. “Not anymore. Healed fast.”

“Don’t sprain it again. A second time would be worse.”

Jiang Xihan leaned on Ji Pei’s chest, nodding. “I’ll be careful.”

Turning off the mushroom light, Ji Pei held the soft, warm Jiang Xihan, kissing her forehead.

“Good night.”

Ji Pei wasn’t used to sleeping with someone. Holding another person felt odd.

But Jiang Xihan was soft, fragrant, and comforting.