She blinked dazedly and asked naturally, "You're back."
Her clear, bright, yet dark and moist eyes fixed on Sang Fan, causing a tremor in his heart.
His Adam's apple bobbed subtly. Maintaining his composure, he walked over and placed the cake he was carrying on the coffee table.
Shen Yue's attention was quickly drawn to the exquisite cake. Her eyes lit up as she asked, "Is this for me?"
Sang Fan nodded. The girl eagerly opened the cake box. The rabbit-shaped cake was incredibly cute. Holding a spoon, she was almost reluctant to eat it. After a long hesitation, she ate the rabbit's ears first.
He sat down beside her, their distance suddenly closing. The girl, head bowed, ate the cake with concentration, a section of her fair white neck exposed to his gaze.
Shen Yue ate gracefully, taking small bites.
Sang Fan watched her silently, like a wild beast presented with a delectable prey. He was so ravenous he could almost drool, yet he convinced himself it was just hunger causing these illusions.
He frowned slightly, feeling a flicker of irritation.
Sang Fan's gaze seemed to pierce through her clothes, as if seeing right through Shen Yue.
Under such intense scrutiny, Shen Yue found it difficult to pretend not to notice. Without much thought, she offered the rabbit cake, its ears already eaten, to Sang Fan. Her eyelashes fluttered like butterflies as her lips curved into a gentle arc. "Would you like to try some?"
"It's very sweet."
Shen Yue added, "And delicious."
She loved sweets. Perhaps it was because she had eaten so many bitter medicines since childhood that she had no resistance to sweet things. The sweet taste could mask the bitterness and lift one's spirits.
Sang Fan disliked cake and the cloying sweetness. However, he truly couldn't bear the girl's gaze any longer.
His heart felt like a lone sailboat on a calm yet unfathomably deep sea. Giant waves surged, engulfing him. It felt as if countless thick iron chains bound his limbs in the ocean's depths, rendering all struggle meaningless, like a trapped beast forced to endure wave after wave of attack.
Sang Fan's breathing grew heavy. His hands, resting on his thighs, slowly clenched, veins bulging on his arms.
The girl, oblivious, leaned closer, her clean, crystal-clear eyes fixed on him.
They clearly reflected his image, as if in this moment, he was the only one in her eyes and in her heart.
This was merely an illusion.
A captivating, deceptive illusion.
Sang Fan shifted slightly, his mind a chaotic mess, blood boiling and crashing within him.
He feigned a cool, indifferent expression, a hint of impatience in his brow. "No, thank you."
Then he added a warning.
"Don't get so close to me."
These words and actions, so overtly distancing and cautionary, made Shen Yue realize that she was indeed a bit too close. After all, Sang Fan had someone he liked, and she needed to maintain proper boundaries.
Of course, that didn't apply when they slept at night. Although they shared a room, a bolster always separated them. The most they would do was hold hands, which was also due to Sang Fan's insomnia.
His insomnia was so specific.
She could cure it. Could Sang Fan's future girlfriend?
Probably.
Shen Yue believed that insomnia was primarily a psychological issue.
If possible, Shen Yue wished for Sang Fan to recover. Moreover, she had saved up some money and could rent a place outside.
Unaware that Shen Yue was already planning to leave, Sang Fan belatedly felt his words might have been too harsh. A wave of inexplicable anxiety and nervousness washed over him as he glanced at Shen Yue.
The girl's eyes were gentle and forgiving. Even though she had to look up at Sang Fan, she still possessed a quality that made one want to depend on her.
"Has your insomnia improved recently?"
Sang Fan fiddled with his fingers and pursed his thin lips. "A little."
Shen Yue nodded, secretly relieved.
Then she lowered her head and continued to eat her cake in small bites. Sang Fan watched her. This time, Shen Yue ignored his gaze, focusing on the cake in her hands.
By nightfall, they were both lying in bed, the bolster still between them.
Shen Yue fell asleep quite early. Not long after lying down, she drifted off. In her sleepy haze, she seemed to hear Sang Fan tossing and turning repeatedly. Still groggy, she thought, "Hasn't Sang Fan fallen asleep yet?"
Her mind was muddled, and before she could fully process it, her hand had already reached out, skillfully grasping Sang Fan's broad, slightly rough hand.
It was hot and wide, offering a sense of security just by touch.
Her eyes were closed, and she mumbled, "There, now you won't be afraid if I hold your hand."
Sang Fan often woke up in the middle of the night from nightmares. Shen Yue, sleeping beside him, was already accustomed to it and would soothe him skillfully. It was almost a conditioned reflex; she remembered to comfort him even in her dreams.
The man beside her soon quieted down, seemingly asleep. Shen Yue then sank into a deeper slumber.
***
Work at the flower shop wasn't busy. It was a chain store, and Shen Yue wasn't the only employee. There were two other women and one man, including the store manager. With the manager and Shen Yue, there were five people in total.
Although the staff wasn't large, they had monthly gatherings. After work this day, the manager organized a dinner for everyone. Shen Yue, wanting to fit in, naturally didn't refuse.
They were having hot pot, which Shen Yue enjoyed. She mostly buried her head in eating. Afterward, one of the women suggested going to karaoke, and everyone agreed. Shen Yue tagged along.
Whether intentionally or not, Shen Yue felt the manager was looking out for her, evident in various small details. One of the women even teased Shen Yue, asking if she was related to the manager, which was why she received such special attention. Shen Yue just smiled.
They were all singing. Shen Yue wasn't particularly interested and just listened from the side, sipping fruit juice. Unconsciously, she drank two glasses.
The lighting in the private room was colorful and the atmosphere dimly lit. While chatting with the manager, Shen Yue casually picked up a glass of water. Thinking it was water, she took a sip and her brow immediately furrowed. The taste was strange.
Then, the girl beside her gasped.
"Oh my god! Shen Yue, you drank my baijiu!"
Shen Yue thought, "No wonder it tasted so peculiar."
She had never drunk alcohol before and didn't think much of it. Turning to the girl, she apologized, "It's okay. I only had a little bit. I'm sorry."
The girl replied, "It's fine. It's just that the liquor is quite strong."
Shen Yue felt nothing at the moment, other than a slight urge to use the restroom after drinking so much water. She excused herself to the manager and went to find the restroom.