Shen Yue was a little sleepy. She drooped her eyelids, looking listless.
Thinking about it, she realized she only had one friend beside her.
He Ji, despite his seemingly cold demeanor, Shen Yue felt that was just an appearance.
Unable to stand still for long, Shen Yue squatted down, quietly waiting for He Ji to pick her up.
The summer night breeze was somewhat cool and comfortable against her skin.
Under the dim street light, the girl, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, squatted by the lamp post. The not-so-bright light shone on her, making her look rather forlorn.
When He Ji arrived, he saw this scene. He immediately got out of the car, asked the taxi driver to wait a moment, and walked towards the girl.
The girl was still squatting on the ground, looking tiny. It wasn't until he reached her that she reacted, albeit slowly.
Rushing over, He Ji's heart had been in his throat. It was only upon seeing Shen Yue safe and sound that he let out a sigh of relief, though his handsome face grew even colder.
Shen Yue looked up at He Ji, then stood up and leaned in to examine his face intently. After confirming it was He Ji, she broke into a smile.
"He Ji, you're here."
Her dark eyes were like clear springs from the depths of the night, flowing with tiny fragments of starlight, a shallow joy.
They were warmer than the moonlight hanging in the night sky.
A blush, like intoxication, colored her fair face.
He supported Shen Yue's body. She was wearing a thin short-sleeved shirt, and his hands would inadvertently brush against her soft, warm skin. He lowered his gaze, not looking.
Shen Yue leaned against He Ji for more than half of her body. He smelled nice, a faint scent of laundry detergent.
He Ji helped Shen Yue into the car. Fortunately, Shen Yue wasn't prone to drunken rampages or vomiting; otherwise, it would have been truly troublesome for him.
She remained obedient until they arrived.
He pulled Shen Yue out of the car and paid the fare. Just as he was about to take her inside, Shen Yue sat down on the ground again, refusing to move.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Shen Yue didn't look at He Ji and instead squatted on the ground, hugging her knees. Her fair face was flushed red, like a girl who had applied rouge.
"Where are you taking me?"
She had become quite sharp at this moment. Earlier, when he had pulled her into the car, she hadn't been so well-behaved. She probably wouldn't even know if she was sold.
He Ji squatted down and took her hand. "Taking you home."
The girl's dark, moist eyes quietly stared at him. As her long, delicate eyelashes slowly lifted, her eyes gradually reddened, holding a pool of tranquil clear water. "I don't have a home..."
He Ji's gaze shifted slightly, and he paused.
He had been detached from worldly affairs at school and didn't know Shen Yue very well. However, after getting closer to her, he found himself paying more attention to her affairs.
It wasn't the girls who discussed Shen Yue the most, but the boys.
They had all sorts of thoughts. While they clearly held disdain and dislike for Shen Yue, their expressions were filled with longing and infatuation, their words completely contradicting their feelings.
He Ji never believed what others said; he only trusted what he saw.
He pursed his lips silently, his fingers tightly clenched. "Then would you like to come to my place?"
His voice, though cold, carried a stiffness of gentleness.
Shen Yue stared at him for a long moment before suddenly saying, "Xiao Yan Gege, is that you?"
He Ji frowned, a wave of inexplicable irritation surging within him. He tensed his jaw. "Who is Xiao Yan Gege?"
As if frightened by He Ji's cold expression, the girl once again tucked her head into her arms, only revealing her dark, moist eyes. Her pale ear tips were red, and she looked at him timidly.
He wasn't Xiao Yan Gege. Xiao Yan Gege wouldn't be this fierce.
He Ji tightened his lips. Seeing the girl's resistance, his clenched fingers betrayed a hint of helplessness.
He tried to be gentle, not to scare her.
"Shall I carry you up?"
The girl brightened again, her eyes curving into a smile. Her dark eyes were like white dew in the moonlight, like the gentle breeze of early March.
"Okay."
Xiao Yan Gege would also carry her.
He Ji squatted down, offering his broad, strong shoulders to the girl.
Shen Yue happily climbed onto He Ji's back, her two soft, slender arms encircling his neck, her chin resting on his shoulder.
Their breaths mingled closely, spraying onto his neck, causing a faint tingling sensation. Tiny electric currents seemed to flow beneath her skin, as if her strength had temporarily vanished. He Ji instinctively tightened his grip on Shen Yue's thigh, his palm feeling as if it were being scorched by fire.
He Ji carried the girl upstairs, opened the door, and then quickly closed it. After placing the girl on the sofa, he didn't pay her any more attention.
It was already very late. He Ji quickly took a shower. For some reason, he felt uneasy and went to the living room to check on Shen Yue. He then turned back to his bedroom to get a blanket.
He carefully covered Shen Yue with the blanket. After ensuring everything was fine, he returned to his bedroom.
However, once he lay down on the bed, he couldn't sleep. His usually clear and rational mind was in disarray, with many images flashing through it, yet none could be grasped.
His heart pounded, and chaotic thoughts raced through his mind.
An indescribable anxiety spread through his chest.
At five in the morning, He Ji's eyes snapped open.
The alarm hadn't even gone off yet. He Ji turned off the alarm, propped his forehead, and the red blood vessels in his eyes indicated his poor sleep quality. He rubbed his aching forehead and let out a sigh.
He Ji rarely dreamed; he usually slept soundly and had excellent sleep quality.
But last night...
He had dreamt of Shen Yue's face, her dark, moist eyes like a nocturnal lake, quiet and docile. The mole on the bridge of her nose was particularly charming, making one want to lick it until it was redder and more vibrant.
In his dream, the girl's fair cheeks were flushed, radiating an incredibly alluring color.
Her dark eyes were not as serene as usual; at one moment they appeared misty and pitifully fragile, and at the next, they were curved with a smile, as if holding honey, captivating his very soul.
Shen Yue was so beautiful that the already vulgar and dirty rumors surrounding her seemed even more stimulating when they weren't about her.
This house was rented for him by his parents, close to school and quiet, making it more convenient for him to study.
Shen Yue was the first person he had brought home.
She was also the only one he had actively allowed to step into his private domain.
He Ji walked out of the bedroom. Passing through the living room, he saw Shen Yue still asleep, the blanket covering half of her face, her hair soft and scattered.
He stood there watching for a moment before going to the bathroom.
After washing up, He Ji felt much more awake. He had reverted to his usual cold and taciturn demeanor.