If she closed her eyes, wouldn't that mean she agreed?
But if she didn't agree, what should she say? This was originally what was supposed to happen, and it was already more than half a year late.
Zheng Wei didn't let her hesitate for too long.
Before Shen Xiaoyan could make up her mind and prepare to speak, she was already pushed onto the kang bed by Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei's body pressed tightly against hers. Because the room was warm, they were not wearing very thick clothes.
Through the thin inner garment, Shen Xiaoyan could feel the heat from Zheng Wei's body. This heat was scorching, seemingly more intense than the kang bed itself.
Shen Xiaoyan stared with wide eyes, looking at Zheng Wei motionlessly.
What met her gaze were Zheng Wei's flushed cheeks and his deep eyes.
It was broad daylight…
At this moment, only this sentence repeated in Shen Xiaoyan's mind, but she didn't realize at all that her thoughts had already gone astray. Refusal and resistance, all of it had gone to hell.
"No, it's daytime," Shen Xiaoyan said, pushing Zheng Wei's chest with her hand.
But for some reason, she felt completely weak. If it were usual, a gentle push would have sent Zheng Wei aside.
But now, Zheng Wei's body was unmoving.
"What's wrong with it being daytime?" Zheng Wei's voice was hoarse, a supreme anesthetic to Shen Xiaoyan's ears.
Shen Xiaoyan's face was already flushed red, but it was clearly not from anger. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Zheng Wei held back a little, a slight smile appearing on his face. He lowered his head and gently kissed the corner of Shen Xiaoyan's lips. "Sleep, take a nap. I'll sleep with you."
Without waiting for Shen Xiaoyan's reaction, he rolled over and lay beside her.
With a hook of his foot, he pulled over a cotton quilt.
After covering both of them with the quilt, Zheng Wei's large hand covered Shen Xiaoyan's eyes. "Sleep."
Shen Xiaoyan obediently closed her eyes, her mind in a mess, unsure of what she was thinking. She only felt her heart pounding violently.
The room fell silent again. It felt like a long time had passed, or perhaps only an instant. Shen Xiaoyan's breathing gradually became steady, and only then did Zheng Wei slowly open his eyes.
Looking at Shen Xiaoyan's peaceful sleeping face, a hint of tenderness flashed in Zheng Wei's eyes. He then closed his eyes again, forcing himself to fall asleep quickly.
When Shen Xiaoyan woke up again, it seemed to be very late. She actually felt hungry. Heaven knew she had eaten a lot before falling asleep.
Rubbing her dazed eyes, Shen Xiaoyan realized she was alone in the room. Where was Zheng Wei?
As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Just as Shen Xiaoyan thought of Zheng Wei, she saw him walk in carrying a tray.
A sentence popped into Shen Xiaoyan's mind: Is it time to eat again?
"Mimi, you're awake? You must be hungry. It's just ready." Zheng Wei said as he placed the tray on the kang table.
Although Zheng Wei's voice was as usual, Shen Xiaoyan inexplicably felt that he was exceptionally gentle today.
Shaking her head, Shen Xiaoyan wanted to shake this thought away. She must have eaten something wrong today, otherwise, why would she feel that Zheng Wei was exceptionally gentle today?
She put on her shoes and went to wash up. By the time she returned, she felt much clearer.
Zheng Wei was already sitting by the kang, waiting for her. Shen Xiaoyan simply sat opposite him.
"Where's Xiaoming?" Shen Xiaoyan waited for a while but didn't see Shen Xiaoming. She couldn't help but feel strange.
"He went back to his room to eat," Zheng Wei said faintly, serving Shen Xiaoyan a piece of food.
He went back to his room? But why?
"Why did he go back to his room to eat?" Shen Xiaoyan asked again.
"I don't know. Children grow up and have their own ideas. You can't control everything, can you?" Zheng Wei said as if it were natural.
But these words, in Shen Xiaoyan's ears, didn't sound quite right. How could they sound so off?
Shen Xiaoyan's intelligence was clearly not enough today. After thinking for a long time, she couldn't figure it out and could only eat quietly.
After the meal, Zheng Wei naturally cleared the dishes and walked out with the tray.
Only after Zheng Wei's figure disappeared did Shen Xiaoyan realize what was wrong. Why was Zheng Wei so diligent today?
Thinking back to what happened in the afternoon, Shen Xiaoyan felt even more restless.
This feeling was like a prisoner waiting to be executed on the scaffold. Knowing death was inevitable, but not knowing when the blade would fall. She both hoped it would come quickly and hoped time would pass slowly.
This hesitation could not be explained in words.
Regardless of what Shen Xiaoyan was thinking, Zheng Wei had already returned. He glanced at Shen Xiaoyan indifferently, as if he hadn't seen her hesitant expression. He opened his mouth and asked, "I've boiled water. Do you want to take a bath?"
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyan's whole body tensed. She had wanted to refuse directly, but thinking that she hadn't bathed in several days, it would be good to wash up.
"Okay."
What was coming couldn't be avoided. Shen Xiaoyan felt that she had given up all pretense now.
Upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan's answer, Zheng Wei didn't say anything. He turned and walked out. In no time, he returned, this time carrying two buckets, both full of hot water.
After pouring the hot water into the bathtub, Zheng Wei went out again to fetch cold water. Only when the water temperature in the bathtub was just right did Zheng Wei carry the two buckets out and say to Shen Xiaoyan, "Alright, you go wash. I'll wash in the west room."
Shen Xiaoyan nodded, took out her pajamas from the wardrobe, and walked into the washroom.
Zheng Wei watched Shen Xiaoyan close the washroom door, then turned and walked out of the room.
He still had to boil some hot water to wash in the west room. He knew Shen Xiaoyan wouldn't be out so soon.
When Shen Xiaoyan sat in the bathtub, the only feeling she had was comfort. All her previous hesitation, worry, and fear were thrown to the back of her mind. It was better to enjoy the present.
Zheng Wei had expected Shen Xiaoyan to take a long time to finish bathing, but apparently, he was wrong this time. When he pushed the door open and walked in, he saw Shen Xiaoyan sitting on the kang bed.
Her semi-dry long hair draped over her back. Her elbows rested on the kang table, her chin propped up by her hands. She was staring motionlessly at the door. Seeing him enter, she immediately flashed a brilliant smile.
"You're done? Are you cold? The west room isn't heated." Shen Xiaoyan asked softly.
Zheng Wei was clearly a little stunned. He truly couldn't understand why Shen Xiaoyan wasn't acting according to convention. She had been looking so worried just a moment ago, but after taking a bath, she seemed like a different person.
Shen Xiaoyan also noticed Zheng Wei's confusion, but she had no intention of explaining.
It wasn't that she was truly fearless now. After all, this was the first time in her three lives, so it was natural to be afraid.
However, she was no longer worried, nor did she have any reservations.
Having lived with Zheng Wei for so long, she wouldn't dare say she understood him perfectly, but she could believe that he was a trustworthy person, someone she could wholeheartedly trust and entrust her future to.
Since that was the case, why should she be coy?
Zheng Wei, perhaps having understood Shen Xiaoyan's change, walked a few steps forward and sat beside her.
He picked up the dry towel nearby and gently began to dry Shen Xiaoyan's hair. They didn't say a word until her hair was completely dry.
Shen Xiaoyan touched her completely dry hair, then turned to look at Zheng Wei, noticing his hair was also dry. It made sense; the room was warm, so even without drying, it would dry quickly.
She put on her shoes, got off the kang, and walked to the dressing table. Shen Xiaoyan combed her hair to the side and then simply tied it up.
"What time is it now?" Shen Xiaoyan asked, looking at Zheng Wei on the kang bed.
"End of Xushi."
Shen Xiaoyan nodded, which meant it was almost 9 o'clock. It was indeed very late.
"Then let's rest." Shen Xiaoyan said as she stood up and turned off the lamp.
Zheng Wei was startled by Shen Xiaoyan's action. By the time he reacted, the room was already plunged into darkness.
Shen Xiaoyan steadied herself, secretly encouraging herself, and then walked towards the kang bed.
She wasn't far from the kang bed to begin with. Now, with just a few steps, she had already touched the edge of the kang.