Xu Meiren resisted, "Why do I have to sleep inside again? Aren't you afraid of falling off the bed? I'll sleep outside, I can block for you."
Xie Jiang stared at him, "As long as you don't kick me, how would I fall off the bed?"
Xu Meiren: "..."
Xie Jiang seemed incredulous, "You still want to kick me down? Are you that restless when you sleep?"
Xu Meiren: "..."
There was no way to explain.
If they continued, he would feel like he was guilty of all evils again.
Xu Hengyan couldn't bear her accusing gaze and silently took off his outer clothes, shoes, and socks, then climbed into the bed to lie down inside.
Fortunately, the bed was quite spacious, and there was still some space between them when they lay flat, so they didn't have to squeeze shoulders.
They both lay down without speaking, and the room was unusually quiet, the buzzing of insects very clear.
Suddenly remembering something, Xu Hengyan sat up.
Xie Jiang said, "What are you doing?"
Xu Hengyan said, "I forgot to fumigate the mosquitoes."
In the past, he didn't have to worry about such trivial matters; now he had to do it himself.
As Xu Hengyan rolled over her, he looked into her eyes for a moment, and his heart pounded like a drum.
Xu Hengyan immediately rolled off the bed, not daring to linger for another moment.
Her eyes...
It wasn't her eyes, it was his own problem. He had been feeling a bit...
Xie Jiang had just lain down and was wondering whether to cover herself with the quilt. She hadn't noticed his abnormality. "Is there mugwort?"
She, on the other hand, felt that Xu Hengyan was too pure and abstinent.
Major Buddhist temples could consider reserving a place for Xu Hengyan.
The eldest son of the Xu family became a Celestial Master, why couldn't the second son become a high monk?
It would be great if the brothers could ascend to heaven together with the entire Xu family.
Otherwise, she couldn't help but doubt several times if her appearance was just average, and being praised by those around her had created an illusion, making her mistakenly believe that she was truly stunningly beautiful?
"The young boy named Dongzi threw a bundle of dried mugwort at the door. They probably brought it specifically for us to fumigate mosquitoes."
It was just that the boy rarely saw strangers, and he was a bit nervous when he saw them, so he didn't dare to speak.
Xie Jiang said, "These children are quite thoughtful."
Xu Hengyan picked up the oil lamp and walked out, "You're only a child yourself, yet you sound so old-fashioned calling them children."
Xie Jiang said, "I'm several years older than them. I'm already an adult, and they're still half-grown children. What's wrong with calling them children?"
Xu Hengyan looked back at her, unable to help but chuckle, "Can you call two or three years a few years older?"
Xie Jiang retorted, "What two or three years? Luo Shou is thirteen this year, right? Dongzi and Huzizi are about the same. I'm four years older than them... four or five years?"
Xu Hengyan's steps paused again, and he stared at her in surprise, "You..."
Xie Jiang said, "I'm seventeen or eighteen, I can't remember clearly. Being four or five years older is not wrong, is it?"
Xu Hengyan was greatly astonished, "You're seventeen or eighteen? You look only fourteen or fifteen."
Seventeen or eighteen was already an adult, but with her petite frame, she still looked like she was growing. "Did you not eat properly since you were young?"
Xie Jiang's expression was fierce, "Xu Hengyan, what kind of look is that? Sympathy or discrimination?"
Xu Hengyan said, "I'm just too surprised. Seventeen or eighteen is still..."
When he was seventeen or eighteen, his physique had already taken shape, and he had long since taken on the responsibilities of the Duke of Wei's heir. He really couldn't say that seventeen or eighteen was still a child.
"You should eat more in the future and don't be a picky eater. You can still grow taller... Whether you're tall or short isn't that important. A man's spirit is more important than anything. You're just too thin."
He thought she seemed young not because of her height, but mainly because her body was too frail. Perhaps it was also because her face looked too young?
"Are you seventeen or eighteen? How can you not even remember your own age?"
"I'm probably seventeen and almost eighteen. I'm just too busy, with too many things to worry about every day. How can I remember such a small matter?"
Xie Jiang rested her hands behind her head and sighed.
Xu Hengyan wanted to say something but stopped. He didn't know her past well, and perhaps she hadn't had an easy time.
Xu Hengyan brought in all the mugwort from outside the door.
The mugwort was tied into bundles and could be used directly.
Xu Hengyan lit one with the oil lamp in his hand, walked into the bedroom, and fumigated every corner. He used the remaining piece to fumigate the outer room as well.
"All done."
Xu Hengyan wiped his hands and returned to the bed.
"Xu Hengyan, you're so capable now."
"Young Master Xie flatters me." In the past, he handled so many things every day, and she never praised him. Now, he was just doing some daily chores, and she called him capable?
"Turn off the light."
"Oh."
Xie Jiang waved her hand in the air, and the flickering lamplight went out.
The room was so dark that not a single ray of light could be seen. Although they were not close to each other, their breaths mingled.
Xu Hengyan's body tensed involuntarily, and he even consciously lightened his breathing.
The night in the village was quiet, with only a few distant cries of children and barks of dogs, which made the village even more tranquil and peaceful.
The bedroom window was in terrible condition, with no obstruction. A little cool breeze occasionally blew in.
Xu Hengyan, however, felt a bit stuffy and found it difficult to calm his mind. He wanted to turn over but was afraid of disturbing her.
Suddenly, Xie Jiang turned over, still facing him. Xu Hengyan's heart tightened.
"Xu Hengyan?"
Her hand reached out and tugged at his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"Can I sleep hugging you?"
Something in Xu Hengyan's mind exploded, followed by a moment of blankness. At least, he felt it was only a brief moment.
"Xu Hengyan?"
But then he heard her call him again by his ear, clearly having waited for a response for a while.
He finally found his voice, "If you can't sleep, I can talk with you for a while longer."
In the darkness, Xie Jiang smiled wickedly, "I can't sleep without hugging something."
She heard a hint of nervousness in Xu Hengyan's voice.
Even though he was pretending to be nonchalant, she could still discern it.
Under normal circumstances, even if one had to sleep in the same bed as a same-sex friend, why would they be nervous?
This meant that Xu Hengyan was already showing abnormal signs.
The plan was proceeding smoothly, which was worth a little bit of happiness.
Before she could even grin happily, Xu Hengyan pushed his quilt towards her and thoughtfully rolled it up for her.
"You can hug this to sleep."
"Xu Hengyan, let me tell you the truth."
"Yes?"
Xu Hengyan's entire attention was on her. He couldn't even distract himself.
Xie Jiang said, "It's not that I can't sleep without hugging something. I just want to sleep hugging you."
Her words made Xu Hengyan's heart skip a beat. He held his breath, afraid to reveal the slightest clue. It wasn't that he was afraid of her hearing something, but he was afraid of himself hearing something.
"Why?"