Chapter Twenty-Two: Wake from Sleep

Wen Yichen's brows were tightly knit, and within his gaze lingered an inexplicable expression, laced with traces of lingering sleepiness. Yet, even though the boy before her was still drowsy-eyed, the aura he exuded, along with that deathly stare, made Jiang Muwen instantly realize she had gotten herself into serious trouble. “You might not believe it if I told you… but just now… there was a mosquito on your face…”

As soon as she finished speaking, the air fell into utter silence.

It was nearly October already, and Wen Yichen certainly didn’t believe her story. With a hint of irritation from being woken, he muttered under his breath, “Idiot.”

“Wen Yichen…” Jiang Muwen called him cautiously.

“What is it?” He kept his head down, busy with his homework, too preoccupied to look at her, his low voice tinged with impatience.

“Could you check this problem for me… Did I get it right?”

Wen Yichen was someone whose words always dripped with disdain, yet his actions were hopelessly honest. No sooner had Jiang Muwen asked than he obediently leaned over, scanning her work line by line.

His sudden nearness sent a jolt through Jiang Muwen’s heart.

It was as if a deer had wandered into her chest, pausing by a clear pond, lowering its head to gently lap at the tranquil surface, sending ripples spreading outward.

A faint scent of shower gel drifted into her nose, as if it could chase away the fatigue she’d accumulated throughout the night.

After a moment of quiet, Wen Yichen’s voice echoed softly, containing a hint of delight, “Well, when did you start getting the hang of this?”

Hearing his words, Jiang Muwen knew she’d answered correctly. A small surge of pride welled up in her, making her feel almost giddy. “It’s all thanks to Teacher Wen’s excellent instruction!”

That one phrase—Teacher Wen—made Wen Yichen flush with embarrassment. He cleared his throat deliberately, feigning composure. “Can’t argue with that…”

Jiang Muwen was about to tease him for his shamelessness when Wen Yichen cut her off, “Let’s move on to the next one.”

A few minutes later, Wen Yichen was still explaining enthusiastically. Since being woken by Jiang Muwen, he’d grown more animated with each word, sleepiness forgotten entirely.

But Jiang Muwen was another story. As the night deepened and the world grew silent, her mind had already begun to slow. Now, forced to keep up with these challenging math problems, she found herself struggling to stay awake.

Wen Yichen was only halfway through his explanation when Jiang Muwen began to nod off.

It seemed this night was destined to be Wen Yichen’s solo celebration.

After a while, Wen Yichen sensed something was amiss. Scribbling formulas on the paper, he asked, “Have you really gotten this good? You’ve understood everything I’ve said so far?”

His words were met with nothing but silence.

The room was so quiet that Wen Yichen could hear the faint, mechanical ticking of the clock.

Something really did feel off…

Instinctively, Wen Yichen turned his head and saw Jiang Muwen fast asleep at her desk. The sight surprised him, though it made perfect sense.

The soft lamp light fell over her face, her lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks.

Wen Yichen gazed at her, a complicated expression flickering across his eyes—a blend of reproach and helplessness.

Suddenly, Wen Yichen remembered the slap she’d given him earlier, and the more he thought about it, the more indignant he felt. A surge of vengeful impulse made him lift his hand and, without mercy, pinch her cheek.

He had to admit—her face was soft and, truth be told, rather pleasant to squeeze.

But pinching alone wasn’t enough for Wen Yichen. He went further, giving her cheek a playful shake.

The sudden pain made Jiang Muwen open her eyes in discomfort. The first thing she saw was Wen Yichen’s gleeful expression.

She instinctively brushed his hand away, shooting him a reproachful look. “Wen Yichen, what are you doing?”

Seeing her reaction, Wen Yichen’s face broke into a triumphant grin. He put on an innocent act, mimicking her earlier pitiful tone, “You might not believe it, but I was pinching a mosquito.”

The words were all too familiar, instantly reminding Jiang Muwen of her earlier excuse. Wen Yichen hadn’t believed her then—what could she do now?

Still, pinching mosquitoes was not something Jiang Muwen could accept. Who had ever heard of catching mosquitoes by pinching them?

“If you just wanted to pinch me, you could’ve said so… Pinching a mosquito, really…” she muttered under her breath, pouting.

“Hm?” Wen Yichen hadn’t quite caught what she said.

His question made Jiang Muwen suddenly feel guilty, as if she’d been caught talking behind his back. Startled, she quickly replied, “I said… pinching mosquitoes is great! Very unique!”

…

No one knew how much time passed before both of them drifted into deep sleep. Perhaps it was sheer exhaustion, for once one of them fell asleep at the desk, the other soon followed.

They’d slept so little that when they finally woke, both bore heavy dark circles under their eyes. After lunch, Wen Yichen lazily made his way back to his bedroom.

There’s a certain drowsiness that follows a full meal, and Wen Yichen was no exception. The moment he entered and saw the big bed, a wave of sleepiness washed over him, as if he hadn’t slept there in days. Instinctively, he threw himself onto the bed, relishing the comfort.

But just as he closed his eyes in contentment, Jiang Muwen’s voice sounded beside him, “Wen Yichen… I want to nap too…”

Her words were soft, as if treading on thin ice, but Wen Yichen heard them loud and clear.

At her words, he opened his eyes, his bright gaze now tinged with fatigue. Sunlight streamed gently into the room, bathing him in a golden glow, making him seem almost unreal to Jiang Muwen.

He frowned slightly, as though she’d disturbed his dreams. His large hand patted the bed lightly and, closing his eyes again, his voice hoarse, he murmured, “Come sleep here.”

They were so familiar with each other that, to Wen Yichen, napping together in the same bed seemed perfectly natural.

When it came to matters of the heart, Wen Yichen was always a beat behind. He’d always believed that his feelings for his childhood friend stemmed solely from their years of friendship. Their bond ran so deep that he took for granted the lack of boundaries between them, oblivious to the possessiveness growing within him—one he hadn’t yet recognized himself.