Chapter Sixty-Five: Yes, I’m Here

“What do you mean by ‘it’s not like we haven’t slept in the same bed before’?”
“When have we ever slept in the same bed?”
Ruan Mianmian was so agitated she nearly stomped her feet. No matter how she racked her brain, she couldn’t fathom how Jiang Ce could say such a thing aloud.
Jiang Ce merely curled his lips, “Many times.”
Ruan Mianmian’s face was filled with confusion. Sitting on the sofa, she pondered endlessly, unable to grasp what Jiang Ce’s ‘many times’ truly meant.
“What do you mean, ‘many times’?”
She stammered, “I—I remember I’ve hardly ever been in your room. The closest we ever got was that night when it was raining and the power went out, and I was going to bandage your wound.”
Jiang Ce nodded, “Yes, that counts as once.”
“Ugh!”
Ruan Mianmian shot him a glare, muttering, “How does that count as sleeping in the same bed?”
At that moment, Jiang Ce became rather proud. “Doesn’t matter. If you’re staying here, I’ll stay too.”
“Whatever you want.”
Ruan Mianmian didn’t bother to argue. It was so late, and the distance to Starfish Bay was far—going back and forth would be too much trouble.
“Stay here if you like. I’m going to take a shower.”
She rose and ignored Jiang Ce, heading for the bathroom on her own.
Soon, the sound of splashing water echoed from inside. Jiang Ce stared at the bathroom door, his gaze unwavering.
Taking advantage of the moment, he walked over to the bedroom and glanced inside.
The room was spotless. Compared to the Ruan family’s home, this place was much more refreshing, lacking all those pointless decorations and feeling quite spacious.
Jiang Ce entered and switched on the air conditioner, adjusting the temperature. It was hot outside today, and the bedroom felt a bit stuffy, but now the air was comfortable.
Not long after, Ruan Mianmian emerged from the bathroom in pajamas adorned with cartoon prints, only to find the living room empty.
“Where is he? Did he leave?”
She muttered to herself, drying her hair as she walked toward the bedroom.
As she reached the doorway, her steps halted abruptly.
Her petite bed now had someone lying on it—he was quiet, fast asleep, right before her eyes.
Usually, when Ruan Mianmian slept in that bed, it felt spacious. But with Jiang Ce there, it suddenly seemed much too small.
His long legs extended beyond the edge; even curled up, he occupied most of the space.
Ruan Mianmian stood at the door, momentarily speechless.
“How am I supposed to sleep like this?”
She glanced at the sofa in the living room but refused to let herself be uncomfortable.
Once her hair was dry, she tiptoed into the bedroom.

Jiang Ce was deeply asleep, but even so, a shadow of worry lingered between his brows, his forehead furrowed as if weighed down by exhaustion.
Ruan Mianmian recalled what Ah Kuan had said.
Jiang Ce had gone out again last night, probably hadn’t slept much, and had no time to rest during the day, so now he was utterly spent.
She carefully climbed into bed. Despite his tall frame, Jiang Ce slept soundly and had left her enough space.
Lying there, the world seemed to fall silent, with only the steady sound of his breathing beside her.
The bed was small; when Ruan Mianmian lowered her arm, it brushed against Jiang Ce’s clothes.
He’d fallen asleep fully dressed. Sleeping like that, he’d surely wake up feeling uncomfortable.
But she didn’t have the nerve to undress him without a second thought.
So she simply let it be.
Ruan Mianmian knew Jiang Ce’s habits, so the room was brightly lit, not a trace of darkness.
She lay quietly for a while, but sleep eluded her.
She turned over, facing away from Jiang Ce, but soon enough, a warm embrace closed in behind her like a furnace.
“Turn off the light,”
Jiang Ce’s voice, thick with sleep, spilled softly into her ear.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Aren’t you afraid?”
Jiang Ce paused for two seconds, then, with a smile in his tone, said, “With you here, I’m not afraid.”
She glanced back at him—his eyes were closed, his face filled with a certain satisfaction and joy.
She carefully sat up and switched off the light.
Darkness enveloped the room. Ruan Mianmian had barely settled in when that burning embrace swept over her again.
“Jiang Ce!”
Her voice was resistant as she pressed her palm against his chest.
Jiang Ce’s voice was low and sounded somewhat forlorn, “If I hold you, I won’t be afraid.”
Ruan Mianmian fell silent, and the strength in her wrist slowly faded away, until she allowed him to pull her into his arms.
To be precise, Jiang Ce wrapped her entirely in his embrace.
“You say I’m the only one in your heart, yet you resist even a simple embrace.”
His voice spread softly above her head. Ruan Mianmian remembered the time Jiang Ce had collapsed in the darkness; her heart instantly softened.
“Didn’t I let you hold me?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Ce lowered his head, breathing in the scent of her hair, content. “Let me hold you forever, alright?”

What did it mean to push one’s luck? Now she understood.
“Sleep. Let’s sleep!”
Her face burned hot as fire. Luckily, the room was dark, so she had no need to be embarrassed, but this close embrace was unfamiliar and unsettling.
“Alright, sleep.”
Jiang Ce replied, and Ruan Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief.
But in the next instant, his warm breath brushed past her nose and landed directly on her lips.
Her lips were gently bitten, and her heartbeat seemed to skip.
“Jiang... Jiang Ce!”
“Mm, I’m here.”
And he continued his ravaging.
She was pressed down by Jiang Ce, his whole body covering hers, and her wrists were pinned above her head.
Held in place.
She couldn’t struggle, forced to submit to his whims.
Their breaths mingled, hers growing chaotic, her heartbeat even more so.
The pounding filled her ears.
Jiang Ce’s hands seemed to possess some kind of magic; wherever he touched, her skin ignited like wildfire, burning feverishly.
Her waist felt a sudden chill, then pressed against Jiang Ce’s defined hips.
Somehow, his shirt had disappeared, and her pajamas were pushed up to her chest.
Ruan Mianmian suddenly snapped awake. She struggled to rise, only to find her hands still pinned.
“Jiang Ce! Let me go.”
He didn’t answer, responding instead with action.
He kissed her deeply.
The more she struggled, the more forceful he became, until Jiang Ce’s tongue was bitten sharply—everything came to an abrupt halt.
He lifted his head to look at her, her breathing in disarray as she continued to resist, desperate to break free.
Moonlight poured through the window, bathing the room in silver, illuminating even the expressions on their faces.
Ruan Mianmian steadied her breath, her eyes cold and distant.
“Jiang Ce, let me go.”