The light was still on, so Zhou Yueshen assumed Si Nian was awake.
But he found her half-lying on the bed, already fast asleep.
Yaoyao had been sleeping with the two boys lately, so now that the two of them were sharing a room, it wasn’t very convenient.
Zhou Yueshen took off his damp undershirt. For convenience, he usually showered at the pig farm before coming home, where water was more accessible.
Because of this, he always returned with a lingering dampness clinging to him.
He walked to the bedside and looked down at Si Nian’s sleeping face.
After watching her for a while, he was about to pull the blanket over her when he noticed a book on the floor. He picked it up and glanced at it—a high school exercise book. Flipping through it, he instinctively checked the answers.
Every blank was filled in, and every answer was correct.
The handwriting was elegant and refined, the strokes rounded yet firm, gentle and graceful—just like her.
Thinking about Si Nian’s plans to take the college entrance exam, Zhou Yueshen fell silent for a moment before closing the book. Then, he noticed a small notebook on the table, covered in crookedly written letters.
He opened it and saw it was filled with vocabulary words.
The handwriting was messy and uneven, undeniably adorable.
His brow lifted slightly.
The corners of his lips curled as he chuckled.
It was unmistakably the Second Child’s writing.
The usually playful little one had actually been studying so diligently.
How rare.
Zhou Yueshen gazed tenderly at Si Nian, deep in sleep on the bed, then set the book aside. He pulled back the blanket and lay down, wrapping an arm around her waist from behind.
But his thoughts drifted back to that day at school, to the way she had addressed him then.
At the time, Zhou Yueshen had sensed something off.
Because in the days since, she hadn’t called him that again.
The man lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.
Si Nian, sensing his presence, turned drowsily in her sleep, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face against his skin, her lips brushing his collarbone.
Her breathing was steady.
Zhou Yueshen’s dark eyes sharpened, his voice low and rough. "Did I wake you?"
His large hand settled on the soft curve of her waist, the touch smooth and warm.
Si Nian was still half-asleep, her mind vaguely recalling that she needed to tell Zhou Yueshen about going out the next day. But when she opened her mouth, no words came out, and within moments, she had nestled back into his arms and drifted off again.
She had always been the type to kick off blankets in her sleep, but ever since sharing a bed with Zhou Yueshen, that habit had lessened. Even when she did, she never felt cold—because there was always a warm embrace behind her, those strong hands resting on her waist, keeping her from moving too much.
If Si Nian felt even the slightest chill, she instinctively pressed closer to him.
In this era, without alarm clocks, people simply woke naturally.
Wanting to get an early start for the market day with the family, Si Nian had gone to bed early the night before.
At five o’clock sharp, the rooster from Aunt Zhang’s house next door crowed.
After several rounds of crowing, Si Nian stirred awake, her hand brushing against the solid arm draped over her waist. She pushed it away instinctively, only for the man to pull her back immediately.
That large hand settled on her waist again.
She was fully awake now.
Opening her eyes, she saw moonlight streaming through the window—dawn hadn’t broken yet.
Behind her was the familiar warmth of Zhou Yueshen’s body and the steady rhythm of his breathing.
Today, he was still here.
Usually, he came home after she was already asleep and left before she woke.
Their time together was scarce.
Still in the newlywed phase, Si Nian wouldn’t say she was madly in love with him, but there were certainly feelings.
That sense of distance existed, but it only surfaced when she was alone at night.
Last night, waiting for him to return, she had even felt a flicker of frustration.
But she’d fallen asleep soon after. Now, she vaguely recalled hearing his voice in her drowsy state—something about asking her a question. Too tired, she couldn’t remember if she’d mentioned helping the family today. The only clear memory was the scratchy stubble on his chin brushing against her forehead, tickling her.
Si Nian turned to look at him.
Bathed in the bright moonlight, Zhou Yueshen lay on his side, eyes closed. His sharp features were softened in sleep, the usual intensity dulled. His nose was high and straight, with a slight bump—a Roman nose. His lips were thin, pressed together, and his jawline was strong, his profile sharply defined.
After a few seconds of staring, Si Nian marveled. Even after all this time together, she still found herself fascinated by his face.
Mature, steady, and reserved—his personality wasn’t simple or naive, but rather indifferent toward most things.
Yet when he slept, he seemed gentler.
Less untouchable.
Si Nian’s feelings toward Zhou Yueshen were complicated. Though they were intimate, and he treated her well—never neglecting her in any way, physically or emotionally—she still felt like she didn’t truly understand him.
Like she hadn’t fully entered his world.
In the past, she wouldn’t have cared.
They could make it work, or they could part ways.
But now, a sense of curiosity had taken root.
She wanted to see him lose control—because of her.
After another moment, Si Nian looked away.
She got up, planning to make breakfast.
Since Zhou Yueshen hadn’t left yet, she’d prepare extra for him to take to the pig farm, something he could heat up for lunch.
Her movements roused him.
Zhou Yueshen opened his eyes and looked at her. Despite just waking up, there wasn’t a trace of sleepiness in his dark gaze.
When he lifted his head, his eyes met hers.
She was propped up on her hands, her long black hair cascading messily over her shoulders. Under the moonlight, her striking features looked even more flawless.
His sudden alertness startled her.
The way he woke was eerily composed—no sluggishness, no lingering drowsiness. His dark eyes only seemed deeper under the pale light.
Si Nian opened her mouth, then slowly murmured, "...You’re awake."
"Mn." His voice was rough with sleep.
Finally, a sign that he had, in fact, just woken up.
Otherwise, Si Nian might’ve suspected he hadn’t slept at all.
Unsure what else to say, she simply got up. "I’ll make breakfast. Sleep a little longer."
She started to leave, but Zhou Yueshen reached out, his hand cupping the back of her neck and pulling her down. Before she could react, she was pressed against his firm chest, her lips captured in a kiss.
His jaw was unyielding, his lips pressed to hers—not deepening the kiss, just lingering.
Soft, featherlight, yet unrelenting. He teased her lips, coaxing them apart, then drew back, only to return again, slow and deliberate.
Having tasted passion before, Si Nian felt her pulse quicken, her body responding before she could stop herself.
But then, he let go.
She blinked dazedly, staring at him in confusion.
Zhou Yueshen traced her brow with his fingers, his voice low. "Time to get up."
Si Nian: "......"
Before she could process it, he was already pulling on his clothes.
Zhou Yueshen stood, his tall frame towering like a mountain by the bed.
When he turned and saw her still staring at him in disbelief, he let out a quiet laugh—a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through his chest. "What’s wrong?"
Si Nian snapped out of it, surprised by the flicker of disappointment in her chest.
What was wrong with her? Had she actually wanted him to keep going?
Since when had she become so... eager?
She quickly patted her cheeks, pushing the thought aside as she stood. "Nothing. I’m getting up now."
"You can sleep a little longer. It’s still early." His voice was a low rumble.
Si Nian shook her head without looking at him, bending down to put on her shoes. "I won't sleep anymore."
