Sweetie, sleep with me tonight.

Jiang Youxi paused, her fingers accidentally touching him: "You...you...you..."

He Zhuo looked at her blushing face with a leisurely expression: "Why are you so shocked? You were much more extreme than this just now."

The man's tone was languid, with a hoarseness reminiscent of someone just waking up, and his serious demeanor made it difficult to ascertain the truthfulness of his words.

"I...I really touched her like that just now?" Jiang Youxi began to doubt herself.

"Hmm," his eyes were deep and frighteningly hot, "You touched me very comfortably, and when I feel comfortable, I easily fall asleep."

"real?"

Why would I lie to you?

"If that's the case, then why did you wake up again?"

"..."

I didn't expect this kid to be so logical.

Seeing his silence, Jiang Youxi immediately realized that she had been tricked by him again.

She slapped his hand away: "What are you touching me for? Go to sleep!"

"I can't sleep."

Jiang Youxi was taken aback: "You...you've always been like this, waking up frequently at night?"

"Yes, he woke up once the medication wore off."

Jiang Youxi remembered what Aunt Zhang had said before: before she met him, He Zhuo needed sleeping pills and calming incense to fall asleep.

His symptoms were very severe; the medication only lasted for three hours before he would wake up.

This has resulted in his sleep being fragmented over the years; he falls asleep whenever he feels sleepy, wherever he is.

"When did you arrive?"

Two hours ago.

Did I have a nightmare?

"Um."

He gave a slight smirk: "Aren't my nightmares terrifying?"

"No, it's just that you... seem a little insecure." Jiang Youxi reached out and took his hand. "He Zhuo, can you tell me what you dreamed about?"

He stared at her intently for a long while before finally refusing, "It's a terrible nightmare. If I tell you, you'll have nightmares too."

From childhood to adulthood, her world has always been sunny and loving, and he doesn't want these dirty and dark things to affect her.

"I'm not afraid!" The little girl's eyes were firm and brave. "I grew up watching horror movies. I'm not afraid of ghosts, so why would I be afraid of people?"

"Sometimes people are scarier than ghosts." He Zhuo gently touched the tip of her nose. "I can't bear to let you come into contact with these bad things."

Jiang Youxi suddenly covered her nose: "You—"

"What's wrong?"

"Have you ever pinched other girls' noses like that before?"

He Zhuo saw her glaring at him with wide, round eyes, clearly angry.

He smirked: "Are you angry?"

Jiang Youxi snorted, lay down, crossed her arms, and decided to ignore him.

He Zhuo leaned closer and turned her face towards him: "Don't be angry."

Jiang Youxi slapped his hand away: "I didn't!"

I think you do.

"You think it doesn't count."

"Then how do we determine if it counts?"

Jiang Youxi adopted a "severing all ties" demeanor: "From today onwards, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

He Zhuo was amused by her, pinched her pouty little face, and explained softly, "I did pinch a little girl's nose before."

Jiang Youxi slightly opened her round eyes.

She knew it! Men are all womanizers!!

Jiang Youxi was about to get angry when she realized that the two of them were not related by blood, and that it would make her seem like she was meddling.

So she covered her ears with her hands, smiled at him, and said, "Go on."

"..."

He Zhuo wrapped his arms around hers, pressed his forehead against hers, and nuzzled her: "That little girl is my sister."

Jiang Youxi was taken aback: "What?"

"My half-sister, He Yunwei. I once pinched her nose, but that was when she was a year and a half old." He emphasized, "Just that one time."

"Just that one time?"

"Yes, because her mother saw it and took her right out of my arms."

The year He Zhuo returned to the He family was the same year He Yunwei was born. At that time, he was very ill and spent all his time curled up in the closet in his room, unable to sleep night after night.

This situation continued for a year and a half until one day, he woke up hungry and went out to find something to eat.

He had just climbed out of the wardrobe when he saw a little girl with pigtails, wearing a princess dress, standing in front of the wardrobe, tilting her head to look at him.

The little girl's eyes were full of curiosity about him.

He Zhuo was stunned for a while before he remembered that the little girl in front of him was his half-sister, He Yunwei.

The little girl had never seen him since birth, so she was naturally a complete stranger to him.

He Zhuo didn't want to pay attention to him and was about to leave when a small hand grabbed his little finger.

The little girl tilted her head back and called out to him in a clear, sweet voice, "Brother."

He Zhuo froze, looking at the little girl who only reached his knees in surprise.

The little girl couldn't see her brother's expression, but she pulled his hand over and placed the children's rice cake in his hand: "Brother, I'm hungry."

At that time, He Yunwei could only say some simple baby talk such as "Dad, Mom, Brother, Auntie," and her pronunciation was not very standard.

But He Zhuo still understood what she said.

He didn't know how she knew he was hungry and shared her snacks with him.

For some reason, He Zhuo's heart softened, and he unconsciously half-squatted down and gently pinched her little nose: "Thank you."

The little girl seemed to understand, her eyes crinkling with happiness. She hugged her brother and snuggled against him affectionately.

Just as He Zhuo was about to hug her back, You Huilin rushed in and snatched the little girl away.

But the next second, You Huilin realized something and smiled lovingly at He Zhuo: "Xiao Zhuo, are you hungry? I'll ask Aunt Zhang to make you something to eat."

He Zhuo slowly stood up, glanced at her indifferently, and said calmly and politely, "No need, I'm not hungry."

Realizing she had misunderstood, Jiang Youxi awkwardly gave an "oh" and quietly turned her back, trying to escape the scene.

He Zhuo poked her pink earlobe with his finger: "Jiang Youxi, something's wrong with you."

"I didn't! I'm not! This is all your imagination!"

"Really?" He Zhuo raised his hand, propped his head up, and glanced at her lazily. "But why do I smell a strong sour smell?"

"Sour?" Jiang Youxi was taken aback, then turned to face him. "Who pickled sauerkraut?"

He Zhuo lightly tapped the tip of her nose: "That's a question you'll have to ask yourself."

"I really don't know," Jiang Youxi shook her head seriously, "because people in our Luyang Township don't usually pickle vegetables."

"..."

He Zhuo chuckled lightly: "Okay, I'll take the blame for pickling it, alright?"

"I knew it! Why do you smell so sour?"

He Zhuo said expressionlessly, "Jiang Youxi, you're quite adept at turning the tables."

Jiang Youxi stretched out her finger and drew a circle on his chest: "Don't you fall for that?"

A slight itch came from his chest, like an electric current coursing through his body.

He Zhuo suddenly grabbed her hand: "Stop."

"what?"

"I feel a little unwell."

"Where does it hurt?"

"The spot you just touched."

Jiang Youxi was stunned. She gently lifted the blanket, peeked inside, and then pressed it down with a bang.

He Zhuo remained calm, his tone husky and languid, carrying a hint of inexplicable flirtation: "How was it?"

Jiang Youxi was flustered and at a loss, her eyes darting around, unsure of where to look.

He Zhuo gently lifted her chin: "Speak."

Jiang Youxi gave him a sweet smile: "It really is quite uncomfortable."

After saying that, she shamefully threw off the covers and slipped inside.

But thinking about the purpose of her visit tonight, she lifted the blanket again, revealing only her round head.

"Congratulations on your drinking."

"Um?"

The little girl said earnestly, "Starting today, I'll come and sleep with you every night."

He Zhuo froze, his dark eyes narrowing slightly: "How will you sleep?"

"How do you want to sleep?"

"I like to sleep naked." He glanced at her leisurely.

"And you?"