Romance Variety Show: The aloof and beautiful fourth female lead is always coveted.

Thanks to Su Yi'an's thorough preparations, there wasn't a single live mosquito in Love House.

When Bai Nianchu received Gu Jinxing's WeChat message, Su Yi'an was still making the bed.

[G: Xiao Chu, are you coming over tonight?]

Her phone was on the bedside table. With a slight vibration, the screen lit up briefly.

Su Yi'an had sharp eyesight and immediately spotted the message that popped up, guessing that the "G" belonged to Gu Jinxing.

He calmly withdrew his gaze, neither touching nor asking any questions. He unfolded the blanket and spread it out before slowly straightening up.

"Nianchu, go take a shower first," Su Yi'an said. "The mosquito coil just burned one round; I'll go refill it."

Once a girl has removed her makeup and taken a shower, she's less likely to move. Plus, his well-timed mention of mosquito repellent effectively shut down any excuse Gu Jinxing might have to take her away.

"Okay." Bai Nianchu nodded.

By the time she finished showering, changed into her pajamas, and saw the message on her phone, half an hour had passed.

[white: I'm not going; it's too much trouble to go back and forth.]

[G: Hmm.]

Gu Jinxing replied quickly.

It was as if he was constantly holding his phone, waiting for her message.

[G: If your male roommate does anything inappropriate, don't hesitate to call me anytime.]

[G: Don't hold it in, don't let yourself suffer, okay?]

[white: I understand.]

[white: Get some rest.]

[G: Goodnight, Xiao Chu too.]

[G: (A meme of a bear hugging a kitten while sleeping)]

Bai Nianchu did not reply again and put her phone back on the bedside table.

Su Yi'an then gently teased, "Was Nianchu reporting to her brother just now?"

Bai Nianchu glanced at him and replied casually, "I guess so."

Su Yi'an looked at her with warm, smiling eyes, "Your brother... is keeping a close eye on you."

He didn't expose him, but merely gave Gu Jinxing a small jab.

If Gu Jinxing were watching the live stream at this moment, he would understand that Su Yi'an was mocking his excessive desire to control Bai Nianchu.

This kind of gradually deteriorating relationship is abnormal and unhealthy.

Su Yi'an hoped he would stop there and not drag Bai Nianchu into the mire.

Although it was said in a joking tone, viewers in the live stream could still sense a hint of jealousy in Su Yi'an's words.

[Male lead, really! How can you be jealous of your brother-in-law? *^_^*]

[Think about it from another angle: if that guy also liked Nianchu, I can't even imagine how delicious that would be!]

[My brother is truly my brother... I forgot the rest.]

[Actually, I also think that Gu Jinxing is being a bit too possessive of Bai Nianchu. This kind of "checking up" isn't the first or second time, is it?]

[It wasn't just a routine check-up; they actually tracked him down to H city!]

[Reminds me of that saying—what MM? Isn't this my wife who grew up with me?^^]

[Gu's inner monologue: While you were ignoring me, who were you professing your love to? Did you even think of me? I can only stare blankly at your chat window, and when I cry, do you feel sorry for me? Don't you even want to reply to me? What did I do wrong? Or did I annoy you?]

On the other side, Gu Jinxing looked down at the chat box.

My gaze lingered on the phrase "Get some rest."

He picked up his phone, then put it down again.

On the computer, the live stream is still going on.

Bai Nianchu leaned against the bed, while Su Yi'an, after washing up, quietly lay down on the other side, keeping her hands and feet neatly tucked in. The space between them was wide enough for another person to lie down.

A few minutes later, the live stream was shut down.

A pop-up window silently hovered above the screen: [Today's live stream has ended. See you tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM. — The Heartbeat House Production Team]

Gu Jinxing remained in the same position for a long time.

Only when the computer automatically went into sleep mode and the last glimmer of light on the screen disappeared into the darkness did he slowly slump his shoulders.

Like a defeated stray dog, abandoned in the torrential rain, soaked to the bone, yet stubbornly refusing to leave.

"...Xiao Chu".

After a long while, a very soft sigh escaped from his throat.

*

Su Yi'an was momentarily dazed.

Outside the window was the shimmering blue sea, and the morning light streamed in, falling on the girl's shoulders.

She had slender shoulders and skin as white as snow.

She lay on her side next to him, the thin blanket slipping off, revealing the clear curve of her lower back, like a crescent moon lying still.

Su Yi'an wanted to reach out and touch her, but was afraid of waking her.

She must have been exhausted last night.

When I carried her to the bathroom to wash her, her nightgown was already wrinkled beyond recognition.

She kept her eyes closed the whole time, her eyelashes were wet, and her face was full of weariness, like a kitten that had been teased by humans until it had no temper left.

Su Yi'an remembers pinning her against the sink, the cool marble and the burning heat of her skin mingling together.

She bit her lip and refused to make a sound, so he tried different methods to tease her in waves.

He wasn't satisfied until he saw her look like she couldn't take it anymore.

Ironically, even in her most out-of-control moments, she only furrowed her brow, her breathing became erratic, and...

Her fingernails dug into the red marks left on his shoulder.

When she could no longer bear it, tears welled up in her eyes, and she asked him to stop in a trembling voice.

Su Yi'an tenderly kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

But it didn't stop.

In the end, she collapsed into his arms, too weak to even lift a finger.

On the shoulders, on the back, even...

The scattered dots are all traces of his pecking.

Like flower petals falling on the snow, they are extremely beautiful.

Su Yi'an looked at her for a long time, then reached out and brushed away the stray hairs on her forehead, placing a light kiss on her brow.

"I'm sorry," he said in a hoarse voice.

She didn't open her eyes, and an impatient hiss rolled from her throat; it's unclear whether she heard it.

Su Yi'an didn't say anything more, but held her tightly in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and sighed with satisfaction.

He's like a despicable thief.

He stole a period of time that didn't belong to him, and stole a beautiful dream that shouldn't have been so blissful.

Su Yi'an stared at her for a long time.

So long that he etched her eyebrows, her features, and the way she lay defenseless in his arms into his very bones.

Stolen time will end, and stolen dreams will fade away.

But it's okay.

Su Yi'an lowered her head and, very gently, placed a kiss on the corner of her lips.

At least in his dreams, she was his Bai Nianchu.

……

Su Yi'an woke up.

My arms felt empty, and I had a sense of loss in my chest.

He turned his head and saw Bai Nianchu sleeping on the other side of the bed, her shoulders rising and falling slightly with her breathing.

Her sleeping posture was very well-behaved and upright, just as she looked before falling asleep—she was still lying on her back, and even her hands folded over her abdomen were still in the same place.

Her eyelashes cast soft shadows on her eyelids, her breathing was shallow and even, and her thin lips were naturally red, like a sleeping beauty in a rose castle waiting for a prince's kiss to wake her.

Su Yi'an looked at it, and her heart suddenly softened.

Then, it tasted sour again.

There was a distance between them that was neither too wide nor too narrow.

There's enough room for two people to sleep comfortably in the same bed.

They do not disturb each other and live in peace.

But just seconds ago in my dream...

His lips still clearly retained her warmth.