Yingqu Liuzi was pampered by her wealthy daddy.

The manor was quiet at night. The only sounds were the wind whistling through the treetops and the crackling of wood burning in the fireplace.

Shen Yu'an came downstairs in her pajamas after taking a shower. Xize was sitting on the sofa in the living room, with a fireplace burning in front of him and a book in his hand.

He saw Shen Yu'an come down and patted the spot next to him.

"come over."

Shen Yu'an walked over and sat down on the sofa. The sofa was large, and he curled up in the corner, his feet tucked up and resting on the edge of the sofa.

Seeing that he was huddled up, Xize reached out and pulled him closer to him, letting him lean on his shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Yu'an turned his head and glanced at the book cover. It was a novel about the Scottish Highlands.

"Just flipping through it." Xize turned to the page he had just been reading and continued reading.

He didn't read aloud; he read silently. Shen Yu'an leaned on his shoulder and could see the words on the pages—line after line of English text in very small font.

He got sleepy after watching for a while. He had been riding horses all afternoon and walking on the grass for a long time, so he was already exhausted.

The fireplace was warm, and waves of heat washed over him. Xize's shoulders were steady, his breathing even, and Shen Yu'an leaned against him, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

He knew he should go back upstairs to sleep, but his body didn't want to move.

The sofa was too soft, the fireplace too warm, and Caesar's body heat shone through his pajamas, making him feel languid.

"Tired?" Xize's voice came from above.

"Hmm... just a little bit."

"Go upstairs to sleep?"

"Wait a little longer," Shen Yu'an said, her eyes closed and her voice muffled.

Xize didn't urge him, and continued turning the pages. The sound of turning the pages was very soft, like a feather brushing against the paper.

The flickering firelight from the fireplace danced on their faces, casting shadows of different sizes on the wall, overlapping each other.

Shen Yu'an didn't know when she fell asleep.

He only felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, Caesar's shoulders becoming more and more steady, and the sound of the fireplace fading into the distance.

Then he lost consciousness, completely relaxed, leaned against Xize, and his breathing became light and even.

Xize sensed it.

He looked down and saw that Shen Yu'an had her eyes closed, her eyelashes casting a small shadow in the firelight, her mouth slightly open, and her breathing very even.

She curled up next to him, like a warm, soft lump.

Xize put down the book and didn't move.

He sat in that position for a while, and only after he was sure Shen Yu'an was sound asleep did he gently place the book on the coffee table.

He reached one hand through Shen Yu'an's back and used the other hand to support his knees, lifting him up horizontally.

Shen Yu'an groaned when she was picked up and rubbed her face against Xize's chest, but she didn't wake up.

Xize carried him upstairs, his steps steady. The stairs were wooden, and they creaked as he walked, so he went slowly, trying not to make a sound. When they reached the bedroom door, he used his shoulder to push it open and went inside.

Shen Yu'an's bedroom is at the end of the corridor, facing south, and receives plenty of sunlight during the day.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, turning the floor silvery-white. Xize placed the person on the bed and pulled the covers over them.

Shen Yu'an turned over, her face to the side, her hand resting on the pillow, and slept soundly.

Xize stood by the bed and watched him for a while, then turned and left.

He went back to his room, lay down, and closed his eyes.

The fireplace had gone out, and the room was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

He lay there for a long time, then turned over, and then turned over again.

Can't sleep.

His mind was filled with the image of Shen Yu'an sleeping with her head on his shoulder.

That relaxed, completely trusting attitude filled him with tenderness and warmth. It also made him feel that there was a wall between them, a distance that was somewhat insurmountable.

He sat up, remained silent for a while, then got out of bed and went to Shen Yu'an's room.

The door to Shen Yu'an's room was not closed.

When Xize pushed open the door, moonlight shone on the bed. Shen Yu'an was curled up in the quilt, with only the top of her head and a section of her shoulder showing.

He looked so peaceful as he slept, his lips slightly pursed, the blanket tucked into his arms, as if he were searching for something to lean on even in his dreams.

Xize stood by the bed for two seconds, then lifted the covers and lay down.

The bed was large, and he lay on the edge, a person's distance between him and Shen Yu'an.

But after he lay down, Shen Yu'an seemed to sense something. He turned over, moved closer to Xize, and placed his hand on Xize's arm.

Xize froze for a moment, then didn't move.

Shen Yu'an's hand lingered for two seconds, then moved closer. He leaned in, his forehead against Xize's shoulder, his breath warm on Xize's pajamas, one breath at a time.

Xize lay motionless.

He knew he should restrain himself.

Shen Yu'an had only moved in recently, and the two had just started dating. He didn't want to scare this boy who was nine years younger than him.

He was afraid that he might do something that would cross the line and make Shen Yu'an feel uneasy or pressured.

So he just lay there, his arm draped over Shen Yu'an's, his shoulder resting on Shen Yu'an's. He didn't even dare to turn over, afraid of waking Shen Yu'an, and also afraid that he would lose control if he got too close.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, drawing a white square on the floor. It was quiet outside, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.

Shen Yu'an's breathing was even, and her warm breath brushed against Xize's neck, again and again.

Xize had his eyes closed, but his heart was beating abnormally fast.

He had lived for thirty years and had never shared a bed with anyone. He was used to sleeping alone, used to empty rooms and silent nights.

But now, with another person's breath beside him, another person's body temperature, and another hand resting on his arm, he felt as if the bed had become a little fuller.

It's like something that's been missing for a long time has finally been filled.

Shen Yu'an moved again. He turned over, his back to Xize, but quickly turned back again, this time snuggling directly into Xize's arms.

Caesar's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

Shen Yu'an may have felt cold in her sleep, or she may have instinctively moved towards a heat source.

He pressed his face against Xize's chest, clutching the front of Xize's pajamas, curling up into a ball in Xize's arms.

Like a small animal that has found its nest.

Xize's hand hovered behind Shen Yu'an, frozen for two seconds. Then he slowly lowered his hand and gently placed it on Shen Yu'an's back.

It's just sitting there.

Without using any force or moving around, he simply placed his palm against the fabric of Shen Yu'an's pajamas on her back, feeling the warm little body beneath the fabric.

Shen Yu'an shifted in his arms, finding a more comfortable position, and then remained still.

His breathing remained even.

Xize lowered his head, his chin gently resting on the top of Shen Yu'an's head.

He could smell the shampoo in Shen Yu'an's hair; it was a faint citrus scent that he had asked someone to put in the bathroom.

He closed his eyes.

He didn't sleep well that night.

With someone in his arms, he dared not sleep too soundly, afraid that he would roll over and crush Shen Yu'an, and also afraid that he would not notice any movement Shen Yu'an made in his sleep.

But he never let go.

Shen Yu'an woke up once around midnight.

He was in a daze, but he felt himself being held and smelled the scent of cedar, and knew it was Xize.

He was still not fully awake, and only mumbled "Daddy" before closing his eyes and falling asleep again.

Xize heard it.

The "Daddy" he uttered was soft and sticky, like a mumbled whisper. Xize gently patted Shen Yu'an's back twice, and his lips touched the top of his head.

"Sleep well, baby."

Shen Yu'an snuggled into his arms for a moment, then stopped moving.