He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

Wen Zhaoci, standing beside him, took in all of this.

As the subtle noises around him subsided, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Sang Jiuning, who was fast asleep in his arms.

The dappled sunlight fell on the girl's fair and delicate profile, outlining her soft jawline. Her long eyelashes hung down quietly, like two small feather fans, quiet and well-behaved.

Wen Zhaoci's heart skipped a beat. Looking at her unguarded sleeping face, his heart melted completely.

He leaned down slightly, his movements extremely gentle, as if afraid of disturbing the person sleeping soundly in his arms.

His warm breath gently brushed her forehead, and he carefully, solemnly, and reverently placed a soft kiss on her forehead—a light touch, carrying the clean scent of youth.

Lost in the tenderness, he lowered his head slightly and gently kissed her soft, pink lips. It was just a light touch before he withdrew immediately, but his eyes were filled with a heavy sense of possessiveness and joy.

His little girl is so soft and sweet, he can never get enough of looking at her.

The sofa space was cramped, and the bedding was thin, making it impossible to sleep soundly.

Seeing her curled-up figure, Wen Zhaoci carefully wrapped his arms around Sang Jiuning's waist, steadily supporting her knees, and with the gentlest of strength, lifted her up.

His movements were so steady that there wasn't the slightest sway, as if he were holding the most precious treasure of his life.

He walked very quietly into the bedroom and gently placed her on the soft, fluffy bed.

After doing all this, he didn't turn around and leave. Instead, he gently lay down beside her, his gaze fixed on her sleeping face.

He lay quietly to her side, keeping her company for the entire afternoon.

She didn't read books, didn't play on her phone, didn't do anything; all her time and patience were devoted to the sleeping Sang Jiuning.

……

The sky gradually changed from the clear afternoon light to a gentle orange-red twilight.

Sang Jiuning's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly woke up.

My head was still a little fuzzy, with lingering confusion from just waking up; my eyes were sleepy and hazy, and I was completely lost.

She remembered that she was watching videos on the sofa in the living room, so how did she end up lying on a soft and comfortable bed when she opened her eyes?

The soft bedding carried a faint, cool cedar scent, a unique fragrance emanating from Wen Zhaoci—clean and pleasant.

Sang Jiuning blinked blankly, her mind racing as she tried to recall the events of the afternoon, but all she remembered was being sleepy while watching videos; she had no recollection of what happened afterward.

A faint blush instantly spread across her cheeks, and a wave of shyness washed over her.

Good heavens, she actually fell asleep in Wen Zhaoci's house, right in front of him!

That's so embarrassing and lacks any sense of propriety!

Sang Jiuning felt both ashamed and embarrassed. She hurriedly sat up, straightened her clothes, and quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed.

Her steps were still a little unsteady, and she carried the languor of just waking up as she quickly walked out of the bedroom.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, a rich and enticing aroma of food wafted towards me, warmly filling my nostrils and instantly dispelling any lingering sleepiness.

The living room was empty, except for the open kitchen, where a tall and slender young man stood.

He casually wore a light gray cartoon apron, the large apron making his figure appear even thinner and taller, creating an extreme contrast that was both endearing and adorable.

He stood in front of the stove, skillfully stirring the dishes in the pot. The warm yellow light fell on his delicate profile, softening his sharp jawline and giving him a gentler, more down-to-earth look, replacing his usual arrogance.

Sang Jiuning was slightly taken aback, and her heartbeat quickened a little.

She tiptoed to the coffee table, picked up the phone that was lying quietly, and turned on the screen.

The blinding light made her see the time, and Sang Jiuning couldn't help but gasp in surprise, "Huh? It's already 6:30!"

She actually slept from the afternoon until evening, for several hours straight!

Sang Jiuning's cheeks flushed even more. Feeling annoyed and embarrassed, she muttered to herself, "How did I sleep until now? I can sleep so much..."

Hearing her soft, surprised exclamation, Wen Zhaoci, who was standing in front of the stove, immediately smiled with a slight, pleasant curve to his lips, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He continued stirring the food, his voice deep and warm, as he replied, "You spent the afternoon scrolling through videos on your phone for ages, and you fell asleep on the sofa because you were so tired."

He turned his head and caught a glimpse of the little girl standing there, looking flustered and shy. A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and his tone softened: "The sofa is too hard, and it's not comfortable to sleep against it. I was afraid you wouldn't sleep well, so I carried you back to your room to sleep on the bed."

He glossed over all the details with a few simple words.

But only Wen Zhaoci knew that he did more than just carry her back to bed.

He stayed with her, watching her sleeping face, feeling her unique presence beside him, quietly keeping watch for the entire afternoon.

After listening, Sang Jiuning gently gripped the corner of her phone with her fingertips, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhaoci immediately turned to look at her, her eyes earnest yet gentle: "You have never been a burden to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Zhaoci flicked his wrist and deftly tossed the pot twice, causing the ingredients inside to tumble and swirl, making the aroma even more intense.

Sang Jiuning, who was still immersed in the shy and gentle atmosphere, was instantly brightened by his skillful and handsome movements. All her embarrassment disappeared, and she couldn't help but sincerely praise him: "Wow, Wen Zhaoci, you're amazing!"

Her bright eyes, filled with admiration and surprise, stared intently at the young man in front of the stove: "You can even flip a wok! Your cooking skills are amazing! It looks so professional!"

Seeing the little girl's eyes sparkling and her heart filled with him, Wen Zhaoci's joy instantly overflowed, and all his emotions were easily pleased.

He slowly stopped what he was doing, turned around to look at her, his dark eyes fixed on the girl in front of him, a hint of cunning and expectation hidden in his eyes.

The boy's lips curled slightly, his tone laced with a hint of languid coquettishness and probing, his deep, magnetic voice saying, "Since I'm so great, shouldn't I get a reward?"

Sang Jiuning laughed and teased him, "No problem! As a reward, you can eat two extra bowls of rice tonight, all you can eat!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhaoci's smile faded slightly.

He gently lowered his long eyelids, his thick eyelashes concealing the subtle emotions churning in his eyes, a hint of barely perceptible disappointment flashing across them.

A silent sigh escaped my lips.

Silly little girl.

The reward he wanted was never as simple as having a few more meals.

A moment later, Wen Zhaoci looked up again, chuckled softly, and said with endless doting and patience, "Okay, whatever you say."

Those toothbrushes, cups, and towels... will most likely be useless tonight.