Chapter 46: Clingy

Si Qingyu had been recuperating from her injuries at the Luo residence these past few days. Her wounds were so severe that even sitting in a carriage to return to town was an issue. However, even if she could, Luo Shaoxuan likely wouldn’t allow her to leave at this time.

During these days at the Luo residence, he had been attentively caring for her, practically never leaving her side. If possible, Si Qingyu felt he would even follow her into the outhouse.

This level of clinginess truly frightened her.

Si Qingyu felt she was being cared for like an invalid. He insisted on personally handling her three daily meals, not allowing her to do anything he deemed too strenuous.

If Si Qingyu showed any signs of resistance, he would put on a deeply hurt expression, rendering her helpless.

“Shaoxuan, I can really do it myself.” Si Qingyu repeated this sentence for the fifth time as she leaned against the bed.

Si Qingyu didn’t understand. She had only taken some lashes to the front, her hands were completely fine. Besides, she had already rested for two days. Holding a bowl and drinking some porridge was no problem at all.

But Luo Shaoxuan simply refused to yield, as if he hadn’t heard her words at all. He scooped up a spoonful of millet porridge, gently blew on it, and brought it to her lips.

Si Qingyu quietly looked at him. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, likely from not resting well these past two days. She pursed her lips and ultimately drank the porridge before her with resignation.

The corners of Luo Shaoxuan’s mouth gently curved up, his eyes brimming with tenderness. He picked up a handkerchief and wiped her mouth.

“What else would you like to eat later? I’ll go make it for you,” he asked.

“…I’m quite full, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”

“How about some osmanthus cakes?” His brows, as if painted, were filled with heartache. “You could only drink porridge these past days, it must be unpleasant.”

Why was he imagining things on his own now?

“Actually…porridge is quite nice too.”

Luo Shaoxuan scooped up more porridge, gently blew on it, and brought it to her: “Finish the porridge first, I’ll go make some for you later.”

“……”

“What is it?” Seeing Si Qingyu not drinking and just staring at him, Luo Shaoxuan tilted his head and asked in confusion.

Si Qingyu’s eyelids drooped as she tugged at the silk quilt half-covering her body: “Shaoxuan…”

“Hm?”

She lifted the silk quilt and gently embraced the seated Luo Shaoxuan, her hands circling to his back and lightly patting it.

Luo Shaoxuan’s body violently stiffened.

As Si Qingyu rhythmically patted his back, she gently coaxed: “Shaoxuan, I’m really fine. Don’t be so worried, alright?”

She simply felt he had been far too tense these past two days, his nerves on edge as if afraid she would suddenly disappear.

Luo Shaoxuan’s stiffened body gradually softened. He set the porridge bowl on the bedside and cautiously hugged her back, as if wanting to knead her into his body yet afraid of touching her wounds.

He deeply buried his face in the crook of Si Qingyu’s neck, lightly nuzzling it. Only after a long while did he slowly begin to choke with sobs.

Drop after drop of warm tears fell on Si Qingyu’s shoulder, making her heart ache incessantly.

Si Qingyu’s hand slowly stroked his head, fingers gliding down his silky black hair again and again. Mm, his hair quality was truly excellent.

Only after he calmed down did Si Qingyu stop caressing him. With one hand on his back and one on the top of his head, she spoke by his ear as if coaxing a child: “It’s alright now, mm?”

Luo Shaoxuan, face still buried in her neck, took a long time before nodding slightly.

Just like a child.

Si Qingyu laughed softly. Even she herself didn’t realize how much doting affection and tenderness filled her eyes at this moment.

“Then…will you go back to your room and rest for a bit?” The dark circles under his eyes pained her to see.

Who knew that the person who had seemed so obedient just a moment ago immediately shook his head upon hearing her words, his arms tightening around her.

Si Qingyu sighed helplessly. He really was such a child.

Before she could speak, the person in her neck mumbled: “Can I rest here for a while?”

Luo Shaoxuan slowly rose from her embrace, hands still loosely encircling her. His slightly reddened eyes, still moist and hazy, looked at her closely. This pitiable appearance…simply made it impossible for Si Qingyu to refuse.

“Then…sleep on the inside then.” Si Qingyu silently lifted the inner quilt.

As if not expecting her to agree, Luo Shaoxuan momentarily froze in place, gaze fixed on the inner side of the bed.

Si Qingyu’s lips curved, eyes like a clear spring: “What? Changed your mind?”

How could he not want to? Without another word, Luo Shaoxuan lifted his outer robes and shed them, lying down on the inside. He faced Si Qingyu, eyes sparkling as if filled with starlight, hands tightly gripping hers.

Si Qingyu laughed lightly: “How will you fall asleep holding me like this?”

Luo Shaoxuan lowered his gaze to look at their entwined hands, eyes hazy: “I want you to be the first thing I see when I wake up.” If he didn’t hold tightly to her hand, how could he rest at ease?

Knowing he lacked a sense of security at the moment, and knowing he was acting spoiled, Si Qingyu tenderly brushed back the loose strands on his forehead: “Sleep. I’ll be right here, not going anywhere.”

“Mm.” He grabbed Si Qingyu’s hand that was about to withdraw, nuzzling it against his face. Just like this, with one hand under the quilt holding hers and the other pressed to his own face, he slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Si Qingyu maintained this posture for a long time. After glancing at his sleeping face and confirming he was fast asleep, she slowly retracted the hand on his face and gently placed his hand back under the quilt.

His sleeping visage was fully displayed before Si Qingyu. The current Luo Shaoxuan had his bewitching eyes closed, long dense lashes casting shadows below. His brows still held a faint aloofness, like a sleeping lotus flower in slumber, deterring others from approaching.

Si Qingyu couldn’t help lightly tracing his delicate features with her slender fingers. She laughed softly: “He’s much more quiet when asleep.”

She carefully withdrew her hand and glanced at the bookshelf in the bedroom, wanting to grab a book to pass the time. She tried to extract her hand that he tightly grasped, but as soon as she moved, she heard a dissatisfied moan from the person in deep sleep as he held her hand even tighter.

Si Qingyu didn’t dare move again, afraid of waking him and having difficulty coaxing him back to sleep. She could only maintain this posture and gaze out the window in a daze.

The cries of cicadas outside the window were ceaseless. The atmosphere in the room was tranquil. Of the two people on the bed, the woman sat upright while the man tightly pressed against her in slumber. Yet the feeling between them would not make others feel any ambiguity, only warmth and serenity.

……