Chapter 379 - 226: Tonight, Lu Fan and Yixia Slept Together, A Wish Fulfilled

Chapter 379: Chapter 226: Tonight, Lu Fan and Yixia Slept Together, A Wish Fulfilled

It was late at night. The only light in the room was a thin sliver of moonlight filtering through a gap in the curtains.

Jiang Yixia lay in bed. She turned over and drifted off into a groggy sleep.

Her consciousness slowly faded.

She felt as if she were floating, yet also as if she were wrapped in something warm and soft.

She had a dream.

In her dream, she was lying on her familiar large bed. The blanket was soft, and the pillow smelled sweet.

Beside her was a warm body. Through their thin pajamas, the heat transferred to her bit by bit, like a stove in winter or a late-summer breeze.

She could feel his breath, even and deep, ghosting across the nape of her neck, making it tingle and itch.

It was Lu Fan.

She didn’t turn around, but she knew it was him.

His arm reached over, gently wrapping around her waist.

His hand was large and warm, with distinct knuckles and thin calluses.

Through her pajamas, she could feel the heat of his palm, so hot it was like a branding iron, making the very tip of her heart tremble.

She didn’t pull away, but her body couldn’t help but go soft.

He pulled her closer into his embrace. Her back was pressed against his chest, and she could feel the force of his heartbeat.

Thump by thump, steady and strong, it resonated through her bones and mingled with her own heartbeat until she couldn’t tell them apart.

His breath was hot against her ear, carrying his unique scent.

Tobacco, laundry detergent, and a hint of sweat. The mixture wasn’t unpleasant; on the contrary, it was reassuring.

She was suddenly reminded of eighteen years ago.

Back then, when they had just gotten together, the apartment they rented was small, and the bed was small, too.

Every time they slept, she would curl up in his arms. He would hold her, resting his chin on the top of her head while they talked about anything and everything. The nights were long back then, but they were never boring.

His chest was warm and his arms were strong, as if he could envelop her completely.

She would always fall asleep quickly, and when she woke up, he would still be there, his hand still resting on her waist, not having moved an inch.

Now, he was here again.

Her fingers twitched. After a moment’s hesitation, she gently placed her hand on his.

His fingers tightened slightly, grasping hers. Her hand was so small, completely enveloped by his, like he was holding a piece of warm jade.

She turned over to face him.

In the dream, she couldn’t see his face clearly, only his silhouette.

Thick eyebrows, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips that were slightly curved, as if he were smiling.

She reached out, her fingertips gently touching his cheek.

His skin was a little rough, the stubble scratching her hand, but the temperature was just right. The warmth traveled from her fingertips all the way to her heart, making it feel hot and full.

His hand moved from her waist, sliding slowly upward to rest on her shoulder. With a gentle tug, he pulled her entire body into his arms.

Her face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat, a steady, powerful THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

She didn’t know where to put her hands. They hovered in mid-air for a moment before she finally rested them gently on his chest.

Even through his clothes, she could feel the solid muscle beneath.

Her fingertips curled involuntarily before slowly relaxing again.

She could feel his breathing grow heavier, the rise and fall of his chest more pronounced.

She lifted her head, wanting to look at him, but the light in the dream was too dim. She couldn’t see anything clearly.

He rested his chin on the crown of her head and nuzzled it gently, like a cat.

It tickled, and she shrank back, so he just held her a little tighter.

"Yixia," he called her name. His voice was low and husky, like the gentle pluck of a cello string.

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t pull away either.

His hand slid down from her shoulder, tracing a slow path down her back, inch by inch, as if measuring something. Her body tensed slightly, but she didn’t push him away.

The warmth from his hand was like a ball of fire through her thin pajamas, burning through her until her entire body went limp.

She remembered those nights eighteen years ago. He had been just like this then, too, holding her in his arms, his hands restlessly roaming.

She would call him a rogue, and he would laugh, kiss her, and say he was only a rogue for her.

Back then, she thought that was it for her—to spend the rest of her life with this man, bickering and all.

Then he left.

And then she slept alone for eighteen years.

Now he was back.

Her fingers traced circles on his chest, round and round, slowly, as if sketching something from memory.

His heart beat faster, POUND-POUND-POUND, as if it were about to burst from his chest.

She suddenly wanted to laugh, but she held it in.

He lowered his head, his lips pressing against her forehead.

Warm and soft, like a feather landing on water.

Her eyes closed, her lashes fluttering gently. Her breathing became light and shallow, as if afraid of startling something.

She curled up completely in his arms, like a cat that had found the most comfortable spot.

Every inch of her body was pressed against him. She could feel his warmth, his heartbeat, his breath.

Her hand rested on his chest, and she could feel his muscles tense slightly, then slowly relax.

Gradually, her consciousness began to blur, and she sank into an even deeper dream.

This time, there was no separation in the dream, no waiting—only two people, one bed, and the long, endless night.

...

WHIRRRRR~~

Early the next morning, Jiang Yixia was startled awake by the sound of construction downstairs.

She groggily opened her eyes. Sunlight was already squeezing through the gap in the curtains, making her eyes sting.

She rubbed her eyes. Her mind wasn’t fully back yet, but her body was the first to sense that something was wrong.

Beside her, there was warmth, there was breath, and there was a solid, warm...