Chapter 62 -

Chapter 62: Chapter

Yimei finished washing her face in the kitchen and let down her long black hair, brushing it out so it fell loosely over her shoulders. Wearing a simple white inner garment, her pale skin and dark hair made her look like a pretty ghost gliding through the quiet, dim hallway.

A-Cheng walked into Zhengyu’s room right behind her, carrying her blanket, pillow, and small bag of belongings. He set them down near the bamboo bed with a cheerful grin.

Zhengyu sat up instantly, his dark eyes wide with shock. "A-Cheng! What are you doing with her things in here?!"

"The village men warned us about a huge snowstorm coming tonight, Brother," A-Cheng explained, totally oblivious to the deadly tension rising in the air. "I didn’t cut enough wood for Sister A-Yue’s room, so Aunt told her to stay in here with you where it’s warm."

Zhengyu’s head whipped toward Yimei, his jaw locked tight. "She can’t stay here!"

"Don’t worry, Brother, I brought her extra blanket!" A-Cheng chuckled, bowing politely as he backed toward the cloth curtain. "Rest well, you two. Good night!"

The moment the curtain fell shut and A-Cheng’s footsteps faded down the hall, Zhengyu completely exploded.

"Have you lost your mind?!" he hissed sharply, keeping his voice down to a harsh rasp so the old couple wouldn’t hear him. His face burned hot as he glared at her loose hair and white night garments. "You cannot sleep in this room! Get out!"

Yimei didn’t flinch. She casually picked up her pillow, set it on the far side of the bamboo bed, and began spreading out her thick blanket with total, unbothered calm.

"If I stay in my room, I will freeze to death before morning," Yimei said smoothly, without even looking at him. "And a dead wife can’t help you escape the village."

"I don’t care!" Zhengyu snarled, clutching his blanket tightly around his chest as if she were a predator stepping into his den. "You are pushing this way too far!"

Yimei turned to face him, stepping close to the edge of the bed. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face in the flickering light of the oil lamp. A small, wicked smirk curved her lips.

"We are husband and wife, Zhengyu," she whispered, leaning down until her face was just inches from his furious glare. "Unless you want to crawl out into the snowstorm and chop firewood with your bare hands, Young Master... you’re sharing this bed with me tonight."

Yimei guided him behind the wooden screen, keeping a firm grip on his waist so he could stay standing while leaning on the wooden crutch.

Once he got his balance, Zhengyu snapped his head toward her, his face turning bright red in the dim shadows. "Close your eyes and turn around!" he ordered, his voice a tense, desperate whisper.

Yimei simply rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Please, Zhengyu. What do you have down there that I haven’t already seen and touched?"

"Yimei!" Zhengyu rasped, his jaw clenching tight as his ears burned hot. "Have some decency!"

"Fine, fine," she muttered, casually turning her back to him and crossing her arms while she waited.

A few moments later, hearing the rustle of his robes, Yimei turned back around to help him walk back to the bamboo bed. She draped his heavy arm over her shoulder again, supporting his weight step by step until he was back beside the bed.

Once he sat down, Yimei stepped over to the side table. She dipped a small towel into the warm water basin, squeezed it out, and held it out to him.

"Here," she said smoothly. "Clean your hands up."

Zhengyu looked at the warm towel, then up at her face, his eyes full of awkward embarrassment. With stiff, hesitant fingers, he snatched the cloth from her. He fumbled with his robes, awkwardly wiping his hands and cleaning himself up while keeping his eyes glued to the floor, far too embarrassed to look her in the eye.

Yimei slid back under her thick blanket, pulled it up to her shoulders, and let out a long, satisfied sigh. The warm glow from the hearth flickered quietly across the ceiling as she closed her eyes, finally sinking back into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Another hour or two passed. Outside, the snowstorm reached its peak, howling like a wild beast against the wooden shutters and sending icy drafts through the tiny cracks in the window frame.

Suddenly, a cold hand reached across the gap and nudged her arm.

"Yimei..."

Yimei didn’t move. She buried her face deeper into her pillow, pretending her mind was miles away.

"Yimei," his voice came again, rough, raspy, and persistent. He gave her shoulder another firm shove.

Yimei snapped her eyes open, her dark hair a tangled mess across her face. She sat up violently, throwing her blanket back as her jaw clenched with pure, unadulterated irritation. She glared at him in the dim red firelight, her voice laced with sharp, deadly venom.

"What do you want now, Zhengyu?!" she hissed, her hands balling into fists on her lap. "I added wood to the fire! I held your crutch! I let you use the potty! What could you possibly need at two in the morning?!"

Zhengyu didn’t snap back this time. He was curled into a tight ball on his side of the bamboo bed, clutching his thick blanket around his body like a shield. His teeth were clicking together in a tiny, rapid rhythm, his chest shivering violently under the heavy fabric. His pale face was flushed a light, icy pink, and his dark eyes looked up at her with a helpless, miserable glare.

"I’m..." Zhengyu swallowed hard, his voice trembling as a harsh shiver ran straight down his spine. "I’m freezing."

Yimei stared at him, her anger slowly fading away. Looking at him curled up like a frozen dog, his jaw shaking and his teeth clicking together, she let out a quiet sigh.

"The fire is still burning," she said, looking over at the bright orange coals in the fireplace. "The cold air must be coming through the wall behind you."

Zhengyu didn’t argue. He just pulled the blanket tighter around his chin, his shoulders shaking from the cold. "It’s... it’s still cold."

Yimei looked at the space between their blankets. She rubbed her face with both hands, letting out a heavy breath.

"Move over," she said flatly.

Zhengyu blinked at her in the dark, confused. "What?"

"You heard me. Move toward the wall," Yimei said. She grabbed her own thick blanket, pulled it over, and stacked it right on top of his. Before he could say a word, she slid under the warm blankets right beside him.

Zhengyu went completely stiff. His breath caught in his throat as her warm body pressed close to his side.

Without hesitating, Yimei wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling his freezing body close to hers. She tucked her head right beneath his chin, sharing her body heat with him under the pile of thick blankets.

"Y-Yimei—" Zhengyu stuttered, his face instantly turning bright red. He tried to push her away with his hands, but he was too weak. "What are you doing?!"

"Saving your life so you don’t freeze before we leave, you idiot," Yimei mumbled into his chest, her eyes already closing. Her warm breath hit his neck, making his heart race. "Now stop shaking and be quiet. If you wake me up one more time tonight, I will throw you out into the snow myself."

Zhengyu lay still in her grip, his heart beating fast in his chest. He wanted to push her away to save his pride, but he was too cold.

As her body heat warmed him up, melting the bitter cold from his bones, his tense muscles slowly began to relax.

His teeth stopped clicking. His shaking body finally calmed down.