Chapter 529: Jiang Yixia: "Don’t Go," Sleeping in the Same Bed with Lu Fan

After getting into the car, Jiang Yixia sat in the backseat, leaning against the window with her eyes closed. Lu Fan sat beside her. Chen He started the engine, and the car headed toward Jiang Yixia’s home.

The interior of the vehicle was quiet, save for the low rumble of the engine. Jiang Yixia’s breathing was faint; she seemed to have fallen asleep. Lu Fan glanced at her. Her head rested against the glass, swaying gently with the bumps in the road. He reached out and gently guided her head to rest on his shoulder. Jiang Yixia stirred and mumbled something, but she didn’t push him away.

The car pulled up to Jiang Yixia’s apartment building. Lu Fan gently patted her shoulder.

“Yixia, we’re here,” he said softly.

She didn’t react.

“Yixia,” he called out again.

Jiang Yixia frowned, slowly opened her eyes, and looked out the window. Mumbling “We’re here,” she sat up straight and rubbed her eyes. Pushing the car door open, she stepped out, her footing still a little unsteady. Lu Fan walked beside her, his hands hovering protectively.

“I’ll walk you up,” he said.

“No need, I can manage,” Jiang Yixia replied, waving him off.

Ignoring her protests, Lu Fan followed her into the building. Inside the elevator, Jiang Yixia leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Lu Fan stood beside her, watching the floor numbers light up one by one.

When they arrived, Jiang Yixia opened her eyes, stepped out, and rummaged through her bag for a long time before pulling out her keys. She fumbled with the keyhole, unable to get it in. Lu Fan took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door for her.

The door swung open. Jiang Yixia walked in, changed her shoes, and staggered clumsily toward her bedroom. Trailing behind her, Lu Fan couldn’t help but chuckle at her unsteady gait.

“What are you laughing at?” she demanded, turning back to glare at him.

Amused, he replied, “I’m laughing because you’re waddling like a penguin.”

“You’re the penguin,” she muttered. She pushed open her bedroom door, walked in, and plopped down onto the bed.

After sitting for a moment, she began to take off her coat. Halfway through, she got stuck; the sleeve just wouldn’t come off. She yanked at it a few times without success, growing frustrated. Lu Fan walked over and gave the sleeve a gentle tug, helping her slip the coat off.

Jiang Yixia looked up at him, her face flushed—whether from the alcohol or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. She lowered her head and started unbuttoning her vest. The buttons were tiny, and her fingers were clumsy. After a long struggle, she only managed to undo one.

Lu Fan stood nearby, unsure if he should offer to help.

“Turn around,” she said, without lifting her head.

Lu Fan turned his back to her. A RUSTLE sounded from behind him as she took off the vest, followed by the soft thud of shoes dropping to the floor.

“Okay,” her muffled voice came.

Turning back around, he saw Jiang Yixia in her light purple sweater, curled up on the bed and hugging a pillow, her eyes half-closed.

“I’ll go pour you a glass of water,” he said.

He went to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and brought it back. Jiang Yixia had already laid down, her face buried in the pillow she was hugging.

“Sit up and drink some water.” Lu Fan sat on the edge of the bed and gently nudged her shoulder.

She rolled over, opened her eyes, and took the glass. After two small sips, she handed it back. Her fingers brushed against his—cool and soft. Lu Fan placed the glass on the nightstand and looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair splayed out across the pillow, and her lips were still damp from the water.

“Do you want to wash your face?” he asked.

“Mm,” she nodded.

Lu Fan went to the bathroom, wet a towel with warm water, wrung it out, and returned to the bed.

“Here, let me wipe your face,” he said softly.

Jiang Yixia kept her eyes closed and didn’t move. Holding the towel, he gently wiped her face, tracing from her forehead to her cheeks, and down to her chin. Her skin was burning up, but the temperature of the towel was just right. Letting out a contented sigh, she turned slightly, angling her face toward him.

Lu Fan wiped her face once more, then flipped the towel over and gently dabbed at her neck. Her neck was fair and slender. As the towel glided over her skin, her throat bobbed. His hand paused for a fraction of a second before continuing.

Once he finished, he placed the towel on the nightstand and stood up, ready to leave. Suddenly, Jiang Yixia reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt.

Lu Fan froze, looking down at her. Her eyes were still closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly, but her grip was tight.

“Don’t go,” she murmured, her voice so faint it sounded like she was sleep-talking.

He stood by the bed, staring at her for several long seconds.

“Yixia, you’ve had too much to drink,” he said softly.

She didn’t reply, nor did she loosen her grip. After a moment of hesitation, Lu Fan sat back down on the edge of the bed. Her hand slowly relaxed, slipping down until it rested right next to his. Her fingers brushed against his—they were cool to the touch.

Lu Fan looked at her. She had fallen asleep. Her breathing was light and even, her chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. Reaching out, he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. His fingertips grazed her cheek—warm and smooth. He didn’t pull his hand back. He simply sat there, watching her.

Moonlight seeped through the gap in the curtains, casting a pale, faint glow across the bedsheets. Bathed in the silvery light, Jiang Yixia’s features looked incredibly soft. The shadows of her eyelashes fell upon her cheekbones like two tiny fans.

Lu Fan watched her for a long time before slowly lying down on the bed beside her.