Chapter 98: I Want to Sleep on the Sofa With You

Lu Beiqin hesitated. “Sorry.”

He pressed a hand to his head. “You sleep. I’ll take the sofa.”

Shen Chutang caught his hand. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

All Lu Beiqin felt was the girl’s hand resting in his palm, icy-cool and soft, making him want to seize her at once, haul her into his arms, and grip that slender waist until she was crushed against him.

“I’m fine!”

He sprang up abruptly, meaning to shake off her hand, but his strength came too sharply and Shen Chutang’s hand was flung away. In an instant, she was about to tumble from the bed to the floor.

“Aah!”

“Watch out!”

Lu Beiqin lunged forward, caught her arm, and pulled her straight into his embrace.

For a moment, Shen Chutang felt only a thrilling shock. Leaning against Lu Beiqin’s chest, she heard his heartbeat pounding furiously.

“Lu Beiqin?”

“Sorry.”

He got to his feet. “I’m going to take a shower. You sleep first.”

Hadn’t the man just showered?

Shen Chutang looked after him in confusion. Only when the bathroom door shut did it dawn on her that it must have been the effect of that nourishing soup from earlier that night.

So what had Lu Beiqin just been...

At the thought, Shen Chutang’s face flushed and she hid beneath the blanket, only to find that the scent around her nose was entirely the man’s.

She glanced down and realized she had gotten under the wrong blanket.

Shen Chutang hurried back beneath her own quilt and tucked herself in properly.

No one knew how long had passed before Lu Beiqin finally came out of the bathroom. Shen Chutang pretended to be asleep.

Seeing the dim light in the bedroom, Lu Beiqin said nothing. He took a blanket and lay down on the sofa beside her.

Once Lu Beiqin’s breathing had gradually steadied, Shen Chutang slowly opened her eyes.

She crept to his side and crouched down to look at him.

Lu Beiqin was very handsome. His features were sharp and severe, all clean lines and distinct angles; he was tall and long-limbed, and the sofa seemed to crowd his long legs.

Shen Chutang could not help reaching out to lightly touch the arm resting at his side. The firm line of muscle was no worse than her eldest senior brother’s.

She had once glimpsed, by accident, what seemed to be a V-line and abdominal muscles, so it was clear his physique was excellent.

Truth be told, among so many fellow disciples, Shen Chutang had never thought a man’s body especially attractive. Yet paired with Lu Beiqin’s face, it took on a very different allure.

Suddenly, a large hand seized her arm.

Lu Beiqin’s deep eyes fixed straight on Shen Chutang. “What are you doing?”

Shen Chutang was a little embarrassed. “You... you’re still awake?”

Lu Beiqin said nothing, only continued to stare at her.

Shen Chutang scratched her head, overcome with the shame of being caught in the act. “I don’t sleep well in unfamiliar beds. I can’t fall asleep. Lu Beiqin, keep me company. I want to sleep on the sofa with you.”

She had only meant to find some excuse for what had just happened, but unexpectedly, he took it seriously.

The next second, Lu Beiqin opened his arms. “Come up here.”

Shen Chutang stared blankly for a moment, feeling as though she had thrown a stone and smashed her own foot.

But now that she was committed, there was no turning back. She could only do as told.

Fortunately, the sofa was wide enough. Shen Chutang lay on the inside, her back against the cushion, while directly in front of her was the man’s chest. Her cheeks grew faintly warm.

His voice sounded above her head. “Sleep.”

“Okay.”

Shen Chutang obediently closed her eyes. She had expected that such a narrow space and the embrace of an unfamiliar man might keep her awake, but before long she was fast asleep.

Lu Beiqin lowered his head and looked at the girl in his arms, letting out a helpless sigh.

That night was nothing short of torture.

The next morning, Shen Chutang woke slowly, only to realize she had truly slept the entire night like that.

The place beside her was already empty. After washing up, she went downstairs and saw Lu Beiqin, the old master, and Lu Yuebai all seated at the dining table having breakfast.

Today Lu Beiqin wore a black casual outfit, which made his whole bearing seem even colder. Every inch of his features seemed the Creator’s finest gift, and in his every gesture there was the quiet depth of dark, abyssal water.

Seeing that she was up, the old master smiled. “Did you sleep well last night, Chutang?”

Shen Chutang felt a little shy. “Very well.”

Relieved, the old master had Steward Zhang bring breakfast over.

“I specifically had this made for you. It’s delicious, so try it.”

Today’s breakfast was crab roe soup buns. Shen Chutang first bit a tiny opening, drank the rich broth, then ate the filling inside. The flavor was exquisite.

She ate four before putting down her chopsticks. After a short rest, she felt she could still go on.

Seeing how much she liked them, the old master immediately said, “I’ll have some sent to you too.”

Shen Chutang quickly shook her head. “Grandpa, there’s no need to go to such trouble.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. The most famous crab roe soup buns in the capital are—”

“Cough.”

Lu Beiqin gave a light cough, then continued eating with an expressionless face.

Shen Chutang looked at the old master expectantly, waiting for him to finish.

The old master’s eyes rolled, and he immediately said, “Xiaobai has found a delivery job. The most famous crab roe soup buns in the capital are within the area he covers. If you want some, just have him deliver them to you!”

Suddenly promoted to deliveryman, Lu Yuebai blinked and nodded as if nothing were amiss. “Right.”