83: Chapter 83 I'm not ready yet

Over half an hour later, Lin Xi emerged from the bathroom.

She was wearing her own white T-shirt and casual pants, her hair draped damply over her shoulders, and her face flushed pink from the heat.

A bath towel hung over her arm, and her slippers made a soft pattering sound.

The bedroom door was open, and warm yellow light spilled out from inside.

She walked to the doorway, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped inside.

Chen Fan was already lying on one side of the large bed, covered by a thin quilt, looking at something on his phone.

Hearing the movement, he looked up, his gaze falling upon her.

"All washed up?"

Lin Xi nodded, standing by the bedside feeling a bit at a loss.

Chen Fan patted the other side of the bed.

"Come on up."

Lin Xi bit her lip, walked around to the other side of the bed, lifted the quilt, and slid in.

The quilt was light and carried a faint scent of laundry detergent. She lay on the very edge of the bed, far away from Chen Fan, occupying only a tiny corner.

Chen Fan glanced at her, smiled, and put his phone down.

"Shall I turn off the light?"

"Mm..."

"Click."

The room plunged into darkness.

Only a sliver of light from the streetlamp outside seeped through the gap in the curtains, casting a thin, long white line across the floor.

Lin Xi kept her eyes open, staring at the ceiling, her heart beating a little fast.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

A rustling sound came from behind her, and then an arm reached over from behind, gently wrapping around her waist.

Lin Xi's whole body stiffened, and her breath caught for a moment.

"You... didn't you say you wouldn't do anything..." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, with a slight tremble.

"I said I wouldn't do anything, but I didn't say I couldn't hold you while we sleep."

Lin Xi bit her lip, remaining silent and not struggling.

After stiffening for a dozen seconds, her body slowly softened.

A while later, she gently turned over and buried her face in his chest.

After Chen Fan pulled Lin Xi into his embrace, he wanted to continue doing something more.

"Chen Fan." Her voice was very soft, with a hint of a tremble.

"Hm?"

"Don't, I'm not ready yet."

Her hands pressed against his chest; the force wasn't great, but her meaning was clear.

Chen Fan stopped.

The room was quiet for two seconds.

"...Alright." His voice was a bit hoarse as he pulled his hand back, resting it on her waist again without moving further.

Lin Xi didn't speak. After a while, her hand moved away from his chest and gently gripped the corner of his shirt.

"I didn't mean... it's just..." Her voice was very small, as if she were afraid of breaking something, "It's just... it's too fast."

Chen Fan looked down at her. She was buried entirely in his embrace, with only the top of her head visible, her ears red enough to bleed.

"I know." He said, his tone calming down, and he gently patted her waist, "Sleep."

Lin Xi let out a soft "Mm," snuggled closer into his chest, and her fingers, which had been gripping his shirt, slowly loosened.

Chen Fan also calmed down; being able to reach this point today was already quite good.

Wanting to completely break through that final step was still not quite appropriate.

After all, they were going home tomorrow, and if they did anything tonight, Lin Xi's parents would definitely find out.

The consequence of that would be that Chen Fan would also have a hard time.

Holding a beautiful young girl in his arms, her warm, soft body pressed against him, the scent of her shampoo drifting into his nose, her breath spraying onto his chest, making it itch.

He looked down, then quickly lifted his head.

Lin Xi shifted in his arms, finding a more comfortable position, then stopped moving, her breathing gradually becoming steady.

He silently recited the digits of Pi in his mind.

3.1415926535...

...

The next day.

Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a bright white line on the floor.

Chen Fan opened his eyes and looked down into his arms.

Lin Xi was curled up entirely in his embrace, her face buried in his chest, her arm draped over his waist, sleeping soundly.

Her hair was scattered over his shoulders, a few strands brushing against his chin, making it itch.

He moved slightly, wanting to change positions, and Lin Xi frowned, burrowed further into his chest, and mumbled something, sounding blurry like a kitten purring.

Chen Fan stopped moving.

He looked down at her fluffy head, his lips curling into a smile.

She was very quiet while sleeping, her eyelashes long, casting a small shadow under her eyelids.

Her breathing was steady, puffing against his chest, warm and gentle.

He watched her like this without moving.

After a good while, Lin Xi shifted in his arms and groggily opened her eyes.

She raised her head, met Chen Fan's gaze, and froze for two seconds.

Then her face turned red in a flash.

"You... you're awake, why didn't you call me..."

As she spoke, she wanted to shrink back into the quilt, but since she was already in his arms, there was nowhere to shrink to, so she could only bury her face back into his chest.

Chen Fan smiled and held her tighter.

"Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I didn't wake you."

Lin Xi, buried in his embrace, said in a muffled voice:

"What time is it?"

Chen Fan glanced at his phone.

"Seven-thirty."

Lin Xi let out an "Oh" and didn't move.

After a while, she whispered again:

"Then... then let's lie here for a while longer..."

They stayed in bed until 8 o'clock before getting up to wash up.

The two of them got up sluggishly.

While washing up, Lin Xi stood in front of the sink brushing her teeth, and Chen Fan leaned in from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, and mumbled something unintelligible.

Lin Xi choked on the toothpaste foam, turned back to glare at him, but the corners of her mouth were upturned.

They went downstairs for breakfast, sitting face-to-face. Chen Fan looked down at his tofu pudding, occasionally glancing up at her.

Lin Xi felt embarrassed by his gaze, moved her bowl closer to herself, and whispered: "What are you looking at me for? Eat your own food."

"You look good."

Lin Xi blushed, lowered her head, and stopped talking, stirring her chopsticks around in the bowl.

After finishing breakfast, the two set off for the county town.

...

Two hours later, the car turned into the underground garage of Zijin Garden.

Chen Fan parked the car, and the two unbuckled their seatbelts, sitting in the car for a while.

Lin Xi lowered her head to pack her bag, stuffing the charging cable and headphones in one by one, her movements slow, as if she were dragging out the time.

"Then I'm heading up first." She said, her voice soft.

"Mm."

She opened the door, stepped one foot out, then pulled it back, turning to look at Chen Fan.

"When are you going back to Chang'an?"

"In the afternoon, I'll leave after I get the notification letter."

"So fast..."

Lin Xi pursed her lips, didn't say anything else, pushed the car door open, and got out.

Chen Fan followed, pulling her suitcase out from the trunk.

The two stood at the elevator entrance waiting for the elevator. Lin Xi's elevator arrived first. The doors opened, she dragged her suitcase inside, turned around, and held the door with one hand.

"Send me a message when you arrive."

"Okay."

"Don't forget to reply again."

"I won't."

She smiled, let go of the door, and the elevator doors slowly closed.