164: Chapter 163 Song Qian, Neglected

At night, Su Bai was woken up by a knock at the door. It was very light—three knocks, a pause, then two more.

He opened his eyes. The room was dark, the curtains drawn, and moonlight leaked through the gap, painting a thin white line on the wall.

He picked up his phone to check the time: 1:20 AM.

The knocking sounded again, still just as light, as if afraid of being heard.

He got out of bed and walked over to open the door.

Song Qian stood outside, wearing a thin, light gray nightgown with a wide neckline that revealed her collarbone.

Her hair was loose, freshly washed and still slightly damp; droplets fell from the ends, landing on her nightgown and creating dark stains.

She wore no shoes, her bare feet pressing into the carpet, toes curled, painted with light pink nail polish.

She kept her head down, fingers clutching the straps of her nightgown until her knuckles turned white.

Su Bai stepped aside to let her in.

As Song Qian walked inside and passed him, he caught her scent—not perfume, but the fragrance of shower gel, clean and slightly sweet.

She walked to the bedside and stood there, neither sitting down nor turning back.

Su Bai closed the door, walked over, and stopped beside her.

The two of them stood side by side, neither saying a word.

Moonlight leaked through the gap in the curtains, falling onto the floor like a silver river.

"Master." Song Qian spoke, her voice very soft.

Su Bai did not speak.

Song Qian turned around to face him, keeping her head low, not daring to look at him.

"You've been too busy lately, and I haven't found a chance to come over. Now that you have them, you don't want me anymore..."

She paused. "I missed you."

Su Bai reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Song Qian didn't flinch; her body tensed for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

She looked up into his eyes. Her eyes were a little red, but she wasn't crying. She pursed her lips, and after a moment, parted them.

"Master, do you still want me tonight?"

Su Bai looked at her for a few seconds, then reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

Song Qian took a step forward, pressing against him. Through the thin nightgown and his T-shirt, he could feel her body heat—warm and soft.

She rested her hands on his shoulders and buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice muffled.

"Master."

"Hm."

"I'm so tired."

Su Bai didn't speak, patting her back gently—slow, light strokes.

Song Qian's breathing gradually steadied, and her body slowly relaxed, like a piece of ice placed next to a radiator, slowly melting as she clung to him.

The two of them stood there for a long time.

Su Bai picked her up; she was very light, much lighter than she looked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest like a tired cat.

Su Bai placed her on the bed. She lay there with her hair spread across the pillow, her light gray nightgown fanned out against the white sheets like a flower blooming in the snow.

Song Qian looked at Su Bai, reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down.

Su Bai lowered his head.

Her lips were soft and cool, carrying the minty scent of toothpaste.

She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her hands moving up from his collar.

Su Bai's hand moved up from her waist, undoing her buttons—one, two, three...

Song Qian's breathing quickened; she bit her lip to keep from making a sound.

Su Bai buried his head in the crook of her neck.

Song Qian's hands gripped the sheets until her knuckles turned white. Her body was trembling slightly—not from cold, but from something else.

Su Bai raised his head to look at her.

Her face was flushed, her eyes half-closed, and her lips slightly swollen.

He reached out to brush the stray hair from her face. She opened her eyes and looked into his; they held the moonlight, her own reflection, and something else.

"Master."

"Hm."

"Be gentle."

Su Bai didn't speak; he lowered his head and kissed her again.

A long time later, Song Qian lay on Su Bai's chest, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his body.

The quilt slid down to her waist, exposing her bare back.

Her face was flushed, eyes half-closed, lips slightly swollen, and her hair spread across his arm, slick and flowing like water.

"Master," she called him.

"Hm."

"Did you go see other women today?"

Su Bai did not speak.

Song Qian waited for a moment. When no answer came, she looked up into his eyes.

"I know even if you don't say it."

She buried her face back in his chest. "You smell like someone else."

Su Bai looked down at her. Her face was buried in his chest, only half visible, her ears flushed red.

"Aren't you jealous?" Su Bai asked.

Song Qian shook her head.

"I don't have the right to be jealous."

Her voice was muffled. "I just want to be by your side; that's enough."

Su Bai didn't speak, patting her back gently.

Song Qian's breathing gradually became light and even, and her fingers stopped tracing circles, just resting on him.

"Song Qian," Su Bai called her.

"Hm."

"Regarding your brother's situation, are you still in contact with them recently?"

Song Qian's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

"It's resolved," she said softly. "Those people don't come looking anymore, and my parents don't dare to cause trouble either."

She paused. "Thank you."

Su Bai said there was no need to thank him.

Song Qian buried her face deeper into his embrace, her voice even softer.

"Master, you are too good to me. I'm always afraid that one day, you won't want me anymore."

Su Bai didn't speak, patting her back gently.

Song Qian looked up into his eyes.

"You won't abandon me, will you?"

Su Bai looked at her.

"That's right."

Song Qian smiled. That smile held satisfaction, peace of mind, and something indescribable. She buried her face back in his chest and nuzzled him like a spoiled cat.

The two of them lay there, neither saying a word.

The clock on the wall ticked, tick-tock, second by second.

"Master, do you remember when we were in Hainan?" Song Qian asked him.

Su Bai said he remembered.

Song Qian's finger drew a heart shape on his chest.

"Back then, I thought you wouldn't pay attention to me anymore. You had Mu Qing and others, and I thought you only pitied me."

She paused. "Later, you brought me back, let me live in your house, and let me be with you. That's when I knew you didn't just pity me."

Su Bai looked down at her; she had her eyes closed, the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Then what do you think I am?" Su Bai asked.

Song Qian thought for a moment.

"You are my Master."

She opened her eyes and looked into his. "And the only person I trust."

Su Bai did not speak.

Song Qian looked at him for a few seconds, then buried her face back in and nuzzled his chest.

"Master, go to sleep. I'll stay here with you."

Su Bai reached out and turned off the light. The room went dark, leaving only a sliver of moonlight leaking through the gap in the curtains—thin and faint, drawing a white line on the wall.

Song Qian's breathing gradually became light and even, and her fingers stopped tracing circles, just resting on him.

Su Bai held the person in his arms and closed his eyes.

She fell asleep, sleeping deeply, her brow relaxed and the corners of her mouth curled up.

He reached out to pull the quilt up, covering her exposed shoulders, and soon fell asleep himself.