Upon hearing this, Chu Yi lowered her eyes and avoided his gaze.
The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't seem to say anything.
Chu Yi pushed Qiao Anchen's face away and guiltily pulled up the blanket.
"I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep."
Qiao Anchen stood there watching her for a long time, then sighed.
He turned off the light and got into bed. As soon as he lay down, the person who had been fast asleep with his eyes closed snuggled up to him and reached out to hug him.
The person in my arms was soft and sweet.
The actions are all dependent on each other.
Qiao Anchen resigned himself to his fate.
What else can we do but keep enduring it?
On the third day, after breakfast, Qiao Anchen rented a small motorcycle and took her for a ride around the island.
The wind was strong on the coastal highway, dispersing the heat in the air. Chu Yi, wearing a small helmet, hugged Qiao Anchen in the back seat. The sun was blazing, and the sky was azure, seemingly merging with the sea beside them.
She couldn't help but open her arms and cheer.
"Qiao Anchen, this place is so beautiful."
"Is it hot?"
"No, it's very comfortable." She now felt that when traveling, one must overcome laziness. No matter how good the hotel or how big the bed, nothing can compare to the boundless scenery outside.
"Be careful and hold on tight so you don't fall," Qiao Anchen warned worriedly. Chu Yi hummed in agreement and obediently reached out to wrap her arms around his waist.
"Drive slower, I want to see the sea a few more times."
"good."
After cycling around for several hours, the two headed to Lover's Cliff, a famous cliff by the sea known for its beautiful sunsets.
When we arrived, the sun had become less intense, and the light was a rich, orangey hue that was soft and bright.
The cliffs, steep and unique, stand overlooking the sea. Lush green vegetation is interspersed with unidentified pink and purple flowers. Below lies the boundless blue sea, where white waves crash against the rocks. With the sea breeze, it is a beautiful and pleasant scene.
Chu Yi hooked her arm around Qiao Anchen's ring finger and they strolled slowly side by side along the seaside path as the sun gradually set.
The sky was dyed a vibrant orange, and a golden sun slowly sank into the sea. The scene was magnificent and grand, making humans seem as insignificant as ants in the face of nature.
Chu Yi and Qiao Anchen sat on the edge of the cliff. The wind blew her skirt and his hair. Her heart became incredibly peaceful and serene. Unknown music came from the side. A wandering singer started playing his guitar. Chu Yi suddenly wanted to lean on Qiao Anchen.
She turned her head slightly to the side and rested it on his shoulder.
Qiao Anchen turned around, glanced at her, then looked away, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Time seemed to stand still here.
The orange-red of the sky was gradually replaced by dark blue, and the light and shadow became half bright and half dim. The twilight hour, when day and night alternated, was filled with strange colors.
The two walked back slowly, and this time, Qiao Anchen held her hand tightly, their hands clasped together.
After having dinner at a nearby restaurant, it was time to start the nightlife. After a whole day of fun, Chu Yi was a little tired and went straight back to the hotel.
After taking a shower, Qiao Anchen was checking out travel guides for tomorrow's attractions. Chu Yi was flipping through the photos she had taken today, one by one. When she saw one of them, her hand suddenly stopped.
It was at Lover's Cliff that she was leaning on Qiao Anchen's shoulder watching the sunset when a young woman who was into photography secretly took a picture of her and sent it to her later.
Under the crimson sunset, the two figures lean against each other, their backs to the viewer, amidst the sea and the cliffs, creating a romantic and beautiful scene.
Looking at the photo, Chu Yi felt as if she had returned to that moment, the feeling of that evening, which she could never forget.
It was just an ordinary time, but because of the unparalleled scenery and the people accompanying me, it was given a unique color.
...
Even on the last day of her trip, on the plane, gazing at the cotton candy-like clouds outside, the image that kept flashing through her mind was that sunset on the cliff.
The sky was ablaze with fiery red, and she leaned quietly against Qiao Anchen's shoulder, the two keeping each other company in silence.
Returning to Lan City from Bali felt strangely disorienting at first.
The air was too cold, the buildings were tall, the roads were congested with traffic, and the city stretched as far as the eye could see.
Gone are the endless blue seas, the white sand beaches, the vast skies, and the refreshing sea breeze.
As soon as they left the airport, Chu Yi hugged Qiao Anchen's shoulder and started crying.
"Waaaaah, what am I going to do, Qiao Anchen? I'm already missing Bali..."
"Then, shall we go again next time?" he asked tentatively, and Chu Yi's expression immediately changed.
"Then forget it, we've already been to all of those places. If you have a holiday next time, let's go somewhere else!" she said excitedly, completely unlike her previous dejected appearance.
Qiao Anchen: "..."
"Alright."
The two got into the car and returned home. In just a few days, it felt like a different world. Looking at the familiar house, Chu Yi felt both warm and strange. In the end, he shook his head and sighed.
"Time for another big clean-up..."
No one wanted to move after getting back. Chu Yi changed the sheets and then stopped. Qiao Anchen, on the other hand, was better. He took out all the dirty clothes they had collected over the past few days and put them in the washing machine to wash.
After finishing, he mopped the floor, opened all the windows to ventilate, and only after he finished did he wash his hands, lie down on the bed, hug Chu Yi from behind, and rest his face on the back of her neck.
"Are you tired?" she asked softly. Qiao Anchen hummed in response, without moving.
Chu Yi turned around to face him, and the two quietly embraced.
"You'll be starting work tomorrow."
She rested her face on Qiao Anchen's shoulder, gazing blankly into the distance.
"I feel like these past few days have been a dream."
"Now that the dream is over, it's time to return to reality."
Qiao Anchen looked up at her for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her lips.
The movements were gentle and shallow, taking two breaths and then separating, exchanging each other's warmth and breath.
"I'm sorry," he suddenly said after a few kisses. Chu Yi was a little surprised.
Why are you suddenly bringing this up?
"I can't be with you every day." Qiao Anchen looked guilty, and Chu Yi felt even more guilty upon hearing this.
"You have your job, how can you possibly go out with me every day?" Speaking of this, Chu Yi seemed to remember something and looked at him suspiciously.
"By the way, have you been watching some random stuff online lately?"
"No," Qiao Anchen paused, then replied, "What's wrong?"
"I feel like you've suddenly become more perceptive lately."
"?"
"His speech and actions are completely different from before."
"...So, do you think it's good or bad?"
Chu Yi stroked his chin, pondered, and slowly said, "I can't quite put my finger on it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it feels like I'm overdoing it."
Qiao Anchen: "..."
He's in a tough spot too.
As Chu Yi had predicted, Qiao Anchen was practically fighting a war after returning from his holiday. Work seemed to be piling up, waiting for him to come back and deal with it one by one.
On his first day at work, he worked until late at night and didn't get home until 11 p.m. Chu Yi was waiting for him to come home, and her eyelids were almost drooping.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Qiao Anchen pushed open the bedroom door and saw that there was now someone in the usually cold bedroom. Chu Yi sat up from the bed and looked at him with a blank expression.
"You're just getting off work..."
"Yeah. Too much to do." Qiao Anchen looked tired and rubbed his neck.
He walked to the bedside, sat down in front of Chu Yi, and gazed at her.
"Next time you're tired, go to bed early. You don't need to wait for me."
"I'm not that sleepy. I usually go to bed around this time," Chu Yi answered honestly. Qiao Anchen smiled and reached out to rub her head.
"Okay, I'm going to take a shower now. You can continue to rest."
The warm, gentle touch of a palm, along with a firm yet gentle pressure, came from above my head, and I could still see Qiao Anchen's image from just moments before.
Her lips curved slightly, and her eyes were narrowed, filled with a soft light.
It made her involuntarily think of a certain word.
Pampering.
Chu Yi stared blankly at his back, wondering if she was out of her mind or just sleepy.
Almost no girl can resist a head pat, especially if it's from someone she likes; the effect is instantly doubled.
Chu Yi was huddled in the blanket, wide awake, replaying the scene over and over again, biting the corner of the blanket so hard he wanted to roll around on the spot.
Oh no, what should I do? I feel like I've already fallen in love.
Author's Note: First Day of the Lunar New Year: Died
38. Chapter 38
On the very first day of falling in love, Chu Yi calmed down. The reason was simple: Qiao Anchen had almost reverted to his old ways. He could only be seen at night, and during the day, even trivial messages were much less frequent.
After a few days, Chu Yi felt this wouldn't do. Seeing how hard Qiao Anchen worked, leaving early and returning late, she decided to sacrifice her own sleep and get up early to make him breakfast.
Chu Yi prepared the recipe and ingredients a day in advance. The next day, she set an alarm very early. While she was still half asleep, she seemed to vaguely hear a noise. Chu Yi mumbled a couple of things with her eyes closed and burrowed deeper into the blankets. Finally, she could hear some peace and quiet.
Her brows relaxed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
When Chu Yi woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky. Lying in bed, Chu Yi rubbed her eyes sleepily. The room was empty; Qiao Anchen was no longer there.
Chu Yi woke up with a start, immediately got up, grabbed her phone, and after seeing the time, let out a wail and fell back onto the covers.