He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

The bedroom fell silent for a few seconds as soon as he finished speaking.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sang Jiuning was overwhelmed with regret.

She punched herself in frustration.

Oh no, why is she throwing a tantrum?

He was clearly injured today, feeling unwell physically and mentally, yet she still snapped at him.

A wave of guilt washed over her, making her nose feel slightly stuffy.

She wilted instantly; the fur that had just stood up silently collapsed.

Just as Sang Jiuning was filled with self-blame and at a loss, the warmth enveloping her head suddenly stirred slightly.

Wen Zhaoci gently raised her hand and rubbed her frizzy little head.

He looked down at her, without a trace of blame, only deep concern: "Baby, don't bury your head in the blanket."

"I'm afraid you'll suffocate and won't be able to breathe."

A simple sentence, so gentle it instantly breaks down any defenses.

Sang Jiuning stood frozen in place, the last bit of stubbornness in her heart completely crumbling, and she utterly admitted defeat.

She didn't obediently let him hold her in his arms, nor did she let him cover her with the blanket properly, leaving only her small face exposed.

His body remained taut and stiff as a stone, his eyes tightly closed, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, giving him an endearing appearance of someone ready to die for their cause.

The boy in front of him felt the girl in his arms stiff and obedient, and the smile in his eyes grew stronger. He chuckled softly, his voice gentle and tender, lingering in the quiet night.

He gently tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his nose lightly brushing against the top of her head, and whispered, "Baby, sleep."

"Good night."

Sang Jiuning closed her eyes, listening to the steady and powerful heartbeat beside her, feeling his unique, cool breath, and her tense body slowly relaxed.

Sang Jiuning couldn't sleep well in the latter half of the night because of the sweltering heat.

She was originally lying on her side, with her back pressed against the warm bedding and a scalding heat source right in front of her.

Wen Zhaoci was almost entirely pressed against her.

The heavy pressure made her chest feel tight, as if she were carrying a ball of unreleased heat, or as if she were being pressed down by a warm boulder, her breath carrying a scalding warmth.

Still half asleep, Sang Jiuning's brows furrowed tightly, her long eyelashes trembled uneasily, and her cheeks flushed a faint blush.

too hot.

The intense heat made her instinctively want to break free of her restraints. Her mind was a mess, and she kicked hard on instinct, sending the thin blanket flying to the foot of the bed.

Her fair and slender knees landed squarely and firmly on the man's lower abdomen beside her.

"Well……"

A muffled groan, barely suppressed, suddenly came from beside me. The deep, hoarse voice, carrying the pain of the unexpected, was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Wen Zhaoci = subconsciously tensed his waist.

But the little girl in his arms had no idea that she had caused trouble.

After kicking off the blankets and pushing aside the heavy oppressive feeling, the heat that had been enveloping her dissipated almost entirely, leaving her feeling incredibly comfortable.

Sang Jiuning's eyelashes relaxed, her tightly furrowed brows slowly unfurled, and her small face was full of comfort and laziness. She smacked her lips sleepily, then rolled over without any warning, her back resting steadily in Wen Zhaoci's warm embrace. She found a more comfortable position and drifted off to sleep, her breathing long and steady.

Wen Zhaoci looked down at the little girl sleeping soundly in his arms. He slowly calmed his disordered breathing, carefully tightened his arms, and encircled her in his embrace.

He lowered his head slightly, his warm breath gently caressing her delicate skin, his nose touching the hollow of her neck, greedily and tenderly inhaling her clean scent that belonged only to her.

His dark, deep eyes shone brightly in the night. He pressed his ear against hers, lowered his voice, and murmured a soft, hoarse sentence, his tone full of playful grievance.

"Baby, why are you so restless in your sleep tonight?"

His fingertips lightly brushed against the soft flesh of her waist, his voice growing lower and more suggestive: "That kick was too hard. What if it had hurt my little brother... your future happiness would be over, hmm?"

His voice was deep and tender, carrying a warm breath, lingering closely in Sang Jiuning's ears.

But Sang Jiuning was fast asleep, her mind a complete blank, and she couldn't hear what he was saying at all.

The image of the two of them being intimate and entangled before bed still lingered in her subconscious, making her sleep restless. The constant whispering in her ear was just like the incessant buzzing of mosquitoes on a summer night, annoying her.

Sang Jiuning, who was restless in her sleep, completely lost her patience. On instinct, she turned over, raised her hand, and slapped the person next to her across the face with a clean, decisive, and powerful motion.

A soft "snap" sounded particularly clear in the quiet night.

The force wasn't heavy, but it landed squarely on Wen Zhaoci's cheek.

Wen Zhaoci: "..."

He stared blankly at the little girl in his arms, who was still sleeping peacefully with serene eyes, and couldn't help but silently speculate in his mind.

So... the baby is awake?

Did he hit her on purpose after discovering that she had secretly come close to kiss him and clung to him?

But the person in his arms was completely unaware. After hitting him, she obediently clutched the pillow beside her, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, and she slept even more soundly.

Wen Zhaoci looked at her calm, sleeping face and sighed helplessly.

……

The next morning.

The dazzling morning light streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, landing on the headboard, gentle yet bright.

Sang Jiuning slowly opened her sleepy eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering, her eyes still moist with the hazy mist of sleep, her mind slowly clearing from its fog.

She slowly turned her head, subconsciously looking at the person beside her.

That one glance made her pause slightly.

Wen Zhaoci, who was beside her, had already woken up and was staring at her intently.

Wen Zhaoci had dark circles under her eyes and faint red blood vessels under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well all night.

On her fair cheek, a clear and small handprint was clearly imprinted, with neat outlines, obviously her handiwork.

He pursed his thin lips slightly, his dark eyes staring straight at her, his eyes filled with an overwhelming sense of grievance, his eyelids drooping, looking pitiful and as if he had been bullied terribly.

Sang Jiuning's eyelids twitched, and she raised an eyebrow slightly: "What's wrong? You look like you've been bullied."

Upon hearing her speak, Wen Zhaoci's eyes instantly doubled in grievance. She immediately leaned closer, her voice low and soft, full of accusation, just like a wronged child waiting to be comforted.

"Baby, you were so naughty last night."

Sang Jiuning was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and quickly recalled what had happened last night.

She only remembers feeling very hot, kicking off the blanket, and kicking something, but she has no recollection of what happened after that.

She thought to herself: I just kicked off the blanket, what kind of mischief could I possibly be up to?

Before she could finish thinking, Wen Zhaoci's aggrieved voice continued, her tone exaggerated and pitiful: "After you fell asleep last night, you kept biting and nibbling at me. I lay there quietly, not daring to move, but you were still unhappy and slapped me."