I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Shu Zi was stunned for a moment, then reached out and covered his mouth, her ears turning as red as if they were about to bleed:

"Gu Yan, you're being a pervert!"

Gu Yan's mouth was covered by her, but his eyes were full of laughter. He didn't struggle and just looked at her.

Shu Zi felt even more uncomfortable under his gaze. She let go of his hand, buried her face in the pillow, and said in a muffled voice:

"You drive so early in the morning, you have so much energy."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan chuckled softly and leaned closer to her ear:

"Nuonuo will know whether she has enough energy or not later."

Shu Zi suddenly lifted her head from the pillow, staring at him with wide eyes: "Gu Yan!"

"Yes, I'm here."

He should have been composed, but the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Shu Zi realized she couldn't win an argument with him, so she simply threw back the covers and pretended to get out of bed:

"I'm not sleeping with you anymore. I'm going back to my room. You're on your own!"

Before her feet even touched the ground, the arm around her waist had already pulled her back.

Shu Zi fell back into his arms, her back hitting his chest.

Gu Yan rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice carrying a lazy laugh:

"Why are you running? Lie down a bit more."

"Lie down my ass!" Shu Zi struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free.

Gu Yan kept his eyes closed, his tone languid:

"I stayed up all night last night, aren't you going to take responsibility?"

Shu Zi paused in her struggle, turned to look at him, and her eyes held a hint of disbelief:

"...You're blaming me now?"

Gu Yan didn't open his eyes, his chin still resting on her head, and said in a roguish tone, "Yeah, it's your fault."

"Are you even being reasonable anymore?"

Shu Zi was amused by his words and reached out to pry his fingers off her waist. "You had to put up with it yourself. I didn't ask you to—"

Before she could finish speaking, the arm around her waist tightened even more, cutting her off from the rest of her words.

Gu Yan opened his eyes and looked down at her: "So you won't be so lenient next time?"

Shu Zi met his gaze, then quickly looked away, her ears turning red again.

"...It's up to you whether you tolerate it or not."

Gu Yan didn't reply. Instead, he reached out and grabbed her waist, turning her around so that she was facing him.

Caught off guard, Shu Zi placed her hands on his chest and met his eyes, which were filled with a mischievous smile.

"Baby, you said that."

His voice was low and carried a hint of danger.

Shu Zi stubbornly replied, "Yes, I said it."

Gu Yan didn't speak, he just looked at her, his gaze slowly sliding from her eyebrows to her lips, pausing for a moment, then moving back to her eyes, his eyes deep and dark.

Shu Zi's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her, and she subconsciously stepped back a little, pressing her hand against his chest:

"Wait a minute! It's morning! You can't do anything reckless!"

Gu Yan stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly chuckled, reached out and pulled her back, resting his chin on her head, his voice regaining its morning laziness:

"Don't move, sleep with me a little longer."

Shu Zi was stunned for a moment, and wanted to say something, but she could feel that his voice was indeed sleepy, so she couldn't bear to disturb him in the end. She nestled obediently in his arms and didn't move anymore.

The sunlight grew brighter and brighter, streaming through the curtains, filling the room with a quiet and warm ambiance.

Gu Yan's breathing gradually calmed down, as if he had really fallen asleep again.

Shu Zi nestled in his arms, closed her eyes, and listened to the steady heartbeat coming from his chest. She was so relaxed that she was about to fall asleep again.

Just then, a vibration suddenly came from the bedside table.

Shu Zi suddenly opened her eyes, and her first reaction was to look up at Gu Yan.

He still had his eyes closed, his breathing was steady, and he showed no signs of being woken up.

Shu Zi breathed a sigh of relief, but her phone continued to vibrate stubbornly, the buzzing sound particularly clear in the quiet room.

She carefully reached out, past Gu Yan's body, and touched his phone on the other side of the bedside table.

The screen displayed "Ms. Xia".

Shu Zi pressed the answer button, held the phone to her ear, and whispered, "Aunt Xia?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Xia Yun's voice, tinged with surprise: "...Nuonuo?"

"Yes, it's me."

Shu Zi glanced at Gu Yan again, her voice still very low, "Aunt Xia, Gu Yan is still sleeping."

Xia Yun was silent for a second, then her speech noticeably quickened:

"Oh, still sleeping? Um, you guys go ahead with your work, I don't have anything urgent, just asking. It's nothing, bye!"

Shu Zi knew from her tone that she had misunderstood, and quickly explained:

"No, Aunt Xia, we did it last night—"

"No need to explain! No need to explain!"

Xia Yun's voice carried an undisguised smile:

"I know what young people are like! Okay, okay, I won't bother you anymore, bye!"

"Aunt Xia—"

beep - beep - beep -

Shu Zi: "..."

She stared at the words "Call ended" on the screen, remained silent for a moment, then gently placed the phone back on the bedside table and tucked back into the covers.

She glanced at Gu Yan, who was still fast asleep beside her, and silently buried her face in his chest.

Oh no, Aunt Xia must have misunderstood. Now we're in deep trouble.

Shu Zi was burying her face in his chest, lost in thought, when a sleepy, languid voice suddenly came from above her head:

"My mom's phone call?"

She was startled, looked up, and met Gu Yan's eyes, which he had opened at some point.

His eyes were clear, indicating that he had been awake for a while.

Shu Zi: "...You're awake?"

"Yes, I woke up when it started vibrating."

Gu Yan reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone indifferent, with a hint of nonchalant amusement:

"Since you answered so quickly, I didn't say anything."

Shu Zi: "..."

She paused for a second, then kicked him under the covers.

Gu Yan grunted, "Baby, where are you kicking?"

"...Who told you to pretend to be asleep and keep quiet!"

Gu Yan chuckled softly, "I really wasn't pretending to be asleep. I just happened to wake up and heard you call out 'Aunt Xia'."

Shu Zi glared at him: "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"squeak."

Shu Zi was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, and punched him lightly: "Be serious!"

Gu Yan chuckled and took her hand: "What did my mom say?"

Shu Zi's smile froze instantly, her expression becoming indescribable:

"...She said, 'You're young, I know,' and then hung up."

Gu Yan paused for a second, then a slow smile curved his lips: "Yes, she does understand."

Enraged, Shu Zi kicked him again: "You're still laughing!"

Gu Yan was kicked by her, but instead of stopping, he laughed even more obviously.

He reached out and pinched the back of her neck, as if soothing a cat with its fur standing on end: "Alright, I'll explain to her later."

How do you explain that?

Shu Zi raised her head:

"If you say, 'Mom, nothing happened between us last night. I just dried her hair and then we cuddled and slept together,' do you think she'd believe you?"