CHAPTER 84
Xiaoyuan actually didn't watch a movie. Instead, she chose an interview with a rather famous filmmaker and watched bits and pieces of it.
It was a cloudy day, with light rain drizzling on and off. By around five in the evening, the sky had completely darkened.
Perhaps because she had been sleep-deprived for too long, she felt tired but didn't really want to sleep.
The house was incredibly large. Xiaoyuan suddenly had an idea: if there were a couple in this house who were living separate lives, whose relationship had broken down, they could stay apart for several days without ever encountering each other.
But for those who love each other, even in a vast house, they can still feel each other's presence.
She smiled. In the past, she would never have had such thoughts. She used to focus more on observing people, noticing details, and figuring out how to portray relationships and interpret stories. She had never thought much about love stories.
Having someone she liked in her heart made her more sensitive.
She got up and walked around the house.
Finally, she arrived outside Wei Zhuang's door. It was quiet, she must have already gone to bed.
She had considered asking if Wei Zhuang had come back for her, but she didn't ask at the time, and later there was no opportunity. Now, standing here, she felt even less need to ask.
Because she had already come back.
......
Xiaoyuan savored a delicately seasoned dish.
Pan-seared scallops with black truffle.
Green asparagus tips accompanied the tender, white scallops coated in black truffle, with a small, delicate platter of fruit radishes and a small heart-shaped piece of cantaloupe wrapped in Spanish ham.
The ingredients were all cooked in chicken broth, with a touch of salt, allowing the natural aromas and flavors of the ingredients to shine through.
It was both delicious and visually appealing.
The main course was a steak.
For dessert, there was crème brûlée.
Xiaoyuan happily indulged in all three courses, her face beaming with delight.
Sitting across from her, Wei Zhuang only had one dish—a soup, to be precise—seaweed and lily bulb stewed with sea cucumber.
It looked quite nutritious, but wasn't it a bit too bland?
Xiaoyuan blinked, wanting to ask, "Are you really full from just this?"
But seeing Wei Zhuang leisurely sipping her soup, she swallowed the question.
'Older people really do prioritize health,' she thought, a slight smile playing on her lips.
It was strange. When she ate with her brother or Cai Juan, they would chatter away, feeling that it added to the atmosphere. Yet, eating with Wei Zhuang in silence didn't feel bad at all.
After the meal, Wei Zhuang said, "I need to handle some work."
Xiaoyuan nodded, "Okay."
Wei Zhuang left for the 33rd floor, and Xiaoyuan stared at the door, blinking.
'Wow, it really feels like a couple drifting apart, living under the same roof but worlds apart,' she mused.
The thought made her blush. Where was the "same roof"? And how were they a couple? Then she began to wonder if same-s3x couples could be called "husband and wife," or what they should call each other. Was she considered "bent" now? Or was it simply that she had fallen for someone who happened to be a woman?
She curled up on the sofa and searched online, scrolling through countless pages, but still felt utterly confused.
For hours, her attention was fixated on this, moving from the sofa to her room, from the floor to the bed, from after dinner to after her shower, from searching for information to taking a test...
Time flew by as she remained deeply engrossed, no longer plagued by negative emotions.
Finally, she felt sleepy without taking any sleeping pills, and unknowingly drifted off to sleep on the bed, without even turning off the lights.
She fell asleep, but her sleep wasn't deep. She was haunted by a nightmare, but she was aware of it. It was like a long-fought enemy, whose strength and tactics she understood, yet she couldn't escape.
Because every time she was defeated, every time she was filled with fear, the more she wanted to wake up, the more she couldn't, struggling desperately, needing to scream to scare it away and free herself.
"Xiaoyuan—"
A familiar voice called out to her.
Xiaoyuan, drenched in cold sweat and trembling, heard Wei Zhuang's voice. When she saw her face as she sat down, she blinked, finally remembering she was in Wei Zhuang's home.
Her temples were slightly damp, her long eyelashes glistening with tears, as if she was struggling to process Wei Zhuang's words, staring at her in a daze.
"Drink some water." Wei Zhuang said, bringing the cup to her lips. Xiaoyuan took a big gulp, regaining some composure. She looked at the woman before her and suddenly leaned in, burying herself in her arms.
Wei Zhuang paused, set the cup down, and paused for a moment before placing her hand on Xiaoyuan's shoulder. "Did you have a nightmare?"
When she returned, the door to Xiaoyuan's room was still open, the light was on, and it was eerily quiet. Wei Zhuang didn't go in. After taking a bath and drying her hair, she came out of the master bedroom and heard Xiaoyuan scream.
"I, I dreamed of..." Xiaoyuan murmured, pressing close to her, "a Dementor."
In the Harry Potter series, she wasn't afraid of Voldemort, but the Dementors terrified her.
The author, J.K. Rowling, once said that the Dementors were a metaphor for depression.
Monsters that suck away happiness and courage, like relentless nightmares that follow you everywhere—that's what Dementors are.
Xiaoyuan burrowed deeper into the woman's embrace, holding her tightly, her warm breath brushing against Wei Zhuang's slightly open collar.
Wei Zhuang frowned slightly, feeling a faint itch on that patch of skin.
"Stay here with me, okay? That way... the Dementor won't come," Xiaoyuan mumbled, her voice muffled, mixed with sleepiness, "Frances."
"...Okay."
Both were in their pajamas, their soft, curving bodies separated only by a thin layer of fabric. A lazy, comforting warmth welled up in Xiaoyuan's heart, her heartbeat quickening slightly, but more than anything, she felt safe.
"Frances, can you cast the Patronus Charm?"
She didn't look up, so she didn't see Wei Zhuang's expression blank out for a moment when she heard this.
Xiaoyuan smiled silently, finding the thought amusing. The Harry Potter series could be considered children's literature, perhaps Wei Zhuang hadn't even read it.
She boldly tightened her arms around the woman's waist, taking the opportunity to act spoiled and close the distance between them. She didn't look at Wei Zhuang's expression—since she wasn't pushing her away, it meant she didn't mind the closeness.
Wei Zhuang's waist was incredibly slender and firm, the fabric of her clothes revealing a smooth, delicate texture beneath.
Xiaoyuan's heartbeat quickened again, and she could feel the warmth of the woman's body, as well as her slightly held breath.
Time flowed by unnoticed, and both of them remained silent. Their racing heartbeats gradually slowing down, falling into a steady rhythm.
It was a subtle experience—Xiaoyuan had never fallen asleep in someone else's arms before.
She had been sleep-deprived for too long, and the few hours of sleep she got last night weren't nearly enough. Now, drowsiness washed over her like a tide, accompanied by a sense of security, knowing she would be staying here for a few days and there was no need to rush anything.
Her tension was swept away by the sleepiness, unable to think about anything, or take any further action. As if in less than ten seconds, she nestled back into Wei Zhuang's arms and fell asleep again.
Wei Zhuang's movements remained stiff for a while, numbness spreading, and the warm, moist breath on her neck made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
Once Xiaoyuan was asleep, she adjusted her posture, Xiaoyuan sliding down, her arm wrapping around her, her face nestled in her chest.
Although she had been cared for for a few days, her skin was noticeably healthier, but she was still thin, her shoulders and back even more slender, not losing weight in places she shouldn't.
From her milky white jawline to her neck, the light flowing down to the collarbone, where a few strands of black hair framed her fullness—a beauty Wei Zhuang had seen before, one that was easy to recall.
Wei Zhuang's gaze lingered for a moment, suppressing an impulse she hadn't anticipated. She gently laid Xiaoyuan down on the pillow.
Xiaoyuan's slightly rosy cheek rested against the pillow, unconsciously nuzzling it, her lips pursing softly.
Wei Zhuang gazed at her quietly for a moment, then gently placed her palm against her cheek. A soft light seemed to flicker in her eyes as her thin lips parted slightly, whispering, "Expecto Patronum."
The Patronus Charm.
Comments
Post a Comment