Liu Qianxiu only drove Mu Wan as far as the entrance of Nanfeng Apartments.
Then he gave her the code to his home.
Mu Wan entered it.
The lock clicked open.
She pressed down on the handle and stepped inside.
The apartment was completely dark.
Mu Wan already knew the place well enough to find the living-room light without hesitation.
Light spread across the room.
Spacious.
Quiet.
Empty.
Even Zhouyi, who normally appeared and disappeared like a ghost, was gone.
Mu Wan was the only person there.
It resembled her own apartment.
Yet it was completely different.
At her home, there would always be only her.
Here, perhaps in one hour.
Or two.
Or however many it took.
As long as she waited, Liu Qianxiu would come home.
Mu Wan walked toward the low table.
She slipped off her shoes, stepped onto the carpet, and sat cross-legged.
The books on the table were still the same ones.
Liu Qianxiu seemed to read them again and again.
They were so dry that Mu Wan had no idea how he managed it.
After sitting quietly for a while, she looked outside.
The living room faced south, its view wide and unobstructed.
A crescent moon hung high in the sky.
Cold.
White.
Its light only seemed to amplify the emptiness of the apartment.
A few traces of agarwood still lingered in the air.
Mu Wan leaned against the structural wall and took in the entire living room.
Seen alone like this beneath the moonlight, the arrangement really did resemble a Daoist temple.
But however much it looked like one, it still stood in the middle of the mortal world.
Perhaps that was why Liu Qianxiu went to Qingyuan Temple to cultivate in solitude.
Waiting was actually very boring.
Mu Wan had spent countless hours waiting on film sets.
Often, she simply fell asleep.
And that was during the day.
Yet tonight, waiting alone in Liu Qianxiu’s home, she did not feel sleepy at all.
She leaned forward.
Took out her phone.
And began playing a game.
By the time Liu Qianxiu returned, it was already eleven.
Only the table lamp was on in the living room.
A small pool of light surrounded the woman asleep over the low table.
Her slender body was curled into a small shape.
And yet somehow, she seemed to fill the entire living room.
She was sleeping deeply.
Her face rested on one arm, turned toward the entrance.
It looked as though she had spent the whole evening watching the door and waiting for him to return until sleep finally overcame her.
Her hair fell across her shoulders.
Her small face remained vivid even in sleep.
Eyes closed.
Long lashes casting faint shadows beneath them.
Her expression calm and peaceful.
Though he still stood some distance away, Liu Qianxiu looked at her and almost felt he could hear her breathing.
Slow.
Even.
She had been waiting for him.
Now he was home.
Liu Qianxiu walked toward her.
Sleeping over the low table was uncomfortable.
Mu Wan had waited for so long that eventually she had closed her eyes, intending only to rest for a moment.
She had not fallen deeply asleep.
Somewhere beneath that shallow sleep, she sensed someone approaching.
Her awareness gradually returned.
Mu Wan opened her eyes.
Liu Qianxiu stood beside the low table.
His lashes were slightly lowered.
He was looking at her.
Mu Wan raised her eyes and met his dark, clear gaze.
“You’re back.”
Her voice was slightly hoarse.
With her eyes closed, she rubbed her face once against her arm.
Then she opened them again and lifted her head.
“Why didn’t you sleep in the bedroom?”
Liu Qianxiu watched as she rubbed the back of her neck.
Her pale fingers pressed into her dark hair.
She tilted her head slightly backward.
Beneath the dim light, the line of her throat was smooth and graceful.
“I said I’d wait for you.”
Mu Wan’s shoulders lifted slightly.
Thin.
Straight.
The hollow at the base of her neck clearly visible.
Her dark eyes were bright again.
She smiled.
One hand pressed against the low table as she began to stand.
“Since you’re back, I’ll go to the room and…”
She did not finish.
Her arm pushed against the table.
But her legs had gone completely numb.
Pins and needles shot upward from her feet.
Mu Wan stumbled.
Her balance vanished.
As she fell toward the low table, she instinctively reached for the man in front of her.
She missed him.
Liu Qianxiu did not miss her.
His hand caught her waist.
Mu Wan went completely still.
His palm was large.
Dry.
Cool.
Even through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could feel it against her skin.
The touch itself was cool.
Yet heat spread through her body.
Her chin trembled faintly.
Mu Wan looked up at him.
“My legs are numb…”
Before she could finish, her body tilted again.
Her heart jumped.
“Ah.”
Then the floor disappeared beneath her feet.
Liu Qianxiu had lifted her into his arms.
Mu Wan immediately wrapped both arms around his neck to keep herself from falling.
Her eyes widened.
“Liu Qianxiu.”
The living room was silent.
All Mu Wan could hear was her own heartbeat.
They were very close.
Liu Qianxiu lowered his eyes toward her as she called his name.
“Mm.”
He carried her toward the guest bedroom.
He had brought her here once before.
This time, he knew the way without hesitation.
Liu Qianxiu placed Mu Wan on the bed.
Then he switched on the night-light.
Soft light filled the room.
For a moment, the two of them looked at each other.
As though both had something to say.
As though neither did.
Mu Wan pulled the blanket around herself.
Her body gradually relaxed.
She looked into Liu Qianxiu’s eyes.
Her thoughts were already beginning to blur with sleep.
“Liu Qianxiu.”
Her voice softened.
“Why did you agree to let me go to the temple with you?”
Liu Qianxiu looked at her.
Her voice grew quieter.
Her eyes slowly closed.
“I wanted to confirm whether the environment would affect my state of mind.”
Mu Wan’s small face rested sideways against the pillow.
Her eyes were completely closed now.
“Then does the environment affect your state of mind?”
Liu Qianxiu’s throat moved slightly.
Mu Wan’s breathing was already becoming slow and even.
His voice was low in the quiet room.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Only people can.”
— End of Chapter 27 —
Thanks for the chapter and stay safe!
ReplyDeletewhat a good call back
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