Dai Chengfeng leaned down slightly, gently nibbling on Liu Erlong's earlobe. His warm breath brushed against her sensitive ear as he whispered:
"Yes, it's over."
"To grieve for someone unworthy is a waste of life, my Sister Erlong…"
"You deserve better."
"Better?"
Liu Erlong gave a vacant smile, her gaze lost in emptiness. "What better is there…? Men are all alike… none of them are good… you… you're no different…"
Though heavily intoxicated, she still seemed to retain a sliver of instinctive resistance against Dai Chengfeng taking advantage of her.
"Hmm~"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled lightly, unperturbed, and bit her earlobe gently, eliciting a soft moan from Liu Erlong.
"Am I good or not, Sister Erlong… haven't you already… figured that out?"
The deeper meaning behind Dai Chengfeng's words, combined with the touch of his fingertips, sent another shiver through Liu Erlong.
She wanted to retort, but an overwhelming wave of drunkenness and exhaustion crashed over her, drowning her consciousness.
Her complaints grew softer, eventually turning into unconscious murmurs. Her eyelids drooped heavily.
"Anyway… you're also a little bastard… it's over… everything… is over…"
The last few words were almost inaudible. Liu Erlong's breathing grew steady and deep, and her hand, which had been clutching Dai Chengfeng's sleeve, slowly loosened and slipped away.
She was finally completely overwhelmed by alcohol and emotion, slipping into a deep, hazy sleep.
Seeing this, Dai Chengfeng lowered his head and gazed at Liu Erlong's peaceful sleeping face. In this state, she had shed all her sharp edges, resembling a helpless child.
The flush on her cheeks hadn't faded, her long lashes cast faint shadows under her eyes, and her swollen lips were slightly pouted, as if seeking something.
Dai Chengfeng stared at her for a long while. "This Liu Erlong…"
He smiled softly, then slowly stood up, carefully lifting Liu Erlong into his arms.
"Mmm…"
Liu Erlong seemed to stir slightly from Dai Chengfeng's movements, frowning faintly and letting out a muffled groan. But she didn't open her eyes, instead instinctively burrowing closer into his embrace.
Dai Chengfeng carried her steadily toward the bedroom.
His steps were firm, though a faint haze of drunkenness had settled in his eyes—he himself had drunk quite a bit.
Soon, Dai Chengfeng entered Liu Erlong's private chambers.
Gently, he placed her on the soft bed.
As her body sank into the plush bedding, Liu Erlong seemed to regain a sliver of awareness. She struggled to open her eyes, managing only to part them slightly. Her unfocused gaze wandered as she mumbled incoherently:
"…Hmm?"
"This is… where? Why does it feel so… soft…"
Dai Chengfeng sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over her. He brushed aside the stray strands of hair from her forehead and reassured her in a low voice:
"It's your room, your bed. Rest easy."
"…My… bed?"
Liu Erlong repeated drowsily, her sluggish mind processing the information.
After a moment, she seemed to realize the precariousness of their current situation. A flicker of panic crossed her brow, and her body instinctively tried to curl up.
"You… how did you get in here… no… it's not right…"
Dai Chengfeng gently pressed down on her shoulders to stop her from moving, his voice low and soothing, laced with a hypnotic calm: "Be good, don't be afraid. You're drunk and need rest."
"I'll stay here with you."
"With… me?"
Liu Erlong repeated in confusion, but the phrase "with you" seemed to strangely soothe her unease.
The power of the alcohol swept over her again, destroying the last remnants of her resistance.
Her guard completely disarmed, she stopped struggling, emitting only a faint "Mmm…" before sinking back into a deep sleep.
Dai Chengfeng's fingers gently combed through her jet-black hair, smoothing it out to avoid tangling.
His gaze lingered on her unguarded, sleeping face.
The night was deep, and the effects of the alcohol were now fully catching up with him.
He could feel a strong wave of fatigue and dizziness washing over him.
Finally, Dai Chengfeng seemed unable to resist the heavy pull of sleep any longer. His body swayed slightly as he instinctively sought a point of support.
Almost unconsciously, he lay down fully clothed on the bed beside Liu Erlong.
The bed was spacious enough, but the distance between them was minimal.
He could even feel the warmth emanating from Liu Erlong's body and hear her steady, rhythmic breathing.
Then, the entire room fell silent.
Only the faint rustle of the wind outside the window and the mingling of their alcohol-laden breaths remained.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting silhouettes of their sleeping forms.
---
The next morning, the first rays of dawn broke through the light gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on Liu Erlong's face.
Her long lashes fluttered gently, slowly opening like butterfly wings.
The dull ache of a hangover immediately struck her, her temples throbbing painfully, causing her to unconsciously furrow her delicate brows.
Still not fully awake, she instinctively raised her hand to rub her temples when fragments of last night's memories came flooding back—severing ties with Yu Xiaogang completely, Dai Chengfeng's comfort, his forceful kiss, the tingling sensation of his warm breath against her ear, the blush-inducing whispers, and finally, Dai Chengfeng carrying her back to bed…
"?!"
In an instant, Liu Erlong's eyes snapped wide open, and she bolted upright in bed.
The silk quilt slid off her shoulders, bringing a chill.
"Heavens…"
She gasped softly, her heart racing wildly.
Panic-stricken, she looked around—the familiar carved wardrobe, scattered cosmetics on the dressing table, the gauzy curtains swaying gently in the breeze—it was indeed her chamber.
But when she abruptly turned her head to look beside her, her breath caught—
Dai Chengfeng was there, sleeping.
He lay on his side, facing her direction. His handsome features appeared especially gentle in the morning light.
His thick lashes cast faint shadows under his eyes, and his usually teasing lips were now slightly parted, emitting steady, deep breaths.
A ray of sunlight fell perfectly on his high nose bridge, outlining his flawless profile.
Liu Erlong's heart pounded faster, almost leaping out of her chest.
Instinctively, she looked down to check—yesterday's aqua-blue dress, though crumpled beyond recognition, was still intact on her body. The quilt was neatly draped over her, and even the sash around her waist hadn't loosened.
"Phew…"
Reassured that nothing had happened between her and Dai Chengfeng, Liu Erlong exhaled deeply, her tense shoulders gradually relaxing.
Then, she turned her gaze back to Dai Chengfeng, her expression complex yet soft.
She moved closer slightly, gazing at his sleeping face.
In the morning light, a few strands of his ink-black hair fell casually across his forehead, adding a touch of boyish purity.
Unconsciously, her fingertips brushed against his cheek, feeling its warmth and reality.
"Thank you, Dai Chengfeng."
Liu Erlong murmured softly, "Thank you for being there when I needed you most…"
"But… you truly leave me unsure of how to face you now…"
---
T/N: For Patrons, don't forget to vote for which story gets 4 Chapters/Day for next week! Checkout the community Chats for the link or use the tag 'Weekly Vote' to get to the post!
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)