It felt like a long, comfortable sleep, and only when she awoke did she finally return to the shore of clarity. The sun, already sinking toward the west of the painted sky, had reached its destination. Beneath the glow of bright evening lights, Mo Yachen sat quietly across from Ji Yu, pencil in hand, sketching the face of the sleeping girl.
When he noticed her stirring, he slowly set down his pencil. He nudged the paper cup on the tea table toward her.
"It's just warm water now, but after sleeping all afternoon, you must be thirsty."
Ji Yu accepted the cup, sipping gracefully before glancing around the room. Something felt off—because before she had drifted into sleep, she distinctly remembered being with Tang Li, not here.
"What's wrong?"
"…Nothing. Just feels like I slept forever. My neck's a little stiff. How long was I out?"
She twisted her neck in an exaggerated stretch. The office chairs were hard and stiff, nowhere near as comfortable as her couch back home.
"It's already past five. You were out when I arrived. Sleep this much and you might not get any rest tonight."
Mo Yachen closed his sketchbook, stood up, and gently guided Ji Yu onto the sofa, his hands moving to massage her stiff shoulders.
"If I can't sleep, I'll just chat with you. If I'm staying up, you're not allowed to sleep either."
Ji Yu grinned mischievously.
"Who even says things like that?"
"Me. I do. So… remember to answer my video call tonight."
Her gaze drifted to the half-finished sketch on the table. Tilting her head, she asked:
"By the way, are we still on duty at the gate tomorrow morning?"
Mo Yachen studied her lively, sparkling eyes as though searching for mischief hidden in them. After a long pause, he finally chuckled. "Yes. Same time—ten o'clock. Same group as today. Don't skip."
"Got it～～～ I'll be there by nine, waiting for you."
Stretching with a long yawn, Ji Yu shook off her drowsiness. The sandalwood-scented prayer beads around her wrist shifted with the motion, releasing a faint fragrance into the air.
"Now you're really awake?"
Mo Yachen smiled sideways. But to Ji Yu, his smile didn't feel warm—it carried something that made her uneasy. She pulled away, bracing herself against the chair, and leaned back a little.
"Don't tell me there's more? It's already late…"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he held her hand, leading her toward the door. He glanced at the empty takeout box in the trash, thought for a moment, and then sighed. "Do you know how exhausting it was while you were napping? So many people came by. I barely had time to drink water."
"And meanwhile, you were in the air-conditioned office, sleeping away without sparing a thought for your poor boyfriend."
Turning back, he wrapped an arm lightly around her, fingers brushing through her hair before tracing the faint pillow mark on her cheek.
He waited.
Waited for her guilty look.
Sure enough, Ji Yu rubbed her nose, clearly uneasy. "Then…"
"That's why I'm punishing you."
The smile in his eyes was as warm as dusk… or maybe just about to fade with the light.
"You're going to cook for me. That'll be your punishment. Fair enough, Xiao Ji Yu?"
The door swung open—
—but Ji Yu stepped back, picking something up from the table.
"Fine, I'll feed you, you glutton. But as for cooking…" she smirked, "I charge labor fees."
"So shrewd? You really are wife material." Mo Yachen laughed.
"Well then, how should I pay your labor fee?"
The clock ticked past six. The air-conditioner clicked off, leaving the last golden streaks of sunset spilling into the room. The cool air suddenly felt warmer.
"I want you…"
Ji Yu turned, the hem of her dress flaring like a white gardenia.
"…to finish this sketch and give it to me!"
She held up the half-done drawing.
---
Ten minutes later—
The two of them stepped out of the supermarket with bags of groceries, heading toward Ji Yu's place.
"Hehe, thank you for the treat~~~" Ji Yu bowed dramatically like a cheeky servant. "When we get home, I'll cook you a real feast."
The cool, bustling evening wind swept over them. Ji Yu shivered, exhaling into the night air as she hurried Mo Yachen along.
Just in time, a bus arrived. Unsurprisingly, not a single seat was empty—tired office workers slumped against the windows, finally free from clients and chores, dozing in the faint hum of the bus. The automated announcements played in a softened tone.
Everything felt so gentle.
Ji Yu and Mo Yachen leaned against the doors like silent guardians. But only one of them was idle—the other kept his hand busy.
With his sketchbook balanced against his arm and a pencil in hand, Mo Yachen continued to draw, capturing the girl standing before him.
Perhaps because she was still holding the groceries, Ji Yu didn't notice. Fresh from a nap, the calm and quiet atmosphere was tugging her eyelids shut again.
Sha—sha—sha—
The pencil tip shrank as the sketch grew more vivid, until a lifelike Ji Yu emerged on the page. Some nearby passengers craned their necks to admire it.
A handsome young man sketching a beautiful girl—naturally, the sight drew attention.
So much attention that even Ji Yu, usually oblivious, eventually realized she was the center of everyone's gaze.
"You… started sketching me here? Without telling me?"
She pouted softly.
"Wasn't this the reward you asked for? What, do you regret it already?" Mo Yachen's pencil hovered at her face on the page, unable to decide which expression to capture—she was too animated in this moment.
"I get it. You want to change the reward, don't you? Greedy little thing. No way. Face me. I'm not done yet."
Perhaps he spoke too loudly, because Ji Yu immediately leaned closer, putting a finger against her pink lips.
"Shhh. People are resting. Don't talk so loud."
Understanding, he nodded silently.
Only then did Ji Yu step back, smiling sweetly. "Okay. Your model's right here. But if the sketch doesn't turn out well, I won't accept it."
Mo Yachen met her gaze, thought for a moment, and finally said—
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you're satisfied."
That answer was enough to make Ji Yu's smile blossom. Twirling a lock of her silky hair between her fingers, she looked at him with warmth as sweet as spring.