After a few jokes, Melody stopped paying attention to Lu Qingxu and turned over to her side, presenting him with her back.
Lu Qingxu had long grown accustomed to her speaking her mind and remaining silent when she chose not to, simply staying by her side.
Ever since Lu Qingxu came into her life, he had shamelessly squeezed into the same room with her every day, never leaving her side for 24 hours.
Without even a moment apart, Melody didn't realize how much she had grown accustomed to his presence.
In the past, when sleeping, if she didn't rest her head on his arm, he would insist on tucking it under her head.
Not having it today left her feeling a sense of emptiness.
Nian Nian slept soundly and sweetly, holding up her adorable little arms and legs.
Melody tossed and turned on the narrow bed, becoming more restless the more she moved, her heart gradually growing agitated.
Lu Qingxu, observing her perfectly, sent her a message on his phone.
Melody felt her phone vibrate and fished it out from under her pillow to see a WeChat message from Lu Qingxu.
Two words: Come here.
Crazy.
With just a child between them, why was he messaging her when they were so close?
Besides, even if she wanted to go, could she? Was the situation conducive?
It was only then that she realized her agitation stemmed from not being in his arms...
While mentally grumbling, she didn't put her phone down.
Melody even replied, feigning ignorance: What for?
"What do you think?"
Lu Qingxu, with his back to her, made a rustling sound and sent another message.
It was a picture, a familiar one to Melody, "Gazing at the summit of Mount Tai."
In a public place, with elders and children present, she was amused to the point of anger.
She secretly thought he was truly shameless, but it suited her mood. She turned over and sat up.
"Guess what your brother is doing right now?"
Lu Qingxu calmly covered himself with the blanket and put down his phone.
"He's definitely doing what he should be doing at night."
His tone and demeanor were so suggestive that even Melody, however dense, understood.
She couldn't help but glance at Nian Nian.
"She's so pitiful. To have elders like the two of you."
"How can you say that?"
Lu Qingxu also sat up.
"It's clearly four of us."
"Pfft..."
The two of them looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Melody felt her remaining days were numbered, that life’s pleasures should be seized. So, she generally did what she thought of.
Lu Qingxu, on the other hand, cooperated with her unconditionally.
Since she felt uncomfortable sleeping there and had other ideas, they should just leave.
"Watch her for me, I'll go out and be right back."
Hastily putting on his clothes, Lu Qingxu ran to the nurse's station, asking her to keep an eye on Grandma, and that they would be back at dawn.
After all, they were VIP clients who had paid, and it was within the nurse's duty. The nurse dared not neglect them.
Although she felt these two were a bit overbearing, she dared not complain.
Lu Qingxu rushed back to the room, pushed his suitcase, and gestured for Melody to pick up Nian Nian.
"Let's go."
"What if she wakes up in the middle of the night?"
"At worst, we won't sleep tonight. I'll accompany you and then her."
The two of them took a taxi to a nearby hotel.
After settling Nian Nian, Lu Qingxu directly pinned her against the wall.
"Have you been missing me for a long time?"
"Who's missing you?"
"No? We haven't been together for nearly forty hours."
"You've been missing me for a long time, haven't you?" Melody reached out to touch him, raising her eyebrows teasingly, "How long has it been that you're so energetic?"
Lu Qingxu's breathing immediately deepened. He leaned in, lifted her chin, and stared down at her for several seconds.
"You really don't miss me?"
She was two years older than him, and if she was so easily defeated by him, what then?
Melody bravely met his gaze: "No."
"You say one thing and mean another. Want me to punish you?"
"I'm not forcing you. If you don't want to either, you could have just not come."
As she spoke, she pinched him.
Without any restraint, not caring about his well-being at all, Lu Qingxu gasped.
"Take it easy, sis. You didn't think about it when you were fine, but you'll be anxious when you're hurt."
Melody lost her patience, glaring at him with a mix of urgency and annoyance.
"Why so much nonsense? If you want it, take it; if not, forget it. You're annoying like this."
He knew she was saying one thing and meaning another.
Lu Qingxu let out a muffled laugh, lowered his head, and leaned in.
At another hotel ten kilometers away, Xiang Wan was just starting to feel better, but the effects of the medication hadn't completely worn off, and she was still a bit groggy.
Lu Mingzhe had to carry her to the bathroom.
The bathroom light was beautiful, warm yellow, casting a glow on her milk-like skin, making her appear indescribably beautiful and pure.
Lu Mingzhe, like a starving ghost, couldn't resist wanting to have another meal.
After another bout of hazy intimacy, time had reached the early morning.
Lu Mingzhe, satisfied and physically exhausted, fell into a deep sleep embracing Xiang Wan. However, Xiang Wan, parched, woke up shortly after he fell asleep.
His phone was ringing, persistently ringing, the buzzing disturbing Xiang Wan.
She walked to the living room outside and searched everywhere, finally finding his phone next to the rug.
The screen displayed the name Ya Ya.
Xiang Wan dared not answer. She placed the phone on the sofa, staring at the sweet name, recalling everything that had just happened with Lu Mingzhe and all that had transpired in the past few days. Her heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
Undeniably, her and Lu Mingzhe's return to tonight's situation was something she had subconsciously craved, which was why she had allowed it to proceed this far.
Could she blame Lu Mingzhe entirely, calling him a scumbag?
No, they were equally culpable.
Their relationship had been ambiguous from the start, and they had maintained a non-boyfriend-girlfriend status in the intervening years.
Later, when Lu Mingzhe got married for the first time, they were still in contact.
Now, it was merely a repeat of the past.
But why was it that the first time she hadn't felt such a strong sense of guilt, yet now she was constantly condemning herself?
Was it because of Nian Nian? Did she not want Nian Nian to see her mother as this kind of person?
After thinking about it, Xiang Wan could only offer herself this excuse.
Although she and Lu Mingzhe had made a mistake again today, it didn't mean anything significant.
She couldn't let an innocent woman sacrifice her happiness for her own selfish desires.
Therefore, she would pretend that nothing had happened, put on her clothes, and they would each return to their previous paths.
Lu Mingzhe was dreaming. In his dream, he saw winter, heavy snow falling, and Nian Nian running in the snow.
She stumbled and fell. He reached out to pull her up, but his hand grasped only air.
Anxiety jolted him awake.
He looked beside him; the spot was empty, but the quilt was still warm. He hurried to the living room.
Xiang Wan sat on the living room rug, her eyes fixed on the sofa, lost in thought.
Thinking she was still feeling unwell, Lu Mingzhe walked over and gently hugged her from behind.
"Still not feeling well? Uncomfortable? Why didn't you tell me if you were uncomfortable? I'll stay with you."
Xiang Wan closed her eyes, warning herself.
His embrace was indeed comforting, his voice pleasant to hear, but he no longer belonged to her.
She had chosen to leave him herself back then, and she had to accept it without regret.
So, she turned around and gently pushed him away.
"Let's talk."