Why did he sing this song?

Although the affection was seamlessly woven in, filling the void in her heart, Xia Xinyu was still surprised to hear it.

This gentle song was different from her mother's style. One was trying to lull her to sleep, telling her that even if she wasn't there, she would be by her side. The other seemed to say that even if she couldn't sleep, it didn't matter, he would always be there for her.

So, what was Chen Yuan's state of mind at this moment?

After he finished singing, Xia Xinyu looked up, gazed into Chen Yuan's eyes, and asked, "Did you also have a dream?"

"Yeah, I was just about to tell you," Chen Yuan nodded slightly, ready to tell her everything.

But Xia Xinyu's expression suddenly made him feel uneasy.

Her understanding of the world was normal.

Clearly, Chao Zi didn't belong to the normal sequence.

To reveal all of this would mean the collapse of everything.

Starting with that mantis shrimp.

"What kind of dream did you have?" Xia Xinyu looked at Chen Yuan intently, hoping to get an answer.

That was, he had the same dream as her.

"After looking at Mom's picture today, I kept thinking about her. And then, in my dream, I actually dreamed of her."

"Where?" Xia Xinyu asked excitedly.

"Shaoxiang."

"..." Hearing this, Xia Xinyu realized that their dreams didn't overlap. She was slightly disappointed, but still asked, "What kind of dream?"

Chen Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I went to your house, and Mom pulled me aside and asked me some questions. Like how we met, when we got together, and if we ever started a family, and my mom and Xinyu argued, would I help..."

"That won't happen." Hearing this, Xia Xinyu denied it with great confidence. "My mom wouldn't ask such a thing."

"She actually would, but she quickly told me that she really wasn't good at joking."

"Then that's true!"

Hearing this tone and this conversation, Xia Xinyu, the dear daughter, directly certified it: "If there's that last sentence to add, I believe Mom would say something like that."

This was in line with her character, kind and quite funny.

"Oh, right, Mom also said something very important."

Staring into Xia Xinyu's eyes, making her unconsciously nervous and stiffening her body, Chen Yuan then opened his mouth and said, "You're going home with Chen Yuan for the New Year."

"Ah?" Hearing this, Xia Xinyu became a little shy and replied, "But I'll probably be spending the New Year at my aunt's house..."

"Aunt's house isn't as comfortable as my house, is it? Don't go, listen to Mom," Chen Yuan said earnestly.

"..." After he said that, Xia Xinyu really wanted to agree.

Although her aunt and uncle would definitely invite her to spend the New Year with them, it was still someone else's family after all.

Her presence, while not ruining the relationship, would be a little less natural, less reasonable.

If she were at Chen Yuan's house, there would be awkwardness, and even more of it.

But the difference was that going to He Xiang would at least have an absolute anchor—Chen Yuan.

When the time came, wherever he went, she would follow. Whether it was playing cards, singing, buying groceries, or shopping, as long as she stuck close to him, she wouldn't feel awkward. When others asked her questions in the local dialect, she would just look at Chen Yuan with a smile and wait for him to answer for her.

Even if that would make her seem a little unreserved…

That would be Chen Yuan's problem.

Her image in his family was all up to him to manage.

This was also what Mom taught her in her dream.

"Let's go together, Xinyu, I really can't live without you."

Chen Yuan continued to invite, adopting a weak stance and sighing, "If you don't go with me, I might just spend the New Year in Xia Hai."

B He Xiang really didn't have much to offer.

"How can you do that? You don't have any relatives in Xia Hai..."

Chen Yuan was really enthusiastic, and Xia Xinyu couldn't refuse. Plus, when his parents came, they had also invited her, so she could only say embarrassedly, "She even came to you in a dream… Then I'll listen to Mom."

Actually, she wanted to go too.

But girls can't be too enthusiastic and proactive.

"Then next year during the Qingming Festival, let's go back to Shaoxiang together."

Chen Yuan's tone gradually became serious, and he said with reverence, "At least, I have to offer a bouquet of white chrysanthemums at their graves."

"Yeah, let's see Grandpa then," Xia Xinyu nodded slightly, agreeing with the plan.

The two looked at each other, feeling quite warm.

At this time, Xia Xinyu also decided to tell Chen Yuan something that would surprise him: "I'll tell you something really shocking. When I dreamed of Mom today, she was also in the dream, singing this song to me."

She thought Chen Yuan would be very surprised, even a little scared, but he wasn't surprised at all.

"Don't you think it's a coincidence?" Xia Xinyu asked.

"It's not a coincidence."

Chen Yuan gently stroked Xia Xinyu's dark hair, then ran his fingertip across her cheek, and said with a smile, "Because this is our true feelings."

This sentence made Xia Xinyu's eyes sparkle.

Looking at him, her heart was suddenly warmed by a surge of warmth.

Yes.

Mom had never sung this song before, but in her dream, when she was about to part ways, she sang it choked with emotion.

The lyrics already explained everything.

My baby, baby.

And Chen Yuan, from the very beginning, had called her 'Xin Bao' (Heart Treasure) on her birthday.

"Then you..." Xia Xinyu blinked her eyes, and tears welled up. She smiled and buried her head in Chen Yuan's arms. "You also treat me like a child."

"Yeah, Xinyu is three years old this year."

"I'm seventeen already."

"Anyone under seventeen years and four months is a little devil."

"What? Are you the only adult?"

"Of course, I'm a standard adult at this age."

"What about seventeen years and one and a half months?"

"A child who needs someone to hold their hand when crossing the road."

The main thing is equality for everyone above me.

Below me, the hierarchy is clear.

"Really?" After Xia Xinyu mysteriously said this, she leaned close to Chen Yuan's ear and whispered, "Then I want to see if you're really an adult."

Ah?

Chotto matte, I'm not wearing my winning underwear today!

Just as Chen Yuan was thinking this, Xia Xinyu turned around and leaned her back against his chest, like the filling in a bun, burrowing into the dough: "If you can completely wrap me up, then you're an adult."

"...Then, then I definitely am."

So, that's not how you determine it!

That's pretty good then.

Chen Yuan stopped thinking wildly and hugged Xia Xinyu from behind.

And the other party, who was sleeping on her side, had her knees bent. He did the same, completely embedding Xinyu inside.

Like that lyric—I want to hold you inside my body.

"Chen Yuan, you're really strong."

"Of course, dumplings should be eaten hot, and men should be strong."

"That's true… but your hand?"

"What's wrong?"

Xia Xinyu didn't continue to speak, but calmly lowered his hand, which had naturally landed on her chest while hugging her, and placed it on her waist.

"Ehehe… I just wanted to hug you to sleep, I didn't even realize it," Chen Yuan explained awkwardly.

"I know, I know."

Xia Xinyu didn't know what to make of Chen Yuan's behavior, not knowing if it was intentional or not.

If it were the old him, he probably wouldn't have noticed.

But if it's the current him…

"Let's go to sleep." It was already late, and although it was the weekend tomorrow, it wasn't good to disrupt her regular routine like this, so Xia Xinyu took the initiative to say.

"Okay," Chen Yuan agreed readily.

Then, he hugged her from behind like that, their bodies pressed tightly together through her slightly milky-scented pajamas, and at the same time, he rested his head on the back of her head, fully savoring her scent in every way.

About half an hour later, Chen Yuan groggily slipped his hand under the hem of her pajamas and placed it on her soft, flat stomach, even touching her belly button.

At this moment, he was already in a light sleep, so he didn't realize that a hand was gradually moving up…

It wasn't until Xia Xinyu's hand suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand out of her clothes that he was completely awake.

Just as he was about to explain something, Xia Xinyu wasn't angry, but put his hand on her chest, through her clothes.

Eh?

"Chen Yuan, good night."

Xia Xinyu, who was truly sleepy, compromised and chose to step back, and reminded him in a clear, soft voice as much as possible.

"G-good night."

In contrast to the magnanimous Yu Zi, Chen Yuan seemed so devious and unscrupulous. Therefore, he could only hypocritically pretend to be sleepy, yawn after speaking, and hug the beautiful girl to sleep peacefully…

………

Some things need to be held in the palm of your hand to feel secure.

To truly feel that security, Chen Yuan even squeezed it twice.

Then, there was a 'woo-woo' sound.

Opening his eyes, looking at Yu Zi, who was lying on the bed at some point, her butt facing him, and looking back at him with a flattering expression after being squeezed by his hand, Chen Yuan gently kicked her off the bed.

So, where's my precious Yu Zi?

Chen Yuan sat up from the bed and then heard the rustling sound of water coming from the toilet.

It was very light.

And at this time, the toilet door was still open.

Ah, this…

Since the door was open, that meant there was no saying about not looking at what was impolite, Chen Yuan got out of bed, put on his slippers, and walked to the toilet door.

Then, he peeked his head slightly inside.

He saw the light tap water slowly flowing from the faucet into a cup.

"Huh? You're awake. I was afraid of waking you up, so I deliberately turned down the water… Why are you sighing?"

"It's nothing, it should be what traditional Chinese medicine calls stagnation."

After Chen Yuan replied, he walked behind Xia Xinyu, reached out, and picked up another toothbrush and cup from the rack.

Then, he put toothpaste on the toothbrush and brushed his teeth side by side with Xia Xinyu in front of a small washbasin.

She was using the disposable toothbrush that her parents had bought when they came last time.

No, I'm the only one living here, why would I buy disposable toothbrushes and put them here? It's like they're prepared for someone to stay overnight… Wait a minute.

Yang Junlian, you big pervert!

Glug glug, brush brush brush.

And so, the two brushed their teeth and rinsed in sync.

After washing, Xia Xinyu took out a towel, used it herself, then rinsed it again with hot water, wrung it half-dry, and handed it to Chen Yuan, who covered his face with it and washed it with hot water, which gradually dispelled his drowsiness.

Is this what it feels like to live together?

Thinking of this, Chen Yuan couldn't help but mention, "You promised that we'd move over after that couple checks out?"

"I, I don't know." Xia Xinyu looked away, pretending to be busy with breakfast, and said casually, "I said, you decide. I, I'll listen to you."

"My reading comprehension isn't very good. Are you saying: that means yes?" Chen Yuan asked curiously.

"It means no."

Xia Xinyu knew that he was deliberately teasing her, just to make her shy and then laugh at her, so she retorted with great backbone.

Tsk.

Not fun to tease, boring.

"For breakfast, what do you have here? If you don't have anything, I'll go get some from next door," Xia Xinyu walked to the refrigerator and asked.

"Eggs, milk, that's it," Chen Yuan said.

"Then I'll go next door…"

Just as Xia Xinyu was about to leave, Chen Yuan suddenly grabbed her hand.

"What's wrong?" Xia Xinyu asked in confusion.

Looking at Xinyu, who was wearing a matching set of pajamas, with the first button of her collar unbuttoned, revealing her snow-white neck and collarbone, so homely, Chen Yuan suddenly felt that if she went back over there at this time, something beautiful would be broken.

So, he suddenly opened his mouth and said, "How about we challenge ourselves to not go back to our own apartment for a day?"

"What happens if we win the challenge…"

"You just win."

"Although it sounds interesting, but…" Xia Xinyu said embarrassedly, "My clothes are still over there."

"Just wear your pajamas, we're at home anyway."

"My study materials are over there."

"Use mine."

"I'm more used to Fourth High's… Of course, not saying that Eleventh High's are bad."

"Just stay here, anyway, studying and eating can all be solved."

"What about going to the toilet…"

"I don't mind."

"I do mind."

Xia Xinyu looked at Chen Yuan, and although she didn't know what he was thinking, she ultimately chose to compromise. Then, she said with a smile, "Then I won't go back before noon, okay?"

"That's okay."

Chen Yuan was experiencing that subtle sense of ritual, like a cigarette after sex, after a wonderful night, getting up together the next morning.

Cohabitation experience, day.

No, why are you punctuating it like that?

"Oh, there are sausages too, then I'll make you a heart-shaped fried egg."

Xia Xinyu cut the sausage in half from the middle, but not all the way through, arranging it in a heart shape, and piercing it with toothpicks at the connection. After making two pairs like this, she put them in the oil pan.

Then, she cracked an egg into the heart-shaped sausage, and the egg white and yolk slowly changed color, and the heart shape emerged.

Xia Xinyu couldn't help humming a song and swaying while cooking.

Chen Yuan just watched her ponytail sway while she gently twisted her waist, and couldn't help himself.

So, he made a move.

"Chen Yuan, you…"

Xia Xinyu was frying the eggs when a pair of hands suddenly hugged her from behind, holding her at the waist.

His chin also rested on her shoulder.

At this moment, Chen Yuan realized that what he really wanted to pursue wasn't the sense of ritual in the first place.

Rather, it was a sense of warm family.

At this moment, Xia Xinyu also knew what this slightly childish boy wanted.

After a slight smile, she deliberately turned around 'resisting', and acted without laughing, "Honey, we'll be late for work if we keep doing this."

(End of chapter)