The night in Binhai shimmered with neon lights. Inside the taxi, Xiao Yu leaned against Chen Mo's shoulder, the soft rhythm of slow-paced music floating between them. The hum of the engine blended with the city's muted bustle, creating a peaceful contrast to the noisy world outside.
Chen Mo looked down at her tired face, heart aching a little. She hadn't slept properly in two days, yet still insisted on going out. But with that determined expression, how could he say no?
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"To the beach."
"Nope," Chen Mo rejected her flatly. "It's winter. The sea breeze is too strong, and you're already run-down. Let's hit the cinema. Sit down, rest a bit."
"Mm, okay. Whatever you say."
Xiao Yu nodded sleepily and yawned. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked completely drained—nothing like her usual energetic self.
"So tired?" he asked gently.
"I can't sleep. It's painful. I try to study, but I can't concentrate," she muttered.
"You get insomnia often?"
"Yeah. It happens now and then. But I figured something out last time, so I came to find you."
A faint blush rose on her cheeks as she smiled. The night shadows softened her features, but that glow made her look more alive.
"What did you figure out?"
"Not telling you." She giggled, turning her gaze to the window. "Chen Mo… do you think I'm ugly now? Are you going to ditch me?"
"Absolutely not," Chen Mo said firmly, almost too quickly. "You're always beautiful to me."
Right after he said that, the taxi jerked slightly. The driver glanced back at them through the rearview mirror with a knowing smirk. His eyes said it all: Young love.
"Don't be so cheesy," Xiao Yu teased, face blushing even more.
She leaned against him the rest of the ride, occasionally glancing out at the passing streets. Before long, they arrived outside a bustling commercial plaza.
Chen Mo saw how worn-out she looked, so he didn't take her walking around the shops. Instead, he guided her straight to the movie theater and bought tickets.
"What are we watching?" she asked.
"My Bossy Girlfriend," he said, handing her a ticket and stuffing her arms with snacks. "Love comedy. Couple Theater No. 3."
"Oh? Are you calling me bossy now?" Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow in mock offense.
"Not at all. My girl is smart and lovely," Chen Mo chuckled.
"'My girl,' huh?" she muttered, shooting him a playful glare, but still trailing after him into the auditorium with her arms full of snacks.
"What's the movie about?"
"A spoiled rich girl runs away from home after an argument with her family. Her phone and wallet get stolen, she has no money, refuses to go back, and ends up collapsing in the street. A poor guy passing by saves her. That's when the love story starts."
"And the ending?" she asked, munching on popcorn.
"No idea," Chen Mo shrugged.
They chatted casually until the lights dimmed and the movie began. Xiao Yu rested her head on his shoulder and finally relaxed.
The movie ran for an hour and a half. When the lights came back on, Chen Mo looked down and found Xiao Yu sound asleep in his arms.
Despite the loud soundtrack and the chatter around them, she had somehow passed out completely. She must've really been exhausted from the past couple of nights.
Chen Mo carefully removed the snack pack from her hands and gently picked her up.
Around him, couples filed out of the theater, some throwing curious or amused glances his way. He didn't care. He just carried her quietly, dodging the stares.
Behind them, a chubby girl elbowed her boyfriend. "Look at him. Other people's boyfriends, huh?"
Her scrawny boyfriend gave a strained smile. "She's asleep. You're not."
"What if I fall asleep? Would you carry me?"
"Sure… of course."
"Good. Next time we come here, I'm sleeping. You better carry me."
The boyfriend paled, clearly panicking, and secretly vowed never to bring her to a movie again.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo exited the plaza with Xiao Yu in his arms. Pedestrians shot them odd looks, but he ignored them and hurried along.
Finally, they arrived at the rental apartment. Chen Mo let out a breath of relief.
The taxi driver on the way back had looked at them strangely too, with that "Ah, young folks these days" smirk. It was a little embarrassing.
"Put me down," Xiao Yu suddenly murmured.
"You're awake?" Chen Mo blinked.
"I woke up when we were still in the plaza," she said, blushing.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"You didn't ask." Xiao Yu giggled. "I wanted to see how long you'd keep carrying me. Besides, it's kind of nice."
Chen Mo nearly choked. Can you even ask someone if they're pretending to be asleep?
Still, seeing her back to her lively self put him at ease.
"I'm gonna take a shower," she said, face turning pink again. She rummaged through the closet and pulled out a set of clothes she'd left behind before disappearing into the bathroom.
When she came back out, she was wearing a silky sling nightdress, looking refreshed and a little too tempting.
"Go shower. You're sweating," she said, tugging the hem of her dress awkwardly under Chen Mo's gaze.
"Alright," Chen Mo nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. Yep. Another long night ahead… not that I'm complaining.
By the time he returned to the bedroom, Xiao Yu was curled up in bed playing on her phone.
"You're dead tired. Why aren't you sleeping?" Chen Mo said, taking her phone and setting it aside.
As soon as he lay down, Xiao Yu burrowed into his arms.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm on my period. You're not allowed to touch me," she mumbled in the dark.
"Then why are you snuggling so close?"
"I told you—I haven't been sleeping well lately. But last time, I slept in your arms and finally knocked out. So here I am again."
"…Fine. If it helps you sleep, you can do whatever you want. But if you don't move out after this, you're stuck with me forever."
"In your dreams. Maybe someday. I've got a surprise for you, though—but I'm postponing it."
"Don't! I'm sorry, okay? Just tell me what it is."
"Then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
They whispered in the dark for a while longer, until Chen Mo noticed her breathing shift. A faint nasal sound told him she'd finally dozed off.
He adjusted his position and held her gently.
Tonight, he wouldn't be getting much sleep—but that was okay.