Chapter 110 - 109: Cuddle

Qin Shen didn’t return to his room. After entering Jiang Si’s bathroom and closing the door, she could clearly hear the sound of running water.

Jiang Si sat on the edge of the bed, feeling as if she were on pins and needles. She had only wanted to test whether hugging Qin Shen could make her space expand again, but the atmosphere felt incredibly inappropriate.

Thankfully, no one had seen Qin Shen enter her room.

A short while later, Qin Shen walked out of the bathroom. The tips of his hair were still damp, sticking to his handsome face. An image of Qin Shen, completely naked in the room, suddenly flashed through Jiang Si’s mind.

Her face flushed crimson. She opened her mouth to try and cover up her embarrassment but nearly choked on her own saliva.

Even though she had lived for an extra ten years in her past life, she was truly hopeless when it came to matters between men and women.

If she hadn’t genuinely wanted to know whether the space could expand, she never would have put herself in such an awkward position.

Qin Shen poured her a glass of bottled water from the table. Jiang Si took it, gulped it down, and then feigned composure. "You lie on the outside?"

’Honestly, I bet he’s already seen through my act.’

But if Qin Shen called her out on it, things would be even more awkward.

It would make it seem like she was trying to make a move on him.

"Mm."

Qin Shen lay down, smoothly wrapping his arms around her from behind.

Her body felt like it had been zapped by electricity. Jiang Si’s reflex was to punch him, but remembering that she was the one who had initiated this, she forced herself to hold back.

They were pressed close together, their bodies radiating heat. The energy stone inside her also felt very comfortable. Resting against Jiang Si’s stomach, it seemed to want to get even closer to Qin Shen.

Jiang Si forced herself to stay calm, silently observing the energy stone for any changes.

But an hour passed, and Jiang Si had grown stiff from holding the same position. The energy stone’s glow had brightened a little, but she didn’t feel the subtle sensation of the space suddenly expanding like last time.

This struck her as very strange. ’Could the position be wrong?’

’But the position was almost the same last time!’

’Okay, maybe it was quite a bit different. I was the one hugging him.’

’I’ve already come this far. It would be a waste of all this mental anguish not to try again.’

Jiang Si shifted slightly. Qin Shen opened his eyes, his deep voice, warm with breath, coming from right behind her ear and sending a shiver down her spine.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

Jiang Si swallowed before whispering, "My arm’s a little numb."

Qin Shen, ever so considerate, loosened his hold on her. "Better?"

He looked as if he was ready to leave the moment her "symptom" subsided.

Jiang Si’s heart skipped a beat. As she met his profound gaze, she couldn’t deny it—it felt like he had her completely figured out.

She grabbed Qin Shen’s wrist and shook her head. "It’s still a little uncomfortable." Before he could say anything, she took the initiative and moved on top of him.

The powerful, rhythmic thumping of his heart was clearly audible.

Jiang Si buried her blushing face against him. Qin Shen watched her for a few moments before slowly lying back down and wrapping his arm around her waist.

As things quieted down, the intimate, couple-like posture made Jiang Si feel a pang of guilt. She was using him but still hadn’t given him a proper explanation.

But she wasn’t the type to overthink things. ’The fact that Qin Shen is accepting this must mean he isn’t opposed to me.’

As they lay there holding each other, Jiang Si started to get drowsy.

The next time she awoke, it was to the sound of knocking that jolted her awake.

Jiang Si jolted, her eyes flying open. She heard Jiang Linhai calling out, "Sisi, get up for some hot and sour noodle soup! Your mom just made a midnight snack. It’s really good; she even put in your favorite leafy greens."

No matter how delicious that soup sounded, Jiang Si didn’t dare let Jiang Linhai find out about her current situation.

She faked a groggy voice. "I’m sleepy. Hot and sour noodle soup is too heavy for me right now. I’ll skip it tonight. You guys eat more."

Jiang Linhai slapped his thigh. "You won’t be sleepy once you’re up! If you don’t want the noodle soup, there’s also premium bird’s nest porridge. Your mom insisted that you have to come drink a bowl!"

Jiang Si actually wanted the hot and sour noodle soup much more; that was exactly the kind of flavor she loved.

’But Qin Shen is still in my room!’

’If Dad saw this, he’d be absolutely certain we’re a couple!’

Jiang Si called out, straining her voice, "No, really, I’m just incredibly tired. You guys go ahead and eat!"

Jiang Linhai suddenly grew anxious. "You’re not starting to feel sick again, are you?"

Jiang Si quickly added, "I’m not in pain. Not at all. Go on and eat."

After Jiang Linhai left, Jiang Si breathed a sigh of relief, only to find Qin Shen watching her.

Jiang Si froze. ’I just said I wasn’t in pain. Didn’t I just contradict my own story?’

Jiang Si could only bite the bullet and explain, "It seems to be a little better now. Do you want to go get a late-night snack?"

The space hadn’t changed at all, which left her a little disappointed, but she knew she couldn’t force it.

’Besides, I can’t just run experiments by hugging Qin Shen every day and waiting for something to happen.’

Qin Shen’s lips curved into a smile. "If you’re still feeling unwell, we can lie here a little longer."

Jiang Si’s heart fluttered. ’Damn it, he’s so smooth!’

Blushing, she shrank back into the covers. Before she could even get comfortable, Jiang Linhai’s knocking echoed again. "Sisi, have you seen Qin Shen? I’ve been calling for him but he’s not answering. I can’t find him on the boat. You don’t think he’s in some kind of danger, do you?"

’He’s lying right here on my bed!’

’What danger could he possibly be in?’

Avoiding Qin Shen’s amused gaze, Jiang Si struggled to respond. "Ah, maybe he’s asleep in his room. If he’s a heavy sleeper, he might not have heard you. Or maybe he’s found a quiet corner somewhere."

Jiang Linhai frowned. "But what if he ran into trouble?"

"What if someone snuck onto our boat?"

His vigilance was on high alert now!

Jiang Si felt like every word she spoke was pure torture.

"Ah—why don’t you go look again? I’ll get dressed and come out!"

Jiang Linhai immediately took off.

Jiang Si sighed and sat up in bed. "I think I’m fine now. Let’s go eat that hot and sour noodle soup and bird’s nest porridge."

Qin Shen smiled, reaching out to brush a stray strand of her hair from her face. "Mm."

Jiang Si couldn’t help but purse her lips. "Thank you," she added.

’He knew I was faking it, but he was so cooperative and never called me out.’

"You’re welcome."

He had enjoyed it, too.

Jiang Si and Qin Shen quickly straightened their clothes. Qin Shen opened the door and stepped out, with Jiang Si following a moment later. Suddenly, she remembered something.

’Qin Shen’s hearing is incredible. How could he possibly not have noticed Mom standing at the door last time?’

’Which means... he did it on purpose.’

Jiang Si’s lips curled into a faint smile. When Jiang Chengwu saw them entering the main hall one after the other, he immediately rushed over. "Xiao Shen, your uncle here thought something had happened to you! I’m so glad you’re all right."

Seeing that he didn’t suspect Qin Shen had been in her room, Jiang Si breathed another sigh of relief. She didn’t realize, however, that her mother’s wise, knowing eyes had caught her every expression.

To avoid putting any pressure on them, Shen Baoying acted as if nothing was amiss and called for everyone to hurry up and eat the hot and sour noodle soup.

Hot and sour noodle soup only truly comes alive when it’s sour, spicy, and loaded with crushed peanuts, pickled mustard greens, and cilantro.

SLURP. Jiang Si finished her bowl with immense satisfaction, only to then be presented with a bowl of premium bird’s nest porridge.

She had to admit, this premium bird’s nest porridge was in a class of its own. The texture was certainly worthy of the "premium" label.

After she finished, Jiang Si’s stomach was practically bursting. ’If I don’t start exercising more,’ she thought, ’eating this late every day, I’ll end up with a potbelly just like my dad’s sooner or later.’