Chapter 19: Strange Bedfellows
The hair dryer’s humming stopped.
Her hair was completely dry, fluffy and soft.
Mo Tong sat on the small stool hugging her knees, looking up at Jiang Yuan: “Thank you, kind person.”
Jiang Yuan put away the hair dryer and casually placed it on the nightstand.
He ruffled her hair and said: “No being cute.”
After a pause, he added: “Alright, go rest first. I’ll play on my phone for a bit, then come find you later.”
Mo Tong didn’t move, quietly looking at him.
The atmosphere was… subtle.
Jiang Yuan made a sound: “What are you looking at?”
Mo Tong: “Based on my understanding of you, there’s a 99.99% probability that you’re using delaying tactics.”
“Tsk.”
Jiang Yuan scratched his head.
The two were really too familiar with each other, so familiar that there was no room for maneuvering.
Just a slight hint and they’d know exactly what the other was thinking—what was there to negotiate!
His gaze shifted, casually looking around.
This was the room Mo Tong had chosen, facing south with a small balcony.
Most of the clothes were still in boxes, piled in the corner.
The bed was new, 1.5 meters wide, with new sheets and covers that carried the mixed scent of sunshine and laundry detergent—clean.
Forget it, it’s just sleeping together, right?
They’d done it as kids!
Don’t overthink it!
“Fine, fine, sleep time.” Jiang Yuan put his phone on the desk to charge.
Mo Tong nodded obediently, walked to the bed, lifted a corner of the covers, and slipped in.
Her movements were gentle. After lying down, she only occupied a small half of the inner side of the bed, leaving a large empty space.
Then she patted the empty space beside her, looking at Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan reluctantly walked over, sat on the edge of the bed and asked: “Tong, what happened to that guy from your class who was chasing you?”
“Never paid attention to him.”
“Oh, oh.” The topic was awkward, so Jiang Yuan asked again: “Is Alpha okay?”
“She’s fine, recovering. I’ll pick her up tomorrow.”
“OK, so…”
Jiang Yuan wanted to ask more questions.
But he saw Mo Tong rubbing her eyes: “Yuan, stop chattering. I’m sleepy, let’s sleep.”
“…Alright.”
Jiang Yuan tried to act nonchalant as he lay down, keeping a distance from Mo Tong that could fit another person.
He lay on his side with his back to Mo Tong and turned off the lights.
The surroundings instantly became dark, with only moonlight filtering through the curtain gaps, casting a faint glow.
This feeling was really strange.
How to put it—he really did see Mo Tong as a little sister, and he knew Mo Tong saw him as a big brother.
It was clearly this kind of pure, simple relationship, but lying in the same bed somehow created a bit of nervous tension.
After all, they were opposite sexes, and both had grown up. It couldn’t be as carefree as when they were children.
Jiang Yuan listened to Mo Tong’s steady breathing, just behind him not far away.
He could imagine what she looked like right now, probably with her eyes closed, long eyelashes covering them…
“Yuan,” Mo Tong suddenly spoke, “are the windows closed properly?”
“They’re closed. I checked when I came in.”
“I want to double-check.”
“OK.”
Jiang Yuan groped in the darkness, got up, walked to the window, and with a click, confirmed the window latch was secure.
He lay back down, curled on his side at the very edge.
After a while.
Mo Tong curled further into the covers: “Yuan, I think I hear sounds outside.”
Jiang Yuan listened carefully and chuckled: “It’s the cats.”
“Oh.” Mo Tong said, “Yuan, do you think… they’re scared?”
“They’re in a new environment, so probably a little. They’ll be fine in a couple days.” Jiang Yuan joked: “Just like you.”
“I’m not.” Mo Tong immediately protested.
“Right, you’re not.”
Another silence.
Only the interweaving of breathing sounds.
Jiang Yuan tried to empty his mind, counting sheep, counting dumplings, counting how many championships Faker had won…
Damn, thinking about this made him angry. BLG really was disappointing!
“Yuan.” Mo Tong’s voice came from behind again.
“Mm?” Jiang Yuan didn’t turn around.
“…Thank you for being willing to sleep with me. Good night.”
“…Good night.”
The room fell completely quiet.
Only occasional rustling sounds of tree leaves blown by the night breeze outside the window.
Jiang Yuan gradually relaxed.
He was overthinking it.
Nothing would happen at all, just like when they were kids.
This feeling he could accept, no problem.
It was just still early, so he really wasn’t sleepy yet.
He turned over, lay flat, and let his mind wander.
Thinking about the game, tactics, the weekend competition, how to crush those bastards from the male esports club…
Sometimes he’d naturally think about some strange things too.
After midnight, the system refreshed on schedule.
[Daily Settlement]
[Jiang Ruoxi’s favorability yesterday: 40 (+2), Su Wanwan’s favorability yesterday: 56 (+1)]
[Total points earned: 96]
[Current Godfather Points: 364]
Seeing the system refresh, he finally felt like the day was over.
Jiang Yuan finally felt a bit sleepy.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from beside him.
The gap caused by their distance was rapidly closing.
Mo Tong—
Had moved over!
Jiang Yuan’s body instinctively tensed.
Then, a slightly cool hand gently rested on his arm.
Very light, with no force, like a feather falling.
But it made Jiang Yuan’s heartbeat skip.
He froze, not daring to move.
What to do?
Pretend to be asleep? Or remind her?
“Tong?”
He tentatively called out softly.
No response.
Seemed like she was asleep.
Jiang Yuan relaxed slightly.
However, the next second.
The hand resting on his arm tightened a bit.
Then her whole body moved closer, hugging his arm tightly.
Soft sensations, through the pajama fabric, came clearly.
Her cheek also moved closer, warm breath gently brushing against his neck.
Jiang Yuan’s hair stood on end!
Holy shit!
This wasn’t what they agreed on!
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Push her away? No way, what if he woke her up? How embarrassing would that be?
Don’t push her away? But this was… too weird!
He could feel Mo Tong’s steady breathing, as if she was really sleeping deeply.
Maybe… she was just habitually looking for something to hold onto.
Just like when she was little, she always liked to hug that rabbit plushie when sleeping.
Right, that must be it!
Jiang Yuan convinced himself—
She was just treating him like that rabbit plushie!
Sigh…
He’d finally gotten sleepy.
But now he was completely awake, unable to fall asleep.
With Mo Tong’s sweet, soft scent filling his nostrils, he didn’t dare move his arm at all, afraid of touching something inappropriate.
Listening to her steady breathing, Jiang Yuan remembered the past.
Mo Tong’s father died early, and she was raised by her mother alone. Her mother had to support two families by herself and was incredibly busy, with no time to accompany her.
So from childhood, she often came to Jiang Yuan’s house.
Jiang Yuan’s parents also adored this well-behaved and cute little girl.
Whatever good food or toys they had, they’d buy for Mo Tong first, and only give them to Jiang Yuan after she was done with them…
Young Jiang Yuan never felt jealous. He also felt sorry for Mo Tong’s family situation, so he really acted like a big brother, protecting Mo Tong comprehensively both at home and at school.
This also made Mo Tong especially dependent on him.
As long as it was a request he made, Mo Tong had never refused.
The more she was like this, the more Jiang Yuan would never get together with her.
First, he wouldn’t think in that direction, and second, he’d feel it would be a betrayal of her trust…
So tonight was destined to be sleepless.
Jiang Yuan sighed deeply and decided to study the system to get through the night.