A Love Letter Written to You - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The sound of breathing echoed softly in her ears, gentle and unending. At times, it floated as lightly as a feather—almost imperceptible—yet within Ji Yu’s own breaths, it transformed into something like a pounding drum, heavy and insistent, pulling at every inch of her attention.

“……”

Ji Yu didn’t dare move, afraid she’d wake Leng Ying. She lay there stiffly, frozen in place.

She couldn’t sleep.

Slowing her breathing and hesitating slightly, Ji Yu carefully turned her head to look at Leng Ying. The moonlight outside was blocked by blackout curtains, leaving the room in complete darkness. But the human body adapts—after a while in the dark, Ji Yu could already make out the room’s details…

And naturally, she could see Leng Ying clearly too.

Leng Ying had fallen asleep several minutes ago. Ji Yu had been listening to her breathing, trying and failing to fall asleep herself.

After getting off the plane, there had been a whirlwind of things to take care of. It wasn’t until now—when the two of them were finally lying in bed—that Ji Yu had the time to reflect on the emotional rollercoaster of the day. She hadn’t been as calm and composed as she appeared!

She and Leng Ying had known each other online for years. They were close confidantes in the digital world. But Ji Yu had ulterior motives. She wanted their friendship to become something more. Yet just like all those times before, whenever she tried to take a step forward, she retreated.

Leng Ying had once answered one of her questions.

Friendship lasts longer than love.

Ji Yu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm the turmoil in her heart. Stay cool. Stay calm. Don’t wake Ying Ying. I just got back to the country and I’m exhausted. She came to pick me up, and she’s had a long day too. Knowing Leng Ying’s personality, going out today probably used up as much energy as a week’s worth of outings.

Ji Yu felt deeply honored, and yet also sorry for her fatigue.

…Then how had they ended up in the same bed?

Ji Yu couldn’t help but recall.

When they’d entered the bedroom, she had politely suggested she could take a blanket and sleep on the sofa. It was warm—earlier, the two of them had dozed on it for over ten minutes.

But Leng Ying wouldn’t allow it.

She mumbled something vaguely, as if overcome by sleepiness. Ji Yu only caught bits and pieces, something about there not being an extra blanket in the house. The next thing she knew, Leng Ying had taken her by the arm and pulled her—leaving no room for protest—onto the big bed in the center of her bedroom… which was very soft.

The moment her body touched the bed, the mattress and blanket wrapped around her completely. There was no strength left to prop herself up.

She was fully awake, watching as Leng Ying fell back asleep almost instantly.

It hit Ji Yu, belatedly, that Leng Ying must have woken up very early today.

So much so that even someone like her—who was a light sleeper and easily awakened—couldn’t resist falling asleep the moment she hit the bed tonight.

…Why?

Was it because she was going to see me?

The earrings Leng Ying had put on her earlier were still in her ears. The silver had warmed with the heat of her earlobes. Ji Yu couldn’t help but think again—if the earrings on her ears were already this warm, then what about the necklace on her sister’s neck?

It must be even warmer than this, right?

Ji Yu swallowed silently, trying to ignore the sudden surge of saliva, and forced herself to close her eyes.

Whether it was out of guilt from secretly watching her, or the need to fight jet lag…

She really ought to sleep now.