Rapid Collapse (GL) - Chapter 28

When she came out, Han Ning didn’t see Shen Xi in the living room. She thought Shen Xi was in the study, but when she checked, the study was empty too.

“I’m in the bedroom.”

Shen Xi probably heard Han Ning walking around looking for her, so she called out from inside. Han Ning turned around and headed to the bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar. Han Ning pushed it open and saw Shen Xi lying on the bed, watching a movie while taking notes. Two cats were playing and grooming themselves beside her. Han Ning smiled, walked over, sat on the bed, and picked up one of the cats.

“Thunderstorm~ Auntie gives you a kiss~” She said and planted a big kiss on it.

Shen Xi looked up at the cat in front of Han Ning, turned a page of her notebook, and corrected her, “That’s your cat, Lightning. Thunderstorm is over here with me.”

“Hmm?” Han Ning looked at the cat’s paws, then burst into laughter. “Oh right, our cat’s paws are black, and yours are white.”

Shen Xi sat up to take a break and picked up her cat. Looking at Lightning, she said, “The day you came back, I saw a little flower on the cat’s neck. It looked nice. Where did it come from?” She lowered her head and kissed her cat. “I want to get one for Thunderstorm too~”

“That flower…” Han Ning lowered her eyes and said softly, “It was growing by my mom’s grave. I don’t even know what kind of flower it was.” She showed Shen Xi the back of her phone case. “There’s another one here… It’s like she’s always with me, a little keepsake.”

Seeing Han Ning’s slightly reddened eyes, Shen Xi felt a bit guilty. She spoke softly, “I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay…” Han Ning shook her head, glanced at the time, and urged Shen Xi to sleep.

“It’s getting late. Go shower and sleep. Where’s the blanket I used last time? I need it too.” She walked to the wardrobe and asked, “Is it in here?”

“Uh… The blanket is packed away, it’s hard to find. Just sleep here. The sofa isn’t comfortable anyway…” After saying that, Shen Xi got out of bed and left the room.

A moment later, she turned back.

Han Ning looked at her in confusion.

“I forgot to grab my clothes… Go to sleep.” Shen Xi explained.

She left again, closing the door behind her. Han Ning stood by the bed, thinking about Shen Xi’s awkwardness. A few seconds later, her eyes sparkled, and a smile spread across her face.

She lifted the blanket and lay down. Seeing the two cats lying in the middle of the bed, she frowned slightly and whispered, “You two, go sleep somewhere else. Don’t take up the whole bed.”

The cats ignored her completely.

“Ugh…” Han Ning picked them up and placed them back in their little nest in the living room. But as soon as she let go, one of them ran straight back to the bedroom. Before she could react, the other one followed.

“Hey! You two, come back here!”

Han Ning had no choice but to chase them again. But catching two cats alone was exhausting. After a long time, she still hadn’t caught a single one, and she was worn out.

The two cats jumped onto the bed one after the other. Han Ning sat at the edge, huffing in frustration. She scolded them softly, “So disobedient!”

Shen Xi walked in and switched off the main light. Seeing Han Ning looking tired and sitting on the bed, she asked curiously, “What are you doing? I thought you were asleep.”

“Nothing… Just playing with them.” Han Ning laughed and petted Lightning’s head.

“It’s almost midnight. Go to sleep.” Shen Xi lifted the blanket and lay down.

“Mm…” Han Ning also got under the covers.

Right in the middle of the blanket, the two cats lay side by side, forming a thick black-and-white dividing line. Two big third wheels!

Han Ning rolled her eyes at the cats, feeling a little disappointed. She couldn’t cuddle with Shen Xi now…

Shen Xi, lying on her side, opened her eyes. Hearing Han Ning sighing, she smirked.

A while later, Han Ning turned over, seemingly asleep. Shen Xi got up, took two cat treats from the drawer, cut them open, and waved them near the cats’ noses. Quickly, they were lured by the scent and eagerly jumped off the bed.

Shen Xi led them out to the living room with treats, then swiftly ran back to the bedroom and shut the door.

The door closed with a slight thud. Han Ning stirred but didn’t wake up.

Shen Xi tiptoed back to bed, satisfied. She moved closer to Han Ning. Not close enough.

She scooted even closer.

Wrapped in the blanket, only her eyes were visible. The emotions in them were unmistakable. If Han Ning opened her eyes now, she would definitely understand what they meant.

“Ning Ning…”

Shen Xi softly called Han Ning’s nickname. She smiled but was afraid to wake her up, so she turned over to sleep. Just as she turned, before she could close her eyes, Han Ning opened hers behind her, amusement sparkling in them.

Han Ning placed her hand on Shen Xi’s waist. Her skin was warm and smooth. Shen Xi’s body instantly stiffened, holding her breath.

Han Ning whispered near her ear, “I have to admit, you did a great job getting those two dumb cats out of here…”

“You… were awake?” Shen Xi asked quietly.

“Nope.” Han Ning moved closer.

Shen Xi let out a breath of relief.

“I never fell asleep in the first place,” Han Ning said, propping her head up and looking at her.

Hearing that, Shen Xi’s scalp tingled.

So… when she lured the cats out, came back, called her “Ning Ning,” and stared at her for so long… Han Ning knew all of it?!

Shen Xi shrank under the blanket, covering her head, refusing to face reality.

“Aren’t you suffocating?” Han Ning chuckled, tugging at the blanket to make sure she could breathe.

“It’s fine… I like sleeping like this…” Shen Xi’s face was flushed, her voice muffled.

Han Ning didn’t respond. The blanket rustled.

Then, she slipped under it too.

She placed her hand on Shen Xi’s shoulder, turned her around to face her, and smiled, “What a coincidence, I like sleeping like this too.”

Shen Xi froze.

In the next second, Han Ning pulled her into an embrace. But… Han Ning was just as innocent.

She didn’t do anything more than hold Shen Xi, just like a cat hugging its plush toy.

Why did she feel a little… disappointed?

Shen Xi looked up at Han Ning and whispered, “Goodnight.”

Han Ning, eyes closed, replied in a soft, almost teasing tone, “From now on, call me Ning Ning… Say it again.”

Shen Xi couldn’t help but laugh.

Han Ning smiled with her eyes closed and urged, “Say it, say it.”

Shen Xi relented, “Okay~ Ning Ning, goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Xi Xi~” Han Ning replied.

“You’re still laughing…” Shen Xi frowned slightly, feeling a little annoyed.

“Hahaha…” Han Ning burst into laughter.

The next morning, their alarm went off at eight. After getting ready, they prepared to head to the film set.

As they brushed their teeth, standing side by side, Shen Xi was still wondering—why had Han Ning only hugged her last night?

Why was she satisfied with just holding her?

She glanced down at her plain pajamas and started doubting herself.

Was it because her sleepwear was too simple and not attractive enough?

Shen Xi rinsed her mouth, secretly making a decision—she was going to buy some new pajamas soon!

Han Ning, on the other hand, was silent.

Driving to the set, she felt a little regretful.

Last night was such a rare opportunity… She shouldn’t have just hugged Shen Xi. She should have at least stolen a kiss.

But… would that have been too forward? Would it make Shen Xi feel unsafe, like she was only thinking about one thing?

These days, their relationship had grown closer. Han Ning was sure Shen Xi’s feelings for her had deepened.

No rush… There’s plenty of time.

Han Ning reassured herself.