Rapid Collapse (GL) - Chapter 36

When Han Ning heard Shen Xi’s slightly sarcastic mention of the “Best Actress” title, she simply clasped her hands together, smiled, and replied, “You flatter me. I actually didn’t want to be this high-profile…”

Well, they say the world belongs to those with thick skin…

Shen Xi was momentarily speechless. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Regardless, being able to work with Han Ning again felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Her heart was filled with joy.

She couldn’t help but glance out the window and smile. The slight curve of her lips didn’t escape Han Ning’s notice.

Han Ning tilted her head, reached out, and gently turned Shen Xi’s face toward her.

Looking into her eyes, she asked, “You’re this happy? If you want to laugh, just laugh.”

“You saw wrong. I wasn’t laughing.” Shen Xi had already adjusted her expression the moment she turned her head.

“Mm… let’s just say I saw wrong.” Han Ning got up from the swing and headed toward the bedroom. At the door, she turned back and said, “Come on, time for bed.”

“Me?” Shen Xi was surprised and pointed at herself.

“Yeah. Didn’t we agree earlier? You’re supposed to stay by my side at all times.” Han Ning’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she thought for a few seconds and concluded, “You could say that, for now, you’re my personal assistant.” Then, with a bright smile, she beckoned, “Come here.”

Shen Xi lowered her head and thought: What kind of old-school, resurrection-style contract novel is this?

“I never agreed…” Shen Xi muttered. She quickly walked toward the cat’s bed, picked up Lei Bao, and tried to make her escape. But just as she reached for the door handle, Han Ning yawned. Her lazy voice drifted from behind:

“Just a friendly reminder, since I haven’t officially signed the contract yet, nothing is finalized. So…”

Before Shen Xi could react, Han Ning was already in front of her, taking Lei Bao from her arms. With a bright smile and narrowed eyes, she whispered, “Try taking one more step and see what happens.”

Half an hour later, on the large bed in the bedroom.

Shen Xi lay stiffly at the very edge, wearing the pajamas Han Ning had prepared for her.

She barely covered herself with the corner of the blanket, lying as straight as a board with her hands crossed over her chest. There was enough space between them to park a tricycle.

“Move closer,” Han Ning patted the bed and looked at the back of Shen Xi’s head with exasperation.

“…” Shen Xi didn’t move or respond, pretending to be asleep.

“Tsk…” Han Ning lost patience. She scooted over, reached out, and pulled Shen Xi closer.

When her hand touched Shen Xi’s, it was ice-cold. Before Shen Xi could protest, Han Ning frowned and scolded, “Your hands are freezing! What if you catch a cold?” As she spoke, she adjusted the blanket around Shen Xi.

Shen Xi, now in Han Ning’s arms, slowly opened her eyes. After a while, she started to warm up. Han Ning looked at her and chuckled, “I knew you were faking sleep.”

“I wasn’t…” Shen Xi shrank down, stubbornly refusing to admit it.

“Mm-hmm, sure you weren’t…” Han Ning didn’t bother exposing her. By now, she had figured out Shen Xi’s personality. Sometimes, she just needed to be firm with her. After what happened last time, Han Ning had reflected thoroughly.

Being firm was one thing, but the intention had to be for Shen Xi’s good. More importantly, in their relationship, she must never be the one to break the ice first—otherwise, this little sticky rice ball might run away again.

As the saying goes, good things take time—especially with sticky rice balls!

Han Ning closed her eyes and sighed internally: Why does this feel like some kind of illness? Can’t we just date normally? It’s not like she doesn’t like me… She must have cat disease!

Warmth and drowsiness settled over them. Shen Xi, wrapped in Han Ning’s embrace, felt at peace and quickly drifted off to sleep. In the middle of the night, she had a dream about Han Ning and woke up startled.

She opened her eyes, her heartbeat racing. Her face was slightly flushed as she turned to look at Han Ning, breathing deeply to calm herself. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was past 4 a.m.

Han Ning was sleeping on her back. With her eyes closed, the usual sharpness of her features softened considerably. A few minutes later, she rolled onto her side, now facing Shen Xi.

Shen Xi studied Han Ning’s face carefully, tracing her features down to her neckline. Her gaze lowered, and suddenly, she froze.

Because of Han Ning’s sleeping position, the collar of her black pajama shirt had shifted, revealing a small patch of fair skin. The stark contrast between the dark fabric and her pale skin created an unexpectedly striking image. Shen Xi stared, momentarily entranced. A few seconds later, she quickly turned over, back facing Han Ning, forcing herself to forget what she just saw. It took her a lot of effort to fall asleep again.

Han Ning slept dreamlessly through the night and woke up early. As she stretched, she suddenly felt something heavy on her. Lifting the blanket, she was met with a rather amusing sight—Shen Xi was practically wrapped around her like a little white snake.

Shen Xi’s leg was draped over her, an arm thrown across her body, and—her hand… landed precisely, without the slightest deviation, on Han Ning’s chest.

Han Ning was torn between laughing and crying. She pinched Shen Xi’s cheek.

Shen Xi woke up, groggily looking at Han Ning without speaking. She let out a sleepy hum and tried to go back to sleep.

With a quivering chin and an exaggeratedly aggrieved expression, Han Ning clutched the blanket and dramatically exclaimed, “Your hand… return my innocence~”

“Huh?” Shen Xi opened her eyes. Han Ning pulled back the blanket. When Shen Xi looked down, her eyes widened in shock. She could even feel the small bump under her palm…

The usually cool and composed Shen Xi let out her first-ever shriek: “Ahhhhhhh!”

“You kissed me, and now you’ve groped me…” Han Ning whimpered pitifully. Sniffling, she looked at Shen Xi and said, “Xi Xi, you have to take responsibility for me…”

Shen Xi, frozen in place, stammered weakly, “I-I didn’t do it on purpose…”

“I don’t care…” Han Ning shook her head, got up from the bed, and chased after her. “I don’t care! You have to give me a title!”

At 6:30 a.m., the two of them ran around the bed, their noise waking up the cats. The two furry creatures hopped over and sat by the door, tilting their heads as they watched the chase unfold.

Shen Xi, a step too slow, was caught by Han Ning, who pinned her down and started tickling her. “Give me a title! You have to take responsibility!”

“Haha—” Shen Xi squirmed, unable to stop laughing. While dodging, she gasped, “I really didn’t do it on purpose…” She turned to look at Han Ning, who was leaning over her, her loose collar revealing even more. Almost everything was in view. Shen Xi flinched as if shocked and averted her gaze. Awkwardly, she muttered, “You… should fix your shirt.”

Han Ning glanced down, then looked back up at Shen Xi, feigning innocence. “Taking advantage of me…”

Shen Xi: “…”

That morning, Shen Xi fled home like the wind. In her panic, she even forgot to take her cats with her.

For the next few days, Han Ning invited her out multiple times, but she always made excuses. At first, Han Ning believed she was genuinely busy writing scripts, but after a while, Shen Xi outright disappeared—ignoring messages and calls.

Left with no choice, Han Ning marched upstairs, knocked on the door, and declared, “Shen Xi, open up! I have your cat! Open the door now!”

Shen Xi, who was indeed at home, had no choice but to let her in.

“You done hiding?” Han Ning sat on the sofa, crossing her legs.

“I wasn’t hiding… I was working on my script! The script reading is tomorrow, remember?”

Shen Xi insisted stubbornly.

Han Ning thought for a moment. It was tomorrow. She sighed—so a whole week had been wasted just like that. Time really flew when you weren’t working.

“Alright, see you tomorrow~” Han Ning got up, but before leaving, she turned back with a sly grin and silently mouthed: “Wife.”

Shen Xi: “You’re the wife…”

She hugged Lei Bao, smiling as her eyes twinkled.