Chapter 423, Just Like That...

Since Ling was sleeping too soundly, Zhuo didn't have the heart to wake her up. Besides, Zhuo even felt that if he didn't use a tougher method, he wouldn't be able to wake her up.

There was nothing that could be done about the fact that Ling's words before he fell asleep would make Zhuo think too much.

However, no matter what, this is not a solution now. Just carrying her back to the room as Ling said is the best consideration and compromise Zhuo can make.

After Zhuo figured it out, he placed one hand on the back of Ling who was pressing on him, then slowly sat up to hold up Ling who was sliding down, then put his other hand under her knees and slowly picked her up.

Plus, because Zero was asleep, her body was as light as a feather—not really, but very light indeed.

Although it would be difficult to wake Ling up, Zhuo still tried to carry her back to his room as steadily and carefully as possible. With her in his arms, it was difficult to open the door, but after passing this threshold, he just had to let her lie on the bed.

Zero's slender body sank into the bed.

Ling lay there with his eyes closed, his cheeks pale, his long eyelashes like curtains, and his slightly raised chest rising and falling with his still-unsteady breathing.

It’s not like Zhuo hasn’t seen Ling sleeping before. Maybe it was the unwillingness in Zhuo’s heart that was taking effect - after letting Ling lie down in bed, Zhuo squatted down beside the bed.

(……What should I do.)
If I had to say, the sight of Zero already sleeping in the bed, the soft touch, the defenseless sleeping face, the trust and defenselessness of being able to fall asleep in my arms, and the words of the bedtime gift, all of these were the reasons.

I guess Zero was drunk, so he said "...It's your gift".

Zhuo secretly glanced at Ling, but Ling was unaware of Zhuo's inner struggle and still had a peaceful face while sleeping.

(…Damn it, he slept so soundly without caring about my troubles at all.)
Since he was so unprepared and had already spoken, why not just lie down too... Zhuo had this thought for a moment, but then he thought about it again, since Ling had taken that step while completely unconscious, that was too much, so he rejected the idea.

If this were to happen, Ling, who had spoken in advance, might not say anything, but Zhuo felt that after Ling got up, he might not talk to him for a long time, and would even give him a cold look like "What on earth are you thinking about?"

(But, it's understandable if it's just a light touch...)
Otherwise, I'd better touch the bear first. After all, it's so eye-catching. It's all its fault. And Zhuo hasn't touched it for a long time. The feeling of it... might be a little too astringent.

After thinking it over, I decided to kiss first. This is more familiar and easier to control.

Zhuo straightened Ling up, bent down and kissed her lips, but when he was about to touch her lips, he suddenly found that her lips did not react at all - no wonder there is a saying that 'it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality', this motionless Ling made Zhuo pause.

Maybe Zero felt uncomfortable with his head being supported.

In order to vent his anger, Zhuo pinched her face lightly, but Ling actually raised her head to block him, then turned sideways and changed to a more comfortable posture, leaving him only with her back.

Zhuo was completely dumbfounded. How could she do this? She made him so angry and then fell asleep. That was fine. Zhuo had been planning to give in, but she didn't even give the interest... This was too much.

"Zero, Zero, please don't sleep. What will I do if you fall asleep..."

Zhuo started shaking her in a rage. Anyway, she had just said that she was a gift, she was my gift, even if the gift fell asleep, I could open it myself, it wouldn't be against her will. Yes, she was the one who started it, she agreed, I'm going to do it, it's not my fault, I can't bear it, if I bear it, am I still a human being?
Thinking of this, Zhuo let go of the hand that was holding Ling's arm to shake him, slowly half-crouched down, found the zipper on Ling's skirt, and zipped it up...

"Zhuo, do you know why I don't like drinking..."

I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m not a worm in your stomach.

Zhuo continued to pull the zipper down, revealing dazzlingly white skin in the gap.

"I don't drink because when I get drunk there's no one around me who can make me feel 100% assured and take good care of me, but today it's just us, I don't have to worry about anything anymore..."

"Ah—Fuck!"

Eighteen years later, Zhuo once again recalled the emotions that dominated him by the quintessence of Chinese culture.

Zhuo zipped up his clothes in one breath, then sat down on the edge of the bed dejectedly and sighed deeply. His heart was as complicated as it could be.

But I could only mutter indignantly in my heart: Fine, you can torment me all you want, but one day I will make you pay me back for everything! Humph!
After venting his anger, Zhuo put Ling back on her feet, bent down and gently kissed her cherry-colored lips that smelled of alcohol, then pulled up the quilt to cover her completely.

In this situation, Zhuo didn't dare to change her clothes no matter what. Once she took off her clothes, even Nidhogg wouldn't be able to stop him.

Zhuo sat at the head of the bed, turned on the small bedside lamp and watched her sleep, feeling angry and wanting to laugh. Maybe because he didn't drink enough, or maybe because what happened gave him some energy, Zhuo actually became more and more energetic as he watched her.

When Ling was asleep, she really looked like a little girl, very different from her usual appearance. She was quiet and peaceful, like the most exquisite doll in the human world. Under the influence of alcohol, her breathing was a little heavy, her small and delicate nose wings rose and fell rhythmically, and her hands were grasping the corners of the quilt in front of her chest like a little girl.

Zhuo rarely watched her sleep like this, because Ling was too perceptive. She could always sense his gaze and wake up within three seconds even if she was asleep.

Zhuo simply moved a small stool and sat beside the bed, supporting his chin and staring at her while recalling the past.

It has been a while since she confirmed her relationship with Ling, and she has never disappointed Zhuo. Zhuo used to worry that she would force herself to continue to do things secretly without Zhuo knowing because of her identity and her past, but now everything tells Zhuo that she is almost as devoted to this relationship as he is, and they fell into it without any hesitation, and no one can escape.

If the two years were the revival of her emotions, then the interactions during this period and everything that happened tonight were the declaration that she was in love.

No matter what, she seemed to have done it to the extreme.

Zhuo felt this.

Zhuo gently grasped her hand and pressed it against his face, recalling the first time he saw Ling in the rainy alley, when he controlled his emotions and tried not to be angry or cold while staying away from her. The corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

This will last a lifetime...

(End of this chapter)