What would Xie Ningwan do after he went back home? Song Yaoyao had never considered this question.
He knelt on Xie Ningwan’s lap, his hands resting on Xie Ningwan’s shoulders as he watched the expression on his face while he spoke.
Ever since he came from the book, he had always lived in Xie Ningwan’s home and stayed by Xie Ningwan’s side. Xie Ningwan’s home was his home, and Xie Ningwan was the person closest to him.
Only now did Song Yaoyao realize that he would probably have to leave Xie Ningwan eventually, perhaps even move out of that home.
For some reason, at this thought, Song Yaoyao pursed his lips, feeling a little reluctant.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter.” Xie Ningwan let out a light sigh. After asking that question, he still wasn’t clear on his own feelings.
He shifted his legs, signaling Song Yaoyao to get off him, and handed the tablet back.
If the little ghost really found his family later… he would deal with it then.
Song Yaoyao took the tablet and went back around to the other side of the table, sitting in his own seat. He took out his study guide and scratch paper, then played an online class on the tablet.
But after chatting with Song Huaichuan earlier and being asked that question by Xie Ningwan, he couldn’t concentrate.
Song Yaoyao looked up quietly at Xie Ningwan across from him, zoned out for a bit, then unconsciously picked up his pen and started doodling on the scratch paper.
The weather was nice that day, with bright but not harsh sunlight streaming gently through the floor-to-ceiling window nearby, casting a patch on the shared desk.
Xie Ningwan worked, the sound of his typing reassuring Song Yaoyao.
Using his book for cover, Song Yaoyao secretly sketched Xie Ningwan on the scratch paper, glancing up stealthily at him now and then.
When he got to Xie Ningwan’s eyes, he lowered his head and carefully shaded on the paper, his expression serious.
After sending an email, Xie Ningwan paused for a break and looked up at the little ghost across from him. The teenage little ghost was focused on something on the paper, biting his lip slightly.
He had probably run into a tough problem again.
Xie Ningwan stood up and walked over slowly.
Song Yaoyao’s arms lay across the desk as he concentrated on his drawing, not noticing Xie Ningwan’s movements.
By the time he looked up again, Xie Ningwan was standing right in front of him and had taken away his scratch paper.
Xie Ningwan stood with the light behind him, his face hard to make out, but he looked at the drawing, and the corner of his mouth seemed to curve up.
“I haven’t finished drawing it yet.” Caught red-handed, Song Yaoyao felt a bit embarrassed and pinched his fingers, pretending to be casual.
Xie Ningwan’s lips hooked up. His gaze shifted from the drawing to Song Yaoyao, then to the teacher passionately lecturing on the tablet on the desk. He reached out, tapped the desk, and said, “Paying attention in class? Confiscated.”
“…”
Song Yaoyao fumed silently but didn’t dare speak up.
Xie Ningwan took the half-finished portrait on the scratch paper, sat back in his office chair, and looked at it quietly for a moment before clipping it into an important folder nearby.
When it was time to get off work, Song Yaoyao packed his backpack, put in the tablet and little bear doll, and walked obediently behind and to the side of Xie Ningwan, behaving like a proper little assistant.
Once they were in the car where no one else could see, Song Yaoyao revealed his true colors. He set down his backpack, slouched against Xie Ningwan, and used him as a pillow.
Xie Ningwan sat upright on one side of the seat, finishing up the day’s work on his phone, letting the little ghost lean on his shoulder or lie on his lap.
After handling his work, Xie Ningwan finally looked down, set aside his phone, and gazed at Song Yaoyao, who had fallen asleep with his head pillowed on his lap.
The teenager’s sleeping face was serene. His soft hair draped messily, with two fluffy little fur balls somehow stuck in it again. Xie Ningwan reached up to pick them off and noticed the fluffy little bear doll he clutched in his arms. He understood.
After removing the fur balls, Xie Ningwan lowered his head, continued looking at Song Yaoyao’s sleeping face, stroked his head, and tidied his hair.
Disturbed, Song Yaoyao flailed his hand vaguely in his half-asleep state and buried his face deeper into Xie Ningwan’s body.
Xie Ningwan’s hand, hit by the flail, paused in midair.
When had he spoiled this little ghost so much?
He shook his head, grabbed the suit jacket he had taken off earlier from beside the seat, and draped it over Song Yaoyao.
The driver in the front seat saw the scene through the rearview mirror.
Lately, he saw scenes like this every day on the commute. He usually restrained himself from prying into his boss’s private affairs, but today he couldn’t hold back and sighed aloud, “President Xie and the little young master get along so well.”
Xie Ningwan’s hand, tucking in the edge of Song Yaoyao’s clothes, paused. He lifted his eyes slightly.
The expression in his eyes was unreadable. After a moment, he lowered his gaze back to Song Yaoyao.
He stared for a bit, then let his hand fall again, covering Song Yaoyao properly with his jacket and patting his back gently.
.
That night when it was time for bed, Xie Ningwan came out of the bathroom in his bathrobe after showering. He stood by the bed, looking at Song Yaoyao, who had already showered in his own little room and was now wearing little bear pajamas while hugging his little bear doll and playing on his tablet in his bed.
“Let’s discuss this,” Xie Ningwan said, arms folded as he leaned against the bed. He pondered and said, “Go back to your own room and sleep tonight.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yaoyao quickly set down the tablet, grabbed his little bear doll, and shrank into the covers, turning into a tightly wrapped blanket burrito.
“Song Yaoyao.” Xie Ningwan called his name.
“There’s no discussion. Things were fine the past few nights, so why are you suddenly kicking me out?” Song Yaoyao complained from under the covers, not entirely justified but bold.
Xie Ningwan had expected the little ghost to pull this stunt. He stated flatly, “Because I need some personal space.”
“Do you think I’m noisy?” Song Yaoyao got upset. “I won’t play cartoons out loud anymore. I won’t watch, and I won’t move around or talk.”
“It’s not that kind of personal space.” Xie Ningwan said.
“Then what kind of personal space?” Song Yaoyao’s head poked out a bit from the covers, revealing a pair of round eyes as he asked.
Xie Ningwan’s gaze carried a special meaning as it swept over his slender, evenly proportioned body wrapped in the thin blanket, then glanced at himself.
“……!”
Song Yaoyao’s eyes widened as he suddenly understood.
“You’re being a pervert.” After a stunned moment, Song Yaoyao’s ears turned red. He wrapped the blanket tighter and yelled loudly.
“Who’s perverting on whom?” Xie Ningwan said calmly. “How many times have you perverted on me? You eat my food, crawl into my bed, and secretly kiss me.”
He listed them out one by one, repeating Song Yaoyao’s past words.
“…Oh, right, you also peeked at me showering, with that fur-shedding little bear doll of yours.” Xie Ningwan continued, glancing at the little bear in Song Yaoyao’s arms.
Song Yaoyao had sat up, his face flushed red.
After turning back human, Xie Ningwan hadn’t brought it up, and he had deliberately tried to forget those things.
Since he had achieved his goal of turning human, he figured he could just play dumb and ignore it all, cutely muddling through.
But he hadn’t expected Xie Ningwan to remember so clearly and bring up old accounts now.
“You little ghost and your little bear doll are both perverts.” Xie Ningwan concluded.
“You’re slandering me…” Song Yaoyao’s voice trailed off weakly. Then he suddenly found a counterpoint, lifted his head, and argued, “And my little bear doll doesn’t shed fur anyway.”
Xie Ningwan raised a brow and tilted his head, gesturing for him to look at the bed.
Song Yaoyao looked down, and sure enough, there were a few little fur balls on the sheets.
The little bear doll hadn’t shed fur before, but lately, carried around by Song Yaoyao, tossed and squeezed and rolled with, its surface fuzz had loosened, leading to a shedding crisis.
Song Yaoyao: “…”
“Go sleep in your own room.” Xie Ningwan issued the final order.
The perverted little ghost Song Yaoyao and the shedding little bear doll were shut out of the master bedroom.
With no choice, Song Yaoyao dragged his feet upstairs to the little room next to the study, carrying the little bear doll with drooping ears.
He opened the door and flopped onto the bed, puffing out his cheeks.
Fine, he’d sleep alone then. Song Yaoyao rolled over, pulled the covers over himself, brushed the dust off the little bear doll, and covered it too.
The little bear doll really was shedding now. With one pat from Song Yaoyao, a few more fluff balls floated down.
“…” Song Yaoyao shoved the little bear doll into his arms and hugged it tight, closing his eyes to sleep.
When Song Yaoyao had first chosen this room, he really liked it. It was clean and spacious, with a great view from the window of the magnolia branches in the yard, and he could even smell the flowers.
But now, sleeping here, he just couldn’t settle.
Song Yaoyao tossed and turned, rolling back and forth. No matter what, he couldn’t fall asleep. He wasn’t used to the bed.
After a while, after flipping a few more times, Song Yaoyao steeled his resolve: either he’d go cling to Xie Ningwan and sleep together, or he’d sneak a few of Xie Ningwan’s personal items to bury under his pillow to fall asleep.
No, he’d just go back and sleep there!
Song Yaoyao sat up.
…After so long, even if Xie Ningwan needed that, it should be done by now, right? It had been a whole hour.
Even as the protagonist, that was long enough.
.
In the master bedroom downstairs, Xie Ningwan wasn’t sleeping soundly either.
Without a chattering little ghost beside him, it felt empty.
He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, sorting his thoughts and clearing his mind, but he heard sneaky little noises from the doorway.
Song Yaoyao stood at the door, hugging his little bear doll.
He first listened at the door for any strange sounds inside. Confirming none, he quietly opened it and slipped in.
The master bedroom was unlit and dim. On the big bed, Xie Ningwan had his eyes closed—he should be asleep.
Song Yaoyao silently climbed onto the bed again, pulled open Xie Ningwan’s covers, slipped in, covered himself, and went to sleep.
This time, he fell asleep right away.
Not long after Song Yaoyao fell asleep, Xie Ningwan opened his eyes.
He turned on his side, looked at Song Yaoyao who clutched his arm and slept in front of him, and reached out to tuck the covers over him.
Asleep, Song Yaoyao was very quiet, his expression serene and obedient. His fair little face was buried in Xie Ningwan’s shoulder hollow, his messy soft hair fluffy, his long straight lashes fluttering slightly with his breaths—like a little bear doll come to life.
Xie Ningwan looked at Song Yaoyao’s sleeping face, calm on the surface but turbulent inside.
He seemed to be truly done for.
Now there are two perverts