“You have to forget what I just said.”
“I'd love to tell you that I've forgotten, but that's probably impossible.” He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “Go to sleep. I won't touch you. I can at least manage that much.”
Loviki shifted slightly. After a moment, her voice drifted out again, a little calmer than before. “...Was what you said about my wool coat being thick true or false?”
“True.”
“...So when you held me, you really didn't notice anything?”
“I noticed, but I just didn't think about it in that way,” Chen Mian said after a moment's thought.
“Then you're not allowed to think about it now either.”
“Too late. I already am.”
“You—!” Loviki whipped around to glare at him, then buried her face back into the blanket. “...Fine, think what you want,” she grumbled, sounding a bit dejected. “It's my own fault anyway. Besides, I've already made up my mind to stick to you. Don't even think about shaking me off in the future.”
“Do you want to establish a magic contract?”
Loviki's eyelashes fluttered. She slowly lifted her face from the blanket, her ruby-like eyes gazing at him quietly in the faint moonlight. Then, she smiled and shook her head. “Chen Mian, even though it sounds a bit silly, I just trust you completely. So, I don't want any contracts.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Chen Mian looked at her flushed yet incredibly earnest face. “Why not?”
“Because...” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Contracts are meant to bind people who don't keep their word. I'm not afraid of you breaking yours.”
“Do I really deserve that much trust?”
“You do! I don't know why, but I just feel like you'd never lie to me.”
Chen Mian leaned in slowly, resting his forehead gently against hers. They were so close they could feel each other's breath. “I really won't lie to you.”
Loviki's eyelashes fluttered. Her gaze met his, and her lips curved into a small smile. “...It's a promise, then.”
“Yes.”
“If you lie to me...” She thought about it, then said with a serious expression, “I'll throw away the game console in the apartment.”
“That threat sounds like it would work much better on Velyan.”
Loviki paused, and her smile widened. “Then I'll change it! If you lie to me, I'll...”
“You'll what?” Chen Mian pinched her cheek, amused by her attempt to look menacing while failing to hide her smile.
“...I haven't thought of it yet. I'll put it on tab.”
“Your threatening skills are way too amateur.”
“Who's an amateur?!” she protested defensively. “Once I think of something later, it'll definitely be terrifying.”
“I'll be waiting, then.”
“...Chen Mian.”
“Yes?”
“When you said you wouldn't lie to me just now, was it true?”
“It was true.”
“And when you said you liked me, was that true too?”
“It was true.”
“That's good.”
After a rustle beneath the blanket, Loviki shifted further inward, turning her back to him. “What time is it?”
Chen Mian glanced at the clock on the wall. “Almost four o'clock.”
“...Are you sleepy?”
“I'm alright.”
Loviki was silent for a moment. Then, she turned her head slightly and whispered, “Come a little closer.”
Chen Mian shifted a bit closer.
After a quiet pause, her voice trembled slightly. “Hold me.”
Chen Mian reached out, his arm wrapping gently around her waist over the blanket, pulling her fully into his embrace. “Like this?”
“Yes.” Her voice grew even softer. “Just like this.”
Chen Mian didn't move, simply holding her gently.
Loviki's body slowly relaxed, resting gently in his arms.
“Chen Mian.”
“Yes?”
“...My heart is beating so fast.”
“Yeah, mine too.”
She fell quiet for a moment, then gently rolled over to face him. A smile graced her face, and her ruby-like eyes shone exceptionally bright in the moonlight. “See? I'm not nervous at all.”
“Your voice is shaking.”
Loviki's lips twitched, and she simply buried her face into his chest. “...Don't call me out.”
Chen Mian didn't say anything, only pulling her a bit closer.
“Loviki.”
“Yes?”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Chen Mian.”
Soon, Loviki's breathing grew steady and rhythmic.
Chen Mian looked down at the sleeping figure in his arms, then opened the system interface and glanced at it. A new notification was displayed on the screen.
[System Notification: Host has been detected to have made contact with a qualifying tenant. Unlocked Quest: Recruit the fourth tenant, "Iliya"]
[Quest Tip: Tenant No. 4 has established contact with the host through a dream channel. Current Status: Pending Rental. Trigger Method: Inform her in the mental realm that there is an Evil God's remnant on the Continent of Cecia to complete the pre-requisite for recruitment.]
Chen Mian's gaze lingered on the name "Iliya" for a moment.
He had never heard this name before, but he knew who she was. The goddess with long silver-white hair in his dream—she was the only one who fit that description.
But why was the fourth tenant a goddess? He was somewhat bewildered.
He could only mention it the next time he met that goddess in his dreams. As for whether the goddess would actually descend to the mortal realm, that was beyond his control. At least for now, it seemed that gods couldn't easily descend to a place like the Continent of Cecia; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to the trouble of contacting him in his dreams.
With that thought, Chen Mian closed the system interface, his gaze falling back onto Loviki, who was already fast asleep in his arms.
He reached out to pull the blanket up, covering her shoulders, before slowly closing his eyes.
...
The next morning, the first thing Loviki saw when she opened her eyes was a face right in front of her.
Chen Mian's eyes were still closed, one of his hands resting gently on her waist.
Loviki froze completely.
The events of last night rushed back into her mind like a tidal wave... Her running over to knock on his door, explaining all that nonsense, being pulled into his room by him, and then...
Loviki looked down at her clothes. Her wool coat and pajama pants were still perfectly intact. Aside from her hair being a bit messy from rubbing against the pillow, indeed, nothing had happened.
No... wait. Something did happen.
She reached up to touch her lips, then quickly pulled her hand back, stealing a cautious glance at Chen Mian.
Confirming that he was still asleep, she slowly tried to move his hand off her waist, preparing to slip away.
But the moment her fingers touched the back of his hand, his fingers tightened slightly.
“...Awake?”
“Not awake!” Loviki blurted out reflexively. Instantly realizing what she had just said, her face turned bright red.
Rate on N.U.
