Are You Asleep?

“The simplified Chinese edition is now available. For details, find vb@Shichunbai.” ■ Please add to your favorites! | Mutual healing | Reunited after years apart | Healing and tearjerking ■ Insomnia × hypersomnia | Sharp-tongued, tough girl × smiling, two-faced schemer Because of her severe insomnia, Ming Mei moved out of her university dorm in search of some peace and quiet. But she never imagined that the person she’d be sharing an apartment with was her almost-stepbrother. Jing Huai leaned against the door with one arm. He wore gray-and-white pajamas, his black hair was disheveled, and his eyes looked bleary with sleep. His half-open, peach-blossom eyes were full of lazy indolence. Ming Mei raised an eyebrow and blurted out, “Bro…?” He gave a soft scoff, his voice rough with sleep. “You still call me that?” ② Once again trying to find a cure for her debilitating insomnia, Ming Mei finally worked up the courage to ask him one day after they moved in together, “Can I talk to you about something? Could I sleep at your place from now on?” It was an outrageous thing to ask, but Jing Huai barely reacted. He just blinked and smoothly replied, “Then should I sleep in the living room?” “No.” Ming Mei’s face burned red, but she spoke very seriously. “We’ll sleep in the same bed.” The living room fell briefly silent. If Jing Huai had looked even a little uncomfortable, Ming Mei would have felt better. But he kept looking at her with a frankly perplexed gaze. Jing Huai narrowed his eyes. As he let out a soft scoff, his features relaxed into a dazzling smile. He savored the words. “And you said you weren’t trying to win me over.” He caught her gaze again, looking perfectly at ease. “At least go through the proper steps, Ming Mei.” ③ Whether six years ago or now, the aloof calm at Jing Huai’s core had never changed. He was courteous and polite, always keeping a proper distance. His attitude repeatedly made Ming Mei think she was the only one who still couldn’t let go of the past. Yet on the nights when she slept soundly, Jing Huai sat in his studio, tilting his head back to gaze at Ming Mei, immersed in the colors of a painting. His eyes were delighted yet dazed, like those of a devoted believer, ready to lay down his life for an absurd, all-consuming obsession. He drew her into his trap, leading her onward step by step. He broke his confessions into pieces and offered them up on every night he stayed with her until she fell asleep. He asked for no answer, greedy only for the time they had together. He imagined the look on her face if she happened to learn everything one day. “Would that count as cheating?” Jing Huai looked at her and simply smiled. “Would you hate me?” Please add my next novel, Do You Even Get It, to your favorites! ■ Rekindled romance | Crush vibes | Love gone off the rails | The weaker party holds the reins ■ Street-raised, wild stray-dog bad boy × elegant young lady from a prominent family Shen Yuan was born into a distinguished family and raised in luxury. Her three older brothers treated her like a princess, and they wouldn’t let anyone else set their sights on her. The one exception was a man named Yi Shen. Rumor had it that nobody knew where he came from. He was brooding, reckless, arrogant, and wild as a stray dog. One day, her brothers came to pick her up. Standing by the roadside, the eldest smiled and tried to reassure the second: “Yuanyuan will meet other guys sooner or later. As long as they’re decent, having someone else look after her isn’t a bad thing.” No sooner had he finished speaking than the two brothers, who cherished their sister above all else, saw their fair-skinned little sister chasing after a tall boy dressed all in black, her short legs barely keeping up. Her soft voice carried a plaintive note. “Slow down… I can’t keep up…” Yi Shen turned around, his eyes dark and his expression clearly displeased. Shen Yuan failed to stop in time and crashed into him. She stumbled back two steps, startled, her face bright red. She was nothing like her usual composed, elegant self. He kept his hands in his pockets and looked down at her. He didn’t say a word, just fixed her with his dark eyes. After a long moment, he raised an eyebrow, making his disapproval plain. Yi Shen was both a classmate in Shen Chuo’s major and his sworn enemy. When the second brother recognized his face, he nearly blacked out with rage. Anyone else would have been fine, but not that shameless punk! 2/ Back then, almost no one thought they would work out. Yi Shen was just a shabby stray dog, worlds apart from Shen Yuan, who was adored by everyone. People thought the little princess was just indulging a whim. Later, Shen Yuan dumped Yi Shen, and everyone cheered. Years later, they met again. Yi Shen had become a man of power and influence, and people bowed and fawned wherever he went. He no longer spared her a glance or looked back to wait for her. He was as distant as if they’d just met. Shen Yuan hurried after him without watching where she was going. Precious jewels scattered across the floor, and as her slender white fingers searched frantically over the carpet, her vision blurred. Then someone approached, carrying an intimidatingly solitary air. He crouched at a respectful distance and picked up an opal with his watch-wearing hand. Shen Yuan looked up. Yi Shen’s fingers tightened around the gem until his knuckles turned white. His deep, emotionless phoenix eyes fixed on her as he gave a mocking laugh. “You’re addicted to chasing me, aren’t you?” “Shen Yuan, you’re out of chances this time. Understand?” Theme: Overcome your inner demons and get a good night’s sleep.