Volume One, Chapter Six: Sleeping Together

"Ouch." Cha Cha tripped over her own feet and fell to the floor with a thud.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her sobbing filled the room. All the fear and anxiety she had bottled up over the past two days spilled out in that single fall.

Gu Nanxu sat on the edge of the bed. The room was dark, illuminated only by the faint light from outside the window, which cast his sharp-featured face into shadow, obscuring his expression.

After coming upstairs, he had taken his medication and lain down, trying to force himself to sleep. But it was no use; chronic sleep deprivation had left his nerves frayed. Even the slightest sound made him irritable, which was why this room had been specially designed—once the door was shut, it was completely soundproof.

Yet, for some reason, after tossing and turning, he had gotten up and left the door slightly ajar.

With his eyes closed, he had listened to the little thing gnawing on an apple like a rodent, crawling around the living room, and finally climbing the stairs like a tortoise to push something through his doorway. Curiously, the noise made by this little creature hadn't triggered his usual irritability; instead, he felt calm, even finding a hint of comfort in it.

He got off the bed and hoisted the little girl up by her collar to face him.

Cha Cha looked at the man through tear-blurred eyes, unable to stop her sobbing. Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of grievance, she reached out her small arms to wrap around Gu Nanxu’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder and crying uncontrollably.

Gu Nanxu felt his heart skip a beat. His body went rigid; he didn't dare move.

When Cha Cha finally finished crying, she saw his clothes stained with her tears and snot. She pulled away, feeling embarrassed, let out a hiccup, and reached for a tissue to wipe them away bit by bit.

"I'm sorry, Second Brother. I... *hic*... didn't mean to. I just... *hic*... wanted to bring you some milk."

Gu Nanxu