"What did he do this time, grandfather?" Zhao Lifei’s voice was filled with amusement.

"Why don’t you ask him?" He deadpanned. She responded with silence and a brief look towards Yang Feng’s direction. He gave her an innocuous, sheepish smile while disappearing off into their closet. She was disappointed when he came out fully clothed.

Zhao Moyao grumbled, "Good night."

historical

"Grandfather—"

"I said good night." He snapped, hanging up the phone. After a few seconds of contemplation, he sent her a text.

[Grumpy Grandpa: Sweet dreams.]

Zhao Lifei’s lips parted. She blinked and then a tiny smile bloomed on her face. Before she could reply, he sent her another text.

[Grumpy Grandpa: Do not forget to smack him.]

[Xiao Fei: Good night and sweet dreams, grandfather. Please go to bed early and do not work on other documents. Your health is very important.]

Zhao Moyao finished the last sip of his chamomile tea. It helped him relax and sleep better at night. Without it, he would toss and turn all night long until the sun finally rose. He saw her message and unbeknownst to him, he smiled a bit. This granddaughter of his truly had a way with her words... He placed his phone down and grabbed the cane by his desk. He tried to not use it in public, but he was growing older now. His body wasn’t working as he wished it would and it began with his legs.

- - - - -

Lying on the bed and entangled in each other’s arms, Zhao Lifei was beyond comfortable. He didn’t make any advances towards her and was satisfied with just cuddling her. Their position was different than the usual one where she was lying on his chest. This time, they laid on their sides and Zhao Lifei was hugging Yang Feng. His arms were securely resting on her hips while she played with his hair. She wondered if she could steal his shampoo or conditioner. His hair always seemed so healthy, soft, silky, and everything good.

Zhao Lifei kept one of her hands in his hair and her other hand began to knead his tense muscles. "What’s wrong?" She quietly asked him, wondering if he had fallen asleep or not. He responded by hugging her tighter.

"Nothing."

"You’re very tense." She began to unknot the muscles on his shoulder, thoroughly enjoying the way he relaxed around her. Her other hand continued to mindlessly caress his head.

"I’m just tired." He groggily responded, with a low grunt of approval leaving his mouth. He was satisfied with whatever she was doing to him. So much so that he was beginning to fall into a comfortable sleep.

"Then sleep. I’ll be here in the morning." Zhao Lifei hummed, bending down and pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. She could get used to this lovey-dovey snuggling. There was a heavy air of comfort and happiness around them. It didn’t need to be stimulated by passionate pleasure.

"You...promise?" He hesitantly asked, his heart drumming. His grip was like iron, caging her into him.

"I’ll swallow a thousand needles if ever I break it." She responded. His body relaxed and he let out a sigh of relief. The heavyweight on his chest was lifted.

When she said that, Yang Feng finally closed his eyes. He let the sleep take over. Averaging three hours of sleep this week had placed a toll on him. His body willingly shut down, his guard dropping around her. If she wanted to do something to him, she could. Usually, when he slept, he was half-awake and would rarely catch a proper night of sleep. With her around, he was oddly at ease and could not describe how she was able to work a miracle like this.

Zhao Lifei decided it was her turn to spoil him. She pulled the blanket higher and ensured he was fully covered. She began to softly, gently pat his back, the same way a mother would do to her child. It was tiring after a while, but she continued doing so. Timidly and peacefully, she too, drifted to sleep, with her arms tightly clamped around him.

The two lovers blissfully fell asleep, unaware and not caring for the events occurring on the other side of the city.

- - - - -

Huo Qiudong was prepared to go to bed when he heard a rude, loud knock on the door. He paused and was in the process of taking off his thin-rimmed platinum reading glasses. He checked the clock and saw it was a quarter past ten. Who could be disturbing him at this late hour? He wondered if he should pretend to not have heard the noise.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

His lips thinned, his brows twitching in annoyance. All he wanted to do was get a good night’s rest before he gave his President a lecture tomorrow morning. Besides, this was the twenty-first century. They had bells for a reason. There was no need to place a dent on the door of his new apartment located high up in an overpriced apartment complex.

The security system here was amazing. One press of a button and the police would show up in less than five minutes. He wondered which rascal dared to come here so late.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Damn it. I’m coming!" Huo Qiudong sighed as he placed his glasses back on and turned on the lights to his living room. He walked to the monitor located near his door. The person on the other side would not be able to know if he was checking the monitor or not.

Huo Qiudong wondered if he was seeing things. What the hell was going on right now? On the flatscreen monitor was a dazzlingly beautiful woman with a ditzy smile on her face. How did she find out his address? She was wobbling on her feet, high heels dangling off of her painted fingers. She looked drunk out of her mind and ready to topple over at any given second. He didn’t think the woman haunting his dreams every night would show up unannounced like this.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and opened the door. "You’re crazy." Was the first thing that left his mouth. He squinted a bit, not ready for the blinding lights in the hallway. And because of his narrowed eyes, the woman took it the wrong way.

"Are...are you mad at me?" Her voice was pitiful and she sounded like her heart was being ripped into two. She sniffled a bit, like the emotional drunk she was.

Huo Qiudong’s lips thinned. He breathed in through his nose and let out a sigh. He was irritated by her unannounced presence. But no, he was not mad at her. With wobbling lips and wide, tender eyes like that, how could he bring himself to be infuriated by her?

"No, I am not." He cleared his throat. "Why are you here? How did you find my address? I hope you know this is considered stalking."

"I-I know...but, it’s just...I have nowhere to go." Her puppy eyes dropped to the ground. She stared at her bare feet and wriggled her painted-toes.

"You’re President Yang’s younger sister. Any hotel would gladly bend their backs to accommodate you. I hardly believe you truly have nowhere to go." Huo Qiudong followed her gaze and let out another sigh.

He ushered her inside. She stumbled over her own footing and would’ve fallen if it was not for his fast reflexes. They were incredibly close and his breath was stolen away. He was mesmerized by the beauty of her eyes and the depth they held.

Yang Ruqin was equally in awe by him. Maybe it was because she was stupid-drunk, but she suddenly pulled the courage to wrap her arms around his neck. "Pick me up." She demanded like a spoiled brat, dropping her high heels onto the floor. She was joking, so when he actually did it, she was caught off guard.

"W-wait, I think I might throw up." She groaned. She was not ready for her head to be moved that quickly. She gagged and that made Huo Qiudong panic. He shut the door behind him and ushered her into the bathroom where she emptied her contents.

He held her hair and patted her back. "Why did you drink this much if you were going to behave like this? How did you get here in the first place? Do you know how dangerous it is for a lady like you to wander the streets at night?! Especially dressed like that!" He began his lecture.

Yang Ruqin moaned and groaned over the toilet. She took the napkin from his hands. She looked up at him with a wronged expression. His heart broke. He could not find it within him to continue his nagging.

"It’s fine." he finally said. "Stay here." He left to fetch her a glass of water and a clean, white towel. On top of the towel was a set of clothes. "Drink up and take it with this pill." He set the showering supplies onto the bathroom counter. "Afterwards, go and take a shower. Don’t worry, the towel has never been used and the clothes belong to my cousin."

Yang Ruqin nodded like an obedient puppet. She took the pill and gulped down the water. She began to take off her dress right in front of him.