According to Jiang Nanxi’s plan, she should have been in bed with Xia Zhiyan two hours ago.

But because of the water shortage, she didn’t manage to get rid of the guests until now.

Tang Wanning lingered: “Your water is so good, I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Jiang Nanxi smiled, but inwardly thought, please don’t.

She was afraid that if Tang Wanning came again, she wouldn’t be able to control herself and kick her.

Once the noisy guests left, the room fell silent. They say three women make a play, and there were six women in the room just now, two actresses, the drama was even more noisy. Even playing cards almost blew the roof off. The production team regretted agreeing to Jiang Nanxi’s request to turn off the cameras, but they could only regret it.

Now, without the noise, the air was calm, still, gently connecting the breaths of the two people in the room.

Jiang Nanxi spoke first: “Sister, go take a shower? There should still be hot water. I’ll tidy up the room.”

The room was a mess, playing cards scattered everywhere, beer bottles from the production team lying haphazardly.

Jiang Nanxi couldn’t stand it.

Xia Zhiyan responded, taking her toiletries to the bathroom.

The sound of water filled the room again.

Jiang Nanxi carefully collected the playing cards, putting them in order. She packed the beer cans in a garbage bag and took them out, placing them by the door.

The door opened, and the hot summer night air rushed in.

The air conditioning in the room was set to 24 degrees, Xia Zhiyan was cold-sensitive, this was the temperature Jiang Nanxi usually set. Now, she felt it should be lower.

Only then could the cool breeze dissipate the heat spreading across her cheeks.

How long had it been since she slept with Xia Zhiyan?

Jiang Nanxi tidied her slightly messy suitcase, thinking about this question.

When she was little, she didn’t often sleep with Xia Zhiyan.

When she was first brought home by Xia Zhiyan, Jiang Nanxi felt shy and stayed alone. Later, when she was sick, Xia Zhiyan dropped her work and came back to take care of her. Xia Zhiyan wasn’t good at taking care of people, she just stayed by Jiang Nanxi’s side, worried about her, asking with concern when she groaned in discomfort.

Those gentle words were the best medicine for Jiang Nanxi.

Jiang Nanxi rarely acted spoiled, thinking she should be a grown-up, a good girl, and not always cling to her sister.

But after that time, Xia Zhiyan always slept with her, even when asleep, her hand would subconsciously rest on Jiang Nanxi’s back, gently patting, perhaps still worried about her illness.

This continued for many years, until Jiang Nanxi went to high school.

She went to a boarding school and rarely saw Xia Zhiyan. During the New Year, Jiang Nanxi had a holiday, but Xia Zhiyan was busy running events. Even when they met, Jiang Nanxi was too embarrassed to share a bed with Xia Zhiyan.

Xia Zhiyan even joked about it, saying she had grown up and wasn’t clingy anymore. Jiang Nanxi had never been clingy.

She was afraid that clingy children would be abandoned.

But she wouldn’t deny anything Xia Zhiyan said.

In this world, there was only one golden rule, and that was what Xia Zhiyan said.

But Jiang Nanxi didn’t expect that she would be sleeping with Xia Zhiyan because of a variety show.

She put her suitcase against the wall, sat on the carpet, and touched the edge of the bed. The bedsheet had delicate lace, feeling lacy and tickling Jiang Nanxi’s fingertips.

Suddenly, steam filled the room, Jiang Nanxi looked up, the bathroom door was ajar.

Steam filled the air.

A woman’s arm emerged, very white, a small red mole on her forearm, smooth lines, clearly well-toned. Her hand was beautiful, slender, with faintly visible blue and purple veins, a sign of being too thin. Because of filming and work, Xia Zhiyan had painted her nails a simple light pink.

This color was close to her natural nail color.

Jiang Nanxi thought, such a beautiful hand, if it were gripping the bedsheet, wouldn’t it be beautiful?

A beautiful pink turning red.

“Nan Nan?” Xia Zhiyan asked, “Did you see my skincare products?”

Jiang Nanxi had seen them on the table while tidying up. She hummed, picked them up, walked over, and handed them to Xia Zhiyan.

“Thanks.” Xia Zhiyan took them.

Her fingertips were slightly wet.

Despite the hot shower, the water droplets on Xia Zhiyan’s fingertips were cold.

So cold that Jiang Nanxi shivered.

Xia Zhiyan misunderstood: “Did you catch a chill?”

Jiang Nanxi shook her head: “No.”

“Sister, hurry up and wash, don’t catch a cold.”

Xia Zhiyan: “Okay.”

Xia Zhiyan looked at the water tank, subconsciously saying: “I don’t think there’s much hot water left, Nan Nan, want to shower together?”

Jiang Nanxi: “…No.”

She said with a headache: “Sister, after you’re done, just help me get a basin of hot water.”

Xia Zhiyan teased her: “Shy? What haven’t I seen when you were little?”

Jiang Nanxi chose the latter between being embarrassed and being perverted.

“Sister, hurry up and wash,” she closed the bathroom door for Xia Zhiyan.

Xia Zhiyan paused, then smiled, placing her skincare products on the shelf.

The bathroom’s warm light was on, hot and bright.

Xia Zhiyan wondered, what was Jiang Nanxi’s expression just now?

It must have been interesting.

After she finished showering, Jiang Nanxi glanced inside, there was still some water in the tank, enough for a quick rinse.

She originally planned to wait a while, but Xia Zhiyan was standing outside in a bathrobe drying her hair, and Jiang Nanxi couldn’t stay still.

Entering the bathroom, the small space was filled with Xia Zhiyan’s scent.

Although the scent of the toiletries filled the air, Jiang Nanxi could still detect Xia Zhiyan’s unique scent.

She must have been a dog in her past life.

Jiang Nanxi finished showering with mixed feelings. Xia Zhiyan’s hair wasn’t dry yet.

She got tired halfway through.

Jiang Nanxi walked over, took the hairdryer, stood behind her, silently drying her hair.

Xia Zhiyan looked up and smiled: “Thank you, Nan Nan.”

Jiang Nanxi only said: “You’re welcome.”

Her hand brushed through Xia Zhiyan’s black hair, the hair was soft, occasionally touching Xia Zhiyan’s scalp. She was afraid of being too rough, so her touch was very light.

But because it was so light, it felt tingling, like a feather lightly brushing past.

Xia Zhiyan was looking at her phone, the hairdryer blowing on her head.

Time slipped away quietly.

After Jiang Nanxi dried Xia Zhiyan’s hair and was about to dry her own, Xia Zhiyan suddenly asked: “Nan Nan, do you know what shipping CP means?”

Jiang Nanxi paused: “Yes, Sister, I know. What’s wrong? Did you see something?” She spoke a little urgently.

Xia Zhiyan: “Nothing, some people are talking about it on Weibo.”

“Talking about what?”

Xia Zhiyan: “You and Ruan Qiuci.”

“There’s nothing between me and her,” Jiang Nanxi explained, “I didn’t know we were going to be on the show together before.” Xia Zhiyan hummed.

She was still thinking about the picture she saw on Weibo, it was probably photoshopped, but the person who photoshopped it was skilled, combining separate photos of Jiang Nanxi and Ruan Qiuci, in a kissing pose.

The caption was even more outrageous.

Xia Zhiyan realized then how creative young people are.

She originally opened her phone to see if fans cared about her clinging to Jiang Nanxi, but searching the show’s name, she inexplicably saw “Yi Chi Qiu Shui” (One Pool Autumn Water).

Xia Zhiyan was curious, and her curiosity intensified because of Tang Wanning’s words, so she clicked into the super topic.

She shouldn’t have.

She was shocked.

The CP super topic was full of detailed analysis, even messy videos and texts.

Xia Zhiyan hesitated, asking: “Nan Nan, do you know they’re shipping you two like this?”

Jiang Nanxi thought she was referring to the fans’ matchmaking, and said: “Yes, it’s all a joke.”

She didn’t care much about this.

Xia Zhiyan stared at a piece of fanfiction on her phone, thinking, this joke is a little too big.

Jiang Nanxi was curious, leaning over: “Sister, what did you see?”

Xia Zhiyan put away her phone: “Nothing.”

“Let me dry your hair?”

Jiang Nanxi wouldn’t refuse Xia Zhiyan.

Xia Zhiyan took the hairdryer and quickly dried Jiang Nanxi’s hair, saying proudly: “If only drying my own hair was this easy.”

“It’s okay, I’ll dry Sister’s hair in the future.”

Xia Zhiyan smiled: “Okay, okay.”

Jiang Nanxi knew she wasn’t serious.

But she was.

After drying her hair, Jiang Nanxi tidied up, turned off the lights, and went to bed. There were two duvets. She knew Xia Zhiyan liked to sleep against the wall, so she lay on the other side.

Xia Zhiyan saw the small blanket she secretly took out, and joked: “How old are you? Eighteen and still using this?”

Jiang Nanxi blushed.

She clutched the blanket without speaking.

Xia Zhiyan teased her: “You like this blanket so much?”

Jiang Nanxi hummed.

She lay down, hugging the blanket to her chest, and covered herself with another duvet.

People lacking security or with habitual dependence often have comfort objects. For Jiang Nanxi, it was this small blanket. She never leaves it behind.

Xia Zhiyan looked at the fluffy blanket, which used to cover Jiang Nanxi completely, now it couldn’t even cover half of her.

She curiously asked: “Does it still smell the same?”

Jiang Nanxi’s face was half-hidden in the duvet, her eyes blinking: “Yes.”

Xia Zhiyan was intrigued: “Let me smell it.”

Jiang Nanxi was hesitant: “Maybe not.”

Xia Zhiyan: “It’s my scent anyway, why can’t I smell it?”

Jiang Nanxi had no choice but to give the blanket to Xia Zhiyan.

Xia Zhiyan smelled the edge.

Her expression was strange: “Is this my scent?”

Jiang Nanxi: “Yes.”

Xia Zhiyan: “Are you sure you haven’t washed it for too long?”

Jiang Nanxi: “I didn’t wash it.”

Xia Zhiyan: “I thought it would at least smell nice.”

“It smells nice,” Jiang Nanxi hugged the blanket tightly, “It smells very nice.”

But Xia Zhiyan didn’t think it smelled nice. It didn’t smell like flowers or fruits. It was faint, slightly fermented, not unpleasant, but definitely not like perfume.

She was about to say something, but seeing Jiang Nanxi treasure the blanket, she found it cute.

“Nan Nan, I don’t know if you like this blanket or me more,” Xia Zhiyan looked at Jiang Nanxi, teasing, “You were like this before, sleeping with the blanket, you wouldn’t let Sister hug you.”

Jiang Nanxi’s ears burned red, thankfully her hair covered it. She was worried that her secret would be revealed.

“I like Sister,” she said.

But she couldn’t expect to hug Xia Zhiyan.

Compared to Xia Zhiyan, the small blanket was the only thing she could truly hold tightly. No matter how she hugged it, no one would question it. But she couldn’t hug Xia Zhiyan like that.

This kind of hug is for lovers, not for sisters.

Xia Zhiyan didn’t have so many thoughts, she was just happy to hear Jiang Nanxi’s words.

She contentedly closed her eyes and turned her back to Jiang Nanxi: “Okay, let’s sleep.”

Jiang Nanxi turned off the bedside lamp.

She couldn’t sleep.

After a while, she asked: “Sister, are you asleep?”

Xia Zhiyan: “No.”

“Can I hug you to sleep?”

In the darkness, cicadas chirped, the sound coming from outside. Because it was a village, there were toads and frogs in the fields, creating a summer night concert.

These noisy sounds drowned out Xia Zhiyan’s erratic heartbeat.

Jiang Nanxi’s voice was soft: “It’s nothing.”

She said: “I was joking.”

Xia Zhiyan felt she had overreacted.

She reached out, grabbed Jiang Nanxi’s hand from under the other duvet, placing it on her waist.

“What are you hiding?” she said, “I didn’t say no.”

Now it was Jiang Nanxi’s turn to be stunned.

A duvet separated them, her hand touching Xia Zhiyan’s waist, but she didn’t dare to hug tightly, it felt electric.

Xia Zhiyan was amused by her stunned expression, pulled the duvet, burrowed into Jiang Nanxi’s blanket, pulled out the small blanket and threw it on the pillow, then burrowed into Jiang Nanxi’s arms.

“Is this okay?”

Jiang Nanxi: “…Okay.”

She didn’t know what to say anymore.

“Yes, let’s sleep,” Xia Zhiyan hugged her tightly, “I didn’t expect you to be taller than me.”

Xia Zhiyan was considered tall among actresses, but Jiang Nanxi was even taller.

Now, hugging like this, the position was perfect.

Very comfortable.

Xia Zhiyan snuggled into Jiang Nanxi’s arms, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes peacefully.

She fell asleep, but Jiang Nanxi couldn’t.

She was scared.

Afraid her rapid heartbeat would reveal her secret, afraid her erratic breathing would disturb Xia Zhiyan’s sleep. She was filled with tenderness and impulse, she wanted to kiss her, this position was perfect for kissing Xia Zhiyan’s hair.

But she couldn’t.

She could only restrain herself.

After a long time, she gently raised her hand and patted Xia Zhiyan’s back.

Again and again.

Xia Zhiyan used to do this to lull her to sleep.

The next morning, Xia Zhiyan woke up first.

Seeing herself sleeping with the younger girl, she fell silent, withdrew her restless hands and legs, and got out of bed to go to the bathroom.

As soon as she left, Jiang Nanxi opened her eyes.

She lightly opened her lips, exhaling a sigh.

She didn’t sleep all night.

She pulled all-nighters during the talent show and variety shows, recording from afternoon to midnight, and then doing interviews. But even then, Jiang Nanxi didn’t think any all-nighter was as tiring as this one.

To be precise, it was the transition between yesterday and today.

She didn’t sleep all night.

Mainly because she didn’t trust her subconscious while sleeping.

Hugging Xia Zhiyan, hugging the person she liked, she didn’t know what her subconscious might do.

Afraid Xia Zhiyan would worry, she pretended to be asleep when she sensed her waking up.

Now she slowly opened her eyes.

Before Xia Zhiyan came out of the bathroom, Jiang Nanxi rubbed her face, forcing herself to shake off the tiredness, and quickly took eye drops from her bag.

A refreshing coolness spread, Jiang Nanxi felt much better.

When Xia Zhiyan came out, Jiang Nanxi was tidying the bed.

“Awake?”

Jiang Nanxi smiled: “Yes.”

She smoothed out the wrinkles on the bedsheets and went to the bathroom to wash up.

Xia Zhiyan worriedly asked: “How did you sleep last night?”

Jiang Nanxi: “Pretty well.”

Xia Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief: “I was worried I wouldn’t sleep well and disturb you. It’s good that you slept well.”

“Let’s do this again tonight?”

Jiang Nanxi paused while squeezing lotion.

Xia Zhiyan smiled: “It’s been a long time since I hugged you to sleep, I miss it.”

Jiang Nanxi couldn’t refuse, agreeing, but thinking she should buy coffee.

After this variety show, she needed to sleep for two days to recover.