Sleep

It took a while when Han Mingxia finally calmed down, her eyes were already swollen to the point that she couldn't even open them properly. Her breathing was far from being normal.

Even though her tears were starting to dry up, she still wanted to cry. But she couldn't anymore.

Her tear glands probably shut down already.

"If you already calmed down, wash up. You look terrible." Red calmly said but didn't move an inch. She was still looking at the sky that was still covered with darkness. Since it would be winter soon, nights were normally longer.

"I actually don't care." She answered in a hoarse voice. Her eyes that she was trying her best to open stared blankly at the moonless sky. Her head was throbbing indicting she over did her crying.

"The mission's finished. Plan your next course of action." Red said. She was trying to give her an advice since she's not good with comforting someone.

"I haven't finish reading this..." Han Mingxia responded while raising the folder. Some of the papers inside received the tears she shed earlier.

"With your condition now, I doubt if you could even read properly." Red said and stood up. She pulled up the young woman and wrapped her arms around her waist to support her.

Han Mingxia clearly lost most of her energy when she bawled her heart out.

Right at this moment she still wanted to freeze herself until she would feel numb.

But Red was clearly stronger than her. With her height that was only until Red's shoulder, the latter could easily carry her.

"I can walk." She faintly said.

When Red let her go after she heard Han Mingxia's words, the latter actually lost her balance and stumbled forward.

"Tsk!" Red muttered as she quickly supported Han Mingxia again.

Han Mingxia didn't reject the help she was now receiving.

She over estimated herself. Still holding the folder and being supported with Red, Han Mingxia eventually arrived safely in her assigned room.

She almost immediately fell asleep the moment her body touched the bed.

Red stayed and looked at the wasted woman.

When she first met her, it was during her brother's wake.

The woman was stupidly guarding him alone. Even though no one came as she didn't show herself, Han Mingxia still finished the entire ceremony.

She hated her.

She hated the fact that her brother wasted his life for someone like her who was clearly a spoiled young mistress.

When she saw that woman again, it was during the introduction of new 'bloods'.

She coldly stared at her. Although she more or less had an idea why she joined, she couldn't care less.

There's only a small probability they would have interaction, much more to work together.

She belonged to the top tiers and the woman was just a new blood.

Or so she thought.

But when she claimed her 'reward' a condition as good as a direct order was given to her.

The two of them would be partners.

Of course she retaliated. But it was futile.

An order, especially a direct one from the leader wouldn't entertain any form argument.

Seeing her earlier as she cried her heart out, something stirred inside her. It was as if the woman's heart was being torn into pieces. She actually felt her pain.

Was she wrong with her judgement?

She looked around and found a towel. She took it and went to the bathroom.

She could at least help her lessen the condition of her eyes.

After she wet the towel she carefully placed it on her swollen eyes.

"Are you really worthy of my brother's love, Mingxia?" She murmured.

A complicated string of emotions covered her eyes as she moved closer to the sleeping woman.

*

When Han Meixiu finally went out of the bathroom with her emotions all over the place, she found Liu Zijian sitting on the single sofa.

Upon observing clearly, it seemed that the young man was sleeping.

Han Meixiu walked in tip-toed towards the man.

'He's really sleeping!' She exclaimed inwardly.

It simple meant she could look at him without feeling embarrassed.

She felt extremely excited as she moved closer.

She hovered around the sleeping man and her eyes were clearly feasting on what their seeing.

She actually wanted to touch him but was afraid that he might wake up thus she controlled herself and got satisfied by merely looking.

His profile was stunningly ravishing despite the trace of fatigue. It was probably because of the mellow light that covered the entire room that made him an attractive 'prey' for her.

Han Meixiu saw startled.

What's wrong with her?

How could she associate a man as a 'prey'?

She's the predator?

When she's about to leave to calm herself as she simply couldn't believe she could think like that, she was grabbed and in a split of second, enclosed by a pair of warm arms.

"Have you memorized the face of your husband now?" Liu Zijain he huskily said. His eyes were slightly opened and a playful smile was pasted on his face emitting a seductive aura.

Han Meixiu who found herself sitting on the young man's lap, couldn't utter a single word but she nodded as she foolishly looked at him.

'Damn!' She actually nodded. It meant she admitted she was looking at him for too long to memorize every inch of his face. She must have been bewitched!

"Good. Remember it well." Liu Zijian said. "You can sleep first." He continued and stood up. He then guided the young woman onto the bed before he went inside the bathroom.

Han Meixiu who was now sitting on the bed was feeling nervous.

Would he do something after taking a bath?

She couldn't explain what she's feeling.

But they're really husband and wife, it's normal for something to happen, right?

Surprisingly, she's not against it.

She was halfheartedly scolding herself for being shamelessly excited.

She lied down and planned to wait for him to finish taking a bath.

Unfortunately, she was too exhausted that her plan to pretend to be sleeping failed. She really slept for good.

When Liu ZIjian went out of the bathroom, the young woman was already in the far away dream land.

It reminder him of the first time he saw her sleeping and the reaction she exhibited after she woke up.

Seeing her peacefully sleeping on the bed, he couldn't explain the relief and warmth he's feeling.

After removing the piece of towel covering him, he lied down next to her and pulled her closer just like what he always did.

This kind of warm and relaxing feeling to end the day, was something he didn't want to trade with anything.

"You've gone long enough. Don't disappear again." He softly whispered as he kissed her forehead and he finally closed his eyes leaving a slight and contented smile on his face.