Chapter 18
Ji Fengxue suffered from severe insomnia, a condition that had persisted for nearly a year. She found it impossible to sleep at night, and whenever she closed her eyes, she felt as if she were falling, a terrifying sensation that left her panicked and breathless.
At its worst, she required medication to induce sleep. However, excessive use of such drugs proved detrimental to her health, causing dizziness and nausea for a period. This prompted her to quit the medication and instead stay up late, waiting for natural sleep to claim her.
Therefore, she flatly rejected Xia Linxia's suggestion of sleeping on the floor. The two engaged in a verbal sparring match in bed. Xia Linxia, resorting to childish tactics, grabbed Ji Fengxue's hair as a threat. Ji Fengxue retaliated by opening her phone's front camera, threatening to take a picture of Xia Linxia's bare face. Only then did Xia Linxia reluctantly release her, grumbling.
Xia Linxia, having been pampered since childhood, was even less likely to sleep on the floor. Moreover, at six in the morning, all cameras would be activated, making it impossible for either of them to wake up early to tidy a makeshift bed.
Consequently, Xia Linxia turned on the bedside lamp, took out a large plush toy, and placed it between them, drawing a line. Whoever crossed it would be labeled a fool.
Ji Fengxue did not object. She didn't require much space, as long as Xia Linxia stopped her antics. She had initially worried about her insomnia affecting Xia Linxia's sleep, but it turned out her concerns were unfounded.
Shortly after the lights were turned off, she heard steady breathing beside her, a rhythmic inhale and exhale that was clearly audible in the quiet room.
She lay still, envying Xia Linxia's ability to sleep so soundly.
After an indeterminate amount of time, she checked her phone. It had only been an hour since the lights went out.
Just then, the person beside her stirred. Ji Fengxue quietly put down her phone and slowly slipped her hand under the covers, only to have a warm hand grasp hers.
She cautiously tried to pull away, but the other person wrapped both arms around her, nuzzling closer and pushing the plush toy aside. One leg kicked off the covers and rested on hers.
After a moment, she whispered, "Xia Linxia."
Xia Linxia mumbled, her lips smacking. She seemed to find the cool temperature comfortable and snuggled closer, though she remained asleep.
"..."
Ji Fengxue dared not move. Any slight shift on her part caused the other to hold her tighter. For the moment, she could only remain still.
A short while later, the temperature under the covers grew warmer. Ji Fengxue carefully lowered the air conditioning setting, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began reciting scriptures.
Perhaps her prayers were answered, for soon after, she drifted into sleep. With the other leg still pinning hers, the added weight provided a sense of grounding, and she no longer dreamt of falling into an abyss.
She slept for a long time, her usual biological clock that woke her at dawn seemingly malfunctioning.
Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, falling onto the floor without disturbing the sleeping figures.
The cameras activated precisely on time. Commuters, already awake and on their morning journeys, clicked into the live stream. The first thing they saw was the two women embracing in a soft bed. Xia Linxia's long, fair legs were draped over Ji Fengxue, her entire body curled around the other woman as she slept soundly.
The occupants of the other two rooms were still asleep. Only this pair was in such an intimate pose, with a plush toy fallen by the bedside.
[Good morning!]
[First hit of the morning, single dogs are jealous!]
[I want a girlfriend to sleep holding me too!]
[Teacher Ji's sleeping posture is so standard, what is this 'buried alive' pose? (not really)]
Half an hour later, Ji Fengxue was awakened by an unfamiliar alarm.
—"The Eighth Set of Broadcast Exercises, begin! March in place, march! One, two, three, four..."
Ji Fengxue: "?"
As she pondered the strange sound, the weight on her lifted. Xia Linxia reflexively raised her legs, pedaling in the air, her eyes still closed. She mumbled, "Two, two, three, four, three, two, three, four, one more time..."
Ji Fengxue: "..."
[Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter! This alarm is brilliant!]
[Is this the legendary—professionalism of female artists! Exercising as soon as they wake up!]
[Teacher Ji's bewildered expression is hilarious, hahaha!]
[Help, I'm slacking off at the office and trying so hard not to laugh!]
After completing the first two segments of the exercise, Xia Linxia groaned and opened her eyes, yawning. She suddenly froze, turned her head to look at her pillow, her eyes wide.
Ji Fengxue watched her calmly and, along with the alarm, called out, "Jumping jacks, one, two..."
Xia Linxia immediately sprang up from the bed, bounced twice, and then jumped off to continue the exercises. This was the most effective part of the entire routine and had to be completed.
She wore a mournful expression, cursing Xia Yangxuan in her mind.
Ever since childhood, Xia Yangxuan had forced her to do broadcast exercises with their parents every day, insisting the whole family participate together. The household staff had to witness this spectacle daily.
However, after Xia Yangxuan inherited the family business, they stopped doing it together, leaving the burden on her slender shoulders.
[Hahahaha! Friends, please type 'standard' in the comments section.]
[So broadcast exercises can look this good when done properly!]
[You're wrong, it's not the exercises that look good, it's the person.]
[Sob sob, she looks so good even doing exercises, I suddenly want to see her dance.]
[Teacher Ji looks like she hasn't woken up yet, hahaha.]
After a minute, the alarm finally stopped. Xia Linxia headed straight for the bathroom to wash up, primarily because she felt too embarrassed to face anyone.
It wasn't until breakfast that she looked up at people. After a few bites of noodles, she lavished praise on Professor Fang Qiushuang, who was cooking that morning: "Delicious! It tastes just like my mom's! Teacher Fang, you're amazing!"
"Hahaha, then eat more. There's more in the kitchen," Professor Fang Qiushuang said with a hearty laugh. Before coming, she had heard that Xia Linxia was a popular celebrity with a bad temper and that it was best to avoid interacting with her to avoid trouble. However, in reality, she was just a young girl, not as terrifying as people said.
With this thought, her expression softened. "Xiaxia, could you serve Teacher Ji some soup? She's sitting too far away."
"Sure, coming." Xia Linxia scooped a large spoonful of soup with a ladle and moved it to the side. Ji Fengxue quickly reached for a bowl to catch it, but the soup didn't pour in.
"Heh, I won't give it to you!" Xia Linxia turned the spoon back and, in passing, offered it to Song Wanyi on the other side. "Here, this is bone broth, it's very good!"
Song Wanyi, who had just finished eating: "..." You're making this difficult for me QAQ
Professor Fang Qiushuang was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. She suddenly felt that Xia Linxia's poor reputation might have been self-inflicted. They had been given an opportunity to show affection, but instead of doing so, she involved the couple next door. If Song Wanyi were a more calculating person, she might have used this small incident to create trouble.
In the end, Xue Hui drank Song Wanyi's soup, and the comments section was filled with remarks about drinking lemon juice.
After breakfast, everyone engaged in free activities. Professor Fang Qiushuang and Tang Yuande went for a walk and to greet nearby neighbors, while Song Wanyi and Xue Hui energetically went hiking.
Xia Linxia and Ji Fengxue sat in the living room, staring at each other, then silently turned their heads away, one playing on her phone, the other watching television, the atmosphere undeniably awkward.
Ji Fengxue still remembered their current contractual relationship and knew they couldn't just spend the entire day on their phones for the viewers. She glanced at the scenery outside and said, "How about we go hiking too?"
"Okay," Xia Linxia immediately got up and returned to her room. "Wait for me, I'll grab a camera, and I'll take pictures for you."
Ji Fengxue: "..." It's really not necessary.
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