Chapter 224: It’s Okay (eleven/eighteen)

Zhu Niao finished her shower in a state of lingering anxiety, and just as nervously picked up the hair dryer.

At this point, her mind started wandering again.

‘What if this hair dryer suddenly has old wiring and turns into a flamethrower the moment I plug it in?’

She immediately set it down. After using a towel to dry her long hair as much as possible, she opened the window, hoping the cool autumn night breeze would do the rest.

It was rare for her to feel like doing absolutely nothing—she just wanted to fall asleep as quickly as possible and escape all her current fears.

So when she figured her hair was mostly dry, Zhu Niao curled up on the bed in one swift motion, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, leaving only half her head exposed like a lookout.

The bed, which usually felt comfortably snug as she rolled around, now seemed strangely vast—so big it felt boundless.

And colder, too.

Maybe it was supposed to be like this. Autumn nights always started cold, and only gradually warmed with another person’s presence. Before that, there was nothing but lonely chill.

The blanket didn’t seem to hold any warmth tonight. Maybe the bed really did feel bigger than usual.

But she used to sleep alone without noticing anything like this. And Zhu Niao, who prided herself on a bit of boldness, wasn’t about to be defeated by something so trivial.

With that thought, she closed her eyes.

In an instant, the room fell into complete silence. Yet it felt as though faint noises crept in from all directions, threatening to swallow her whole.

Or perhaps it was someone whispering.

The edge of the blanket tucked under her neck suddenly felt cold and stiff, like a thin steel wire, as if it were ready to slice across her delicate throat at any moment.

Then came the trembling—spreading across her entire body like a chain reaction.

The unease in her heart grew, mixed with a subtle restlessness.

She opened her eyes, only to be met with pitch-black darkness—the result of turning off the light.

She thought she could hear faint footsteps, as if someone were pacing beside her bed, savoring her fear and anxiety, waiting for the moment of her greatest despair to extend icy claws toward her neck.

Zhu Niao knew it was all in her head.

So she curled tighter under the blanket and shut her eyes again.

By the curtains, in the corners, at the slightly open wardrobe—every patch of indistinct darkness seemed to be watching her.

The horrifying, bloody scenes from the movie refused to leave her mind.

As the night deepened, it felt like every ounce of fear inside her was being stirred awake.

The soft yet cold bed offered no comfort, only making her feel smaller and more alone.

Her brows knit together. Without even realizing it, her slender body began to tremble, her teeth chattering.

Suddenly, a faint noise echoed through the room—like someone knocking on her window, announcing their arrival.

That was the last straw. Zhu Niao shot upright and turned on the light.

There was nothing outside. The window was tightly shut, even the curtains fully drawn.

The room was still the same—filled with a gentle, feminine warmth and a faint lavender scent.

Everything had just been her imagination. There was nothing terrifying at all.

She took two deep breaths, swallowed, and turned off the bedside lamp again.

Darkness swallowed her once more. The indistinct shadows near the window seemed to thicken, almost forming a darker humanoid shape, standing by her bed with a silent, mocking grin.

She bolted upright again at lightning speed and switched the lamp back on.

Her back pressed against the headboard, cool against her skin, a thin layer of cold sweat forming.

She steadied herself, calming her breathing.

Then, for the last time, she turned off the light.

This time, the sound was real—clear and distinct within the room.

It wasn’t some creature from the dark attacking her.

It was Zhu Niao herself—too panicked to find her shoes—running barefoot out of her room.

The hallway lights and even the living room lights were off. Gou Yu would never allow unnecessary electricity use.

The only faint glow came from the kitchen.

So Zhu Niao rushed over and yanked the kitchen door open.

Inside, Gou Yu stood by the open fridge, secretly eating the cheap jelly Zhu Niao had bought earlier. In his arms, he held the little orange cat, looking like a housewife sneaking a bite while holding a child.

Startled by the sudden door opening, Gou Yu nearly choked on the jelly he had just sucked in, coughing twice in quick succession.

Meanwhile, the small cat in his arms let out two soft meows, its gentle voice easing much of Zhu Niao’s panic and fear.

Gou Yu had been about to ask why she suddenly ran out at this hour.

But then he saw her frightened eyes, her uneven breathing, and her bare feet—exposed and shifting slightly from the cold floor.

He suddenly understood.

So he blurted out, “I didn’t mean to eat your jelly! That movie today was way too scary. I thought eating something might help calm me down a bit.”

He gave in—even though he didn’t actually find the movie scary, he still put on an embarrassed act in front of her.

Sure enough, after hearing that, the tension on Zhu Niao’s face eased noticeably.

“I… I’m generous,” she said. “I already knew you were sneaking food. I just came to remind you—don’t forget to be grateful for my great kindness.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty,” Gou Yu said, mimicking a palace eunuch as he bowed dramatically.

Then he closed the fridge door, holding the cat as he prepared to leave the kitchen.

But Zhu Niao grabbed the corner of his clothes.

“Wait.”

When he looked back, she turned her head away, as if she didn’t want him to see her expression.

“If you’re scared… do you want to sleep with me tonight?” she said.

And so, in the girl’s bedroom, there was now one more person—

—and one more cat.

In Gou Yu’s arms, there was also a little bird pressed tightly against him.

“Hold tighter,” Zhu Niao said. “In that movie, things happen in order. As long as we stay close together, we’ll be fine.”

“Oh… okay…”

She smelled incredibly fragrant.

While Gou Yu was still a little dazed, Zhu Niao softly added, “If you ever get scared in the future, you can come sleep in my bed anytime.”

“Then if I’m scared every day, can I sleep here every day?”

“You—!” Her tone softened again almost immediately.

“…You can.”