Chapter 304 Where to Sleep?

Chapter 304: Where to Sleep?

After finishing the medicine, the kitchen staff brought in hot water, which Cheng Ge was more than happy to have.

His body was covered in dust and sweat, and he'd been feeling really uncomfortable.

He immediately slipped behind the screen and soaked in a hot bath, feeling comfortable.

The warm water enveloped his weary body, making him feel so relaxed he almost felt like he was bubbling with happiness.

After bathing, Cheng Ge changed into a clean, plain inner garment and leaned back in his chair, feeling refreshed all over.

Lü Rou stood behind him, carefully wringing out his hair with a cloth.

At some point, Cui Ji silently entered the tent.

He glanced at Cheng Ge, who was resting with his eyes closed, and Lü Rou, who was busy.

Without a word, he simply reached out and naturally took the cloth from Lü Rou's hands.

Lü Rou was momentarily startled, then understood, quietly bowed, and withdrew.

Cui Ji was a bit more awkward than Lü Rou, but he controlled his strength perfectly.

Cheng Ge shook his head slightly, and a few strands of wet hair slipped from Cui Ji's grasp.

Still keeping his eyes closed, his voice a bit nasal, he asked casually:

"Sister Lü Rou, where am I sleeping tonight? Do I have to share a bed with the soldiers?"

This border region wasn't like the capital; food, clothing, and lodging were all simple and unadorned—commonly called rough.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, a familiar voice suddenly spoke up.

"You'll share my tent with me."

Cheng Ge: "!!!"

Cheng Ge's eyes flew open, and he looked up following the sound, and found himself staring into a pair of deep eyes.

There stood Cui Ji, looking down at him, still holding his half-dry long hair.

The air went still for a moment.

Their eyes met, and Cheng Ge could even clearly see his own reflection in the other's gaze.

He could even feel the warmth of Cui Ji's breath gently brushing against his forehead.

Cheng Ge couldn't help swallowing hard, letting out a dry laugh and scrambling for something to say.

"Heh... heh... you're, uh, done with your work?"

The question came out dry and pointless, but at that moment, Cheng Ge couldn't think of anything better to break this awkward atmosphere.

He felt that the area under Cui Ji's gaze seemed to be getting warmer, and even the refreshing feeling from his bath was almost gone.

Cheng Ge blinked, trying to collect himself from this sudden close encounter.

He turned his head slightly, feeling his ears burn, and muttered under his breath, "Wouldn't that be... kinda inconvenient?"

Cui Ji didn't answer right away. Instead, he gently brushed a few wet strands from Cheng Ge's cheek and tucked them behind his ear.

He smoothed out his long hair, carefully gathering it to keep it from dampening his clothes.

His movements were undeniably tender, but his tone stayed calm and flat.

"No, it's spacious enough here."

Cheng Ge thought about it and figured it made sense. After all, Cui Ji was the commanding general, so his perks would be the best. It was definitely better than squeezing into a crowded bunk that could squish you flat.

He, Cheng Ge, was never one to make things hard on himself. If he didn't have good luck, he'd find a way to make some. Now that there was a comfortable option right in front of him, there was no reason to refuse.

The candlelight flickered inside the tent, casting warm, flickering shadows that made his eyelids heavy.

The exhaustion from days of travel and the tension in his nerves finally let go, and drowsiness washed over him like a wave.

He couldn't help but let out a small yawn, a few tears of exhaustion forming at the corners of his eyes, his voice thick with sleep.

"Then... I'll go to sleep first? You coming?"

Cui Ji's expression froze for a second, watching him all drowsy and dazed, then said, "You go ahead and sleep. I still have some things to handle."

Cheng Ge didn't care about much else and let out a soft "mm."

Then, he stood up unsteadily and shuffled over to the bed behind the screen.

The bed had been made, the mattress was thick and smooth, and it had even been warmed with a hot water bottle, making it dry and cozy to lie on.

Cheng Ge let out a content sigh, too tired to care about anything else, he quickly rolled into the covers.

It was colder here than in the capital in winter, so the blankets were the best place to be. Within seconds, he was sound asleep.

By the time Cui Ji finished bathing and took care of the urgent military matters that had piled up, it was already late at night.

He blew out the candles outside, leaving just a small oil lamp, and made his way to the bed in the faint light.

On the wide bed, the brocade quilt made a small lump.

Probably afraid of the cold, Cheng Ge had buried his head completely under the covers, not even a single strand of hair showing.

Cui Ji stood by the bed in silence for a long time, then slowly leaned over and lifted the corner of the quilt.

There, Cheng Ge was curled up into a ball, his face flushed with sleep, a few strands of dark hair stuck to his forehead, his lips were slightly parted, and he was breathing steadily.

Perhaps from being under the covers too long, his cheeks were rosy, and his long, thick lashes cast a small, peaceful shadow under his eyes. He looked completely defenseless as he slept.

Cui Ji's stern expression softened completely in the dim light. He carefully removed his outer robe and gently lay down on the outer side of the bed.

Cheng Ge felt a gust of cold air seep into his warm, cozy blanket, and his body stirred involuntarily.

Half-asleep, he cracked his eyes open, his blurry vision catching the tall figure lying down beside him.

Still not fully awake, he mumbled vaguely, "You... done already?"

"Mm," Cui Ji's deep voice sounded in the darkness, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Still cool from his bath, he tried his best not to get too close to the warmth.

However, Cheng Ge mumbled something in response, while instinctively reaching out, grabbing the corner of the quilt on his side, and clumsily pulling it toward Cui Ji to share it.

He muttered sleepily, "Cover up... don't catch a cold..."

After doing this, he seemed to feel that the gap between them was too big, with a draft seeping in, and he was quite dissatisfied.

So with his eyes still closed, he wriggled toward Cui Ji with a rustle.

Only when he was almost pressed against the other's side did he stop, satisfied.

He let out a sigh of contentment, and finally mumbled vaguely, "Scooch over... it's cold..."

His voice trailed off, and then his breathing became long and even again as he fell back into a deep sleep.

Cui Ji froze on the spot, feeling the weight of the quilt suddenly shared with him, and the warmth of the body that had abruptly pressed close beside him, separated only by a thin undergarment.

Cheng Ge's even breaths gently brushed against his shoulder blades, sending a faint tickle through him.

And that sleepy complaint was like a feather, gently tickling the tip of his heart.

He lowered his eyes, and by the faint moonlight seeping in from outside the bed curtain, he looked at the messy head of hair that was almost nestled in the crook of his shoulder.

His cold and hard defenses crumbled in that moment, turning into a softness that even he himself hadn't noticed.