The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 177: Master Pretends to Sleep

Chu Wanning had not slept for two days, and he was in a deep slumber. Mo Ran's movements were gentle, so when he was carried into bed, nestled in Mo Ran's warm embrace, he remained undisturbed.

Mo Ran placed him in the center of the bed, supporting his neck with his hand and laying it on the pillow. Then, he covered Chu Wanning with a blanket.

After doing all this, he did not leave. Instead, he gazed at that face with an infatuated expression, his eyes trailing from the dark eyebrows down to the thin lips.

Beautiful.

His master, his Wanning, how could he be so beautiful?

Beautiful beyond measure, so much so that even a second more of looking made his heart soften and his body stiffen.

A tingle ran through his scalp as reason tightened its grip around his neck. He knew this was wrong, but Chu Wanning's face so close at hand and the faint scent of cherry blossoms on his body seemed like countless soft claws tearing at his clothes, luring him to strip bare and join in the warmth of the bed.

Perhaps it was the raging tide of blood coursing through Mo Ran's veins or the drumming of his heart that refused to cease, or perhaps it was the heat in his gaze that burned through the sleep of the one lying beside him.

In any case, Chu Wanning opened his eyes and suddenly woke up.

"..."

For a moment, silence reigned. Mo Ran stood frozen in place, while Chu Wanning, who had been drowsy, suddenly turned astonished. His phoenix-like eyes widened as they met Mo Ran's burning gaze that refused to cool.

Chu Wanning jerked awake. "What are you doing?"

The handsome, youthful, and powerful man's expression was difficult to read. He slowly leaned in, leaving Chu Wanning too stunned to even move.

"You—"

Their proximity increased with each passing second.

Their hearts pounded in unison.

"Shhh."

A soft sound came from the bedside, followed by a sudden dimming of the lights, casting the room into an even more intimate and hazy atmosphere.

Mo Ran leaned down to draw the bed curtains tightly, then sat upright on the edge of the bed.

Gazing down at Chu Wanning, who lay in bed, his voice soft, he said, "I saw that Master was sound asleep, so I wanted to lower the canopy for you. I didn't expect to wake you up, though."

Chu Wanning remained silent, leaning on his pillow and turning his head slightly to look at him.

Behind Mo Ran, the dark yellow bed curtains, recently unhooked from the headboard, swayed gently. The candlelight outside became hazy and indistinct, like mist on a winter windowpane. It was too dim to make out the handsome features of the young man, except for a pair of bright eyes that shone like shattered stars in the night.

Mo Ran suddenly called out, "Master."

"Hmm?"

"There's something I want to ask you."

"..."

In the darkness, the disciple seemed to find more courage.

Chu Wanning's heart tightened. Was he going to ask about the silk pouch?

Maintaining a calm exterior, he concealed the turmoil stirring within him.

—Is it too late to pretend to be asleep now?

Mo Ran asked, "Where am I supposed to sleep?"

Chu Wanning: "..............."

Thus, after a busy and conflicted half-night, Mo Ran still ended up sleeping on the floor that evening—

"The bed is too small." He had already regretted his question as soon as he asked it. With his youthful vigor and newfound taste, it was better not to share the same bed with Chu Wanning. He was well aware of how terrifying a man's desires could be.

"I'll still sleep on the floor."

"...Do we have any extra bedding?"

"There's one spare set."

"Will it be cold?"

"No, I'll add more straw for insulation."

Mo Ran went outside to fetch straw and returned promptly, laying it out skillfully on the ground. After being disrupted by him, Chu Wanning temporarily lost his sleepiness. He propped his head up on one side, lifted the bed curtains with one hand, and silently watched this person busily create a makeshift single bed for himself in the blink of an eye.

"..."

"Sleep well, Master. Sweet dreams."

The man lay down fully clothed, pulled the blanket over himself, and gazed at Chu Wanning on the bed with gentle, steadfast eyes of deep black.

Chu Wanning: "Mm."

Seeing Mo Ran's seemingly obedient demeanor, Chu Wanning sighed in relief and maintained a "I'm very aloof" expression. He casually let the bed curtains fall and settled into a comfortable position.

However, Mo Ran sat back up again.

"What are you doing?"

"Blowing out the lamp."

The man got up and extinguished the candle flame.

The room fell into a deep silence, with the master and disciple lying separately on the bed and the floor, each lost in their own thoughts. They gazed at the softly glowing hibiscus flower and butterfly amidst the boundless night.

"Master."

"What now? Are you still going to sleep or not?"

"I am." Mo Ran's voice was gentle, especially soft in the still of the night. "I just suddenly wanted to talk to you about something."

Chu Wanning pursed his lips. Although his heart wasn't pounding as fiercely as the first time he had guessed, his throat still felt dry.

"I wanted to say... Master doesn't have to be so restrained when sleeping. You don't always have to stay in one corner."

There was a hint of amusement in his voice, low but pleasant to the ear.

Chu Wanning: "...I'm used to it."

"Why?"

"The room is always too messy. Before, I rolled off the bed and landed on a file on the floor, cutting myself."

Mo Ran listened in silence for a long while.

Chu Wanning waited patiently. When there was still no response, he asked, "What's the matter?"

"No," Mo Ran replied, but his voice seemed closer. Chu Wanning turned his head and, through the gauzy, gentle curtains, saw that Mo Ran had pulled his bedding closer to him, illuminated by the glow of the peonies and butterflies.

Lying down again, Mo Ran smiled and said, "When I'm here, Master doesn't need to worry. You won't get hurt if you fall; I'll cushion you."

Pausing, he added casually, "I'll be here."

"..."

After a moment, Mo Ran heard the person on the bed softly hum and murmur, "Your arm muscles are so hard. If you were to bump into them, it might not be much better than hitting a file."

Mo Ran chuckled. "There are even harder parts that Master hasn't seen yet."

He had intended to mention his pectoral muscles, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he abruptly realized the suggestive undertones they carried. He froze and quickly clarified,

"I didn't mean it like that."

Chu Wanning had already been silent and awkward after the first sentence, and upon hearing the second, the atmosphere between them plummeted irreparably into an abyss.

Of course he knew that Mo Ran had harder and hotter weapons than the chilling handles of his mechanical armor creations, capable of sending shivers down one's spine. Ignoring that cursed cultivation ranking list, he had unintentionally felt it through their clothing. It was a terrifying passion that made one's entire body tremble with numbness.

Frustrated, Chu Wanning said, "Go to sleep."

"…Okay."

But how could they possibly sleep?

Lava of affection and love tormented the two of them, licking at their scorching chests. The room was too quiet, allowing them to hear each other's faint breathing and the sounds of tossing and turning.

Mo Ran propped his head on his hand, staring up at the fluttering scarlet butterflies that filled the air. A delicate spirit butterfly drifted down, landing on the bed curtains, staining them with a gentle, thin red hue.

Amidst this silence, Mo Ran suddenly recalled something from the past—

Back in Jin Chengchi, the person who had rescued him from the nightmare of Heart-Plucking Willows had whispered something in his ear.

At that moment, his consciousness had been hazy, so he couldn't be sure if those words were just an illusion. But now, as he thought back on it, he suddenly wondered if he might not have misheard after all.

Perhaps it was true.

He recalled Chu Wanning saying, "I like you too."

Mo Ran's heartbeat quickened, and forgotten nuances from the past sprouted and unfurled like tender leaves, nourished by his relentless ambition into a towering, lush tree reaching towards the sky.

His mind buzzed, his vision swam, and the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that something was off...

"I like you too."

I like you too...

If he had misheard Chu Wanning back then, if those words were never spoken, why wouldn't Chu Wanning acknowledge saving Jin Chengchi after the nightmare?

Unless he hadn't heard wrong!

Unless Chu Wanning truly said those words—

Mo Ran jolted upright, unable to contain his excitement. His voice rasped, "Shifu!"

"..."

Even though there was no response from behind the curtain, Mo Ran continued his question, "Today, while I was washing my clothes, I found something... it was..."

The space behind the curtain was tranquil.

"Do you know what it was?" The words stumbled on his tongue as he suddenly felt a wave of shyness. He couldn't believe he was asking Chu Wanning such a foolish question.

There was a long silence from the other side.

Mo Ran hesitated, his gaze moist and dark: "Shifu, are you still awake?"

"Did you hear what I said..."

Upon the bed veiled by gossamer curtains, Chu Wanning lay without further motion, seemingly having truly drifted off to sleep. Mo Ran, after waiting for a considerable time, found himself unwilling to accept this. He hesitated, his hand reaching out several times as if to part the drapes, only to freeze in place each time.

"Master."

He stammered, then lay back down.

The voice was soft, almost tender.

"Pay attention to me."

Of course, Chu Wanning would not oblige.

His entire being was in disarray, his usually clear mind now shrouded in a haze of confusion. Lying in bed with his eyes open, he stared at the dark, ornate canopy and pondered numbly: What on earth did Mo Ran want?

He entertained countless implausible speculations, but dared not entertain the most obvious one – that Mo Ran also harbored feelings for him.

It was like a starving person who had obtained a fragrant, crispy meat pie, treasuring it so much that they nibbled away at the outer crust, hesitating for a long time before daring to touch the precious filling.

Chu Wanning listened to the gentle yet anxious whispers beyond the curtains.

He stealthily pulled the covers up, concealing his chin, nose, and mouth, leaving only his bright eyes exposed.

Then, he covered his eyes too, hiding completely beneath the blankets.

He had heard, but didn't know how to respond.

Heart pounding, his palms were damp with sweat.

He felt cornered, desperately longing to suddenly sit up and roar like a conqueror of mountains and rivers, "Yes, damn it, I did hide that silk purse! I like you, are you satisfied? Now leave me alone, stop asking questions, and let me sleep!"

Tormented and anxious, an intense itch gnawed at his heart.

"Master?"

"..."

"Is he really asleep...?"

After a while, Chu Wanning heard Mo Ran let out a soft sigh.

He remained buried under the covers, his emotions in the darkness a jumbled mix of frustration, palpitations, anxiety, and sweetness. A bitter-sweet symphony swirled within him. He tried to calm himself down, but his cheeks flushed hot, and he couldn't resist secretly kicking the blanket.

Author's Note: Mo Ran's Courage 100 "500800"

Chu Wanning's Psychological Fortitude "60100"

Mini Scene: "If Mo Ran Had WeChat, How Would He Label Them?"

0.5

Shi Mo: "The World's Most Beautiful Person"

Xue Meng: "Birdman"

Chu Wanning: "Hehehaha"

Xue Zhengyong: "Uncle"

Madame Wang: "Auntie"

Mei Hanxue: "Birdman's Companion"

Ye Wangxi: "The Confucian Wind Sect's Leading Lady"

1.0

Shi Mo "Bright Moonlight"

Xue Meng "Silly Falcon"

Chu Wanning "Master"

Xue Zhengyong "Uncle"

Madame Wang "Aunt"

Mei Hanxue "Chairwoman of the Women's Federation"

Ye Wangxi "The Elder Sister of Confucian Wind Sect"

2.0

Shi Mo "Senior Brother"

Xue Meng "Cousin"

Chu Wanning: "My darling (mustn't be discovered)"

Xue Zhengyong: "Uncle"

Madame Wang: "Auntie"

Mei Hanxue: "The prime candidate for preventing floral-disease"

Ye Wangxi: "Poor lass"

Nan Gongsi: "Finally, a living soul"