Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

62. Gone Without a Trace

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Minghao's consciousness stirred as he became aware of a gentle warmth caressing his cheek, rousing him from his slumber.

He smiled, eyes still closed, his thoughts drifting to Nabi.

In that serene moment, a gentle meow infiltrated the peace, unraveling the mystery of the caress on his cheek. Minghao's eyes snapped open, revealing the source of the tender warmth – Ginger.

The playful cat stood before him, delicately licking his cheek, acting as an eager reminder that someone needed to tend to its hunger. Minghao chuckled, momentarily caught between the remnants of his dream and the amusing reality, the image of Nabi still lingering in his mind like a wisp of a fading dream.

Embarrassment washed over him as he realized his initial confusion, mistaking Nabi for Ginger. Reality dawned on him like a sudden splash of cold water. His head was indeed resting in Nabi's lap, and his hands gently rested on her waist while she remained peacefully asleep.

Minghao's eyes widened as he grappled with the realization, trying to piece together the events of the previous night, the memory obscured by the intoxicating fog of the excessive alcohol he had consumed.

Lifting his head from her lap, he glanced at Nabi, still lost in peaceful slumber. A sharp pang throbbed through his temples, and his hand instinctively rose to his head as a migraine bore down on him.

His brows furrowed in pain, internally cursing himself for allowing the excess of alcohol to cloud his judgment the previous night.

However, Ginger's impatience got the best of him. The feline began to meow loudly, unable to wait any longer for Minghao to wake up and attend to his needs. Nabi stirred, slowly rousing from her slumber, as Minghao's wide eyes darted towards Ginger, silently signaling the eager cat to hush.

Determined not to disturb Nabi's peaceful sleep, Minghao swiftly rose from the bed and scooped Ginger into his arms, wincing at the throbbing pain in his head.

He disregarded his own discomfort, determined not to disrupt Nabi's peaceful rest. The guilt of unintentionally using her lap as a pillow weighed on him.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" a soft and hoarse voice reached his ears, prompting Minghao to glance back at Nabi, who was gently rubbing her eyes as she woke.

Minghao let out a soft sigh, realizing that both he and Ginger had disrupted her sleep. "I'm okay, Nabi. Please, go back to sleep. It's still early, and you need rest," he gently reassured, mindful of her condition.

"Does your head hurt?" she inquired, brushing aside his attempt to shift the focus. She was well aware of the amount he had drunk the previous night.

Minghao replied with a reassuring tone, "Nabi, there's no need to worry. I've had worse headaches before. Please, go back to sleep, and I'll take care of Ginger. Once you're up, I'll take you somewhere. But right now, focus on getting more rest," he encouraged, coaxing her gently to embrace a little more sleep.

Nabi nodded, acknowledging his words, and offered a small, appreciative smile. "Alright. Wake me up when it's time," she murmured, settling back into her comfortable space, ready to surrender to the embrace of much-needed rest.

Minghao smiled as he watched her, seeing her swiftly drift back into a peaceful sleep. Her small eyes, tousled hair, and gentle voice—it all melted his heart. She was undeniably endearing, and even amidst the persistent pain in his head, he couldn't help but admire her.

Heading downstairs with Ginger cradled in his arms, Minghao made it a priority to tend to the hungry feline's needs. He filled the cat's bowl with food and made sure Ginger was content before considering the plans for the day ahead.