Mute Beauty

Chapter 45: Good Morning

It seemed that Yu Ting had read the entire book in one breath, sitting from eleven o'clock until one in the morning. Throughout this time, she didn't say a word to Ran Ling, who was also in bed, and Ran Ling didn't disturb her, silently demonstrating her thoughtfulness in the dark.

The room was silent. After placing the thick book back on the shelf, Yu Ting turned off the desk lamp and stared at the pitch-black room for a while before finally getting up to return to the bedside.

The woman lying on the bed was quietly curled up in her own half, breathing steadily, her body rising and falling slightly under the blanket.

Ran Ling, afraid of the cold, had buried herself entirely under the covers, with only a small section of her glossy neck visible, just beneath her dark hair.

Yu Ting circled to her side, lifted a corner of the blanket, and gracefully slipped in.

The woman beside her, presumably already asleep, remained completely unaware of her presence, not making a sound. She no longer waited for Yu Ting to join her in bed, nor did she cling to her the way she used to, as if it was only natural to sleep in each other's embrace.

Since moving in with Ran Ling, Yu Ting had almost forgotten what it felt like to sleep alone. Right now, she could turn freely without having to consider if someone else was there. How liberating.

The large bed was two meters wide, and the two of them lay in their respective spots—this was the distance that should have existed.

Yu Ting lay flat on her back, closing her eyes.

But her mind was like boiling water, thoughts bubbling up uncontrollably, refusing to be suppressed.

After lying awake for too long, insomnia inevitably led to a headache. Yu Ting turned over, frowning in irritation, unsure how many hours had passed before exhaustion finally enveloped her, and she fell into a difficult sleep.

Three hours later, she had read less than twenty pages of that book.

She began to have illogical dreams.

She dreamed of a woman named Pei Ya, who communicated with Ran Ling effortlessly, as if they had been close friends for many years. It was a kind of "fated" feeling that Yu Ting found irritating.

In her dream, she saw Ran Ling in a school uniform, a version she had never seen before, with her hair in a ponytail, youthful and vibrant, a beautiful smile gracing her face—she stood alongside Pei Ya.

Later, she inexplicably dreamt of Ran Ling in a strappy long dress, crying silently in front of her, her lips pressed together...

These dreams invaded her heart, immersing her in a confusing state she could hardly distinguish.

Eventually, she was gradually soothed by another feeling.

After such a chaotic night, fortunately, the next day was a weekend, and without an alarm set, she slept until she woke up naturally.

Yu Ting opened her eyes to gentle sunlight streaming through the glass window at ten in the morning, illuminating the room with a warm glow. The glass chandelier hung quietly from the ceiling, seemingly in slumber.

Beside her was the soft, shallow breathing of a woman. Yu Ting turned to look and saw that at some point during the night, Ran Ling, who had been lying with her back turned and two people's distance away, had scooted closer and was now lying beside her.

The tip of Ran Ling's nose almost brushed against her shoulder, her hand was not resting on Yu Ting's waist but was instead restrained beside her pillow. She hadn't dared to lazily snuggle into Yu Ting's arms as she used to; now she looked like a timid kitten, apprehensive of her owner yet yearning for protection in the dangerous night, having stealthily come to her side while she slept, carefully finding a spot and curling up with her eyes closed.