# Chapter 40
The first thing she became aware of was warmth. The curtains were doing their best against the morning light pushing through at the edges, and Xi Jinwei was asleep beside her with his hair still slightly damp at the temples.
The second was the deeply unfair level of soreness currently existing in muscles she felt had done nothing to deserve this treatment.
Xi Jinwei still asleep beside her had an arm around her waist like sometime during the night he'd decided she might disappear if he let go for too long.
Her mouth curved.
His hair was a complete disaster. There was a faint mark near his collarbone she felt particularly proud of. And without the usual composure carefully arranged into place, he looked younger. Softer.
She was still looking at him when he spoke.
"You're staring again."
His eyes remained closed.
Yang Zhilan blinked. "You're awake?"
"Barely."
His voice was rough with sleep. She liked that entirely too much.
"You say that," she said, "like last night exhausted only you."
Xi Jinwei finally opened both eyes, looking unbearably pleased with himself for someone who had just woken up.
"You're ridiculous." She pouted.
"You seemed very supportive of my decisions at the time."
"Unfortunately for me, yes."
His hand slid lazily along her waist, pulling her a little closer. Yang Zhilan immediately regretted laughing because several muscles protested the movement with great passion.
Xi Jinwei noticed instantly.
His gaze sharpened slightly. "You're sore."
"No," she said immediately.
A pause.
"...Maybe a little."
The corner of his mouth moved.
"A little," he repeated.
"You look very smug for someone responsible."
"I am responsible."
The smugness increased.
Yang Zhilan narrowed her eyes at him. "I take back every nice thought I've ever had about you."
"That's unfortunate." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You seemed to have several."
She watched him for a second.
Morning really suited him.
They were always busy. Either she woke up early or later than him and never had time to talk in bed. Just Jinwei half-awake in bed, hair messy, expression soft around the edges.
It did dangerous things to her judgment.
"Tell me something," she said quietly.
"What?" He almost smiled.
She settled more comfortably against the pillow, facing him. There was a question nagging her the moment she woke up. It probably wasn't the right time to ask but....
"What happened between you and Fu Tuying. You guys were best friends right? But upon coming back that doesn't seem like the case."
A pause
YOU ARE READING
Batter My Heart,Mr Xi (Book 2)
Romance(Sequel to Ties and Fate.) Yang Zhilan's idyllic village life is shattered when her late adoptive father's past comes back to haunt her family as he had double-crossed a very powerful mercenary group. Adding to the turmoil, she doesn't remember t...
