Shen Xingling felt him drawing closer, an intense mix of nervousness and awkwardness washing over her. She lay there, stiff as a board. Although it wasn't the first time they had slept together, the awkward events of the day made it impossible for her to drift off as easily as usual.
Seeing that she didn't pull away, Mu Tingshen pulled her into his arms as he always did. Sensing the tension in her body, he whispered into her ear, "Don't be afraid. Go to sleep."
It was rare for Mu Tingshen to hold her while she was still awake; usually, he waited until she had drifted off to sleep before he dared to hold her close. Shen Xingling was already used to this, and since she woke up in his arms every morning, she rarely felt shy about it anymore. However, being held by him while she was wide awake felt different—yet she found herself enjoying it quite a bit.
Chapter 50