Can I Sleep With You?

Gu Zhuoling looked at Shen Xinde, who had gone from an arm's length away to a fist's width in the blink of an eye. He felt a sense of helplessness.

"Dolly, I want tofu." Shen Xinde had no idea he was practically pressed against Gu Zhuoling. He was staring eagerly at the tofu near Gu Zhuoling.

Without a word, Gu Zhuoling adjusted Shen Xinde's position and straightened his tangled legs. Then he used the serving chopsticks to give Shen Xinde two pieces of tofu.

No one had to worry about Shen Xinde when it came to eating. He stuffed his mouth nonstop, alternating between rice and dishes, which was why he was so fair and chubby that he didn't look like a premature baby.

Gu Zhuoling wasn't sure how much Shen Xinde needed to eat to be full, but he knew eating too much was bad for him.

The little guy was already in poor health.

So he kept watching Shen Xinde eat. Only when he noticed Shen Xinde's belly beginning to bulge did he tell him to stop. "You've eaten too much."

Shen Xinde chewed the fragrant rice in his mouth and patted his belly. Realizing he did seem much fuller and would be stuffed if he ate any more, he obediently stopped.

The sun was at its fiercest outside after lunch, and children were prone to getting sleepy after a meal. Rather than run outside after eating, the two children sat on the living room carpet and looked at picture books.

Less than two minutes later, Grandpa Butler came in with a phone for Shen Xinde.

Shen Xinde took the phone and saw that it was his mother calling. He immediately gave her an excited string of hellos.

"How was your day, Haohao?" Xia Wanqing's gentle voice came from the other end.

"Good! Dolly! Planted flowers! Ate lots!" Shen Xinde waved his arms and legs as he began telling his mother about his full morning, completely unaware that she could only hear him over the phone.

Gu Zhuoling listened in beside him, the corners of his lips secretly curling up.

"I'm glad you had fun. Mommy will come pick you up and take you home for your nap soon, okay?" Xia Wanqing naturally knew what Shen Xinde had done that day. She had exchanged contact information with the Gu family's butler when she dropped Shen Xinde off that morning.

He was leaving already?

As Gu Zhuoling listened, he felt his thoughts begin to wander again.

How had the morning gone by so quickly?

Could he let him play a little longer?

Thinking this, Gu Zhuoling glanced at the little boy beside him.

Shen Xinde pursed his lips and fell silent for a few seconds. Just as Gu Zhuoling was wondering whether he could ask him to stay and play a little longer, Shen Xinde finally spoke. "Mommy, I want to sleep at Dolly's."

Gu Zhuoling licked his lips at that, inexplicably a little nervous.

There were spare rooms in the house where Shen Xinde could take a nap. Shen Xinde was his friend, so shouldn't he sleep somewhere a little more comfortable?

The bed in the guest room wasn't as soft as the one in his room.

But he had never slept with another child before.

Gu Zhuoling didn't like other people getting into his bed.

Xia Wanqing clearly hadn't expected her son to suggest that either. She paused. "Did Brother Zhuoling say yes, Haohao?"

Shen Xinde scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He hadn't asked yet.

"Dolly, can I sleep with you?"

"Yes."

Gu Zhuoling nodded without saying anything else, but his answer came astonishingly fast.

"Mommy, Dolly said yes!" Shen Xinde was happy and continued talking to his mother, bobbing his head.

Since neither of them objected, Xia Wanqing wouldn't deliberately spoil the children's fun and let them carry on.

After hanging up on Xia Wanqing, Shen Xinde clasped his hands behind his back and walked around Gu Zhuoling in self-important circles.

"Can I sleep with you, Dolly?"

"Mm."

"In your bed?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Mm."

Shen Xinde racked his little brain. Didn't this little Zhuoling have a cleanliness obsession? How could he let someone else sleep with him?

"Go brush your teeth and wash your hands."

All that circling made it a little hard for Gu Zhuoling to sit still. He closed the picture book and stood up as he spoke.

Gu Zhuoling's toothbrush and cup were both black and hung neatly beside the sink.

Gu Zhuoling took the pale yellow toothbrush and cup Grandpa Butler had given him and put them in the same spot. Then he moved two little stools to the middle of the sink, stood on one, and reached out a hand to invite Shen Xinde up.

Shen Xinde held Gu Zhuoling's hand as he climbed up, then asked without hesitation, "Dolly, toothpaste."

Gu Zhuoling didn't refuse. He thoughtfully filled the pale yellow cup with water and placed it beside Shen Xinde, then squeezed toothpaste onto the brush and handed it to him. "Can you brush your teeth yourself?"

"I can. Dolly, kisses."

Shen Xinde puckered his lips and blew him a kiss with a little smooch.

"Mm." Gu Zhuoling didn't seem as shy as he had the first two times. He even nodded with an air of composure.

Once they were ready, the two of them climbed into bed together.

"Sleep on this pillow, and don't move around." Gu Zhuoling placed an identical little pillow beside his own and motioned for Shen Xinde to lie on it.

Shen Xinde obediently laid his head on the pillow and slipped under the covers.

The blanket smelled like Gu Zhuoling. He couldn't quite say what the scent was, just a faint hint of mint. Maybe it was toothpaste?

In any case, it was reassuring.

Gu Zhuoling tucked the blanket around Shen Xinde. When he looked up and met his big, blinking eyes, a belated wave of embarrassment came over him. "Don't look at me."

"Why?"

Gu Zhuoling didn't answer. He slipped under the covers too and quickly closed his eyes. "Go to sleep."

There was a rustling beside him. With his eyes closed, Gu Zhuoling felt someone slowly moving closer. He opened his eyes and found himself face-to-face with Shen Xinde's soft cheeks.

"Dolly, hold hands."

Shen Xinde looked at Gu Zhuoling with utterly innocent eyes and reached a hand out from under the covers.

Gu Zhuoling paused. "Be good and go to sleep."

"Hold hands and sleep." Shen Xinde stubbornly kept his hand out.

Seeing that the person in front of him was ignoring him, Shen Xinde pursed his lips. He looked as though he would be unhappy the next second.

Gu Zhuoling sighed and reached out to take Shen Xinde's hand. Seemingly resigned, he first squeezed his palm, then clasped it fully. "Can you go to sleep now?"

"Dolly, say it." Seeing that Gu Zhuoling had granted his wish, Shen Xinde grinned and made another request.

"Say what?"

"Sleep! Sleep!" Shen Xinde thought for a moment.

"Sleep well. Close your eyes." Gu Zhuoling understood immediately and reached out with his other hand, brushing it over Shen Xinde's eyes.

"You have to say my name." A little dissatisfied, Shen Xinde pushed Gu Zhuoling's hand away.

"Shen Xinde, sleep well." Gu Zhuoling did as he asked.

"My name is Haohao."

"Haohao, sleep well."

Only then did Shen Xinde settle down and slowly close his eyes.

Outside, birds seemed to be calling from a large tree close to the window, their voices crisp.

Gu Zhuoling opened his eyes and looked at the person sleeping obediently on his own pillow. Without thinking, he squeezed his fingers. They were small and soft.

How were his eyelashes so long too?

Like a doll.

Sleep well, Haohao.