February 10, 2024, the first day of the first lunar month, Saturday.
Six o'clock in the morning.
The sky was still dark.
A little gray-blue light seeped in through the gap in the curtains. Firecrackers went off now and then, near and far, their muffled bursts carrying in before fading away.
The room was very quiet.
There were only two soft breaths, lightly entwined.
Secretary Jin slowly opened her eyes.
What entered her sight was Tang Song's face, close enough to touch.
He had clearly been awake for a while. He was lying on his side, watching her, his gaze very quiet, as if he had already been looking at her for some time.
Their eyes met.
Secretary Jin's lashes trembled lightly, and she instinctively shifted her gaze away a little.
"When did you wake up?" she asked in a low voice, her throat a little hoarse.
"Half an hour ago." Tang Song's voice was also kept very low. "The firecrackers outside were too noisy. Do you want to sleep a little longer?"
"No." Secretary Jin drew in a soft breath and tried to make her tone sound steady. "Uncle and Auntie should be up by now, right?"
"They went out early in the morning to pay New Year's visits in the village."
"Then I'll get up."
As she spoke, she was about to sit up.
But the moment she moved, the hand resting on her waist exerted a slight force and pressed her right back down.
The next second, Tang Song smoothly wrapped his arms around her, encircling her whole body in his embrace and holding her very tightly.
"What are you doing?" Secretary Jin raised a brow and turned her head to look at him.
Tang Song's gaze burned. "Didn't you say last night that you wanted to