Morning light spilled over the windowsill, casting a soft golden rim around Qian Renxue's hair and making even her slightly furrowed brows look gentler.
Bibi Dong's eyelashes trembled lightly on the bed, like butterfly wings brushing the surface of water, and her amber eyes slowly opened.
She instinctively tried to push herself up, but a tearing pain spread through her entire body, making her groan softly before she fell back onto the pillow.
As her gaze shifted, she caught sight of the figure lying beside the bed.
That familiar golden hair was especially striking in the morning light, and Bibi Dong's movements came to a halt.
A complicated emotion flashed through her eyes: surprise, daze, and even a trace of softness that was difficult to detect.
She struggled to raise her hand, her fingertips trembling faintly as they reached little by little toward the crown of Qian Renxue's head. The movement was very slow, as if she feared disturbing something.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the strands of hair, Qian Renxue suddenly jolted awake and lifted her head.
Her eyes were still clouded with the confusion of just waking up. She blinked like a startled little animal.
When she saw Bibi Dong's hand so close to her, her entire body stiffened. She instinctively shrank back, her lips moving, but no words came out.
Bibi Dong's hand stopped in midair. Her fingers curled slightly, and the trace of softness in her eyes quickly faded.
She swiftly regained some of her usual cold composure, but her pale complexion made that coldness seem somewhat fragile.
She slowly withdrew her hand and asked hoarsely, "Why are you here?"
Qian Renxue turned her face away to avoid her gaze, her tone somewhat stiff.
"It wasn't as if I wanted to come. Su