At around five in the morning, Sheng Nian, still lost in dreams, felt the warmth beside him leave. With the arm confining him gone too, he nuzzled into the neighboring pillow, breathed in the lingering scent of morning mist, and drifted back to sleep.
Yan Feizhuo returned after washing up and sat on the edge of the bed. He smoothed Sheng Nian's sleep-tousled hair, then stroked his face over and over until the gentle touches woke him.
"Baby, time to get up. The sun's about to rise."
Sheng Nian struggled to keep his eyelids from sticking shut again. He caught Yan Feizhuo's hand against his face and kissed it. "Carry me."
Yan Feizhuo scooped him out from under the covers and carried him off to wash up.
Ten or so minutes later, the two arrived on deck, fully dressed.
[So early!]
[When the notification for the stream woke me up, I thought I was dreaming...]
[Are they going to watch the sunrise at sea?]
[Hahahaha, Sheng Nian clearly isn't awake yet. He's curled up in President Yan's arms and can't even open his eyes.]
[He's giving me a run for my money when I have an eight a.m. class!]
The early morning sea breeze was a little chilly, and the gray sea lacked its usual gentle beauty.
Sheng Nian exhaled a small puff of white mist and looked back at Yan Feizhuo, finding it rather amazing.
Behind him, Yan Feizhuo smiled helplessly. He got up, fetched the jacket draped over the lounge chair, and laid it over Sheng Nian. "Still think it's fun? Once you catch a cold and have to take medicine, you'll be trying to wriggle out of it again."
Sheng Nian wrinkled his nose but did not argue. He really had been difficult about taking medicine since