If I could sleep under moonlight, that’d be perfect—maybe I’d even find an excuse to stay awake. But thanks to the building opposite, the moon? I couldn’t beg for it.

This design was probably flawed from the start. Still, it was built decades ago, a relic from last century. So its absurdity made sense.

Only the clock’s tick-tock filled the room. Hours, minutes, seconds—they chased each other endlessly but rarely met. I didn’t mean specific times; I meant how seldom the three hands overlapped. Naturally, excluding human interference.

Normally, by 11:30, I’d be fast asleep. I prided myself on a regular schedule and good health. But tonight was an exception. Why? Because of the goddess-like girl beside me on the right.

"Um... please ignore me. Just sleep. I won’t disturb you..."

Zixuan tilted her head adorably, her eager gaze fixed on me. But even with that reminder, how could I possibly sleep?

"Still, sitting on the floor like that—isn’t it cold? Why not take the bed? I’ll sleep on the floor—"

"Denied!"

She cut me off firmly before I finished.

I’d let her stay in my room for one night, but did she have to stare at me nonstop? It was deep into the night, and I couldn’t sleep with her perched by the bed, watching me. I had to end this. Yet her stubbornness left me flustered.

"Are you really okay? You..."

This wasn’t pity. It was about a man’s pride—crushed by her refusal. Could anyone accept a girl kneeling by their bed like that? Some might, but not me.

"It’s fine... I’m used to it anyway..."

"What did you just mutter? I didn’t catch it—"

She’d whispered "used to it" so softly, but I caught it. That wasn’t simple. Why pretend not to hear? Just to test her sincerity.

"N-nothing! If you want to share the bed, I’d agree..."

"Let’s skip that..."

I flatly rejected her unreasonable request. It was impossible.

"Then if you sleep on the bed, I—"

"Absolutely not! If you touch the floor, I’d feel guilty for life!"

She turned dead serious. Since neither of us slept, the bedside lamp stayed on. In its warm glow, I glimpsed her slightly pouted, tempting lips. If she had Mengxiang’s personality with this delicate face, she’d be utterly captivating. I might even fall for her. But—that was just a baseless fantasy.

I’d asked this before, yet her answer never changed. She wouldn’t budge. But if touching the floor made her guilty, wouldn’t she be dead from guilt by now?

"Please ignore me... Someone like me doesn’t deserve your attention. Just sleep. If you don’t notice me, I won’t bother you—"

She rested her head on her hands atop the bed, her intense gaze locked on me. No, no matter how much you remind me, I can’t ignore one fact: a girl my age is staring at me in this room.

Worse, if a woman watches you, you might eventually sleep from exhaustion. But when your blanket and the whole room reek of her scent? You can’t sleep unless you’re frigid.

"Goodnight then..."

Her voice was drowsy as she pulled her sleep-hood up. Two cat ears popped into view. She closed her golden eyes slightly, seemingly drifting off.

Just staring at her gentle, exquisite face kept me wide awake. My heart raced, my mind buzzed. And that scent filling the room—whether from her sleeping body or the blanket she’d warmed—it made rest impossible.

To escape her face, I rolled over, refusing to look.

But honestly, in this situation, shouldn’t I... do something? If a girl’s right there, and you don’t get a little excited out of respect—is that even okay?

First, I had to control my mind and body. I was too worked up, my nose greedily inhaling that scent—like a creep! Me!

(I can drop the "like." I’m a total creep!)

What baffled me most was this ordinary girl sleeping so peacefully before me. Why did she have such a twisted other side? Why couldn’t she relax around others, yet acted so sweet only with me?

That wasn’t even the weirdest part. Why lie earlier? If she’d admitted "I’m used to it," I might’ve trusted her more. But she didn’t.

I didn’t even know why she approached me. Did she really like me? I kept my doubts. But that wasn’t reason enough to lower my guard.

Lost in this obsessive, nitpicking spiral, I somehow drifted off. I only woke the next morning to furious knocking and angry shouts at my door.

The clock read 8 a.m. The girl who should’ve been by my bed was gone. I rubbed my eyes weakly, trying to see clearly. Sure enough, Lu Zixuan had vanished.

"Probably went home alone..."

I muttered, hoping she’d done just that. But my dumbest move? Letting her spend the night in my room.