He lifted her gently, settling onto the bed so she could rest more comfortably against him. Her head tucked under his chin. Her breath warm against his collarbone. His arms secure around her.
He stayed awake for a long time, watching her sleep, guarding her dreams. Only when her breathing turned deep and steady did his own eyes finally drift shut.
He rested, holding her.
Chapter 50
Morning light drifted softly through the paper window, warm and muted. Mingxi moved slowly, feeling warmth against him before memory caught up. Poppy… still curled in his arms, hair mussed, face soft and peaceful for the first time since he’d met her. He barely breathed, afraid to wake her. Unfortunately, Minghua had no such hesitation.
The door slid open.
“Oh! Dà ge, Poppy… Are you—”
Mingxi’s eyes snapped open.
Minghua froze. Stared, and then she grinned wide enough to cause structural damage.
“I knew it!” she whisper-yelled.
Mingxi nearly died. “Minghua,” he hissed.
Poppy stirred, blinking awake groggily, warm, safe, and confused.
“Mingxi?”
Then she realized where she was and who she was on. Her face went crimson.
Minghua squealed. Xu Yunlian appeared behind her daughter, mid-scolding—
“Minghua, donotbarge in on…”
She stopped when she saw them, covered her mouth with her hand, and smiled. Softly. Knowingly. Warmly.
Mingxi wished the floor would open and swallow him whole.
Poppy buried her face in his chest.
Xu Yunlian gently guided Minghua away.
“Come, darling,” she murmured. “Let them compose themselves.”
As the door slid shut, Minghua’s delighted whisper traveled through the hall, “They were cuddling!”
Mingxi exhaled the slow, dignified breath of a man who had lost all dignity.
Poppy whispered into his shirt. “Please kill me.”
He hesitated. Then, very softly, he laughed.
Poppy blushed, and Mingxi suspected she would have preferred to vanish entirely. Mingxi had insisted she take a few moments to wash her face and breathe, and he respectfully waited outside her room while she pulled herself together.
When they finally walked toward the dining hall, Mingxi was composed. Poppy… somewhat less so.
Voices drifted from the room ahead:
Minghua: “Then I opened the door, and they were wrapped around each other like two dumplings in one steamer—”
Mingxi stopped walking. So did Poppy.
