After tossing and turning who knew how many times, Di finally managed to fall asleep—barely.
But it didn't last.
Half-asleep and drenched in sweat, he felt like he was trapped in some suffocating, airless space. When he opened his eyes, he realized the room's air conditioner had stopped working at some point. No breeze, just thick, sticky heat clinging to his skin. The entire room had turned into a summer sauna.
His throat felt like it was packed with sand. The salty sting of sweat clung to his lips.
"I'm dying of thirst…" he muttered groggily, propping himself up to get some water.
But before he could even sit up, a sudden force yanked him backward.
"Ah—!"
The next thing he knew, he had crashed into a broad, solid, sweltering chest.
Di froze.
It was Jie—his sleeping face was just inches away, his warm breath brushing gently against Di's neck. Jie's bare chest pressed against Di's back, each heartbeat pounding loud and steady, like a drum reverberating straight into Di's ears. The heat radiating from Jie seeped through Di's damp shirt, invading his skin inch by inch.
Jie's arms wrapped around him even tighter. The muscles in his arms were firm and strong, sculpted from years of playing basketball. His chest and abs pressed closely against Di's back, solid and defined. He was taller, stronger, and right now—inescapable.
Even with his own athletic build from years of long-distance running, Di had no chance of breaking free. He was entirely enveloped, overwhelmed—like he'd been locked in a cage of warmth and muscle.
"Xiao… Jie…" he whispered, barely able to get the words out. He tried to push back, but it was useless.
Jie's legs, just as toned, had somehow tangled around his. Di could feel the rough texture of bare skin against his calves. Their bodies were pressed together so tightly it was as if he'd been fused into the same space, unable to move a finger.
Then, from right beside his ear, came a low, sleepy murmur:
"Don't go…"
It was soft, almost like a child's whimper—clingy and vulnerable in a way that made Di's heart lurch.
He jolted, as if an electric current had just shot through him.
That voice. It was too close—so close it felt like it had come from inside his own chest.
Di's lips parted, but he had no idea how to respond. Push him away? Hug him back? Or just keep lying here, frozen?
His heart was pounding—once, twice, again and again, completely out of rhythm.
He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to steady his breathing.
But—he was still parched. His throat burned.
And yet...
There was no way he could get up now.
He was definitely not going to sleep again tonight.