The tension in the dimly lit room hung palpably as Lin Mei processed Zhang Liu's tentative request to share her sleeping quarters. Her silver eyes narrowed momentarily, a flicker of irritation crossing her features before she masked it with a composed exterior.
Within her mind, a whirlwind of thoughts churned—his presence was a necessity bound by their contractual obligations, yet her personal boundaries remained sacrosanct. After a measured pause, she spoke, her voice steady but laced with an underlying edge.
"You may sleep in my room, Zhang Liu, but on a separate bedding on the floor. The girls and you can share the bed, and Lin Kai will remain with me, as he requires my milk for feeding." Her words carried the weight of a decree, her gaze unwavering as she asserted control over the arrangement.
Zhang Liu's heart leapt inwardly, a surge of excitement coursing through him despite the restrictive terms. The prospect of entering her private sanctum, a space he had been largely excluded from, felt like a tentative victory—a first step toward bridging the chasm between them.
In the recesses of his mind, he envisioned a future where persistence might soften her resolve, where he could win her heart through patience and presence. His lips curled into a subtle, hopeful smile, though he kept it hidden beneath a neutral expression, aware of the fragile ground he tread.
Lin Mei's keen intuition detected the glimmer of anticipation in his eyes, and her tone sharpened with a veiled threat. "Entertain no thoughts beyond sleeping," she warned, her voice low but firm, the menace beneath it unmistakable.
A sudden gust of wind slipped through a gap in the windows, carrying a chilly bite into the room. The atmosphere grew crisp, the coolness seeping into the wooden floor and brushing against Zhang Liu's skin, though he barely noticed, his focus fixed on Lin Mei.
She turned to the head maid, who had lingered near the doorway, and issued a concise order. "Prepare a separate bedding for Master Zhang on the floor." The head maid inclined her head respectfully and signaled to two younger maids, who moved with practiced efficiency.
They retrieved a thick mat, plush blankets, and a pillow from a nearby storage chest, arranging them with care a respectful distance from Lin Mei's ornate bed. The rustle of fabric mingled with the soft whistle of the wind, the chilly air prompting the maids to add an extra layer of woolen covering to the bedding.
Satisfied with the setup, Zhang Liu shifted his attention to the girls scattered across the room. Lin Yu nestled in her small cradle, her silver hair splayed across the pillow, while Lin Ming and Lin Ling hovered near Lin Kai, their eyes bright with curiosity.
He crouched to their level, his voice gentle yet eager. "Who would like to sleep with me tonight?" he asked, his magenta hair catching the lamplight as he smiled warmly, the chill making him pull his tunic closer.
The twins exchanged a glance, their gazes darting to their mother for approval. Lin Mei observed them with a serene demeanor, her expression softening. "If you wish to sleep with your father, you may," she said calmly, her tone leaving the decision to them.
Lin Yu, roused slightly by the conversation, piped up with a determined voice. "I'll sleep with Mother only!" Her childish thoughts swirled with a desire to stay close to her newborn brother, imagining his tiny face as a comforting sight through the night, the warmth of the bed a stark contrast to the chilly air.
The rejection stung Zhang Liu faintly, a flicker of disappointment dimming his enthusiasm, though he masked it with a nod, the cold nipping at his exposed hands.
Lin Ming hesitated, her pink hair bouncing as she leaned toward Lin Mei, her preference clear. But Lin Ling, with her purple strands gleaming, placed a restraining hand on her twin's arm. "Let's sleep with Father," she suggested quietly, her voice carrying a wisdom beyond her years.
Zhang Liu's mood lifted at her words, a wave of relief washing over him as he opened his arms. The girls rushed into his embrace, their small frames warm against his chest, a shield against the encroaching chill.
As they moved toward the bedding, Lin Ming pouted slightly, turning to Lin Ling with a whisper. "Why'd you stop me? I wanted to sleep with Mother." Her voice was a soft murmur, tinged with confusion, her breath visible in the cool air.
Lin Ling leaned in, her response equally hushed. "If we both go to Mother, Father will be sad. It might even start a fight—I can feel it." Her intuition had picked up on the undercurrents of discord, a protective instinct guiding her choice.
Lin Ming tilted her head, puzzled. "Why would they fight? Father's nice." She paused, then relented. "Okay, I trust you. You're smarter, and the cold's not so bad with him." Her acceptance stemmed from her faith in her twin's judgment, the chilly breeze rustling her hair.
Lin Mei, observing the whispered exchange from her position by the bed, chuckled amusedly, the sound a rare melody cutting through the crisp air. What secrets are these little ones concocting? she wondered, a teasing lilt entering her voice. "What are you two gossiping about? Care to share with your mother?" Lin Ling shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's a sisters' secret. We'll tell you later," she replied with a small smile, pulling her blanket tighter against the chill.
Lin Yu, now fully awake, chimed in cheerfully, "What were you talking about?" Lin Ming grinned, seizing the opportunity. "It's about the wind outside—it's making funny noises!" The two younger girls launched into an excited chatter, their voices a lively contrast to the room's earlier stillness, oblivious to the cold seeping through the door.
From his spot near the bedding, Zhang Liu called out, his tone warm despite the shiver in his voice. "Lin Ming, Lin Ling, come here!" Lin Ming bounced over with a skip, her energy infectious, while Lin Ling followed at a calmer pace, pausing to adjust her blanket against the chilly draft.
Lin Mei settled onto the bed, cradling Lin Kai against her chest. The infant latched onto her, drinking contentedly, and a quiet joy spread across her face as she felt his warmth against her skin, a stark contrast to the cool air around them.
Lin Yu, initially intrigued, observed from the side but soon grew bored, her eyelids drooping as the chill lulled her to sleep.
As the night deepened, the wind grew bolder, whistling through the window's gap and rattling the curtains, the chilly atmosphere enveloping the room. Zhang Liu's voice broke the quiet. "Good night, Lin Mei," he said, his words carrying a hopeful note, the cold making his breath visible. She responded with a calm, "Good night," her tone neutral yet acknowledging, her body radiating warmth as Lin Kai nestled closer.
The reply warmed his heart, and he settled onto the mat, the twins nestled in his arms, their body heat a comfort against the draft. A sense of contentment enveloped him as he drifted off, the closeness of his daughters a balm to his earlier frustrations.
The head maid, stationed near the door, surveyed the scene with a practiced eye, her breath misting in the chilly air. Satisfied that the night would pass peacefully, she withdrew silently, pausing to murmur to Lin Mei, "Call if you need anything." Lin Mei nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you. You and the others may rest." The maid departed with a bow, the door creaking shut behind her, the wind's howl fading slightly.
Lin Kai, cradled against his mother, observed the interactions with a silent awareness uncommon for his age. His violet eyes, inherited from Lin Mei, flickered between his parents, noting the warmth he felt in her embrace amidst the chilly room.
He sensed a subtle shift in her mood—a faint drop whenever Zhang Liu drew near, the cold air seeming to mirror her emotional distance. If they were a true couple, he mused inwardly, the atmosphere would have been different, marked by shared warmth rather than this cautious separation, the chill a silent witness to their complex bond.
The room fell into a gentle rhythm, the soft snores of the children mingling with the occasional gusts of wind. Outside, the garden's leaves rustled, the scent of night-blooming jasmine carried on the breeze.
Zhang Liu's dreams were filled with visions of reconciliation, while Lin Mei's thoughts lingered on the independence she guarded, her warmth a sanctuary for Lin Kai as the night unfolded, each member navigating their own silent struggles beneath the same chilly roof.