Chapter 56: Jiang Shuyao: Lin Ran, Can You Hold Me While I Sleep?

Why couldn’t he choose something normal to play, rather than this thrill of defying boundaries? Now look at him, so excited—Jian Wei’an could have killed him.
“Let go of my hand.”
“Lin Xiaoran, are you feeling proud of yourself?”
Jian Wei’an kept her hand clamped over her mouth; if she let go, it would be like turning the volume up to maximum—unstoppable, sure to wake up Shuyao!
That wretched boyfriend, he’s too wicked.
She’d cherished something for twenty-two years, and he just took it away in front of Shuyao. Is Shuyao supposed to be their witness?
Suddenly,
Jiang Shuyao shifted, rolling from her side to her back. The shock nearly gave Jian Wei’an a heart attack.
Nervous, scared, ashamed, and with a strange thrill she couldn’t name!
No, no—this kind of thrill isn’t worth it.
Jian Wei’an pointed at the door, signaling Lin Ran to carry her out.
Moderation is best. If not, Wei’an would truly be angry, and Lin Ran had to carry her out.
Tap~
Jiang Shuyao’s hand landed on Jian Wei’an, wriggling closer, hugging her like two girls usually do when they sleep together.
Jian Wei’an felt like crying. My sweet little sister, why are you hugging your older sister like this?
Lin Ran nearly burst out laughing—can’t blame me for this; it’s your best friend who won’t let you go.
Jiang Shuyao’s lips curled into a sweet smile, as if she were dreaming a blissful dream.
Maybe it was because she’d spent the afternoon arranging the sea of flowers; Jiang Shuyao had slipped into the role and dreamed the flower sea spilled into her dreams. She was the heroine in a blue floral ocean, and the male lead approached step by step, though she hadn’t seen clearly who he was.
Suddenly!
Jiang Shuyao felt a sudden “earthquake,” shaking her awake.
“Damn! Earthquake, Wei’an, we have to run!”
In the dimness, Jiang Shuyao suddenly shouted.
It was a reflex—a call for the most important person in her heart, the one she’d protect in danger: Jian Wei’an.
Jiang Shuyao’s eyes snapped open. In the dark night, she vaguely saw a familiar silhouette.
Lin Ran???
“Lin Ran, why are you here?”
Groggy, Jiang Shuyao’s mind was still rebooting. She turned to look around by the light of the moon.
Since she only saw Lin Ran, Jian Wei’an was safe for now. Unconcerned with honor, Jian Wei’an pushed her boyfriend in front of Jiang Shuyao as a shield.
She had to sell out her boyfriend. Otherwise, if Jiang Shuyao discovered she was there too, and saw her as part of the “happy” scene, she’d lose all face!
Jian Wei’an cursed Lin Ran silently for being too vile, especially since when Shuyao yelled “earthquake” just now, he actually…
Forget it, I’ll just take the morning-after pill!
Jian Wei’an tried to crawl off the bed, but Jiang Shuyao’s leg pinned hers down. She couldn’t move.
So scared!
She lay behind Lin Ran, barely daring to breathe.
Lin Ran blocked Jian Wei’an from view, facing Jiang Shuyao with a stiff smile.
Lin Ran hadn’t expected Jiang Shuyao to wake up. If she found out, he’d be scolded for life.
Jiang Shuyao reached out, touching his face to confirm it was Lin Ran.
“It really is you?”
“It’s me.”
He turned slightly to glance behind him. Jian Wei’an signaled that her leg was trapped by Shuyao.
“Shuyao, you should sleep.”
Lin Ran gently lifted Jiang Shuyao’s leg so Jian Wei’an could slowly pull hers free.
Jiang Shuyao didn’t react much; her mind was chaotic. She lay on the bed, surveying the room she’d spent the afternoon decorating—the blue rose-themed suite.
Didn’t I go home?
Why am I still here?
Lin Ran is here?
But Wei’an isn’t?
It should be me absent, with Lin Ran and Wei’an here—that makes sense.
But it’s the opposite?
Every girl dreams of such a romantic flower-themed room, and Jiang Shuyao was no exception. So… am I still dreaming?
I fell asleep and dreamed I was in this blue flower sea suite, the heroine, with the male lead approaching. Now Lin Ran is here, so… is he the male lead?
At this moment, Jian Wei’an freed her leg, signaled an OK, and slowly crawled off the bed. Lin Ran distracted Jiang Shuyao while grabbing his shorts to put on.
“Shuyao, good night, mwah~”
Jiang Shuyao turned to look at Lin Ran sitting at the bedside.
In reality, she wouldn’t dare overstep, because he was her best friend’s boyfriend.
But in a dream, why should she hold back?
In a dream, betraying her friend didn’t count!
Right! This is a dream, Lin Ran is my dream’s male lead. In the dream, you’re not getting away!
No way!
“Lin Ran, don’t go!”
Jiang Shuyao hugged Lin Ran from behind.
Thud~!
Jian Wei’an was so startled by Jiang Shuyao’s sudden embrace of her boyfriend, she fell off the bed.
“What was that sound?”
Jiang Shuyao leaned over to check.
“My phone fell on the floor,” Lin Ran blocked her view beneath the bed. Luckily, the lights weren’t on; no one could see the room clearly.
But Lin Ran was thoroughly confused—what’s wrong with Shuyao, hugging him so tightly?
“Shuyao, let go, I need to find Wei’an. You’re her best friend, it’s not right for you to hug me like this.”
“Wei’an, Wei’an, all you ever think about is Wei’an. If she were gone, would you die?”
Lin Ran: !!!
Shuyao was angry?
Jian Wei’an: !!!
Has Shuyao been possessed?
No, not possessed—she just thinks she’s dreaming. People are always bolder in dreams; everyone does as they please.
“Lin Ran, come sleep with me.”
“No!”
“Why not? In my dream, I make the rules!”
Usually so soft and demure, in her dream Jiang Shuyao was audacious, saying such shameless things about sleeping with a man. She felt exhilarated!
This was the only place she’d dare be so brazen—in a dream!
A dream?
Lin Ran and Jian Wei’an both froze.
She thought it was a dream?
Totally delusional!
Jiang Shuyao saw Lin Ran’s resolute refusal and thought—Lin Ran really loves Wei’an. She herself was wrong, even in her dream she’d made a mistake. How could she covet her best friend’s boyfriend, even in a dream?
What had she become?
The dream was hers, she was the heroine, but she couldn’t betray her principles.
I was wrong.
Sorry, Wei’an.
Once she figured it out, Jiang Shuyao felt relieved.
She reached to turn on the light.
Jian Wei’an pushed Lin Ran; Lin Ran quickly grabbed Jiang Shuyao’s hand.
“Shuyao, what are you doing?”
“I was wrong. Even in my dream, I shouldn’t covet my best friend’s boyfriend. I need to apologize to her. Let go, I need to turn on the light and put on my shoes.”
“No lights!”
Jiang Shuyao paused, “Why not?”
Because if the light came on, Jian Wei’an would appear in the room as a surprise.
Lin Ran hemmed and hawed, unable to think of a reason.
“Let go, I need to apologize to Wei’an. I shouldn’t covet her boyfriend.”
Jiang Shuyao broke free, reaching for the light.
Under the bed, Jian Wei’an searched for somewhere to hide.
Nothing, there was absolutely nothing to hide behind.
What to do?
She was naked under the bed. If the light came on and she was seen, she’d be doomed.
Since Shuyao thought it was a dream, Jian Wei’an figured if she could lull Shuyao back to sleep, she and Lin Ran could escape.
But first—she’d have to sacrifice her boyfriend.
Jian Wei’an pleaded, gesturing “sleep” to Lin Ran.
Lin Ran understood at once—his girlfriend wanted him to sleep with her best friend?
Lin Ran had principles; he would rather die than yield.
Jian Wei’an pressed her hands together in supplication, asking Lin Ran to agree—not sleep with her, just coax her to sleep.
Tap~
Jiang Shuyao turned on the light.
Tap~
Lin Ran turned it off, spun Jiang Shuyao around to face him.
“Shuyao, we’re all in your dream. Why so timid? Where’s your courage?”
Lin Ran started to manipulate her.
“Can’t you be bold? It’s just a dream, Wei’an won’t know, right?”
“But…”
“What’s there to hesitate about? If you keep dithering, I’ll disappear from your dream right now!”
Lin Ran got out of bed indignantly.
“Don’t disappear!”
Jiang Shuyao grabbed Lin Ran, shyly saying, “Alright~”
She lay back down.
Manipulation successful!
Lin Ran glanced at Jian Wei’an under the bed, whispered, “Go now!”
“???” Jian Wei’an lay flat beneath the bed, watching Lin Ran flop backwards onto the bed beside her best friend.
Boyfriend, so righteous!
Jian Wei’an slipped out, sat on the floor, gasping for breath. Too terrifying.
From inside, Jiang Shuyao’s voice floated out, “Lin Ran, could you hold me while I sleep?”
“Alright.”
Jian Wei’an: Damn!!!
Inside the room,
Lin Ran held Jiang Shuyao’s soft body as they slept. He glanced at the door, seeing Jian Wei’an peering through the crack, watching her boyfriend and best friend.
If Lin Ran so much as moved a finger on Shuyao,
Jian Wei’an wouldn’t hold back, she’d burst in.
“Lin Ran~”
“What is it?”
“I sang for you last time. Could you sing a song for me?”
“What do you want to hear?”
“How about we duet ‘Rooftop’ together?”
“Alright.”
Jian Wei’an: !!!
A love duet, seriously?
Soon, beautiful singing drifted out, stabbing Jian Wei’an’s ears.
Jiang Shuyao began, “Unable to sleep at midnight, I hum my mood into a song~ So I go to the rooftop, seeking another dream♪”
Her voice was lovely.
After that line, it was Lin Ran’s turn.
He sang, “Turns out it’s the person who often appears in my dreams~ That person is the blurry figure in my dreams♪”
Jian Wei’an: !!!
Lin Ran could sing that well?
First time hearing him sing, and it was a love duet—with her best friend.
Then the two sang together…
“On the rooftop, singing your song♪
On the rooftop, with the one I love♪
Let the stars decorate the most romantic night♪
Embracing this moment, every second comes to a halt♪
Love begins to entangle♪”
The song and their embrace on the bed matched perfectly.
Jian Wei’an:…
She was jealous.
From now on, Jian Wei’an would blacklist “Rooftop.”
The two kept singing, more and more absorbed, with only one listener—Jian Wei’an.
After the duet, Jiang Shuyao lay contentedly in Lin Ran’s arms, falling asleep with blissful happiness.
Lin Ran slipped off the bed, tiptoed out. Jian Wei’an “hmph~” and turned to another room.
Lin Ran followed, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Jian Wei’an: “You hugged her so tightly, sang a love song, so invested. You two looked so happy.”
Lin Ran laughed helplessly, “You told me to coax her. If I didn’t, she’d have found you. Now you’re blaming me.”
Jian Wei’an muttered, “You’ve never sung a love song with me.”
Lin Ran smiled, “Tonight I’ll sing with you as much as you want, until the sunrise, until the end of time, until we grow old together.”
Sweet words came easily to Lin Ran.
Jian Wei’an smiled sweetly, “Alright~ Let me think what to sing~”
“I’ll sing whatever you want!”
“Let’s start with ‘Love Ballad Balloon,’ okay, hubby~”
“Alright.”
“Ahem ahem~” Jian Wei’an and Lin Ran sat at the bedside, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window at the night view, singing affectionately…
“Coffee on the left bank of the Seine♪
I hold a cup, savoring your beauty♪
Your lips leave a mark♪”
Jian Wei’an’s voice was sweet; tonight she had become Lin Ran’s woman, and happiness came naturally.
“My darling, I fell in love with you♪
From that day on♪
Sweetness comes so easily♪
My darling, don’t be stubborn♪
Your eyes say you’re willing♪”
Their voices echoed in the room, filling it with happiness…
The song ended, and Lin Ran said, “Shall we sing something in a foreign language?”
Jian Wei’an: “Which one?”
Lin Ran grinned, “A Japanese song.”
He picked Jian Wei’an up and tossed her onto the bed.
Jian Wei’an: “Aren’t we singing Japanese?”
Lin Ran: “Exactly, now it’s Japanese song time.”
Jian Wei’an caught on, blushing—he was at it again.