Morning After Regrets (and Denial)

The first thing Ruolan noticed when she woke up was the warmth.

The second thing she noticed was why she was warm.

Her fingers curled around the heavy blanket, realizing it wasn't the same thin cover she had fallen asleep with. This one was thicker, softer—definitely not hers.

It smelled expensive. And familiar.

Her sleepy mind took a moment to register.

Li Yichen's coat.

Her eyes snapped open.

What.

Ruolan shot up from the bed, clutching the coat around her shoulders in a dazed panic. It draped over her like a protective shield, swallowing her frame.

Across the room, Yichen stood by the window, already dressed in his usual crisp white shirt and tailored black pants. His tie was undone, the top button of his shirt left open, revealing just a hint of his defined collarbone.

He didn't acknowledge her sudden movement.

Instead, he calmly sipped his morning coffee, eyes fixed on the view outside, as if last night had never happened.

Ruolan, however, was not calm.

"Why—" She cleared her throat, gripping the coat. "Why is this on me?"

Yichen didn't even glance at her. "You were shivering."

Her brain short-circuited. "I—What? No, I wasn't!"

He finally turned his gaze toward her, arching a brow. "You talk in your sleep. And you kept mumbling about how cold it was."

Ruolan's soul left her body.

No. No, no, no.

This could not be happening.

She hugged the coat tighter, as if it could protect her from the sheer humiliation washing over her.

"I do not talk in my sleep."

Yichen's expression was as unreadable as ever. "If you say so."

Ruolan scowled. Infuriating man.

She glanced around for an escape. "What time is it?"

"Seven-thirty."

Ruolan groaned. "That early? Why are you up?"

"I don't waste time sleeping in." He sipped his coffee. "Unlike you."

Ruolan rolled her eyes and finally threw off the coat, marching toward the bathroom. "Whatever. I need a shower."

"Take your time."

There was something almost amused in his tone, and it only made her walk faster.

~~~

Ruolan's Second Embarrassment of the Morning~

She emerged from the bathroom thirty minutes later, hair damp, skin still warm from the hot water. Dressed in her casual jeans and blouse, she felt human again.

Yichen, of course, was still there, still composed, still sipping his second cup of coffee.

Ruolan avoided eye contact as she walked past him to grab her phone—

And that's when she saw it.

A neatly folded silk camisole and those shorts resting on the couch.

Her soul exited her body again.

She froze, horrified.

He had seen them.

He had touched them.

She was going to die.

Yichen, without looking up, casually remarked, "You should be more mindful of what you pack."

Ruolan turned red. "I—it was a mistake!"

He finally looked at her, expression unreadable. "Was it?"

Her entire brain malfunctioned. "OF COURSE IT WAS."

A slow sip of coffee. A raised eyebrow. Absolute silence.

Ruolan had never felt more humiliated in her life.

She grabbed the offending pajamas and shoved them deep into her bag, never to be seen again.

Yichen said nothing more, but she swore—swore—she saw the faintest smirk ghosting his lips before he turned away.

~~

Ten minutes later, they found themselves in the hotel's private dining area.

Ruolan was determined to act normal. Nothing had happened. Nothing was weird. They were just two people having breakfast.

And yet, the silence between them felt… different.

She poked at her food, trying to ignore the way Yichen looked completely at ease while she was one breath away from imploding.

She needed to change the subject. Anything to kill the weird tension hanging between them.

"So," she blurted out. "Big meeting today, right?"

Yichen glanced up. "Obviously."

Ruolan scowled. Of course he'd be his usual jerk self when I need a normal conversation.

She tried again. "Are you planning to destroy any rival companies today, or is it just a casual business deal?"

This time, a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. "You make it sound like I enjoy destruction."

Ruolan snorted. "I don't make it sound like anything. That's just who you are."

He didn't deny it.

Instead, he leaned back, studying her with that unreadable gaze. "Are you always this talkative in the morning?"

Ruolan stabbed her fork into her eggs. "Only when I've been traumatized."

Yichen smirked.

Ruolan nearly threw her coffee at him.

~~

By the time they left the hotel, Ruolan was almost back to normal.

Except she wasn't.

Because every time she glanced at Yichen, she couldn't stop remembering—

The way he had draped his coat over her.

The way he had seen her in that ridiculous nightwear.

The way he had definitely smirked at her discomfort.

And worst of all—

The way he didn't seem bothered by any of it.

Meanwhile, she was dying inside.

This wasn't fair.

He was supposed to be cold, ruthless, untouchable.

Then why did she feel like he had all the control in this situation—while she was the one spiraling?

Ruolan groaned into her hands as she climbed into the car.

Yichen, ever the composed CEO, simply glanced at her and said, "Try not to embarrass yourself today."

Ruolan scowled under her breath. "Shut up."

He chuckled.

And for some reason, that made her want to throw herself out of the moving car.