Chapter Forty-Nine: The Young Couple Quarrels at the Head of the Bed, Reconciles at the Foot

But it was precisely this Song Chengyi whom Luo Yixia liked. This was the real Song Chengyi, the one Luo Yixia had always been fond of. Luo Yixia felt aggrieved; just thinking about it made her heart ache a little, and she wanted to cry. She shifted her body as far to the side as possible, afraid of touching Song Chengyi.

Half-awake and half-asleep, she didn’t even remember when she finally drifted off. In truth, Song Chengyi hadn’t slept at all; he simply kept his eyes closed, unwilling to speak to Luo Yixia. He wasn’t even sure what he was angry about.

He had already been displeased earlier in the day when Luo Yixia referred to him as the "big brother next door" in front of her classmates, and later, when she mentioned Song Zeming, he completely lost his temper.

Was he genuinely angry? Even Song Chengyi couldn’t tell; he just felt stifled, as if something was pressing on his chest.

He could clearly sense Luo Yixia’s effort not to disturb him; it was the first time he’d seen her go to bed so early, and she was trying hard to move to the edge of the bed, afraid to get too close. Was he really that terrifying?

In the middle of the night, the small bundle under the covers began to inch closer to him again. Petulantly, Song Chengyi pushed Luo Yixia away.

But before long, she was snuggled up to him once more.

After a few more futile attempts to push her away, he finally let her be. Bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window, he gazed at the small girl in his arms. Aside from her pretty face, she didn’t really have any redeeming qualities—she wasn’t clever, she was prone to tantrums, and liked to play little tricks.

Forget it, he thought, why bother fussing with her?

Song Chengyi wrapped his arm around her and pulled Luo Yixia closer.

When Luo Yixia woke, she found herself nestled right against Song Chengyi. He must have been up for a while already. After washing up, she went downstairs and ran into Song Chengyi, who had just come back from his morning run.

Zhou Yun called them to breakfast.

Song Chengyi didn’t speak, and Luo Yixia didn’t feel like talking either. She wondered how, after just one night's sleep, she could have developed such a temper and such nerve. If he was angry, she could be angry too. They were both raised by their parents—why should she always be the one to give in?

Zhou Yun and Song Shaohui both sensed something odd in the air between them.

"Wenjing booked your flight for nine in the morning. You’ll arrive in Japan around one o’clock. Get ready soon, and I’ll drive you to the airport," Zhou Yun said, trying to lighten the mood.

Luo Yixia stayed silent, guessing that Song Chengyi probably didn’t want to go. If he didn’t want to, he could say so himself. If he refused to go, she could travel around Japan alone for a few days and enjoy the peace and quiet.

"Alright," Song Chengyi replied unexpectedly. She had thought he wouldn’t agree.

After breakfast, Song Chengyi carried their two suitcases downstairs.

Song’s father suggested, "Maybe I should go later and take you two to the airport first."

Zhou Yun didn’t give him the chance: "Just focus on your work. I’ll go with Wenjing to see them off. Chengyi can drive us there, and I’ll drive back myself."

"I’m not very comfortable with you driving," Song's father admitted honestly.

"It’s not as if I can’t drive. I just don’t do it often. If anything happens, Wenjing will be with me," Zhou Yun replied with a smile.

Sure enough, as they spoke, Wenjing herself arrived.

"Is everyone home? I came to see Xiaxia and Chengyi off," she announced.

"We’re just about to leave," Zhou Yun said as she urged Song’s father to head to work.

Luo Yixia remained silent, and even her usually outspoken mother, Wenjing, noticed. In a low voice, she whispered to Zhou Yun, "What’s wrong with Xiaxia today? She’s usually so talkative. But today, neither of them is saying a word."

"It started at breakfast. They were fine at dinner last night. I really don’t know what happened," Zhou Yun replied, sounding worried.

"They’re a young couple; a little disagreement is normal. Once they’re in Japan, in a strange new place, Xiaxia won’t be able to keep sulking," Wenjing reassured Zhou Yun, squeezing her hand gently.