Chapter 16 - Sleeping Together

"Mortals are so fragile," Luo Ruying murmured softly, concern etched on her face as she tended to Ning Yechen's nosebleed with a handkerchief. Kneeling beside him, she carefully cradled his injured right foot, applying a mixture of herbs chewed into a paste and spit out. These herbs, harvested from the fairy medicine garden in the back mountain, possessed potent healing properties for broken bones and strained muscles.

"Don't move around these days," she advised gently, wrapping his foot securely in a bandage. "Your injury will recover in two days, don't worry."

Ning Yechen smiled gratefully. "Thank you, madam."

In truth, he could heal his broken foot in an instant if he wished. Yet, the care and attention from a beautiful woman like Luo Ruying made him willing to endure the healing process.

"It's getting late, you should go to bed early," Luo Ruying suggested, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Okay sleep" Luo Hongye chimed in happily from the couch, burying herself in the quilt.

She peeked out, eyes shining with anticipation. "Mom, sleep together~"

Luo Ruying glanced at Ning Yechen, seated on the edge of the bed, and hesitated. "Yeye, the bed isn't very big. Could you sleep with daddy tonight?"

"Mom, just sleep down there," Luo Hongye insisted, already nestled in bed. Sleeping with her would mean sharing the same bed with Ning Yechen—an idea she wasn't ready for, despite him being her husband.

Understanding the situation, Luo Ruying sighed inwardly and relented with a smile. "Alright…"

"Mama and daddy always sleep together every night," Ning Yechen remarked, giving Luo Hongye a thumbs-up.

Luo Hongye beamed mischievously, and Luo Ruying, shedding her coat, slipped into a close-fitting, thin white silk nightgown, outlining her graceful figure.

"You, just sleep inside," she said shyly to Ning Yechen, motioning towards the inner side of the bed where Luo Hongye lay nestled between them.

Ning Yechen nodded with a smile, not rushing to climb in. He removed his coat, revealing only a pair of white pants underneath, his physique strikingly strong and flawless.

Luo Ruying couldn't help but stare in awe. "Okay, what a perfect figure…"

"Is this really the body of a mortal hunter?" she wondered to herself, considering his extensive exercise in the mountains and the medicinal elixirs he consumed.

"Madam, what are you looking at?" Ning Yechen's voice broke her reverie, and she blushed furiously, looking away.

"Why did you take off your clothes suddenly?" she stammered.

"Um? Because your husband always sleeps naked," he replied innocently.

"Naked... sleeping naked…?!" Luo Ruying panicked, trying to backtrack.

"No, no!" she quickly denied, flustered.

"Why?" Ning Yechen asked, puzzled.

"My child, my child is still here…" Luo Ruying gestured towards Luo Hongye, cheeks aflame.

Ning Yechen suddenly grasped the situation, nodded with a knowing smile, and silently dressed.

"Whether the child is here or not, my husband understands," Luo Ruying mumbled to herself, confused yet relieved.

Luo Hongye, observing the exchange with curiosity, asked, "Why doesn't mama let father take off his clothes and sleep?"

Ning Yechen tousled Luo Hongye's hair affectionately before climbing into bed, cradling her petite figure tenderly. Luo Ruying blew out the oil lamp and lay beside them, wrapping her arms around Luo Hongye from behind.

In the dimness, as Luo Hongye drifted into sleep with a smile, Luo Ruying gazed at her daughter lovingly, thoughts drifting to their journey from the fairy world, fleeing relentless pursuit.

Suddenly, a hand touched her back in the darkness, and Luo Ruying startled, quickly identifying the source. Apart from her and Luo Hongye, only Ning Yechen remained in the bed, sleeping peacefully.

Luo Ruying raised her head in surprise as Ning Yechen's arm, previously around Luo Hongye, now encircled her waist. She glanced at him, noting his serene expression, wondering if it was an accidental touch or something more.

Her heart raced briefly at his touch, then settled as she realized he was deeply asleep. Yet as she relaxed, Ning Yechen's embrace tightened subtly, causing her to frown in amusement at his awkward sleeping posture.