But Yu Jingchen acted as if he was addicted to the game.
"Why are you uncomfortable?" Yu Jingchen asked again, stretching his reach to the limit.
"Because Your Majesty is pinching me," Nan Zhiyun said.
"Why would His Majesty pinch your nose?" Was Yu Jingchen teasing a child? Nan Zhiyun felt a little overwhelmed.
"I don't know," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Because someone was pretending to be asleep just now," Yu Jingchen said, making Nan Zhiyun feel a little guilty.
"This concubine just woke up," Nan Zhiyun said, her voice lowering.
"So, what do you want?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask, then added, "Speak clearly, or I won't let go."
"Your Majesty is pinching my nose, and this concubine is a little uncomfortable. Can Your Majesty please let go?" Nan Zhiyun's voice was soft and sweet.
Yu Jingchen was satisfied upon hearing this and slowly released his hand.
"Pretending to be asleep?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun covered herself with the quilt, only her head showing. Her nose was red from being pinched, like a little bunny being bullied.
"This concubine knows her mistake," Nan Zhiyun lowered her eyes.
"Knowing your mistake is enough? You usually say you're wrong quite often, but you still make mistakes? This is deceiving the emperor. Tell me, why were you pretending to be asleep?" Yu Jingchen asked, though there was no anger in his tone.
"This concubine was just afraid that Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun began.
Yu Jingchen pinched Nan Zhiyun's face again.
"Mmm..." Nan Zhiyun couldn't help but make a sound.
"Haven't learned your lesson!" Yu Jingchen increased the pressure slightly.
"Your Majesty, it hurts..." Tears welled up in Nan Zhiyun's eyes.
"It won't hurt to death," Yu Jingchen pinched a couple more times before letting go. Nan Zhiyun's face was red from being pinched, yet she dared not say anything.
"I can't stand seeing you, I'm leaving," Yu Jingchen said, preparing to leave. Nan Zhiyun grabbed his hand.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun called out. Yu Jingchen hadn't actually intended to leave; he was just teasing her.
"What? I can't leave?" Yu Jingchen asked her deliberately.
Nan Zhiyun simply hugged Yu Jingchen's arm tightly with both hands.
"Can you not go?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
Since she noticed Yu Jingchen's change, Nan Zhiyun had gradually become bolder, and... clingy. Yes, she was clingy.
"Why can't I leave?" Yu Jingchen didn't move, allowing her to hold his arm.
"This concubine is afraid, and this concubine wants Your Majesty to stay." Nan Zhiyun was direct.
"Afraid of what? Afraid of the dark? Weren't you sleeping soundly before I came?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"This concubine is afraid that Your Majesty will never come again, afraid that Your Majesty will think this concubine is useless, afraid that Your Majesty will be like before." Nan Zhiyun said.
Yu Jingchen paused slightly. Why was she thinking like this all of a sudden? Had his words today provoked her?
"Then why were you pretending to be asleep?" Yu Jingchen changed the subject. He didn't want Nan Zhiyun to dwell on these thoughts.
"This concubine just didn't expect Your Majesty to come, and didn't know how to react." Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Then if I hadn't exposed you, how long were you planning to pretend?" Yu Jingchen pulled his arm out of Nan Zhiyun's grasp.
Nan Zhiyun felt a pang of panic. She was afraid Yu Jingchen would still leave, but she didn't have the courage to stop him again.
Who would have thought...
"Lie down, it's cold," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun followed Yu Jingchen's gesture and lay down.
Happy National Day!