It was already extremely late when Xiang Ning had left the lab and Fortress One was surprisingly calm, thanks to the presence of one of the Eight Pillars and the death of a tier seven Beast King. But it wasn’t true peace, as doctors and nurses were working around the clock to save as many warriors as possible. This was their battlefield.

Without the stampede, they were able to focus even more on treating the patients, thereby increasing their efficiency. Most martial artists also knew first aid. Some of them who had the energy and time were helping them. As for the spiritual cultivators, they were doing some surprisingly delicate tasks.

While Xiang Ning was doing his research, many of the burly warriors, who were able to kill a beast with a single slash, were moving around the patients as they carried bandages, sutures, and rubbing alcohol. Some of them even managed to find a date.

The same could be said for Fang Rou and the rest. They had been there for six months and had sustained many injuries. There were times when there weren’t enough doctors or nurses, so they would take care of minor wounds themselves. Naturally, they knew first aid.

When Xiang Ning came out, he saw that he had multiple messages. He dragged his tired body as he entered his dorm and crashed onto the bed. Just as he did so, he felt something soft in his hand.

“Huh?” Xiang Ning squeezed a little and felt that it was both soft and firm. He hadn’t placed any extra pillows on his bed, but he suddenly felt like it was a familiar feeling….

“AAAAAAAAAAH!” Xiang Ning screamed like a lady as he fell off the bed.

Fang Rou slowly sat up on the bed, grinning like a little devil as she looked at Xiang Ning. “Why’re you the one shouting? As if you’re the one being groped,” she softly said. 

This time, Xiang Ning didn’t hear what she said, but then again he was panicking. Did I enter the wrong room? Is this the female dorm? Not only did I enter the wrong dorm, but I even groped her!  Numerous thoughts clogged his mind as his heart beat like a drum. Cold sweat poured out of him, as he had never once thought that he would do something like this. He was a teenager! His experience in romance was literally nil.

When he saw Fang Rou’s expression, he let out a sigh of relief. “Looks like I won’t be beat to death today.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Fang Rou stifled her laughter as she asked him.

He stood up and told her about his thoughts, and Fang Rou was surprised. She couldn’t believe what he had said. She saw his face that was begging for forgiveness and finally chuckled, “Come here!” She patted the space beside her.

Xiang Ning scooted over and she smiled. The little devil in her heart popped out again as she playfully pinched his cheeks. “You’re just like a little boy.”

Xiang Ning didn’t know what to say.

“Alright, alright. I won’t blame you. I know you’re just that innocent.” She hooked Xiang Ning’s neck and pulled him under the sheets. Fang Rou was also in desperate need of sleep. She wanted to help the others tomorrow, and needed the rest. They didn’t know when the stampede would come again, either.

But she thought about how Xiang Ning had been called away early in the morning and was sulky. Every time she remembered what happened the night before and earlier that morning, butterflies fluttered in her heart. She liked that feeling. Without even realizing it, she had entered Xiang Ning’s room. And when she came to her senses, she didn’t leave either. Instead, she hid in the bed to surprise him.

She didn’t know when he would return, so she just lay on the bed and reminisced about what had happened the day before. It was so hot, yet so embarrassing! She blushed as her mind kept going back to those thoughts. She continued hiding under the sheets.

After some time, she heard the door opening and froze. She panicked a bit as all thoughts escaped her head. She was wondering if Xiang Ning would think it was weird of her to be here. She blushed once again in anticipation. What if something like yesterday happens again? She was still thinking that when the footsteps got closer. Her heart beat faster and faster. She swallowed her saliva and held her breath. Suddenly, she felt a palm….

Both of them were now lying on the bed. Fang Rou carefully held Xiang Ning’s hand and placed it on her chest. Her back was currently facing toward him, but she felt his body stiffen. She even felt his hand shaking as sweat filled his palms. Her heart almost exploded before it slowed down. There was a strange sense of peace in her mind as she smiled.

But Xiang Ning was in agony. He felt like he was being chased by a tier nine Beast Emperor across the wilderness as he screamed like a psycho.

He was so agitated that he failed to sleep even after an hour. He took a peek and saw that Fang Rou was asleep and carefully extracted his arm from Fang Rou’s embrace. Truth be told, it was an amazing feeling, but it was much too exciting for him. He barely held back.

He almost succeeded in pulling his hand out, but she caught it in mid-air. It wasn’t a strong grip, but more of a casual hold. Xiang Ning didn’t dare to move an inch.

Somehow, Fang Rou felt uncomfortable so she turned around. She hugged Xiang Ning’s entire arm like a koala bear as the latter lay still. She placed his arm between her thighs as she hugged his arm as a pillow, her head nestled on his chest.

Xiang Ning wanted to cry, but had no tears.

Cuddling before sleeping is top tier sleep hygiene imo