Chapter 81

"Yeah, we're home," David said, unbuckling his seatbelt and then helping Alice with hers. "Go to your room and get some rest."

Alice, still yawning, pushed open the car door and got out. Her long eyelashes were a bit damp from tears. After a quick nap, she felt more awake.

She headed to her room, took a shower, changed clothes, and logged into her game. As the queen of the battlefield, she let out all her pent-up frustration in the virtual world. Despite the messages popping up in the chat, she stayed cool.

Meanwhile, David finished his shower and was just in a bathrobe. Water droplets slid down his muscular chest as he dried his hair with one hand and held his phone with the other. He looked serious as he texted Garrett.

Garrett replied quickly: [The company has no plans to collaborate with the Jones Family.]

David sat on the edge of the bed, his bathrobe half-open, revealing his abs.

David: [Got it.]

No collaboration was the best news. The Jones Family was a nightmare, always insulting people publicly. They weren't worth the hassle. Dealing with Marcus was already enough; David didn't need more drama.

After running a hand through his hair, David went to the bathroom to blow-dry it, then changed into pajamas and headed downstairs with a cup of water. As he passed Alice's room, he paused, trying to hear any sounds from inside.

After a moment, he went downstairs, feeling a bit frustrated. The soundproofing was too good.

Alice was just lying on her bed, arms spread out, staring at the ceiling. She was idling in the game's safe zone, unbothered by any challenges. The game was fun, but David's words, "I feel sorry for you," kept replaying in her mind. She didn't want to overthink David had feelings for her, but she secretly hoped he did.

She was torn between reason and delusion, almost going crazy. Maybe she should just tell him how she felt!

She decided to be brave for once. Even if it was just one night with David, it would be a dream come true. No matter what happened afterward, at least she wouldn't have to pretend anymore. She was tired of pretending every day, tired of pretending to not like him.

With this in mind, Alice got up, hugged her pillow, and walked to David's room, knocking softly.

The door opened, and David saw her standing there in her pajamas, hugging a pillow, blinking at him. She clearly had something in mind.

David's lips pressed into a thin line as he gently closed the door slightly, looking down at her. "My bed is small."

Alice replied, "Big enough for two."

David's eyes narrowed. "I don't sleep well. I might kick the covers off and I might sleep naked."

Unexpectedly, Alice smiled brightly. "No problem, I won't move!"

David gave a final warning, "If something happens while you're sleeping, who's gonna take responsibility?"

Alice's smile froze. She had been so focused on getting close to David that she forgot about the potential pain of a first time.

First, she had never been in a relationship, so she didn't really understand these things. Second, there were mixed opinions online about the pain, saying it varied by person. Without trying, how would she know if it would hurt or not?

Finally, Alice's expression turned serious. Under David's gaze, she slowly looked down, stopping abruptly and staring at his crotch. She suddenly looked up and said firmly, "I think it's a fifty-fifty responsibility."

David's face darkened, and the doorknob creaked under his grip as he barely held back his anger. How could she be so bold, staring at that place in front of a man? Did she have no shame? And she dared to say "fifty-fifty responsibility"! David felt it was time to teach Alice a lesson.

"Alright, come in," David said in a deep voice, opening the door. Inside, only a bedside lamp was on. A book lay open on the desk, and a corner of the bedding was already lifted. Clearly, David had been about to go to bed when she knocked.

Alice stood at the foot of the bed, hugging her pillow. Hearing the door lock click, her body tensed.

David moved the pillow in the center aside and gestured with his head. "Aren't you coming over? Just so you know, I only have one blanket. If you go get another one now, I'll close the door immediately. You can choose."

Alice didn't back down. She kicked off her slippers, placed her pillow, and slipped under the covers.

David glanced at her, leaned against the headboard, and continued reading, showing no intention of sleeping.

Alice lay with her back to David, occasionally hearing the faint sound of pages turning. After much internal struggle, she finally turned to face him.

David looked down and saw Alice lying beside him and staring at him with bright eyes. He looked away, pretending to be calm. "Why are you staring at me? If you're tired, just sleep."

Alice asked, "What are you reading?"

David held up the book, showing her the cover. The title was "Issues Parents Must Pay Attention To".

Alice stared blankly at David. After a few seconds of eye contact, she rolled her eyes helplessly and turned her back to him again, full of dissatisfaction.

David noticed that some issues in the book were indeed the same as Alice's behavior. He was contemplating whether to follow the book's advice to address her situation. After spending half an hour flipping through the pages, he finally turned off the light and went to sleep.

Instantly, the room was dark and they were lightly covered under the heavy blanket. This was their first time sleeping together, each harboring their own thoughts, and the atmosphere was subtle in the room.

Alice stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering in the endless night, unable to sleep. Though David closed his eyes, all his senses seemed to be focused on Alice beside him, fearing her sudden "attack" would disrupt the night's peace.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, a slight noise broke the night's silence. Half-asleep, David felt the blanket being lifted, a cool breeze brushing his skin, instantly dispelling his drowsiness. He opened his eyes abruptly.

In the dim light, a faint beam of light flickered through the gap in the blanket. David's eyes narrowed as he watched Alice quietly get out of bed, her flashlight pressed against the blanket, cautiously moving towards the door.

His lips curled into an unintentional smile. Just as he was about to close his eyes again, he noticed Alice approaching him and he stopped his smile. He pretended not to notice, curious about her next move.

"It's so early, and you're already asleep," Alice muttered softly, squatting by the bed. She was curious about David's sleeping face but didn't want to wake him by turning on the light, so she came up with this clumsy method, using a flashlight to peek through the blanket.

After satisfying her curiosity about David's sleeping face, Alice playfully lifted the edge of David's shirt. The cool breeze made David instinctively tense his abs, and he silently cursed, 'What on earth is she trying to do!'