"You need not accompany me to sleep, Xin'er." Liu Mingyun whispered to him, the words carrying the softness of the first snowfall after a long autumn. Even as he said so, the Crown Prince reached to take Li Xinyuan's hands into his own regardless.
He took a step towards the bed, accompanied by a strained groan from the back of his throat, Liu Mingyun sank into the familiar mattress slowly, and pulled the surgeon along to sit by his side.
With little to protest, Li Xinyuan took a seat beside him, eyelashes fluttering at the warm sensation of the calloused pad of Liu Mingyun's thumb running over his knuckles.
"Then, why not let go of my hand, My Liege?" He swallowed slightly, hooded eyes flickering down to their joined hands.
At that, Liu Mingyun gave him a slight, fleeting smile, crimson eyes twinkling. "Oh this?" He nodded towards their hands. "I am afraid I must ask you to stay a while, if only to help set my nightly affairs before bed in order. Say, will Xin'er stay?"
