The immense sense of loss, combined with the exhaustion of the day, caused him to fall asleep within minutes of lying down.
The current Su Chen had been utterly defeated by his present circumstances. Falling asleep seemed a rather good choice to escape reality.
Su Chen just lay there on the enormous bedsheet, lying quietly, but his tightly furrowed brow showed his mood was not so calm.
About an hour after Su Chen fell asleep, the sound of keys clinking suddenly came from outside the house door.
Only two people had keys to this house. The current Su Chen, even if he had a key, fundamentally couldn't open the door. So there was only one possibility: Su Qingwan had finished her classes and returned.
The door closed with a bang. Su Qingwan's pretty figure appeared at the doorway. Even before fully entering, she started calling for Su Chen.
"Foolish big brother, I'm back! Come out quickly and be honest about where you went this morning!"
Su Qingwan, while hurriedly taking off her shoes, looked towards the direction of Su Chen's room.
Right now, Su Qingwan greatly anticipated Su Chen opening the door and walking out. Then, no matter what he said, she would be very happy.
But this wish of hers was destined to be disappointed. Su Chen could barely even get down from the bed, let alone open that several-thousand-meter-high door.
Su Chen was also awakened by Su Qingwan's voice. There was no helping it; after shrinking, his hearing was too good. Although he tried to control his hearing, Su Qingwan had shouted it out loud, enough to wake even his original self.
He sat up on the bedsheet and shook his head. The current Su Chen was still somewhat dazed.
He felt he had just had a very long dream, but when he tried to recall it, he couldn't remember anything.
This is often how dreams are for people: while sleeping, you dream of many things, many people and scenes, but when you wake up, you can only barely recall some remnants, utterly unable to remember what you actually dreamed.
By now, Su Qingwan had taken off her shoes. Without taking the time to place them in the shoe cabinet, she impatiently tossed her backpack aside, put on her slippers, rushed the few steps to Su Chen's room door, and pulled it open.
The moment the door opened, the light in Su Qingwan's eyes instantly vanished. The excitement she carried also completely disappeared.
Su Chen's room was still exactly as it was when she left in the morning, without any traces of being disturbed. That meant Su Chen simply hadn't returned all day.
Normally, Su Chen wouldn't be back at this time either, but after finishing his work around noon, he would usually come home to rest and sleep a bit.
But now...
Su Qingwan was very disappointed. She didn't know what exactly had happened, but she had a bad feeling in her heart.
During breaks today, Su Qingwan had called Su Chen several times, but was prompted each time that the other party's phone was switched off.
In all her life, this was the first time she couldn't contact Su Chen at all, with no idea where he had gone.
Right now, she was utterly panicked, and the bad premonition in her heart kept growing.
Su Qingwan dejectedly lowered her head, casually closed Su Chen's room door, and walked back to her own room step by step, with great difficulty. She needed to change clothes. After returning home in the evening, they rarely went out again and would usually change into sleepwear.
Su Chen, watching Su Qingwan's expression and listening to her retreating footsteps, felt an inexplicable ache in his heart.
A grown man, tears almost fell. He felt fortunate to have a younger sister who cared for him so much, but worried about how Su Qingwan would live alone without him.
Although Su Chen didn't know exactly what expression Su Qingwan wore now, he could understand her emotions.
Wasn't the current Su Chen the same? He knew the person he cared about was right there, but he fundamentally couldn't get close, let alone take care of her.
After Su Qingwan left, she didn't return. Su Chen sat on his bedsheet, his thoughts in turmoil, wondering what that girl was doing. The room was dead silent; that girl hadn't come out to eat, probably truly in no mood.
Su Chen didn't know how to comfort her, and had no way to comfort that girl Su Qingwan.
Comfort her in his current state?
How? Give a loving hug?
Then get stuck in Su Qingwan's clothes like this morning? So awkward, right?
A long time passed. After returning to her room, Su Qingwan seemed to have vanished, without any movement at all.
Su Chen had no recourse. Now, he too was in despair. Lying down on the bedsheet again, perhaps death was sometimes not a bad choice.
Su Chen fell into a deep sleep once more. Shifting perspective to Su Qingwan's room, she had already changed into her nightgown and was sitting blankly on her bed.
She didn't know what to do. Her mind was a blank. Her phone held in her hand, she dialed Su Chen's number over and over, but received the same response every time: "The number you have dialed is powered off..."
Su Qingwan's mood was very low now. Her eyes were red, tears welling up.
She couldn't understand. Everything was fine yesterday, so why had Su Chen suddenly disappeared without leaving any message? Su Qingwan refused to believe Su Chen would leave her without a word, but...
She didn't dare think further. In her heart, she kept hoping the front door would open, so she could rush out of her room and seek that embrace that always brought her warmth.
But the night gradually deepened. The street lights outside had lit up, yet the sound she kept waiting for never reached her ears. Her heart slowly sank.
Everything pointed towards one result that Su Qingwan didn't want to believe: Su Chen most likely had really encountered some accident.
Su Qingwan didn't turn on the lights. The whole room was pitch black. She just sat there quietly, softly sobbing.
Knowing in her heart that there would be no outcome today, she leaned against the headboard, devoid of any strength.
Her mind was troubled with chaotic thoughts.Well past midnight, Su Qingwan still couldn't sleep.
At this hour, a girl alone couldn't go to the police station to report him missing. Su Chen had said not to go out casually after 10 PM, as it was too late and unsafe. Su Qingwan never opposed Su Chen in this regard.
Now, even though Su Chen was missing, Su Qingwan still adhered to his rule, even though Su Chen had never forced her to.
Su Qingwan was very tired, but still couldn't sleep. She sat up again, thought for a long time, and suddenly jumped down from the bed.
She picked up her blanket and left her room. Today, she decided not to sleep in her own room. She would go to Su Chen's room. There, she would know the moment Su Chen returned.
And Su Chen, already asleep, had no idea about Su Qingwan's sudden decision.