Chapter 157: Captured in Slumber Seraphina mumbled to herself, "Only an hour?"
Xin caught her comment. "What’s that?"
She smiled and replied, "Oh, nothing. And don’t worry about me; I’ve already eaten."
With that settled, Seraphina moved to the living area and asked, "How should I pose?"
Xin sat in front of his canvas and gave clear instructions. "Just sit comfortably on the sofa and gaze outside the window."
Seraphina was a natural in front of the canvas and effortlessly struck the pose that Xin had envisioned, needing only minimal guidance to capture the essence of what he had in mind.
As Xin began to sketch her, Seraphina asked, "Can I talk?"
"Of course," Xin replied, continuing to work on his draft. "You can even use your phone if you want."
Seraphina hesitated for a moment. "Won’t that disrupt the overall image?"
Xin shook his head. "Not at this stage. I’m still in the early phases, so feel free to move a little and talk as you like."
A soft chuckle escaped Seraphina’s lips. "Is that so? So, how does it feel to come back from the dead?"
Xin paused, unsure how to respond to such a question.
Finally, he managed to utter, "Glad."
"Are you slowly getting used to school?" Seraphina inquired.
"Yeah," Xin replied, feeling somewhat awkward as he tried to extend his responses. Conversations, especially with people he barely knew, weren’t his strong suit.
However, Seraphina continued to chat with him as if they were old friends, and Xin did his best to provide more than just one-word answers. He wanted to make her feel comfortable and avoid any awkwardness caused by his own silence.
"You don’t have to be so nervous around me. I don’t bite," Seraphina teased.
Xin’s hand faltered for a moment as he adjusted his initial draft. "Sorry," he stammered. "It’s just how I am when I’m talking to someone I don’t know well."
Seraphina shifted on the couch and regarded Xin thoughtfully. "You don’t remember, do you?"
Xin paused, his gaze meeting Seraphina’s as he tried to comprehend her meaning. "What do you mean?"
The notion puzzled him. Had they met before? He couldn’t recall, but then again, his coma might have taken some memories from him without his knowledge.
Seraphina studied Xin for a moment before waving it off with a small smile. "It’s alright if you don’t remember. It’s been a long time, after all."
While Xin was immensely curious about what Seraphina had alluded to, he refrained from asking. He sensed that pressing her for details might come across as rude, especially since he had no recollection of the matter.
Even though Xin couldn’t stop thinking about it, he recognized that he might ponder her words for days to come.
However, Seraphina skillfully steered the conversation in another direction, effectively diverting his thoughts.
She complimented his artistic style and praised his brushstrokes, unknowingly putting Xin more at ease.
The initial awkwardness he had felt began to dissipate, and he found himself genuinely enjoying their conversation.
There were moments of silence when Xin concentrated on his artwork, and during those times, Seraphina was polite enough not to disturb him and she faded into the background.
It was typical for him to become entirely absorbed in his art, to the point where he could barely feel any emotions or discomfort. During those moments, his entire focus was on the canvas.
Seraphina was considerate enough to let him work uninterrupted.
Before Xin knew it, an hour had passed, then another.
Xin only ceased his painting when he noticed the rhythmic sound of Seraphina’s breathing, which pulled him out of his creative trance.
When he tore his gaze away from the canvas, he discovered Seraphina peacefully asleep.
Xin blinked, unsure of what to do.
Should he wake her up, or leave her be?
Xin stood, slowly and carefully, he approached Seraphina to see if she was really asleep.
Seraphina’s sleeping face held a serene beauty, illuminated by the soft, ambient light in the room. Her flawless features seemed to relax in slumber, creating an enchanting sight that captured Xin’s attention.
Her long eyelashes, dark and delicate, rested gently against her smooth cheeks. They cast subtle shadows, enhancing the allure of her closed eyes. Her brows, perfectly shaped, added to the overall harmony of her face.
Her skin appeared almost ethereal in the subdued light, porcelain and flawless. It had a natural glow that needed no makeup or adornment.
A faint, contented smile graced her lips, hinting at the pleasant dreams that danced through her mind.
Her breathing was steady and calming, a soft rhythm that filled the room with a sense of tranquility. Stray tendrils of her hair, escaping from her casual attire, framed her face like silken threads.
Seraphina’s peaceful slumber made her seem vulnerable and approachable, a stark contrast to her confident and glamorous persona when awake.
Xin found the scene amusing, for the better lack of words to describe it.
Captivated by the sight, Xin momentarily forgot his art and simply admired the sleeping beauty before him, his heart inexplicably warmed by the simple act of witnessing her in this unguarded state.
Xin felt a pang of guilt at the thought of waking Seraphina, so he decided to let her sleep.
"Careless," he muttered to himself as he retrieved a blanket from his room.
Gently, he draped it over her shoulders, ensuring she remained warm and comfortable.
With that small act, he organized his art supplies and stored them in the empty room adjacent to the living area.
Before turning off the lights, Xin cast one last look at the slumbering woman. A soft smile touched his lips as he whispered, "Good night," and retreated into his room.
As he checked the clock, Xin was astonished to find that it was already past midnight. He quickly reached for his phone to message Victor, only to discover a series of messages from his friend.
[Xin, let’s postpone our dungeon run for tomorrow. Given everything that’s happened, you need some rest. I’ve already notified the others, so don’t worry about them.]
Xin replied with an apology and inquired if Victor had also informed Midnight Duchess.
[No, we’re not friends. I’m sure she left after an hour of waiting. Either that or someone else informed her, so don’t concern yourself with her any longer.]