After showering, Jayson stayed in the study, juggling a video call while organizing papers. Standing just outside the door, Sidney watched him, hesitating to interrupt his busy work. When he looked up, he saw Sidney and waved her in. She quietly stepped inside, keeping her distance from the desk. The man on the screen was speaking in a foreign language, and Sidney stood with her hands behind her back, watching silently.
Suddenly, Jayson turned toward her and said, "Help me bring over the green folder on the shelf."
Sidney nodded and immediately turned around to grab the green folder, handing it to him without a word.
For a brief moment, half of Sidney's face appeared on the screen. The person on the other side couldn't help but exclaim, asking Jayson if he had hired a new, charming assistant.
Jayson heard it and laughed, then said into the camera, "She is my wife."
He pulled Sidney's hand and urged her to greet the person on the other end. Sidney awkwardly waved at the camera. The man politely greeted her and invited them to visit the U.S. next time.
Jayson thanked him but didn't engage further on the topic. Instead, he continued discussing business.
After the video conference ended, he turned off the computer, stood up, and asked, "What's up? What did you need?"
"Nothing, just wanted to see what you were up to," she said, walking over to the comfortable sofa and sitting down, casually picking up a book to nestle into the chair.
"If there's nothing, you can go to bed early."
"I can't sleep." It was true—ever since Jayson forced her to practice sleeping with the lights off, she couldn't fall asleep without him by her side. Otherwise, she would end up turning the lights back on.
"You must not be getting enough exercise, that's why you can't sleep at night."
"Are you saying I'm too free? Then let me go to work!" Sidney retorted.
Jayson gave her a glance and walked out of the study, saying, "Come here."
Sidney stood up and followed him, entering the entertainment room. In one corner of the room, there was a simple gym behind a glass door.
Jayson pointed at a treadmill and said, "You can exercise here at night. It'll help you sleep better."
He turned on the treadmill for her and showed her how to use it. After she learned, she said, "I already showered today. Can I start tomorrow instead?"
Sidney wasn't fond of exercising. After speaking, she ran over to the TV and sat down, casually turning on his stereo. The song they hadn't finished listening to last time was still playing.
She crouched down and browsed through his collection of records. Unexpectedly, she came across a music album by a female star—this was the only piece of modern pop music in the collection. "You like Valery Hardy?"
Jayson walked over, sat beside her, crossed his legs, glanced at the album in her hand, thought for a moment, and then said, "That was a gift from someone."
"Valery gave it to you?" She noticed the autograph on the cover.
"I think so. One year when Opal Lounge hosted an event and invited her, she gave it to me."
"Oh." Sidney curiously opened the album, and a slip of paper fell out. She bent down to pick it up, noticing it had handwritten digits—a phone number. Sidney looked at it and handed it to him.
Jayson didn't take it. He glanced at the number and told her, "Throw it away."
Sidney said with a hint of sarcasm, "A hot young pop star gave you her number, and you're not going to keep it?"
Jayson shot her a look that said, "You're killing me here," glanced at Sidney, then hit a button on the remote. The ceiling made a soft whirring sound.
Sidney looked up in surprise as the ceiling opened, revealing a view of the stars!
The air in the suburbs was fresh, with little light pollution, and the night sky was filled with stars. Sidney, wide-eyed, looked up and said, "This is insane! The ceiling is incredible!"
Jayson took the paper from her hand, crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash can. The two of them sat side by side, and he lowered the back of the sofa, so they both lay back comfortably.
Sidney watched the sky for a moment before snapping back to reality and asking, "Do you often lie to women and bring them here to stargaze? Have you called Valery?"
"I am absolutely loyal within my marriage. And by the way, that record is being played for the first time."
Sidney turned her head to look at him. "Don't all men say that?"
"Do you think I just accept anyone who comes along?"
"Aren't they? The people you work with, the ones you know—aren't they all like that?"
"That doesn't mean I accept everyone, okay? This window was designed by my father, for my mother."
Sidney realized she was probably being overly jealous.
"This window hasn't been opened in years. It should be opened often, or it might get damaged. There used to be a telescope here. My mother and I often stargazed together."
"Yeah, it's just my evil thoughts."
"You really do have a talent for overthinking, don't you?"
"..." She fell silent, reflecting on herself.
"Do you know where the North Star is?" he asked.
Sidney shook her head.
"There, actually, the North Star isn't as bright as you might think. That's Orion's Belt..."
Sidney followed his finger and looked up at the sky. Stars blinked in the dark, their soft light flickering like distant fireflies. It was a simple, quiet beauty, each one glowing faintly against the vast blackness, as if they were barely there, but still enough to catch her breath.
She began to feel drowsy, resting her head on his shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of his body wash as she nodded off.
He quietly gazed at the stars, the moon having already subtly shifted in the sky.
"Which one is you?"
Half asleep, Sidney heard him and shook her head. She didn't think the joke was funny, so she buried her face in his neck and bit him lightly.
He smiled.
This was the kind of simple, peaceful love he had always dreamed of.
He turned towards her, lifted her chin, and gently kissed her lips. "My star is right here..."
Sidney initially responded to his kiss, but gradually fell asleep.
She realized that as long as he was there, she could sleep soundly anywhere.
