Yaoyao’s fingertip had just brushed past Yiyi’s cheek when she felt the breath of the person in her arms suddenly pause.
The next moment, Yiyi’s eyelashes quivered violently a few times, as if startled by something, and she slowly opened her eyes.
When she looked at Yaoyao, her gaze still carried a hint of dazed confusion, not fully awake.
It wasn’t until her eyes focused on Yaoyao’s face that a gentle warmth slowly emerged—only to be quickly replaced by a subtle, almost imperceptible panic.
“Yaoyao… didn’t sleep well?”
Yiyi’s voice was hoarse with sleep and still a little shaky.
She instinctively tightened her arms, but when she felt the sticky sensation on her own skin, her body tensed sharply.
Her cheeks instantly turned red again, and even her breath became a bit rushed.
Yaoyao blinked her red eyes, watching the quick changes in her expression.
The small grievance she’d just suppressed suddenly surfaced again.
She reached out with her tiny finger, poked Yiyi’s chest lightly, and spoke in a soft, slightly accusatory voice: “Big Sister, your body is all sticky and even a little smelly, not nice at all.”
As she spoke, she purposely scrunched up her little nose, as if emphasizing that unpleasant scent she disliked.
Even the tip of her tail curled up, no longer resting obediently at Yiyi’s waist, but swaying slightly with a touch of dissatisfaction.
Yiyi’s face grew even redder, like a boiled shrimp.
She instinctively wanted to let go of Yaoyao, but couldn’t bear to release the soft little one in her arms, so she could only stiffly maintain her embrace, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum: “I… I know, I’ll go wash up in a bit…”
Just thinking of last night, and the sticky sensation on her skin, as well as that faintly sweet, metallic scent lingering about—
Yiyi felt her whole body heat up, wishing she could burrow into the ground.
Especially under Yaoyao’s clear, slightly disdainful gaze, she felt even more at a loss.
“Big Sister, why not take a bath now…”
Yaoyao tugged lightly at her sleeve, eyes filled with anticipation.
But Yiyi shook her head gently, the exhaustion in her eyes growing deeper, her voice tinged with an unhidden soreness: “No… Sister’s really tired right now, my body aches all over… I want to sleep a bit more…”
Seeing the weariness in Yiyi’s eyes and the redness around her eyelids, Yaoyao could still feel the lingering warmth on her cheek.
Any trace of dissatisfaction instantly melted away.
She nuzzled Yiyi’s neck softly, her gentle voice tinged with worry: “How did Big Sister end up like this? Then Big Sister can sleep a bit more.”
Yaoyao snuggled obediently in Yiyi’s arms, her small hand resting lightly on her shoulder, making her movements as gentle as possible, afraid to disturb her sister.
Yet the occasional waft of sticky scent made her scrunch her nose again.
Still, the tip of her tail now obediently rested against Yiyi’s waist, like a soft, fluffy ribbon quietly tying their warmth together.
Yiyi was warmed by her thoughtfulness, her heart growing soft.
The tide of exhaustion swept over her once more, her eyelids heavy as if weighed with lead.
She instinctively tightened her embrace, hugging Yaoyao even closer, her chin resting on her soft white hair.
Her breathing gradually became slow and even, though her brows still remained slightly furrowed.
Clearly, the ache in her body had not fully faded, and even in sleep her expression was tinged with fragility.
Yaoyao gazed at Yiyi’s sleeping face with her clear red eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting scattered specks of light on her face.
The traces of tears yet to dry shimmered like tiny crystals.
Yaoyao stretched out her little finger, ever so gently smoothing Yiyi’s furrowed brow, her fingertip brushing past her reddened nose.
In her heart, she silently murmured: “Big Sister must have worked too hard last night, that’s why she’s so tired.”
…
Steam wafted in gentle spirals above the bathing pool, shrouding the white jade walls in a soft, hazy glow.
Warm water lapped over Lilia’s shoulders, sending fine ripples across the surface.
A few fresh white plum blossoms floated amid the water, mingled with the soothing herbs she’d added, giving off a clear, calming fragrance.
Her loosely tied hair trailed down her neck, wet strands clinging to her skin and tracing her smooth back, leaving shallow trails in the water.
The exhaustion from last night gradually faded in the warmth, like a sponge soaked and squeezed in hot water.
Yet as her fingertip brushed over her arm, she could still feel faint, secret aches.
Those were the marks left from holding Yiyi too tightly last night.
“Sigh, little Yibao really is too much sometimes…”
Lilia drew her finger across the water, stirring a chain of tiny ripples.
The plum petals spun gently with the waves, and her eyes glinted with helpless affection.
“Near the end, even I could hardly keep up. My wrist still aches now.”
She lifted a hand to rub her shoulder, where Yiyi’s tight grip from last night still lingered.
When that little dragoness got worked up, her strength was astonishing—her claws nearly dug into Lilia’s flesh.
Just thinking about it now made her ears flush red.
Scenes from last night flashed uncontrollably through Lilia’s mind.
Yiyi’s reddened eyes, fevered skin, and those whimpering, clingy little cries, tinged with tears—
“At first she still tried to act tough, but by the end she was just a puddle, clutching me and refusing to let go, mumbling… heh heh~”
She rose and gathered her bathrobe around her, water droplets slipping from her damp hair and trailing down the fabric, leaving faint marks on the floor.
The morning sunlight outside the bath had already shed its early chill and now felt warm and cozy.
Looking toward Yiyi’s room, her eyes were full of eager concern: “Alright, all washed up. Time to see if Yibao’s awake yet?”
Lilia walked to the door, gently pushing it open.
As the door opened, sunlight streamed into the room, falling across the bed and outlining the tender silhouette of two sleeping together.
Yaoyao was still curled up in Yiyi’s arms, her little head nestled against her neck.
Her snowy hair had turned golden in the sun, and her tail rested quietly at Yiyi’s waist, rising and falling with each breath.
Yiyi was still asleep, her brows lightly furrowed as if troubled by aches even in her dreams.
Tiny, glistening tear streaks clung to her lashes in the morning light.
Her arms held Yaoyao tightly, palm pressed to the little one’s warm back, her posture radiating complete dependence and protection.
Lilia stepped softly, almost soundless, coming to the bedside.
Yaoyao seemed to sense movement and slit her red eyes open.
Seeing that it was Lilia, she showed not a trace of panic—only a flicker of playful cunning.
She carefully raised her head from Yiyi’s embrace, her movement light as a feather, and mouthed silently to Lilia: “Big Sister is still sleeping~”
The tip of her tail swayed gently, as if signaling for Lilia to come over.
Yaoyao quietly shifted, making a bit of space for Lilia.
Worried about waking Yiyi, she quickly covered her mouth with her small hand.
“Yaoyao, you go wash up first. I’ll stay with Yibao, alright?”
Yaoyao blinked her red eyes at Lilia’s gentle smile, then nodded obediently, her little head bobbing like a pecking bird.
She cautiously slipped out of Yiyi’s arms, her movements so soft that not a sound could be heard, terrified of disturbing her sleeping sister.
Her tail quietly withdrew, ceasing its movement, but as she left Yiyi’s waist, it instinctively brushed that warm patch of skin, as if saying goodbye.
“Alright~” she mouthed silently, still covering her mouth with her hand.
Her red eyes brimmed with mischievous secrets, and she tiptoed to the door like a nimble little butterfly.
Before leaving, she glanced back at the two on the bed, her eyes twinkling slyly before she softly closed the door.
“Little Yibao, stop sleeping. Wake up, now.”
“No~ I’m so tired… it’s all your fault…” Yiyi’s muffled, sticky-sweet voice rose, her lashes trembling as she slowly opened her eyes.
A sheen of mist glimmered in her gaze, and as her vision focused, a delicate light bloomed.
Dependence replaced her weariness, her voice husky as if woven from soft silk.
Lilia lifted the quilt and slipped inside, her smiling fingers gliding over Yiyi’s waist: “If you don’t get up, I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands.”
Yiyi trembled all over, shrinking deeper under the covers.
Her cheeks burned as if aflame, yet she couldn’t help but glare up at Lilia, eyes still misty and all the more endearing: “You wouldn’t dare…”
Despite her tough words, her arms instinctively circled Lilia’s waist, hugging her even tighter—as if she feared Lilia really would ‘take matters into her own hands,’ but even more, as if she couldn’t bear to let go.