Chapter 22: Ice

Li Huayu looked at the Golden-haired Girl in front of her, hands on her hips, speaking threatening words in a childish voice.

She wasn’t scared at all.

Instead, she found it adorable.

But then she remembered who the other party was and quickly waved her hands to explain.

“Lady Moonlight Witch, I didn’t mean it like that. I just want to repay Luo Tianyou. I can do chores, run errands, I’m willing to do anything.”

“Oh?”

Yuexia Liuli walked unsteadily to Li Huayu, raised her head, and her big golden eyes sparkled.

“So, you want to be this family’s maid?”

“Ah? You could say that…”

Li Huayu nodded instinctively.

“Hmm~~~”

Yuexia Liuli dragged out her childish tone, circling around her.

“Average aptitude, weak magic, but looks pretty nice, easy on the eyes. However, my standards are high. At the very least, you need to master music, chess, calligraphy, painting, handle both the living room and the kitchen, and warm the bed…”

“Yuexia Liuli, what are you talking about!”

Luo Tianyou became annoyed.

Just because you turned into a young girl and became cute doesn’t mean you can act recklessly.

Annoying is still annoying.

A Bad Dog is a Strange Dog. If you don’t discipline them, they become a handful.

Yuexia Liuli immediately turned her head, pouted, and cried out,

“Master! You’re scolding me for this New Wild Cat who just arrived! You’re actually scolding me! Wuwuwu…”

She fake-cried while running over on her short legs, hugging Luo Tianyou’s thigh tightly, burying her small face in between, her shoulders trembling as she sniffled.

Luo Tianyou: “……”

Here we go again.

Li Huayu covered her face, her bright eyes peeking out.

Was this the legendary Moonlight Witch’s true personality in private?

“Let go of me!”

Luo Tianyou tried to pry Yuexia Liuli off.

“No! Master is biased! You have a new favorite and forgot the old one! Wuwuwu…”

Yuexia Liuli rubbed her small face against Luo Tianyou’s thigh, her voice muffled.

Watching this scene, Li Huayu’s initial tension and restraint faded away, and she even felt a bit like laughing.

“Lady Moonlight Witch, I really just want to help, no other intentions.”

“Wuwuwu….wuwu….”

Yuexia Liuli, still hugging Luo Tianyou’s thigh and fake-crying, gradually quieted down, her small head nodding off until only the sound of even, soft breathing remained.

She had fallen asleep again.

After experiencing intense battle and the Sealing Ritual, plus the price of activating the Star Progenitor, even if her body shrank to recover, that soul-deep fatigue was still hard to resist.

Luo Tianyou felt the weight and steady breathing on her leg, looked down at this delicate little pendant, and sighed helplessly.

A shrunken Yuexia Liuli was even more unreasonable than a big dog, more like a Bad Dog.

She bent down and picked up Yuexia Liuli again.

The little one instinctively sought a familiar source of warmth in her sleep, her small head tilted, resting on Luo Tianyou’s chest, smacking her lips as she fell into a deeper sleep.

“She…fell asleep again?”

Li Huayu asked softly.

“Side effect of power exhaustion.”

Luo Tianyou carried Yuexia Liuli to the bedroom, carefully laid her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

Returning to the living room, Luo Tianyou looked at Li Huayu, who seemed a bit uneasy, and pondered for a moment.

“If you want to stay with me, that’s fine. But your previous actions need to be formally recorded and handled by the Administration Bureau. I can’t exempt you from that.”

Li Huayu’s gaze dimmed, but she nodded.

“I understand. I’m willing to accept the Bureau’s judgment, whatever it may be.”

It was a past she had to face.

“Alright, once things settle down here and the C City Bureau resumes normal operations, I’ll go with you. Until then, you can stay with me.”

“Thank you, Luo Tianyou.”

Li Huayu knew this was already the best possible outcome.

“No need to thank me.”

Luo Tianyou shook her head, picked up her package, and walked to the window.

“Rest for now. I have things to deal with.”

“Okay, don’t worry, I won’t disturb you.”

Li Huayu sat on a single sofa nearby.

Luo Tianyou opened her package in front of her and carefully examined her mother’s belongings.

Aside from the diary she’d already read, there were a few scattered items: a Feather Pen, some yellowed Old Photos, and several Pink Tablets.

There didn’t seem to be anything special about the pen or the photos for now.

Only the Pink Tablets stood out.

They were stored in a small Glass Bottle, with no label on the bottle.

Only a line of neat handwriting from her mother Floran:

[Youyou’s Happy Growth Candy~ Use in emergencies, half a tablet at a time, don’t be greedy~ (づ￣ 3￣)づ]

What was its effect?

A strong curiosity arose in Luo Tianyou.

She recalled her mother mentioning in the diary to “open the box if you encounter unsolvable troubles,” but hadn’t specified the purpose of each item inside.

Perhaps she wanted her to discover it herself.

Luo Tianyou took out a Pink Tablet and examined it in her palm.

Under the setting sun streaming through the window, the tablet reflected a faint sheen.

Was it for magic recovery? Or healing injuries?

Or…did it have some other strange effect?

Given her mother’s eccentric personality, leaving something bizarre wouldn’t be surprising.

But surely she wouldn’t leave something harmful to her own child, right?

Li Huayu sat quietly on the sofa, watching Luo Tianyou with curiosity.

Luo Tianyou hesitated, then decided to give it a try.

She picked up a bottle of unopened Mineral Water, unscrewed the cap, and dropped the Pink Tablet in.

The tablet dissolved instantly, leaving almost no residue.

The clear water turned into a bubbly pink liquid, emitting a sweet, enticing Strawberry Scent.

“What is that?”

Li Huayu couldn’t help but ask quietly.

“I don’t know. Mother left it.”

Luo Tianyou shook her head, gently swirling the bottle.

The pink liquid shimmered inside, bubbles clinging to the glass, making it look like an ordinary bottle of Strawberry Soda.

She brought the bottle closer to her nose and sniffed.

The sweet strawberry aroma grew stronger, with a relaxing magic that seemed to dispel all fatigue and anxiety.

Maybe just a sip? A small sip shouldn’t hurt, right?

Mother would never harm her daughter.

Um…even if she pranked her son once, it can’t happen again.

Luo Tianyou still trusted her mother from the bottom of her heart.

Somehow, once the thought appeared, it became irresistible.

She raised the bottle to her lips and took a small sip.

The liquid was cool, sweet, and fragrant with strawberries, smooth and delicate—better than any drink she’d ever had.

There was no surge of magic or sudden transformation as she’d feared.

Instead, a comforting, relaxing sensation spread through her.

The days of tension, fatigue, and even the grievance and embarrassment from Yuexia Liuli’s bullying all melted away with that sweet sip, making her just want to lie on the sofa and enjoy the sunset outside.

Luo Tianyou blinked, her violet eyes shimmering with a hint of daze.

She licked her lips, savoring the taste, then took another small sip.

This time, a subtle happiness welled up, making her squint slightly and her lips curl into a relaxed, sweet smile.

She felt light and content, and everything around her seemed more pleasing.

Li Huayu stared at Luo Tianyou’s relaxed, almost silly sweet smile, stunned.

At that moment, Luo Tianyou was like a cat stretching in the sunlight, radiating a soft, alluring aura that made people want to bury themselves in her stomach and snuggle against her thighs.

“Is it really that tasty?”

Li Huayu’s curiosity was piqued.

“Yeah.”

Luo Tianyou nodded, handing over the bottle with a dreamy look.

“You should have a sip too. It tastes amazing.”

Li Huayu hesitated, but looking at Luo Tianyou’s pure, mesmerized eyes and the sweet aroma in the air, she couldn’t help but take the bottle and try a sip.

Instantly, the same comfort and happiness enveloped her.

Years of fear, inferiority, and uncertainty about the future seemed to be washed away by the mysterious liquid.

She felt her whole body relax, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush.

“So magical…”

Li Huayu exclaimed, taking another small sip.

“Don’t drink it all—save me a sip.”

The two girls continued, taking turns with the bottle until, without realizing it, they finished the entire bottle of pink liquid.

Luo Tianyou reluctantly set down the empty bottle, feeling pleasantly light and lazy.

She leaned against the sofa armrest, her blue hair cascading down, her eyes moist and dreamy.

She gazed at Li Huayu and suddenly asked a random question.

“Li Huayu, do you think I’m cute?”

Immersed in the floating happiness and relaxation, Li Huayu nodded.

“Cute! Very cute! You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen!”

Luo Tianyou beamed with satisfaction.

She beckoned with her finger.

“Then come here. Let me see you up close.”

Li Huayu, as if bewitched, obediently leaned closer.

Luo Tianyou reached out, cupping Li Huayu’s face, studying her carefully.

Her soft fingers gently caressed the other’s delicate skin, and a special desire shimmered in her eyes.

“You’re cute too…”

She whispered, her breath carrying the sweet Strawberry Scent as she slowly leaned in with a pout.