Even so, she subconsciously shrank her shoulders, letting that sore spot lean into Lilia’s embrace.
The tip of her tail quietly wrapped around Lilia’s wrist, coiling tighter and tighter, as if clinging on to something important.
“I don’t even know where you learned all those things….”
“Don’t ask about this little Yibao.”
Lilia smiled, her fingertip gently tracing circles and kneading the red mark on her shoulder, the touch so tender it seemed it could draw water from a stone.
“Anyway, Yibao, you were certainly enjoying yourself, weren’t you?”
“You’re awful… I wasn’t enjoying it at all…. You’re awful… I wasn’t enjoying it at all…”
Yiyi’s cheeks instantly burned even hotter, and she sank deeper into the bath, only half her head peeking out.
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, tinged with a shy, aggrieved sob, her words ending with a nasal hint of grievance.
“All right, you should go out… I’ll wash the rest myself….”
“Don’t push yourself, little Yibao.”
Lilia softened her touch even further, her fingertip caressing the red mark on her shoulder.
“I know you little she-dragon too well—your mouth is tougher than your body.”
She bent down, resting her chin on Yiyi’s damp hair, her voice as soft as a plum petal soaked in warm water.
“The mark on your shoulder hasn’t faded yet, and you can’t reach your back by yourself. Be good, let me help you wash for five more minutes. Once we’re done, I’ll take you to breakfast, all right?”
“Okay…”
Yiyi’s voice was as faint as a whisper, tinged with bashful compromise, shrinking further into Lilia’s arms, the tip of her tail gently hooking around Lilia’s wrist under the water, as if answering this gentleness.
Lilia’s eyes were filled with gentle laughter.
Her fingers slid slowly down along Yiyi’s waist, just about to touch a sensitive spot when Yiyi suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“Wait…”
Her voice trembled with urgency, cheeks red enough to drip blood, eyelashes fluttering in panic as her eyes darted away, not daring to meet Lilia’s gaze.
“I’ll wash here myself… Don’t touch me, Lilia….”
Lilia paused, a knowing indulgence flashing through her eyes.
She didn’t force her at all, instead following Yiyi’s lead and withdrawing her hand, her fingertip gently rubbing the delicate scales where Yiyi’s tail had wrapped around her.
“All right, whatever Yibao says.”
She picked up a clean cotton washcloth from the side and handed it over, her voice especially soft, laced with careful respect.
“Take your time, don’t rush.”
Yiyi quickly grabbed the washcloth and clutched it in front of herself, her face almost burying itself in the water, leaving only the tips of her red ears and a stretch of fair neck above the surface, her voice barely audible.
“Mm…”
She sneaked a peek at Lilia, saw her obediently sitting at the edge of the bath, eyes gazing at the distant carved window lattice and not looking her way on purpose, finally relaxing a little.
Her fingertips trembled as she scrubbed herself, her movements clumsy and flustered.
The tip of her tail curled up nervously under the water, and every time it accidentally brushed against Lilia’s ankle, it would spring away like a startled rabbit.
This only made the smile in Lilia’s eyes deepen, though she never spoke to disturb her.
When Yiyi finally finished her clumsy washing, Lilia immediately picked up a fresh, white bathrobe, walked over, and gently wrapped her up.
The bathrobe’s fluff brushed her skin, bringing with it the warmth of sunlight.
She bent down and carried her in her arms, her movements steady as if she was holding a fragile piece of glass: “All right, let’s go have breakfast.”
Yiyi instinctively tightened her arms around Lilia’s neck, her cheek pressed to the warmth of Lilia’s collar.
The scent of plum blossoms on the bathrobe and Lilia’s own scent mingled, filling her with inexplicable peace.
Her ears were still tinged red, and the tip of her tail sneaked out from under the bathrobe’s hem, coiling tightly around Lilia’s wrist once more.
Walking down the corridor padded with soft carpet, the warm aroma from the dining room drifted to them early on.
As the door was pushed open, Yiyi subconsciously looked up, just in time to see Xiamier sitting at the table, cradling little Yaoyao and patiently feeding her dragon milk with a silver spoon.
Azé was sitting to the side, fiddling with a jade pendant in her hand.
“Yibao, you’re here?”
Xiamier was the first to look up, a bright smile blooming on her face, her tone carrying a hint of mystery.
“I just happen to have something to tell you, little Yibao.”
Yiyi’s cheeks instantly reddened even further, and she shrank into Lilia’s arms without thinking.
The tip of her tail also curled tighter, winding Lilia’s wrist even more firmly.
Lilia glanced down at the bashful little one in her arms, her eyes gentle with laughter.
She slowed her steps as they reached the table, carefully setting Yiyi down on a cushioned stool before sitting beside her, her fingertips naturally resting at Yiyi’s waist, gently shielding her.
“What is it?”
Yiyi looked up, her lashes still damp, her voice as soft as newly shelled sticky rice, the ending slightly trembling.
Xiamier put down the silver spoon and patted Yaoyao’s back softly.
Her smile grew even brighter, but her tone carried a touch of expectation: “In a couple of days, it’ll be the annual clan trial. You, Yaoyao, and Azé all have to participate. Bring home a first place for me, all right?”
“Azé has to participate too?”
Yiyi froze, confusion spreading in her eyes as she instinctively turned to look at Azé sitting beside her.
Maybe Azé’s earlier teasing had stirred her competitive spirit.
Yiyi puffed out her cheeks, shot Azé a quick glance, and muttered in a small voice: “With a dummy like her? Tch.”
Azé’s hand paused on the jade pendant.
She looked up at Yiyi, a trace of surprise in her eyes, then hooked her lips in a teasing smile: “Oh? So in the little dummy’s eyes, I’m a big dummy?”
“I’m not a little dummy!”
Yiyi instantly bristled, her cheeks reddening furiously, the tip of her tail rising in indignation.
“All right, all right. This time, Yiyi and Yaoyao will be in the hatchling group, Azé in the juvenile group.”
Xiamier smiled as she smoothed things over, gently tapping Yaoyao’s soft cheek with her fingertip.
“The hatchling trial isn’t hard—you just need to defeat cubs your own size. The juveniles have to make their opponent submit. Azé, you can handle that, right?”
Azé ground her finger against the jade pendant, the playful smile at her lips sharpening instantly.
Her tone was drawn out, lazy, yet held an unshakable certainty: “Make them submit? Easy.”
She swept her eyes across Yiyi’s puffed-up face, a hint of provocation flashing beneath her gaze.
“As for certain little dummies, don’t go crying on the ground in the hatchling group. If you do, I’ll have to step in and save you.”
“Who needs you to save me!”
Yiyi slapped the table, making the cushion wobble, her cheeks so red they could drip blood.
“I’ll definitely defeat all those cubs and win first place just to show you!”
She clenched her little fists, the tips of her dragon horns glowing faintly red—obviously she was truly riled up—yet the tip of her tail unconsciously wrapped around Lilia’s wrist.
“Everyone, prepare well. Yibao, later you and Luoli will learn how to switch between human and dragon forms, understand? The hatchling group will be competing in their cub forms.”
“Human form… transformation?”
Yiyi’s clenched fists suddenly loosened, the red glow at the tips of her horns dimming, her eyes full of confusion.
The tip of her tail wrapped even tighter around Lilia.
“But last time it was Lilia who forced it out of me. I don’t know how to do it myself…”
“That’s why you’re going to learn with Luoli, little Yibao.”
Xiamier reached out to ruffle her hair.