The bathroom at the end of the corridor was far warmer than Yiyi had imagined.
A silver chain chandelier hung from the intricately carved dome ceiling, casting warm yellow light that shimmered across the white jade bath, sending tiny ripples of light dancing.
A few dark red blood cherry blossom petals floated on the water’s surface, and the misty steam carried a faint scent of incense.
It wasn’t overpowering; rather, it brought an inexplicable sense of relaxation.
Lilith first carried Lilia to the edge of the bath, then lightly tapped the water with her fingertip.
Instantly, the temperature shifted to a perfectly comfortable warmth.
Lilia shed her outer clothes, and the moment her little feet touched the water, she happily wiggled them, turning back to wave at Yiyi: “Yiyi~ come quickly! The water feels so nice!”
Yiyi sat on the soft stool placed beside her by Xiamir.
Her small mouth still held the pacifier tightly, and her little paws clutched Xiamir’s clothing without letting go.
She stole glances at the bath, then quickly flicked her eyes toward Lilith.
The other was gently smoothing Lilia’s silver hair, her expression warm and soft—nothing like the “vampire hag” image she had feared.
Still, Yiyi couldn’t help but feel nervous, and the tip of her tail curled into a small loop behind her.
Xiamir crouched down, lightly touching the tip of her ear with a fingertip, her voice soft and soothing: “Yibao, don’t be afraid. I’m right here, I won’t touch you, okay?”
She reached out, intending to help undo the buttons of Yiyi’s nightgown, but Yiyi abruptly shrank back, shaking her little head vigorously like a rattle.
The pacifier nearly fell from her mouth.
She quickly spit out the pacifier and hugged herself tightly.
Her short legs pulled back onto the stool, her cheeks flushed like ripe fruit, even the tips of her ears tinged pink: “Mm-mmm—I don’t want to! Go away, I—I’ll do it myself…”
Her voice was soft but urgent, trembling with a hint of embarrassment.
“Can you take it off yourself, Yibao?”
Xiamir didn’t retreat; instead, she chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in her eyes: “Or should I help you? What’s the matter? Too shy?”
“No, no! I can do it myself. Go away, go away!”
Yiyi gripped her gown even tighter, raising her voice.
Before she could protest further, Xiamir gently pressed down on her hands.
In the next instant, Yiyi heard the soft rustle of fabric, and when she realized it, her nightgown had already been removed.
“Ah—ah! Xiamir, you big pervert, you bastard!…”
Yiyi was both embarrassed and flustered, her face burning red enough to bleed.
She waved her tiny fists, trying to hit Xiamir, but was firmly caught and held close.
“Alright, alright, it’s just helping you take off your clothes.”
Xiamir patted her back with a smile, then stepped lightly toward the bath.
“Come on, Yibao, Mother will carry you to bathe.”
As the words fell, the warm water had already lapped over Yiyi’s little feet.
The comforting temperature made her swallow the complaint that had been on her lips, leaving only the gentle sway of her tail tip relaxing behind her.
Beside them, Lilia blinked at Yiyi cradled in Xiamir’s arms.
Tilting her head, she looked up at Lilith, who was holding her, and said in a cute, chubby voice: “Mother, why is Yiyi’s face all red?”
Lilith raised a hand to stroke Lilia’s head, her fingertips passing through the soft silver hair.
Her voice was as gentle as ripples on a pond: “Because little Yiyi is shy.”
Xiamir listened to their conversation, a smile spreading in her eyes.
She deliberately slowed her tone to tease the little one still not fully relaxed in her arms: “Lilia, would you like Yibao to be your little sister? If you want, Auntie can let Yibao stay with you for a few days.”
“Xiamir Auntie can really do that? Really give Yiyi to me?”
Lilia’s eyes lit up instantly, and she grabbed Lilith’s clothes excitedly, shaking her body as she cheered, “That’s wonderful! I can play in the water with Yiyi and sleep in the little bed together!”
Those words instantly flared Yiyi’s fur.
Her little fists pounded wildly in Xiamir’s arms, her face blazing as she shouted:“I don’t want that! Xiamir, you liar! You’re really going to sell me out!”
Xiamir laughed even harder, patting Yiyi’s back while coaxing, “I’m just teasing, Yibao. No one’s sending you away.”
Lilith shook her head in resignation and smoothed Lilia’s excited mood: “Mother told you, you can’t just ‘take’ someone away without permission.”
“Okay then, I thought I could have a little sister… hmm…” Lilia lowered her head, her voice full of disappointment.
At that moment, Lilith looked at Xiamir, a teasing smile playing in her eyes, and slowly said: “Xiamir, why not let those two… hmm~ try living together?”
Xiamir immediately caught on, tightening the hand holding Yiyi and smiling as she agreed, “I think that’s a good idea.”
Yiyi’s flurry of fists came to a halt.
Her cheeks quickly shifted from bright red to a soft pink, and even her tail tip gently swayed.
Lilia suddenly lifted her head, eyes sparkling like stars: “Really? Can I live with Yiyi?”
“Live together? What kind of plan are you two cooking up, Xiami?”
Yiyi snapped back to reality, glaring at Xiamir with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
Her tiny fists clenched tightly but she didn’t hit anymore.
“Oh, come on, just try it,” Xiamir pinched Yiyi’s little cheek, coaxing gently, “Yibao, you won’t lose out. Trust Mother and your Aunt Lilith—you’ll get to play with Lilia every day.”
As soon as she finished, Lilia slipped out of Lilith’s arms, lightly swimming through the water to reach Yiyi.
She reached out her two soft little hands, gently grabbing Yiyi’s hand and shaking it, her lips pursed with a touch of pleading softness: “Yiyi, please? I want to live with you in the Dragon Clan. I’m begging you, please…”
Yiyi was taken aback by the soft request.
Her tense body slowly relaxed, the pink on her cheeks deepening, her eyes flickering as she mumbled softly: “I—I… okay, but—but you can’t bite me…”
“All right, I won’t bite you, Yiyi, hehe.”
Lilia immediately smiled, showing two tiny sharp teeth, her eyes curved into crescent moons, her little hands gripping Yiyi’s hand tightly without letting go.
“All right, Lilia, now I’m going to help Yibao wash up. You move aside a bit.”
Xiamir gently pulled Lilia’s hand away and carefully carried Yiyi deeper into the water.
Picking up a soft towel soaked in warm water, she gently brushed it over Yiyi’s arm.
The towel felt soft and warm, carrying a faint incense scent as it brushed over her skin, causing Yiyi’s body to tremble sharply.
The fading blush immediately returned, flooding her cheeks again.
Even the tips of her ears burned hot, and the small heart-shaped tip of her tail snapped stiffly.
She turned her head stiffly to look at Xiamir behind her, her eyes full of embarrassment.
Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito’s hum, tinged with a slight stutter: “Xiamir , you… you bad person…”
When the towel brushed over Yiyi’s thigh, her body stiffened even more, like a hard little stone, her breath catching halfway.
Her cheeks were so red it looked as though they might bleed.
Her already faint voice was caught in her throat, leaving only small gasps.
She instinctively tried to pull her legs back, but Xiamir gently pressed her knee down.
Her movements were softer still, and she soothed in a gentle voice: “Yibao, be good. It’ll be over soon. It won’t hurt.”
Nearby, Lilia tilted her head curiously, watching Yiyi’s tense form and quietly asked Lilith: “Mother, why isn’t Yiyi moving? Is she not feeling well?”
Lilith smiled helplessly and gently covered her eyes: “Don’t peek. Yiyi is just embarrassed.”