Chapter 24: This is a case of “protesting too much.”

Why do I feel so good when Lilia bites me!?

What on earth am I doing!?

“Lilia, get up now. You’ve already bitten me, so you can’t bite me again, or I’ll get really mad.”

Yiyi repeated herself, her voice with a hint of childish ferocity, but the blush on her cheeks gave away that she wasn’t truly angry.

“I don’t want to. If Yiyi doesn’t feed me enough today, I won’t get up.”

Hearing Lilia’s words, Yiyi’s face grew even redder.

She twisted her body, her small hands pushing at Lilia’s shoulder.

Despite her attempts at sounding fierce, there was a trace of flustered uncertainty in her tone: “Y-you’re being unreasonable! I said just once, why are you taking it further!?”

But her pushing was light as a feather, completely lacking any threat.

Under her skirt, her heart-shaped tail tip swayed ever so slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Lilia acted as if she hadn’t heard, instead burying her head in the crook of Yiyi’s neck, nuzzling gently against the uninjured side of her skin, her voice sticky-sweet, coaxing like a spoiled child: “Yibao’s blood is the sweetest. Just one more tiny taste, I promise, just a little! Once I’m done, I’ll get up and even massage your little wound, okay?”

As she spoke, she deliberately stuck out her tongue, lightly licking Yiyi’s earlobe.

Yiyi shuddered as if struck by a current, her little hand clutching the skirt even tighter, eyes shimmering with a watery gleam, both shy and anxious: “S-stop licking me! It’s so ticklish…”

Seeing her like this, Lilia’s smile deepened, but she pretended not to notice, continuing to plead softly: “Then promise me, Yibao, and I won’t lick anymore. And I swear, this time I’ll be gentle, it definitely won’t hurt~”

Yiyi bit her lower lip, her mind in chaos—she knew she should refuse firmly, but Lilia’s soft, pleading voice and that weirdly tingling sensation from earlier left her completely unable to harden her heart.

She turned her head, muttering softly, “F-fine, but only this once. Never again after this!”

Lilia knelt on the sofa, one arm steadily wrapped around Yiyi’s shoulders, her other hand gently clasping Yiyi’s right hand, firmly encircling her in front of her.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt, just one bite.”

Yiyi pressed her lips together nervously, the blush on her cheeks still lingering.

Under her skirt, the heart-shaped tail tip couldn’t help but sway in secret.

“Mmm…”

The next moment, Lilia lowered her head slightly, warm breath brushing past Yiyi’s neck, carrying her unique soft sweetness.

She wasn’t as hasty as before.

Instead, she nuzzled Yiyi’s delicate skin with the tip of her nose, as if seeking out the gentlest spot.

Then, she slowly opened her mouth, her soft lips gently touching that spot before carefully giving a light bite.

There was no sharp pain, only a perfectly sweet tingling, mixed with the warmth of their closeness.

“Uh…”

Yiyi trembled all over, instinctively trying to shrink her neck, but Lilia held her even tighter.

Her hand clutching the skirt tightened unconsciously, a watery shine gathering in her eyes.

It wasn’t from pain, but from that numb, tingling feeling spreading from her neck, throwing her heartbeat into chaos.

Soon, Lilia released her mouth, extending her tongue to gently lick the spot she’d just bitten.

After finishing, she looked up, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Yiyi, her voice soft and sweet: “Yibao, see? It doesn’t hurt at all, right? Let me rub it for you~”

As she spoke, her warm palm covered Yiyi’s neck, gently massaging in circles.

Yiyi turned her head away, dodging her gaze, mumbling softly: “I get it, I get it. I already said this is the last time!” But her words had long lost their conviction, completely swept away by that sweet tingling sensation.

Oh no, oh no, why did it feel even better than last time… How could my heart be pounding like this from being “bitten”?

Lilia’s hand on her neck was so warm, and that patch of skin still seemed to tingle and burn with the memory of her lips and tongue.

I said it’d be the last time, but now all I can think about is how soft she was when she nuzzled my neck.

And that sticky “Yibao”… Why don’t I want to refuse her at all?

If she acts spoiled again next time, will I still be unable to say no?

No, no, Noel, you have to be firm!

But… that mix of shyness and sweetness is really a little addictive, what do I do?

“Yibao, why is your face so red?”

Lilia noticed her distraction, reaching out to gently touch her cheek.

“N-no reason!”

Yiyi dodged in a panic, but her mind was even more confused:

That mix of shyness and sweetness really is a little addictive, what should I do?

“Really?”

Lilia nuzzled the two spots on Yiyi’s neck she’d just bitten, warm breath sweeping over them with that sweet softness, like little fluffy feathers tickling her heart.

Yiyi stiffened up again, instinctively shrinking back, but Lilia only hugged her tighter.

Her hand was squeezing the skirt so hard it nearly wrinkled the fabric, her cheeks were red enough to burn, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s: “O-of course it’s true! Stop nuzzling…”

Just then, the office door was gently pushed open, footsteps approaching with the warmth of the morning sun.

Lilith had just walked in and immediately saw the two little ones snuggled together on the sofa.

Lilia had her head buried in Yiyi’s neck, one hand tightly holding Yiyi’s neck, while Yiyi’s face was bright red, her panicked gaze darting to the door like a startled little animal caught in the act.

It’s over!

Lilith saw us—if she tells Xiamir, I’ll be teased to death by Xiamir!?

“What are you two doing?”

Lilith’s voice was laced with amusement, yet there was a subtle note of scrutiny underneath.

She strolled over to the sofa, her gaze falling on the two faint red marks on Yiyi’s neck, her brow furrowing ever so slightly.

Hearing the voice, Lilia jerked her head up, her playful, spoiled demeanor vanishing instantly as she sat up straight, though her hand instinctively stayed protectively on Yiyi’s shoulder, as if to hide something: “M-mother, I was rubbing Yibao’s neck for her. She accidentally bumped it earlier.”

As she spoke, she shot Yiyi a quick look.

Yiyi’s heart jumped, and she hurriedly nodded along, her voice still breathless and stammering: “Y-yeah, I bumped it earlier, Lilia was helping me rub it…”

The words had barely left her lips before she pursed them in regret, her cheeks burning even more fiercely.

Those marks were clearly bite marks, not from any “bump.”

“So that’s what happened. And is it all better now?”

Lilith asked with a smile, but her gaze, filled with understanding, lingered on the two little ones pressed so closely together.

These two little darlings, so close at such a young age… I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up just like me and Xiamir in the future.

That clingy sweetness is already so familiar.

I have to…

Yiyi was caught off guard by the question, instinctively clutching her skirt, the blush on her cheeks still bright.

She could only quietly play along: “B-better now…”

The heart-shaped tip of her tail curled nervously under her skirt, terrified of being found out.

Lilia hurriedly nodded as well, even patting Yiyi’s shoulder on purpose, trying to look as “considerate” as possible: “That’s right, Mother, I was super serious! Yibao even said it doesn’t hurt!”

As she spoke, she shot a sideways glance at Yiyi, her eyes full of “Hurry up and cooperate!” signals.

Lilith looked at the two little ones, so obviously guilty, and couldn’t help but curve her lips, choosing not to expose their little lie.

She reached out to gently pat Yiyi’s head, then rubbed Lilia’s hair, her tone indulgent yet helpless: “Since it’s all better, don’t just stay huddled up on the sofa all day. Let Tvangras (or Duanglas ) take you both out for a walk.”