Morning light streamed gently through the bed curtains, casting its soft glow across the sleeping face of the blonde girl.
A few strands of golden hair lay scattered beside her pillow, and within arm’s reach on the nightstand sat a cute Pink Porcelain Vase, holding a lovely bouquet of Blue Violet Dried Flowers.
Suddenly, the tranquil morning was broken by a chorus of birdsong from outside the window.
The blonde girl’s eyelids fluttered atop the white sheets. She lazily turned over, her arm reaching out instinctively for the space beside her—only to grasp at a patch of cool emptiness.
Huh? Where’s Lingling?
Yuan Zhixian blinked her eyes open in a daze and looked to her side. There was no familiar sleeping face, only a faint indentation in the sheets.
“Haah—”
The golden-haired girl stretched like a lazy cat, wiggling under the covers before straightening her limbs and finally getting out of bed to head outside.
“Lingling, why are you up so early today?”
“Hm? What’s that smell?”
Yuan Zhixian shuffled out of the bedroom in her slippers and quickly caught a strange burnt odor in the air.
“Cough, cough, cough, Zhixian, cough, cough, cough, you’re awake?”
Her answer came as Su Ling stumbled out of the kitchen, clutching a spatula. Ash smeared across her fair cheeks, and her once sleek black hair was a tangled mess—some strands even looked singed at the tips.
“Uh, Lingling, what are you doing?”
Yuan Zhixian looked hesitantly at the disheveled Su Ling.
“Um, Zhixian, I—I just wanted to try making you breakfast, but looking at it now… I think I messed it up…”
The black-haired girl lowered her head, still gripping the spatula, a little crestfallen.
“Huh?”
Yuan Zhixian was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh.
“Lingling, if you wanted to learn to cook, why didn’t you just tell me? I could’ve taught you.”
“I… I just thought maybe… I could… surprise you…”
The more she spoke, the lower the black-haired girl’s head drooped.
“All right, all right, Lingling, I get it and I appreciate your kindness.”
Yuan Zhixian took the spatula from Su Ling’s hand, then unhesitatingly planted a kiss on her ash-blackened cheek.
“For now, leave the kitchen to me, okay? You go freshen up in the bathroom and I’ll handle breakfast today.”
“If you want to learn how to cook, I’ll give you a proper lesson tomorrow, step by step.”
“Mm, okay…”
Su Ling’s face, made comical by the ash, suddenly burned bright red. The smudges only stood out more against her flushed skin, making her look both adorable and helpless.
“T-then I’ll go to the bathroom first!”
“Pfft—”
Watching the black-haired girl flee at lightning speed, Yuan Zhixian couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Honestly, how can someone be this cute first thing in the morning…
Shaking her head, the blonde girl turned her gaze to the disaster zone that was now the kitchen.
Hmm… So, what should I make for breakfast this morning…
Though she felt a bit troubled, she was still quite happy as she began to prepare today’s breakfast.
“Since the kitchen was a mess, I was afraid that cleaning up first and then cooking would make you late for work, Lingling, so I just made sandwiches. Oh, and by the way, I boiled the eggs for the sandwiches in the electric kettle.”
The blonde girl set down a stack of sandwiches and two glasses of milk, her tone brimming with pride at her thoughtfulness.
“Mm, thank you, Zhixian.”
“But, Zhixian, I actually don’t have work today…”
Su Ling’s words came out a bit hesitant.
“Huh? But isn’t today a workday?”
Yuan Zhixian froze.
“Did I get the days mixed up?”
“No, it’s just… Actually, I wanted to… cough, I wanted to spend a day at home with you, so I took a day off.”
Su Ling explained awkwardly.
“Ohhh, you should’ve told me, Lingling. I could’ve made an even bigger breakfast.”
Nodding in understanding, Yuan Zhixian picked up a sandwich and took a bite.
“Sorry, Zhixian, but your sandwiches are really delicious too.”
The black-haired girl across from her also picked up a sandwich and took a bite.
“Aiya, it was a special case today. I only used ready-to-eat ingredients for the sandwiches—I didn’t even turn on the stove, so don’t praise me too much.”
Despite her words, the blonde girl’s face bloomed with a bright smile.
“Um, Zhixian, since I don’t have work today, I’ll stay home and play games with you.”
After the meal, Su Ling stood up to clear the dishes and then made her suggestion to Yuan Zhixian.
“Sure, sure!”
Yuan Zhixian nodded, walked over, and hugged the black-haired girl from behind as she was tidying the table. Grinning up at her, she said:
“Let’s keep playing ‘It Takes Two’ today! This time, we have to beat it!”
“Mm, okay…”
Held tight, the black-haired girl responded with a soft stammer, her small earlobes turning a transparent red.
“So, this must be the grand finale, right? Next, Mei should sing a song, then she and Cody will make up and return to the real world?”
Sitting together on the spacious E-sports Chair, Yuan Zhixian squeezed in next to Su Ling, controller in hand, watching the computer screen with interest and speculating about the final scenes of the game.
Sure enough, just as the girl had guessed, the game’s CG showed Cody turning on the speakers as Mei stepped onto the stage and picked up the microphone.
Amidst the glow of neon lights and Mei’s beautiful singing, the couple slowly floated upward, embracing in a deep kiss as brilliant fireworks blossomed in the background.
Gulp.
Yuan Zhixian swallowed, staring blankly at the screen as her cheeks began to heat up. She instinctively glanced at the black-haired girl beside her—just as Su Ling turned to look at her.
Their gazes met in the warm, golden air, as if strands of sugar were silently melting between them.
The warmth of that in-game kiss seemed to spread, silently weaving itself between the two of them.
The blonde girl spoke softly, her voice a little hoarse.
“Can I kiss you, too?”
“Mm…”
The black-haired girl replied shyly, her face burning even hotter.
Yuan Zhixian put down the game controller, turned, and slowly leaned in toward the black-haired girl.
Their soft lips met, and the way they had been sitting side by side now drew them close, pressed tightly together.
“Mmph!”
Su Ling’s eyes suddenly flew wide open. Her fingers instinctively clenched at the hem of Yuan Zhixian’s shirt, feeling a hesitant yet eager exploration—soft and sweet as candy—tracing her lips.
In a breathless moment, Yuan Zhixian gently parted the trembling lips, her soft tongue slipping inside.
The E-sports Chair creaked softly amid the gentle sounds of mingling, the two girls tangled close together.
***
After a long while, the blonde girl finally pulled back, a thread of silver briefly linking their lips.
Yuan Zhixian cupped Su Ling’s burning cheeks, pressing her forehead to hers and gazing into those moist black eyes, giggling softly:
“Heehee, Lingling, you taste so sweet.”
Ah, how could Lingling be so kissable? If she hadn’t started having trouble breathing, I wouldn’t have wanted to let go at all…
Blinking, the blonde girl licked her own dewy lips.
Maybe, if I just kiss Lingling more often, she’ll be able to hold on longer each time…
Yuan Zhixian mused to herself.
“T-that, Zhixian, I, I…”
“Hmm?”
The blonde girl tilted her head.
“I, um, shouldn’t we be practicing drawing now? I—I’ll go change my clothes!”
The black-haired girl shrank away, slipping down from the chair and fleeing in a panic.