Another lively night passed, and time moved on to the next day.
Xing Lian had thought Yue Li would find some other amusement, but surprisingly, she had bought stockings again.
She seemed to have a particular fondness for seeing Xing Lian wear such things, which struck Xing Lian as a bit odd.
Though, truth be told, she herself had grown to like them quite a bit.
With the stockings on, her lower body felt snugly wrapped, warm and strangely comforting.
After being forced to wear them for half a month, she had gradually come to enjoy the sensation.
Not wearing them actually felt uncomfortable now.
‘Hmm, these things seem to have some kind of magic.’
Xing Lian’s mind wandered with idle thoughts.
***
One month later.
Xing Lian opened her eyes and sat up in bed, lazily stretching with a yawn.
The space beside her was empty.
No one was there.
Checking the time, she saw it was almost noon.
Yue Li must have woken up long ago and was probably making lunch for her right now.
Xing Lian’s guess was correct.
Yue Li was indeed in the kitchen preparing lunch.
After finishing various nutritious dishes meant to fortify the body, she returned to their shared bedroom.
“You’re awake.”
As soon as she entered, she saw Xing Lian sitting dazedly on the bed, her eyes staring blankly ahead.
“Mhm.”
Xing Lian responded softly, her expression listless and drained.
She had been tossed about too much last night, leaving her feeling utterly exhausted.
To be honest, if it were just one night, she could probably manage.
But after so many consecutive days, she was starting to reach her limit.
Ever since Yue Li became obsessed with changing her outfits, Xing Lian had endured a very taxing routine every single night.
Lasting this long was already a miracle.
She used to somewhat enjoy being teased, even liked the feeling.
But now, she was afraid of it, even beginning to dread the nights.
Although Yue Li would sometimes tease her during the day too, it was never as excessive as at night.
Seeing Xing Lian in a daze, Yue Li grew concerned.
‘What’s wrong with the little one? Didn’t she just rest? Why does she look so listless? Could it be that I’ve been teasing her too much lately, wearing her body out?’
Thinking this, Yue Li lifted Xing Lian out from under the covers and began dressing her, putting on her shoes.
Having been with Xing Lian for so long, she had long grown accustomed to being served by her.
Xing Lian skillfully extended her arms, lifted her hips, making it easier for Yue Li to dress her.
Once fully dressed, her face flushed a little.
Back when she was blind and couldn’t see, not knowing how to put on girls’ clothes made being dressed by Yue Li feel natural, even expected.
But now she could see and had learned how to wear feminine attire.
Having someone else still help her felt a bit… unacceptable.
However…
Yue Li herself hadn’t said anything about it.
In fact, she seemed to enjoy it.
If Xing Lian brought it up now, wouldn’t she just be ruining her fun?
Choosing silence, Xing Lian took Yue Li’s hand and walked with her to the vanity.
They washed their faces, combed their hair, applied a bit of skincare, and then went to the living room for lunch.
Lunch was sumptuous, filled with all her favorite comforting foods.
Xing Lian ate with great delight.
After lunch, the two went for a walk to aid digestion, then sat together chatting.
As they chatted, the sky grew dark.
Following their usual routine, it was time to prepare dinner, and after that… came the nighttime activities.
The thought of the nighttime activities made Xing Lian’s body shiver slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Noticing the shiver, Yue Li asked curiously.
“I… I… It’s nothing.” Xing Lian hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back.
She had intended to be honest about her situation, to say she couldn’t take much more.
But her former pride as a man reared its head, and the words remained unspoken.
She would soon regret this deeply.
That night, being tossed and turned, she truly couldn’t bear it anymore.
The thought of this happening every single day from now on extinguished any remaining will to endure.
Xing Lian cried and begged for mercy.
Her tears shocked Yue Li.
And then…
The teasing became even more excessive.
That night, Xing Lian was thoroughly tormented.
In contrast, Yue Li was immensely satisfied, enjoying herself tremendously.
‘The little one’s tear-streaked face, her soft sobs… it’s just too enticing. It gave me such a novel experience.’
However, this pleasurable experience did not come without a price.
The next day, when Xing Lian woke up, she was cold and distant, crying and declaring that Yue Li wasn’t allowed in bed for three days.
‘Not allowed in bed for three days? Impossible!’
Yue Li, of course, refused to agree, but Xing Lian was adamant.
Seeing her cry and make a fuss, Yue Li was at a loss and could only reluctantly agree.
Xing Lian hadn’t expected that making a scene would yield such a benefit.
That night, they slept together, but without any ‘activities.’
The long-awaited rest moved Xing Lian almost to tears.
Since throwing a tantrum could get her this benefit, Xing Lian decided to cast aside her pride.
Over the next few days, Xing Lian used various excuses to reject intimacy.
Whenever Yue Li tried to push for it, Xing Lian dared to make a scene, leaving Yue Li utterly miserable.
‘My beloved is right beside me, yet I can look but not touch. This is truly a sweet torture.’
The last time she endured such torment was when they had first met.
Now, having fully tasted Xing Lian’s sweetness, she found it unbearable.
But bear it she must.
She couldn’t ignore Xing Lian’s wishes.
Yue Li took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and forced herself to endure.
Once she had endured, she began to ponder carefully.
‘Why is Xing Lian acting like this? Why is she so resistant to me?’
Yue Li was no fool.
She quickly discerned Xing Lian’s intent: she simply didn’t want to be intimate.
After a bit of probing, she soon understood her thoughts.
It wasn’t unwillingness, but inability.
‘As I thought, the little one’s body is too weak. I really do have to wait for her to grow up a bit more.’
Speaking of growing up, Yue Li felt her face grow warm.
The little one was only one hundred and fifty-five centimeters tall, with a petite figure and a youthful, almost childlike face.
It was clear she hadn’t been out of the ‘cub’ stage for long.
‘Teasing her like this… my conscience stings a little.’
‘But this isn’t my fault. It was Fei who started it all. She’s the shameless, despicable one.’
Shifting the blame in her heart, Yue Li began thinking of a solution.
The little one’s physical weakness was severely impacting her own happy life.
She had to find a way to cure it, or at least bring her up to a normal level of health.
She wanted to inquire around the city, to see if there were any treasures that could enhance constitution, or perhaps rare fruits and herbs.
But she was very poor right now.
Even if she could find such treasures, she lacked the money to buy them.
“I must find a way to save up money.”
Yue Li deeply regretted now that when she left, she hadn’t brought any valuables.
If she had brought treasures, she wouldn’t be in such a difficult position.
Knowing what Xing Lian feared, and needing money, Yue Li didn’t tease Xing Lian much over the next month.
Even on the rare occasions she did, it was gentle and tender, nothing like the excesses of before.
Xing Lian felt considerably more at ease, but also found it strange.
‘Why has her temperament suddenly changed?’
Last time Yue Li left early and returned late, it was to save money to buy her a necklace.
What about this time?
Curious, Xing Lian asked.
Yue Li didn’t hide it.
Things that could boost favorability were never something she’d miss.
“Buying me treasures to enhance my constitution?”
Xing Lian was astonished.
Providing her with food and clothing, caring for her gently, restoring her sight to this world, and now even worrying about her physical health…
Faced with such devotion from Yue Li, Xing Lian was deeply moved.