“Is it fate…?”
Bai Linlin’s voice was muffled in the steam, so soft it was almost inaudible.
The Xiran behind her didn’t answer.
The shower water continued to pour with a steady rush, and the white mist from the hot water grew thicker, enveloping the entire bathroom in a hazy veil.
Bai Linlin kept her eyes closed.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to open them—she didn’t dare.
Opening her eyes meant facing everything: what had just happened, that “forgive me,” and the complete set of memories that had just returned to her, the full life belonging to “Bai Linlin.”
At that moment, a warm hand gently stroked her cheek.
Fingertips glided over her wet skin, from cheekbone to chin, the touch incredibly light, as if handling something fragile.
“Since you’re awake, open your eyes, okay?”
Xiran’s voice came from behind her, calm and without command.
There was even a hint of… negotiation in her tone?
Bai Linlin’s lashes trembled.
She didn’t want to open them.
But her pretense had been called out. Continuing to fake sleep would be asking for trouble.
After hesitating for a long time (though it was really only a few seconds), her lashes slowly lifted as she opened her eyes.
The bathroom was filled with dense steam, everything white and blurry.
Xiran’s face was right beside her, slightly flushed from the heat, those deep black eyes looking straight at her.
Linlin’s gaze dropped downward, unsure where to look.
Looking Xiran in the eyes? Too dangerous.
Looking elsewhere? It would seem guilty.
So she simply kept her eyes lowered, water droplets still clinging to her lashes like a little rabbit caught in the rain.
Then—
Something soft pressed against her lips.
Linlin’s mind went blank.
Of course! This damn pervert! She never changes!
Talking about “forgive me,” but in the end she still wants to bully me!
She instinctively tried to pull away, but Xiran was holding her firmly in her arms, leaving her no room to move.
She could only endure it.
“Mmm…”
A tiny, involuntary soft moan escaped her throat.
Linlin instantly panicked.
From the memories she had just recovered, she knew that every small reaction from her would stimulate Xiran’s nerves and bring even more intense torment.
She made a sound? Oh no, oh no.
She held her breath, body tensing up, preparing for the incoming “storm.”
However.
Xiran only kissed her for a little longer, then slowly pulled away from her lips.
Linlin panted softly. Her lips were kissed until they were red and glistening.
She was a little dazed.
It was… over just like that?
Based on past experience, Xiran would ruthlessly steal all the air from her mouth, kissing her until she was dizzy and oxygen-deprived before stopping.
Why did she hold back this time?
“Linlin.”
Xiran spoke, her voice right beside her ear, warm breath slipping into her ear canal.
“Just for today… I’ll treat you gently.”
She paused.
“I can’t promise anything after today.”
Linlin was stunned.
What did she mean, only today?
What did she mean, no promises after today?
Her mind spun several times before she finally understood.
So all that “gentleness” just now was a limited-time experience version?!
After today, it was back to pinching, biting, and threatening with nails as usual?!
Bai Linlin felt like she had been tricked.
So you were just pretending! You fooled me! You big bully!
A surge of indignation rose to her head. She couldn’t help but speak, her voice carrying a trace of grievance she herself didn’t notice.
“Why? Can’t you always be this gentle with me?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
That tone… it sounded like she was acting spoiled.
Xiran was silent for a few seconds.
Then her voice became even softer, almost inaudible.
“After all, I just did something wrong to Linlin.”
Xiran continued after a moment.
“Linlin, you probably don’t remember, but that matter to me…”
The rest of her words were drowned out by the sound of the running shower.
Even straining her ears, Linlin could only catch a few muffled sounds and couldn’t make them out clearly.
What did she mean by “you probably don’t remember”?
What was “that matter”?
Had they met before? Had she done something bad to her?
And what did “I just did something wrong to Linlin” mean?
You’ve been hurting me this whole time! From the bullying game at the shrine until now—which single thing you’ve done to me wasn’t “wrong”?
Does hurting me even have standards in your book?!
The angrier Bai Linlin got, the more frustrated she became.
But she didn’t dare lash out.
Getting angry at Xiran? That was suicide.
So she could only sulk in silence.
She turned her face away, turning her back to Xiran. Her small mouth pouted, cheeks puffing up adorably like a hamster stuffed with nuts.
Of course, she did it secretly.
Xiran probably… didn’t see it, right?
A very soft sound came from behind her—half a laugh, half a sigh.
Then, the shower water stopped.
Xiran lifted her out of the bathtub, wrapped her completely in a large, dry, soft bath towel like a little burrito, and carried her out of the bathroom.
Damn it! I’m not a baby who can’t walk!
Being carried around like a toy all the time, what is this?!
Linlin complained furiously in her heart, but her body honestly stayed nestled in the bath towel without struggling.
It was much cooler outside the bathroom, and being carried was more comfortable anyway.
Down the corridor, down the stairs, back to the bedroom.
Xiran set her down on the edge of the bed, then opened the wardrobe and took out a piece of clothing.
It was a white long-sleeved nightgown.
Pure cotton, simple to the extreme, with no patterns or decorations—just like normal sleepwear for an ordinary girl.
“Put it on.” Xiran handed the nightgown to her.
Linlin took it and was about to pull it over her head when she suddenly felt a chill across her chest.
***
“Linlin probably doesn’t need to wear a bra, right?”
Xiran’s voice came from behind her, carrying a rare trace of what could almost be called playful teasing.
“Besides, there isn’t much there anyway.”
Linlin’s face instantly turned bright red.
Damn it!
This perverted freak!
If you think they’re small, why were you groping and sucking on them so enthusiastically earlier?!
She gritted her teeth, not daring to curse out loud, and quickly pulled the nightgown on.
Xiran’s clothes were ridiculously oversized on her tiny frame that was under 1.5 meters tall. It looked like she was wearing a costume.
The hem dragged all the way to the floor, tripping her with every step.
The sleeves were far too long, completely covering her hands like theatrical water sleeves.
She shook her sleeves, looking like a little clown.
Xiran glanced at her but said nothing.
Then Xiran turned to the bed, stretched out her hand with the palm facing down toward it.
A dim light flowed from her fingertips and enveloped the sheets.
A few seconds later, the light disappeared. The bedsheet was restored to its original state.
No—it was even cleaner than before, wrinkles completely smoothed out, looking brand new.
Linlin stared in a daze.
So this was the everyday use of magic?
Washing bedsheets?
After dealing with the bed, Xiran turned around, walked over to Linlin, bent down, and picked her up once again.
She placed her on the bed.
Then Xiran lay down herself, reached out, and pulled Linlin into her arms.
The blanket was pulled over them, wrapping them both inside.
Immediately after, that familiar feeling of being tightly bound returned.
It wasn’t rope.
It was Xiran’s limbs.
Her arms wrapped around Linlin’s waist like iron bands, her legs pinning Linlin’s legs. She clung to her like an octopus, making even the slightest movement nearly impossible.
Linlin stared at the ceiling, her heart perfectly calm (lie).
“Another day of being forced to become a body pillow…”