The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Inside the tent in the cave behind the waterfall, Yan Zhen was the first to wake.
Once he realized his current situation, he felt a tremendous weight on his shoulders.
The two women lay on either side of him, but for some reason, the blankets that had been covering them had come undone and were now piled on top of him.
Beneath the blankets, one of them was clutching his right arm while the other rested her head on his left. Their snow-white, silky-smooth bodies pressed tightly against him, and their warm, moist breaths rose and fell with their steady respiration, alternately heating and cooling his skin.
His left arm had gone a little numb as it slipped under Jiu Youyue’s armpit to encircle her slender waist, his palm coming to rest right in the cleft of her buttocks.
His right arm, meanwhile, was trapped between two full, soft mounds of flesh. Yun Xiu wasn’t gripping him too tightly, but the angle was such that he had very little room to maneuver.
This isn’t good… Beads of cold sweat formed on Yan Zhen’s forehead.
The blankets had originally been draped over the two women—one each—not only for warmth but also for modesty. It was hardly likely that they had deliberately removed them to cover him.
The more plausible explanation was that Yan Zhen had grown cold during the night and instinctively yanked the blankets over to himself. The injured women, feeling the chill in their sleep, had been in no position to wrestle them back from him, so they had burrowed into his embrace on pure instinct.
A moment’s reflection made it clear: this was all his fault!
What was he supposed to do now? Yan Zhen desperately wanted to sit up, but in this position, even the slightest movement would wake them. If that happened, he’d have no way to explain himself clearly—he’d be a dead man walking!
Yun Xiu might let it slide, but Jiu Youyue, that demoness, just might finish him off.
She might seem brazen and open, but in truth, she harbored a deep wariness toward men. In the script, after Yan Zhen rescued her, she had even considered silencing him permanently.
It was only after he saved Yun Xiu the next day that Jiu Youyue began to regard him with true caution. To counter Yun Xiu’s influence, she had started actively warming up to him.
No surprise there—she was a demoness from the Demon Domain, after all!
…
Oh well. Better to keep sleeping and pretend he knew nothing. Let the two women wake up first.
That way, the atmosphere wouldn’t feel quite so awkward, and they might not fly into a humiliated rage.
Yan Zhen closed his eyes again, deluding himself into believing it would work.
Little did he know, both women had woken up even earlier than he had.
Jiu Youyue had stirred first. Detecting their predicament, she felt a twinge of shyness, but it was overshadowed by a deeper sense of sweet contentment.
And so, she stayed right where she was, feigning sleep. Any little movements were purely unconscious—even if they came off as a tad immodest, it wasn’t her fault.
Yun Xiu woke second. Opening her eyes, she saw her naked body wrapped around Yan Zhen’s arm, her lips pressed to his shoulder. Mortification flooded her instantly.
She composed herself, intending to quietly release his arm and reclaim her blanket. But then she noticed that Jiu Youyue was already awake.
If she got up now, that demoness was sure to mock her. “Look at you, hugging Little Zhen Zhen’s arm in your sleep. And here you were saying you wouldn’t fall for him again—naughty, naughty, Senior Sister~”
So Yun Xiu decided to wait until Yan Zhen woke up and left the tent. Then she could pretend nothing had happened.
She knew how disciplined he was, always rising early to train.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Yan Zhen stirred.
Her heart stirred too, eagerly anticipating his quick departure. That would free her from this mortifying bind.
However, after lying still for a moment post-waking, Yan Zhen appeared to drift off again.
!
Idiot—don’t go back to sleep right now!
Anxiety gnawed at Yun Xiu, but she quickly realized Yan Zhen hadn’t actually fallen asleep. His eyes were closed, but his breathing remained active—he wasn’t truly resting.
He was pretending to sleep!
Senior Sister, you’re awake too, aren’t you?
Jiu Youyue’s voice suddenly echoed in her ear. Yun Xiu nearly popped her eyes open in shock before realizing it was a sound transmission.
She’d been found out… Yun Xiu flushed with embarrassment. But with her acupoints still sealed, she couldn’t respond in kind.
Little Zhen Zhen is awake too. You’re both faking it.
Yun Xiu kept her beautiful eyes squeezed shut, perfectly motionless, as if she were still deep in slumber.
So tell me, Senior Sister—why do you think he’s pretending? My guess is he wants to get frisky. Boys that age wake up full of fire in the morning, and now he finds two naked beauties in his arms—one of them his type, no less. How’s a guy supposed to hold back? If I were him, I’d fake it too, just to savor the moment. What do you think, Senior Sister?
…
Senior Sister, do you suppose Little Zhen Zhen will sneak a grope?
He wouldn’t.
That was what Yun Xiu wanted to say, but Yan Zhen was at that hot-blooded age. In a situation like this, a momentary lapse into something indecent wasn’t impossible.
As the thought crossed her mind, Jiu Youyue’s voice transmitted again.
If he really can’t hold back and makes a move, whose advantage do you think he’ll take first—yours, Senior Sister, or mine? Or maybe both? Logically, Little Zhen Zhen likes you more, so he’d probably want to cop a feel from the ethereal fairy first. But maybe he’s holding back out of reverence for your perfection and turns to a demoness like me instead, just to scratch that itch. Sound about right, Senior Sister?
Yun Xiu grew flustered and annoyed, her delicate brows twitching faintly. But Jiu Youyue showed no mercy, droning on with her teasing transmission like a monk reciting endless sutras.
If he does make a move, should I open my eyes and tell him to stop? Or keep pretending to sleep until he’s had his fill? After all, he took such good care of us yesterday—no merit, but plenty of toil. A little reward couldn’t hurt. What would you do in my shoes, Senior Sister? Stop him? Reward him? Or… secretly wish he’d kiss and fondle you too?
Yun Xiu desperately wanted to sew Jiu Youyue’s mouth shut, but she couldn’t.
Amid the demoness’s nonsense, even the fairy began to entertain wild thoughts.
If Yan Zhen did make a move on her, should she resist?
Under normal circumstances, yes.
But she still owed him one.
Besides, with her acupoints sealed, her body limp and powerless, resistance wasn’t even an option. Better to play along—at least she could save face.
As long as he didn’t go too far, she’d endure it. Let him have his way.
Are you thinking that as long as Little Zhen Zhen doesn’t get too carried away, you’ll let him play, Senior Sister?
Yun Xiu jolted inwardly, nearly blurting out a reflexive denial of “I wouldn’t!” She caught herself just in time, avoiding any telltale slip.
If Yan Zhen realized she was faking sleep, she didn’t dare imagine the fallout.
This Jiuyou—not content with shaming her, was trying to trick her into giving herself away. Infuriating!
Once she recovered, she’d settle both old and new scores—no mercy!
Yet Jiu Youyue pressed on in her mocking tone.
I’m dying to know, Senior Sister—if Little Zhen Zhen sneaks a paw onto your breasts, how long could you hold back a moan? What about your waist? Your rear? Or even… down there?
Yun Xiu’s breath hitched. Jiu Youyue’s words conjured vivid images in her mind, sending a shiver through her sensitive body. A seductive whimper escaped her crimson lips.
“Mm~”
Yan Zhen, who had been feigning sleep with eyes closed, jolted awake at the sound. Finally waking up?
Quick, let go of my hand—let me get up, or I won’t be able to hold back much longer!
