Chapter 16: Too Light. Harder.

The one who opened the door was Miao Qingzhi, wrapped in a bath towel.

Seeing her, Pei Ruyu’s breath caught. She quickly pulled the girl inside and slammed the door shut.

Good thing no one was in the hallway at this hour, or that sight would have been seen.

Before she could catch her breath, Miao Qingzhi’s head had already leaned against her shoulder.

“Sister, it’s so uncomfortable.”

That aggrieved, choked voice made Pei Ruyu’s heart ache.

Whatever anger she’d been holding instantly vanished.

She stroked the back of Miao Qingzhi’s head gently, then lifted her long hair to look at the rash on her shoulders.

“I can’t tell if this is an allergy or eczema. Let me apply some medicine to stop the itching first. If it’s still uncomfortable, I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up, okay?”

“Okay.”

The one-bedroom, one-living-room studio apartment wasn’t big, but at least it had all the necessary furniture. Everything was even brand new, with no signs of use.

In the living room was a narrow double sofa.

Pei Ruyu sat at one end, holding her breath as she applied medicine to Miao Qingzhi, who was lying across her lap.

Her fingertip dipped in ointment, spreading it evenly over the rash on her back, bit by bit.

The cool ointment touching that burning skin made the girl on her lap flinch and tremble every time.

Seeing this, Pei Ruyu’s movements grew even gentler.

But the girl complained discontentedly.

“Sister… too light…”

“Harder… scratch it…”

So delicate.

Pei Ruyu laughed helplessly.

But she didn’t dare scratch hard, afraid of breaking the skin and causing infection or ulceration. She could only use her fingertip to gently press on the patches of rash.

“Does that feel better?”

“Mmm… continue…”

The skin above the towel had all been medicated.

To continue, she’d have to lift the towel.

Remembering that bare-back photo from WeChat, Pei Ruyu’s breathing grew heavier.

Her fingertip lingered at the edge of the towel. After only a moment’s hesitation, she hooked aside that piece of cloth.

But there was nothing underneath the towel.

One glance, and she didn’t dare look at those curves.

Hastily covering the girl’s rear with the towel, Pei Ruyu dared to continue applying medicine to her back.

The originally fair, smooth back was now covered in terrible red spots, even worse than in the photo.

The more Pei Ruyu looked, the more it hurt.

When her ointment-covered fingertip touched the rash on her waist again, the girl trembled even harder.

“Mmm…”

Hearing that uncontrollable whimper, Pei Ruyu felt her ears burn.

Right. Her lower back had always been sensitive…

Pei Ruyu didn’t dare touch more. She quickly spread the ointment over the rash on her lower back, then used her other clean hand to stroke the head resting on her lap.

“Okay. Lie still for a bit and let the ointment absorb. Where’s your nightgown? I’ll get it for you.”

But the person who’d been lying on her lap suddenly turned over, facing her directly.

“The front hasn’t been done yet.”

That unguarded view suddenly burst into Pei Ruyu’s sight.

Red instantly spread across her entire face.

She quickly raised her hand to cover her burning face.

Then, as if casually, she peeked through her fingers.

“Do the front yourself…”

Pei Ruyu didn’t see the cunning smile flash through Miao Qingzhi’s eyes. She only heard the girl ask in feigned confusion: “It’s not like sister hasn’t seen it before. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Of course she was afraid of not being able to resist eating you up…

When her hand was pulled down and pressed against the rash on the girl’s chest, Pei Ruyu could only force herself to stay calm and open her eyes.

“What do I have to be afraid of? Isn’t it you who’s at a loss?”

Her fingertip on Miao Qingzhi’s chest even deliberately scratched lightly.

But Miao Qingzhi didn’t dodge or flinch. Instead, she boldly held Pei Ruyu’s finger and guided it across the reddened skin.

Pei Ruyu watched, somewhat entranced.

“Applying medicine—what loss is there?”

The instigator didn’t even blush, just looked at her openly and smiled: “And it’s not like you haven’t touched before.”

Pei Ruyu: […]

That gaze was clean and pure.

It made Pei Ruyu, who was being all shy and awkward, seem like the one with filthy thoughts.

Ashamed, she withdrew her hand, silently squeezed out more ointment.

Under the girl’s direct gaze, she braced herself and carefully spread the medicine over the rash on her front. Then she pulled the towel over her chest.

The small towel covered the top but not the bottom.

Pei Ruyu swallowed secretly.

Not daring to look at the hard-to-hide view, she turned her head away with a straight face.

“Done. Go put on your nightgown.”

But smooth arms suddenly wrapped around Pei Ruyu’s neck.

The towel slipped again.

Burning skin, still coated with the sticky ointment, pressed directly against her.

“No, unless sister helps me put it on.”

Pei Ruyu’s heart was racing.

Now she was sure.

The brat was definitely trying to seduce her.

Seeing the expectation in the girl’s eyes, and that she truly had no intention of walking on her own, Pei Ruyu could only indulge her. She picked her up and carried her smooth body toward the bedroom.

The girl was very light, not hard to carry at all.

Setting her down steadily on the edge of the bed and pulling all the curtains tightly shut, Pei Ruyu rummaged through her suitcase for a nightgown and underwear.

After slipping the nightgown over Miao Qingzhi, Pei Ruyu dutifully crouched down, took hold of the slender ankle, and helped her put on that embarrassing piece of fabric.

Unfortunately, the person in question wasn’t cooperating.

Her smooth calf swung back and forth.

Her icy foot kept rubbing against Pei Ruyu’s chest.

So the fabric hanging at her knee refused to go up.

The hastily donned nightgown only barely covered the top of her thighs. The glimpses of what lay beneath were even more alluring than when she’d been completely bare.

Pei Ruyu’s mouth went dry.

She lightly slapped the side of her thigh.

“Keep messing around and you’re dressing yourself.”

“It hurts…”

Miao Qingzhi looked at her pitifully.

After being glared at, she silently wrapped her arms around Pei Ruyu’s neck and obediently lifted her hips.

Hmm. That’s better.

Pei Ruyu smiled in satisfaction and took the opportunity to pull the fabric up.

Perfect coordination, practiced movements.

After all, this girl always loved to lie on her after their encounters and wait for her to help dress her.

Tricking her into dressing her, then tricking her into undressing her…

Remembering those past intimacies, Pei Ruyu’s face flushed.

She quickly tucked the girl into bed and stood up.

“Okay. Get some rest. I’m heading back.”

But her hem was firmly grabbed by Miao Qingzhi.

“Sister, are you going to leave me here alone?”

The reluctance in Miao Qingzhi’s eyes was too obvious.

Seeing through her little scheme, the disappointment that had plagued Pei Ruyu all day finally eased slightly.

Hmph. It seemed she could still easily control this brat’s emotions.

Pei Ruyu felt secretly pleased, but maintained her cold demeanor.

“Of course. I’ve already applied your medicine. What use am I here for?”

The hand on her hem kept swinging back and forth.

Miao Qingzhi’s expression grew even more aggrieved.

“How can I sleep without sister by my side?”

Stupid kid. Always so coquettish.

Pei Ruyu really wanted to pinch her face hard and teach her a lesson.

But after sitting down on the edge of the bed, she only used her pinky, which wasn’t stained with ointment, to tuck a strand of hair behind Miao Qingzhi’s ear.

“Then go to sleep now. I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”

“The bed’s too hard. Can’t sleep.”

Miao Qingzhi looked at her with pleading eyes. “Want sister to hold me.”

Pei Ruyu’s heart itched unbearably.

But she didn’t show it on her face. She just coldly glanced at the hand that had taken the opportunity to wrap around her wrist.

“Is that so? I thought you moved out of my house because you didn’t want to see me.”

A gentle kiss suddenly landed on her wrist.

Pei Ruyu looked up and saw Miao Qingzhi holding her wrist, looking at her with a smile and cunning eyes.

“Is sister reluctant to let me go?”

Her hand was caught and pressed against Miao Qingzhi’s face.

And the girl’s cool lips were pressed against her wrist, seemingly casually brushing against it.

Pei Ruyu’s heart itched even more. Her gaze kept drifting to those moist lips.

No! Hold it in! Can’t bite!

The brat had already learned this runaway trick of playing hard to get!

If she gave in easily this time, the girl would only get bolder in the future!

Not giving Miao Qingzhi a chance to keep seducing her, Pei Ruyu only sneered at her, then restrained herself, pulled her hand free, and stood up.

“What does it matter if I’m reluctant? You won’t listen to me anyway. Go wherever you want. Best if you have fun and go back to your own home, so I don’t have to get scolded because of you.”

But just as she stood up, her neck was hooked by Miao Qingzhi again.

Caught off guard.

The hands on her neck only needed a little force, and she was pulled down onto the bed.

And Miao Qingzhi directly flipped over and pressed on top of her.