“Because there are blankets on the bed, it’s warmer. I suggest you lie down first. Any problems?”
Miao Bai said this with genuine confusion in her eyes.
In an instant, Meng Bai’s guilt surged up. She admitted she’d been thinking some weird, strange things, even though Miao Bai hadn’t meant anything by it at all!
She really hadn’t meant anything!
“No problem.” Meng Bai coughed dryly. “But my hair’s still wet.”
“You lie down first. I’ll get you a dry towel.” Miao Bai picked up her wet clothes. “I’ll take these out to dry. It’ll be quick.”
“Okay.”
Meng Bai walked to the bedside. Miao Bai’s blankets felt soft to the touch. She lifted one corner and slipped quickly under the covers.
A soft warmth enveloped her, chasing away any hint of chill.
As for how she’d ended up in Miao Bai’s bed, even Meng Bai found it baffling.
Just half an hour earlier, she’d rushed out of school, getting soaked by the rain all the way here to find Miao Bai—all to ask her about that one thing.
Teacher Xu’s thing. She’d wanted to ask why Teacher Xu seemed to know everything while she herself was completely in the dark.
There had been a touch of petty resentment in it, and posing such a question would have carried an unmistakable note of accusation.
But in those brief few minutes, the moment she laid eyes on Miao Bai, every question she’d meant to ask vanished from her mind, and that flicker of unhappiness evaporated.
Because Miao Bai was just too good to her.
Setting aside any self-indulgent notions, who else could sleep in Miao Bai’s bed? Who else could wear Miao Bai’s clothes?
The answer was obvious.
Which made asking Miao Bai if she was special seem utterly pointless.
Meng Bai reined in her thoughts. She curled up beneath the blankets, rolling onto her side with her cheek pressed to the pillow, inhaling Miao Bai’s scent with delicate care.
A faint, clean fragrance slipped into her nostrils and settled deep in her heart, leaving her dizzy with enchantment.
Outside, the rain pattered against the eaves.
The whole scene around her compressed into a single vivid painting, etching itself into her mind and filling her with drowsiness, comfort, and a profound sense of security.
She lost track of how many raindrops drummed on the roof, but eventually Meng Bai closed her eyes and drifted into sleep…
~~~
She slept deeply, lost to the world. When she finally stirred awake, she had no idea what time it was—the room was pitch black.
Meng Bai sat up and softly called out for Miao Bai.
A candle by the bedside flickered to life, its feeble flame dancing, and there was Miao Bai, seated on a wooden chair a short distance away.
“Awake?”
“Yeah. How long was I out?”
“About an hour.” Miao Bai nodded toward the clothes by the pillow. “They’re dry now.”
Meng Bai nodded. “Thanks.”
Her head swam, likely from the rain; she felt groggy all over. She sat there on the bed for a few seconds before flopping back down with zero intention of getting up.
Miao Bai watched her burrow back into the covers and smiled. “Hungry?”
“A little.”
“Here, have some.” Miao Bai gestured to the bedside table again.
Meng Bai glanced over and spotted a bowl of glistening loquat-stewed pears.
“Wow.”
The word carried layers of meaning.
So Miao Bai asked, “Wow what?”
“Getting to eat something you made feels kinda magical. In my mind, you’ve never been into food.”
Miao Bai’s lips curved. “I’m not.”
“Then why’d you make it?” Meng Bai blurted it out thoughtlessly, only realizing afterward. “Wait—did you make it just for me?”
She recalled that the pot had already been simmering when she arrived, which meant Miao Bai must have anticipated her visit.
Miao Bai didn’t deny it, and Meng Bai’s delight bubbled over. She lifted the bowl for a taste, then showered it with praise. “This is so good.”
“Then have more.”
“How’d you know I’d come looking for you?”
Miao Bai’s tone was even. “Because you always head straight here after school.”
“What if I hadn’t?”
“No such thing.”
Meng Bai paused mid-chew, staring intently at Miao Bai. When her eyes settled on Miao Bai’s face, she set the porcelain bowl aside.
She nodded in admission. “You’re right—no such thing. These days, after school, you’re the only one I want to see.”
Before Miao Bai could respond, she pressed on. “And I mean, I really, really want to see you.”
She expected Miao Bai to say something, but Miao Bai remained silent, simply watching her.
The scrutiny made Meng Bai squirm a little, but she held her gaze steady.
Their eyes met, and the air between them seemed to ignite.
Miao Bai was so beautiful.
The silent Miao Bai was especially beautiful.
No—Miao Bai was beautiful, period.
The thought consumed Meng Bai’s mind, but Miao Bai said nothing, leaving the quiet to stretch on. Someone had to break it.
Meng Bai cracked first. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Amusement glinted in Miao Bai’s eyes. “I figured you had more to say.”
“I’ve said it all.” Meng Bai shifted uncomfortably. “Besides, talking from across the room is exhausting, isn’t it? Come have some.”
Miao Bai didn’t budge. “Why don’t you come here?”
“Fine, I will.” Meng Bai swung her legs off the bed, bowl in hand, and padded toward Miao Bai.
She hadn’t bothered with shoes, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet.
A few steps in, her legs felt the cool air. Glancing down, she realized she was still wearing Miao Bai’s skirt.
Oh god, so embarrassing.
It wasn’t her first time in a skirt, but this was the first for one like this—and under the covers earlier, she hadn’t noticed.
A wave of shyness hit her, but turning back now would be awkward, so she steeled herself and kept going.
Meng Bai tamped down her nerves, grumbling under her breath. “Jeez, here I am, a grown woman, delivering the bowl right to your face.”
She stopped in front of Miao Bai and squatted down, scooping up a small piece of pear and holding it to Miao Bai’s lips. “Eat up.”
Miao Bai hesitated. “I can feed myself.”
Meng Bai jiggled the spoon. “I brought it all the way over—might as well let me feed you.”
With the food right there, it would have been petty to refuse. Miao Bai parted her lips and took a small bite, claiming half the piece.
She chewed with leisurely grace, her manners impeccably refined.
Meng Bai fixated on Miao Bai’s mouth, her eyes sparkling. “Good, right?”
“Mmm.”
“Half left—want it?”
Miao Bai didn’t have time to answer.
“Ah, if not, I’ll finish it.”
This wasn’t really a question, because Meng Bai didn’t wait for Miao Bai’s answer before popping that piece of pear into her own mouth.
As she chewed, Meng Bai looked up at Miao Bai, her eyes gleaming with triumph and a touch of shy probing. All her emotions were written plainly on her face.
Her fair cheeks flushed a soft pink, and the feelings swirling in her eyes were unmistakable.
Miao Bai’s heart stirred. The girl in front of her was just too adorable.
“Do you know why I rushed over to find you today?” Meng Bai asked, still squatting on the ground, munching away as she gazed up at Miao Bai.
“No idea.”
“Because of Teacher Xu.”
“What’s up with her?”
Meng Bai got straight to the point. “Teacher Xu said she knows you—that you helped her when she was little. So you’ve known each other for a long time.”
Miao Bai nodded. “Yeah.”
“But when you gave her the storage card, you didn’t say a word about it.” Meng Bai watched her closely as she spoke. “It made me feel like… I don’t really know you at all. Maybe you don’t want me to.”
Miao Bai listened attentively. “And?”
“And I thought I was the first.”
“The first?”
“The first to know you can turn invisible, use illusion techniques, all that stuff. I thought I was the first, but it turns out Teacher Xu was.”
Miao Bai tilted her head. “Does that matter?”
“Not to you.” Meng Bai’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “But it bothers me a little. I don’t even know why.”
“Oh—” Miao Bai drew out the sound, leaning down to look at her. They were close now, very close—Meng Bai could even see Miao Bai’s eyelashes. “So, you feel like you’re not special anymore, and that makes you unhappy? Is that the logic?”
Meng Bai’s throat bobbed. She felt unbearably hot.
A tiny, barely audible “mm” squeezed out from her throat.
Miao Bai’s lips curved up. She reached out and pinched Meng Bai’s cheek. “Got it. But it’s not like that.”
The pinch made Meng Bai’s heart itch. “You could just talk without pinching my face.”
“Can’t I?”
Meng Bai thought, why not? You could pinch me a million times, and I’d be fine with it.
But she wanted to pinch Miao Bai too. What to do?
“Can I pinch you back?”
“No.”
Meng Bai pouted. “Ah, that’s unfair. You pinch me without asking, but I can’t pinch you.”
“I dried your clothes for you and made you that delicious pear soup. Pinching your cheek once isn’t too much, right?”
As Miao Bai spoke, her eyes were clear and bright, warm with color instead of their usual cool detachment. Meng Bai loved this softer gaze.
It let her see another side of Miao Bai—the relaxed side, the up-close side.
“Not too much.” Meng Bai pressed her lips together, then reached out to lightly tug at the hem of Miao Bai’s skirt. The gauzy fabric twisted softly between her fingers. The bold move made her heart race, but in the next second, she said something even bolder. “You look so pretty in this skirt.”
The sudden compliment drew a bright laugh from Miao Bai. “The skirt’s pretty?”
“You’re pretty.”
“You’ve got a silver tongue.” Miao Bai reached out again, pinching the other cheek. She sighed. “Why’s your mouth so sweet today?”
“Is it?” Meng Bai lifted her gaze, her smile blooming. “I feel like I get extra chatty around you. How about a reward?”
If she remembered right, this was Meng Bai’s second time asking for a reward. The first had been that day, when she’d requested a hug.
She was getting bolder.
Miao Bai, flattered by the praise, played along. “What kind of reward this time?”
“Tell me how you know Teacher Xu.”
Miao Bai shook her head. “Can’t say.”
“Since you’re not telling me—” Meng Bai thought, I knew you wouldn’t. This isn’t what I want anyway. “Then reward me with something else.”
Miao Bai didn’t take it seriously, falling right into the trap. “Like what?”
“Not too much. Say yes first?”
Miao Bai held firm. “You have to tell me what it is.”
“Promise me first, and I’ll say. It’s really not too much.”
Miao Bai’s tone was skeptical. “Really not too much?”
Meng Bai nodded furiously. “Really.”
“I’ll reluctantly believe you.” Miao Bai looked helpless. “So, what is it?”
Meng Bai had been squatting the whole time. After those words, she stood up.
Miao Bai sat in the chair, wondering what she was up to.
It wasn’t until Meng Bai leaned in closer, bracing her hands on the arms of the chair, their faces inches apart, that Miao Bai understood.
How could she not have guessed? She had, but for some reason, she let Meng Bai prove it with action.
Miao Bai felt herself falling too. She knew it, yet pretended otherwise.
She saw the shyness and probing in Meng Bai’s eyes, those pale pink lips pressing together repeatedly, her breath trembling with nerves.
The air seemed to thicken, time freezing into a solid block of ice.
Miao Bai’s heart thudded hard. In the second Meng Bai drew even nearer, she didn’t pull away.
Then, she felt a warm bloom on her cheek.
A soft peck on the side of her face.
It tickled.
The next moment, Meng Bai’s voice whispered in her ear. “There. Not too much, right?”
