My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 99

Chapter 99: Enlightenment

“The amount of exercise in the beginner stages of yoga isn’t too strenuous, but combined with breathing techniques and flexibility training, it can unconsciously consume your physical energy.”

Jiang Xue turned her phone towards Xiao Luohan and explained seriously, “Shall we adjust our sitting posture first?”

“…” Xiao Luohan gradually understood why she had specifically kept the reminder “Jiang Xue likes directness” in her notes app.

Even after confirming their relationship, if she didn’t express her needs clearly, Jiang Xue might still misunderstand her words.

She hadn’t considered the possibility of Jiang Xue playing dumb and avoiding the topic. In her opinion, if Jiang Xue was unwilling, she could just refuse directly, or ask her to confirm if she had understood correctly.

Not refusing simply meant that Jiang Xue’s thoughts were pure and innocent, and she hadn’t realized it yet.

Xiao Luohan also grabbed her phone, opened the online reading app where she could view illustrations, and randomly selected a picture of two women to show Jiang Xue.

“I wonder if there are any self-study courses for this kind of subject?”

Seeing the poses of the two women in the picture, Jiang Xue was completely dumbfounded.

With the changes in society, some books that would have been “banned” in the old era, after strict review by relevant departments, were now accessible to women over sixteen with parental supervision on government-registered websites. Those over eighteen could browse freely, but couldn’t save the content.

Even without parental supervision, after midnight, they could freely access relevant websites and apps.

“There are, but…” Jiang Xue stammered, and under Xiao Luohan’s gaze, she forced herself to tell the truth. “But we have plans for the whole day tomorrow, and we also have to contact the elders who are coming to the birthday party. I think trying this now might be a bit risky…”

Going to the amusement park wasn’t a big deal. They could just choose less strenuous activities. The main event was their birthday party.

Jiang Xue was very nervous. After explaining the potential risks to Xiao Luohan in detail, she realized her voice was trembling.

But Xiao Luohan’s next question stumped her again: “If we only touch lightly, or avoid the areas you’re worried about, shouldn’t it be unnoticeable?”

She finally realized: Xiao Luo really wanted to “explore” with her tonight.

She couldn’t empathize with this eagerness yet, but from Xiao Luo’s perspective, it was understandable.

With her life no longer threatened by illness, and her daily life no longer like walking on thin ice, Xiao Luo naturally started focusing on her emotional needs.

In a safe and stable environment, she could gradually define her preferences and dislikes.

She would boldly express her wishes to those close to her and find ways to fulfill them, finding satisfaction in the process and filling the “void” that had been eroded over the past ten-plus years.

Although this was a good thing for Xiao Luo, and a significant improvement, it also led to some concerns.

For example, she might become insistent on fulfilling her wishes, not giving up until she achieved her goals.

Snapping out of her empathetic perspective, Jiang Xue thought for a moment and felt that tonight’s activities weren’t impossible, as long as she and Xiao Luo agreed on boundaries and controlled the degree of intimacy. They shouldn’t encounter the problems she was worried about.

So she replied seriously, “I don’t have much experience in this area, so I can’t give you a definite guarantee, but I trust our self-control.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xiao Luohan’s eyes light up.

They first read the books Xiao Luohan had downloaded, and after midnight, with the age restriction lifted, they searched for and studied other books.

It was Jiang Xue’s first time looking at this kind of material with someone else. She repeatedly covered her burning face and turned away, but driven by curiosity, she couldn’t help but look back at Xiao Luohan’s reaction.

Xiao Luohan, however, was very calm, her focus no different from when she was studying.

Xiao Luo, she… was truly studying seriously…

Jiang Xue started reflecting on herself, and after a while, even had a strange thought.

Should she also “study hard” in this area?

She felt it was feasible and took out her phone, started writing a self-study plan, downloaded all the necessary e-books, and listed them in the different stages of her plan.

But before she could list a few items, she was embraced from the side.

When Jiang Xue came to her senses, the buttons on her pajamas were all undone.

“Can we start the exam now?” Xiao Luohan asked. “It should just be a quiz.”

“…S-Sure,” Jiang Xue instinctively replied, then couldn’t help but complain, “Can we use a different analogy? I don’t want to be reminded of tonight every time I hear the words ‘quiz’!”

Xiao Luohan chuckled and agreed, then started putting the knowledge she had just memorized into practice.

At first, Jiang Xue was as docile as a large body pillow, letting Xiao Luohan do as she pleased, but soon, her own curiosity was piqued.

In Xiao Luohan’s eyes, this was “the cat biting.”

The curious cat, eager to see her reaction and expression when faced with the same actions, also extended its paws repeatedly.

But a cat was still a cat. Even though she had read about those things earlier, and even seen more, when it came to actual practice, the cat became timid.

In this aspect, the cat wasn’t as good as her.

But precisely because of this, she looked forward to the day the cat would become “bold.”

Was this something that could be taught? Just like how A-Xue had provided her with various workbooks, taught her answering techniques, and explained the problem-solving process of the reference answers, could she also find the right way to teach A-Xue?

A-Xue was always happy whenever she saw her independently solve a difficult problem after being taught.

She also wanted to experience this happiness.

But it probably wouldn’t happen today. A-Xue had spent a lot of effort “coaxing” her out of her shell and making her willing to open up. She also had to take it slow, not rush things.

Tonight’s actions were just to help them sleep.

At 4:00 AM, Jiang Xue woke up from her dream, looking at the peaceful sleeping face beside her, feeling a sense of unreality.

Just as she thought that everything that happened around midnight was just the first half of the dream, the soreness on certain parts of her skin made her instinctively touch the buttons of her pajamas.

The Ragdoll cat she had picked up hadn’t turned into a bat, but it had the potential to become a dugong.

Considering the day’s activities, Jiang Xue buttoned up her pajamas, went to the bathroom, and then came back to rest with her eyes closed.

She couldn’t fall asleep, but just lying there could help her recover some energy.

She started practicing the breathing techniques Dr. Qi had taught her, forcing herself to stay awake until 6:00 AM—Xiao Luo’s usual wake-up time.

It was strange, it seemed that whenever something like this happened, Xiao Luo could always sleep soundly? She wasn’t sure, she would try again next time.

As Jiang Xue was randomly thinking, she heard a slight movement from beside her and instinctively looked over.

Xiao Luohan, her eyes still closed, reached out, her wrist, adorned with the jade bracelet, resting on Jiang Xue’s skin, the coldness making her shiver.

“Cold!” Jiang Xue quickly moved the hand away.

Noticing that Xiao Luo’s movements were soft and languid, she wasn’t sure if it was because she was half-asleep and hadn’t used much strength, or if she was deliberately acting coy. A playful thought arose, and she kissed the back of Xiao Luohan’s hand, then leaned closer and secretly kissed her cheek.

For some reason, when facing the sleeping Xiao Luohan, Jiang Xue was much bolder.

But when Xiao Luo opened her eyes and looked at her, she became embarrassed.

It was best to address any questions immediately. Thinking that there was one more person joining them for the amusement park trip today, and seeing that Xiao Luohan hadn’t fully woken up yet, Jiang Xue grabbed her phone and typed a message to Xie Xitong, describing the situation.

Less than five minutes after sending the message, Xie Xitong replied.

【XiXi Xixi (Winter Break Version): Burp.】

Jiang Xue: …

She waited patiently for five minutes, but didn’t receive a follow-up, so she couldn’t help but ask: 【Don’t you have anything to say?】

【XiXi Xixi (Winter Break Version): I just woke up, and I’m not in a good mood. If you insist on hearing it, I’ll scold you.】

【Yu Xue: [cat listening intently.jpg]】

【XiXi Xixi (Winter Break Version): [13-second voice message]】

Jiang Xue didn’t dare play it out loud, and was afraid that the voice-to-text function would produce something strange, so she hurriedly opened her nightstand drawer, found her earphones, put them on, and played a song to make sure there was no sound leakage before nervously and excitedly opening the voice message.

“Why are you so cowardly?! You don’t act when she’s awake, and you act when she’s asleep. Who are you trying to impress? Yourself? Shedding little pearls for your secret affection?! Or do you think this can convey your feelings through dreams, letting her experience self-actualization in her sleep?!”

When it came to relationships, Xie Xitong had long been annoyed with her. She hadn’t expected someone to willingly offer her an opportunity to vent first thing in the morning. She had to give this clueless girl a good scolding!

【Yu Xue: …Master, I’ve been enlightened!!】

“See? You scold her, and she even thanks you!” Xie Xitong said, petting the white cat beside her pillow, and sighed, getting out of bed. “Hopefully, it will be effective.”

Jiang Xue was truly enlightened this time. She deliberately waited until Xiao Luohan woke up, even until they had both brushed their teeth, before “replicating” the small actions she had secretly done earlier in front of the mirror.

Although a little puzzled as to why A-Xue seemed to have subtly changed after waking up, Xiao Luohan wouldn’t miss this opportunity where Jiang Xue took the initiative.

So the sweet orange fragrance was quickly replaced by the mint flavor.

When they went downstairs for breakfast, Jiang Mei had already finished half of hers—everything was ready at the hotel, so she just needed to relax and accompany her younger sisters to the amusement park today.

Seeing Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan eating breakfast, she asked Xiao Linghan in her mind, “Can you see anything?”

Last night, before going to bed, they had discussed… no, actually made a secret bet.

Jiang Mei thought the two wouldn’t do anything just because it was past midnight, but Xiao Linghan had disagreed.

“You think too highly of your younger sister and my younger sister,” she had heard Xiao Linghan click her tongue. “They’ve grown up. When they meet someone they like, they’ll usually be driven by their desires… in this world’s terms, perhaps ‘ruled by emotions’? Anyway, at that time, instinct will definitely outweigh reason.”

Jiang Mei, on the other hand, felt that Xiao Linghan thought of the two girls as too mature. “It’s not like they would just… right after midnight. And I even talked to Jiang Xue specifically.”

“Then want to bet?” Xiao Linghan had asked with a smile. “If I win, I want to borrow your body at the amusement park. If you win…”

“I won, so admit defeat, will you?”

—Xiao Linghan’s voice brought Jiang Mei back to her thoughts. “Just a simple question can confirm it. Do you want to ask them now?”