Though there had been a few bumps along the way, Lin Zihan’s new job serving the Eldest Miss had finally settled into a steady rhythm.
Ye Zhibai sat on the bed, peering through the floor-to-ceiling window at Lin Zihan in the garden. She was humming a little tune as she watered the flowers with the sprinkler.
The lace trim on her maid cap swayed gently in the breeze, keeping time with the soft sway of her golden hair.
It was a picturesque scene—beautiful woman, beautiful flowers—peaceful and serene indeed.
Peaceful.
That was, if one ignored Yun’er sitting right beside her, eyes locked on the window outside without a moment’s respite!
Was this really how one kept a strict guard? Eight-hour workday meant you stared for eight hours straight?
Between boss and employee, who exactly had the heavier workload here?!
To keep her little sister from wearing herself out over something so pointless, the good big sister Ye Zhibai decided to offer a gentle reminder.
“Yun’er, why don’t you go rest? Everything’s fine here. Zihan can’t do garden chores for a full eight hours anyway. I’ll send her home early once it’s about done.”
Yun’er lifted her left leg and crossed it over her right in a smooth, practiced motion.
That cool maneuver was meant to intimidate the “enemy” beyond the tightly shut window.
But her coquettish words were all for her big sister’s ears.
“Sigh… Don’t take this the wrong way, Sis. I know you’re kind-hearted and all, and sure, helping someone out means seeing it through to the end—like sending Buddha all the way to the West. But did we really have to bring this one home with us? Sending Buddha to the West would be so much nicer.”
I had a feeling “sending Buddha to the West” here didn’t mean sending her to her grave, right?
Eh?
Ye Zhibai couldn’t shake the sense that, while Yun’er often threw little tantrums, today’s mood swings were especially intense.
Just as Ye Zhibai started to worry and wonder if she should ask…
Yun’er twirled a lock of her own black hair with one hand, while the other sneaked behind Ye Zhibai to toy with her silver strands.
Pouting her little lips, she grumbled softly, finally revealing the root of it all.
“Ever since this house was built… no one’s set foot inside besides you and me… Sniff, our love nest… its purity level’s dropping. Should we maybe move?”
Don’t… don’t move!
Yun’er, you look so adorably aggrieved whispering that, but have you thought about what nonsense you’re spouting?!
No one allowed in after the house was built?
Then this place wouldn’t be a house anymore—it’d be a prison cell!
Letting Zihan come over like this, inviting friends as guests—that’s what gives a home some warmth and humanity.
Of course, all that was just Ye Zhibai’s inner monologue. She wouldn’t dare say it out loud.
Or else: instant move-out.
Ye Zhibai still cradled Guang Yu in her arms; the cat had fallen asleep.
Little Zhibai’s chest wasn’t exactly bountiful—Yun’er could cup it with one hand.
And the Little Tea Cat’s head was about the size of Yun’er’s palm.
Which meant Guang Yu fit perfectly as a pillow!
Sure, Ye Zhibai loved ribbing Guang Yu for her backstabbing ways, but with the cat lying so obediently in her lap like this, she didn’t mind petting her, running gentle fingers through her fur to soothe her soul.
Judging by how the Little Tea Cat lay belly-up in Ye Zhibai’s arms, paws in the air, she was clearly comfy too.
Yun’er watched this cozy scene, finding her big sister’s profile so breathtaking it seemed to halt time itself.
Naturally, what halted most was Yun’er’s tangled thoughts—they suddenly simplified into pure clarity.
What was she even on about?
Even if Lin Zihan came to work here, Sis was still her Sis—unchanged and forever so.
Setting foot in the house? No big deal.
After all, she wasn’t setting foot in Sis’s heart.
Sometimes… she really did overthink things?
Pfft, Yun’er had to admit she could be pretty laughable and pathetic at times.
Confidence was key—gotta have confidence! It’d only been a few days without shocking Sis with her sparks. How had her self-assurance tanked like this? Not like her at all.
As Yun’er’s mind settled, her tone lightened too.
“By the way, Sis, you’ve had this cat for so long, but I still don’t know her name?”
“Hm?”
Talk about absurd.
You’re really not giving our family cat the time of day!
But at least she was asking now.
Ye Zhibai lifted the sleeping cat in her arms a bit.
“Her name’s Guang Yu—Guang as in light, Yu as in jade.”
“Nice name, nice name! A name from Sis has real flair—hiss…”
“Yun’er?”
Your face was all sunshine one second, thunderclouds the next—what gives?!
Well, Yun’er had spotted this Little Tea Cat named Guang Yu nuzzling her head against Sis’s chest!
Even in her sleep, she got bold, using a tiny paw to squish that perfectly shaped jelly into a deformation.
“……”
Interspecies jealousy—totally normal, right?
Yun’er forced a smile. “S-Sis… can I hold the cat? I’m super curious.”
“Uh… sure?”
What was wrong with that? Perfect timing—she’d been holding her a while anyway.
Yun’er had always said she liked cats.
So she’d probably scoop the little kitty into her arms all gentle and sweet like other girls, yeah?
Who knew…
Yun’er smiled brightly.
But she ruthlessly pinched up Guang Yu by the scruff with two fingers.
Forget hugging—she didn’t even glance at her, just plopped the cat straight onto the bedsheet beside them!
You couldn’t even set her down gently!
Then, turning back with a glance, Yun’er took the cat’s place, diving steadily into Sis’s embrace.
Beauty in her arms, clinging like a bird to its branch.
“Don’t hug the cat—hug me~”
“!”
Damn… that sultry voice pierced straight to the soul—so sinfully sweet!
Yun’er pressed her cheek tight to Ye Zhibai’s chest, looking up from below with eyes brimming with possessiveness and bold aggression.
Just that one look had Ye Zhibai clamping her legs together in reflexive defense!
Curse it… conditioned response!
“Hey… Yun’er, cut it out. That tickles.”
“Don’t worry, Sis~ I’ll keep my promise. Three days’ rest means three days. I’m just recharging my energy, boosting my confidence a bit? I’ll make lunch in a sec. Oh, and… let’s show Lin Zihan just how lovey-dovey we are. Nip any bad ideas in the bud. Look at her out there, all prim and proper watering flowers—I don’t buy she hasn’t sneaked a peek this way. Go on, stare all you want—you can’t have this~ Mmm… Sis smells so good, lemme nuzzle…”
“……”
As for Ye Family’s aloof Second Miss rubbing all over her like a clingy ice cube every day? Hopeless stalemate.
Ye Zhibai let the sparkle fade from her eyes to fend off the tingles from Yun’er’s cheek against her chest.
Go ahead, Yun’er…
But know this isn’t me yielding.
I just want you to stop worrying, stop hovering in fear!
What was a model big sis? Exhibit A: Ye Zhibai!
Guang Yu huddled alone by the bed’s edge, curling up with her own tail for warmth.
It wasn’t cold in summer.
But in a certain sense, for the poor little deity, it really was freezing.
Hearts could always light up one another.
But this one couldn’t light up a single little kitty.
