Have you ever taken part in a sports meet?
Whether it’s a sprint that demands explosive power or a marathon requiring endurance, the moment you sign up and step onto the track—win or lose—you’re already a hero of the raceway.
But you heroes, do you remember that morning after the event, when you woke up aching all over, your back and waist screaming in protest?
Of course you don’t get it. You were only focused on strutting your stuff on the field, never minding how your waist and legs felt!
Ye Zhibai had never joined a sports meet, but that didn’t stop her from experiencing the lingering aftereffects of intense exertion.
Who said the track has to be on a sports field?
Who said the sweat of youth had to be spilled on endless turf?
Come on, tossing and turning in bed all night burns just as many calories, drains just as much stamina and hydration—it’s plenty intense!
After being tossed around by Yun’er all night long, Ye Zhibai could only stay sprawled on the bed even into the afternoon.
She didn’t dare move.
“Guang Yu, rub my legs. Hiss… put some muscle into it. Did you skip the wasabi or what? Ah, yeah… right there, that’s the spot. Feels good.”
“That tone of yours—you sound like a real big shot.”
The cat-shaped Guang Yu used her meow-meow paws to massage Ye Zhibai’s waist and legs as best she could.
The little kitty didn’t have much strength, but something was better than nothing.
Don’t ask why she didn’t shift to human form for the massage. Ask, and the answer is that Ye Zhibai’s waist and legs could only handle the force of meow-meow paws right now.
The sight of a kitty massaging a beautiful girl was oddly enchanting, adding a touch of comfort to the painful haze of her sleepless afternoon.
“If you ask me, Ye Zhibai… you’re such a little flop-veggie. Look at your sister—full of vim and vigor, hauling a potted plant out the door just now. Now look at you: same workout, but you can’t even bounce back.”
“Don’t go picking up random internet slang and throwing it around. ‘Little flop-veggie’? How does a word like that fit someone as tough as me?”
“I think it fits perfectly.”
Fine, give her a little face—for the sake of those drinks later.
Guang Yu’s cat paw pressed firmly into the joint behind Ye Zhibai’s knee.
The perfect pressure at just the right spot drew an involuntary gasp from the usually cool girl.
“Ah…! Hoo…”
“……”
“What’s up? Keep going. I won’t short you those two drinks we agreed on.”
“Meow… I know, just zoned out for a sec.”
“Daydreaming about chasing butterflies again? Fine, chase butterflies, but don’t yank my green onions.”
“No promises.”
How strange.
That little gasp from Ye Zhibai had actually made Guang Yu freeze for a moment!
That wasn’t right!
Back when she lounged under the moonlight outside, she’d heard Ye Zhibai cry out plenty—songs of joy and passion—and she’d stayed as steady as a rock, utterly unshaken!
But just now, with that soft little sound… she’d actually…
Uh, actually what?
Guang Yu wasn’t sure. She just felt this inexplicable flutter in her heart. But the little kitty’s brain wasn’t big enough to dwell on it. The feeling flickered for a moment and vanished without a trace!
As she enjoyed Guang Yu’s amateur but barely serviceable massage, Ye Zhibai lazily tapped her phone screen with her green-onion fingers to check the time.
—4:20 p.m.
Huh… had it gotten this late without her noticing?
Lin Zihan had dutifully shown up at the Maid Corps for work today, bright and early. But she hadn’t caught a glimpse of Ye Zhibai since morning.
After all, Ye Zhibai needed rest and could barely fend for herself, plus Yun’er’s protection meant no visitors.
But… Zihan was due off work in forty minutes.
Don’t let Lin Zihan’s current role as her temporary maid fool you—Ye Zhibai didn’t really treat her like one.
Setting aside Sister Liang, Lin Zihan was Ye Zhibai’s one and only friend right now!
Guang Yu? She didn’t count. She was the little fox.
A friend had to be human, at least—that bar was low enough. Too bad Guang Yu didn’t qualify (sad).
So Ye Zhibai wasn’t the type to let a friend visit and leave without even seeing her once from start to finish.
After Guang Yu’s massage, she could move a bit now.
Better catch Zihan before she left… go take a look.
“Guang Yu, help me up.”
“Going for more water?”
“No more water—I’ll burst. I want to go check things out.”
The little tea cat hopped in place.
Vibrant, slightly curly brown hair swirled with spiraling light specks, drifting gently as the fox maiden loli landed lightly on the bedsheet with her tiptoes amid the glow.
No matter how many times she saw it… Ye Zhibai still found it utterly magical.
Hiss…!
Damn it, she’d just tweaked her neck watching Guang Yu transform!
With Guang Yu’s support, Ye Zhibai shuffled on like an invalid, slipping on her slippers, carefully spreading her legs and taking tiny steps to the door.
“Uh, Ye Zhibai, why are you walking so dramatically?”
“You wouldn’t get it. Try chipping away at a frozen lake all night—would you still dare dash across the ice? You’d either slip to death or drown.”
“?”
Chipping… a hole?
Guang Yu didn’t understand. She could only tilt her little head.
Ye Zhibai didn’t want to explain. Explaining would just circle back to her own shortcomings—body too weak, couldn’t beat Yun’er.
But starting now!
No more limping!
At least, when she saw Yun’er and Zihan, she had to act normal.
This was her last shred of dignity!
“Guang Yu, keep catching up on your cartoons. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh… watch out for slipping on the ice. Don’t drown.”
“No ice here. And watch your mouth—speak more human.”
“Little Bai’er! You…! Uh, what’s wrong? Did you fall? Twist something? Are you okay?”
“No fall, no twist. I’m fine, just a bit tired.”
“Phew… that’s a relief. Zhiyun said you took a huge hit to your vitality today and needed bed rest. I asked what happened, but she wouldn’t tell me. Good thing you’re alright.”
Damn it. Even forcing a confident stride, the pain in certain spots made her look like she was hobbling!
Lin Zihan had already diligently finished cleaning the villa for the day.
She was wearing her maid outfit, wringing out a freshly washed rag as she stepped out of the kitchen, just in time to spot Little Bai’er entering the living room with a less-than-great complexion.
Maybe Yun’er really did have a “big sister” radar.
The instant Ye Zhibai appeared, the rapid patter of footsteps echoed from the wooden stairs as she rushed down from the second floor!
“Ah…! Big Sis! Why are you up? Isn’t it bad for you to move around? Please take care of yourself!”
You think I ended up like this because of who, exactly?
Is this the victor’s leisure?
Damn it, I want to say something like that with confidence too!
Facing reality, Ye Zhibai could only lean on Yun’er for support and settle on the sofa, sitting side by side directly across from Lin Zihan.
Lin Zihan blinked her right eye, flushed a deep pink.
Her smile gradually stiffened on her face.
She… was a bit confused.
If it were just Little Bai’er in this state, Lin Zihan could chalk it up to a twisted leg or trouble walking.
But looking at Ye Zhiyun’s face—that mix of worry laced with satisfied bliss!
And how she’d stubbornly kept her from Little Bai’er’s room earlier…
The clever Lin Zihan had a bold guess!
No, no, no… that was too out there.
Ye Zhiyun wouldn’t actually lay a hand on Little Bai’er, right? She’d have to be inhuman.
Wait—no! With Ye Zhiyun, it was entirely possible!
Last time, in that dim alley, Ye Zhiyun had kissed Little Bai’er right in front of her!
But even so…
Ugh, she was dying to know!
Asking might be awkward, though!
Hmm.
Perfect.
Lin Zihan wasn’t one to shy from awkwardness.
“Ahem… Zhiyun, you didn’t… do something beastly to Little Bai’er, did you?”
