Shen Mingjin had long guessed that Ye Xi liked her.
Ye Xi also knew that Shen Mingjin had figured out her feelings.
They both knew that on that day, Shen Mingjin had deliberately shared her family’s secrets with Ye Xi precisely to nip any boundary-crossing emotions in the bud.
Shen Mingjin wanted to play dumb and maintain a friendship, while Ye Xi wanted to play dumb and keep their intimate distance. They both understood clearly that once those feelings were spoken aloud, there would be no room for maneuvering, and they could no longer interact as mere friends.
Ye Xi had considered slowing her steps to approach Shen Mingjin and even thought about giving up on this relationship to face her fate alone. In the end, however, desire and longing conquered everything.
She yearned for Shen Mingjin and craved a life together with her.
Shen Mingjin did not respond to Ye Xi. She silently turned on the hairdryer, using its noise to drown out her increasingly rapid heartbeat.
Ye Xi did not give Shen Mingjin a chance to evade. She reached out and snatched the hairdryer, staring intently at Shen Mingjin. “Sister, I like you.”
She had thoroughly crossed the line of friendship, cornering Shen Mingjin with her repeated declarations of affection.
Shen Mingjin could no longer pretend not to hear. She slowly opened her mouth. “Ye Xi, do you know what you’re saying?”
“Sister, I’m very clear-headed.”
“Ye Xi, I…”
Reason told Shen Mingjin that she should reject Ye Xi immediately, but her emotions prevented her from uttering such cruel words.
She had to admit that during their time together, it wasn’t just Ye Xi who felt her heart stir.
Shen Mingjin had to surrender to her heart—it was more honest than her mouth. In Ye Xi’s presence, her heart beat differently. Hearing those words of “like” had brought not only panic but also a fleeting joy. Of course, she still could not cross that line; they were not suitable for each other.
Shen Mingjin’s silence gave Ye Xi a glimmer of hope. She couldn’t help but press her advantage. “Sister, can you be my girlfriend?”
Ye Xi, who was accustomed to living behind a mask, spoke so bluntly for the first time, leaving herself no path of retreat.
The scorching confession carried immense heat, and Shen Mingjin involuntarily leaned back.
Ye Xi was prepared for this. The moment Shen Mingjin tried to pull away, she tightened her grip on her hand.
Shen Mingjin suddenly realized that Ye Xi could be assertive too—not the aggressive dominance of Shen Minghuan, who, from her high position, wanted to control everyone, but a kind that simply blocked her escape route, refusing to let her be a coward. And once she sensed Shen Mingjin’s resistance, Ye Xi would promptly change tactics.
Ye Xi lay sideways on the bed, one hand gripping Shen Mingjin and the other protecting the snatched hairdryer.
She lifted her eyelids to look at Shen Mingjin, who sat on the chair by the bed, and pouted aggrievedly. “Sister, you can’t keep kissing me and then avoiding me.”
Ye Xi had never thought to make an issue of those out-of-control kisses before, but now, facing Shen Mingjin who only wanted to dodge the problem, she brought up all the old accounts.
Shen Mingjin’s gaze was drawn by Ye Xi’s words, and she couldn’t help but look toward Ye Xi’s soft, flushed lips.
The moist, tender lips resembled soft cotton candy, sweet and fragrant—once tasted, unforgettable; in memory, always alluring.
If her gaze drifted just a bit lower, she would see Ye Xi’s delicate neck and that vivid red mole on the side, which constantly tugged at her heart. She harbored ordinary desires for Ye Xi, but she absolutely could not admit it.
Shen Mingjin bit her lip tightly, a dry rasp escaping her throat. “I… I’ll try not to kiss you anymore.”
Her lowered eyelashes trembled before her eyes, dense and dark with a faint mist of moisture, like a fan brushed by fine rain.
Shen Mingjin was a exquisite work of art, every movement exuding unique charm.
Ye Xi stared unblinkingly at Shen Mingjin, feeling the allure of her stunning features wash over her. A fine drumming echoed in her chest, and she swallowed. “Sister, but I want you to keep kissing me.”
She laid her desire bare on her face, staring straight at Shen Mingjin’s honey-sweet red lips. “Not just kissing.”
Ye Xi’s confession was too sudden, her desire too blatant—it caught Shen Mingjin off guard.
Shen Mingjin lowered her voice, explaining weakly, “Ye Xi, there’s really something wrong with my family’s bloodline.”
Rejected again.
But perhaps Shen Mingjin should have used a different reason. This gentle, reluctant refusal not only failed to chill Ye Xi’s heart but also sparked more fantasies—maybe, setting aside the bloodline issue, Shen Mingjin did like her.
Ye Xi hurriedly continued from Shen Mingjin’s words. “Sister, my fate isn’t good either.”
“Ye Xi, why do you say that about yourself?”
“Sister, I’m serious.” Ye Xi had wanted to sit up to talk to Shen Mingjin, but her legs were injured, making movement inconvenient. The moment she shifted slightly, Shen Mingjin pressed her back down. So she lay there and told Shen Mingjin her entire background without reservation.
With every detail she shared, Shen Mingjin’s expression grew more grave.
By the end of Ye Xi’s story, Shen Mingjin understood the strange atmosphere between Ye Xi and Ni Yueying. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Ye Xi, this… this is a major matter. You shouldn’t have told me these things.”
“I believe Sister won’t harm me. I’m willing to share everything with you.” Ye Xi poured out her heartfelt truth without holding back. “Sister, when I just realized I was in danger, I did think about keeping my distance to avoid implicating you. But Sister, I can’t bear to leave you. It seems I can only trust you—you’re the only one who won’t hurt me.”
“Vice Director Qin won’t hurt you either.”
“It’s different.” Ye Xi stared fixedly at Shen Mingjin. Having pierced the veil of her love, she spoke without restraint, indulging her true feelings freely. “Sister, Bureau Chief Ni said I’m very capable. I probably won’t be a burden to you. I have the ability to love you, and I beg you to love me too.”
The fervent confession added a stifling heat to the night air. Shen Mingjin’s sensitive body felt a faint warmth.
She took a stealthy breath, steadying herself before daring to speak. “Ye Xi, the me you see now is one who hasn’t touched emotions. How do you know I won’t turn into a madwoman once I do?”
“Sister, I just know you’re wonderful!”
Ye Xi’s conviction failed to sway Shen Mingjin. Looking into Ye Xi’s eyes, Shen Mingjin added a touch of melancholy. “Shen Minghuan is a perfect example, isn’t she? Before she fell in love with Eldest Sis, she was always a good sister—brave, resolute, responsible. Now, she not only hurts others but herself too.”
Shen Mingjin was a snake; even her inner world matched the damp, cold nature of snakes.
Her exterior was vibrant and alluring, her personality gentle and kind, yet her heart endured endless gloomy rain.
The dampness and pain soaked into her bones.
A gloom not easily dispelled by sunlight.
“Ye Xi, love is poison to the Spirit-Devouring Snake Clan. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Sister, I’m not afraid!” Ye Xi remained resolute. Shen Mingjin’s melancholy words did not deter her; she keenly caught that Shen Mingjin had only said she didn’t want to harm her. She sensed that the deepest barrier between them wasn’t Shen Mingjin’s lack of feeling, but too much feeling for her. This only made Ye Xi charge forward more boldly. “Sister, no matter what you become, I can accept it!”
“Ye Xi, do you truly understand? Love is poison to the Spirit-Devouring Snake Clan. We’re selfish, possessive, and intensely jealous. If you really become my lover, I’ll destroy you. I might imprison you, make your world contain only me, I might…”
While Shen Mingjin spoke in pained distraction, Ye Xi manipulated the pink fur rabbit she had also placed on the bed.
She directed it to rummage through the wardrobe, retrieve a white fleece scarf, and bring it over.
“Sister, here.” Ye Xi stuffed the white fleece scarf into Shen Mingjin’s hands and held out her slender, soft wrists toward her. “Sister, I can’t find any rope right now, but this scarf should tie securely too. Are you going to start imprisoning me now?”
“…”
Shen Mingjin clutched the scarf, looking at the earnest Ye Xi, somewhat dazed as to whether they meant the same thing by “imprison.”
She couldn’t fathom why, after voicing all her concerns, Ye Xi showed not worry but anticipation.
As if her grave issues were mere overthinking.
Shen Mingjin couldn’t keep up with Ye Xi’s thoughts and struggled against her fervor. Her resolute heart grew increasingly hesitant.
“Sister, why haven’t you tied me up yet?”
Ye Xi’s urging left Shen Mingjin at a loss, her direct gaze making Shen Mingjin’s skin heat up.
Suddenly, Shen Mingjin didn’t dare meet Ye Xi’s passionate sincerity. Instead of binding Ye Xi’s outstretched wrists with the soft, long scarf, she covered Ye Xi’s eyes with it and gently tied it behind her head.
Shen Mingjin hid Ye Xi’s fervent, persistent gaze beneath the white fleece scarf, severing the chance for Ye Xi to notice her hesitation. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But how could Ye Xi be one to give up easily? She didn’t tug at the scarf Shen Mingjin had tied; she allowed her vision to be blocked.
She groped for Shen Mingjin’s arm and hugged it tightly. “Sister, see? Even if I can’t see, I can find you quickly. Do you know why? Because my heart is guiding me—it tells me that you…”
“Ye Xi!”
Shen Mingjin interrupted Ye Xi’s words in panic. The sweet talk ignited heat that gathered at her earlobes, turning her ears red enough to bleed.
Shen Mingjin touched her ear, trying to cool it down.
Even knowing Ye Xi couldn’t see now, she still felt uneasy. “Ye Xi, you should rest. Tomorrow… after you wake up… you won’t talk nonsense anymore.”
“Good night.”
Shen Mingjin hastily ended the sugary closeness with “good night.” Ye Xi pretended not to hear, clinging tightly to Shen Mingjin’s arm, her nose tip rubbing gently against the smooth skin. “Sister, you smell so good.”
After gaining demon power, Ye Xi’s body temperature had stabilized, though it was still higher than that of Shen Mingjin from the snake clan.
The warm breath blew against her skin, and Shen Mingjin weakly shrank back.
With vision gone, tactile senses amplified several times.
Ye Xi sensed Shen Mingjin’s sensitivity, feeling the smooth coolness of her skin. No longer satisfied with just her nose tip, she pressed her lips to the skin, gently rubbing against the tender, chilled jade.
The coolness seeped into her mouth through her lips, not extinguishing her desire at all—instead, it heated her until she parted her lips.
Her tongue tip slipped out from the slight gap, licking the fragrant arm entwined with rich aroma.
Ye Xi swallowed all the sweetness into her belly. In the darkness, she felt Shen Mingjin’s subtle tremors and heard a very soft, low gasp.
Shen Mingjin’s body was far more sensitive than she imagined, unable to withstand the slightest provocation. Anyone else invading the space within two meters of her would face her wariness, yet she allowed Ye Xi to cross that safety line. Ye Xi believed Shen Mingjin had feelings for her.
Ye Xi bit down on Shen Mingjin’s arm, filling her mouth with soft, sweet fragrance.
Her tongue tip pushed forward uncontrollably, seeking more of that fragrant softness.
“Ye Xi.”
Shen Mingjin said no more, but Ye Xi understood her plea.
Ye Xi released her mouth but kept holding Shen Mingjin’s arm.
She clearly felt Shen Mingjin’s temperature rising and smelled the fragrance intensifying.
Ye Xi refrained from kissing Shen Mingjin again. She lay still on the bed sideways, only tightening her grip whenever Shen Mingjin tried to withdraw her arm, refusing to let her escape.
Shen Mingjin felt somewhat helpless. “Ye Xi.”
Her soft, low voice didn’t make Ye Xi let go; instead, Ye Xi hugged her arm tighter. “Sister, will you hate me?”
Hate would be a true rejection, a way to create distance.
But Shen Mingjin wasn’t good at self-deception or lying.
“Ye Xi, I won’t hate you.”
The gentle promise encouraged Ye Xi once more. She had no thought of rethinking; she only wanted to get closer with all her might. “Sister, can I see you tomorrow too?”
Her faint worry was Ye Xi showing vulnerability, and Shen Mingjin’s heart softened quickly. “Ye Xi, I’m not leaving.”
She said she wasn’t leaving.
It sounded like she was staying the night.
Shen Mingjin didn’t notice anything amiss, but Ye Xi’s lips curved up in delight. “Sister, you like me too, right?”
Ye Xi didn’t wait for Shen Mingjin’s answer and affirmed it herself. “Sister, you like me.”
Shen Mingjin dared not admit it, fearing denial would hurt Ye Xi. She forcefully pulled her arm free. “Ye Xi, you should sleep.”
Shen Mingjin’s topic changes were always so awkward, devoid of any finesse.
Ye Xi easily saw through it as tacit agreement. “Sister, I think I like you even more now.”
Shen Mingjin fell completely silent, but Ye Xi didn’t quiet down. She enthusiastically bared her heart: “Sister, maybe I’ll like you a little more every day from now on.”
One sweet word after another left Shen Mingjin, who wanted nothing to do with romance, utterly stunned.
Shen Mingjin covered Ye Xi’s mouth, blocking her remaining words: “Ye Xi, good dreams.”
Ye Xi pulled down Shen Mingjin’s hand that was covering her mouth: “Then Sister has to remember to come into my dreams. Only if I dream of Sister will it count as a good dream.”
“I won’t enter your dreams.”
“Sister can’t come into my dreams? Then I definitely won’t have good dreams.”
“…”
Shen Mingjin’s palms grew hot. She was thoroughly thrown off balance by Ye Xi, even forgetting the distance she had planned to keep.
She wasn’t some heartless demon after all. A cornered little snake wouldn’t bite the person it liked—it would only plead softly: “Ye Xi, you… could you stop teasing me, please?”
“Sister, I’m not teasing you.” Ye Xi found Shen Mingjin’s hand again and guided her fingers toward her chest: “Sister, do you want to feel my heart? It’s very real… and probably very soft too.”
“Ye Xi.” Before Shen Mingjin could react, her fingers were pulled to Ye Xi’s chest. They slipped through the bath towel into a patch of softness. She panicked and yanked her hand back, but her fingertips happened to snag the spot where the towel overlapped and was secured.
She accidentally dislodged Ye Xi’s bath towel.
Ye Xi’s skin was suddenly exposed to the air, and she let out a very low cry: “Sister, I’m cold.”
Claiming she was cold, she crawled toward Shen Mingjin. Unable to see, she could only grope along Shen Mingjin’s arm to inch forward. Her chest rubbed against Shen Mingjin’s arm, and her fingertips brushed teasingly over the heated skin of her arm.
The bath towel loosened further, exposing more and more skin.
Shen Mingjin only felt her fingertips burning. She had no time to notice the deepening smile at the corners of Ye Xi’s lips.
She yanked the blanket over Ye Xi and wrapped her up. When she spoke again, her voice trembled: “Ye Xi, you… just go to sleep. I… I… please.”
“Sister, then can you stay with me? Just thinking that you might sneak away while I’m asleep and hide from me keeps me from sleeping.”
Shen Mingjin let out a soft sigh and compromised passively: “Ye Xi, I said I won’t leave.”
“Sister, can I hold you?” Ye Xi said pitifully: “I’m afraid you’ll sneak away.”
“Alright.”
Ye Xi crawled upward; she nearly climbed out of the blanket entirely.
Shen Mingjin pressed her down and proactively offered her arm.
Ye Xi’s arm was also injured. It had been fine at first, but holding it up for so long while tugging against Shen Mingjin had caused the deeper wound to crack open slightly. She hissed softly: “Hiss, Sister, my arm hurts a bit.”
Whining about the pain, she hugged Shen Mingjin’s arm and pulled it down a little, no longer keeping it raised upward. Shen Mingjin was tugged off the chair, her body swaying as she nearly fell onto Ye Xi.
Somewhat helplessly, Shen Mingjin climbed onto the bed. She lay down on the blanket beside Ye Xi’s body, tucking in the edges of the blanket on one side while using it to keep some distance between their bodies. This allowed Ye Xi to hold her with her arms in a more relaxed position.
Ye Xi finally stopped fidgeting. She gripped Shen Mingjin’s arm tightly and contentedly rubbed her head against the bedsheet: “Sister, I’m so sleepy. I’m going to sleep now, but tomorrow you have to let me see you, okay?”
“Alright.”
Shen Mingjin wasn’t sure what to make of this. Ye Xi currently had no vision, was injured and not very mobile, and didn’t even have much cloth to cover herself.
She could easily slip away, and Ye Xi definitely wouldn’t be able to chase her.
Strangely, even in this situation, Shen Mingjin still couldn’t seize any initiative. It felt like Ye Xi had been leading her along the whole time, leaving her more and more confused about how much distance friends should keep…
Shen Mingjin felt Ye Xi’s breathing gradually even out. She reached up and untied the scarf, gazing at Ye Xi’s sleeping face.
Ye Xi looked very obedient when she was acting vulnerable, and even more so when she was asleep.
She appeared pure and harmless, truly like a good little rabbit.
Shen Mingjin stared at that face in a daze. Her soft murmur broke the silence of the night: “Little liar.”
