Chapter 46: Chance Encounter: She and Her Sister Were Inseparable Part 1

Darkness always hid selfish desires well. The moment Shen Mingjin closed the last sliver of light in the room, Ye Xi suddenly opened her eyes. She had excellent disguise skills—not only could she play the roles of sunny and lively, but she could even deliberately adjust her breathing.

She didn’t regret suddenly breaking the ambiguity, effectively blocking the retreat for both herself and Shen Mingjin. However, Ye Xi was also a little scared.

The half-true, half-false words she spoke carried her genuine worries.

Ye Xi truly feared that Shen Mingjin would distance herself once they could no longer interact as friends. Fortunately, Shen Mingjin didn’t flee in haste. She was still so soft-hearted, compromising—and even indulging—the injured Ye Xi time and again.

Ye Xi had pushed her luck a bit, but this was also Shen Mingjin’s habit.

That shy, coquettish “little liar” had revealed far more affection than Ye Xi had anticipated.

Their distance wasn’t far.

It was very close.

The special environment of Huanshu Building Fourteen limited the moonlight that could drift in, and after the curtains were drawn, not a single ray could seep through. Yet Ye Xi sensed the softest moonlight imaginable—not from the window, but from her side.

Shen Mingjin was her moon.

In the pitch-black room, Ye Xi couldn’t see Shen Mingjin, but she could smell the faint, gentle scent that belonged to her.

No need to wait until tomorrow.

She already liked Shen Mingjin a little more right now.

Ye Xi’s chaotic thoughts completely settled. She no longer dwelled on the shock of her background. Compared to fantasizing about who might kill her tomorrow, the current Ye Xi preferred to think about when Shen Mingjin would become her girlfriend. Ni Yueying had said she was very capable, so she definitely had the ability to build her future life.

Though the bedding separated their bodies, Ye Xi could still feel Shen Mingjin’s presence from the weight at her side.

Shen Mingjin’s breaths carried a unique fragrance, and her body was enveloped in an intoxicating, rich aroma.

The arm she gripped had smooth, delicate skin like the finest silk, tempting her to stroke it with every touch.

Ye Xi held back her inner thirst but couldn’t resist leaning toward Shen Mingjin until her hair lightly tangled before closing her eyes again.

The abundant demon power soothed her body’s heat, and the faint scent lingered at her nose. Ye Xi slept very soundly that night.

When she woke, Shen Mingjin had long been awake.

Shen Mingjin wasn’t just kind; she was exceptionally trustworthy.

She had promised to let Ye Xi see her the next morning and stayed, even if it felt awkward.

The moment the room’s incandescent light flicked on, Ye Xi easily took in Shen Mingjin’s skin, faintly flushed pink. Before Shen Mingjin could speak, Ye Xi reached out, hugged her neck, and greeted her enthusiastically: “Big Sis, good morning!”

The lively, enthusiastic girl poked out a bit from under the covers to make hugging Shen Mingjin easier.

The bath towel wrapped around Ye Xi had completely come loose overnight. Before Shen Mingjin could react, a glimpse of soft white flesh squeezed into her view. Embarrassment flooded her already awkward face, turning to flustered shame. She frantically grabbed at the blanket, trying to wrap Ye Xi back up. But as soon as she extended her arms, Ye Xi rolled right into her embrace.

Shen Mingjin tugged at the blanket corner again, but could only hug both Ye Xi and the blanket to ensure she didn’t expose herself.

In her panic, she shifted toward the edge, trying to free up the covered part for Ye Xi.

Ye Xi, still hooked around Shen Mingjin’s neck, shifted with her. As Shen Mingjin kept wrapping the blanket around her, Ye Xi hugged her tighter and even climbed on top, letting Shen Mingjin encircle both her and the blanket.

The flush on Shen Mingjin’s skin deepened. Ye Xi lay calmly in her arms, unflustered, blinking her sparkling eyes at her: “Big Sis, I like you even more today. Have you started liking me yet?”

Ye Xi’s eyes shone brilliantly, the starlight in them trembling lightly.

Her breaths were scorching hot, brushing against her skin, and Shen Mingjin instinctively dodged.

She turned her head slightly, exposing the side of her neck within Ye Xi’s reach. Seizing the chance, Ye Xi blew a puff of air there: “Big Sis, have you?”

After the ambiguity was fully exposed, Ye Xi no longer observed obvious boundaries with Shen Mingjin. She had even become a bit clingy.

Shen Mingjin had been moved by Ye Xi even when maintaining friend distance—let alone now, with Ye Xi dismantling all safety lines and pouncing straight at her.

She was completely defenseless against Ye Xi’s enthusiasm. Her hands clutched the blanket edges tightly, wrapping the bare Ye Xi firmly: “Ye Xi, you should get up now.”

Shen Mingjin’s tense voice trembled, her cheeks red enough to bleed.

Her soft tone held no deterrent power, and her topic change was stiff.

Ye Xi almost laughed. She ducked her head under the covers, her lips curving upward slyly.

Seeing Ye Xi burrow back in voluntarily eased Shen Mingjin’s breath. She gently pushed away Ye Xi’s outstretched hand, placed the wrapped Ye Xi on the bed, then scrambled off first, turning her back to pant secretly: “Ye Xi, I’ll head out first. Get dressed properly.”

“Big Sis.”

Ye Xi deliberately softened her voice into a weak, pitiful call for Shen Mingjin, forcing her to turn back.

The instant Shen Mingjin looked, Ye Xi extended her legs from under the covers, deliberately showing off the wound on them: “Big Sis, my legs aren’t very convenient. Can you help me get dressed?”

With abundant demon power replenishing her demon body, Ye Xi’s self-healing was excellent.

The shocking wounds on her legs had already scabbed over, but the remaining scars were enough to serve as tools for acting weak.

Ye Xi shamelessly wheedled, deliberately cloaking herself in delicacy.

Shen Mingjin’s heart softened as she approached, but her peripheral vision caught more bare skin emerging from the covers. She hurriedly refused: “No, that’s not okay.”

Finally hearing a firm refusal from Shen Mingjin, Ye Xi sat up hugging her blanket, gazing at her pitifully: “Big Sis, don’t you think I look pretty good?”

The two had no logical connection whatsoever.

Yet Shen Mingjin followed Ye Xi’s lead instinctively, her thoughts pulled along.

Her gaze dropped to Ye Xi, subconsciously observing her.

The Witch Doctor Mark held a special allure for patients, and Shen Mingjin’s eyes locked onto Ye Xi’s neck again.

She unconsciously licked her lips, then hastily averted her panicked gaze.

Ye Xi beckoned to Shen Mingjin: “Big Sis, Big Sis, come a little closer.”

Shen Mingjin approached with a pounding heart and sat on the bed’s edge as Ye Xi tugged her down. She did nothing else, just stared fixedly at Shen Mingjin’s neck. The scorching gaze made Shen Mingjin’s chest tighten; she tried to avoid it and stand, but Ye Xi yanked her back.

Shen Mingjin swallowed nervously: “Ye Xi, what… what are you doing?”

Ye Xi pressed one hand to keep Shen Mingjin still, her gaze sliding over her neck—burning hot yet candid: “Big Sis, you stared at me for half a minute just now. Now it’s my turn to look back!”

Her righteous tone sounded like a demand for fairness, and Shen Mingjin actually stayed put.

Her neck skin turned completely red, and she sat obediently on the bed’s edge, letting Ye Xi look.

Ye Xi’s unreasonable behavior seemed perfectly logical to Shen Mingjin. Watching her neck flush entirely while allowing the scrutiny, Ye Xi’s laughter spilled from her lips: “Big Sis, you’re just so…”

So cute.

Ye Xi swallowed the three words secretly, smiling as she tilted her neck to push the red mole into Shen Mingjin’s view: “Big Sis, I think I looked a few seconds longer. Want to look back?”

“No, no!”

Shen Mingjin jolted up from the bed in panic, eyeing Ye Xi who showed no sign of getting up. She staggered back toward the door.

She wanted to flee, but Ye Xi called pitifully: “Big Sis, my arm still hurts.”

“Ye Xi.”

Shen Mingjin, who had reached the door, turned back again.

She fetched a set of clothes from the wardrobe and placed them by Ye Xi’s hand, face red: “Ye Xi, can you dress yourself?”

Ye Xi knew she couldn’t push Shen Mingjin too far. Hugging the clothes, she nodded obediently: “Okay.”

Shen Mingjin sighed in relief. She didn’t leave the room but turned her back, waiting for Ye Xi to dress.

Ye Xi hugged the clothes and quietly gazed at Shen Mingjin’s slender back. Shen Mingjin probably hadn’t realized it herself, but her indulgence toward Ye Xi was boundless. Such indulgence wouldn’t deter admirers—in fact, her limitless gentleness only made them bolder.

Ye Xi emerged from the covers, glancing at her healed wound. She suddenly hated her demon body’s healing ability a bit.

She exaggerated her movements while putting on the clothes.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the bloodied gash on her ankle from the spike reopen slightly and nodded inwardly in satisfaction.

Ye Xi: “Big Sis, I think I’m bleeding again.”

Shen Mingjin turned and saw the obedient Ye Xi sitting on the bed.

Ye Xi hugged her knees, staring dejectedly at the wound with its faint split.

Shen Mingjin could tell Ye Xi wasn’t truly upset, but she still followed her rhythm, concerned about the slight tear: “Ye Xi, how are you?”

“Big Sis, my wound seems to have split open.”

“Ye Xi, don’t scare me. Does it hurt a lot?”

“Big Sis, look.”

Ye Xi pointed out the wound’s faint crack to Shen Mingjin.

Shen Mingjin examined the minor fissure revealing a bit of red flesh, relieved yet exasperated: “Ye Xi, you’re fooling me again.”

Ye Xi righteously grabbed Shen Mingjin, pulling her upright body downward.

Her fluffy head burrowed into Shen Mingjin’s chest: “Big Sis, it hurts.”

Hearing Ye Xi cry about the pain softened Shen Mingjin despite knowing better. She scanned her calf worriedly: “Ye Xi, your injuries aren’t fully healed yet. Can you still continue the assessment today?”

“Yeah… no.” Ye Xi swallowed her initial response, exaggerating the injury: “Big Sis, since the assessment venue changed to Half-Mountain Spirit Garden and there are no urgent patients there needing treatment, can I hang up a ‘resting today’ sign?”

“Ye Xi, is that…”

Not great? Shen Mingjin didn’t finish before her phone rang, cutting her off. She answered puzzled, and a clear, cold female voice came through: “Miss Mingjin, that couple you’ve been handling is fighting again. They even pulled knives this time. Are you free to come take a look today?”

Ye Xi pressed close to Shen Mingjin, listening together. Shen Mingjin helplessly turned on speaker.

The demon on the other end sounded urgent: “I heard you’re neighbors with Physician Ye now. Could you bring her along? There’s an injured demon on site. Our department has a lot of disputes to mediate today, physicians are short-staffed, and Physician Wen is tied up with a patient confrontation at his door. Can’t find anyone else.”

“Supervisor Lin, Ye Xi hasn’t passed the assessment yet.”

“Miss Mingjin, everyone knows Ye Clan physicians’ assessments are just formalities. Their people are born physicians— even new ones outperform veterans with decades of experience. That Wenan District couple has always been under your care, so you’re the only option now.”

Supervisor Lin seemed to be handling a medical dispute, with chaotic noises, curses, and maledictions filtering through.

Ye Xi vaguely caught words like “killed a demon” and “won’t die well.” Seeing Shen Mingjin’s grave, worried expression, she sneakily grabbed the pink fur rabbit, leaned to her ear, and whispered: “Big Sis, I can do it.”

Hearing Ye Xi say she could go, Shen Mingjin agreed.

She was indeed very worried about that Wenan District couple.

Mediators were entry-level work for the major demon clans, but an essential role. They handled demon-demon conflicts and demon-human ones.

Most demons had more extreme temperaments than humans; minor issues could turn deadly, so mediators were indispensable.

The disputes ranged from medical brawls and family fights to squabbles over a bowl—or even deaths from treatment.

With economic trade and benefit exchanges among the Eleven Demon Clans, and some assessed demons living in the human world, bottom-tier mediators like Shen Mingjin had to go everywhere: their own clans, others’, and the human world.

The work in the human world was a bit more tedious. Besides basic mediation, it also involved handling the aftermath when demons living among humans accidentally exposed their identities. Of course, that part required coordination with the General Bureau.

Shen Mingjin had not dealt with such issues yet because she was the Clan Leader’s sister. The demons under her management were all afraid of her, so they rarely caused big fights in the human world that would reveal their true identities to people.

The couple in Wenan District consisted of one named Yin Erou and the other named Mao Xinqing.

Yin Erou was a demon from the Qingdu Clan at the management office where Building Nine was located, while Mao Xinqing was actually from their Embracing Snow Clan. Both demons had passed their assessments and were living in the human world. By a stroke of chance, they had formed a bond.