“Stunning, huh... fine, let that wave roll past.”

The sigh left me like mist at dawn, and I turned to Xinuo, hope flickering like a lantern. “Xinuo, I’ve got the uniform on. Your turn, yeah?”

No lie—the thought of Xinuo in a uniform rose like a sunrise in my chest.

“Oh? Servant, why should I?” Her smile rested on me like moonlight on water.

She didn’t look like she’d budge; she just watched me, eyes warm as embers.

“Hey—Xinuo, didn’t you say you’d put it on after I did?!” My voice wobbled like a jellyfish in tide.

Her look made my eyes glaze with dew. I was already halfway teary.

“I said that so you’d have something to look forward to, and hurry into women’s clothes.” Her words danced like a fox tail.

Of course. I’d been toyed with, like a kitten pawing a thread.

“But— but! I really want to see you in uniform!” The plea spilled out like rain on a thirsty field.

Even saying it, the wish stayed bright, like a star stubborn in daylight.

So I let my eyes brim like wet glass and pinned her with pure, shining hope.

“...Servant, what’s with that look?” Her beautiful face flushed like dawn, then her hands reached out and pinched my cheeks like soft dough.

“But I really want to see you in uniform!” I held my ground, puppy eyes glittering like wet stars.

“Fine, I’ll wear it. So stop looking at me like that.” Her surrender came with a breeze-soft sigh.

She sighed like wind through bamboo, picked up the uniform, and drifted toward the changing room like a white crane.

“Ehehe!” The sound popped from me, light as a sparrow; first time I’d ever seen her give in.

“Boss, Boss! This humble one’s all dressed!” Hill sprinted over, tugging my hand like a lively squirrel.

“...So cute!” Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya gasped, voices chiming like wind bells.

“Mm, really cute.” The word flooded my mind like warm honey.

Hill was cute to begin with, a little sprout in spring—now in pure white, she looked fresh as first snow. She rarely wore white dresses; the uniform made her feel new, like a clean sheet of frost, even cuter than before.

“Mhm~ Boss said I’m cute, I’m so happy!” She launched into my arms like a kitten pouncing into a pile of leaves.

Staaare—

Staaare—

Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya, for some reason, watched me—watched Hill in my arms—with envy curling like green vines.

“You two want a hug too?” I hesitated, then offered, heart open like a gate at dusk.

“Mm-mm!” They nodded hard, like pecking chicks.

“Hill, what do you—” I started, but the warm bundle in my arms shook her head, hair swishing like a small waterfall. “Nope. I won’t let anyone but Boss and Master hug me!”

“Wuu...” Their faces fell like wilted blossoms—hit and disappointed.

I looked at them and could only apologize in silence, folding the feeling like a paper crane and letting it fly.

After a moment.

Creak!

The changing room door opened like a petal.

Hiss!

All of us—me, Hill, Eastern Moon Aixue, and Faya—drew a sharp breath, the air pulling back like a tide.

Not fear—beauty. Xinuo stepped out like moonlight over snow, too stunning to name.

She usually wore a snow-white long dress, but the pure-white uniform felt different—a winter bloom. For some reason, she’d tied her long white hair into a single ponytail, revealing a porcelain nape pale as a birch trunk.

And on her beautiful face rested a calm smile, smooth as a still lake. We were struck dumb like statues.

“Servant, how is it?” She lightly combed the tied ponytail with her fingers, the motion soft as silk, and smiled at me.

Gulp.

I swallowed, heart drumming like a festival, then forced my breath smooth as a fan breeze. Face blazing, I stammered, “Uh—well—very beautiful! Xinuo, you’re beautiful!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Master is very beautiful!” Hill popped her head from my arms like a prairie dog, praising with all the force of a small storm.

That kind of simple heart is good; I envied Hill’s carefree soul, clear as a summer sky.

“I really can’t win, huh.” Faya spoke after the shock, a little lost, like a kite without wind.

“Faya, don’t say that. Can’t be the main wife? Be the favored concubine!” Eastern Moon Aixue patted her shoulder, teasing with a fox grin.

“Aixue, what are you even saying!” Faya’s cheeks bloomed red like camellias.

A minute later.

We finally settled, the ripples smoothing like a pond at dusk. Who knew Xinuo in a uniform had that kind of impact.

Xinuo changed back into her usual snow-white long dress. We sat around a big table, nibbling pastries and sipping black tea, the warmth curling like steam.

“It’s already so late. We’ll head out first. Also, Yugong-kun, your tea was great! The pastries too! Thanks for hosting.” Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya rose, words polite as folding fans, then drifted away.

...

“Yeah, it’s not early anymore. Let’s sleep.” I cleaned the plates and teaware, glanced at the clock on the wall like a moon-disc, and spoke.

“Mm, sleep now.” Xinuo set down her novel, stretched like a cat, then climbed into bed and slipped under the covers like a river into night.

“Ooh ooh! This humble one’s a bit sleepy too!” Hill, already in her nightgown, hopped onto the bed like a spring frog, turning the covers and sheets into a rumpled cloud.

“Hill, can you stop jumping every time?” Seeing the mess, Xinuo pinched her cheeks again, stretching them like mochi.

“Ow ow ow—Master, this humble one knows! It hurts! Gentle, please!” Hill begged, hands flapping like sparrow wings.

For some reason, the sight made laughter bubble up in me like a spring.

“Xinuo, don’t bully Hill. Let’s sleep.” I sat at the bedside and ruffled Hill’s small head, soft as new cotton.

“Hmph, fine. But Hill, don’t jump next time, or else...” She smiled—a beautiful bloom—with a hint of frost that made Hill shiver like grass in wind.

“Wuu, I get it. Next time I’ll climb up properly, not hop.” Hill rubbed her reddened cheeks, face long as a drooping willow.

“There, there. Don’t cry, Hill.” I straightened the covers and sheets, then hugged Hill and lay down, settling like a boat to harbor.

“Honestly, Servant, you spoil Hill too much.” Xinuo looked at me, a touch of complaint like a thin rain.

“It’s fine. Hill’s still little.”

“Exactly! This humble one’s still a young dragon! I deserve extra pampering!” Hill chirped, pride puffing like a tiny cloud.

“Hill, shut it.” Xinuo’s glare flashed like lightning. Hill buried her face in my chest and went quiet, obedient as a curled cat.

“Uh... let’s sleep. It’s late.” I chuckled dryly, smoothing the air like a hand over silk.

“Mm. Then good night, Servant.”

“Good night, Xinuo.”

...