After sleeping most of the day, Lingxiao surfaced from dreams like dawn lifting mist. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes like dew, sat up, and stretched like a lazy cat. To her left lay Lingsaki; to her right, her favorite brother Emperor and Lixue. They breathed evenly, quiet as a still pond.

“Mmm, why are we sleeping here? And where even is this place?”

Puzzlement fluttered, then she let it fall like a leaf. Because—

“If Lingsaki and Lixue are still asleep, I can monopolize my dear Brother!”

Thrilled like a sparrow spotting seed, Lingxiao crawled onto Emperor with kitten-soft care. She watched his handsome face in silence, moonlit and calm. “No matter how I look, dear Brother is beautiful. He even carries a light, sweet scent.”

Her sit turned into a full sprawl, a cat melting over a warm stone. She pinched his milky cheeks twice like soft buns. Childhood pranks rippled up, and a small smile bloomed.

She tucked her head into the hollow of his neck, a nest of warmth and cedar. Fresh drowsiness rose like a returning tide. From little to now, she loved lying on him like this; it felt safe as harbor and quietly blissful.

“No, no… I finally get Brother to myself. Falling asleep now would be a waste.” As her eyes drooped like closing petals, she jolted upright and patted her cheeks, light as rain. She didn’t dare make noise; any stir might scatter sleep like birds from branches. Even so, just watching his sleeping face filled her chest like spring.

“Mmm, but I should do something, or this chance slips like sand.” She murmured, lowered herself again, and stole a kiss like a dragonfly touching water.

“…Guess I should just be good and sleep.”

Heat rushed across her face like sunset afterglow. She clung to Emperor daily with bold little acts, yet her heart stayed pure as new snow. Shy at her own daring, Lingxiao settled on his chest and drifted off again, smiling like a flower in soft rain.

…

Before long, Lingsaki woke as well, a lantern rekindled. She turned, blinked, and saw Lingxiao asleep on Emperor’s chest. Pale-green envy stirred like wind in leaves. “Lingxiao is so sly. I want to sleep in Brother’s arms too.”

With that thought bright as a firefly, Lingsaki slid to Emperor’s side and lay down. She wrapped his arm tight, and contentment flowed in like warm tea.

She fixed on his profile, river-still and gentle, and a kiss bloomed in her mind. Twins are twins; their hearts echo like mirrored bells. She acted at once, brushed a kiss to his face, and smiled, full as the moon. Sleep crept back, soft as fog over fields. She hugged his arm and sank under again; the earlier trial had drained them like a long climb.

Qianji and the others had stopped by half an hour earlier, quiet as visiting cranes. Seeing Emperor still asleep, and Lingxiao, Lingsaki, and Lixue looking much better, they let out a breath like easing rain. They returned to the hall, and between light chatter they set their next steps like stones on a board.

…

The third to stir was Lixue, halfway between shore and sea. Foggy, she found her usual spot—Emperor’s embrace—gone like a stolen cloud. On instinct, she drifted over and, like Lingsaki, hugged his arm with sleepy strength. “…It’s still most comfortable like this.” She adjusted her angle, a swan settling its wings, and sleep flooded back in one clean wave.

As for Emperor, he suffered sweetly, a man tangled in silk. Lingsaki clung to his left, Lixue to his right, and Lingxiao lay on his chest. He was pinned as always, a butterfly caught by three soft nets.

…

“Mmm, mmm, why does this feel so tiring…” The feeling came first, a knot in warm cotton. Sleep should be bliss, yet fatigue pressed on me like damp clouds. I even woke unable to move, like a fish in thin ice.

My chest was heavy, yet soft as down, and fragrant like blossoms. Someone was clearly on top, a gentle weight with a breath of spring. Both hands were trapped, squeezed tight by someone’s arms—buried in something soft and snow-smooth.

“I really can’t do anything about them.” I opened my eyes, and first saw Lingxiao’s lovely sleeping face. She lay on me like a curled kitten, fast asleep and sugar-sweet. Each breath brushed my neck like warm feathers and made it itch.

On both sides, Lingsaki and Lixue hugged my arms, firm as ivy on stone. No wonder I couldn’t even turn over before waking.

I tried to draw my hands free, but their hugs held like tide on sand. I didn’t dare use strength; I didn’t want to wake them. Headache. What should I do?

Then a tingling raced across my neck, a fizz like spring soda. “Mm… dear Brother… so tasty.” I had no idea what dream snared Lingxiao. She stuck out her tongue and licked my neck twice, bold as a fox in a henhouse. Your sleep-talking is scary, you know. Don’t tell me you’re eating me in that dream?

Maybe her posture had gone stiff from holding one pose too long. Lingxiao shifted, arched a little, and curled small, a cat in a basket. Her slender legs, wrapped in white lace over-knee socks, rested on my thigh like cool silk.

Some things never change. As kids, Lingxiao and Lingsaki loved to cling or sprawl on me like this. Their clinginess matched Littlesky’s, tail and all.

Good. While Lingsaki and Lixue loosened for a breath, I slipped my hands free and took back my freedom like a pull from mud.

Whew. I flexed my fingers in a small arc, quiet as moth wings. Looking at Lingxiao, I paused, then wrapped my arms around her charming little body. It felt right, like palms on a warm cup.

“Dear Brother?” She woke two or three minutes after I hugged her, voice soft as dawn. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me, clear as spring water.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” My hand slid from that waterfall of hair to her tender cheek. I pinched it with a smile; the feel was satin-smooth.

“No. I’ve slept just enough. And waking in dear Brother’s arms feels like catching the first plum blossom.” She shook her head, happiness spilling like sunlight, and shifted from lying sideways to straddling my waist.

“That’s good. Looks like you’ve fully recovered, Lingxiao.” “Mm-hmm! One sleep beside dear Brother, and I’m better than perfect.” “You make me sound like some miracle elixir.” “Being by dear Brother works better than any panacea!” “Lingxiao, you’re impossible.”

Warmth rose in my chest like tea steam. I set my hand on her head and slowly stroked that fine hair, smooth as silk.

“Ehehe.” The sound tinkled like wind chimes.

From left and right, a fierce gaze pressed in, hot as summer noon. Not my imagination. Lingsaki and Lixue had woken at some point. They stared straight at us, eyes bright as polished obsidian.

“It’s unfair to spoil only Lingxiao. I want Brother’s hug and headpats too.” “Emperor, me too.” “…”

I had a feeling I’d be busy. But beneath it, happiness rose like a tide.