"Ugh, wh-what are you gonna do to me?"

Yun Mingxin was tightly pinned down, his voice distorted. His hands flailed wildly in the air, making him feel utterly uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, but your mental state is too unstable right now. Your brain needs rest too."

"So, please forgive me!"

Yun Mingxin was speechless. *You keep saying ‘forgive me’ and ‘sorry’—if you really meant it,* he thought, *your hands could at least be gentler!*

Before he knew it, Kujou Kana had leaned in close, her delicate face hovering near his. Trapped as he was, Yun Mingxin could even feel her warm breath on his skin. Her face was undeniably beautiful—easy to gaze at endlessly. Yet no matter how many times he saw it, he still found it unbelievable. She shared the exact same face as Kujou Nana, yet their personalities were worlds apart. It was astonishing.

Kana focused intently on locating his pressure points. Once she found the spot, she gently pressed a finger against it. At first, Yun Mingxin felt nothing significant. But when her finger pressed down again, his eyelids instantly grew heavy. Fatigue surged through him.

Suddenly, a low, soothing melody reached his ears. He couldn’t understand the lyrics, but it radiated calmness. The longer he listened, the more his heart softened. In his final moment of consciousness, Yun Mingxin saw a cool, composed face—lips slightly parted, singing that beautiful tune. *Is this their lullaby?* he thought desperately. *Don’t treat me like a baby!* With that last thought, he sank into deep sleep, his breathing turning steady and even.

Seeing Yun Mingxin asleep, Kujou Kana slowly climbed off him. For once, her expression softened with a trace of tenderness. Pushing past one’s limits meant breaking through mental barriers—willpower was everything. Few understood that better than she did.

"You must have suffered so much," she murmured. Her right hand drifted to his cheek, stroking it slowly. The texture under her fingertips made his presence feel vividly real in her mind. A flicker of guilt surfaced. For a fleeting instant, she’d wanted to possess him completely. *How could a maid have such thoughts?* She despised the Kujou family, but not Kujou Yukihime. After pledging loyalty, everything she owned should rightfully belong to Lady Yukihime. *Could this man be the ‘beauty that spells ruin’ I read about in ancient Chinese texts?* Kana sighed inwardly. Humans were such complex creatures. Back in Japan, she’d sworn never to get close to any man—let alone develop feelings. Yet here she was, that vow shattered completely. *Was I lying? They say liars must swallow a thousand needles…* She shrugged it off. *Who’d even make me swallow them?* Honestly, she’d rather taste something else right now…

Her gaze locked onto Yun Mingxin’s face—specifically, his lips. *What do they taste like?* She’d seen countless TV dramas where actors faked ecstasy, but when the heroine was stunning, the hero’s micro-expressions betrayed secret delight. Books described it as a beautiful sensation—reserved only for someone special. *Would it feel like eating jelly?* She wanted to try. *Sure, my body shares a fraction of my sister’s… wait, a tenth of hers. But I’m the elder sister. As the senior, I can indulge just this once.* Kana reassured herself. *I’m just experimenting. I won’t lose myself in this. I have maid discipline.*

She pressed her lips fully against his. Tentatively, she extended her tongue for a brief touch. The instant their lips met, her body trembled with nervous excitement. Instinctively, she pulled back, a glistening thread clinging to the corner of her mouth. She glanced down, heat flooding her cheeks. *So this is what kissing tastes like?* *Should I try again?* No—she shook her head sharply. *That didn’t count. Less than three minutes? Totally unprofessional. I need a proper, honorable kiss.* Without hesitation, she charged in again.

Minutes later, a faint whisper drifted through the room:

"Hmm… still not perfect. The technique needs refinement. I should focus on the process… so I’ll…"

…

The next morning, Yun Mingxin groaned unconsciously, feeling utterly refreshed. The pain in his body had vanished, leaving him light as air. When he opened his eyes, he yelped and snatched a pillow to clutch defensively. Kujou Kana sat beside his bed, now in her crisp maid uniform. Her posture was rigidly proper, radiating reliability—as if she’d guarded him all night.

Unfazed by his reaction, she asked calmly, "Good morning, Lord Mingxin. How is your body feeling?"

"Ah, fine! Thanks a lot!" Yun Mingxin blurted out automatically.

"Eh? Wait, Miss Kujou—"

"You may call me Kana," she interrupted smoothly. "Or Kana-chan, Nana-chan… or even ‘Nai-jiang’ like Lady Yukihime does. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I accept any name from you."

"This…" Yun Mingxin stared, dumbfounded. *Did Yukihime-sensei really call her ‘Nai-jiang’? Her image is crumbling!*

"Can I just call you Kana?"

"Certainly."

"By the way, please drink this warm water first. It’ll soothe your stomach—you skipped dinner yesterday." She produced a cup from nowhere and handed it over.

"Oh, thanks!" He took it and sipped, then froze in surprise. *How did I not notice? My mouth’s parched—my throat’s burning!* *Did I breathe through my mouth all night?* The thought vanished as he gulped the water down in one go.

"Ahhh, back to life!" he gasped. "Did I snore and breathe like a fish last night? I’m thirstier than a lost wanderer in the desert!"

Kana frowned slightly. *Was it because I did it hundreds of times yesterday?* *No, probably not. Next time, I’ll keep some saliva in my mouth—he won’t notice then. First-timer mistakes. Give me another chance, and I’ll be flawless. Trust me—I’m a professional.*

She explained serenely, "It’s normal. My massage broke down lactic acid. Your cells needed more energy, so oxygen intake increased. You breathed heavily through your mouth."

"Hence the dry throat."