"Good night, little Chuge," Mu Yue Ran whispered by Yuchuge's pillow. She tiptoed backward out of the room and closed the door gently.
The moment she stepped out, she spotted Ji Yueyi sitting on the floor right outside the door. Ji Yueyi had her legs drawn up, head buried in her knees. At the sound of Mu Yue Ran’s footsteps, she slowly lifted her head. A soft smile curved her lips as she looked up. "Sister Yue Ran," she asked softly, "are you sleepy?"
Mu Yue Ran shook her head, crouched down, and gently stroked Ji Yueyi’s fluffy little head. "Not yet. Has Uncle Tian left?"
Ji Yueyi tilted her chin up, basking in the touch. "Dad said since this is your home—and it’s all girls here—he shouldn’t stay. So he went."
Mu Yue Ran sighed inwardly, guilt washing over her. She’d dragged Uncle Tian through so much trouble, yet hadn’t even offered him a meal.
*Guess I’ll have to treat him another time.*
"It’s fine," Ji Yueyi chirped, hugging Mu Yue Ran’s arm. She’d overheard their entire conversation inside the room. That was why she hadn’t interrupted earlier—but now, Sister Yue Ran’s time belonged entirely to her.
Mu Yue Ran playfully tapped Ji Yueyi’s twitching nose, then lifted her off the floor. She carried her to the sofa and set her down. Sitting beside her, Mu Yue Ran turned on the TV and flipped to a late-night drama. Both settled in, engrossed.
A chill suddenly prickled Mu Yue Ran’s skin. She glanced at Ji Yueyi, who was inching closer. Reaching behind her, Mu Yue Ran yanked the sofa cover off the backrest and draped it over them both.
Ji Yueyi pinched a corner of the cover, sniffed it, and immediately scrunched her nose. "Sister Yue Ran," she pouted with a wounded look, "this is just a sofa cover..."
"I know," Mu Yue Ran drawled, her tone dripping with playful laziness. "But I can’t be bothered to fetch a blanket from the bedroom~"
The whine in her voice silenced Ji Yueyi instantly. She tugged the cover tighter around her shoulders and snuggled even closer, resting her head on Mu Yue Ran’s shoulder. Mu Yue Ran naturally tilted her head, leaning against Ji Yueyi’s with a lazy sigh. After today’s chaos, exhaustion had truly sunk in.
She’d scaled the highest heavens and plumbed the deepest oceans—all in one day. Without her cheat skills, no ordinary person could’ve survived it.
***[It’s your own damn fault.]***
*Ugh. Life’s hard,* Mu Yue Ran grumbled inwardly at System’s blunt jab, then refocused on the TV.
In the dim room, they huddled together under the cover. Shifting colors from the screen painted their faces, but one thing remained unchanged—their eyes, locked only on each other.
Ji Yueyi stole glances at Mu Yue Ran, emotions churning. Several times, she almost voiced her question but held back.
"What’s wrong?" Mu Yue Ran finally asked, noticing Ji Yueyi’s restless expression. The TV’s noise faded to static in her ears as she waited. Ji Yueyi bit her lip, hesitating before whispering, voice trembling: "Sister Yue Ran... about today. I didn’t ask in the car because Dad was there, but now..."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Mu Yue Ran fell silent, her gaze steady on Ji Yueyi. Though uneasy—as if fearing she’d upset Mu Yue Ran—Ji Yueyi’s eyes held unwavering resolve. She refused to be the only one left in the dark.
Their locked stares stretched, the space between them shrinking imperceptibly. Mu Yue Ran finally relented, rubbing the back of her neck. She chose her words carefully, weaving a version stripped of System’s involvement and true dangers:
"...Long story short, Chuge and I were out for a walk when her family found us. We managed to shake them off and escape."
Ji Yueyi listened without comment until Mu Yue Ran finished. Only then did she exhale a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The truth was far messier—just seeing Mu Yue Ran’s disheveled state earlier had screamed otherwise.
She knew Mu Yue Ran was shielding her from worry. But... but—
Before Mu Yue Ran could add more reassurances, Ji Yueyi’s hand shot out, covering her mouth.
"Stop," Ji Yueyi choked out. "Call me selfish later if you want. But I have things I *need* to hold onto too!"
Mu Yue Ran’s eyes darkened. Ji Yueyi leaned forward, forehead pressed against her chest. Her ragged breaths and trembling shoulders betrayed the storm within.
"I know Yuchuge’s had it rough. I understand she has her reasons."
"I know you’d never abandon her. You’re just... that kind of person."
"But what about me?"
The tremor in Ji Yueyi’s voice struck Mu Yue Ran like ice. Her recent actions had reignited this girl’s deepest fear—the terror of losing someone precious. Today, that shadow had finally broken through.
"I just want you to be safe."
The last words dissolved into a sob. She could share a roof with Yuchuge; she knew Mu Yue Ran couldn’t belong to her alone. But that only mattered if Mu Yue Ran came home unharmed. She couldn’t survive another brush with that suffocating dread of almost-loss.
As Ji Yueyi’s hand slid from her mouth, Mu Yue Ran caught her wrist. She lifted it to her lips and pressed a kiss to the pulse point.
A jolt shot through Ji Yueyi. Warmth flooded her cheeks as she stared at her wrist, voice stuttering:
"Y-Y-Yue Ran?! What was that?!"
*Does she finally get my feelings?! Are they about to get down and dirty right here?!*
*W-WHAT AM I EVEN WEARING UNDERNEATH?!*
Mu Yue Ran had only meant to calm her—but instead, she’d ignited a whole new kind of chaos. Seeing Ji Yueyi’s dazed, flushed face, Mu Yue Ran pulled her into a tight embrace. Her breath warmed Ji Yueyi’s ear as she murmured:
"Calm down, Xiao Yue."
"I’m telling you—I’ll be fine."
"Haven’t I promised? Now and always, I’ll stay by your side."
Ji Yueyi nuzzled Mu Yue Ran’s neck. "Then... no more dangerous stunts, okay?"
"Mm. No more."
...........
***[So non-dangerous stunts are fair game?]**
***You damn well—***
