"Baiyi?"

"Mom?"

When Baiyi followed where Lian Ye had run, he finally noticed.

His mother, Queen Ellyria, stood not far ahead in the adult section, picking out clothes.

She wasn’t wearing her usual lavish imperial robes from the Imperial Palace.

Instead, she’d let down her long golden hair—normally coiled up—allowing it to cascade gently down her smooth, jewel-like neck.

Her pale golden pupils seemed deep enough to pierce vast darkness, yet leaking a trace of allure unintentionally.

Her thin lips curved into a faint smile.

A noble, form-fitting robe tightly wrapped her voluptuous figure.

She exuded an aura unique to royalty.

"Mom... Mom!"

Lian Ye hopped over to Queen Ellyria, excitedly grabbing the golden hem pooled at her feet.

But as she said "Mom," her eyes stayed fixed intently on the queen’s ample chest.

To Lian Ye, only that counted as her mother.

"I’m not your mom," Queen Ellyria said.

Seeing the mischievous girl, she knelt and gently stroked Lian Ye’s soft, silky platinum hair.

But when her fingers brushed the two small bony bumps slightly hidden by hair on Lian Ye’s head, she realized this wasn’t just an ordinary child Baiyi had randomly picked up.

"Mom, what are you doing here? Idiot, come here. And stop jumping—you’re too short to reach."

Baiyi quickly pulled Lian Ye back from his mother’s feet, afraid her brute strength might tear the robes.

After all, this idiot had a record: just half an hour ago, she’d shredded her little princess dress—enchanted with top-tier protective Magic Arrays—without even triggering the alarm spells.

Clearly, Lian Ye’s strength was... uh, immense?

"Baiyi, are you helping her pick clothes?" Queen Ellyria asked.

"Yes," Baiyi replied, watching Lian Ye squirm in his arms, desperately trying to grab his mother’s chest. She was being way too hyper.

"How about this, Baiyi?"

Suddenly, Queen Ellyria stepped close. She cupped his face gently with both hands and leaned down.

Her soft, moist lips kissed his forehead lightly.

Baiyi froze, still holding Lian Ye.

He stared wide-eyed at his mother, unsure how to react.

He hadn’t expected this here.

His face grew warm, flushing faintly.

"M-Mom!"

Shyly, he stepped back and touched the spot on his forehead.

He could almost feel the lingering moisture from her kiss.

Feeling that clear sensation and seeing her slightly damp lips, his brain insisted this was real.

"Why?"

"Because you haven’t let me give you good morning kisses these past two days. I’m making up for it now."

"Making up for it? Here?"

He glanced around. The store wasn’t crowded yet; most young shoppers stayed in the fashion section, avoiding kids’ and adult areas.

Still, Baiyi’s face burned hotter, redder—thanks to her words.

"I’m not a kid anymore, Mom! I don’t need good morning—"

Before he could finish, Queen Ellyria hugged him tightly. Her slender, fair hand stroked his head gently.

"Don’t be silly, Baiyi. You’re still young. You don’t understand anything."

Her embrace was slow and tender; her gaze, soft as water.

Both overflowed with doting love and care for her son—nothing else.

(Though it’d be better if this love wasn’t obsessive.)

"Kid...?"

Lian Ye, now free from Baiyi’s arms, stood beside them.

Her star-like eyes had turned deep wine-red.

She watched everything intently: Queen Ellyria’s forehead kiss, their tight hug, their whispered words.

Every gesture and gaze was deeply imprinted in her mind.

Children learn fast.

Kisses? Hugs?

Daddy... I want that too.