Bai Ningning parted her cherry-red lips, then slowly closed them again.

*Qin Yue’s body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Better not upset her. I’ll think of something else.*

“What’s wrong?” Qin Yue asked, puzzled. “Is it that hard to answer?”

“No. I’m just thinking how to phrase it.”

After a brief pause, Bai Ningning spoke again: “Reading a useful book.”

Qin Yue rolled her eyes and snatched the book to check the cover.

“Acupuncture Point Chart?”

She paused, then realization dawned. “You want to learn massage?”

“Mm,” Bai Ningning replied calmly. “To massage you.”

She was simply stating facts—but Qin Yue felt a sweet warmth bloom in her heart.

Honestly, since Bai Ningning moved in, this was the sweetest thing she’d ever said.

“Then keep reading,” Qin Yue handed the book back. “Study well.”

Time settled into gentle harmony, like a sun-dappled alley on a lazy afternoon. One watched TV; the other read. The TV hummed at 20% volume, mingling with the soft rustle of turning pages.

So comfortable was Qin Yue that she dozed off.

Bai Ningning glanced up—wait, Qin Yue was asleep?

*Such a lazybones. Who naps right after waking? Connecting night sleep and noon nap, seriously?*

She switched off the TV, grabbed a light summer quilt, and draped it over Qin Yue’s curvaceous figure.

*Time to wash my face and rest. Reading for over half an hour was tiring.*

Stepping into the hallway, she met Aunt Zou.

“Miss Ningning,” Aunt Zou said warmly, “you occasionally do something truly impressive. It’s refreshing to see.”

*(She’d watched from upstairs: Qin Yue sleeping beside Bai Ningning, who “gently” covered her.)*

“Done something impressive?” Bai Ningning blinked. “What do you mean?”

Aunt Zou hesitated. *Pretending or genuinely clueless?*

“What you just did—putting the young mistress to sleep.”

*Honestly, that quilt-covering looked tender.*

“If only you acted like this more often,” Aunt Zou added.

“Like this?” Bai Ningning tilted her head. “How?”

“Be a little nicer to the young mistress.”

“Not nice enough?” Bai Ningning blinked in shock. “If she wants, I’d let her sleep daily—even force cuddles. Isn’t that good?”

Aunt Zou’s eyelid twitched. “I mean *you* take initiative. Not make her fly off the handle.”

“Initiative for what?”

“Like just now—gently putting her to sleep.”

*But I did nothing! I was just reading. She fell asleep watching TV… Is it her health?*

Bai Ningning almost said it—but held back. *Bluntness offends. Qin Yue’s unwell today. Bend the truth a little.*

*Fine. Take credit.*

Still—

“Aunt Zou,” she said coolly, “Sister Yueyue should watch this. Waking up, then napping again? Over ten hours straight. She’ll definitely get a headache later.”

*…And other issues. Ningning’s worried.*

Aunt Zou’s frown softened into warmth. She took Bai Ningning’s hand.

“So you want to learn pressure techniques to help her? Teachable. Come.”

“…Huh?”

Bai Ningning blinked—and her first massage lesson began.

Focused on Qin Yue’s needs, today’s lesson targeted the temples.

Less massage, more precise pressure: thumb anchored, index and middle fingers positioned, controlling strength and direction—press, press, press.

The afternoon drifted lazily. Qin Yue woke naturally on the sofa, shaking off her Sleeping Beauty state.

But the nap left her body and mind feeling rusty. Her head felt waterlogged, thoughts sluggish.

“You’re awake.”

A cool voice. Qin Yue opened her eyes to Bai Ningning’s beautifully detached face drawing near.

*What’s she planning? Revenge while I’m weak?*

*That little ‘green tea’… Wait till I recover…*

“Don’t move.”

A warm hand pressed her down. Truthfully, she lacked the strength anyway—post-sleep numbness lingered in every nerve.

*How will she retaliate?*

Her head was cradled, lifted slightly. Vision blurry, she sensed Bai Ningning settling beside her. Then—soft, springy warmth beneath her head, faintly fragrant.

*Hm?*

She glanced up. Those eye-catching hot pants.

*Ah. Lap pillow revenge.*

Qin Yue shifted carefully on Bai Ningning’s thigh. “What are you doing to me?” she asked, voice hoarse.

“Nothing. Loosening you up. Practicing.”

The cool tone painted Bai Ningning’s icy-yet-lovely face in Qin Yue’s mind.

*And undeniably cute.*

“Go ahead.”

Silent, Bai Ningning’s hands settled on Qin Yue’s temples, recalling the lesson.

*Section four: press temples, circle eye sockets—one, two, three… Oops, wrong track. Press, press, press.*

Gentle pressure at first—faint discomfort melting into deep comfort. Qin Yue even let out a soft hum.

Sensing adjustment, Bai Ningning gradually increased pressure.

“Mmm~” Qin Yue winced.

“Hurts?” Bai Ningning asked.

Qin Yue’s eyes stayed closed, lips tight. “A little.”

Bai Ningning blurted: “Good. It’s supposed to hurt.”

*(The comfort is for me alone.)*

“What?”

“…I mean, massage feels like this at first. Hurts now, better later.”

*Today’s about caring. Choose kind words.*

Qin Yue’s brows relaxed. Satisfied.

After a beat, Bai Ningning added impulsively:

“Sister Yueyue… doesn’t this feel a bit like our first time sleeping together?”