“Ugh, you’re so heavy…”

Dawn was…

No, the curtains were blocking it.

In the dim room, Ruo Xiaoxi could just make out that it was morning.

I’m exhausted. My whole body feels sore and heavy.

It was Valentine’s night, after all. They’d spent it wrapped up in each other’s company and slept like logs.

Even the elegant, reserved rich young lady had let her guard down and shown a wilder side of herself.

There was no point gloating. She was too weak to keep up with Sister Xia.

She opened her eyes groggily and tried to sit up, but couldn’t. Oh no—sleep paralysis! It had happened to her before during naps at school. Most of the time, it was because she was so tired that her body couldn’t keep up with her brain.

But as her thoughts started to clear, she realized it wasn’t a ghost pinning her down. It was an older sister.

Xia Zhibai had fallen asleep holding her like this. No wonder Ruo Xiaoxi felt so weighed down. Anyone would, with Xia Zhibai clinging to her as if she were afraid Xiaoxi might run away.

To borrow her exact words from before, Ruo Xiaoxi was like a little mermaid—so slippery she could barely be held onto. Look away for a moment, and she’d slip off; look away again, and she’d be chatting with another girl.

“Ugh…” Ruo Xiaoxi struggled to roll over, and they ended up pressed together beneath the blankets.

Even with the thick blanket between them, Ruo Xiaoxi still felt like she couldn’t breathe. She planted both hands on Xia Zhibai’s shoulders and tried to push her away.

“Forget it, Sister Xia. You really should lose some weight. You sleep like a rock…”

Sister Xia must’ve been truly exhausted. Ruo Xiaoxi finally managed to push her away. Then she looked down and saw how rumpled she was, blushed, and hurriedly pulled the blanket back up.

She’d been teased again.

Wait, this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should’ve broken up with Xia Zhibai last night. So how had she woken up in her bed this morning without even realizing it?

What had happened last night, anyway?

………………

“Sister Xia, Xia Zhibai, let go! I’m going home. I’m breaking up with you!”

“Huh? What did you say? You’re not going anywhere tonight. Don’t even think about going home to meet up with another girl. Xiaoxi, couldn’t you just love only me? I’m begging you. Give your heart to me alone. I’d treat you well, too. If you don’t want this, I can stop right now…”

“Not a chance! I’d starve if I stayed with you! If you want to win me over, go practice for another five hundred years! And I—I’ve learned boxing, you know! Keep it up and I’ll send you flying into the ceiling with one punch!”

Xia Zhibai pinned the flailing Ruo Xiaoxi down with one hand. Xiaoxi was so weak she couldn’t put up any resistance. Xia Zhibai poked her soft cheek. “Still feeling tough? (poke)”

As she spoke, she took out a pair of shiny handcuffs, just to scare her a little.

Ruo Xiaoxi startled and immediately gave in. “Eek! No! I—I admit I was a little harsh just now. Let’s talk this out…”

When Xia Zhibai got up to put the handcuffs away, Ruo Xiaoxi—who’d only been pretending to give in—sat up with a triumphant laugh and tried to pin her down. But Xia Zhibai held her in place with one hand and easily pushed her back onto the bed.

“…” Ruo Xiaoxi stared blankly at the ceiling. Didn’t she deserve to save face?

“Tell me, Ruo Xiaoxi. Are you trying so hard today because you’re starting to like me?”

“I’m not…”

“Look me in the eyes and say that again. Do you love me or not?” Xia Zhibai gently let her go, then softly stroked her head as she asked.

“I-I…” Ruo Xiaoxi looked at Xia Zhibai from up close, completely won over by her beauty and tenderness. In a daze, she murmured, “I love you…”

After that, Xia Zhibai kept her there until she’d apologized for all her manipulative flirting. Her throat was sore by the end.

“Heh heh. You little troublemaker. You actually like being teased like this, don’t you~?”

Xia Zhibai whispered in her ear, making Ruo Xiaoxi blush all the way to the tips of her ears.

………………

What?! She’d been the one to say yes in the end!

Ruo Xiaoxi sat bolt upright like someone rising from her deathbed, and finally remembered that last night she’d foolishly accepted. After that, she’d kept clinging to Xia Zhibai and going along with everything. She really didn’t want to think about it.

As for why she was only remembering it now, she must’ve turned into a total love-struck fool last night. The details were all a blur!

Mostly, Xia Zhibai had been so charming last night that Xiaoxi’s brain had stopped working.

Before long, the older sister sleeping beside her woke up, too.

Unlike Ruo Xiaoxi’s utterly bewildered expression, Xia Zhibai wore a happy smile. She rested her chin on the pillow and quietly watched her adorable little darling.

She knew Xiaoxi was a bad girl, and yet she still loved her.

It was a love that could be exhausting, yet somehow impossible to escape.

“When are you going home?” Xia Zhibai asked softly. She didn’t bring up what had happened the night before.

“I-I’ll go right now…” Ruo Xiaoxi pulled the blanket up to her neck. After thinking it over, she changed her mind. “Um, maybe after breakfast…”

………………

The two girls got up together.

Xia Zhibai threw on a simple set of pajamas, while Ruo Xiaoxi quickly picked up her skirt from the floor and put it on. Xia Zhibai had her sit at the vanity, then stood behind her and brushed her long, snow-white hair.

Ruo Xiaoxi sat stiffly, her feet dangling above the floor and her toes lightly touching. She looked at herself in the mirror, unsure what to do. No one had ever helped her fix her hair before.

“Your hair is so pretty, and it feels so smooth. It’s gorgeous.” Xia Zhibai gently stroked the silky strands. As they slipped through her fingers, she couldn’t help admiring them.

And Xiaoxi was beautiful all over. It was easy to get lost in her charms.

“Have you finished all your summer homework?” Xia Zhibai asked, remembering school.

“Summer homework? I’ve only just started high school. I don’t have any.”

“Oh, right. Then you must have plenty of free time every day. How about coming over to my place for the next two weeks? You could even stay here.”

“Huh?”

“We’re going to the same high school, after all. When school starts, I can show you around. Wouldn’t it be great to have a senpai help you get familiar with the place?”

“Um… I’m not Sister Xia’s personal attendant…”

“What are you thinking? Who said anything about making you my attendant? I really just meant you could come over.”

“I’ll think about it…” Ruo Xiaoxi answered meekly, shrinking back a little.

After breakfast at Xia Zhibai’s place, Ruo Xiaoxi went home in a very cute skirt. She was still blushing the whole way. She’d flirted with Sister Xia and gotten herself into trouble. Xia Zhibai really was her comeuppance…

Darn it. But it had felt so nice… Ruo Xiaoxi was embarrassed and annoyed.

She should’ve known better than to flirt with her. She’d lost every last shred of dignity—and then some.

“Sigh. Maybe… Sister Xia is so nice, and if she really likes me, maybe I’ll stop looking for other girls for now—” Ruo Xiaoxi muttered to herself. Then her nose twitched.

What was that smell? This—! It smelled like really delicious fresh blood!

A pretty, delicate-looking girl walked through the crowd. Ruo Xiaoxi hurried after her, waving as she called out, “Hey, miss! You’re so pretty! Could I add you on WeChat?”

Oh! Suddenly her legs trembled, and she nearly lost her balance.

Ruo Xiaoxi shut her eyes and stretched both hands out in front of her. Down went the cute girl.