In the dawn light that mixed playfulness and tranquility, Su Ling finally lowered her head helplessly, her body nearly pressed to the floor, one hand clinging tightly to the edge of the seat.
Her gaze swirled with confusion and shyness, a blush blossoming brilliantly across her cheeks.
Through the thin tablecloth, even though there was a distance between them—not too close, not too far—the whispering of the maids outside could still be faintly heard.
“Where’s Tii? She was just here, but now she’s disappeared without a trace.”
“I heard that Miss Tii probably went north to the flowerhouse. She’s always like this, never letting herself rest.”
“Maybe she’s tending to the flower box in the flowerhouse again. Every day, there are so many people asking her for help, but she never refuses anyone.”
“Tii is such a good person, she puts her heart and soul into everything she does.”
The maids gathered together, chatting as they worked, their conversation gradually circling around Tii.
“Hey, did you know? Li—that boy—he’s always secretly liked Miss Tii.”
“What’s so strange about that? Tii’s always been popular with the men. Not just the boys—even a few of the city guards pursue her openly and secretly.”
“It’s enviable, really. She’s so beautiful and gentle—just like an angel…”
As these scattered conversations drifted in, Su Ling involuntarily pricked up her ears to listen more closely, still nestled in Tii’s embrace, her mind feeling a little hazy and light.
Angel? Who… Tii?
She glanced sidelong at the smiling Tii, realizing this was not the gentle, approachable angel everyone spoke of, but someone who reveled in her own embarrassment and helplessness—a demon.
When faced with Tii’s true nature, Su Ling was at a complete loss, left to be teased again and again.
“You’ve been holding back so well, I have to reward little Su Ling for that—”
Tii nibbled at the tip of Su Ling’s ear, then suddenly loosened her hold, one hand slipping under the edge of Su Ling’s clothing.
Su Ling’s whole body shuddered.
“Tii! Please… please don’t touch there!” she pleaded helplessly, “I won’t be able to control myself…”
“Don’t worry, I know my limits,” Tii murmured, gently biting Su Ling’s earlobe, “Little Su Ling, do you like… doing these things with me?”
Her fingertips traced along Su Ling’s ribs, caressing the smooth, delicate skin, soft as jelly.
“Answer me, do you—like it?”
She nibbled behind her ear again, coaxing her softly, almost as if coaxing a child.
“…I don’t like it…”
Even though she just casually answered, Su Ling felt almost too weak to reply.
Even though the two of them were fully clothed, Su Ling still couldn’t stop thinking of the beautiful, exposed body she had seen that day in the guest room.
Tii’s figure, though retaining some youthful innocence, had also gained a hint of mature allure, making Su Ling’s imagination wander.
If, right now, they were still in that state, holding each other… The more she imagined it, the more ashamed Su Ling felt.
“Tii, please… her voice trembled as she pleaded, knowing it was useless, “Don’t…”
“Lying is bad, Su Ling.”
With that, just as Su Ling hadn’t reacted yet, Tii’s fingertips brushed along the edge and, catching Su Ling off guard, slid inside lightly.
“Ah—!”
Su Ling instantly lost all strength, going limp in Tii’s arms.
“Mmm, it’s out now—”
Tii brought her moist fingers to her lips, tasting them like nectar, savoring the flavor.
“It’s still as comfortable as ever, isn’t it? Thank you for the treat, little Su Ling.”
“Tii…”
After all this, Su Ling looked utterly spent, her whole body weak, even her words coming out indistinct.
“Tii… why are you like this…”
She could only use the last of her strength to question the girl before her.
Though they spent day and night together, she never truly understood what Tii was thinking, nor why Tii would always tease and bully her like this. Was it really just for her body?
But Tii truly did care for Su Ling, so she wasn’t that kind of person.
“Well… about that…” Tii held Su Ling in her arms, seeming to fall into thought herself, “Because little Su Ling is my best friend.”
“Friends don’t do things like this,” Su Ling protested in a small voice.
“Why not? I don’t care—best friends are supposed to have fun together. If we share secrets that make each other feel good, isn’t that proof of our friendship?”
Tii made an innocent face, lips pursed, like a pure-hearted girl who knew nothing. But it was obvious she was only pretending.
“You’re teasing me again,” Su Ling complained, “You know exactly what I mean. If that’s what friends do, would you do this with your other friends, too?”
“Nope—”
Tii smiled softly, running her fingers through Su Ling’s long hair, silver threads streaming through her fingers.
She lowered her nose to Su Ling’s hair, inhaling its sweet scent.
“All right, I’ll stop teasing you,” she said with a smile, “I won’t do these things with anyone else.”
“Because, I only have you as my friend.”
“Is that so…”
Hearing this, Su Ling felt a little surprised. Tii was quite popular in the City Walls; except for a few jealous girls, almost everyone liked her.
Normally, she was always surrounded by friends, and there were always other girls around her, chatting about all sorts of topics.
Why hadn’t Tii considered any of them as friends?
“Su Ling, do you care so much about why I do this?”
Unknowingly, everyone outside had left, and the lamps in the dining hall had long since gone out. Beneath the tablecloth, all was darkness; in the blackness, Tii’s hand was intertwined with Su Ling’s.
Su Ling hesitated, quietly holding Tii’s hand. Tii’s skin was cool, and after a long while, it still hadn’t warmed.
“I don’t know when it started, but little Su Ling, you’ve been appearing in my thoughts more and more often.”
“By the time I realized it, my mind was already full of you,” Tii murmured, her chin resting on Su Ling’s shoulder, her long hair spilling over Su Ling’s back.
“So I… felt a little lonely.”
All around them was silent; Tii’s voice seemed muffled, as if the whole world had quieted down, leaving only the two of them, listening to each other’s breath.
“Call me petty or mean, tease little Su Ling if you want, I won’t deny it,” Tii kissed Su Ling’s hair.
“Only when I do these things, does little Su Ling’s heart fully belong to me, and her eyes linger on me a little longer.”
“Tii…”
Feeling Tii’s warmth, Su Ling didn’t know how to respond.
Just then, Tii’s arms loosened around Su Ling.
Tii lifted the tablecloth, the light from outside spilling in, illuminating her beautiful face.
“But, I’m not greedy. I only want a little bit of your time, little Su Ling, just this much is enough for me.”
“As for the rest, we’ll save it for next time,” she said with a smile, pressing her finger to her lips, making a quiet gesture, “This is our secret.”