Su Ling felt the warmth transmitted through her palm, her heartbeat drumming in her ears. Phil’s tail was unconsciously winding around her wrist, the sensation of fur brushing against her skin reminded her of that rainy day—when she was still a nervous new maid, and Phil was the senior maid in charge of guiding her.
When they first met, Phil always had a stern face, pointing out that there were still fingerprints on the silverware she had polished, and scolding her for the imprecise temperature of the black tea she brewed. Back then, the cat-eared girl was like an insurmountable mountain in her eyes. Every time she was stared at by those golden vertical pupils, she would get so nervous she almost dropped the tray in her hands.
But ever since that banquet, Phil had been filled with guilt for hurting her, and had been trying hard to mend her relationship with Su Ling. From that day on, Phil changed in her heart from a strict senior into… an ordinary girl.
“Su Ling?”
Phil’s uneasy voice pulled her back to reality.
“Are you… are you angry?”
The cat-eared girl’s fingertips curled slightly in her palm, like a child who had done something wrong.
“Not at all.”
Su Ling suddenly laughed. This brave rebel army doctor girl on the battlefield was now at a loss because of her silence. She remembered that night they met in the city, when Phil said goodbye to her in Verul. Even though her ears were flattened from sadness, she still bravely said, “Wait for me to achieve victory and come to the castle to pick you up.”
Su Ling liked this Phil. Straightforward like early summer weather, all her emotions written on her perked ears and wagging tail. When Phil disappeared back then, every morning while making the bed, Su Ling would subconsciously avoid the spot where Phil’s tail always swept; every time she passed the castle corridor, she could still vaguely see the figure lecturing with hands on hips.
Later, she learned that Phil was alive and had joined the rebel army. The old unease was put to rest, but new worries appeared in Su Ling’s heart. What worried her most was when she heard about the rebel army being ambushed.
Late that night, she knelt quietly in the prayer hall, praying for Phil’s safety for a long, long time.
“Phil.”
Su Ling suddenly spoke, her silver hair falling to cover her burning ear tips.
“Thank you for coming to find me at the castle. Although I’m not ready yet… but… I will try to respond to your feelings.”
“Really?”
Phil’s eyes went wide, and her tail slapped the ground with a thwack.
“Really…”
Su Ling gathered her courage and leaned in, mimicking the other’s earlier action. At the moment their lips touched, she tasted the sweetness of goat’s milk and Phil’s unique sunny scent.
This time it was Phil who stiffened. Su Ling gazed at her from extremely close range. The senior maid who once needed to be looked up to was now still flustered by a single word from her.
But she had also witnessed this girl standing in front of the rebel army formation, covered in wounds but with a straight back. Like now, even though her tail was tangled from shyness, she still stubbornly refused to look away.
“You don’t need to run away anymore.”
Su Ling pressed her forehead against Phil’s.
“Whether as a maid, or a rebel army doctor, or the you now… Phil is already dazzling enough.”
Feeling Phil’s suddenly accelerated heartbeat, she added softly:
“But with me, Phil doesn’t need to be anyone else. Phil just needs to be herself.”
The noon bell rang in the distance, startling a flock of white doves. Between their intertwined fingers, that crescent moon pendant sparkled in the sunlight.
“So you’re here.”
Tii’s voice suddenly came from above, scaring the two into immediately separating. Phil jerked backward, almost knocking over the milk cup.
The red-haired girl had appeared on the wall at some point, her skirt hanging down like flower petals. She lightly jumped down, her fingers dangling that moon necklace.
“Sorry, chasing a thief took some time.”
She leaned down to put the necklace on Su Ling, the silver moon landing perfectly between the delicate collarbones of the girl.
“It really suits you.”
Phil stared at Tii’s hand naturally resting on Su Ling’s shoulder, her tail drooping in displeasure. She suddenly stood up:
“I’ll go buy some apples!”
With that, the girl darted into the crowd, her back looking almost like a retreat.
Tii gazed in the direction the cat-eared girl had disappeared, a meaningful smile curling on her lips.
“What’s wrong with Phil?”
Su Ling blinked in confusion.
“Probably just too shy?”
She turned to look at Su Ling.
“Su Ling, did she confess her feelings to you?”
Su Ling nodded with a red face.
“I thought so…”
Tii smiled.
“Little Su Ling is really popular. Before you knew it, you’ve already had so many people by your side.”
Suddenly, a breeze silently brushed in from somewhere. That breeze brought a hint of coolness, making both their hair sway gently. It caressed the skin delicately, smooth like silk, passing through hems, lifting skirt corners, and slipping into sleeves.
At this moment, the leaves also seemed to awaken, rustling softly as if accompanying the wind.
Su Ling didn’t speak. She looked in the direction the cat-eared girl had disappeared, her fingers unconsciously tracing her just-kissed lips, where the sweetness of goat’s milk still lingered.
Tii’s fingers slid down from Su Ling’s shoulder, gently pinning her chin, turning her face towards herself. The red-haired girl’s green eyes were like two dangerous emeralds in the sunlight.
“Little Su Ling.”
Tii’s voice carried a coldness Su Ling had never heard before.
“Did you forget something important?”
Su Ling blinked in confusion:
“Wh-what?”
“You clearly agreed to my confession first.”
Tii’s thumb brushed across Su Ling’s lips, wiping away that trace of goat’s milk.
“Now not only are you so close with Her Majesty, but you’re also ambiguous with Phil.”
“Uu…”
Su Ling lowered her small head, her fingers nervously twisting her skirt, her eyes slightly reddened. She really didn’t mean to be a heartbreaker. Whenever she saw Sista’s gentle, watery eyes, or Tii’s slightly mischievous smile, or Phil’s shy and adorable look, her heart felt like it was soaked in honey.
Whether it was Sista, Tii, or Phil, Su Ling liked them all. She couldn’t bear to give up any of them, nor could she bear to reject anyone’s feelings. As for the conflicts among the three of them…
Su Ling felt that she would find a way to resolve them. As long as she patiently explained, everyone would surely understand each other.
“However, Little Su Ling, I don’t want to share you with others…”
“Mmph!”
Su Ling was so startled she took two steps back, her back hitting the cold stone wall. Tii blocked her way, her skirt sweeping over Su Ling’s sweaty ankle. The red-haired girl suddenly stood on tiptoe, her lips brushing against Su Ling’s earlobe.
“Over there, no one will disturb us.”
Her voice was like wildfire, but her fingers gently tickled Su Ling’s palm. Su Ling trembled all over, but upon seeing Phil’s flustered retreating figure, she inexplicably bit her lip:
“But Phil… Phil she…”
“So what?”
Tii suddenly grabbed her collar, bringing her face to within an inch.
“She kissed you, so I can kiss you too, right? Little Su Ling?”
Before Su Ling could argue, Tii kissed her. Su Ling’s mind went completely blank in an instant. Compared to Phil’s awkward kiss, Tii was clearly more skilled.
As her consciousness was gradually invaded by this warmth, Su Ling could only weakly close her eyes.
…
When Su Ling’s legs felt a bit weak, Tii was already groping at her waist and brought her onto the grass. Su Ling’s back pressed into the soft grass, and opening her eyes she saw a canopy of green shade. And Tii’s sly smiling face.
“Little Su Ling, I love you so much…”
Tii murmured, her lips caressing Su Ling’s cheek.
“I don’t want to see you getting closer to others…”
“Mm… Tii, I…”
Tii pressed her lips to silence her, not letting her continue.
“Little Su Ling, forget about them, okay?”
“Shall we run away together?”