After some cajoling and persistent persuasion, Liu Yinuo finally lifted the hem of Ye Xingmian’s black dress amid her whines and came to a conclusion.
The conclusion was—there was a pad.
This made Liu Yinuo’s feelings a bit complicated.
Having a pad was naturally a good thing—at least there was no worry about soiling her underwear, and the bloodstains on it confirmed her guess, at least indicating that the girl was simply experiencing her period and not some other physical issue.
But on the other hand, Ye Xingmian, who had only recently become a girl, clearly had no awareness of wearing a pad.
So who had put this pad on her?
Or… who had given it to her?
Combined with what Ye Xingmian had said when she arrived, this made her start to wonder.
“Mom… are you done…?”
A shy inquiry came from above.
Liu Yinuo looked up, and through the hem of the dress, she saw the girl with her head lowered and cheeks flushed.
She couldn’t help but pause for a moment, then helped pull her underwear back up.
“O… okay…”
As the clothes returned to their original position, the atmosphere between them became awkward.
“Mmm…”
It had to be said, if not for this opportunity, Liu Yinuo didn’t know when she would ever get to see Ye Xingmian’s smooth, hairless, fair and tender, like an undeveloped little girl budding with…
Mmm…
Unspeakable, truly unspeakable.
It had to be said, the drunk Ye Xingmian was silly and very cute.
She was almost reluctant to let her sober up.
If only she could always be like this by her side, how wonderful that would be.
See, as soon as she sat down, she snuggled up like a kitten again.
“Mmm… Mom…”
Her little head rubbed against Liu Yinuo’s shoulder while she made meaningless purring sounds from her mouth.
Unfortunately, no matter what, Liu Yinuo was not her mother.
She was merely in an unrealistic illusion right now.
The only difference from a dream was that it could affect reality like sleepwalking.
Liu Yinuo couldn’t help but worry.
Ye Xingmian had such low alcohol tolerance that just one bottle of beer could get her this drunk.
What if she ended up in someone else’s hands in the future?
What if she met a bad person?
Fortunately, she was the only one who knew this secret now.
Even if someone wanted to get her drunk, it would probably only be herself, who wanted to enjoy this silly Ye Xingmian once more.
However, on the way here, she had caught a chill, and coinciding with her period, Ye Xingmian’s body was already weak.
Liu Yinuo had inappropriately given her alcohol, fearing it might cause some problems.
“Is your stomach feeling better?”
Liu Yinuo smiled and ruffled Ye Xingmian’s hair.
She really looked like a kitten, showing a pleased expression and nuzzling Liu Yinuo’s hand.
“…Much better~”
“That’s good.”
This made Liu Yinuo’s smile deepen.
But after smiling, her expression darkened.
What did the woman in her eyes—the mother she hadn’t seen in a long time—actually look like?
Why could that woman make her show such an expression and drop all her defenses?
Liu Yinuo… didn’t understand.
She also had a mother, and her mother came home every day.
She naturally loved her mother, but it was a kind of plain love, sometimes even tinged with annoyance.
She couldn’t understand the way Ye Xingmian was acting.
Moreover, she didn’t want to understand.
Since her stomach felt better, Liu Yinuo was relieved.
Luckily, the period cramps hadn’t lasted too long.
In that case…
“Come on, let’s go to my room.”
“Okay~”
Liu Yinuo’s room had the curtains drawn, making it somewhat dim.
Carrying the dizzy Ye Xingmian to the bed, Liu Yinuo momentarily felt as if she were really taking care of a child.
But she didn’t find it bothersome.
After all, she would never get to see this side of Ye Xingmian normally.
After tucking the girl in, Liu Yinuo prepared to leave.
But as she was about to leave, her hand was grabbed.
Liu Yinuo was startled and turned around, seeing Ye Xingmian’s big pink eyes filled with reluctance.
“Mom… are you leaving?”
Was this her trying to keep her?
For some reason, Liu Yinuo’s heart felt heavy.
Maybe because Ye Xingmian’s expression looked so sad right now?
Maybe she hated goodbyes so much that even at a time like this, she had to hold her hand anxiously.
Liu Yinuo naturally wouldn’t call herself “Mom.”
First, she was indeed not Ye Xingmian’s mother and couldn’t take on that role; second, she actually hated that title a bit.
She was herself, Liu Yinuo was Liu Yinuo, not someone else.
If possible, she would rather Ye Xingmian have this trust and dependence on her herself, rather than on a vague illusion.
“Mmm… I have things to do.”
She reached out her other arm to remove Ye Xingmian’s hand.
“No… don’t… please… don’t leave me again… I beg you…”
Her movements froze.
She looked at the girl on the bed with complicated eyes.
She hadn’t expected that such a simple action would make the other show such an almost pleading expression.
She was no longer at ease as before, but full of panic, pain, and unease.
It was as if the clear sky had turned overcast just because she yawned.
She suddenly realized how important her company now was to Ye Xingmian, who was trapped in an illusion.
Her heart softened, and she had no reason to leave anymore.
She sighed, climbed onto the bed as well, and hugged the frail girl.
Even though they were about the same height, as she did this, she buried the girl’s little head against her chest like an adult holding a child.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m not leaving, I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you.”
The girl in her arms let out a soft nasal sound, as if she had stopped crying.
“Mmm…”
“Mom… it’s so nice…”
These words seemed to carry a smile.
Had she already turned tears into laughter?
Liu Yinuo was still a bit dazed.
When she looked down, she found that the girl had already begun to snore softly, having quietly fallen asleep.
She was truly very tired.
Awakened by nightmares, she had caught up on an uncomfortable sleep; then she had to cook and deal with Lin Ziyan; there was the incident of almost being kicked out; she had walked alone in the biting cold wind for a long time; and she was in pain from her period.
Now, she had finally reached a safe place and accidentally had a bit to drink.
In this warm, comfortable, and slightly tipsy feeling, it was impossible not to feel exhausted and want to sleep well.
Liu Yinuo could understand her feelings, but she didn’t feel relieved because of it.
On the contrary, looking at the girl’s deep sleeping face, her heart felt uneasy.
If not for seeing her as her mother, would Ye Xingmian have begged to share a bed with her?
If not for seeing her as her mother, would Ye Xingmian have clung to her like a kitten, never leaving her side?
If not…
Liu Yinuo took a deep breath.
She didn’t understand.
Was the person behind the word “mother” really that important in Ye Xingmian’s heart?
Important enough to surpass everything else.
She liked Ye Xingmian.
Precisely because of that, she couldn’t stand the existence of that thing.
One day, she would replace those two words.
Looking at the peaceful sleeping face, she thought so.