Chapter 3: Going to a Hotel?

“Mengyao…”

“Someday… you’ll meet someone who cherishes you like Mom does…”

“Then… he’ll love you for me…”

“Alright… don’t cry…”

“Mom is just tired, going into the operating room for a nap is all…”

Mom…

How long will this nap last before you wake up…

Splash—

A tall, voluptuous woman with white hair struggled to pull Xu Mengyao out of the river water and lay her flat on a smooth, large rock.

“Phew… f-freezing—I’m freezing to death!”

Gasping for air, the woman slumped to the ground, her whole body trembling.

“I thought just talking her down would be enough. Who knew I’d have to take a dive with this girl, I shouldn’t have taken this mission.”

Grumbling, she placed her palm on Xu Mengyao’s chest and pressed down firmly.

The girl coughed up a mouthful of water, but still didn’t wake.

“Seriously, soaked through… Ugh! These clothes clinging like it’s some kind of play, gross!”

Suddenly, a point of light appeared in her vision, then abruptly bloomed.

[Friendly Reminder: Host activating Second Form will accelerate energy consumption. Once energy is depleted, host will revert to Original Form and return to point of origin. Please allocate energy wisely.]

“Ugh, I know, I know…”

As she spoke, a gentle white light emanated from her body.

When the light faded, only an adorable little white-haired girl remained in the spot.

She propped herself up, huffing and puffing as she performed CPR on the unconscious girl.

“Stupid System, can’t I just use my Original Form?! These short little arms can’t press hard enough…”

[Switching to Original Form will return host to point of origin. Please switch cautiously.]

“So annoying… You better really give me that hundred grand, or I’ll have to give you a thorough ‘adjustment’!”

[Friendly Reminder: Host currently lacks permission to modify system settings.]

“I’ll frickin’—”

In her coma, Xu Mengyao faintly felt something pressing on her chest.

The sound of talking nearby seemed separated by a thick barrier, impossible to make out clearly.

“Hup… hup…”

“Just CPR really isn’t enough…”

“Looks like mouth-to-mouth is needed after all…”

“Well then, I won’t stand on ceremony!”

A cold little hand pinched her chin, gently prying it open. Immediately after, something soft, carrying a faint sweetness, pressed against her lips.

Then—

“Cough cough cough!”

With another chest compression, Xu Mengyao violently expelled another mouthful of water and jolted awake from her unconscious state.

She sat up in shock, gasping for fresh air.

“Hey, big girl, you’re awake. The surgery was a success, you’ve become a girl now~”

I’ve become a girl?

Xu Mengyao instinctively touched her own body, only realizing the absurdity a moment later.

Wait, that’s not right?

I was already a girl!

She turned her head towards the source of the voice.

By the dim light under the bridge, she could barely make out the other’s silhouette—a white-haired little girl with chubby cheeks.

“Mmm… Respected… Miss Cutie, did you save me?”

Facing her savior, the girl instinctively used polite terms.

The little girl preened, lifting her delicate chin.

“Hmm~~ You’re quite polite, but no need to thank me, it was just the right thing to do~”

But… your tail is practically wagging to the heavens…

Xu Mengyao wisely kept that吐槽 to herself.

But… I seem to remember the person who saved me was a very tall girl with warm hands…

Was I hallucinating from being in the water too long?

“Um… thank you…”

Xu Mengyao said hesitantly, “My name is Xu Mengyao. May I ask… what is your name, benefactor?”

“Huh, a name? Let me think, what should I be called…”

Hmm… You actually have to think about something like that?

“Ah! Got it, I’m called Bai Xue. The ‘bai’ for white, the ‘xue’ for snow.”

“That… seems like an alias, doesn’t it?”

“I’m just called Xue… Bai Xue, what’s wrong with that, got a problem?”

“Eep… no…”

“If not, then come with me.”

Bai Xue reached out and grabbed Xu Mengyao’s wrist. Taking advantage of the lighter rain, she pulled her to find the steps and hurried towards the city.

Tap tap tap—

The footsteps were crisp.

Xu Mengyao thought that perhaps she had stayed in the rain too long and her brain was fried.

Even though she didn’t know where the girl was taking her, she didn’t resist, letting the other drag her left and right.

After winding around, Bai Xue finally pulled Xu Mengyao into a hotel.

H-h-hotel?!

The girl was flustered.

Why bring me to a hotel? It can’t be that kind of thing, right… Selling me to some weirdo to be shipped to Southeast Asia and devoured…

“Welcome~”

The front desk clerk greeted them with a smile.

Bai Xue looked back at Xu Mengyao, spreading her free little hand and extending it towards her.

This is… what does she want?

Puzzled, Xu Mengyao instinctively raised her hand and placed it in the girl’s palm.

Bai Xue shook her hand off.

“So, big sister is actually a dog girl? Seeing your master’s open hand and thinking it’s for a handshake?”

“Eep… I’m not a dog girl…”

“Oh? Big sister isn’t denying that Bai Xue is your master? What a loser~”

“That’s not it! Bai Xue is a friend, not that…”

“Not what?”

“Just… that…”

Seeing Xu Mengyao’s thoroughly red face, Bai Xue decided not to tease her further.

“ID card, big sister, hurry up and take out your ID card, geez.”

“Huh?”

The girl was stunned.

“What for, household registration?”

“No! What is big sister thinking about! It’s for checking in! Checking in… Bringing a little loli to check in is already pretty perverted, and big sister actually wants to marry me?”

“Eep… I don’t…”

The girl turned her head away, muttering softly, “But that’s how it always is in TV dramas, the hero saving the beauty…”

“What did big sister say?”

“Nothing!”

“Fine then…”

Bai Xue sighed. “Looks like big sister didn’t bring her ID.”

“Mmm, no…”

“Running away from home and not even bringing your ID, big sister is such a failure.”

A failure…

I guess I really am a failure…

Didn’t even succeed at killing myself, had to be saved by a little girl…

Didn’t bring my ID, can’t be of any help…

I really am a disappointing person, aren’t I…

“Sigh, no choice, who told me to spoil big sister so much. Guess I’ll just have to sacrifice a bit of my charm…”

Huh?

Charm?

“Big sister~ Could you get a room for me and Mengyao big sister~”

“Mmm, if you’re asking what our relationship is…”

“It’s exactly what big sister is imagining~”

Xu Mengyao instinctively looked up—Bai Xue had somehow wrapped her arms around the front desk clerk’s arm, pouting and acting cute.

Under the bright lights, she finally got a clear look at Bai Xue’s face.

It was truly a face more adorable than an angel’s.

Bright eyes, pearly white teeth, a clever, radiant smile.

The girl was stunned.

She didn’t even speak up to correct those misleading statements.

Soon, the little girl, under the front desk clerk’s indescribable, knowing smile, returned to stand before the young woman.

“Big sister, stop spacing out, let’s go!”

“Huh?”

Xu Mengyao asked instinctively, “Go where?”

“Big sister really has some strange tastes, forcing me to say it out loud.”

The girl pouted, taking the young woman’s hand.

“To the room, to the room where the two of us will sleep together, okay?!”