Xia Yao suddenly leaned in, her face drawing close until her delicate features filled Lin Xiaojue’s vision.
A misty haze clouded her eyes. She swallowed the words she was about to say, leaving only those eyes to speak volumes of unsaid things.
For a moment, the warm breath from her nose brushed against Lin Xiaojue’s face, making her skin tingle.
Her scarlet eyes, partially hidden by the strands of black hair framing her face, seemed even more blood-red and enchanting.
*Thump… Thump…*
Lin Xiaojue was forced to maintain eye contact with Xia Yao.
As the seconds ticked by, Xia Yao remained silent, and Lin Xiaojue had nothing to say herself. She could only tilt her head slightly, attempting to hide everything.
Suddenly, Xia Yao crawled onto the bed.
Pinning Lin Xiaojue down through the blanket, she looked like a predator that had caught its prey, looking down at her as if savoring its final moments. A subtle silence filled the air.
*Thump, thump, thump, thump…*
Her heart raced faster and faster, as if it were about to burst from her chest. A faint scarlet blush slowly crept onto Lin Xiaojue’s cheeks.
*Gulp…*
She swallowed hard, her body instinctively retreating until she hit the bedboard with a *clack*. A sudden chill ran down her back.
‘No, definitely not now!’
‘I’ve clearly lost the upper hand!’
‘I need to change the subject!’
Lin Xiaojue tried to psych herself up. Countless ideas swirled through her mind, but when they reached her lips, they felt like a lump in her throat.
‘I… I can’t say it…’
‘Rather, anything I say in this atmosphere would be a bit strange.’
She looked at Xia Yao again. The girl was stretching like a cat, her black hair cascading loosely around her.
A strand of hair was caught in the corner of her mouth, and the mist in her eyes was nearly condensing into tears.
“Predecessor… how exactly do you transform?”
Lin Xiaojue avoided Xia Yao’s gaze. She turned her head, thought for a moment, and came up with a clumsy excuse.
“I’m not quite sure either. At the time, I probably just wanted to save Xiao Xia so badly that I suddenly transformed.”
“Eh?” Xia Yao blinked, and the strand of hair fell from her mouth.
The silver-haired girl before her, whose skin was as white as snow, still kept her head lowered, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Her silver sideburns brushed against the base of her ear; it seemed like a single gentle flick would reveal the delicate curve of her earlobe.
The girl gave it a gentle flick.
Lin Xiaojue tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a slightly reddened ear. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. “Actually… I felt like my transformation device merged with me half a month ago.”
She didn’t dare look Xia Yao in the eye, fearing she would give herself away.
“You see, I still can’t change back even now. Even my old magical battle suit disappeared after I got home. So I thought, if the transformation is the same as before…”
As she spoke, Lin Xiaojue’s head slumped lower and lower.
‘There are so many holes in this story…’
Xia Yao knew that her predecessor must have her own secrets. Thus, she didn’t plan to ask any further. It was enough just to be able to take care of her predecessor like this.
“I understand, Predecessor. So it was your wish that made you a magical girl, right?” Xia Yao gave a radiant, water-like smile.
She picked up the medicine bowl from the side and gently scooped up a spoonful of the liquid. “Come, take your medicine.”
“Ah, okay,” Lin Xiaojue agreed shyly, opening her mouth slightly.
“Predecessor, I can’t feed you if your mouth is that small. Come, open wide. Ah…” Xia Yao opened her own lips wide, followed by a bright smile. “Predecessor, don’t open it *that* wide.”
She looked at Lin Xiaojue’s exaggeratedly wide, tender red lips, which clearly revealed her pearly teeth and pink tongue.
She didn’t look like a patient taking medicine; she looked more like someone getting a medical checkup.
Xia Yao let out a soft chuckle. It sounded like silver bells or falling flowers, pleasant to the ear. Lin Xiaojue’s face grew even hotter. She blinked her moist eyes, overwhelmed by shame.
“Didn’t Xiao Xia tell me to do it…”
“Hee-hee, but you did a great job, Predecessor.”
“Now you’re teasing me? I thought you were going to feed me. Are you not doing it anymore?”
“Of course I am~”
Lin Xiaojue turned her head. A spoonful of medicine was brought to her lips, and she waited quietly. “I can drink it myself… Mmph…”
Just as she opened her mouth, the spoonful of medicine entered, bringing a hint of bitterness.
“Here.”
“I told you, I can drink it myself…”
Hearing this, Xia Yao tilted her head, her red amber eyes filled with confusion. “Does Predecessor not want me to help?”
‘Ugh, I really can’t win against her.’
Lin Xiaojue felt like she was being played with. Feeling helpless, she continued to open her mouth and reluctantly cooperated with Xia Yao to take the medicine.
The final spoonful of liquid went into her mouth, leaving the bowl empty. Xia Yao’s face was reflected in the white porcelain.
She flashed a satisfied smile, then placed the bowl on the table and picked up the basin on the floor. The water inside had grown a bit cold.
“Predecessor, I’m going to get some more water.”
After a quick word, Xia Yao pushed open the door and returned shortly with a basin of hot water. Using the same penguin-patterned towel, she soaked it, wrung it out, and wiped Lin Xiaojue’s forehead.
“Xiao Xia seems to really like marine animals,” Lin Xiaojue remarked, noticing the design on the towel as she tried to start a conversation.
“I went to the Aquarium with my parents when I was little, and I’ve loved these little guys ever since.” After wiping her forehead, Xia Yao placed the towel back into the basin and met Lin Xiaojue’s gaze.
“Does Predecessor think… these little guys are cute? Is it a bit… strange that I like them?”
Xia Yao spoke cautiously, her fingers fidgeting nervously. Her head hung low, hidden behind her thick bangs.
“I think they’re very cute too.”
“Re-really? Actually, I think adélie penguins are the cutest. Oh, and orcas! Orcas are super cute, too! I can even trade ice cubes with them for fish! Look, look…”
Xia Yao’s tone suddenly became excited. She gave a rambling explanation, then pulled out her phone and searched for photos of her interacting with an orca.
She climbed onto the bed and pressed closer to Lin Xiaojue. Only a small distance remained between the two, enough for them to feel each other’s body heat.
“Ah…” Once she realized what she had done, Xia Yao’s face flushed instantly. She covered her hot cheeks and immediately pulled back.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” She repeatedly apologized while maintaining a bowing posture.
‘Xiao Xia is exceptionally cute in this regard.’
Lin Xiaojue narrowed her eyes happily. “Let me see. You like it a lot, don’t you, Xiao Xia? Good things should be shared.”
“This… it’s a bit…” Xia Yao twirled a strand of her hair with one hand, looking quite shy.
“It’s fine, come on.”
Lin Xiaojue pulled back the blanket, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and suggestive curves.
“Am… am I really allowed to?” Xia Yao’s finger-twirling became even more frequent.
“Of course.”
Lin Xiaojue pulled the blanket back even further.
She looked at Xia Yao with a bit of curiosity, wondering if her invitation had worked. It turned out the other girl was just staring at her, a rosy blush climbing up her face.
Suddenly, Xia Yao rushed to the bedside and yanked the blanket back up.
“Predecessor, please behave yourself!”
With a soft huff like a disgruntled little animal, Xia Yao tucked the blanket back around Lin Xiaojue and sat at the head of the bed, her face crimson.
“Th-then Predecessor needs to take a good look~”
She quietly opened her phone and showed the videos to Lin Xiaojue one by one.
Seeing the girl in the video with braided hair and a swim ring around her waist, smiling brightly at the beach in her swimsuit, Lin Xiaojue gradually realized she might have made a slight mistake earlier.
Well, maybe it wasn’t a big deal? Videos and photos flashed before her eyes as time flew by.