The wind carried the message of winter as it brushed against Qin Yu’s cheeks.
“It really has changed seasons!” Qin Yu felt the chill in the wind.
“Looks like it’s starting to snow a bit.” A light snowflake landed on the back of Luo Shangyu’s hand.
The four parted ways at the plaza behind Weiyang Hall.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu were headed back to the Eastern Palace, while Lysieltine Caroline and Saintess Saint Lumia Kriat were returning to Zichen Pavilion, where their temporary residence was.
Lysieltine looked at the departing backs of Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu, then smiled and whispered to Lumia, “Tonight will be a sleepless night for them~”
Lumia rolled her eyes at her and replied, “Not everyone is as desperate as you.”
***
The weather changed as fast as flipping a page; it was autumn in the morning, and by nightfall, it was already winter.
When Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu entered the Eastern Palace, the light, scattered snowflakes from earlier had turned into heavy, thick snow.
Inside the Eastern Palace, the maids were searching everywhere for winter heaters, but the sudden drop in temperature caught them unprepared.
Flustered, they searched anxiously, breaking out in a sweat.
“Greetings, Your Highness!” The maids immediately stopped their work when they saw Qin Yu return.
Qin Yu waved back in response.
“Your Highness, please forgive us! The temperature dropped so suddenly tonight—we didn’t prepare the heaters in advance. It’s possible that…” one of the maids whispered.
“Ah, it’s all right.” Qin Yu waved her hand.
“It’s just one night without the heaters.”
Qin Yu understood that the sudden temperature drop wasn’t something the maids could have foreseen, so there was no need to blame them.
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness!” All the maids breathed a sigh of relief at Qin Yu’s words.
Even though she didn’t blame the maids, spending the night without a heater would still be tough.
“Let’s go take a bath and warm up!” Qin Yu suggested.
“Just what I was thinking!”
***
The two returned to their room, undressed, and put on their bathrobes to head for the bathhouse.
Although the bathhouse and Qin Yu’s room were both inside the sleeping quarters, there was still a stretch between them.
As they passed through the corridor without walls, the cold wind gusted under Qin Yu’s bathrobe, stealing the warmth from her body.
Her bare calves, exposed to the air, had almost lost all feeling.
Instinctively, Qin Yu edged closer to Luo Shangyu.
The bathhouse was filled with steam; as soon as Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu entered, they were wrapped in a wave of warmth that instantly chased away the chill from their bodies.
“Wuhu!” Qin Yu couldn’t wait any longer and jumped straight into the pool.
The warm spring water rose up to Qin Yu’s neck, so only her head was left exposed above the surface, her long white hair spreading out across the water.
Luo Shangyu took off her bathrobe at the poolside and slowly stepped into the water.
Watching Qin Yu enjoy herself, Luo Shangyu thought this might be a good chance to make amends.
But… Qin Yu looked so happy right now—if she went over, would she ruin Qin Yu’s good mood instead?
Luo Shangyu stood in the pool, hesitating, letting the warm water flow past her.
Outside, the cold wind howled, scraping against the palace walls.
Inside, steam curled through the air, water droplets dripped and echoed.
As Qin Yu soaked, her senses seemed to amplify, her skin growing hyper-sensitive to the heat.
‘This is a good opportunity, isn’t it?’ Qin Yu thought as she looked at Luo Shangyu, who was soaking in the water.
‘In such a sentimental moment, Luo Shangyu will probably agree, right?’
In her heart, Qin Yu frantically tried to psych herself up, sneaking glances at Luo Shangyu.
Luo Shangyu, on the other hand, was bowing her head, hesitating about how to open up to Qin Yu.
But to Qin Yu, it looked like Luo Shangyu was sulking.
‘Oh no, oh no!’ Qin Yu panicked inside.
‘It really looks like Luo Shangyu is upset!’
Qin Yu froze, wondering how she should comfort Luo Shangyu.
Just like that, silence fell between them again, with only the sound of water droplets echoing through the vast bathhouse.
Qin Yu curled up on the poolside bench, hugging her knees and stealing glances at Luo Shangyu.
Luo Shangyu stood in the water, her right hand hanging close to her thigh, her left arm wrapped across her chest, resting on her right arm.
Time ticked by in their shared silence.
“Hey, Qin Yu, haven’t we been bathing a bit too long?” Luo Shangyu noticed her hands had wrinkled from being in the water so long.
“Huh? Oh… yeah, I guess we have…” Qin Yu, caught off guard, was a bit slow to react.
They got out of the pool.
Qin Yu shivered at the cold air, then quickly dried off and wrapped herself in her bathrobe.
On the way back to their room, the cold wind still blew, but after the hot bath, Qin Yu didn’t feel cold at all.
All the way, an awkward silence enveloped the pair.
Once back, Qin Yu changed into her pajamas, climbed into the left side of the bed by the window, got under the covers, and sat up against the headboard.
The blankets were icy cold.
The warmth quickly left her body, and soon her toes were numb and almost lost all feeling.
Since it wasn’t time to sleep yet, Qin Yu picked up the latest issue of “David Day’s Adventures” to read.
In this chapter, David Day faced a worthy rival and the two fought to a standstill.
The story was exciting, but Qin Yu couldn’t help thinking about how she should explain this afternoon’s events to Luo Shangyu, so she couldn’t focus.
Qin Yu’s fingertips absently rubbed the glossy pages of the comic, curling the corners a bit.
Luo Shangyu sat on the right side of the bed, away from the window, reading the Magic Book.
Her mind kept wandering to how she should bring up what she’d said to Qin Yu on the night before last, leaving her restless.
The magic theory she normally found simple, she read over and over, yet not a single word made sense.
‘What’s wrong with me…?’ Luo Shangyu muttered to herself.
“Shall we just turn out the lights and sleep?” Luo Shangyu suggested.
“Okay.” Qin Yu couldn’t concentrate on the comic anymore and gladly agreed.
Luo Shangyu waved her wand, and the lamp went out with a snap.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu slipped under the covers, lying back-to-back beneath the same blanket.
“It’s a bit cold!” Qin Yu shivered, feeling the chill in the quilt steadily leeching her body heat.
In the darkness, all was silent except for their breathing and the wind and snow outside.
‘There’s only one hour left in today, I… I have to do something!’ Qin Yu silently encouraged herself.
‘The day’s almost over, Luo Shangyu, you have to make the first move!’ Luo Shangyu quietly egged herself on.
‘Screw it!’
The same thought flashed in both of their minds at once.
“Luo Shangyu…”
“Qin Yu…”
At the same time, both called out each other’s name in the darkness.
They spoke each other’s names at once and turned over to face each other at the same time.
“……”
It was just after the light went out—their eyes hadn’t yet adapted to the dark, so they could only vaguely make out each other’s silhouette.
“What is it?” They both spoke in unison.
“……”
Qin Yu: (ー_ー)!!
Luo Shangyu: (ー_ー)!!
So in sync—they both froze.
Inside, both thought wildly: ‘Why did she steal my line?’
Both began to feel embarrassed and wanted to retreat.
‘No way!’Luo Shangyu gave herself a mental slap.
‘Didn’t you say you’d take the initiative, Luo Shangyu? Why are you chickening out now!’
“Qin Yu…” Luo Shangyu’s voice was low and steady.
“Hm?”
“About the other night… I’m sorry… That’s not what I meant…”
“The other night?” Qin Yu echoed softly, wondering, which thing happened the night before last?
“Actually, I didn’t mean to turn you down… it’s just…” Luo Shangyu’s voice choked up.
“It’s just that I wasn’t ready! I’m… I’m sorry!”
Luo Shangyu clasped her hands together over her chest.
At those words, Qin Yu’s pupils trembled slightly—why was Luo Shangyu suddenly bringing this up?
The night before last, just before bed, Qin Yu had blurted out, “Being lovers isn’t out of the question,” only for Luo Shangyu to reply, “That’s too sudden.”
Although that didn’t really count as a rejection, Qin Yu had still been anxious about it.
Now, with Luo Shangyu admitting she just wasn’t prepared at the time, Qin Yu felt a weight lift from her heart.
“I…” Qin Yu was about to reply when Luo Shangyu cut her off.
“I also think… being lovers isn’t out of the question…”
Luo Shangyu seized the initiative and spoke first.
She had thought the words she’d prepared for so long would perfectly express her sincerity, but when the moment came, she just couldn’t get them out.
Too nervous, Luo Shangyu ended up borrowing Qin Yu’s words.
Qin Yu never expected Luo Shangyu would say something like that—’she totally stole my line!’
Shock, joy, and happiness surged through Qin Yu all at once, and for a moment she was left speechless.
Seeing Qin Yu not respond, Luo Shangyu thought she was still angry, so she said earnestly, “I know I broke your heart and made you misunderstand. If you don’t want to accept it, I understand. But no matter what, I’ll prove my feelings with actions. I like you!”
By the end, Luo Shangyu’s voice was tinged with tears.
Qin Yu snapped back to herself, knowing she needed to respond.
In the darkness, Luo Shangyu’s delicate lips were just visible.
When Luo Shangyu received no answer from Qin Yu and began to grow anxious, suddenly, a soft, warm sensation claimed her lips and the scent of a young girl enveloped her.
Luo Shangyu felt the burning heat from Qin Yu and couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Qin Yu from the front.
It was Qin Yu’s first time being so bold.
The guilt and excitement in her heart was indescribable, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Luo Shangyu’s right hand gradually slid up to the back of Qin Yu’s head, her stance shifting from passive to active.
Finally, their lips parted.
The long, passionate kiss left Qin Yu’s mind oxygen-starved.
“That’s… my answer.” Qin Yu whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.
In that moment, joy swept through her body, filling her with warmth and banishing all the chill beneath the covers.
Tears welled up in Luo Shangyu’s eyes—not just from excitement, but because her thousand years of lonely waiting had finally found its end.
Their bodies pressed close beneath the cold blankets, Qin Yu proactively wrapping her legs around Luo Shangyu, clinging tightly to her.
Qin Yu’s body heat seeped through her cotton pajamas, warming Luo Shangyu.
Their hair mingled together.
Luo Shangyu held Qin Yu, her hand slowly sliding down Qin Yu’s back to gently press against her side.
Qin Yu buried her face in Luo Shangyu’s embrace, and as she felt that strange touch at her waist, an indescribable feeling washed over her.
Qin Yu trembled violently in Luo Shangyu’s arms.
“Hehe, so your waist is this sensitive?”
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