In the bathroom, soaking in the warm, comfortable water, Aier suddenly shivered for no reason, a strange chill creeping up her spine and leaving her skin covered in goosebumps.
“That’s odd, I’m taking a hot bath, so why does my back feel cold and break out in goosebumps?”
When Aier finally wrapped herself in a bath towel and stepped out of the bathroom, still damp and slightly cool from the steam, the scene before her made her blood run cold and her mind go blank.
Xie Yier was lying on her side on the soft, large bed, a silk camisole nightdress clinging to her body like a second skin, perfectly outlining her proud curves.
A slender strap had slipped off one shoulder, revealing half of her smooth, rounded fragrant shoulder and the delicate collarbone below.
She propped up her elegant chin with one hand, appearing relaxed, but those sharp golden eyes that seemed to pierce the soul locked onto Aier with undeniable authority.
“Come here.” Xie Yier’s voice was tinged with a lazy rasp, her finger beckoning elegantly and carelessly at Aier.
Aier had to admit, a woman of Xie Yier’s caliber was simply too good at playing with people’s hearts.
That maturity, intelligence, and endless charm—even her coquettishness was calculated, easily stirring up Aier’s heart and breaking down her defenses.
Her body surrendered before her mind did, and she almost stumbled to the bedside, hands and feet moving together.
Sigh… What else could she do? After all, Xie Yier was her benefactor. If she wanted a hug, then so be it.
By now, she seemed to have grown somewhat used to Xie Yier’s forceful affection.
When Xie Yier’s arm, carrying the scent of roses and cedar, reached out, Aier’s knees buckled involuntarily, and she tumbled obediently—and a bit helplessly—onto the soft bed beside Xie Yier.
“Good girl~” Xie Yier praised with satisfaction, stretching out her long arm to pull the little one, fragrant with roses, into her embrace, rubbing her chin against Aier’s soft golden hair. “Master loves you, Little Ai.”
“Master…” Aier’s voice carried a barely noticeable tremor—partly from nerves, partly from a secret, fluttering excitement.
She had wanted to behave, hoping Xie Yier would finish quickly so she could rest sooner, but when she saw Xie Yier pick up a Prop Tool from the bedside, Aier’s pupils contracted in shock, thinking she must be seeing things.
But by now, it was too late for Aier to escape.
“Wait… M-Master, what’s that!!! Don’t punish Little Ai like this, waa!!!”
A few minutes later…
Aier curled up on her side under the blanket, her cheeks still flushed, her body trembling slightly, the aftershocks clearly lingering.
It hurts… It hurts so much… She actually used a Prop Tool in battle, that’s just too brutal…
This time, it really almost killed her.
Xie Yier was now sitting at the bedside, the flush of excitement not yet fully faded from her face, but her eyes had already regained their usual calm and control.
She casually gathered her slightly messy black hair, her posture elegant.
“Are you hungry, Little Ai?” She turned her head, her gaze falling on the small tuft of golden hair poking out from under the blanket.
Her tone was less a question, more a statement.
“…I’m okay.” Aier shook her head, her voice tinged with post-event exhaustion, and the tail end slightly hoarse from overuse.
“I had the Royal Kitchen make some nourishing Ginseng Chicken Soup. Get up and drink a little in a bit.” She stated flatly.
Aier knew full well that even if she refused, Xie Yier would force her to drink it anyway.
“Okay~” So Aier chose to be obedient.
Xie Yier liked a well-behaved and easy-to-handle Golden Canary, so when she was by her side, Aier played her role well.
Whatever she was told to do, she did.
Whether it was being on call to cheer her up,
Or being forced into a Prop Tool battle.
Wuwuwu… Aier felt so wronged she was about to shed little pearls.
“Turn over.” Xie Yier gently patted Aier’s arm, her command tinged with an intimacy that brooked no refusal. “This time, you hold me.”
Still not fully recovered, Aier carefully moved over, wrapping her arms around Xie Yier’s slender yet powerful waist, pressing her cheek against the silky, cool nightdress fabric, as docile as the most obedient pet.
Xie Yier seemed very satisfied with her actions, one hand reaching over to idly play with the still half-damp ends of Aier’s golden hair, her movements so gentle they were almost soothing.
“Little Ai, what did you do at School today? Tell Master.” Her tone was unusually gentle tonight, perhaps because her mood was good after what just happened. “Didn’t I tell you to report to Master every day?”
Aier’s heartbeat suddenly quickened.
“Today, my classmate dragged me to a Coffee Shop…” she recounted cautiously.
She remembered Ailei’s advice, but in the end, she decided to come clean.
After all, Xie Yier’s methods were impossible to withstand.
Just like just now…
“Classmate?” Xie Yier’s voice was still gentle, but her fingers curling around the hair tightened slightly. “And then? Did you… enjoy the coffee?”
Her question drew out at the end, lazy but laced with a dangerous curiosity.
“She, she threatened me.” Aier’s voice dropped even lower, tinged with shame. “She said if I didn’t go with her, she’d… she’d let the whole school know… know I’m your…”
She really couldn’t bring herself to say the word “kept.”
“Know you’re my little darling?” Xie Yier chuckled softly, her golden eyes lowering to look at the faintly red cheeks of the girl in her arms. “Silly girl, what’s there to be afraid of? If I fancy you, do you think you’re being wronged?”
Xie Yier tapped Aier’s small nose with a finger, the gesture intimate but her words carrying invisible pressure. “But…”
She leaned in slightly, her warm breath brushing Aier’s ear. “Was the coffee good?”
“I’m sorry, Master, I…” Aier hurried to explain.
It was terrible! Terrible! I’ll never go again!
Please don’t torment me anymore!
“Shhh—” Xie Yier’s index finger gently pressed against Aier’s soft lips, silencing her apology. The smile in her eyes deepened, but there was no warmth in it.
“I… I just… didn’t want to look so pitiful.” Aier squeezed out the words with difficulty, a touch of shame in her voice.
She wanted to hold on to that last bit of her dignity, after all.