Lu Qiancha stared blankly at the soft silk nightdress draped there, her gaze lingering for a long time, making Shangguan Yunzhu mistakenly think she liked it but was too shy to say so.
So Shangguan Yunzhu cheerfully shoved the white silk nightdress into Lu Qiancha’s arms and said in a bright tone, “If you like it, it’s yours.”
Lu Qiancha hugged the nightdress confusedly, unsure how to explain.
“Hm?”
Shangguan Yunzhu followed her gaze downward and finally fixed it on those pink little paw pads, suddenly understanding, “Ah, I completely forgot you can’t dress like this now.”
The words had barely fallen when she reached out and swiftly removed the pink dress from Lu Qiancha’s body, then gently slipped the nightdress onto her.
The light silk brushed across her skin, the unfamiliar touch making Lu Qiancha involuntarily hum softly.
Her entire face flushed bright red, her mind buzzing—the other’s movements were too smooth and natural; she had no time to react.
“All dressed, let’s go to sleep.”
Shangguan Yunzhu climbed onto the bed with a smile, pulling Lu Qiancha into her embrace. Her fair fingers gently stroked the top of her hair, lingering at the ear.
The silk nightdress rubbed against her delicate skin, and even through the fabric, Lu Qiancha could feel the warmth radiating from Shangguan Yunzhu’s body. Her cheeks burned, and inside she silently wailed—
This outfit… what’s the difference between wearing it and not wearing it?!
Shangguan Yunzhu didn’t notice her thoughts. She inhaled the vanilla scent coming from the little wolf cub in her arms, gradually calming down and slowly drifting into sleep.
Seeing her fast asleep, Lu Qiancha quietly slipped out of her embrace and curled up on the other side of the bed.
The night breeze crept in through the window, slightly cooling her restless heart.
Her drowsy gaze gradually cleared… only to realize she felt a little cold.
Unconsciously, she leaned toward the warmth beside her—only to be pulled back into Shangguan Yunzhu’s arms the next second.
The little girl’s resigned face could only close her eyes and slowly drift into sleep.
***
The next morning, a cold breeze woke Lu Qiancha. She opened her eyes to find the quilt pushed aside, and Shangguan Yunzhu was nowhere to be seen.
“Qianqian, you’re awake.”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s gentle voice smiled as she looked at Lu Qiancha curled up like a big tail ball, saying, “I made breakfast for you, remember to eat it, okay?”
“……”
Lu Qiancha nodded drowsily and was about to get out of bed when she noticed she was still wearing the nightdress………………
“Um……….. Sister Yunzhu.”
Lowering her head, Lu Qiancha called out shyly.
“What’s wrong, little Qianqian?”
Shangguan Yunzhu came over, tilting her head in mild confusion.
“Could you……….. help me change clothes?”
Lu Qiancha’s voice grew weaker and weaker, as if steam was about to rise from her head.
“Okay.”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s eyes curved into a crescent as she swiftly helped her remove the nightdress, then with a finger hook, she even took off the close-fitting white cotton underwear underneath.
“? ? ? ?”
Lu Qiancha was so shocked by this silky little combo move that she hurriedly backed away, shrinking into the corner of the bed, clutching her big tail, looking at Shangguan Yunzhu with a terrified expression.
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
“Helping you change clothes.”
Shangguan Yunzhu blinked, seemingly not understanding why she was so panicked.
“Then… why take off my underwear?”
Lu Qiancha asked timidly.
“Because I prepared a new set for you.”
Shangguan Yunzhu tilted her head and unfolded a set of blue-and-white underwear trimmed with cute lace in front of Lu Qiancha.
Looking at the especially childish lingerie before her, Lu Qiancha was momentarily stunned, then gave up and thought: fine, better than nothing.
She hugged her tail and shuffled over to Shangguan Yunzhu, murmuring softly, “…then please help me put it on.”
“Sure.”
Shangguan Yunzhu smiled and nodded, casually patting Lu Qiancha’s little head and saying, “Qianqian, be good and get dressed. Sister will take you to eat something delicious.”
Hearing this, Lu Qiancha could only stammer, “Thank you, Sister Yunzhu…………”
Honestly, if Gantang dared to do this, Lu Qiancha would have kicked her away a long time ago.
But unfortunately, the other wasn’t her little Shimei, so she had to keep playing the role of a child…………………
Sigh, if only I had brought a disguise before coming here.
Shaking her head, after Shangguan Yunzhu finished helping her put on the underwear, Lu Qiancha suddenly looked around as if noticing something, “Hey? Sister Yunzhu, where’s my outfit?”
“I took it to wash.”
Shangguan Yunzhu answered.
Lu Qiancha nodded; she hadn’t wanted to wear that outfit anymore anyway—it was too cute and didn’t suit her temperament at all.
Besides, walking around the bamboo forest would inevitably get it dirty; it was just right to wash it clean and return it to her Shimei.
“Ta-da!”
Shangguan Yunzhu pulled out a blue top paired with a yellow skirt………………
“?”
Lu Qiancha stared blankly at the clothes, which obviously didn’t match the general style of the Xiuxianjie.
“This was bought by my mother from the Western Region, isn’t it cute?”
Shangguan Yunzhu smiled, but a trace of melancholy suddenly appeared in her eyes. “It’s just a pity I didn’t get to wear it before I grew up.”
Lu Qiancha said nothing. She was now thinking: Western Region, that is Xiniu Hezhou—could there be a traveler from another world there…?
Before she could sort out her thoughts, Shangguan Yunzhu had already helped her change into the new clothes and bent down gently to pull on a pair of white tube socks.
As the socks slid up, her fingertips accidentally brushed across Lu Qiancha’s sensitive soles.
“Uhm…”
A faint but clear tingling sensation ran up her spine, and Lu Qiancha couldn’t help but let out a slight whimper.
The round, tender pink toes inside the socks immediately curled shyly, like frightened little animals.
Once fully dressed, Shangguan Yunzhu picked up a wooden comb and a hair tie to braid a pair of twin ponytails for her.
“Look!” Shangguan Yunzhu beamed as she made a hand seal and conjured a shimmering water mirror, hanging it in front of Lu Qiancha.
“So cute.”
Lu Qiancha looked at the little girl in the mirror with her blue twin tails, delicate and porcelain-like, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly—the already childish body, combined with the babyish clothes and hairstyle, made her look even younger.
She felt sure that when she returned to the mountain, Xun Xue and Gantang would mercilessly tease her…………………