“…So trusting? Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison you?” Xue Baihua lazily got up and walked towards the bed.
“We’re all guests here, no need to cause trouble for the Alliance Leader.
But is the poison in my body completely cleared?” Shi Cuiyan put down the porcelain bottle and tidied her clothes.
“It’s all cleared.” Xue Baihua yawned tiredly, ignoring the presence of others, leisurely took off her thin outer garment.
She turned over onto the bed, half-leaning seductively on the brocade quilt, her eyes teasing Shi Cuiyan, her red lips smiling, “Not leaving yet? Planning to serve me to bed?”
“Divine Doctor Xue, dear Hua’er, with you teasing like this, how could I bear to leave?” Shi Cuiyan’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she stepped forward with a playful laugh, suddenly releasing a flurry of silver needles.
Shi Cuiyan deftly dodged, “Oh dear, silver needles are blind, Hua’er, are you trying to ruin my face?”
“Get lost, I can’t be bothered with you.” Xue Baihua closed her eyes and turned away, ignoring Shi Cuiyan.
Seeing there was no banter to be had, Shi Cuiyan left, feeling a bit disappointed.
Just as she closed the door, she saw Xi Fuhong turning the corner from the corridor.
Shi Cuiyan smiled slyly, deciding not to sleep early, and quietly followed her.
Xi Fuhong dragged her steps wearily to her residence.
The small garden was exquisite, with plants and a few flower beds.
She wandered around the courtyard, muttering to herself, then sighed at the night sky.
Shi Cuiyan, hiding by the wall, found her appearance endearing.
Could staying at the Alliance Leader’s branch really trouble her so much?
After a few moments, Xi Fuhong seemed to have finished sighing.
She turned to open the door and was about to close it when a pale hand suddenly stopped her.
Looking up, a bloodless face appeared, startling her into a scream.
Shi Cuiyan quickly covered Xi Fuhong’s mouth.
“Shh, it’s me, don’t alarm everyone.” Shi Cuiyan blinked and leaned in to Xi Fuhong, “Let’s have a good chat tonight.”
Xi Fuhong sat at the table, Shi Cuiyan sat opposite, the two staring at each other.
Chat? About what? What else is there to talk about?
“Ah, what a pity, if only we had some wine.
I wonder if the Alliance Leader has any good brews?” Shi Cuiyan slumped her shoulders, picked up the teapot, poured herself and Xi Fuhong a cup of cold tea, took a few sips, and pushed it aside in disgust.
“If there’s nothing else… I want to sleep.” Xi Fuhong stared at the teacup in front of her, speaking softly.
Hearing this, Shi Cuiyan waved her hand as if she hadn’t heard, smiling at Xi Fuhong, “Actually, I came to thank you for the antidote.
The poison is indeed all cleared.”
“That was what Granny instructed, it’s nothing, no need to thank me.”
Seeing her gloomy expression, Shi Cuiyan felt uneasy.
She puffed her cheeks, unsure how to comfort her.
When Luo Qingcheng asked her to stay, she was secretly pleased, at least Xi Fuhong wouldn’t leave her so soon.
But seeing her so depressed now, she suddenly felt guilty.
“Don’t be like this, dear sister.
This is the Alliance Leader’s territory, no one dares to bully you.” At most, Luo Family Head occasionally acts tough, Shi Cuiyan thought helplessly.
Hearing this, Xi Fuhong surprisingly smiled with relief and nodded, accepting Shi Cuiyan’s comfort.
Encouraged, Shi Cuiyan added, “Don’t worry, we’re sisters, we’ll help you no matter what.”
As soon as she said it, Shi Cuiyan clicked her tongue.
Why did she mention being sisters? It was this damned sisterhood that caused Xi Fuhong to be treated harshly.
Remembering how she tricked her out of the valley, gained her trust, and then betrayed her, Shi Cuiyan frowned, glancing at Xi Fuhong, afraid of making her upset again.
Unexpectedly, Xi Fuhong wasn’t angry, instead, her ears turned red as she nodded.
“Then… can you… stay with me tonight?” Xi Fuhong asked softly, her head down, almost like she was acting coy.
She was really afraid of Luo Qingcheng.
Even though the Alliance Leader promised to respect her, Luo Qingcheng had dragged her in front of everyone.
She feared Luo Qingcheng would take her away at night and torture her.
So, despite the awkwardness, she hoped Shi Cuiyan would stay.
Waiting for a response, she worried her abruptness had annoyed Shi Cuiyan.
She looked up, only to see Shi Cuiyan’s face in a daze.
In the dim candlelight, her cheeks were as red as the mark on her own face.
Xi Fuhong awkwardly called her a few times before Shi Cuiyan snapped back to reality, habitually twirling a strand of hair, coughing lightly in embarrassment.
“Of course, let’s not delay, let’s sleep!” Shi Cuiyan quickly blew out the candle, reached out, and pulled Xi Fuhong to the bed.
In the darkness, she calmed her excitement, thinking of Xi Fuhong’s shy look earlier, feeling like she was about to overheat.
Damn it! Why do I feel like a scoundrel!
“What are you doing?!” Xi Fuhong exclaimed in the dark, struggling.
“What am I doing? Sleeping.” Shi Cuiyan squinted her eyes, smiling as she pulled Xi Fuhong into her embrace, just like on the tree, letting her lie on her chest.
Xi Fuhong kept pushing away, wondering why she had to lie on Shi Cuiyan’s chest when they were on a bed.
“Let me go, we’re not on a tree, we won’t fall.” She propped herself up, but suddenly the world spun, and she was pinned under Shi Cuiyan.
Just as she was about to speak, Shi Cuiyan rested her head on her chest, nuzzling a few times, “Yes, since we’re not on a tree, let’s do it this way.”
“Why?” Xi Fuhong asked helplessly.
“Because I want to.” Shi Cuiyan answered frankly.
“…”
The room returned to silence.
Xi Fuhong didn’t want to struggle, but her limbs were entangled by Shi Cuiyan’s arms and legs.
She wanted to speak, but Shi Cuiyan’s hair tickled her lips, making it hard to breathe.
Having someone so heavy on her chest was indeed uncomfortable.
Sometimes, she really thought Shi Cuiyan was like a big child, doing whatever she wanted, leaving her helpless…
She wriggled, seeing Shi Cuiyan seemed asleep without reacting, Xi Fuhong sighed helplessly.
Listening to the steady breathing beside her, she unknowingly relaxed her body.
Hesitantly, she raised her hand to hug back, the small, soft body in her arms giving her an inexplicable sense of security.
Exhaustion washed over her, and Xi Fuhong closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep.
The next day, she was awakened by the long-lost sound of birds chirping.
Opening her eyes, she saw she was alone on the large bed.
Rubbing her chest, she sat up.
On the table, there was a bowl of porridge and two buns.
She got out of bed, washed up simply, and, feeling hungry, took a bite of a bun.
The sweet taste filled her mouth, and she happily squinted her eyes, savoring the simple food, feeling as if all her worries had vanished.
After a quiet breakfast, she hummed a tune and walked out of the room, the beautiful scenery lifting her spirits.
The green grass swayed in the wind, leaves rustled, colorful flowers bloomed, and birds sang on the branches.
It had been a long time since she felt so at ease.
Xi Fuhong leisurely strolled around the courtyard.
As she stepped out of the corridor and turned a corner, she saw someone she didn’t want to see.
Under the willow tree, in the elegant courtyard, there was a small pond with slightly yellow lotus leaves.
It wasn’t the season for lotus blooms. By the shore, there was a cyan pavilion, and inside, a person with an ethereal aura was meditating.
Xiao Qiyu, dressed in dark robes, with a green hairpin, sat quietly in the pavilion.
Sensing someone approaching, she slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes, once injured and blind, now looked at Xi Fuhong without reservation.
The pitch-black pupils, like a deeper night, though devoid of light, were hard to look away from.
