Do Not Approach

Her hands are quite beautiful.
--

The fierce wind howled, and the heavy rain pounded on the roof, the thudding noise unsettling the mind.

But on this rainy day, on such an afternoon, in the embrace of the young miss, Mu Xiaoxiao's heart found a peace it had not felt in a long time.

No trivial worries, no burdens of the future, and no entanglements from the past.

Xiaoxiao sat on the ground like a child, resting her head gently on the young miss' lap, while the young miss softly stroked her hair, listening to her sing off-tune, crooked songs.

"You said you don't need love, and that you've locked your heart away in a forbidden zone. You said you've seen through life and never expected to meet her."

In front of the young miss, Mu Xiaoxiao had no need to hide.

She wasn't Teacher Mu.

She wasn't anyone's older sister.

She was just herself.

Everyone feared Qin Yi, except for her. Xiaoxiao even brazenly stepped on Qin Yi's nerves time and time again, flying high above her boundaries and provoking her repeatedly-yet always managed to escape unscathed.

It was an addiction, a craving.

It was favoritism.

Qin Yi looked down at her, and under the glow of the light, her gaze was filled with tenderness.

Only their room stood between them and the raging storm outside, isolating them from all malice.

Once, Qin Yi had grown weary of the world, and time to her had seemed like a wasteful wait. But now, she felt as though she had been reborn.

With the song playing, Mu Xiaoxiao gradually calmed herself. She looked up at the young miss and smiled faintly.

Qin Yi gazed back at her, the affection in her eyes rippling like waves. Even shameless Teacher Mu became a bit embarrassed under her gaze and buried her head into the young miss' embrace.

Qin Yi felt the pounding of Xiaoxiao's heart, each beat conveying just how happy and excited the girl in her arms was.

At that moment, she felt grateful-grateful that, despite her disappointment with the world, she hadn't given up on life and had held on for what she once thought would be nothing but a lingering tomorrow.

"Do you want a bath?"

Mu Xiaoxiao rested her chin on the young miss' knee. Qin Yi froze and stared at her.

Mu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. "I can do it."

Desires, after all, come in layers.

Just yesterday, she had feared bathing with the young miss, terrified that her heart might be accidentally exposed. But now, her thoughts were filled with the softness of the young miss' voice.

That voice... how could she describe it?

It was as soft as the night when the young miss got drunk and meowed like a kitten. Mu Xiaoxiao really wanted to hear it more. Given the young miss's personality, she knew this was unlikely to happen again in the future.

So, she figured she might as well take advantage of the moment and tease the young miss a bit.

Qin Yi: "..."

What on earth goes on in this person's head?

Mu Xiaoxiao might be ready, but the Qin Yi was not. She needed space to think.