The next day—due to business, Xu Qingxiang was still away from home for the time being.
That being the case, it goes without saying that instant ramen was still the only thing available on the menu for every meal.
"…"
With Ling Xue Luo back in the bedroom, Ling Cang Xue closes the door, and turns to the right of the narrow hallway.
At the end of the hallway is the bathroom; and judging by the sound of running water, the bathtub is currently being filled.
"…"
Standing in front of the bathtub is Sui Yan, who is dressed in a more casual set of clothing—consisting of a white shirt and a pair of shorts.
"…"
Approaching Sui Yan, Ling Cang Xue glances at the bathtub, which currently has its self-heating function active.
Floating on top of the water's surface are numerous spirit herbs, while the water itself—
"…What's with the water?"
Seeing how dark the water is, Ling Cang Xue can't help but frown, to which, Sui Yan answers—
"It's a medicinal bath."
"…Why?"
Ignoring the question, and shutting off the running waters, Sui Yan says—
"Strip."
"…Uh?"
"Take off your clothes, it's time for you to take a dip."
Covering her chest with an expression of wariness, Ling Cang Xue takes a few steps back, while replying—
"Wait, to suddenly order a girl to strip down to their birthday suit—no matter how you look at it, isn't this a bit too inappropriate? I-"
Cutting Ling Cang Xue off, Sui Yan says—
"I've no interest in an undeveloped brat's body."
Grabbing Ling Cang Xue by the front of her one-piece dress, Sui Yan drags her into the bathroom, and shuts the door.
"Hurry up."
Maintaining a reluctant look on her face, Ling Cang Xue says—
"…I-I'd rather the first person to see me naked be the person that I'm saving myself for."
"…"
Rolling her eyes, Sui Yan remarks—
"Really does make you wonder what children are even reading these days…"
Raising a sigh, Sui Yan continues to ask—
"Who are you even saving yourself for?"
"Th-That's…"
Blushing slightly, while averting her eyes, Ling Cang Xue mutters—
"…My little sister."
"…"
Ignoring the odd look on Sui Yan's face, Ling Cang Xue proudly explains—
"When I first lay my eyes on her, I knew that she was the one that I was destined for. Her bad health makes me to want to do everything possible to protect her; and whenever I see her in pain, my chest would ache. The sight of her—focused on her phone, it makes me want to stare at her face all day long; and when she would occasionally smile, or laugh at the content that she was reading, my heart would race. If I had to name one of her greatest charm-points, then it would have to be her gentle pace of breathing—when fast asleep; there's just something about it that makes me feel at peace—listening to it."
"…"
Continuing to listen to Ling Cang Xue praising Ling Xue Luo with a fervent tone of voice, Sui Yan thought—
(Seems like she's developed a sister complex, and a deep one at that…)
"I figured that if we couldn't find someone—to adopt us together by the time that we're both 18 years of age, we'd just leave the orphanage, and live at a residence together. With my talents as a practitioner, it shouldn't be too difficult—to obtain a job at public security. I'll be sent off to work in the morning with her smile, and return at night to be greeted with her smile again. That is my vision of our perfect love life together. But now…"
As Ling Cang Xue's expression darkens, Sui Yan asks—
"But now what?"
"…"
Glaring at Sui Yan, Ling Cang Xue shouts—
"But then you just had to invade our two-person world! I don't know what kind of devilish tricks you've used on Xue Luo, but the minute after you left the orphanage that day… My precious little sister had praised you to be handsome with her face tinged red! That sort of look—that hasn't ever appeared in the past…-! That sort of look should only ever be directed at me! I won't ever forgive you for taking away her first, you homewrecker!"
"…"
Hearing this, Sui Yan adjusts her glasses.
There're quite a few things that Sui Yan wishes to say, but enduring the headache, she asks—
"So then, you're jealous?"
"I…-!"
Twitching her lips, Ling Cang Xue feels that if she admits to being jealous, she will have lost this nonsensical fight. But in the end—
"…I am jealous. And this slimy-green feeling on the top of my head doesn't help…"
Relaxing her shoulders, Ling Cang Xue begrudgingly mutters—
"…Why couldn't I be the one to resolve her health issues? Why did it have to be someone else instead? Why did it have to be you, who got the role of the prince on a white horse?"
"…"
"…"
As silence looms between them, Sui Yan eventually asks—
"It's painful—to be helpless in front of something that you can't do anything about, is it not?"
"…Un."
Receiving a nod from Ling Cang Xue, Sui Yan continues to say—
"Your best means to reduce the odds of encountering more situations like this in the future—is to increase your personal strength. Only by possessing absolute strength—can you hope to suppress all tragedies."
"…Un."
Finding logic in these words, Ling Cang Xue replies with another nod, and following this—
"So then…"
*Siiiiiii!* using the power of her cultivation base, Sui Yan shreds Ling Cang Xue's one-piece dress, and—
"…?!"
Without a single article of fabric to cover her body, Ling Cang Xue widens her eyes, but before she can issue a scream—
"Get in the damn bath."
Sui Yan tosses her into the medicinal bath.
"Ahhh! The water is scalding!"
Just as Ling Cang Xue makes an attempt to get out of the scalding waters, Sui Yan holds her down by the shoulder.
Ignoring the droplets of medicinal water that are being splashed onto her, Sui Yan says—
"Endure it, and quit struggling. Every droplet you spill is worth more than a hundred spirit stones."
"But-!"
Just as Ling Cang Xue is about to say something, the medicinal waters are absorbed by her skin—causing her to become much more sensitive to the heat.
Opening her mouth wide, Ling Cang Xue is just about to scream, but before that can happen, Sui Yan stuffs a wet towel into the former's mouth—muffling her screams.
"Bite onto that—else you might just end up biting your own tongue off."
"Mhhm…! Mhhm…! Mhhm…!"
Raising a series of muffled screams, tears leak from the corners of Ling Cang Xue's eyes, as she thought—
(This woman…! She isn't human!)