Stepping into Ningguang's bedroom, Qin Yu's gaze immediately fell upon Ningguang, who was sitting on the bed.
She was dressed in her nightgown, a hint of weariness on her face.
Qin Yu was at a loss. What should she say to Ningguang in this moment?
But she couldn't remain silent either.
Following routine, Qin Yu began with a greeting: "Good morning, Lady Ningguang. Breakfast is ready."
Ningguang remained silent.
"...Ningguang?" Qin Yu asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Is she still bothered by it after all?
It's impossible for her not to be, but today I'm supposed to work by her side. Her uncharacteristically distant demeanor... I don't know how to handle this.
Ningguang suddenly spoke softly, "Brush my hair."
"Ah, yes, of course." 乛
What was Ningguang truly thinking at that moment? Qin Yu couldn't tell.
Since the incident, a misty veil seemed to have fallen between them, obscuring Ningguang's silhouette and shrouding her thoughts in mystery.
But Ningguang had said—Brush my hair.
Does this mean I can touch her again, just like before? Has she... accepted it?
Lost in a tangle of thoughts, Qin Yu picked up the comb, lifting Ningguang's smooth, flowing hair with one hand while the other hand ran the comb gently down its length.
After finishing, Qin Yu didn't immediately tell Ningguang. Instead, she cautiously reached out, testing the waters to touch Ningguang's skin.
"Qin Yu."
Ningguang's voice instantly dredged up painful memories. Qin Yu flinched violently and hastily withdrew her hand.
"Wh-what's wrong?" she asked, feigning nonchalance.
Hearing Ningguang call her by name now brought back the sting of her past accusations, the memory of her blunt declaration: "I'm disappointed in you."
Though Qin Yu knew Ningguang's words were justified—she had brought this upon herself—they remained like a thorn lodged in her heart. It was difficult to remove, and even the slightest touch would draw blood and cause pain.
Without a word, Ningguang suddenly leaned back, and Qin Yu instinctively caught her.
"Why did you suddenly lean back like that? Are you feeling unwell?" Qin Yu asked, her voice laced with confusion and concern.
"It's not that... Just... hold me," Ningguang murmured.
Evaluation: D
Huh?
Qin Yu's cheeks flushed. That was sudden, she thought, but a secret joy bloomed within her. Ningguang's words meant she could touch her again, just like before.
But is this... is she being affectionate? Is this her way of accepting me back?
Qin Yu adjusted her posture, gently wrapping her arms around Ningguang from behind, her hands resting on Ningguang's chest.
"Is this alright?"
"Mhm."
Ningguang clasped Qin Yu's hands, the familiar warmth gradually easing Qin Yu's nervousness.
Though Qin Yu cherished their closeness, she knew the food would get cold if they lingered too long. She whispered a reminder:
"The food's getting cold. Let's eat breakfast."
"What's on the agenda this morning?"
After Qin Yu smoothly outlined the morning's schedule, Ningguang replied, "No need to go out? Excellent. Then we can stay like this a while longer."
"But the food's getting cold," Qin Yu persisted.
"We don't have to eat it at all," Ningguang said.
Huh?
Qin Yu protested, "I put my heart into making this! It won't taste good cold. Besides, skipping breakfast will make you hungry, weak, and bad for your health."
"Then we can just eat it cold," Ningguang suggested.
"Ningguang—"
Just as Qin Yu was about to continue her persuasion, Ningguang broke free from her embrace, turned around, and silenced her with a kiss.
Evaluation: C-
Evaluation: C+
Evaluation: B
Qin Yu instinctively closed her eyes, surrendering to the warmth of Ningguang's breath and the tender softness of her lips. In that deep, lingering kiss, the last trace of her anxiety melted away.
Snapping back to awareness, Qin Yu opened her eyes to see the ceiling above and Ningguang's face, flushed with a captivating blush but her gaze filled with complex emotion.
"Today, you'll only listen to me. Understand?"
It wasn't a request, but a demand.
Qin Yu felt lightheaded, as if Ningguang had stolen her very breath.
Faced with Ningguang's sudden command, she instinctively covered her chest.
"Except for things like this..."
"What if I said it had to be this kind of thing?" Ningguang gripped her arm.
Qin Yu glared at her.
Something's off with Ningguang today.It must be because of what happened two days ago.
Ningguang had wounded her heart with her words, and Qin Yu knew her own actions had hurt both Keqing and Ningguang deeply.
Now, Ningguang seemed to have made her stance clear: she was allowing Qin Yu to touch her and had even kissed her first.
Ningguang had chosen to compromise.
If this could make Ningguang happy... even if it can't truly make up for what happened... Qin Yu slowly lowered her hands and turned her face away.
Ningguang was stunned by Qin Yu's reaction.
She's letting me.
Realizing this, Ningguang channeled the surging heat in her heart throughout her body. An unfamiliar emotion overflowed within her, her body and soul yearning to convey it, to infect Qin Yu's heart with this feeling, to intertwine their beings.
She gripped the hem of Qin Yu's shirt.
This won't do... Ningguang closed her eyes, took a soft breath, and withdrew her hand.
"Feeling guilty?" she asked.
Qin Yu nodded gently. "Mm-hmm."
So it really was guilt that drove her. Hearing Qin Yu's confession stirred a complex mix of emotions in Ningguang.
Obtaining Qin Yu through such means was never her intention.
"Then... just listen to me today."
In the end, that was all Ningguang said.
Qin Yu felt reassured. Though she didn't know exactly what Ningguang wanted from her, her earlier behavior suggested she wouldn't cross any boundaries.
She agreed, "Alright. But I have a request too."
"You have no right to make demands."
"I do."
Qin Yu lowered her gaze. "If it's not a demand, consider it a request. Either way, let's go eat breakfast."
As her words faded, she looked back at Ningguang's face.
Had it grown thinner in the day they'd been apart? Or was it just her imagination? Regardless, her heart held only one wish.
Carefully reaching out, she gently touched Ningguang's cheek with her fingertips, feeling the warmth beneath.
"I want you to stay healthy, Ningguang," Qin Yu said, suppressing her embarrassment. "That way... we can stay together longer."
Tch, even getting her to eat breakfast is such a hassle, Qin Yu grumbled inwardly.
"So hurry up and eat," she urged.
Evaluation: A-
"Companionship," Ningguang murmured, chewing on the word, her eyes deepening with complex emotion.
"I only want you to belong to me."
Evaluation: A+
Qin Yu didn't know how to respond to Ningguang's words.
"I'll always be by your side, Ningguang," she managed to say.
"But not just mine."
Ningguang gently stroked Qin Yu's cheek, her touch impossibly tender, radiating boundless affection and reverence, yet carrying a faint, almost imperceptible tremor.
Qin Yu instinctively placed her hand over the back of Ningguang's.
"I'll always be with you, Ningguang."
"...Is that so?"
Ningguang withdrew her hand and stepped off the bed.
"Then, as you say, let's prepare for breakfast."
"Yes, that's right," Qin Yu nodded, satisfied.
"In that case, come help me change."
Evaluation: S
"Wait, no—that's not right!"
Qin Yu was suddenly flustered. If I help Ningguang change, I'll see her...
No, no, the moment has passed! There's no chance to cross that line again!
"Can't you change yourself?" Qin Yu asked, her face flushing crimson, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Ningguang said calmly, "Of course I can do it myself, but I want you to help me."
Qin Yu hurried toward the door. "No way! If you can change yourself, why ask me? Just hurry up and get dressed so we can have breakfast before it gets cold."
"Are you going to break the agreement we just made?"
Qin Yu froze in her tracks.
Today, you'll listen to me and only me, Ningguang had said earlier.
Qin Yu had assumed Ningguang wouldn't ask her to do anything strange. She never imagined Ningguang would ask her to help her change clothes.
And she couldn't refuse.
Because of the agreement.
Reluctantly, Qin Yu turned back, drew the curtains, and approached Ningguang.
"I'm not a child anymore," she muttered.
"This isn't a right reserved for children."
"But that doesn't stop me from thinking you're acting very childish, Ningguang," Qin Yu retorted, pouting.
Ningguang took a small step closer, stopping just before they were about to touch.
W-why is she so close?
The proximity made Qin Yu's heart race. She instinctively took a step back, but Ningguang immediately followed, closing the gap until Qin Yu's back pressed against the wardrobe.
"Back up a little," Qin Yu said nervously.
"This distance is sufficient for you to help me change. Let's begin."
Qin Yu's face flushed even deeper. "I mean..." she began.
"Just listen to me."
"...You lecherous ghost," Qin Yu muttered under her breath, then began unbuttoning Ningguang's robe with her eyes closed.
"Open your eyes," Ningguang instructed.
"Aren't you even a little embarrassed?" Qin Yu asked.
A deep blush also colored Ningguang's cheeks. She murmured softly, "To be honest, I am a little embarrassed... But I want you to look at me as you personally transform me into my most primal, unadorned form with your own hands."
She took Qin Yu's hand and guided it to her chest, over her heart.
"Feel my heart one last time, and know how I truly feel about you."
Evaluation: SS-
As Qin Yu's face burned crimson, Ningguang leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Do you hear it? It's racing. You must feel the heat rising because of you."
Ningguang's voice, body heat, and breath made Qin Yu dizzy.
Evaluation: SS+
"Qin Yu."
But when she heard Ningguang call her name, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her, Qin Yu shuddering violently.
"What kind of clothes do you want me to change you into?" Qin Yu asked in a low voice.
Ningguang naturally noticed Qin Yu's unusual reaction and understood why she was responding this way. However, faced with the situation, she had no choice but to continue the conversation.
"As always."
Qin Yu responded softly, "Mm, I understand."