"You promised me something." Ye Qingxian pressed her again.
"What... did I promise?" I answered without even opening my eyes. My curled fingers, resting on Ye Qingxian's thigh, began to squeeze, gathering a little soft flesh in my palm.
Even in my sleep, I instinctively clung to things. It was a posture that betrayed just how insecure I felt.
Ye Qingxian's heart ached at the sight.
She knew this was the frail instinct her junior sister revealed unconsciously when she was sick.
Deep down, her junior sister had never really felt secure, had she?
Ye Qingxian suddenly couldn't bring herself to bargain with me in this state.
Forget it.
There were plenty of ways to strengthen their bond as sisters. They could do it anytime.
Why choose when I was sick?
Ye Qingxian fell silent.
But amid my soft breathing, I managed to scrape together another shred of reason. My words sounded almost like I was asleep, like I was talking in my dreams, my pronunciation indistinct. "Ye Qingxian, I'll let you touch my tail."
She'd called her by her name? Ye Qingxian raised an eyebrow again.
"Can't you be a little gentler? Loosen your grip a little."
"I'm your junior sister, not some object."
"Whoever heard of someone petting a cat with that much force?" Even in my dream, I pouted, my tone full of grievance.
Ye Qingxian froze.
So... she'd been using too much strength?
"Mm. I'll be very gentle."
Suddenly, I cracked my eyelids open. My red eyes were veiled in a hazy mist, as though I were still lost in the fog of half-consciousness.
Ye Qingxian didn't catch that little detail.
Because I closed my eyes again.
At the same time, I turned my head the other way and wrapped my arms around Ye Qingxian's waist.