Be Yourself Again

Feeling the embrace loosen, Cailin opened her eyes in confusion. The next moment, she met Su Baichen's undisguised gaze, filled with appreciation and teasing amusement.

It was as though he were appraising a priceless treasure, his eyes drifting from her flushed cheeks to her slightly disheveled hair, then to the long dress on her body, so unlike her usual style.

And that was not even the most important part. The most important part was that as he looked her over, he kept revealing a mischievous smirk from time to time!

That gaze and smile made Cailin's heartbeat, which had only just calmed, suddenly race again. A mixture of embarrassment and faint irritation surged within her.

The blush on her face—she could not tell whether it had yet to fade from their earlier intimate contact, or whether his "ill-intentioned" scrutiny had angered her.

"What... what kind of look is that?" Cailin forced herself to remain composed, her delicate brows knitting slightly as she tried to conceal her inner fluster beneath a queen's dignity.

Hearing Cailin's embarrassed, indignant question, Su Baichen not only failed to rein himself in but smiled even more wickedly. He deliberately drew out his words and said lazily, "Hehe, Cailin, I was just thinking... the style of this outfit really doesn't match your usual noble, aloof, queenly aura of looking down upon the world."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. With the knowing air of someone who had seen through everything, he continued, "This fresh and elegant design, these soft colors... the more I look at it, the more it seems like Caidie's style, doesn't it?"

A crafty gleam flashed through Su Baichen's eyes as he deliberately guessed in an exaggerated tone, "Tsk, tsk. Don't tell me... because I sometimes looked a few extra times at Caidie's similar outfits when we were fooling around, you thought I especially liked this style, and then... went and 'borrowed' Caidie's clothes to wear?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "borrowed," the mischievous grin on his face nearly overflowing.

"My, my. An older sister secretly wearing her younger sister's clothes to 'seduce' the man she loves? Now that really is... quite an interesting matter!"

Seeing Cailin's cheeks redden at a visible speed, nearly enough to drip blood, while her gaze began to dart away, Su Baichen figured his guess was probably right.

He knew when to stop, but his words remained merciless. Changing the subject, he offered a teasing yet sincere suggestion:

"But—" He drew out the word, his gaze once again sweeping carefully over Cailin from head to toe, this time with pure admiration. "This strong contrast actually has a unique charm on you. It's truly quite lovely. It lets me see a different kind of beauty in Her Majesty the Queen."

He smiled, his tone gentler, though still teasing. "From now on, why not try more clothes in different styles? Maybe... you really will discover an even more captivating side of yourself, one even you have never noticed before. I, for one, am very much looking forward to it, my queen."

The moment Su Baichen's teasing words fell, two crimson clouds instantly rose on Cailin's cheeks, staining even the tips of her ears pink.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she immediately retorted, "That's not it at all!"

Her voice carried a trace of embarrassed anger, but her eyes involuntarily shifted away.

She clenched the light-purple fitted dress she wore, its somewhat youthful cut neat and sharp, its colors bright. The exquisite butterfly patterns embroidered along the collar and cuffs truly stood completely at odds with her usual domineering and fierce style.

"This is clothing I wore a long time ago. It's just that later... later, I didn't wear it much anymore."

She explained in a hurried tone, but the more she spoke, the softer her voice became. "I didn't 'borrow' my little sister's clothes!"

After saying that, Cailin glared at Su Baichen indignantly. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with moisture, and it was impossible to tell whether it came from anger or embarrassment. The blush on her face grew ever brighter, spreading all the way down her slender neck.

"Oh—!"

Su Baichen deliberately drew out the sound. The smile in his eyes was like a spring breeze brushing over a lake, sending ripples spreading across its surface. "So our peerless and imposing Queen Medusa once had such a youthful, lively side too."

His gaze lingered gently over her, as if through this unfamiliar dress, he could glimpse that tender and vibrant time he had missed.

"You, you, you!"

Cailin felt uncomfortable all over beneath his gaze, even her fingertips growing faintly hot. She stammered for a long while without thinking of a stronger retort. In the end, she could only let out a heavy "Hmph—," abruptly turn her head away, and leave him with nothing but her angry profile and the slight rise and fall of her shoulders.

Yet beneath that taut back was a faint, almost imperceptible grievance.

Seeing this rare, almost adorably petulant side of her, the smile in Su Baichen's eyes deepened, though it was now touched with understanding and tenderness.

He knew it was time to stop. If he kept teasing her, this proud queen would truly become overwhelmed with shame and indignation.

"All right, all right. I won't tease you anymore." His voice softened with a soothing gentleness.

Before his words had even faded, Su Baichen naturally reached out and gently drew Cailin into his arms once more. Her body stiffened, and she instinctively tried to struggle, but Su Baichen's arms tightened around her. The force was gentle, yet impossible to refuse.

"Don't move," he said softly, his breath brushing through her hair.

Strangely enough, Cailin's tense body truly began to relax at his words. She no longer resisted, nor did she make a sound. She simply nestled quietly in his arms, like a cat that had finally retracted its claws.

Su Baichen gently rested his chin atop her head. Only after feeling the person in his arms gradually soften did he speak in an unprecedentedly serious tone. "Don't wear other clothes anymore. Wear your own clothes again."

Cailin's body trembled slightly, as if struck by lightning.

He continued, his voice low and gentle, "I still prefer the old you—the Queen Medusa who shone brilliantly, confident and proud."

His palm lightly patted her back. "Don't force yourself to change for me. There's really no need."

"Caidie has Caidie's liveliness and grace."

His voice carried a clear smile and absolute certainty. "And you possess your own incomparable bearing as a queen."

"Every side of you is the truest you."

"But in front of me, you only need to be yourself."

"Do you remember?"

Those words were like a warm current, instantly shattering the last trace of awkwardness and stubbornness in Cailin's heart.

Her body, which had been tense all along, finally went completely limp, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her. She leaned fully into that warm, steady embrace.

She buried her burning face deeply in the hollow of his shoulder. After a long while, she finally answered in an almost inaudible voice, soft yet utterly obedient:

"Mm, I understand."