Bai You watched for a while, then couldn't help but laugh.
Sandrone turned his face away, stubbornly refusing to admit it; Columbina leaned in beside him, speaking clumsily.
Bai You took half a step back, realizing that standing there any longer would be in the way.
Varesa and Odette went back to the dressing room after leaving the stage, and they are probably removing their makeup now.
So she turned and walked down the corridor.
Columbina's voice drifted over from behind, still trying:
"I'll give you cake later... strawberry, isn't that your favorite?"
Bai You smiled slightly.
She walked all the way to the end of the road, where the door wasn't closed properly, letting in a ray of light.
She pushed the door open, slipped inside, and closed it behind her.
Varesa sat in front of the dressing table, having changed out of her performance costume and now wearing a light-colored casual outfit, her light blue hair loosely falling over her shoulders.
I've only removed half of my makeup; there's still a bit of bluish residue left at the corners of my eyes.
She saw Bai You in the mirror.
"You finally decided to come over?" she asked lazily, continuing to wipe her face.
"Mmm." Bai You leaned closer and, without any hesitation, sat down next to her legs.
I leaned half my body against her, "I was pretty bored over there, so I came to find you first."
Varesa glanced down at her, her free hand naturally resting on her shoulder, and casually ruffled her hair.
"Your little mouth is so sweet today."
Nearby, by the coat rack, Odette, with her back to them, was taking off her earrings. Hearing this, she didn't turn around, and simply said:
"Her eyes never left you during the performance."
Bai You:"..."
Her face flushed, and she turned around to glare at him, " Odette!"
Odette as if she hadn't heard, and slowly put the earring away.
Varesa smiled, her hands continuing their work, her fingertips gently stroking the side of her cheek. "Really?"
"No, not at all," Bai You mumbled, snuggling closer to her, her ears turning red.
"I was just... completely mesmerized the first time I heard you perform."
"You sang exceptionally well today."
When Varesa met her gaze, her heart softened, but she deliberately teased her:
"But you said before that you were just listening casually."
"I hadn't even heard it yet," Bai You matter-of-factly.
After she finished speaking, she felt embarrassed and buried her face in her arm, refusing to look at her.
Varesa, exasperated by her shaking, chuckled and pinched the back of her neck, "Okay, okay."
Odette, who was next to them, finished tidying up, walked over, leaned against the table, and gave them a brief, indifferent glance.
Odette: "..."
Too lazy to say anything, she picked up the tea beside her, took a sip, and turned her face away to look out the window.
Varesa rested her chin on her hand and looked at her.
The little one still had the makeup she had helped him put on, his lips were like ripe peaches, and he was tilting his head to look at her.
As she watched, she couldn't hold back her soft heart.
"Come a little closer," she said.
Bai You didn't think much of it and obediently leaned closer, tilting her head up. "Hmm?"
Varesa didn't say anything.
She leaned down slightly, raised her hand to touch Bai You's cheek, and then naturally gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
Soft.
It carried a faint warmth from my lips.
Bai You froze completely.
She opened her eyes wide, her mind went blank with a "buzz," and she even forgot to breathe.
Two seconds later, her face turned completely red at a speed visible to the naked eye, all the way to the roots of her ears.
"You, you--" She opened her mouth, her voice trembling, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.
Varesa, seeing her stunned expression, was in a great mood, a smile playing on her lips, and deliberately teased her:
"What's wrong?"
"This is a reward for you." She raised her hand and gently rubbed Bai You's cheek.
"I'm rewarding our Little Bai You for being so good today, listening to me sing so attentively."
Bai You's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to explode.
She looked at Varesa's smiling face, which was so close to hers.
Looking at her slightly reddened lips, I don't know where I got the courage, but I steeled myself.
Why is she the only one who kisses me?
She leaned forward.
Before Varesa could react, a soft, gentle kiss landed on her cheek.
It was very light and quick, like a feather brushing against something.
After the kiss, Bai You panicked and immediately stepped back, lowering her head and avoiding eye contact.
"We're even now," she muttered softly, her voice barely audible.
Varesa paused for a moment.
She raised her hand and touched the cheek that had been kissed.
Then, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Okay," she said, her voice brimming with undisguised laughter and tenderness, "We're even."
A soft, helpless sigh came from the side.
"... You two."
Odette put down her teacup, walked over, glanced at Bai You, and then turned to look at Varesa.
Her expression was somewhat complicated, as if she wanted to laugh but also felt she couldn't bear to look.
"Go look at yourself in the mirror," she said.
They both paused for a moment, then turned to look at the mirror on the dressing table.
Then--
In the mirror, on Bai You's fair and clean cheek, there was a faint, light red lipstick mark, left by Varesa.
On Varesa's face, in roughly the same spot, was a pink, peach-colored lip print left by Bai You.
One is light red, and the other is pink.
The colors are different, but their positions are almost the same, making them very symmetrical.
The two of them looked at themselves in the mirror for two seconds.
Then, Bai You burst out laughing, laughing uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking.
Varesa looked at the pink mark on her face, then at the one on Bai You's face, and couldn't help but laugh.
The dressing room was suddenly filled with the laughter of the two of them.
Odette stood to the side, watching them laugh so hard, and finally couldn't help but smirk slightly.