(Sorry, the sentences in this chapter might be a bit awkward. I was overwhelmed by Shenhe early this morning. There are only a little over a thousand words left. I'll add one or two more chapters tonight.)
The room fell silent instantly, with only the sound of their breathing audible.
Bai You stared at her with wide eyes, as if she hadn't reacted and had even forgotten to breathe.
My heart started pounding rapidly at that moment, one beat after another.
"From the day you moved in and started sleeping with me."
Varesa gently stroked her chin with her thumb, a tender smile in her eyes.
"I just love it. I love watching you squint when you eat, and seeing you blush when I tease you."
She paused, then pressed her forehead against Bai You's, lowering her voice even further.
Do you like me too?
Bai You's eyelashes trembled violently.
She opened her mouth, and all the things she had kept hidden in her heart for a long time, things she dared not even think about, were laid bare with this one sentence.
She remembered every morning she snuggled into her arms, and the hot cocoa she was given.
It turns out that those blushes, those heartbeats, those inexplicable anticipation were never just her imagination.
"... Um."
She finally managed to make a sound, barely audible, like a mosquito's hum, but her eyes felt a little hot.
"I like you too, Varesa." She closed her eyes, as if she were making a desperate decision.
I've liked it for a long time.
The moment he finished speaking, the hand covering her chin tightened slightly.
The next moment, Varesa lowered her head and kissed her.
It was a very light kiss, soft and gentle, with a hint of cautious probing, as if afraid of startling her.
Bai You froze on the spot, holding her breath, her fingers gripping the bedsheet beneath her helplessly.
Varesa didn't rush to deepen the kiss, only lingering on her lips for a few seconds before pulling away slightly, watching her tense expression.
She chuckled softly, her breath brushing against Bai You's lips.
"Don't be nervous," she said in a hoarse voice.
She kissed him again.
This time, she was much slower. She patiently and meticulously traced the shape of Bai You's lips.
Bai You initially seemed stiff, but gradually relaxed and tentatively gave a hesitant response.
Varesa's breathing noticeably quickened, and the hand on her waist tightened, pulling her closer into her arms.
The kiss deepened, its tenderness now tinged with barely suppressed affection.
They poured all the feelings they had kept hidden for so long into this place.
Bai You was so dizzy and weak that she unconsciously grabbed onto Varesa.
When she finally stepped back, both of them were breathing heavily, and a strand of saliva was faintly visible between their lips and teeth.
Varesa pressed her forehead against hers, gazing at her flushed cheeks.
Her throat moved, and then she suddenly laughed, a laugh full of tenderness.
"My Little Bai You," she lightly kissed the corner of her lips, "From now on, she's rightfully mine."
Bai You buried her face in her chest, her voice muffled, still catching her breath:
"No... isn't that how it is?"
Varesa paused for a moment, then chuckled softly and pulled the person into a tight embrace.
"That's not entirely true yet."
Varesa rested her hand on Bai You's head, her fingertips circling Baiyou's hair. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she leaned down and whispered in Baiyou's ear, her voice hoarse and soft:
" Little Bai You, how about turning me into a catgirl?"
Bai You hadn't recovered from the kiss when she suddenly looked up, her eyes wide in the darkness. "Huh?"
"Catgirl," Varesa said matter-of-factly, her fingertips already playfully tickling her side.
"Furry ears, and a tail."
She lowered her head and lightly pecked Bai You's lips, drawing out the last syllable: "Change—"
Bai You couldn't stand her like this.
Bai You hummed in agreement and then activated her talent. Little did she know, this was the most painful decision she had ever made.
A soft glow swirls around.
First, from the top of her head, two fluffy cat ears slowly emerged from between Varesa's hair, their tips twitching.
Almost simultaneously, the blanket behind her ruffled, and a long tail peeked out from under her clothes, its tip curled up.
Varesa was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand to touch the top of her head.
The moment her fingertips touched the tip of her ear, her whole body trembled slightly.
Bai You was also pleasantly surprised and leaned closer to take a look, "Let me see..."
Varesa did not respond.
She slowly turned her head.
The dim light came back on, and her eyes, now narrowed into slits, gleamed gold, fixed on Bai You as if she were eyeing some prey.
She propped herself up on top of the Bai You, her furry ears pressed forward.
The tail silently wrapped around Bai You's wrist, once, twice.
" Little Bai You," she leaned down, her voice low, tinged with a lazy yet dangerous smile, "Do you know?"
Bai You's heart pounded under her gaze, and she instinctively shrank back. "... Know what?"
"Cats eat fish."
Bai You's mind went blank for a moment.
She was also Water Nymph, wasn't she just a fish?
Varesa then took the opportunity to kiss...
Bai You was a little dizzy and disoriented, and even her breathing became uneven.
"Hmm--"
"Now, I'm a cat."
Varesa drew closer, her warm breath brushing against her neck.
The cat's tail slid down her wrist and wrapped around her forearm.
Where is my fish?
"You, you're talking nonsense..." Bai You's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed.
He stammered as he pushed her, but his wrists were limp and he couldn't exert any strength.
"I'm not making this up." Varesa chuckled softly and lowered her head.
He took a very light sniff of the Bai You, as if he were actually smelling a fish that had just been caught.
Then a kiss landed on him.
I followed the scent upwards with my nose, little by little.
"It smells so good. My fish smells so good."
Bai You gazed at the furry ears and smiling eyes so close to her.
My heart was pounding, yet, as if possessed, I reached out and wrapped my arms around her neck.
"... Then the fish won't run away," she whispered, burying her face in the warmth.
Here, have some fish.