She had not really fallen into a deep sleep. Her eyes were only slightly closed as she pretended to be fast asleep, resting comfortably against Bai You's shoulder.
Quietly using her naturally falling hair as cover, she peeped through the strands with one eye, watching the person beside her for her every move, wanting only to tease Bai You.
Bai You looked at the soft, sleeping face on her shoulder, unsure what to do.
She couldn't stay frozen like this forever. Holding the same position for too long would make her arm sore, and it wasn't good for Varesa's face either.
But if she moved carelessly, she was afraid she might wake Varesa, who was sleeping so soundly.
She hesitated for a long time, her gaze returning again and again to the girl's peaceful profile, until a bold thought suddenly popped into her head.
The moment it occurred to her, Bai You herself panicked.
She took several deep breaths, trying to suppress the nervousness welling up inside her. Slowly, she reached out, sliding one arm gently behind Varesa's back and her other hand carefully beneath her knees.
Their skin touched through the thin fabric, and a soft warmth passed through her fingertips.
Bai You instinctively breathed more softly, hardly daring to take a full breath. With a little effort, she lifted Varesa steadily into a princess carry.
The instant her body left the ground, Varesa, who had been pretending to sleep, froze in shock.
The gentle nudges and quiet calls she had expected never came, and the sudden sensation of being lifted caught her completely off guard.
She instinctively reached out and clung tightly around Bai You's neck.
Her soft body pressed fully into Bai You's embrace, the tip of her nose brushing against the skin of Bai You's neck.
Her thoughts of teasing Bai You vanished in an instant. Her heart suddenly began pounding wildly, so loudly that even she seemed able to hear it.
A warm blush spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut in a panic, not daring to look up at the girl holding her.
Excitement, panic, and a trace of some indescribable feeling spread through her heart.
She had never expected Bai You to do something so intimate, but somehow she also seemed a little happy, as though she thought Bai You should be doing this.
She had meant to tease Bai You, only to throw her own feelings into disarray first.
No, no, I absolutely can't move now, or she'll find out. Bai You might think I'm a perverted little water spirit.
Yes, that's it. Varesa, don't move. You're asleep right now.
Varesa silently encouraged herself.
The unmistakable fluster and shyness on the girl's face disappeared in an instant.
Her panicked, flushed expression quickly faded, forcibly replaced by a calm, peaceful look, as though she were still deep in slumber.
Bai You had seen it all. How could she fail to realize that Varesa had been wide awake for some time?
She fought back the smile tugging at her lips and decided to go along with Varesa, playing her part in the act.
After all, Varesa's body was soft in her arms, and she was very light.
Through their thin clothes, Varesa's warm, soft body pressed fully against her, and the gentle sensation unique to a girl kept reaching her through her arms.
The palm supporting Varesa's knees could feel the delicate softness of her legs.
The arm around her back could also clearly feel her soft shoulders and back.
And after Varesa's startled scramble to cling to her just now,
Half of her body now lay softly against Bai You, most of her weight resting lightly on Bai You's chest.
Strands of blue-green hair hung down and brushed against Bai You, giving her a faint, ticklish sensation from time to time.
The real and intimate contact made Bai You's heart beat a little faster, stirring a subtle flutter within her.
Bai You continued walking especially slowly and steadily, her arms securely supporting the soft body in her embrace. She deliberately kept her breathing quiet, pretending she had noticed nothing amiss.
The cave floor was wet and slippery, so she took every step with particular care, instinctively tightening her arms a little as well.
Bai You held the light, soft girl in her arms, and the weight and warmth against her left her thoughts drifting.
She kept her eyes lowered, her gaze falling on the face of the girl in her arms from time to time.
She's so pretty. Who could possibly turn down such a cute little water spirit?
Probably only that blockhead Odette.
Bai You thought to herself.
As they went, water dripped from the cave ceiling now and then. Drip, drip.
It was so quiet around them that almost nothing could be heard except their overlapping breaths.
The short stretch of rocky path felt to Bai You as though it had taken a very, very long time to walk.
The girl in her arms held tightly around her neck, warm breaths washing over the side of it. Waves of tingling traveled down from her neck toward her heart, which beat faster and faster.
They continued along the winding rocky passage and rounded a bend concealed by two enormous stalactites. A secluded little alcove appeared before them.
Inside stood a small wooden bed and some simple furniture. This was probably where Varesa stayed, though it looked as if the furnishing wasn't quite finished.
Bai You lowered her eyes to Varesa's tightly closed eyelids. Her long lashes trembled ever so slightly now and then, betraying the fact that she was not fast asleep.
Bai You dipped her head slightly, bringing her lips close to Varesa's ear, and murmured in a gentle, somewhat casual tone, as though talking to herself:
"Are you sleeping that soundly... There's an empty little alcove just ahead. How about I put you down over there so you can get some proper rest?"
Her warm breath brushed lightly over Varesa's sensitive ear.
Varesa, her face buried in the crook of Bai You's neck, suddenly stiffened for an instant.
Did she find out?!