The last bit of conditioner foam was rinsed off with warm water, and the white strands of hair spread out in the water.
"Okay, it's all washed clean." Varesa's voice came from above, soft and with an undisguised smile.
Bai You was so sleepy that she couldn't even lift her eyelids.
After soaking in the warm water for so long, it felt as if every bone in her body had been taken apart and then softened again with warm water, leaving her completely powerless.
Varesa got up first, grabbed a large bath towel, unfolded it in her hand, turned around and gently scooped Bai You, along with the water, out of the water.
The bath towel was wrapped tightly around her, from her chin to her ankles, rolling her into a soft, warm little roll.
Varesa moved very gently, first using a corner of a towel to pat the water droplets off her face, then lifting her long hair and wringing out the ends little by little.
Through the soft bath towel, I carefully patted the water away from her shoulders to her calves, afraid that even the slightest bit of force would hurt her.
"Mmm..." Bai You hummed comfortably, so unsteady on her feet that she collapsed into Varesa's arms, looking like a kitten whose fur had been stroked and whose belly was turned up.
"You're so tired, what did you do today?" Varesa whispered, her tone full of affection.
Varesa took the neatly folded off-white cotton nightgown and carefully helped Bai You put it on.
Bai You was so sleepy that she was too lazy to even lift her hands. She would raise her hands when told to and lower her head when told to, as obedient as a rag doll being manipulated.
She dried Bai You's hair twice with a towel to make sure it wouldn't soak the pillow before carrying her out of the bathroom.
Varesa lifted the corner of the blanket and gently placed the Bai You on the bed.
Bai You sighed contentedly as soon as her head touched the pillow, then sank into the covers.
Varesa pulled the blanket up to her chin, carefully tucking the corners in, leaving only a rosy, sleepy little face showing.
"You go to sleep first, I'm going to take a shower and I'll be right back." She leaned down, brushed the hair from Bai You's forehead, and spoke in a very gentle voice.
"Hmm..." Bai You didn't even open her eyes, but reached out and groped around in mid-air for a couple of moments before accurately grabbing the hem of her clothes. "Hurry up..."
That pull wasn't tight, but it was incredibly stubborn.
Varesa's heart felt as if it had been gently squeezed by that little hand, melting completely.
"Okay, soon." She took the little hand in her palm, squeezed it, and tucked it back under the covers.
"Lie down quietly, don't kick off the covers."
She sat by the bed for a while longer, watching Bai You's breathing gradually become more even, before quietly getting up and closing the bathroom door behind her.
Warm water dripped from the showerhead.
Varesa couldn't help but recall Bai You's shy expression while taking a bath.
She raised her hand to cover her face, and a joyful laugh escaped through her fingers.
In the bedroom, Bai You was alone on the big bed, feeling sleepy in waves, but she couldn't bear to fall asleep.
[If you're sleepy, just go to sleep. Why force yourself to stay awake?] The system lazily popped up.
"No... I said I'd wait for her..." Bai You muttered to herself, turning over and burying her face in Varesa's pillow.
Holding that familiar, warm scent, I hovered on the boundary between sleep and wakefulness.
[Alright, you can wait patiently. This system is going to sleep now. Goodnight, love-struck fool.]
"..."
I don't know how much time passed, but the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. The door clicked softly.
Wearing the same light-colored pajamas, her hair half-dry and carrying the scent of her shower, Varesa walked in barefoot and tiptoed in, having even dimmed the lights.
She thought Bai You was already fast asleep, but she immediately saw that the person was drowsily opening a pair of misty eyes, stubbornly staring in her direction.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Her heart melted instantly.
"Waiting for you..." Bai You's voice was soft and sweet, with a heavy nasal tone. "It's a promise, I'll wait for you to come back so we can sleep together."
Varesa sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning over to look at her. The softest part of her heart felt as if warm water was slowly seeping up, a warm feeling spreading through her.
"Silly girl, you're so sleepy and you're still waiting."
"We have to wait..." Bai You rubbed her palm.
Varesa pulled back the covers and lay down beside her. Just as she pulled the covers up, the person inside stirred.
Bai You, barely managing to stay awake, slowly moved over.
Varesa thought she would snuggle into her arms as usual, but this time, Bai You reached out and wrapped her arms around her waist, gently pulling her towards her.
Caught off guard, Varesa leaned towards the force, her forehead resting on Bai You's warm shoulder, and she fell into a warm, small embrace.
She was stunned.
She never imagined that one day she would be held in someone's arms and sleep like this.
"We agreed..." Bai You's little head rested against her collarbone, her warm breath brushing against her neck, her voice muffled but earnest, "Tonight, it's my turn to hold you while you sleep."
Varesa was stunned again.
She remembered that it was a joke she made to the little guy in the kitchen that evening; she hadn't expected Bai You to remember it so clearly, even though she was so sleepy.
She chuckled softly, and this time instead of pulling him into her arms, she obediently snuggled closer to Bai You.
Bai You's embrace wasn't actually that big. She was a size smaller than him, and her arms weren't very strong; the way she wrapped her arms around his waist was almost clumsy.
Varesa felt that earnestness and respect, which she clearly heard through the gentle embrace.
Varesa's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
Suddenly, she lost all desire to show off or make jokes.
So this is what it feels like to be held.
"Okay, hug me."
"You..." Varesa's voice was a little hoarse as she snuggled deeper into Bai You's arms.
"How come I'm still remembering these things even when I'm almost asleep?"
"I promised you..." Bai You groggily nuzzled the top of her head, "I'll keep my promise..."
"Fool."
Varesa chuckled softly, a light laugh carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor of relief.
Varesa truly relaxed, nestled quietly in this small embrace.
"You looked for me for so long during the day, didn't you...?" Bai You's voice grew softer and softer, heavy with sleepiness, yet she stubbornly finished speaking.
"Don't worry... I'm here... I'll always be here..."
As she spoke, Bai You wrapped her arm around her and gently patted her back. The rhythm was slow and clumsy, but it was exactly how she usually coaxed Bai You to sleep.
--This little guy was imitating her.
I tried to coax her in the same way she usually does.
Varesa could no longer resist, burying her face deep into Bai You's warm neck, and closing her eyes.
As she spoke, the drowsiness she had been forcing herself to overcome completely overwhelmed her, and her breathing instantly became longer and more even.
The hand loosened its grip slightly, but it didn't remove itself, stubbornly and gently encircling the other hand.
She fell asleep.
Varesa opened her eyes and, using the faint light of the snow filtering in from the window, looked up at the sleeping face so close to hers.
She looked at it for a very long time.
Then she peeked out slightly, lowered her head very gently, and placed a precious kiss on her forehead.
She obediently pressed her face back against that warm chest and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, my Little Bai You."
It seemed as if Bai You heard it in her dream, snuggling closer to her with a sweet smile on her lips.
Varesa closed her eyes and gently hugged her back through the small hand that was wrapped around her waist.
The two people embraced each other, like two circles that had finally come together to form a complete circle.