"Shall we rehearse one more time?"
Odette then asked, "So, what are your plans for the next two days?"
Varesa thought for a moment, then glanced at the milk Bai You she was holding beside her.
"How about this?" Varesa said.
"I had some time this morning, so I took Bai You out to play. She lay in bed all day yesterday, so she needed to relax."
"I'll be back this afternoon, and we'll go through the rehearsal a few more times from beginning to end. It won't take too long."
Odette nodded, then asked, "And tomorrow?"
When tomorrow was mentioned, Varesa's expression softened.
"Tomorrow, I want to go to Tide Song Cavern."
She said softly, "The renovation was already planned."
"Yesterday I was delayed because of the Dottore incident, but the battle took place outside the cave, so I reckon the cave inside wasn't damaged."
She paused.
"I've collected so many seashells inside, including a large natural seashell and several echoing pillars... I don't want to give up like this."
"I'll go check on it tomorrow; if it can be saved, I'll continue working on it."
"Line."
Odette didn't ask any further questions and simply agreed.
"Tomorrow you'll be working on the caves. If you need any help, just call me," she instructed again.
"But this morning, while I took Bai You out to play, I made sure she didn't get too tired; her injury hasn't fully healed yet."
"I know, our Odette acting more like a mother hen than I am now." Varesa laughed as she stood up.
"Who are you calling the old woman?"
"I'm praising you! I'm praising you!"
Varesa wrapped Bai You in a thick little cloak and led her out the door.
Columbina didn't join in the fun; she stayed inside and said she'd like to help Odette go over her part of the dance first.
Then Varesa took the Bai You to the theater's back garden.
The snow in the garden had long been swept to the side of the path, revealing the bluish-gray stone path.
A small pavilion stands deep within the garden, and everything seems utterly tranquil.
As soon as Bai You entered the garden, her eyes lit up, and she quickened her pace considerably.
She first ran to the side of the road and stepped on the snow that hadn't been swept away yet.
With a crisp "crunch," she laughed out loud, and then she deliberately chose to walk in areas with snow.
With each step she left a footprint, Varesa followed behind, letting her make a fuss.
Watch as she squatted down and used her little hands to make a mini snowman the size of a fist, even picking up two small pebbles for eyes.
Then Bai You ran ahead again.
"Slow down, the ground is slippery." Varesa caught up with her in a few steps, grabbed her from behind, and tickled her waist.
"Hahaha, don't, don't tickle me!" Bai You laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, squirming in her arms.
After the two bickered for a while, Varesa took her to the swings.
After clearing the snow off the swing, Varesa quickly invited Bai You to sit on it.
After Bai You sat down...
She stood behind the swing and pushed steadily, sending Bai You was sitting on the wooden board, soaring high into the air.
After a while, they seemed a little tired, so they sat down on the benches inside the pavilion.
Bai You nestled in Varesa's arms, squinting her eyes like a kitten.
"Look, Little Bai You!" While resting, Varesa suddenly straightened up and pointed to the center of the garden.
That was the pool where Odette had been searching for Varesa.
Bai You followed her gaze and saw the pool.
Varesa suddenly stopped, a sly yet gentle smile slowly spreading across her eyes.
She looked down at the little one in her arms, who had been happily playing with the fishtail in the bathtub just yesterday, and an idea came to her.
" Little Bai You," she deliberately drawled, whispering in Bai You's ear, "Want to play something fun?"
"What's fun?" Bai You replied.
Varesa didn't rush to answer, but instead took her hand and led her to the edge of the pool, where she knelt down.
She then turned around, raised her Bai You, and her eyes were filled with an unconcealable smile.
She said slowly, "This pool is so big, much more spacious than the bathtub we had last night. Come on, let's swim in and play."
Bai You was stunned for a moment.
"Okay, okay!"
"Yes, together."
Varesa smiled, took off her coat, and helped Bai You take off her coat as well, placing them on the rocks by the pool.
Varesa added with concern, "Just play for a little while. Come back up immediately if you get tired, understand?"
"I heard you--"
The two stepped down into the water. The water was just waist-deep when Varesa had an idea first.
The blue-green fish tail unfurled underwater, turning back to reach out its hand towards the Bai You still standing on the steps.
"Come, come to me."
Bai You placed her hand in her palm, and a flash of water appeared, revealing a bluish-white fishtail that unfurled.
The two Water Nymph, hand in hand, glided into the center of the pool.
Then Bai You dived down, and once she reached the bottom, she puffed out her cheeks.
"Gurgle!" It exhaled a large string of bubbles, which floated leisurely to the surface of the water.
She found it amusing and vomited several more times, glancing back at Varesa with a triumphant chin, clearly meaning: Look how much I vomited.
Varesa was amused by her and also slid down, pressing herself against her and blowing a string of large, round bubbles, each one more orderly than the Bai You's.
Bai You, not to be outdone, flicked its tail, stirring up a small swirl of water.
"Plop!" He splashed water all over Varesa's face and turned to run away.
Varesa wasn't about to let her get away with it. With a nimble flick of her blue-green fishtail underwater, she gave chase.
In the clear pool water, two figures chased each other in circles.
Before she could chase him twice, Bai You was gently encircled from behind by Varesa.
She struggled twice but couldn't break free, so she simply turned around and wrapped her arms around Varesa's neck.
Two fish tails overlapped and gently rubbed against each other underwater.
The two faced each other, their noses almost touching. Bai You blinked, deliberately puffed out her cheeks, and slowly exhaled a string of bubbles.
Varesa's eyes were practically overflowing with laughter.
She opened her arms underwater, embracing the tiny child in her arms, and lowered her head to place a gentle kiss on Bai You's little face.
Another string of tiny bubbles rose gently from between the two of them.
Bai You's face turned bright red in the water, but she didn't flinch.
Instead, he snuggled deeper into her arms, letting her carry him as they floated slowly in the pool.
It's unclear how long Bai You played in the water, but her movements gradually slowed down.
Then Varesa swam to the surface, clutching her tail.
After swimming to the surface, half of their bodies were above the water.
The fish tails were still submerged in the water, quietly nestled together, swaying gently with the ripples.
"Are you tired?" Varesa gently tucked the wet hair that clung to her face behind her ear. "Did you have fun?"
"Not tired," Bai You stubbornly replied, but her eyes narrowed into slits with satisfaction as she leaned on her shoulder, "Quite happy."
"As long as you're happy," she said softly.
"Let's soak a little longer and then go upstairs, dry ourselves off, and get some sun."
"I have to go back to rehearse with Odette this afternoon. You sit quietly and listen, okay?"
"Mmm." Bai You obediently responded, gently tugging at her fishtail underwater.
"I'm sitting in the first row, cheering you on."