As the young woman removed her hat, a cascade of silver hair tumbled down like a waterfall, finally revealing her face to Bai Zhiqiu.
“Yin! Is that really you?”
A wave of surprise and delight washed over Bai Zhiqiu the moment her eyes landed on Yin. She truly hadn’t anticipated such a swift reunion.
“Why wouldn’t it be me?” Yin retorted. “Didn’t you sense my presence? My spirit core merged with yours ages ago! We should be able to feel each other!”
With that, Yin fixed Bai Zhiqiu with a gaze tinged with suspicion, yet deep within those eyes, a fragile flicker of hope lay concealed.
However, Bai Zhiqiu’s reaction swiftly dashed that hope. A clear moment of blankness crossed Bai Zhiqiu’s face at Yin’s words, plummeting Yin’s expectations to an icy low.
“You blockhead, Bai Zhiqiu! Didn’t you feel the connection between us at all?”
“Connection, huh… connection… well, of course I… heheh…”
Confronted by Yin’s persistent questioning, Bai Zhiqiu awkwardly scratched her head. A connection? She genuinely hadn’t perceived even the slightest hint of one!
“You truly are an utter blockhead, through and through!”
Yin lunged at Bai Zhiqiu, tackling her down onto the bed.
“Now I’m going to punish you severely!”
No sooner had she spoken than Yin began reaching for Bai Zhiqiu’s clothes.
Sensing the audacious movements of this little imp, Bai Zhiqiu immediately struggled, narrowly preventing Yin from having her way.
“Yin! Stop this instant! This isn’t our home, so don’t cause trouble here! Don’t forget An’s threat constantly looms over us, and we haven’t even gathered all our people yet! Our primary mission right now is to assemble everyone, and only then can we devise a plan to escape!”
Observing Bai Zhiqiu’s utterly serious demeanor, Yin posed a probing question of her own: “So, have you managed to uncover any crucial clues?”
“Er… not yet, I’m afraid…”
“But I already know so much!”
With that declaration, Yin began to act up once more.
“Didn’t I just tell you not to do that!”
“You haven’t made any substantial progress anyway! What’s the harm in a little cuddle from me? It won’t delay anything important! I promise, I won’t do anything excessive.”
“Absolutely not! Who knows what outrageous things you might try? Your trustworthiness with me is practically nonexistent.”
With those words, Bai Zhiqiu pulled her clothes tighter, her wide eyes narrowing at Yin as if she were an opportunistic thief.
“Fine, I won’t touch you! But why say it so heartlessly?”
Having said her piece, Yin pouted aggrievedly, her eyes fixed intently on Bai Zhiqiu, her unspoken message glaringly obvious.
‘I’m unhappy, so come and coax me!’
“Alright, alright! Stop trying to play the victim in front of me. Besides, you’re absolutely terrible at it!”
With a decisive push, Bai Zhiqiu moved Yin aside and sat herself upright.
“What?! Blockhead Zhiqiu actually called me the least trustworthy person? What about Yan Qingzhu then?”
Bai Zhiqiu paused for a beat after Yin’s remark, then declared, “From my perspective, you two are equally deplorable!”
“You—”
Just as the two were still engaged in their playful bickering, a sudden knock echoed from the door, followed by the sweet, clear voice of a maid.
“Little Princess? Are you quite ready? If so, you may prepare to take your seat. The Patriarch is already downstairs, and Madam has a few words she wishes to impart!”
“Alright! I’ll be right out! Eek!”
Pinning Yin beneath her with a swift, reverse grip, Bai Zhiqiu called out her reply towards the door.
Yet, in that fleeting moment Bai Zhiqiu turned her head, Yin seized her chance. Though her hands were pinned, her face remained free.
Yin immediately pressed her face against Bai Zhiqiu’s. The instant Bai Zhiqiu turned back, their faces brushed together in a tell-tale friction.
“Little Princess? Is everything alright in there? Has something happened? Are you still not ready?”
The maid outside gently tapped on the door, her eyes clouded with growing concern.
‘Surely the Little Princess isn’t still lingering in bed?’ the maid mused. ‘No, that couldn’t be right. Another maid already assisted her with dressing…’
“No! Nothing at all! I’m completely ready! I merely bumped my head by accident just now!”
Having said that, Bai Zhiqiu tapped Yin’s forehead with her finger, the message undeniably clear: should Yin dare to try that again, she would absolutely show no mercy!
Upon seeing Bai Zhiqiu’s decisive gesture, Yin immediately nodded in understanding.
Her nodding bore a striking resemblance to Tuffy from *Tom and Jerry*, appearing utterly honest and remarkably convincing. But beneath that innocent facade? Her mind was brimming with mischievous schemes.
The moment Bai Zhiqiu’s attention wavered, Yin subtly licked her finger.
Once her little act was complete, Yin instantly reverted to her innocent, well-behaved persona.
“Yin! What exactly do you think you’re doing?!”
“You, of course! Haven’t I told you countless times already?” Yin declared, blinking her large eyes with an earnestness that bordered on alarming.
Confronted by Yin’s utterly frank declaration, Bai Zhiqiu found herself momentarily speechless.
‘Sincerity, it seemed, was often the most potent weapon of all!’
As the two remained locked in their stalemate, another knock sounded from beyond the door.
Bai Zhiqiu, assuming it was still the maid, was about to speak when a different voice entirely drifted in from outside the door.
“Is Little Paopao not ready yet? Mommy’s coming in now!”
No sooner had the words left her lips than Bai Zhiqiu heard the distinct click and turn of the door lock.
The moment Yun Nishang opened the door, she was utterly transfixed by the scene unfolding before her eyes.
While it was indeed Bai Zhiqiu pinning Yin on the bed, with both of them looking towards the open door, the sight was far from what it seemed.
From Yun Nishang’s perspective, however, the scene was entirely different. It appeared as if Yun Paopao had the Grand Elder’s eldest granddaughter, Yun Shoushou, pinned beneath her, one hand restraining Yun Shoushou’s, while the other was naughtily exploring.
“You… you two… please, carry on! I saw absolutely nothing!”
With that flustered exclamation, Yun Nishang promptly slammed the door shut once more.
Outside the door, the assembled maids, witnessing their Madam’s peculiar actions, exchanged bewildered glances amongst themselves.
“Madam… the Little Princess, she…”
At last, one bolder maid couldn’t resist voicing her inquiry, only for Yun Nishang to lightly blow on her finger and make a decisive shushing gesture.
“Quiet down!” Yun Nishang whispered conspiratorially. “Paopao might just be getting a girlfriend very soon!”
With that, Yun Nishang pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch every sound from within…
‘Paopao? A girlfriend? But isn’t the Little Princess a girl?’
While those outside harbored their own perplexing thoughts, those within the room, meanwhile… were engaged in something entirely different.
“This is all your fault! What are we going to do now?”
Bai Zhiqiu delivered a sharp smack to the little backside of the still-feigning-innocence Yin.
“Ow, that really hurt!” Yin wailed, clutching her backside and pouting, feigning an expression of utter innocence.
“I barely used any strength at all! Stop your theatrics!”
“But it really does hurt! If you don’t believe me, rub it for me! Or, let me give you a smack back!”
“Don’t even think about it! Now, get up and let’s deal with what’s important!”
With that, Bai Zhiqiu released Yin, descended from the bed, and slipped her feet into the high heels that had been left abandoned on the floor.
“Allow me to assist you!”
Having offered, Yin enthusiastically hopped off the bed and, taking Bai Zhiqiu’s arm, guided her towards the door.