Reluctant Submission

Reluctantly, Ye Xingmian decided to seek help from Lin Ziyan.

“Hmm? You don’t even know this? Ask me and I’ll teach you.”

The girl fell silent. It was her who had asked her to wear these things, yet now she was being forced to beg for instructions. Although she was in a vulnerable position, this felt like too much.

Her lips tightened as she grew angry, turning away to try figuring it out on her own.

“It’s not like I’ve never worn socks before. They’re just a bit longer, and I’m afraid of damaging them.” She carefully straightened the stockings and attempted to pull them on.

In the end, she managed to put them on, but they felt all wrong. Some parts were too tight, others too loose. Everything was off. The girl frowned, attempting to stand up and take a few steps, but before she could, the top of the stockings suddenly slipped down, forcing her to sit back down.

“How does it feel?”

With her arms crossed, Lin Ziyan watched the girl’s struggle with amusement. She had guessed the girl would be uncomfortable but hadn’t offered any help, waiting instead for the girl to come to her.

Unexpectedly, Ye Xingmian said nothing, instead trying to adjust the stockings on her own. She tugged at the loose parts and tightened the tight ones, but in the end, she couldn’t tell if she had gotten it right. She sat there, frowning and looking down, lost in thought.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Lin Ziyan chuckled, leaning in closer to the girl. “Why do I have to wear these things… just to tease me?”

From being summoned to Lin Ziyan’s room, having her identity revealed and being threatened, to now being treated like a doll, Ye Xingmian couldn’t understand why Lin Ziyan was doing this. Was she enjoying it?

“Well, you are a girl now, so you should wear girl things.~”

“I don’t need to!”

“No, you have to wear what I tell you to. From now on, you’ll wear this at home.”

“…What exactly do you want?”

Lin Ziyan’s words trailed off, and a mysterious smile played on her lips.

“Since you’re only here for another half year, why don’t you be my little maid and serve me? What do you think?”

“I already serve you, don’t I?”

“That’s not the same!”

Lin Ziyan leaned in, pulling the girl into a tight embrace. Her black eyes sparkled with amusement, like crescent moons.

“Before, things were different. Now, we can do things we couldn’t before.~”

“Things we couldn’t do before?”

The girl instinctively shrunk back.

“Yes, like…” Suddenly, Lin Ziyan slid her arm under the girl’s armpit, holding her tightly. She inhaled the girl’s scent as she whispered, “I never had the chance to dress you up like this before, or to hug you like this. And you seem much cuter now.” Perhaps Lin Ziyan had once wondered how to make teasing Ye Xingmian more interesting, but now she thought having her as a maid would be fun too, even if the two ideas weren’t mutually exclusive.

Ye Xingmian listened, feeling confused. What did Lin Ziyan mean by “dressing her up”? Did she really want to see her in a dress? And this hug was too tight; she could barely breathe, especially with the softness pressed against her back.

“Let go of me…”

Trying to escape, Ye Xingmian only managed to make Lin Ziyan hold her tighter. In her unseen expression, Lin Ziyan’s face showed a hint of bliss.

“You can’t go to the class president anymore, got it? I’ll convince my parents to be nicer to you, maybe even tutor you. As long as you obediently serve me. Oh, and don’t go to the attic room anymore. Come sleep in my room at night, okay?”

Ye Xingmian was at a loss for words. This Lin Ziyan seemed almost obsessive. Was this still the cold, harsh sister she knew?

“No, if Uncle and Aunt find out…”

“Don’t worry, Mom and Dad won’t be home today, and they rarely come into my room. Even if they do, you can just hide in the closet.”

“That’s still not okay…!”

Struggling, Ye Xingmian tried to create some space for herself. The girl felt like she might cry; what was happening? She had never realized Lin Ziyan could be so… strange.

Attempting to leave Lin Ziyan’s embrace, the girl suddenly found herself free, almost falling to the ground. Regaining her balance, she lightly touched her chest, looking back to see Lin Ziyan’s expression had turned cold.

“I’ll give you time to think about it. Give me an answer tonight.”

Ye Xingmian, panting heavily, frowned at Lin Ziyan’s words.

“I said no!”

Lin Ziyan’s expression didn’t change. She coldly stared at the girl’s flushed eyes and repeated, “I’ll give you time to think about it.”

The girl’s heart sank. She realized Lin Ziyan wasn’t asking for her consent, but for her submission.

This was a clear threat!

But what could she say? Agree? Then what? Disagree? Who knew what Lin Ziyan might do next?

Caught between a rock and a hard place, the girl finally lowered her head, saying nothing.

“Come sit down and take off those socks.”

“What?”

“Aren’t they uncomfortable? I’ll help you put them on.”

“Ah?”

“What are you waiting for? Come here.”

“Okay…”

Silently sitting on the bed, the girl removed the socks she had struggled to put on.

Lin Ziyan took the socks, stood up, and to the girl’s surprise, knelt on one knee before her.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Teaching you how to put these on, of course.” Lin Ziyan’s expression was matter-of-fact. “Put your foot out.”

“That’s not really appropriate…”

“Just do as I say, no arguments.”

The girl hesitated, her foot hovering in midair, unsure whether to proceed or not. Lin Ziyan took matters into her own hands, gently taking the girl’s small, pale foot.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…”

The girl looked up, her cheeks flushed, clearly not fine. Lin Ziyan raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. She rolled up the sock and explained, “First, roll the sock like this, then slowly put it on, making sure it’s snug.”

“Uh-huh…”

As Lin Ziyan knelt, teaching her, the girl found herself drifting off, momentarily wondering if agreeing to Lin Ziyan’s proposal might not be so bad after all?

After all, Lin Ziyan didn’t seem so cruel to her now?

But the girl didn’t notice the subtle smile playing at the corners of Lin Ziyan’s lips.