A Rehearsal of Affection

Yu Lian raised an eyebrow and playfully explained, “You’re going to feed me? How can you do that without chopsticks?”

For some reason, she was quite eager to be fed by Yixiya, her heart brimming with anticipation.

“Huh? Me, feed you? Why would I?”

Yixiya would never do such a thing. As the esteemed eldest daughter of the Yi household, she wasn’t accustomed to feeding others, and her status simply wouldn’t permit her to perform a task meant for servants.

“You’re far too forgetful. Have you forgotten? We’re simulating a romance, and feeding is an indispensable part of it,” Yu Lian’s tone rose. “Or perhaps our esteemed eldest daughter of the Yi household, Yixiya, no longer wishes to win over the Second Miss?”

Yixiya recalled their agreement, but still stubbornly huffed, retorting, “That’s only when Ya’er returns, and we officially begin our simulated romance. It’s too early to start now.”

“Yixiya, everything requires a rehearsal. With the lack of chemistry between us, the Second Miss would see right through it without practice. By then, I’ll have no other strategies to offer you. You’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

Yixiya opened her mouth, instantly realizing the truth in Yu Lian’s words. To achieve perfection, how could one mend any operational flaws without rehearsing beforehand? For the sake of making Ya’er jealous and valuing her, feeding was a small price to pay.

She took the chopsticks Yu Lian offered, gripping them indignantly as she casually picked up a piece of fatty meat and shoved it into Yu Lian’s mouth. Her hand trembled so much that the meat on the chopsticks nearly fell off.

“That’s not how you feed someone, Yixiya.” Yu Lian sighed, having nearly been poked in the throat by the chopsticks. “Be gentle. When you feed me, it’s best to keep your gaze focused and infuse a little emotion. Who in the world feeds their partner so roughly?”

“I’m already being very gentle!”

“Then could you please be even gentler?”

“Just eat. You talk too much.”

With that, Yixiya scooped a pile of vegetables and stuffed them into Yu Lian’s mouth, as if to silence her.

Yu Lian swallowed with great effort. Good heavens, it was a little gentler, but the amount of food was excessive. She nearly choked to death, barely managing to swallow it down.

“Hehe, is it delicious?”

Yixiya couldn’t help but smile happily upon seeing Yu Lian’s pale face. Yu Lian snatched the chopsticks from Yixiya’s hand, then demonstrated, picking up a piece of half-fat, half-lean meat and holding it to the other’s lips.

“Open your mouth. I’ll teach you how to feed.”

Yixiya stared blankly at her.

‘You’ve already eaten with those chopsticks, and you’re going to use them to feed me?’

Yixiya had always been a germaphobe.

“Hurry up!”

Yu Lian, uncharacteristically, urged her in a sharp tone.

Yixiya instinctively obeyed, opening her mouth. It wasn’t until the chopsticks entered her mouth and touched her slick little tongue that she awoke as if from a dream, staring incredulously at Yu Lian.

‘She really put it in?’

Yixiya’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

Yu Lian released the meat from the chopsticks, then withdrew them from Yixiya’s mouth. She frowned in displeasure, looking at Yixiya, and used her hand to lift Yixiya’s chin, closing the open mouth.

“Hurry up and eat! I’m waiting for you to feed me. If you eat this slowly, I’ll starve to death.”

Yixiya chewed woodenly, the food in her mouth tasting like wax. This forceful side of Yu Lian was something she was witnessing for the first time. It was as if she were the commoner without status, and the other person was the true young mistress.

‘I ate her saliva…’

‘Am I still clean?’

She thought, feeling a sense of loss. She had intended to reprimand Yu Lian for her disrespect, but somehow, looking at Yu Lian’s face, the words she had ready to speak were swallowed back. It seemed that after the hypnosis incident, her acceptance of Yu Lian had greatly increased; she no longer resisted her so much.

‘Am I really starting to treat her like Ya’er?’

‘Subconsciously, I’m treating her as a substitute for Ya’er, which is why I’m not resisting her so much. In fact, I’m even a little pleased by her actions, by how she treats me.’

Yixiya quickly found her answer. However, she feared this answer. If this were truly the case, should she continue with the simulated romance with Yu Lian? Continuing would only lead her deeper into an abyss, down a misguided path.

But if she didn’t continue…

How would she ever get Ya’er to accept her?

Yixiya found herself in a dilemma. With Yu Lian as her inside agent, helping her to conquer Ya’er, she had hope of fulfilling her wish within the remaining six months, rather than leaving with a heart full of regret.

Her gaze gradually firmed.

For a necessary and paramount goal, what was a small sacrifice?

Taking the chopsticks back from Yu Lian, Yixiya gently fed Yu Lian bite by bite. Unlike before, she was now completely immersed, as if she had become Yu Lian’s partner. Her gaze was focused and earnest, without the slightest evasion, and her eyes revealed a hint of emotion that hadn’t been there before.

Yu Lian was astonished by Yixiya’s transformation. To be able to understand and let go of her struggles so quickly, she had to admit that Yixiya possessed great charisma. Without the yandere tendencies, she would be the perfect partner.

She opened her mouth, looking at Yixiya in return, meeting her gaze, and accepted each bite the other fed her. A sweet, warm, peculiar sensation filled her heart, but Yu Lian immediately suppressed it.

‘This is just an act. You can’t take it seriously, Yu Lian. You still have Lingyi. You absolutely cannot be fickle, abandon the old for the new, and fall into the abyss of depravity.’

The two silently performed their respective roles.

****

Until…

“I need to go back.”

“Okay, safe travels.”

Yixiya put down her chopsticks, the bowls and plates on the table already clean. She fled the room as if escaping, departing swiftly.

Yu Lian watched her retreating back, inhaling the lingering scent in the air. She slowly lay down on the bed, closing her eyes, but Yixiya’s lovely face in her mind refused to fade, replacing Lingyi’s gentle features.

“Yu Lian, you’re truly incorrigible…”

She cursed herself. It was merely a first kiss, plus a rehearsal for a simulated romance. How had she fallen so deeply, taking it seriously?

A maid entered to clear the dishes, and seeing Yu Lian lying on the bed, she kindly reminded her, “Miss Yu, it’s better to sit up and digest after eating. Lying down like this can put a strain on your body and even affect your health.”

“I’m fine. Just clean up and leave.”

“Understood.”

The maid, seeing that Yu Lian had no intention of getting up, silently bowed and left with the dishes.

After the maid left, Yu Lian rubbed her stomach and sat up. “It’s so uncomfortable. It’s true that you shouldn’t lie down immediately after eating. My stomach feels unwell, sigh.”

She got out of bed and went to the window, looking at the ground outside, which still had some wet marks. When she made her vow earlier, there had been thunder and some rain. Even with the strong post-rain sunshine, it couldn’t dry all the raindrops that had fallen under the trees.

“O, caged bird, when will you be free?”

Yu Lian sighed softly, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds.

****

The next day.

Perhaps due to avoidance, or other reasons, Yixiya did not come calling today. Yu Lian spent another day in solitude. It was the second day since the Second Miss and the others left, and she hadn’t seen them return. They might come back tomorrow or the day after.