The Awakening and the Unspoken Demand

“Emm~”

“Yu Lian, that tickles. Don’t touch me…”

Hearing these words, Bai Lingyi pursed her lips, a knot forming in her stomach. Her fingers, in their unconscious wiping, applied more pressure, sinking slightly into the flesh.

Yet, the soft, supple skin of the thigh quickly rebounded, pushing her away.

She was abruptly startled.

‘What am I doing?’ she thought, a sudden panic seizing her. ‘If I accidentally wake Second Miss… Oh, no… It’s over. Second Miss is awake.’

Just moments ago, Bai Muya had been sound asleep. Now, she suddenly awoke, her azure eyes flashing with a sharp, predatory glint, like a vigilant beast.

She straightened her back and sat up from the bed, staring directly at Bai Lingyi beside her. The aggressive intent in her eyes receded slightly once she recognized the person.

“What are you doing?”

Bai Muya’s gaze fell upon Bai Lingyi’s fingers. They were so close to a crucial area, barely a thumb’s distance away. A little further, just a tiny bit more, and it would…

‘Lingyi is taking liberties with me while I sleep?’

‘When did she become so bold?’

Numerous questions flashed through Bai Muya’s mind. She waited for Lingyi, expecting a satisfactory and non-provocative reply.

Bai Lingyi was startled at first, feeling inexplicably guilty. However, her perpetually calm demeanor quickly allowed her to regain her composure.

She did not withdraw her hand. Instead, she gently parted Bai Muya’s legs, her expression normal, performing her duties like an ordinary maid serving her young lady.

“Second Miss, you slept with… last night.” She paused, deeming the phrasing inappropriate, and quickly rephrased. “Miss Yu Lian, who slept with you, is already up. I helped her dress, and she’s currently having breakfast at the table over there. You don’t need to worry or be too anxious.”

Bai Lingyi’s unspoken message was clear: ‘Second Miss, I’ve preserved your dignity. You don’t have to worry about Miss Yu Lian finding out and losing face. I’ve been covering for you all along.’

She was confident her Second Miss would understand. Based on her long experience, there would be no mistake.

In truth, Bai Muya understood perfectly. However, she simply didn’t care about such matters. What did it matter if she lost face or not? Would Yu Lian dare to secretly badmouth her?

“Your actions are superfluous. Withdraw your hand,” Bai Muya stated, her face expressionless.

These words immediately drained the color from Bai Lingyi’s face. Though unwilling, she had no choice but to retract her fingers from the other’s leg.

‘All this I did was superfluous…’

Bai Lingyi’s eyes dimmed. Her usually composed self was shaken by Second Miss’s casual remark. A bitter taste filled her mouth, as if a blow had struck her head, leaving her dizzy and nearly losing her balance.

“Go fetch me a clean set of clothes.”

Bai Muya got off the bed, stretching her waist. Regardless of whether she was dressed, she simply walked over, approaching Yu Lian with a lively aura, and then slapped the table.

“My concubine, why are you having breakfast without waiting for your beautiful wife to wake up? This behavior of yours shows a lack of proper order, don’t you think?”

Yu Lian was startled by the sudden slap. The porridge, caught in her throat, instantly caused her to choke. She coughed incessantly, patting her chest, her face flushed crimson, and it took a while for her to recover.

“You… cough, cough, I just saw you were still sleeping. If I had rashly woken you, you certainly wouldn’t have been pleased. Now, is it a sin that I didn’t disturb you, allowing you a peaceful sleep? So, whether I call you or not, you’ll still scold me and blame everything on me, won’t you?”

Yu Lian, for once, spoke with uncharacteristic boldness. Perhaps after spending time with the straightforward Yixiya, she had grown more daring, no longer fearing this Second Miss as much.

Bai Muya was utterly surprised. She curiously scrutinized Yu Lian, unable to comprehend how much the other had changed in these three days. Was this still the Yu Lian who appeared timid on the surface but harbored a stubborn streak deep down?

‘This must be fake, right?’

Yu Lian and Bai Muya’s gazes met. After a moment, Yu Lian quickly capitulated, averting her eyes and letting them drift elsewhere.

‘Why doesn’t Second Miss wear clothes after getting up? This makes it so awkward for me to look at her.’ Yu Lian sought an excuse for her retreat. But was Bai Muya truly naked? She still wore a small garment on her upper body, covering that perfectly shaped ‘heart’.

However, it was precisely this peculiar attire that made Yu Lian find Bai Muya even more seductive. Her lower body completely bare, standing there, it accentuated her voluptuous figure, truly an earthly enchantress descended from the heavens.

“My concubine, do you know that what you just said was very disrespectful to me? As a concubine, no matter when or for what reason, you must first ask for my opinion. Only after receiving my answer can you proceed with anything. Regardless of whether I get angry or blame you, you must always prioritize my thoughts in your actions, understand?”

Her chin was grasped and lifted. Yu Lian’s face, which had been turned away, was now firmly brought back by Bai Muya, forcing her eyes to meet hers once more. This time, even if she wanted to dodge, she couldn’t.

Bai Muya smiled sweetly. In Yu Lian’s gaze, her face slowly drew closer, and a pleasant scent wafted over. Yu Lian felt heat spread through her body, her mouth growing dry.

“Your heart-shaped mark on your lower abdomen actually has a hidden function, you know? I can influence your bodily sensations at any time. If you want to feel them, you can; a mere thought from me is all it takes. If you don’t, that too can be controlled. These choices are all in my hands.”

Yu Lian’s heart seized with alarm. She had just been wondering why her body had heated up. It turned out it wasn’t the scent, but the mark secretly affecting her.

The red mark on Yu Lian’s lower abdomen flickered and glowed, shifting from red to pink and back again. It caused her hands, feet, belly, shoulders, face, and ears to take on a faint rosy hue.

“Se… Second Miss, please let me go. I truly understand now. I won’t resist you anymore, and I won’t talk back again. I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Her body was growing numb.

Her strength was slowly ebbing away.

She couldn’t even hold the bowl and spoon anymore.

The bowl and spoon slipped from Yu Lian’s grasp, falling toward the ground. Bai Muya, with quick reflexes, reached out and caught them.

It wouldn’t do for them to break; she hadn’t had breakfast yet.

“I’m not satisfied with what you’ve said,” Bai Muya shook her head. She scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth, swallowed, then licked her lips as if savoring the taste. “I want you to be even more obedient. Words alone always lack something. How about proving it with actions?”

“Act… actions? Whimper~”

Yu Lian quickly covered her mouth. Why had she made such an embarrassing sound?

Bai Muya sat on another chair, crossing her legs. She bent slightly, holding a spoon in her right hand, and scooped a mouthful of porridge from the bowl, letting it spill onto her thigh.

“Clean this porridge from my leg, and I’ll let you go. How about that?”