She Was Ready to Give Me Everything… Until Someone Knocked

Yi Yi mustered the courage to suggest sleeping together, so why should I be coy? Of course I agreed.

But… while I’m happy about it, practical issues remain.

After laying my bedding out on the living room floor, Yi Yi tried lying down.

Having a girl lie down in my place… It looked particularly enticing.

No, wrong. Now’s not the time to appreciate the view. More importantly, isn’t one layer of bedding too thin?

Yi Yi pressed her hands on the bedding and patted it.

“See, Darling? This width is enough.”

I sat on the bedding too and pressed down, frowning.

“Yeah, the width is fine, but isn’t this too thin?”

“A little thin, but it’s fine for one night, isn’t it?”

A single layer on the floor without a mattress is really too thin.

Yes, there’s enough room for two, but sleeping like this would definitely cause back pain.

I could handle it, but I don’t want Yi Yi to suffer.

Maybe I should go buy a set of bedding right away.

Noticing my frown, Yi Yi made another suggestion.

“This was just my idea. If you mind, Darling, you can sleep on the bed.”

“What? How could I sleep on the bed and leave you on the floor?”

“I mean… together… on the bed too…”

Yi Yi’s voice grew softer and softer as she lowered her head. My sanity vaporized instantly.

But my brain raced on another level.

My bed is a classic single, and to save space, it’s a very narrow one. I’m a still sleeper, so I’ve never fallen off.

To fit two people on that single bed, there are only three possible positions. Two are back-to-back and face-to-face, but both are a tight squeeze. Moving slightly could push the other person off.

Meaning, the only way is the third: holding each other…

Yes. If I lie on my side and hold Yi Yi, with her head on my arm, we might barely fit.

But is this really okay?

Too fast. This is moving too fast.

I don’t think I can control my instincts. If I hold Yi Yi while sleeping, I definitely won’t be able to resist.

The three stages of couplehood: holding hands, kissing, and… mosaic.

Was I going to lose my “apprentice mage” title today?

Wait, we’ve held hands, shared a first kiss, but going all the way to mosaic territory might be too much.

And Yi Yi probably isn’t prepared…

No, wait…

I looked at Yi Yi, lying on the bedding with her eyes closed, biting her lip, her cheeks still flushed, and suddenly understood.

Yi Yi is not stupid. She’s a clever girl. She must know the possibility of being taken to bed, yet she still suggested sleeping together. This reminded me of an old joke.

A boy and a girl share a room. The girl says, “If you cross the line, you’re a beast.” The boy actually restrains himself all night. The next morning, the girl slaps him. “You’re worse than a beast.”

—— So, are you going to be a beast, or worse than a beast? ——

—— A virgin wouldn’t dare be a beast, lol ——

—— Tch, that’s not a hint. That’s a direct invitation. Hey, you’re not really this chicken, are you? ——

Go away.

Shut up. Get out of my head, imaginary bullet comments.

I’m just saying, Yi Yi and I will be living together. We’ll have plenty of chances as our feelings deepen. There’s no rush to confirm our relationship that way.

Thinking rationally, isn’t this Yi Yi acting out the classic trope of a rescued woman repaying her savior with herself?

It’s out of gratitude, not love.

My principle is to repay kindness and return wrongs. But “the reverse” I hate.

I avoid being entangled in kindness or grudges, which is why I choose to stay uninvolved.

That’s my principle.

And with Yi Yi, I don’t want her to regret anything.

Alright, conclusion reached. “Worse than a beast” it is. I should be gentlemanly here…

Her shy expression, her soft words, entered my eyes and ears.

“Um, Darling, I hope you don’t misunderstand. I’m not a promiscuous woman… It’s just… because it’s you, Darling, that I…”

My brain, connected to my optic and auditory nerves, crashed.

The thread of my sanity snapped.

To hell with gentlemanly. I am just a lecher!

“Eep!”

I princess-carried Yi Yi off the floor and walked toward the bedroom. She covered her burning cheeks with both hands.

But before we could even enter the bedroom, a knock on the door startled me, my heart leaping into my throat.

“Uh, I’ll get it, Yi Yi. You wait here!”

“Okay…”

After setting Yi Yi on the bed, I ran to the door and opened it.

Who was it?!

If it was the idiot, I was going to kick him in the face!

But it was Sister Ling. All my impulsiveness instantly cooled.

“Uh, Sister Ling? Is something wrong…”

“I just thought you might need this.”

Sister Ling held up a bundle. It was a complete set of bedding. Futon, blanket, pillow—everything.

I was dumbfounded.

I’ve always been grateful for Sister Ling’s help, but this time, her timing was a bit… much.

She was so thorough. Did she even know I didn’t have extra bedding?

“I have other types too. Feather, down, low-resilience polyurethane. If you need them, I can bring them over.”

“Uh, no…”

“No?”

Crap…!

The denial that slipped out because of my disappointment triggered Sister Ling.

Her sharp gaze pierced my body, sending chills down my spine.

“Are you saying I’m being nosy?”

“No! Not at all! Not in the slightest! No way! In fact, this is exactly what we needed! Hahahaha!”

“I see.” She smiled. “Then don’t be shy. Use them.”

Phew…

Sanity restored. Both hers and mine.

Control of my body returned from my lower half to my brain.

“I’ll leave this set for you. Rest well.”

She handed me the bedding, smiled, waved, and closed the door.

I stood at the doorway, deflated.

Why is Sister Ling so insistent on helping me? No agenda, just pure kindness. And kindness that cannot be refused.

“Um, Darling?”

“Sister Ling came to help. Look, Yi Yi, the bedding problem is solved. Haha…”

All I could do was laugh dryly.

I was a bit disappointed, but it’s not bad.

After all, my original intention was to treat Yi Yi with respect and sleep normally.

“Then let’s… wait, Yi Yi?!”

I froze again.

Yi Yi was taking off her clothes right in front of me.

I quickly put down the bedding and held her shoulders to stop her.

“Wait, Yi Yi! What are you doing! I was impulsive earlier. I didn’t mean for you to…”

“Darling… I’m serious.”

“No, that’s not the issue. Yi Yi, you…”

She placed her hands over her chest and closed her eyes.

“I already decided when I asked to be your girlfriend.”

She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around my neck.

She spoke her confession.

“For the rest of my life, I will love only you.”

—

Outside the door.

Ayane Hane leaned against the door, listening to Shen Kaori’s words of love.

She tilted her head slightly, stared at a distant point, and a smile curled at the corners of her lips.

“So… she really is just like me.”

Hollow inside. No one to rely on. A heartless puppet.

The heavens granted a miracle.

She met someone who gave her a “heart.”

Ah…

He is so good.

She tasted honey for the soul, like rain after a long drought.

In her mouth, overflowing with happiness.

She began to want to depend.

She wanted to be loved.

So she made a vow.

Loving only one person for life sounds like a beautiful oath…

But its essence is indefinite self-imprisonment.

Living only for one person, forever.

“Perhaps… she’s becoming just like me.”

This is only the beginning.

She won’t realize it.

And if she does, she won’t regret it.

Because once tasted, it’s addictive.

One keeps consuming, until body and soul sink completely. Until the poison is deep.

She will never regret it.

Not even if poisoned to death.