The Little Yellow Duck and a Sister’s Scheme

“Aiya, squish, squish, squish as much as you like. You can squish this little yellow duck however you please; I won’t bother you.”

– Quack, quack, quack.

Qing Zixi resolved to completely clear her mind. She tilted her head back, only for it to spring forward again.

‘Oh, this wretched transgression…’

“By the way, where are the other sisters?”

Qing Zixi finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind. Having always been a solitary figure, she hardly knew how to read the subtle cues of others.

Lan Mengyao, who had been contentedly squishing the ‘little yellow duck,’ abruptly ceased her movements.

“Eh?”

Qing Zixi half-turned, lifting her gaze, only to be met by Lan Mengyao’s distinctly displeased eyes.

“You’re bathing with me, yet your thoughts are on other women?”

“No, eh?”

‘How, how did she get angry so fast? I didn’t even mock her.’

“No, I just, just asked casually. Aiya~ I, I was wrong, I won’t ask anymore…”

This time, Lan Mengyao truly treated her like a helpless little yellow duck.

It took quite some time for the commotion to subside. Qing Zixi, whimpering softly, gently massaged the ‘little yellow duck’ that had endured such a thorough squishing.

“Why do you suddenly want to become an esports player? If you simply enjoy playing games, there’s really no need to go to such lengths.”

Once Lan Mengyao felt content, she began to inquire further. She knew her sister wasn’t one to make impulsive decisions.

Yet, from her observations of this little one, she often kept to herself, retreating to her room immediately after school. There was never any indication of her being interested in games; she was always engrossed in one book after another.

“Well…”

Qing Zixi found herself in a predicament.

She couldn’t possibly reveal that she wanted to pursue this career just to survive. Moreover, the Observer had instructed her to act honorably and keep it a secret from others.

“It’s just, just that I like it, I love it…”

“I see. In that case, I’ll test you tomorrow morning.”

Lan Mengyao seemed to harbor no suspicion towards Qing Zixi whatsoever. After all, who could possibly doubt their own adorable little sister?

With a graceful splash, she rose from the bathtub. The gentle patter of dripping water echoed throughout the bathroom. Qing Zixi, meanwhile, hastily submerged herself even deeper, not daring to glance back.

Next, the shower sprang to life, a seamless cascade of water. Lan Mengyao then approached the bathtub and tapped lightly on its rim.

“Come out and wash your hair.”

“Can I wash it myself…?”

“No.”

‘Well, that was an immediate refusal.’

Qing Zixi patted her cheeks; they felt scorching hot.

Her face was now even redder than it had been during her livestream.

With her head bowed, Qing Zixi quickly settled onto the small stool. Fortunately, Lan Mengyao’s touch was exceptionally gentle, as if she were handling a delicate, fragile object. She carefully cradled the fine, silvery strands in her palm, worked up a rich lather with the most premium shampoo, then softened the water flow to rinse it away with the showerhead.

Throughout the entire process, Qing Zixi maintained a defensive crouch, her hands clasped over her head. Thankfully, her lustrous silver hair was long enough, or perhaps her frame was simply too diminutive, allowing most of her fair, tender skin to remain hidden.

Lan Mengyao, of course, observed this subtle act of self-preservation. She narrowed her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, and mused inwardly.

‘This is merely an appetizer. Exquisite ingredients often demand meticulous preparation before they can be truly savored. To indulge without being fully ready would be an utter waste of such a precious commodity.’

‘Still, her hair quality is truly remarkable, like a genuine work of art…’

Lan Mengyao had spent just over ten minutes washing her own hair, yet she devoted a full half-hour to Qing Zixi’s. Factoring in their shared bath time, it was already half past eleven by the time Qing Zixi finally draped a bathrobe over herself and let out a sigh of relief.

It was hard to say if it was due to soaking for too long, the presence of an alluring older sister, or perhaps the intoxicating aroma of the incense. Regardless, Qing Zixi was beginning to feel profoundly sleepy. She let out a wide yawn, then turned to head towards the door.

“Where are you off to?”

Lan Mengyao stepped swiftly, blocking Qing Zixi’s path.

“Ha, *yawn*, of course I’m going to bed.”

“Isn’t there a bed right here?”

Following the direction Lan Mengyao indicated, Qing Zixi’s gaze landed on a large bed, undoubtedly spacious enough for two.

‘Wait, does this imply she wants to sleep with me?’

Qing Zixi narrowed her eyes, an audacious smile blossoming on her face.

“Oh, who was it that gave me the cold shoulder earlier? And now you want to sleep with your little sister? Can’t you sleep alone? Are you scared~?”

Having emerged from the bathroom and wrapped herself in a bathrobe, she felt a surge of renewed confidence. As she continued her taunts, she didn’t forget her past ‘grievances,’ pointing towards the grand piano prominently displayed in the room.

“I certainly don’t want to hear you crawling out of bed in the middle of the night, wailing like a ghost while playing the piano. This room has soundproofing, right? If you want to play, just enjoy it by yourself~”

‘Can’t sleep alone!’

‘Scared!’

‘Wailing like a ghost!’

Even Lan Mengyao, who possessed an excellent education, had been able to play entire piano pieces with focused concentration since the age of five, and at sixteen, had joined a team, earning the moniker “Pillar of the Sea.” Yet, these relentless taunts began to wear on her.

‘This girl’s mouth is truly…!’

Without another word, Lan Mengyao seized Qing Zixi’s wrist and pressed her down onto the piano keys.

*Do Re Mi Fa—* *Smack!*

“Ugh!”

Lan Mengyao considered that engaging in such activities on the piano might offer a unique thrill, imagining distinct gasps blending with the melodious strains of the keys. However, after a moment’s consideration, she ultimately guided Qing Zixi toward the closet instead.

“You said I didn’t cherish you before? Fine, from this moment on, I’ll cherish you properly!”

With a swift motion, she pulled open the closet door. The dazzling array of clothes inside left Qing Zixi feeling utterly overwhelmed.

It wasn’t unusual for a woman’s wardrobe to hold many garments. The left side was exclusively filled with Lan Mengyao’s own elegant attire, but why were all the clothes on the right side precisely this size—!?

‘They looked as if they were perfectly custom-made for me!’

Lan Mengyao would never admit the truth: these garments were bought on a whim. It happened after Xia Mengying, a genius pharmacist, created a drug that could shrink people and make them utterly adorable. Lan Mengyao, mentally picturing her own younger brother in such a cute, shrunken state, had been inspired to acquire them.

‘To her surprise, she actually got to use them herself.’

She selected a camisole dress. Its vibrant red appeared even more saturated under the glow of the lights. Two small bows adorned the straps at the front, while the sides featured net-covered, tassel-like sleeves. A large bow rested centrally on the chest, its two tails cascading down to the hem of the skirt.

After dressing Qing Zixi in the camisole dress, Lan Mengyao gently nudged her onto the bed, then bent down to grasp her tender, slender ankles.

“Eek, what, what are you doing now!”

Qing Zixi propped herself up, only to see her short legs being encased in patterned white stockings. One stocking was adorned with a tiny reindeer charm and several small bows.

The other stocking, in contrast, was embellished with a few delicate silver stars.

Finally, Lan Mengyao produced a pair of slender-heeled high-heeled shoes, adorned with silver pearls and featuring a red and black base, and slipped them onto Qing Zixi’s small, stocking-clad feet.

“Done. Get up and look in the mirror.”

Lan Mengyao clapped her hands, seemingly very pleased with her ‘masterpiece.’ She then changed into a light blue, sleepwear-like dress herself, before grabbing her phone and snapping a flurry of pictures of Qing Zixi.

“Sister Xi, it’s truly a shame you’re not a model.”

‘A model? Is there an annual model competition? Ouch!’

Qing Zixi grumbled inwardly. No sooner had she stood up than her feet stumbled, sending her tumbling into Lan Mengyao’s waiting embrace.