An Unexpected Awakening and a Flimsy Explanation

“What exactly is going on?”

“Ziyao wanted to ask that, too!”

“Why did Aiya suddenly wake up? Why did she lean in so directly? Why did she stick out her tongue?”

“And Elena, why did you have to arrive at such an inopportune moment?”

“Mm…”

Ziyao tried to speak, but her mouth was still occupied by Aiya.

Moreover, Aiya seemed quite unwilling to stop.

“My apologies, I saw nothing,” Elena stated, taking a half-step back, intent on leaving the room to the two girls.

No, no, no, you absolutely cannot leave! If you leave, I’ll never be able to clear my name.

With a swift thought, a rope of water materialized from thin air, encircling Elena’s waist and forcibly pulling her back into the room. Binding, closing the door, locking it—all executed in one seamless motion.

Simultaneously, Ziyao struggled to gently peel Aiya off her.

As the soft, warm body moved away, a flicker of reluctance crossed Ziyao’s eyes, but swiftly, her gaze hardened once more.

I almost succumbed to it…

To Elena’s eyes, however, this unfolding scene simply acquired even more vibrant colors. The morning sunlight streamed through the transparent glass, bathing the two girls in a faint golden glow. As a knight, Elena could even discern the fine downy hairs on their faces. With her azure eyes narrowed, the blonde girl still seemed lost in a daze.

Her cherry-blossom lips were unconsciously parted, as if she hadn’t quite awakened from the intimate moment.

And the white-haired girl, usually so composed, was now uncharacteristically flustered. Though she was trying her best to control her expression, her small face was flushed to almost the same vivid color as her eyes. Even a fool could tell that the esteemed Miss Sage was profoundly shy at this moment. Elena even noticed faint wisps of white smoke rising from Ziyao’s head.

What was that? A steam maiden?

“Elena, listen to my explanation.” Gently settling Aiya back onto the bed, Ziyao quickly turned to Elena.

“Explanation? Explain why you were secretly kissing Aiya while she was unconscious?” Elena, now bound to a chair, was full of indignation. “And why you’d tie up me, a witness?”

Uh… To be honest, Ziyao hadn’t thought much when she bound Elena. She had simply wished to prevent Elena from misunderstanding. Impulse truly is the devil.

“My apologies, I didn’t think it through.” Dispelling the water ropes, Ziyao found a chair and sat down. She still hadn’t fully recovered from her recent intimate contact.

“Your head is smoking, you know,” Elena politely reminded Ziyao of the strange phenomenon.

Smoking?

Summoning a water mirror, Ziyao carefully observed her current state. Her face was very red, which was normal; anyone would blush so deeply. Her crimson eyes seemed veiled by a mist of water, making her appear somewhat piteous.

And just as Elena had said, white smoke—or rather, white mist—was indeed rising from the top of her head.

“Your face is really hot, you know.” Leaning closer to Ziyao, Elena reached out to touch Ziyao’s adorable, crimson face, which looked as though it might start bleeding.

“Hot?” Ziyao touched her own face. Indeed, it was very hot.

But that’s not the point!

“I swear, Aiya made the first move. Do you believe me?” Ziyao placed her hands on Elena’s shoulders, her eyes brimming with a desperate plea to be believed.

However, Elena remained unmoved. Cupping Ziyao’s flushed face, she asked, “Are you saying Aiya woke up without your knowledge, and then kissed you without your knowledge? Do you take me for a fool?”

“Uh, I can explain.” Ziyao retracted her hands. “At that moment, I genuinely did intend to do something…”

“You admit it?”

“But I stopped!” Ziyao gestured with her fingers. “At that time, there was only a tiny bit of distance between Aiya and me.”

Truly, just a tiny bit.

“I came to my senses, but I don’t know what happened. Aiya just leaned in.”

“Then, you saw the rest.”

After Ziyao’s incredibly vague explanation, Elena’s gaze turned contemptuous. “Am I stupid?”

“Should I tell you the truth?”

“Please shut up, thank you.” Elena delivered a sharp chop to Ziyao’s head, clearly annoyed. “That was Aiya’s first kiss.”

“As if it wasn’t mine too…” Rubbing her head, a hint of tears glistened in Ziyao’s eyes. She had been at a disadvantage.

This really wasn’t her fault.

She might have harbored some improper thoughts, but who was she? The youngest Sage! A super powerhouse who had just beaten a Demon God a few days prior! She was the modern-day Liu Xiahui, alright.

“Truly, this wasn’t my intention.” She was on the verge of tears. If this accusation stuck, how could she ever face anyone again?

“It’s fine, you’re a loli, too. Between two little girls, well… it’s quite normal.”

“…” Ziyao covered her face, wishing to retreat into herself.

Glancing at Ziyao, who had fallen into a state of self-isolation, Elena sighed. It was just a kiss, right? Why was she acting so innocent? But… she was also so jealous.

She was jealous of both Aiya and Ziyao. Walking over to her sister’s bed, Elena gently patted the young girl, who was still in a daze.

“Mm… Sister?”

It seemed her mind was still intact.

“Did Ziyao make the first move just now?” Elena asked.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Ziyao, but Aiya was simply more credible in her eyes.

Aiya shook her head. “No, I leaned in myself…”

As she spoke, Aiya’s face turned a similar shade to Ziyao’s; for a fourteen-year-old girl, it was truly quite embarrassing.

Had she been too wanton? Would Sister and Ziyao think she was a bad child?

“By the way, Aiya, why did you suddenly wake up?”

This question was also quite strange. Although the Pope had said it would be within the next few days, such an awakening without any prior warning was still peculiar.

And the timing…

If she hadn’t asked just now, Elena might have thought it was a reenactment of The Little Mermaid.