The Potion’s Side Effect

Several tens of minutes later, the young girl slumped weakly in his arms, breathing in small gasps.

“Do you know,” Mo Bai’s fingertips toyed with her sweat-dampened silver hair, his voice laced with languor and a hint of imperceptible pride, “the potion I gave you yesterday actually strengthens your body to a certain extent?”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to handle such a commotion this morning.”

“In the end, weren’t you just trying to bully me…?” Bai Xia’s voice still carried a faint tremor, soft and weak, making it unclear to Mo Bai whether she was truly scolding him or merely teasing.

However, the little one had one thing wrong—he hadn’t actually intended to go that far last night.

“Actually, with that potion, the aphrodisiac effect is merely a side effect,” Mo Bai explained.

“So, you’re saying it’s my fault?” Bai Xia turned, her aggrieved little eyes glaring at the young man before her. Yet, her flushed cheeks and soft tone made the accusation sound more like a playful pout.

Only now did Bai Xia understand that Mo Bai had deliberately used that item to tempt her, even knowing it had a side effect on her.

‘Wasn’t he clearly just looking for an excuse to bully me…?’

For a moment, Bai Xia was so angry she wanted to bite him. But her entire body felt limp and sore, leaving her with no strength. She could only glare at Mo Bai, seething in helpless frustration.

“Not at all.” Mo Bai chuckled, lowering his head to look at the little Bloodkin girl glaring up at him from his arms. He gently ruffled her hair. “This was all to help you prepare for the upcoming transcendent selection.”

As the girl turned, her chest was no longer concealed by the blanket, prompting Mo Bai to awkwardly avert his gaze. It wasn’t long before Bai Xia noticed.

“Brother Mo! You’re still looking!” Bai Xia angrily pouted, hastily pulling the blanket up to cover herself. “Weren’t you satisfied when you bullied me last night?”

“Cough, cough.” Mo Bai coughed awkwardly, then quickly composed himself, raising an eyebrow. “As a maid, what’s wrong with letting your master take a look?”

“You…” Those words instantly turned Bai Xia’s face scarlet, even her exposed shoulders tinged pink.

It was bad enough when he was bullying her—now he was still trying to take advantage.

Watching the fuming little Bloodkin girl in his arms, Mo Bai ultimately couldn’t bring himself to continue teasing her. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed the top of her hair.

“Alright, don’t be angry. That tiny bottle of potion I used on you can’t be bought for any amount of money.” His tone softened, coaxing. “While it only improves some very basic things, once you grow, the benefits it brings will far exceed what you see now.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Xia immediately softened. She buried her blushing face into his neck and murmured softly, “Oh.”

‘If it’s that precious… then getting angry would just make me seem petty…’

“Still angry?” Mo Bai smiled, gently tickling her chin.

She shyly looked up at him, then lightly tapped his chest with her small fist. “Even so, I won’t say thank you…”

Mo Bai only smiled faintly. Then, while she wasn’t paying attention, he leaned down and kissed her pouting lips, swallowing her unfinished words.

“Alright, I know. I’m doing it willingly—does that satisfy you?”

“So cheesy… I never thought you were this disgusting before, Brother Mo.”

Bai Xia, face red, muttered her complaint. Yet, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl upward slightly. She deliberately looked away, though the tips of her ears were already bright red.

“One naturally has to put on an act in front of outsiders.” Mo Bai lazily twirled a strand of her white hair. “But my little maid isn’t an outsider.”

“Hmph…” Bai Xia huffed softly, yet subconsciously snuggled deeper into his embrace. “I want to shower… I feel uncomfortable…”

“Still uncomfortable?” Mo Bai immediately turned serious.

But he was promptly hit by Bai Xia’s small fist.

“I mean—it’s dirty…” Her voice was barely audible, her cheeks burning.

Last night, she had fallen asleep without cleaning up. This morning, she had been ‘bullied’ again, and the lingering sensation made her feel uncomfortable both physically and mentally.

Mo Bai froze for a moment, then chuckled softly.

“Then I’ll go run a bath for my little maid right now, to make amends?”

“Who… who wants you to help me shower!” Bai Xia flushed deeply, struggling out of his arms. She lightly kicked his calf with her socked foot. “Go find my clothes first.”

“Alright, alright, my little maid.” Mo Bai raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes carried a doting smile.

Mo Bai got up to fetch her clothes, leaving Bai Xia alone in the room.

Wrapped in the blanket, she slowly sat up, her small head peeking out as she stared blankly around, lost in thought.

With no one else present, Bai Xia glanced down at the marks on her delicate body and instantly felt mortified.

‘Why haven’t they faded yet…?’

Instead of disappearing, the reddish marks seemed even more obvious.

‘Damn it… couldn’t that scoundrel have been a little gentler…?’

Feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, Bai Xia lightly punched the mattress. Her weak strike had no force, only making her body tremble slightly.

“Always bullying me…” she muttered, slumping back onto the bed. “Seriously… there are even bruises…”

Several faint yet noticeable marks remained on her stomach, standing out starkly against her fair skin.

“If I remember correctly… this spot should be…”