Daylight had broken, and I was unceremoniously dragged from the depths of my blankets.
“Wake up!” Lavishly Karafar bellowed by my bedside. I merely twisted, burrowing deeper into the covers, determined to reclaim my sleep.
Seeing her shouts had no effect, Lavishly Karafar grabbed the blanket directly, intent on pulling it away.
Unfortunately, my strength proved too formidable. No matter how hard she tugged, Lavishly Karafar couldn’t budge it. After a moment of thoughtful consideration, she was still at a loss, so she hurried out of the room to consult Liu Han.
“Just pull her out directly,” Liu Han advised after a brief pause. “No matter how strong she is, her stature is so small. If you simply pick her up, she’ll have all that strength but no leverage. What could she possibly do then?”
Lavishly Karafar clapped her hands. “You’re right, why didn’t I think of that? Thank you, Liu Han.”
Liu Han, who was still casually primping in front of the mirror, merely responded, “If you know, then go. There’s no need for thanks over something like this.”
****
A few minutes later, I, still lost in slumber, suddenly experienced a dizzying sensation of weightlessness. My eyes snapped open in alarm.
I found myself cradled in Lavishly Karafar’s arms. “Awake now?” Lavishly Karafar asked softly.
“Ah, ah, ahhh—!” This unexpected ‘perk’ upon waking left me utterly flustered. My face flushed crimson, and I found myself unable to utter a single coherent word.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something to upset you?” Seeing my deep blush, Lavishly Karafar couldn’t help but ask, her expression filled with confusion.
‘Calm down, I must calm down,’ I chanted to myself, repeatedly. Finally, I managed to steady my voice, though it still trembled slightly. “I was just a little shy about being suddenly picked up.”
“Oh?” Lavishly Karafar raised an eyebrow. “Indeed… Little Mengmeng is quite the easily embarrassed girl, isn’t she?” She nodded, a thoughtful expression gracing her features.
I squirmed, attempting to free myself from her embrace, but to no avail. “Sister Lavishly Karafar, could you please put me down…?”
“Of course,” Lavishly Karafar chuckled, gently setting me onto the floor.
“Um, could you step out for a moment, please? I need to change…” I requested of Lavishly Karafar. It wasn’t entirely due to shyness, but rather because changing clothes would inevitably require undressing, and while other girls seeing my body was fine, the thorns on my chest were another matter entirely.
“Alright, alright,” Lavishly Karafar said with a smile and a nod. “I’ll head out now.” With that, she exited the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
I rummaged through my luggage, finally unearthing a white lace knee-length dress that seemed relatively modest.
Ever since Liu Han had arrived at my residence, she had waged a devastating war on my wardrobe. Any clothes she deemed not cute enough or unsuitable for me were summarily banished, replaced entirely by adorable styles—either Lolita fashion or purely Western-style dresses, which I found incredibly difficult to accept.
Stepping out of the room, I found Xilinka observing me. “Did something happen last night?” she inquired.
“Huh?” I was startled, wondering if she had discovered anything. “N-no, nothing. I’m just a little tired.”
Xilinka studied me, appearing as though she had more to say, but ultimately she simply stated, “Then take care of yourself.”
I exhaled in relief. It was fortunate she didn’t press further; explaining everything would have been quite a hassle.
****
As I stepped into the dining room, a rich aroma immediately enveloped me.
On a silver dining table sat several steaming cups of creamy corn soup, accompanied by a few slices of bread. Though simple, the meal looked incredibly tempting.
“This creamy corn soup was made by Uncle Yin,” Liu Han announced, suddenly appearing behind me and making me jump.
I gazed at the incredibly enticing corn soup on the table, utterly astonished.
“Isn’t it absolutely incredible?” Liu Han smiled faintly. “I was quite shocked when I first heard, too.”
I nodded in agreement, then sat down at the table with Liu Han and took a sip of the rich soup.
Before I could even voice my thoughts, Liu Han spoke beside me. “Wow, Uncle Yin truly exudes a domestic charm, doesn’t he?”
I nodded in agreement once more. The flavor, I had to admit, was truly impeccable.