A Moment of Tension and Trust

After escorting Yixiya away, Bai Lingyi returned to the original spot and gently closed the door before sitting on Yu Lian’s bed.

“Yu Lian, did Yixiya hurt you just now?”

With Yixiya gone, she could finally ask without worry.

Yu Lian came to her senses, sat up, and hugged her knees. She glanced subconsciously at the holes punctured in the bed.

“No, she didn’t hurt me.”

Indeed, if she had been hurt, it would have been a matter of life or death or an extremely tense and exciting process.

Bai Lingyi noticed Yu Lian’s gaze and followed it to see the obvious small holes made by the scissors.

She was momentarily stunned before her heart sank.

Had Yixiya been serious?

Thinking about the broken scissors, Bai Lingyi felt a chill down her spine. If Yixiya had truly killed Yu Lian, how would she explain it to the Second Miss? Remembering the importance reflected in the Second Miss’s eyes when she brought Yu Lian back, Bai Lingyi knew this time was different—it wasn’t a mere game.

Bai Lingyi was relieved that Yu Lian was unharmed.

It seemed she would need to pay more attention to Yixiya’s movements and ensure Yu Lian’s safety in the future. Such an incident happening once was more than enough.

“I’ll inform the Second Miss later.”

Bai Lingyi had a plan.

“Yu Lian, let me take you to bathe. You’ve sweated from the fright, and I doubt you’ll sleep well otherwise.”

Yu Lian touched her forehead and then her armpits, feeling the residual sweat on her fingers.

“Thank you… How should I address you?”

Although she knew the other person’s name, she wasn’t sure of the best way to address her. Using both the first and last name felt too formal, while using only the first name seemed too familiar.

“You can call me Lingyi.”

“Alright, Lingyi, thank you.”

Bai Lingyi smiled and nodded, taking Yu Lian’s small hand as if she were a maidservant, using her other hand to support Yu Lian’s arm, which was as smooth as a lotus root.

Yu Lian felt extremely uncomfortable being supported while walking. Was she disabled? But Lingyi’s hand was so soft, like cotton, cool and comfortable.

‘I’ve touched a girl’s hand before.’

Although Yu Lian was also a girl, this was different. Now she was touching a real girl, one who was fragrant and beautiful.

Exiting the room, they took so many turns that Yu Lian almost got lost. Was the Bai Manor really this large? Was going to the bathroom supposed to be this complicated?

“We’re here.”

Bai Lingyi stopped, and Yu Lian halted as well. She looked ahead to see a large door with several young maidservants dressed in uniforms standing guard.

“Manager Bai, good day.”

The maidservants bowed and greeted her.

Bai Lingyi nodded and introduced Yu Lian to them, “This is the Second Miss’s concubine. Get to know her, and be sure to greet her respectfully in the future.”

The maidservants complied, glancing at Yu Lian before lowering their heads, not daring to look for too long. They bowed and respectfully greeted Yu Lian.

Yu Lian stammered, trying to explain.

She wasn’t a concubine.

However, Bai Lingyi squeezed her hand, and Yu Lian calmed down, replying, “Alright.”

‘Forget it, for now.’

The maidservants opened the door, and Bai Lingyi led Yu Lian inside.

To her surprise, it wasn’t a traditional large bathroom. Instead, there was a large pool emitting warm steam. Yu Lian almost thought she had come to the wrong place.

Was this really where people bathed? She wondered.

Behind her, the door closed.

The maidservants approached and began helping Bai Lingyi and Yu Lian undress.

Yu Lian was startled.

‘What? They even helped with undressing?’

She quickly covered her dress, not allowing them to remove it.

The maidservants looked up, confused, and then looked to Bai Lingyi for further instructions.

“Yu Lian, there’s no need to be shy. Everyone here is a woman, and they’ll leave once they’ve helped us undress.”

Bai Lingyi, quick-witted, immediately understood the reason for Yu Lian’s behavior.

“No… It’s not that I’m shy.”

Yu Lian wanted to cry. This was her first time experiencing such treatment, and she couldn’t relax. Moreover, she wasn’t wearing any undergarments under her dress, and if the maidservants saw, they would think…

Bai Lingyi’s dress was removed by the maidservants, revealing her snow-white body that seemed to emit a captivating glow. She stood confidently, her breasts firm and bouncing slightly.

The maidservants held her removed clothes and kept their heads down, not daring to look at her. Their task wasn’t complete, so they couldn’t leave yet.

Was it because she wasn’t wearing undergarments?

Bai Lingyi fully understood and smiled. She instructed the maidservants to stand behind Yu Lian with their backs turned. Then, she leaned close to Yu Lian’s ear and whispered softly, “They can’t see now. I’ll help you undress. You don’t need to worry about them seeing your true state.”

Yu Lian gripped the hem of her dress, checked again, and then turned back. She looked at Bai Lingyi, who stood before her like a kind elder sister, and bit her lip before nodding.

This was a very kind elder sister who had already seen her state not long ago. Seeing her again wouldn’t be too bad, especially since Bai Lingyi was now being honest with her. If she continued to be shy, it might seem inappropriate.

As Yu Lian thought this, Bai Lingyi had already begun helping her undress. With the dress slowly falling to the floor, Yu Lian’s hidden figure was fully revealed.

“She’s quite well-endowed.”

Bai Lingyi glanced at Yu Lian’s white upper body and thought, Her size isn’t small, just right. Considering her age, she could still develop further, and surpassing her would just be a matter of time.

“The Second Miss has good taste, with both looks and figure. Could she have kidnapped someone from a noble family or a royal court?”

Bai Lingyi quickly dismissed the idea.

Firstly, Yu Lian lacked the aura of someone from a noble family, which ruled out the possibility of her being from a noble background. Secondly, Yu Lian didn’t have the demeanor of royalty, and her behavior around the maidservants was timid and reserved, which ruled out the royal court.

But could a commoner really be this beautiful?

This was something Bai Lingyi couldn’t understand.

“Lingyi, stop staring at me.”

The intense gaze made Yu Lian uncomfortable, and she crossed her arms. Her face flushed, seemingly from the steam, and she covered her chest as her heart raced.

Being stared at so directly was uncomfortable for any woman, and Yu Lian, being straight, felt dry-mouthed and parched in the presence of a naked Bai Lingyi.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I was rude.”

Bai Lingyi picked up the dress and handed it to the maidservants, instructing them to clean it thoroughly and not to overthink.

The maidservants, confused, bowed and left.

“Come to the pool, and I’ll help you wash.”

“Wash… wash?”

‘What? Wasn’t everyone supposed to wash separately?’

Yu Lian had assumed that Lingyi had come in to wash herself, not to help her.