Different

The moonlight slowly streamed in through the window, seeming to tint Bai Yuyou’s profile with silver. Yet that silver was mixed with a rosy hue, making her face even more beautiful—almost dreamlike.

At that moment, Bai Yuyou had also seized their future. In truth, there was only the slightest barrier left between them. Whether it was the earlier intimate contact or being attacked by the slime, they were only one final step away from reaching the end.

“Ye Shuang…”

Bai Yuyou spoke softly. Her usually expressionless face blossomed into an utterly beautiful smile, causing even the moonlight outside the window to pale in comparison.

…

…

The night passed in silence.

When the first rays of morning sunlight fell upon the bed, Ye Shuang slowly sat up and glanced at the girl beside him. Bai Yuyou was still fast asleep, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Ye Shuang reached out and gently brushed back the bangs from Bai Yuyou’s forehead. He watched her sleeping face for several minutes before Bai Yuyou seemed to sense something. She groped around in the air, and when her hand touched Ye Shuang’s broad palm, she seemed to relax.

Holding her small hand, Ye Shuang thought for a moment before lying back down and pulling her into his arms.

After drifting back to sleep, he opened his eyes again and discovered that it was already past nine. The moment he woke, he met Bai Yuyou’s clear, limpid gaze. When she saw that he was awake, she moved a little closer.

“Good morning, Ye Shuang.”

“Morning, Yu You… About last night…” Ye Shuang paused. “Did you sleep well? Was it too exhausting?”

Hearing that, Bai Yuyou merely shook her head. “I slept very well. I like it when you hold me, Ye Shuang.”

Perhaps she had remembered what happened the night before. Bai Yuyou quietly buried her face in the blankets, leaving only her eyes exposed.

“Will there be a baby?” she asked.

“There probably… won’t be one yet,” Ye Shuang replied.

Bai Yuyou did not seem anxious at all. Instead, she moved even closer, so close that Ye Shuang could feel the warmth of her skin—and the pressure of the slime.

“I love you, Ye Shuang.”

The girl’s soft words left Ye Shuang momentarily stunned. A few seconds later, he suddenly smiled and kissed her.

“Me too…”

“Yu You.”

…

By the time Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou got out of bed, it was already half past nine. Everyone else was already up. Even Tang Keke usually did not sleep until nine or ten, especially with the Light Music Club’s performance approaching. She had been getting up early to practice her instrument.

After all, this was going to be their final performance, so Keke was taking it seriously.

“Morning, big brother. You’re up really late today. Are you exhausted?” Tang Keke called out after Ye Shuang came downstairs. She was playing a console game with Yezi in the living room. “Breakfast is ready. It’s only some barbecued-pork buns and soy milk, though.”

Tang Keke was not very good at cooking, so meals at home were usually prepared by Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou. As for Yezi, there was not much to say—she was still in elementary school. And the two fishes were even less likely to cook for everyone.

Besides, if the two of them really did make breakfast, An Shiyu and Anshi Yi would probably come up with a sushi-and-cola combo.

“Really? Barbecued-pork buns sound good,” Ye Shuang said. Tang Keke then curiously looked behind him. “Yu You isn’t up yet?”

“She is. She’ll come down in a bit,” Ye Shuang replied.

“Huh? Everyone got up late today. You and Yu You, as well as Little Yu and Xiaoyi.” Tang Keke did not think much of it, however, and continued playing the game with Yezi.

Ye Shuang ate a couple of bites before taking the remaining buns upstairs for Bai Yuyou.

When he opened the door, Bai Yuyou was wrapped up like a spring roll, with only her little head poking out. But the moment she smelled breakfast, her eyes fixed themselves on the barbecued-pork buns in Ye Shuang’s hand.

“Get dressed first, then wash up and have breakfast,” Ye Shuang said with a smile when he saw how adorably food-obsessed she looked.

Bai Yuyou sat up against the headboard, and the blanket slipped from her shoulders. Seeing the buns Ye Shuang had brought up, she asked softly, “Did you eat breakfast, Ye Shuang?”

“Mm. I already ate. Go ahead,” Ye Shuang said, handing her the buns.

As he watched the girl take small bites, he did not forget to wipe the sauce from the corners of her mouth with a tissue.

While eating, Bai Yuyou leaned against Ye Shuang’s side and occasionally raised the bun in her hand to offer him a bite.

Afterward, the two of them took a quick shower and cleaned themselves up properly before changing clothes and leaving the room.

This time, Ye Shuang happened to see Anshi Yi and An Shiyu coming out of their room as well. They were yawning, but when they saw Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou emerge together, Anshi Yi’s eyes rolled slightly. She then quickly walked past them.

“Hmph.”

Hmph?

Anshi Yi’s little snort left Ye Shuang utterly confused. An Shiyu, who was passing by behind him, added,

“Up really late, aren’t you, old man?”

With that, the two fishes pattered downstairs.

Ye Shuang did not think much of it. He simply looked at Bai Yuyou beside him.

“Yu You, are you having any trouble walking?”

“I’m fine. Just a little,” Bai Yuyou said, shaking her head. It was not a serious problem—only a slight discomfort, and it had already eased considerably.

By the time the two of them came downstairs, it was nearly noon. However, since they had just eaten breakfast, neither of them was particularly hungry.

“Yu You, Yu You.” When Tang Keke saw Bai Yuyou, she waved her over. “Want to play together?”

“Hmm? Okay.”

Bai Yuyou slowly walked over to Tang Keke and accepted the controller she offered. But then Tang Keke seemed to notice something. She began studying Bai Yuyou closely.

“That’s strange. Why do I feel like something about you is different today?”

“Different?” Bai Yuyou did not quite understand. What was different about her?

The girl glanced down at her clothes. Since it was the weekend, Bai Yuyou had dressed casually in something loose. In fact, the shirt she was wearing was an oversized T-shirt belonging to Ye Shuang, and on her, it looked almost like a dress.

“How should I put it? Hmm… It just feels like…” Tang Keke gestured with her fingers, unable to describe the strange sensation. It was almost as though Bai Yuyou’s entire air had changed.

“You look even prettier?”

Bai Yuyou tilted her head. “Even prettier…”

“Mommy has always been pretty,” Yezi said from the side.

“That’s true.”