Little Iris, would you like to be my girlfriend

Don’t ask.

If you must know, the effects of the "Young Fox Wife" skin were still lingering.

Liu Yuan didn’t want to be like this.

The sound of running water echoed as it washed over the plates in her hands.

Liu Yuan stood at the kitchen doorway, wearing an oversized white shirt that clearly didn’t fit her.

The wide collar slipped slightly, revealing her delicate collarbone, and the sleeves were so long she had to roll them up several times just to free her wrists.

The hem of the shirt barely reached mid-thigh, swaying gently with her every slight movement.

"Master…" Liu Yuan’s voice was soft, tinged with hesitation. "I-I’ve changed. There aren’t any girls' clothes here… so this is all I could wear for now."

She seemed to sense Su Qi’s gaze on her and instinctively tugged at the hem of the shirt, her cheeks warming again.

The "Living Under Someone Else’s Roof" passive might have dulled her sense of shame, but it didn’t erase it entirely.

Especially in a situation like this… wearing her brother’s clothes while playing some strange role.

Su Qi didn’t respond, simply turning back to continue battling the greasy dishes in the sink.

Liu Yuan stood there, fidgeting awkwardly.

"M-Master," she took a couple of timid steps forward, speaking cautiously, "Do you… need my help?"

Su Qi paused.

"You know how?" He didn’t even glance back.

What’s so hard about washing dishes—

Then, a thought struck Liu Yuan.

"I-I can learn!" she blurted out eagerly, afraid of being turned down. "Master, teach me how to wash dishes!"

She stole a glance at Su Qi.

He didn’t… seem angry?

This might work!

She wasn’t entirely sure she’d interpreted things correctly.

"Then give it a try."

Su Qi stepped aside, making room for her at the sink.

The sleeves of the shirt were still too long, so she rolled them up another two folds, exposing a slender stretch of pale forearm.

She picked up a bowl and turned on the faucet.

Whoosh—

The water rushed out too forcefully, splashing droplets everywhere.

Liu Yuan’s face flushed instantly, and she instinctively tried to shield herself.

But both her hands were occupied—one holding the bowl, the other gripping the dish soap.

She froze mid-motion.

Then, Su Qi pressed against her from behind.

So close that she could catch the faint, pleasant scent of him.

Not laundry detergent, not body wash—just something uniquely… him.

"Let me show you."

Su Qi’s voice brushed against her ear, his warm breath grazing the shell of it.

Liu Yuan shivered, her ears twitching, her cheeks burning hotter.

"Y-Yes!" she stammered in response.

This distance was too much.

Her heartbeat raced uncontrollably, thudding in her chest.

She tried to ignore his overwhelming presence and focus on the bowl in her hands.

But… it was impossible.

Then, a hand covered hers.

!!!

Liu Yuan trembled violently, nearly dropping the bowl again.

Su Qi’s palm was broad and warm, completely enveloping her smaller hand.

She could feel the firmness of his fingers, the heat of his touch.

"Hold the sponge, then move like this."

Su Qi guided her hand, carefully scrubbing the inside of the bowl.

His movements were gentle, patient.

Liu Yuan stiffly let him steer her, her mind blank.

His scent filled her nose, his steady breathing whispered in her ear, his chest warmed her back, his hands directed hers—

Every sense was overwhelmed by his sudden closeness.

"Brother…"

Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with barely restrained emotion.

"Hm?" Su Qi responded, not pausing for a second.

He… didn’t think there was anything unusual about this position?

Liu Yuan’s pulse quickened even more.

She peeked up, trying to catch a glimpse of Su Qi’s expression in the window’s reflection.

But it wasn’t a mirror—just a blurry outline.

No clues there.

Was she overthinking it?

Was he just earnestly teaching her how to wash dishes?

She tried to convince herself, pushing down the flurry of wild thoughts.

One bowl felt like it took an eternity to clean.

Finally, under Su Qi’s "guidance," the first dish was done.

Liu Yuan placed it on the drying rack and exhaled softly.

"Next."

…

About ten minutes later.

"M-Master, all done!"

She turned around, tilting her head up to look at Su Qi, her tone carrying a faint hint of… pride?

Su Qi studied her.

The girl’s face was still flushed, tiny beads of sweat dotting her nose, a few strands of hair clinging damply to her cheeks.

The oversized white shirt had slipped slightly, exposing her right shoulder.

"Good," Su Qi said. "From now on, you’re in charge of washing the dishes."

Liu Yuan’s head snapped up.

Huh?

"And the floors—you’ll mop them."

"The laundry…" Su Qi paused. "You know how to use the washing machine, right?"

Liu Yuan nodded reflexively.

"Great. Laundry’s your job too."

Liu Yuan: "…"

This wasn’t how she’d imagined things going.

Where was the back rub? The pampering?

How did this turn into full-time housekeeping?

What kind of terrible "role-playing" was this?!

The game’s storyline was nothing like this!

She was starting to regret playing along…

But just as Liu Yuan was about to "flip the table and quit"—

A hand landed gently on her head, ruffling her hair.

"You worked hard today."

Huh?

Liu Yuan lifted her gaze to Su Qi.

"You said you’d do anything to stay here, right?"

Liu Yuan wasn’t sure where this was going. "Y… yeah?"

"Then be my girlfriend. Take care of my daily life from now on."

"And I’ll protect you."

Liu Yuan’s brain short-circuited again.

She stared at Su Qi, mouth slightly agape, eyes wide.

Su Qi wasn’t done. "I think, as a little fox, you should have a proper human name."

"How about… ‘Iris’?"

"So, let me ask again."

"Little Iris, will you be my girlfriend?"

Before Su Qi could even finish, Liu Yuan blurted out, "I will!"

She’d never imagined that the scene she’d often fantasized about would unfold like this.

Then, just as she was about to say something else—

She felt Su Qi’s hands slide under her arms and lift her clean off the ground.

Huh?

Wha—?!