Haki Ballad.

Lying on her side in bed, she was clearly so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

Yet Tao Yaoyao just couldn't fall asleep.

This condition had appeared over the last few days, and it was getting worse by the day.

Tao Yaoyao had no idea what was wrong with her.

Her eyes were so exhausted that just keeping them open caused a faint ache, but her soul remained strangely hyperactive.

Or rather...

Tormented?

It was as if a hidden flame was burning inside her body, scorching her soul into a restless state, making sleep impossible.

Frustrated, she rolled over in bed again.

Tao Yaoyao wearily half-opened her eyes, not knowing what to do to escape this maddening state.

"Click."

The bedroom door was pulled open. Tao Yaoyao instinctively looked up and saw Xu Mingyao coming in after finishing cleaning the kitchen.

She looked like she had just taken a shower.

Her meticulously styled red hair fell freely over her shoulders. She was wrapped in a silk nightgown, unbuttoned, with her hands pulling the lapels tightly together across her waist.

The loose nightgown clung to her body due to her pulling, highlighting her slender waist and the faint, exceptional curves above and below.

Her footsteps carried a hint of deliberate seduction as she swayed her graceful body over and sat on the edge of the bed.

The dim lamp standing at the bedside cast a yellowish glow, bringing a trace of warmth.

Under Tao Yaoyao's confused gaze, Xu Mingyao's hands gripping the nightgown slowly let go.

With a roll of her fragrant shoulders, the nightgown slipped down her fair, smooth skin, revealing a top-tier lingerie set underneath that would make anyone blush and their heart race.

Xu Mingyao's intentions couldn't be any more obvious.

At the same time, her hands started getting mischievous, reaching out to stroke Tao Yaoyao's cheek with tender caresses.

What she wanted to do went without saying.

"Sister Yaoyao."

Gently catching the little hand that was playfully pinching her earlobe, Tao Yaoyao looked at the woman before her, her tired eyes hiding a hint of evasion.

"I, I've been a bit tired from work lately."

"Let's do this another day."

Tao Yaoyao rarely rejected Xu Mingyao.

Especially when it came to this kind of thing.

It was just that she really felt unwell today.

Her body was utterly exhausted, yet she couldn't get any rest. The inexplicable torment deep within her soul acted like fuel, further deepening her physical fatigue.

She simply didn't have the energy right now to play these teasing games with Xu Mingyao.

She was very tired, and she wanted to rest.

"Ah?"

Dressed to the nines for the occasion, Xu Mingyao clearly hadn't expected Tao Yaoyao to uncharacteristically reject her.

She froze for a moment, looking a bit awkward.

However, she quickly recovered and switched to a gentle tone, saying softly:

"Alright then."

"Get some good rest."

"I, I'll go change my clothes..."

The rejected Xu Mingyao stood up, her carefully made-up face showing an unmistakable sense of embarrassment and awkwardness.

Her left hand subconsciously rubbed the back of her nightgown around her waist and hips. Her helpless demeanor was a world away from the aloof and arrogant person she used to be.

Tao Yaoyao stared blankly at Xu Mingyao in front of her.

How did she become like this?

Tao Yaoyao was somewhat puzzled.

If it were the old Xu Mingyao, after being rejected by her or her harem, she would only show a face full of disgust and contempt.

Because the past her would never think being rejected was her own fault; instead, she would think that you guys were just too useless and unworthy of her.

She...

Since when did she become so overly cautious?

Even when facing her?

Tao Yaoyao felt a momentary sense of astonishment.

What Tao Yaoyao, who always treated people equally and had never been domineering, didn't know was that the pride in some people's personalities was largely influenced by their status and background.

The former Xu Mingyao was the precious only daughter of the Xu family, and the Xu family was an entity that could cover the sky with one hand in S City, so naturally, she was very proud.

She could do anything without scruples, unreasonable and arrogant, like a lion dominating the savanna.

But later, the Xu family went bankrupt. Without the Xu family to rely on, she instantly turned from a mighty lion into a frail little kitten.

Yet she refused to accept this fact.

She still stubbornly believed she was a majestic lion, constantly hissing at Tao Yaoyao—someone who wouldn't hurt her—to prove she was still a terrifying predator.

But what about now?

Xu Mingyao had stopped fantasizing and accepted the drop and change in her status.

She had recognized reality, knowing she was now just a pet kitten with no ability to survive in the wild.

She knew she was just a useless little kitten who would live miserably, or even starve to death, if she left her owner.

Therefore.

An inferiority complex arrived uninvited.

At the same time.

The change in status consequently made her love humble as well.

Tao Yaoyao had never thought about any of this.

She just looked at the embarrassed Tao Yaoyao, feeling a bit sour and heartbroken.

"Don't change."

"Let's just sleep like this."

"I like this outfit on you, it's just that I'm too tired today and really don't have the energy."

Tao Yaoyao said gently, trying hard to protect her feelings and dignity.

Sure enough, Xu Mingyao's expression quickly cleared up from cloudy to sunny.

She neatly took off her nightgown, tossed it onto a nearby chair, and then swiftly slipped under the covers, happily hugging Tao Yaoyao.

After hugging for a while, perhaps remembering Tao Yaoyao's exhaustion tonight.

Xu Mingyao didn't pester her anymore. Instead, she turned off the light and lay straight.

Then she gently embraced Tao Yaoyao, letting her lie on her shoulder in a comfortable position, and gently patted her back to coax her to sleep.

The starry night was silent.

Resting on Xu Mingyao's shoulder, Tao Yaoyao's eyelids never fully closed. Instead, her eyelashes hung low, her gaze empty.

Xu Mingyao was an excellent human body pillow.

Her skin was smooth and firm, possessing an elasticity unique to youth. The touch was simply countless times better than the most expensive brocade in the world.

Resting on her shoulder felt very comfortable too. When her cheek first touched it, there was a slight coolness, but after a while, it became warm, making one unable to resist affectionately rubbing their cheek against it a few times.

She smelled very nice.

There wasn't the slightest smell of sweat or odor, only the scent of a perfume she often wore, along with another pleasant fragrance that was hard to pinpoint but felt very warm.

As a human body pillow, she was impeccable.

She wouldn't move around recklessly, and she would gently pat her back, coaxing her to sleep like a baby.

It was just...

..