A Leisurely Day

The next day.

"Wake up, wake up."

As morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, Su Muwan was lightly poking Qin Luo's Adam's apple with her fingertip.

The embroidered silk quilt had slipped down to his waist, revealing the lingering bite marks on his collarbone.

Yes, that's right—Su Muwan had once again taken great pleasure in biting Qin Luo the night before.

"Luo Luo Luo Luo~~"

Su Muwan continued prodding his Adam's apple and whined, "We’re out of snacks at home. Get up and come with me for a big shopping trip!"

She conjured a hexagonal frost flower at her fingertip, deliberately letting its chilly aura brush past the tip of his nose.

"Hiss..."

The silk quilt suddenly billowed like a dark wave as Qin Luo flipped over, trapping her in the warmth of the covers.

Su Muwan’s startled yelp was muffled against his chest, while shadowy threads coiled around her flailing ankles.

"Where’s the good morning kiss from the young miss?"

Qin Luo’s teasing breath grazed the shell of Su Muwan’s ear, instantly painting it a deep shade of pink.

"Qin Luo!"

Su Muwan kicked the quilt away, glaring at him with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Who’d give you a good morning kiss?!"

Honeyed sunlight spilled over the girl’s disheveled nightgown as her raised hand froze mid-air.

Qin Luo leaned over her, his eyes glinting with amusement like scattered starlight. "Weren’t you bold enough when you were biting me yesterday?"

"Th-that was punishment!"

"You didn’t take me with you the day before, after all!"

Su Muwan guiltily clutched the front of Qin Luo’s pajamas, trying to push herself up, only for him to seize her wrist just as her fingers brushed a button.

He smirked. "Was it really punishment, or did the young miss just want to—"

"Hey hey hey!! Shut up!"

Time passed.

By the time the aroma of caramel wafted from the kitchen, Su Muwan was barefoot, standing on Qin Luo’s shoulders as she rummaged through the wardrobe.

"Luo Luo."

"Where’s that patterned trench coat? The one with the frost embroidery on the collar."

She stretched on her tiptoes toward the top storage box, the hem of her nightgown riding up dangerously high.

Qin Luo steadied the teetering young miss, but when he glanced up, he felt his blood rushing somewhere inconvenient.

He cleared his throat and averted his gaze. "Third storage compartment. Also..."

"Young miss, you forgot to wear safety shorts today."

Su Muwan’s face immediately flushed crimson. She yanked down her nightgown and snapped, "None of your business! Who even wears safety shorts under their pajamas?!"

"Honestly, Qin Luo, what do you even know?"

Mid-rant—

Thud!

Su Muwan lost her balance and tumbled headfirst into a pile of fluffy clothes.

Down and chiffon swallowed her startled cry.

"Oof... Qin Luo, you didn’t even try to catch m—"

Click~!

Before she could finish, Su Muwan looked up to see Qin Luo holding up his phone.

"Delete that! Right now!"

Icicles shot toward the screen like arrows, only to be swallowed by shadows before they could strike.

Qin Luo took a half-step back, waving the phone teasingly—its lock screen displayed a photo of her curled up on the couch, mid-snack, fast asleep.

He grinned at her flustered expression. "Young miss, consider this payback for last night."

Then, he touched his collarbone with exaggerated pitifulness. "It still stings, you know..."

CRACK!!

In an instant, Qin Luo’s hands and feet were encased in ice.

His expression stiffened as Su Muwan strode over, effortlessly snatched the phone, and deleted the photo.

With a haughty sniff, she declared, "One thing at a time..."

She smirked down at him. "You’re still no match for me, Qin Luo."

In the end, Su Muwan chose a pair of light-wash jeans and one of Qin Luo’s white button-downs.

At the breakfast table, Su Muwan discreetly sniffed the sleeve of the borrowed shirt.

Sniff sniff~

Hehe... It smells like Qin Luo...

The next second—

"Young miss, breakfast is ready."

Qin Luo set a plate of strawberry pancakes on the table, and Su Muwan immediately dropped her arm, schooling her face into perfect composure. After a glance at the food, she cleared her throat.

Then, she turned to Qin Luo, batting her lashes. "Luo Luo, you’ve been working so hard this morning."

"Let me feed you first as a reward."

This lucky?

Qin Luo tilted his head. "Since when did the young miss become so sweet?"

"Ahem!"

Su Muwan’s eye twitched. She swirled her silver fork in the whipped cream.

"Just shut up and open your mouth."

She speared the largest strawberry and held it out to him, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Say 'ah~'"

Just as Qin Luo raised a brow and parted his lips, the fork abruptly changed course. The cream-coated berry grazed the corner of his mouth before pressing against Su Muwan’s own lips instead.

She nibbled half the strawberry, leaning closer with a smug whisper. "Want a taste, Luo Luo? If you do, then you’ll have to— Mmph?!"

Mid-taunt, Qin Luo cupped the back of her neck and sealed her lips with a sudden kiss.

Melting cream dripped from their tangled breaths, trickling down Qin Luo’s collarbone in a sticky, sweet rivulet.

Su Muwan’s eyes widened, her cheeks burning scarlet.

Then, Qin Luo guided her wrist to press against his chest—where his heartbeat thundered beneath her palm.

Gazing at her tenderly, he murmured, "The young miss’s good morning kiss..."

"...I’ll gladly take it."

Eep! ⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄

Su Muwan ducked her head, overwhelmed.

What’s wrong with me? I’ve read countless books, so why does Qin Luo still make me blush like this?!

This is outrageous!

She shoved him away, pursed her lips, and glared at his smug face. "You— You’re getting way too bold, Qin Luo!"

"Don’t get cocky!"

"You’re at my mercy today at the mall."

Qin Luo shrugged, smiling. "As you wish, young miss."

"Hmph!"

......

At Jiang City’s largest shopping center.

Noon sunlight shattered into rainbows through the glass dome ceiling. Despite already pushing two carts full of snacks, Su Muwan froze in front of a claw machine, her pupils shaking.

Gasp... It’s the latest shark plushie.

I want it. I NEED it!

But...

Would Qin Luo think I’m childish for wanting a stuffed toy at my age?

Just then—

Qin Luo sidled up, lacing his fingers through hers with a knowing smirk. "Which one do you want?"

"Hmph."

"Who’d play such a juvenile game?"

As she spoke—

[YOU WIN!!]

The machine blared a victory jingle as Qin Luo’s claw snagged a plushie on the first try.

He tossed it into their basket and grinned. "Really don’t wanna play?"

"I actually love claw machines."

"Humour me, young miss. Play a round or two?"

Su Muwan coughed. "Ugh, babysitting someone as immature as you is exhausting."

"Fine then..."

She held out her palm expectantly.

Translation: [Give me coins.]

Time passed.

Clink clink clink!!

By the 50th coin, Su Muwan had reached her breaking point.

"No way!"

"Where’s the guaranteed win after so many tries?!"

She gaped at the claw’s latest failure, nearly seeing red.

You’ve got to be kidding me!

After 50 coins, shouldn’t the machine give me one strong-grip turn?!

But—

Nope!

"One more try. If I don’t get it this time—!"

"Qin Luo, I'm going to throw this stupid machine into the river and let the sharks have it!"

Su Muwan was fuming with frustration.

But the next second—

"Miss Su."

Qin Luo suddenly reached from behind and took hold of her hand on the joystick: "You need to feel the angle of the grab."

!!

His warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck, their fingers overlapping as shadows flickered between them.

The moment the claw perfectly latched onto the shark plushie, Su Muwan’s eyes stayed glued to the machine.

Clatter!

When a pair of shark plushies—wearing wedding rings—tumbled out of the prize chute,

Su Muwan excitedly threw her arms around Qin Luo: "Luo Luo! We got it!"

"Mhm."

Qin Luo patted her head affectionately, nodding in satisfaction.

A happy Miss Su was, in short, absolutely adorable.

"By the way, I wonder how Su Bailian’s doing."

Su Muwan picked up the plushies, then glanced at Qin Luo, adding pointedly, "Not that I care or anything."

"It’s just the thought of her suffering miserably in the Primordial Sacred Land that makes me really happy."

Hearing this,

Qin Luo seemed to recall something and chuckled lightly: "Maybe..."

"Want to go check on her?"

"Miss Su... worried about your sister?"

"Hey! Absolutely not!"