CHAPTER 28

The time had reached noon.

Seeing that Shu Yanyan didn't show any signs of waking up, Chu Yu had to "steel her heart" and wake her up.

Although she also wished for Shu Yanyan to sleep well and get enough rest, the prescribed medication and subsequent examinations were waiting, and they couldn't allow the future Empress of the Empire to continue playing the sleeping princess.

So, soon enough, Shu Yanyan, who was still in a dream, felt a slight itch on her cheek. She turned her body and pulled the annoying disturbance into her embrace, muttering, "Yunmiao... stop making trouble."

But today's "Yunmiao" didn't seem to be well-behaved.

The teasing and disturbance didn't stop, gradually driving away the drowsiness around. Shu Yanyan finally opened her eyes.

The drowsiness of just waking up made her thoughts and actions sluggish. It took her a full five seconds to react when she looked at Chu Yu leaning against her.

Chu Yu curved her lips.

She leaned forward and stuck out her tongue, lightly licking Shu Yanyan's nose.

"Why are you freezing?"

Shu Yanyan widened her eyes.

The memories from last night came rushing back, and the unbearable moments of embarrassment and shame overwhelmed her, almost making her faint.

In the next moment, she stared blankly, lifted the blanket, and hid her entire self inside.

Chu Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Why are you so adorable?" she asked the person-shaped lump next to her.

Shu Yanyan: "..."

The little rabbit decided to hide in its own burrow and refused to come out no matter what.

Chu Yu simply embraced her from the outside. "This is fine too."

She continued, "How about we just stay here forever? That way, Yanyan will always belong to me alone."

Shu Yanyan: "..."

She struggled a bit inside the blanket but found that she couldn't shake off Chu Yu, who was like a sticky plaster. So, she gave up on this naive idea and continued with her tactic of hiding.

Chu Yu held her like this, with both of them embracing each other under the same blanket.

After a few minutes, estimating that Shu Yanyan's emotions should have stabilized by now, she spoke again, "Are you hungry? Yunmiao is still waiting for you to join her for lunch. She was worried when she didn't see you this morning and heard that you were crying. Why don't you go and see her?"

This statement provided enough of a step for Shu Yanyan, and the little rabbit finally timidly poked her head out.

She asked, "Where is Yunmiao?"

Chu Yu's gaze was gentle. "She's in the dining room. Yanyan, get up and freshen up a bit. I'll take you over."

Shu Yanyan pouted. "I... I don't have any clothes to wear."

Chu Yu, whether genuinely not understanding or intentionally, pointed to the location of the bathroom in the room and said, "It's okay, it's just the two of us in the house. The bathroom is over there, and there are bathrobes inside after you shower."

Shu Yanyan puffed her cheeks.

"You go out!" she demanded.

Chu Yu sighed.

She got off the bed openly, but she didn't have any intention of leaving immediately. "You might not know how to use the things in the bathroom, so I'll go and prepare the water for you."

After saying that, she turned and headed towards the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water could be heard from inside.

Although they were still in the same room, not being able to see Chu Yu at the moment greatly relieved Shu Yanyan.

Although the two of them had already had intimate contact last night, for Shu Yanyan, their current unclear relationship still didn't allow her to completely let go of herself.

Of course, on the other hand, Chu Yu was also too excessive last night.

Although the little rabbit was innocent and kind-hearted, she still held grudges at critical moments!

Taking advantage of Chu Yu's absence, Shu Yanyan sat up and started searching the room.

Unfortunately, the palace maids had a high level of professionalism. Shu Yanyan searched the room twice but couldn't find the clothes she had worn last night.

She felt a bit troubled and hesitated to get out of bed.

Five minutes later, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped temporarily.

Chu Yu, wearing a pure white bathrobe, walked out from inside and leaned against the bathroom door, reminding her, "The water is ready."

Shu Yanyan concealed her complex emotions and nodded expressionlessly, "Then you can leave, right?"

Chu Yu tilted her head, "Yanyan, are you sure... Can you get out of bed by yourself and walk to the bathroom?"

Shu Yanyan's face turned slightly red.

She felt humiliated!

She couldn't tolerate this frustration. Shu Yanyan wrapped herself in a small blanket, wiggled her little butt on the big bed, and moved to the edge of the bed. Then, she extended one foot and stepped on the floor.

But the next second, she fully understood what Chu Yu meant—

The bed itself was very soft, which she hadn't noticed until now.

Now that she stepped on the floor, she felt how sore and weak her waist and legs were.

Shu Yanyan's body leaned forward, and she had to use her hands to prop herself up on the edge of the bed to maintain balance.

She heard Chu Yu's unique low and hoarse laughter from behind, followed by the sound of footsteps.

In the time it took for her to catch her breath, Chu Yu had already walked to her side.

Without hesitation, she bent down and embraced her. Shu Yanyan pushed her shoulder.

Chu Yu lowered her head and gently kissed her forehead.

"Don't fuss."

She reassured her in a gentle voice, "Yanyan, be good. I'll take you in for a shower, and I won't touch you. I've talked to Yunmiao. I promised her that you'll accompany her for lunch."

Only then did Shu Yanyan stop resisting.

As long as she moved Yunmiao out, even if she didn't want to, she had to cooperate with Chu Yu. It had been a long time since last night, and she was anxious to confirm Yunmiao's current condition.

But...

Both of them were in such an ambiguous position. Shu Yanyan felt Chu Yu's body warmth and the refreshing pheromones emanating from her. She felt uncomfortable everywhere.

She tried to stay quiet and hunched herself, lowering her head to prevent Chu Yu from seeing her blushing ears and cheeks.

But this obvious attempt to conceal was futile.

Chu Yu didn't need to lower her head; she could see Shu Yanyan's expression with just the corner of her eye.

Saying that she didn't feel itchy all over would be a lie, but the Emperor's strong self-control allowed her to walk calmly from the bedroom to the bathroom.

When she placed Shu Yanyan into the bathtub, she held her breath and slowly walked out of the bedroom.

Only when she was outside did Chu Yu dare to resume breathing.

The maids were already waiting, and as soon as they saw her, they immediately handed over fresh clothes and medications to suppress the pheromones.

Chu Yu took the items and instructed the maid, saying, "Tell Mother that we will go to the restaurant to have a meal with them in about 20 minutes."

The maid replied, "Yes," and turned to deliver the message.

Chu Yu took the items back to the bedroom and waited patiently for Shu Yanyan to finish washing up.

Due to the urgency of seeing Yunmiao, Shu Yanyan moved quickly and managed to tidy herself up in just ten minutes.

Chu Yu led her all the way to the restaurant. As soon as the door opened, Shu Yanyan saw her daughter playing in the arms of a young woman.

When Yunmiao saw her, she immediately left the "young woman" and ran towards her, calling out, "Mommy! Mommy!"

Finally seeing Shu Yanyan, she was too excited and rushed over like a little cannonball.

The "young woman" followed behind, shouting, "Hey, baby, slow down, run slower, run slower!"

Shu Yanyan crouched down, and Yunmiao leaped into her arms.

The two embraced tightly, squeezing out all the tension and uneasiness from the time they were apart.

After separating slightly, Yunmiao gently touched Shu Yanyan's cheek and said, "Mommy, you finally woke up."

Shu Yanyan felt a little embarrassed at the remark but still nodded, saying, "Yes... I woke up."

She asked in return, "Did you behave well while Mommy was away?"

Yunmiao nodded vigorously and turned to look at the "young woman" who caught up with them. "Grandma says I'm super good!"

Of course, the "young woman" was the Empress Dowager.

After spending a morning together, Shu Yanyan had already established a preliminary bond with Yunmiao and successfully accepted the title of "Grandma."

Now, when Yunmiao asked her, she nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course, of course! Grandma has never seen a child as well-behaved as our Yunmiao!"

Yunmiao shyly lowered her little head.

Shu Yanyan, on the other hand, was completely confused. "Grandma?"

Chu Yu explained behind her, "Let me introduce, um, this is... This is my mother."

Shu Yanyan was stunned.

In the era of interstellar civilization, human lifespans had greatly extended, but she never expected that Chu Yu's mother would be such a stunning beauty who appeared to be in her early thirties.

She regained her composure and politely greeted, "Uh, hello, Auntie."

"Hey, why call me Auntie?" The Empress Dowager glanced at her with a slight reproach. "Just like Chu Yu, you can simply call me 'Mother'."

Shu Yanyan awkwardly chuckled, "Auntie... it, it doesn't seem appropriate..."

Chu Yu gestured behind her to her mother, silently pleading for her not to scare the person away.

The Empress Dowager responded with a scrutinizing gaze, as if mocking Chu Yu for not having won over her daughter-in-law yet.

Chu Yu was at a loss and could only lower her head, coughing awkwardly.

The Empress Dowager, still not giving up on her unlucky child, took charge and invited Shu Yanyan, "Come, come, let's eat first."

"Yunmiao said she must wait for you to come and eat together. She's still hungry." the Empress Dowager said.

Yunmiao chimed in, "Mommy, are you hungry? Let's go eat!"

Shu Yanyan was momentarily stunned.

In fact, she had considered immediately bidding farewell to the two of them and taking Yunmiao home. But now...

She reluctantly nodded, leading Yunmiao to follow the Empress Dowager to the dining table.

The palace's cuisine was incredibly delicious.

Although sitting next to Chu Yu made Shu Yanyan dare not look around casually, her appetite was completely conquered by the tasty food. Even Yunmiao ate more than usual, finishing half a bowl of rice.

The Empress Dowager felt an immense sense of accomplishment in feeding her beloved grandchild. The entire restaurant echoed with her laughter and the sound of her doting on the child, surprisingly without any awkwardness.

However, after finishing the meal, Shu Yanyan couldn't wait to take her leave—

She knew that her tendency to avoid things wasn't good, but she needed a quiet space to sort out what was currently happening.

Chu Yu responded with a question, "Where do you want to go back to?"

Shu Yanyan was momentarily stunned, "Back home..."

Chu Yu sighed and held her hand, "That place is a rented house, not Yanyan's home. If there's anything important, we can go back together in a few days to retrieve it. From now on, the palace is Yanyan's home."

Shu Yanyan widened her eyes, "What do you mean?"

Chu Yu gazed deeply into her eyes, "Do you think I would let you and Yunmiao wander around after knowing the truth?"

Shu Yanyan stood there in a daze, suddenly biting her lower lip.

She slowly withdrew her hand and softly reminded him, "You told me before that the past is in the past, and there's no need to dwell on it. I've thought about it for a long time, and what you said makes sense. Now, with the same words, Chu Yu, I want to tell you the same."

Chu Yu paused.

She recalled that on the first day of Shu Yanyan's sweet shop opening, she had indeed said similar words to her.

At that moment, she really wished she could time travel back and knock herself out from that time.

Shu Yanyan continued, "Chu Yu... I want to say... I know you didn't do it on purpose. Whether it was in the Chaotic Federation or on the Empire, it was because of amnesia that you acted that way. Now, even though you know the truth, you don't have to force yourself because of what happened in the past."

At this point, Chu Yu finally understood her meaning.

She frowned, "You think that I wanted to keep you and Yunmiao with me out of guilt or some other reason?"

Shu Yanyan could sense her displeasure.

She braved herself, "At least... it's part of the reason."

Chu Yu asked again, "If that's really the case, then what does last night's incident at your place mean? Was the kiss I gave you also out of guilt or some other reason?"

The Empress Dowager sat beside them, holding Yunmiao in her arms, and her eyes widened—

This was too exciting! In her lifetime, she unexpectedly got to witness her unlucky daughter's drama unfold! How thrilling!

She stared intently, waiting for Shu Yanyan's reaction, while also reaching out to put a grape into Yunmiao's mouth.

The grape was big and sweet. Yunmiao chewed on it with her mouth wide open, curiously watching her mommy and big sister talk.

Shu Yanyan's ears turned red.

"Then... then what was it for?" she asked.

Chu Yu took a deep breath. "What do you think?"

Shu Yanyan hesitated, "..."

She vaguely understood Chu Yu's meaning but didn't know how to respond.

Chu Yu no longer wanted to be ambiguous. She went straight to the point.

"I've said it before, just like the 'Shu Qing' back then, I liked you from the moment I laid eyes on you."

The Empress Dowager exclaimed, "Wow!"

It was so explosive!

Yunmiao chimed in, "Wow!"

She also liked her big sister from the first moment they met!

As for mommy... even though she didn't know when she first laid eyes on Shu Yanyan, Yunmiao was certain that she also liked her mommy from the very beginning!

Chu Yu had automatically blocked out the outside distractions.

"The next thing I'm about to say is very important. It's true that knowing the truth has had some impact on me. At most, it has only strengthened my determination to progress our relationship and increased my guilt towards you and Yunmiao."

"But even if I'm still in the dark right now, even if I'm not the same 'Shu Qing,' I am certain that we will eventually reach this point."

Finally, she softened her voice and pleaded, "So, Yanyan, please stay with me, okay?"

Shu Yanyan hesitated, "..."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't find the words to speak.

After their reunion, she could feel a different spark between herself and Chu Yu.

But she always suspected that it was because she mistook Chu Yu for Shu Qing, that everything was a misunderstanding. Additionally, considering the vast difference in their status now, she didn't dare to imagine too much.

It wasn't until Chu Yu clarified everything with her own words that she felt a sense of clarity, like dispelling the fog.

So this is how Chu Yu sees her.

So Chu Yu also harbors the same feelings and desires as her!

Shu Yanyan was moved to the point where she couldn't control herself, but when she turned her head, she saw the Empress Dowager and Yunmiao staring at her with wide eyes.

She sniffled and swallowed back her tears.

After some thought, she reluctantly responded, "If Yunmiao agrees... I have no objections."

Chu Yu took a few steps closer and leaned in next to her ear.

She sighed softly, letting the warm breath brush against Shu Yanyan's earlobe, before saying, "Alright, I promise you, I will make Yunmiao accept me."

"But I also want to hear you say it to me in person, that you want to be with Chu Yu. If you can't say it now, I want to hear it from you tonight when we're alone."

Shu Yanyan hesitated, "..."

The next moment, Chu Yu left her side and walked over to her own mother, taking Yunmiao from her embrace.

The Empress Dowager, who hadn't recovered yet, said, "Hey, ask whatever you want, but why are you taking my baby away?"

Chu Yu addressed her, saying, "Mother, can you give us some time, please? I have something to say to Yanyan and Yunmiao alone."

The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes.

Fine, there's no more entertainment for her.

But she understood as well, "Alright, alright, I'll go, I'll go!"

Chu Yu quickly responded, "I'll take Yanyan and Yunmiao back, you can continue with your business."

The Empress Dowager, "..."

So frustrating!

Chu Yu acted swiftly and decisively. After knowing that her own mother had "no objections," she bid farewell to Shu Yanyan and Yunmiao.

Soon, only the Empress Dowager remained in the restaurant.

She angrily pulled at the tablecloth, adding another account of misfortune owed to her by her unlucky daughter.

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