CHAPTER 44

The crisis warning for the herbivorous species made Shu Yanyan shudder inexplicably. She shifted her bottom, trying to put some distance between herself and Chu Yu.

However, since the two of them were still around Yunmiao, no matter how she moved, her hand remained firmly held by Chu Yu.

She wasn't satisfied with being called a "little rabbit." Although Chu Yu had never used such an animal metaphor for herself, the look in Chu Yu's eyes made her realize that —

Being called a "little rabbit" was definitely no better than being called a "little pig"!

But considering that Shu Yanyan had already objected once, opposing it again would be a bit too much.

She bit her lip and held back from saying anything further.

Little Yunmiao was completely oblivious to her parents' interaction and started asking other questions. Fortunately, Chu Yu didn't do anything mischievous with the subsequent questions, and Yunmiao smoothly completed her role in the family.

The three of them returned to the bedroom to prepare for rest.

As usual, Shu Yanyan first assisted Chu Yu in helping Yunmiao clean up. After placing the refreshed little girl on the large bed in the bedroom and watching her quietly flipping through a storybook, Shu Yanyan returned to the bathroom to freshen up.

Because she had helped Yunmiao with her washing earlier, although she had rolled up her sleeves, Shu Yanyan could still feel that her clothes were somewhat damp when she let them down. Wet clothes couldn't be worn for too long, so Shu Yanyan quickened her pace, wanting to take a quick bath.

But when she returned to the bathroom, she saw that Chu Yu was already standing by the bathtub.

Chu Yu had already taken off her usual clothes and was wearing a loose, oversized white bathrobe. Chu Yu was quite tall, and the bathrobe that reached Shu Yanyan's ankles only reached Chu Yu's mid-calf.

Shu Yanyan's gaze was instantly drawn to Chu Yu's exposed, pristine ankles.

However, she managed to maintain her composure.

After coming back to her senses, Shu Yanyan held her breath and tried to quietly retreat. But before she could even take two steps back, Chu Yu happened to turn around.

The belt around the waist of the bathrobe was loosely tied, and the open robe couldn't conceal the sight of Chu Yu's exposed body from the neckline, pouring straight onto Shu Yanyan's face.

She had been holding her breath, feeling the discomfort of oxygen deprivation in her body. She commanded her lungs to work, forcing herself to take a deep breath. It was then that she realized the air around her had already been occupied by Chu Yu's scent.

Chu Yu, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to everything and just stood in front of the bathtub, looking at her.

Shu Yanyan stuttered, wanting to explain but only making things more chaotic. "Do you want to take a bath first? Um, because you didn't close the door, I didn't know you were in there... Um, I mean, you..."

She blushed and bit her lip, finally straightening her tongue. "You go ahead and wash, I'll go out."

Shu Yanyan had only managed to turn around when she heard Chu Yu shout, "Wait."

The sound of footsteps, "pat-dap," became apparent as the other person clearly approached her. Shu Yanyan wanted to leave directly, but her legs seemed to be stuck to the ground, unable to move at all.

She could only stand foolishly in place, allowing Chu Yu to walk up to her, pointing at her wet clothes. "Did it splash on you when you were bathing Yunmiao just now?"

Chu Yu touched her small arm. "Is it wet inside too?"

"No..." Finally regaining control of her body, Shu Yanyan snatched her hand back, feeling annoyed. "J-Just the sleeves are wet."

She instinctively knew she needed to leave quickly. "You go ahead and wash, I'll come back later."

Unfortunately, it was already too late. Chu Yu held onto her hand.

She leaned close to Shu Yanyan's ear, lowering her voice as she softly asked, "Where are you going? The water was prepared for you."

Shu Yanyan's throat felt dry.

She swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "...Then you go out."

Chu Yu tugged at the corner of her clothes, a hint of grievance appearing in her features. "Yanyan is so heartless, using me and then wanting to kick me out?"

Shu Yanyan tried her best to avoid eye contact, fully embracing the theory of "out of sight, out of mind."

"...It's not like I told you to fill the tub with water."

Chu Yu lifted her hand and touched the back of Shu Yanyan's neck, gently and irresistibly turning her face towards her.

After the two locked eyes, Chu Yu asked again, "And it's not like Yanyan forced me to change my answer? Hmm? Not allowing me to like little pigs?"

Shu Yanyan had nothing to say now.

She couldn't escape from this matter; it was her own insistence that made Chu Yu do it. Although... even the final change to "little rabbit" by Chu Yu seemed to be directed at her.

From this perspective, Shu Yanyan felt like she hadn't gained any advantage.

She stubbornly spoke up, facing the other person head-on. "So what if it's me?"

Chu Yu paused for a moment, then a deeper smile appeared on her lips—

To be honest, usually in a situation like this, Shu Yanyan would give in to her "surrender." It was rare for Chu Yu to see Shu Yanyan maintaining her composure and attempting to counterattack under her own onslaught.

The novelty made Chu Yu's blood boil.

She started to regret that their little girl was still outside. Otherwise, tonight...

Pulling her drifting thoughts back, Chu Yu withdrew her intrusive hands.

She suppressed the restless emotions in her heart and responded in a gentle voice, "It's nothing special."

"Lately, I've been so 'well-behaved,' and you've noticed, Yanyan. You don't need to be so guarded against me anymore, right? I'm really troubled by being so carefully guarded by you."

Chu Yu's response was completely unexpected for Shu Yanyan.

In fact, she had already imagined what Chu Yu would say just now.

Based on past experience, Chu Yu particularly enjoyed using her actions as leverage to make Shu Yanyan give certain... cough, certain "rewards" that good children shouldn't know about.

And as long as Shu Yanyan felt guilty and started to cooperate, she would definitely be "devoured" completely.

At this moment, Yunmiao was still in the bedroom, and Shu Yanyan was calmer and more sober than usual.

She had already decided that no matter what strange requests Chu Yu made, she would directly refuse.

But she didn't expect that in the end, Chu Yu would say such words.

Little Rabbit had achieved remarkable results in her self-perceived counterattack recently. However, before she could feel too proud, she heard Chu Yu's grievance-filled confession, which immediately made her reflect on whether she had indeed gone too far.

After some thought, Shu Yanyan spoke up, "I... apologize. I didn't mean to trouble you."

In fact, it wasn't entirely Shu Yanyan's fault for being soft-hearted.

Chu Yu's words were mostly true, with a small portion being false. The grievances she expressed were indeed genuine. Being forced to sleep in the living room by Shu Yanyan and constantly guarded against like a villain did cause her some trouble.

Shu Yanyan was naturally sensitive, so she absorbed this part of Chu Yu's true emotions and her apology was not difficult to understand.

Seeing that this approach was initially effective, Chu Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She stepped aside and said, "Then go take a bath. If you wait too long, the water will get cold."

Shu Yanyan didn't show any resistance this time.

She walked towards the bathtub, with a few moments of hesitation. She frequently looked back at Chu Yu, who was still standing in place, and finally couldn't help but ask when she reached the edge of the bathtub, "What about you?"

Chu Yu glanced at her and turned to walk towards the bathroom door.

Shu Yanyan couldn't express her feelings, but when she realized it, her hand had already reached out.

Chu Yu reached the door, gripping the handle with her right hand. She looked back at Shu Yanyan, her expression carrying a hint of affection.

But instead of walking out, she pushed the bathroom door closed with force.

Shu Yanyan trembled slightly.

A few seconds later, Chu Yu returned to her side.

She leaned close to Shu Yanyan's ear, without any abrupt movements, and simply asked, "What do you think, Yanyan?"

Shu Yanyan's mind was already enveloped in the misty fog of the bathroom, and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub made her body feel slightly warm.

In a dazed state, she asked in response, "What do I think?"

Chu Yu chuckled softly, her low and alluring voice whispering in her ear.

"What does Yanyan think, should I go out or... stay?"

Shu Yanyan took a step back, avoiding Chu Yu's ambiguous aura.

This step made her bare feet touch the water on the bathroom floor. The accumulated water had been flowing for a while, slightly cooler than the body's temperature. Caught off guard by the contact, Shu Yanyan trembled imperceptibly from the chill.

The sensation was strange.

Her upper body was enveloped in the mist rising from the bathtub, while her feet were in the cool, clear water. Shu Yanyan felt as if she were at the intersection of water and fire.

Taking a step forward meant entering a chilly but clear-headed world.

Taking a step back...

She would be assimilated by the hot steam, turning into a boiling syrup.

Sweet and scalding.

The answer seemed clear, the option she should say out loud was right on the tip of her tongue, ready to answer Chu Yu's question as soon as she opened her mouth.

But her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, and the words that came out of her lips were completely different from what she was thinking in her head.

"Why... are you letting me choose?"

Chu Yu was extremely perceptive to verbal and non-verbal cues.

Looking at Shu Yanyan's flushed cheeks, her hands were already resting on her waist.

She replied, "Because I'm being 'obedient,' I'll listen to whatever you say."

It was as if a firework exploded before her eyes, dazzling colors burning through the oxygen. Soon enough, Shu Yanyan felt even breathing was difficult.

She raised her hand and pressed against Chu Yu's shoulder, her senses focused entirely on her back.

Chu Yu's fingers, imitating the motion of walking, started from the middle of her spine and moved upward, bit by bit.

Those fingertips seemed to carry an electric current, and wherever they touched, it caused a tingling sensation.

Shu Yanyan's last trace of rationality struggled desperately, "No, no... you should go, go out."

Chu Yu acted stubborn and simply ignored her.

She leaned in and licked Shu Yanyan's earlobe, "Hmm, what did Yanyan say?"

Shu Yanyan opened her mouth, her voice like a mosquito's whisper, "You can't... do this... go out..."

Chu Yu had already captured her fragile earbone.

"Hmm? Louder, please?"

Tears welled up in the corners of Shu Yanyan's eyes.

"Uhh—"

Chu Yu curled up her lips and kissed her cheek.

Her hand had already "moved" near Shu Yanyan's shoulder, deftly circling around to the front and starting to unbutton her, one by one.

At the same time, she gave a 'legitimate reason', "Hmm, why hasn't Yanyan taken a shower yet? You'll catch a cold iIf you keep wearing wet clothes"

"Or should I help you?"

Shu Yanyan arched her body, "Uhh... ahh..."

In the incoherent gasp from Shu Yanyan, Chu Yu vaguely recognized a sound that was close to "Okay."

With a mischievous smile, she took the opportunity to use a chicken feather as an arrow, "It's my pleasure to serve you."

Shu Yanyan: "..."

Chu Yu's assault was fierce and accurate, and Little Rabbit was left with nothing but gasps.

Soon, with a splashing sound, the hot water in the bathtub overflowed, partially spilling onto the floor.

Poor Shu Yanyan's clothes, which were already wet, were completely soaked this time.

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