Chapter 17 : Little Qianya is looking for her mother (not really)

Qianya: I’m about to get forcibly kissed, waa

Luko’s warm breath was right there. Qianya held her breath in panic.

But the expected kiss never landed. Instead came a soft, moist sensation.

lick…

Luko gently stuck out her tongue and licked away the cake crumb that had been stuck to the corner of Qianya’s mouth from the earlier snack.

“…Eh?” Qianya was completely dazed.

Luko hurriedly scrambled off her.

“There was cake on Xiao Ya’s mouth… I just helped lick it off…” Luko stammered, eyes darting everywhere except Qianya.

“Oh… oh…” Qianya answered in a fog.

The two little cuties sat on the bed, faces burning red. The room was so quiet only their breathing could be heard.

After a long while, Luko finally whispered,

“Um… the cake you brought earlier was really good.”

Clearly looking for something to say ( )

Qianya instantly latched onto the topic.

“It’s the new item from 【Cat Cat Patisserie】! Next time I’ll take Luko-chan to the shop and treat you to as much as you want!”

Qianya: I’ve got pocket money lately anyway

The silver coins the Doggy Pizza boss “voluntarily” gave her would last quite a while ( )

“Eh! A-a date !!” Luko’s eyes went wide.

“Really? Xiao Ya wants to go on a date with me?”

“Uh, well… not really—wait no, yes it is a date!” Seeing how excited Luko was, Qianya’s heart melted.

Guess it’s a date now (facepalm)

“When the café isn’t busy this weekend, we’ll go.” Qianya added.

“Nn… Xiao Ya can’t ditch me again this time…” Luko’s voice turned pouty again toward the end.

“I won’t! This time I absolutely mean it.” Qianya reached out and ruffled Luko’s pink hair.

“Mm! Pinky promise.” Luko finally smiled and held out her little finger.

“Pinky promise… oh right, Luko-chan, can I borrow a dress?”

Qianya suddenly remembered.

“Of course! Xiao Ya can pick anything ≧▽≦”

Luko was now extremely happy.

She pulled out a pale lavender lace dress embroidered with tiny dragon patterns on the hem and handed it to Qianya.

Qianya held it up—it was a perfect fit.

“Thanks, Luko-chan! I’ll head out now. See you this weekend!”

“See you this weekend!” Luko walked her to the door.

Only after Qianya’s figure disappeared down the hallway did Luko clutch her chest, lean against the door, and mumble,

“Phew… good thing I held back…”

When she had Qianya pinned earlier, there was one moment Luko almost lost control and nearly did something that could’ve lasted a lifetime.

“No way, big sister me… Even if I like Xiao Ya, I can’t do that”

Luko shook her head furiously, trying to shake the thought out.

♡♡♡

After leaving Luko’s room, Time-Management Master Qianya immediately headed to her next target—Vivian’s room.

“Took you long enough, Yaya. The tea got cold.”

Qianya pushed the door open and saw Vivian sitting at the round table, a long-cold cup of black tea and a plate of delicate cookies in front of her.

Vivian wore a black lace nightgown, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders, looking utterly seductive.

Then…

Qianya: gulp…

Vivian: “Eh…?”

Qianya walked straight over, grabbed the black tea before Vivian could say anything else, and chugged it in one go.

“Chug chug—thanks for the treat! Bye!”

She turned and bolted out of the room before Vivian could react.

Leaving Vivian sitting there, staring blankly at the empty doorway.

“She just… left? Huh???”

♡♡♡

After escaping Vivian’s room, Qianya hugged the dress, went back to her own room, and changed.

The pale lavender lace dress fit perfectly, accentuating her slim waist. The lace neckline made her skin look even fairer, giving her an extra touch of elegance compared to usual.

“Nn… this should do…”

Qianya then left her room.

She’d skip Zero’s place… time was tight, and if she didn’t head to the tavern soon…

Iris would zap her X﹏X

As for Zero…

Ditching her a little should be fine. Zero would probably understand, right?

Zero was so nice; she definitely wouldn’t do anything to Qianya.

Qianya: Yep, definitely

…

When she reached the first-floor hall, Iris was already waiting by the door.

Hearing footsteps, Iris looked up. The moment she saw Qianya, her eyes visibly paused.

Tonight Iris wore a deep red halter dress with a plunging neckline that revealed a generous expanse of fair skin and full curves. The hem stopped mid-thigh, showing off long, beautiful legs. Her golden hair fell loose behind her—she looked sexy and captivating.

Gulp… Qianya couldn’t help swallowing, eyes glued.

She’d always treated Iris like a grinding-and-questing tool… she never realized how stunning she was when properly dressed up…

Qianya: If only I’d eaten her sooner waa QAQ

Too bad now she had no tools for the crime ( )

Noticing Qianya’s stare, Iris’s cheeks flushed. She quickly looked away.

“W-What are you staring at? I… didn’t dress up for you…”

“I didn’t say anything ” Qianya felt wronged.

“Shut up ˃ʍ˂ Ahem, let me remind you: we’re going to seriously discuss the café renovation. Drinking is just incidental. Behave!”

Iris crossed her arms.

“Yeah yeah ” Qianya agreed verbally.

Drinking is incidental? Doubtful…

After all this time together, Yaxi knew Iris loved alcohol the most—she just had terrible tolerance ( )

♡♡♡

The tavern was only a ten-minute walk from the café.

Qianya pushed open the door. It was quiet tonight; only the bartender Arthur was wiping glasses behind the counter.

Arthur was a middle-aged man with a short beard and a kind face.

Back when Qianya was still Yaxi, she often drank here with Iris and was good friends with Arthur.

Out of habit, Qianya walked to the bar and waved.

“Yo, Arthur bro, the usual!”

Arthur looked up, puzzled.

“You are…?”

Qianya: “Ah ”

Oh no…

Only then did she remember she was in girl form—Arthur wouldn’t recognize her!

Qianya awkwardly scratched her head, unsure how to explain.

“Mr. Arthur, she’s Yaxi’s little sister, Qianya.” Iris quickly covered, sitting beside her.

“She heard from Yaxi that your drinks are amazing and wanted to try them today.”

“Oh, Yaxi’s sister!” Arthur suddenly understood and smiled warmly.

“No wonder she looks familiar… Don’t worry, uncle will mix you something delicious!”

Iris added, “Same as always for me—one fruit wine.”

“Coming right up!” Arthur turned to prepare the drinks.

While waiting, the two started discussing the café renovation.

“I’m still sticking with Starlight Café…” Qianya muttered.

She refused to give up ( )

“Fine, we’ll shelve the name for now. The big problem is—I did the math. My renovation plan needs at least ten platinum coins, and we’re nowhere close to that budget.” Iris said, head lowered.

Qianya facepalmed: “I’m begging you X﹏X”

Iris: “What?”

Qianya: “Think about it… all the furniture you picked is luxury stuff, several gold coins each, and you’ve kept the shop closed forever. Of course we’re broke!”

“It’s because you were too stingy before.” Iris countered. “Coffee, milk tea, and desserts were all dirt cheap. Only commoners came—we barely made anything. How could the café grow? I want to target nobles too for real development.”

Qianya shot back: “But you’ll lose our regular customers! I deliberately kept prices low for volume and word-of-mouth… Suddenly raising prices and going high-end will make old customers feel we’ve changed. They won’t come back! You can’t sacrifice one for the other ”

That was Qianya’s true feeling.

It was like having a crowd of customers outside but only letting five in ( )

“So you want to take it slow?” Iris raised a brow, surprised Qianya actually understood business.

“Of course!” Qianya nodded.

“Then what do you think we should do first?” Iris asked, genuinely curious.

Qianya: “First… raise money o(´^｀)o”

“…How did we circle back to money again!” Iris nearly laughed from frustration.

Just then, Arthur returned with their drinks.

Iris sighed helplessly. “Fine, topic on hold. Drink first.”

“Seriously…”

Qianya looked at the counter.

A light pink fruit wine was placed in front of Iris, and a pale purple drink in front of Qianya.

Glug glug… hm?

Qianya took a sip and frowned.

This wasn’t right…

Wasn’t this just grape juice?

“Uncle Arthur, why grape juice? Where’s my wheat ale ” Qianya yelled.

“Little girls shouldn’t drink alcohol.” Arthur chuckled and shook his head.

“I’m not a kid ” Qianya huffed, pointing at Iris’s fruit wine. “I want that!”

“As expected of Yaxi’s sister—same personality… That’s exactly why I can’t serve you. If something happened, your brother would never forgive me.”

Arthur shrugged and went to the back.

“Nn…” Qianya pouted, looking utterly pitiful.

Then she reached for Iris’s barely touched fruit wine.

“Don’t mess around.” Iris quickly moved the glass away.

“Let me have a sip…” Qianya whined.

Iris: “Hey, you idiot… I warned you, your girl body can’t hold liquor like before.”

Qianya didn’t believe her and insisted.

Eventually Iris gave in and let her have one sip.

Surprisingly delicious… Qianya wanted another, but Iris snatched the glass back.

“No more ” Iris was firm this time.

“Nn…”

Qianya obediently sat back, still craving the taste.

But soon her cheeks grew hot, and her body felt floaty.

“Uh oh X﹏X”

N-No way…

That one sip was hitting this hard already…?

Her vision blurred, and she uncontrollably slumped toward Iris.

“Eh ”

Iris didn’t react in time.

Qianya wrapped her arms around Iris’s arm and buried her face right into that soft, ample chest.

“Hey, hey, you idiot… drunk already?” Iris’s face flushed as Qianya suddenly motorboated her, completely flustered.

“Mmm hehe Drunk little Qianya’s voice was soft and sticky, rubbing against Iris’s chest like she hadn’t heard.

“Iris… smells so nice… so soft…”

“If you don’t get up, I’m pushing you off.” Iris sighed.

Told her not to drink, and she got wasted in one sip.

Disobedient slave… Iris felt a spark of anger rising.

Hearing she’d be pushed away, Qianya nuzzled harder.

“Nn, no no… mommy~”

“…?”

That one “mommy” completely short-circuited Iris’s brain.

“W-What did you just say (〃﹏〃)?!”

Iris’s anger vanished instantly. Her face turned even redder—she was embarrassed, flustered, yet reluctant to push Qianya away.

Oh no… Iris felt like some strange elven maternal instinct had just awakened ( )

Unable to help herself, she hugged Qianya back and gently stroked her head.