Chapter 19: Guess

“Yao!”

A magnetic voice laced with a hint of languid charm sounded outside the door.

Ye Xiao Xiao instantly dropped Bai Feifei’s hand and ran to the door.

“My sister’s back from her trip!”

Ye Xiao Xiao hurried to greet her sister, leaving Bai Feifei in the lurch.

Her sore hand was flung aside, smacking the table with a thud.

Already painful, it now hurt even more.

┭┮﹏┭┮

If not for their lifelong friendship, Bai Feifei would’ve unleashed her “Canyon Secret Technique: Verbal Barrage” on Ye Xiao Xiao.

The door opened, revealing a tall woman in slightly revealing clothing.

“Sis, I missed you so much!”

“Huh? It’s not Yao?” Ye Rou looked a bit disappointed.

“Sis~ am I less important than Sister Yao in your heart?”

“You’re not a kid anymore, Xiao Xiao. You can’t keep clinging to me. You need to learn to live independently~”

Ye Rou pinched Ye Xiao Xiao’s cheek, peering inside.

She saw Bai Yao in an apron and gloves, carrying a steaming bowl of pork rib soup from the kitchen.

The moment she saw Bai Yao, Ye Rou’s eyes brimmed with deep affection.

But she restrained it. In Bai Yao’s view, she only saw Ye Rou’s joy at seeing her.

“Yao!”

“When did you get back, Ye Rou?”

Bai Yao set down the soup, catching Ye Rou’s incoming hug.

A head taller, Ye Rou’s embrace pushed Bai Yao back several steps until she hit the wall.

Ye Rou’s ample chest pressed against Bai Yao’s, the force squishing upward, nearly hitting her face.

“Mmph!”

“Sorry~ I got too excited. Haven’t seen you in so long.”

Ye Rou stuck out her pink tongue, offering a slight apology.

“It’s fine.” Bai Yao didn’t mind.

“Look, Yao, I got you these pink roses. Hope you like them.”

“Wow, pink!” Bai Yao took the roses, smiling brightly. “They smell amazing. I love them. You didn’t have to spend so much.”

“Just a bouquet. Your happiness is worth more than anything.”

Ye Rou held Bai Yao’s hand, looking down at her gently, her peach-blossom eyes full of tenderness.

“Why are your eyes all squinty? Feeling unwell?”

Bai Yao curiously touched Ye Rou’s eyes, oblivious to the roses’ meaning or the emotion in Ye Rou’s gaze.

These were roses.

“Sis~ stop flirting and come eat! I’m starving!”

Ye Xiao Xiao grumbled, annoyed. This was her sister.

Back after months away, and she was cozying up to another woman instead of caring for her.

Jealousy blazed in Ye Xiao Xiao’s heart!

This was her real sister!

“Let’s eat.”

“Mm.”

The Ye sisters moved here ten years ago, becoming neighbors with the Bai sisters.

The four shared a decade-long friendship, thick as thieves.

Dinner was joyful.

Afterward, Bai Feifei dove back into her game.

Ye Xiao Xiao, drawn in, grabbed Ye Rou’s phone to duo with Bai Feifei next door.

Tonight promised to be a restless, sleepless night.

Bai Yao cleared the messy table while Ye Rou sat on the sofa, playing with Bai Yao’s phone, occasionally glancing toward the kitchen.

She caught glimpses of Bai Yao bustling about.

Ten minutes later, Bai Yao emerged, removing her apron, letting her pinned-up hair fall over her right shoulder.

“You’re still here?”

“What, don’t like me in your house?”

“No, just curious. Shouldn’t you be with Xiao Xiao?”

Ye Rou had been away for months, and Ye Xiao Xiao stayed with Bai Yao during that time.

School days meant breakfast and lunch at the cafeteria, but dinners were usually at Bai Yao’s.

Occasionally, when Ye Rou sent money, Ye Xiao Xiao ate out.

“She’s got Feifei, hasn’t she?” Ye Rou’s smile was faint. “If I joined, I’d be a third wheel. Better to stay and keep you company.”

Ye Rou patted her lap, inviting Bai Yao to sit.

“Stop teasing. I’m not a kid anymore.”

Ten years ago, Bai Yao was smaller, and Ye Rou, a high schooler, loved holding her on her lap during breaks.

“What’s the big deal~”

“Ugh, you’re impossible. If Feifei and Xiao Xiao saw, they’d tease me.” Bai Yao sat lightly on Ye Rou’s lap.

Ye Rou wrapped her arms around Bai Yao’s waist, resting her chin on her neck, clinging closely.

“What’s wrong with that? We’re all good sisters.”

“It just feels weird.”

“Weird? I held you plenty when you were little.”

Ye Rou didn’t care—this was her Iris.

So fragrant~ so soft~

Pop~

“What’re you doing!”

Bai Yao jumped up, covering her mouth, eyes wide with shock.

Ye Rou said nothing, a playful smirk on her face.

“Guess~”

Bai Yao clutched herself, retreating several steps.

“I’m telling you, I’m not into girls! If you’re gonna mess with someone, don’t pick me—go bother someone else.”

Bai Yao huffed, not expecting Ye Rou to kiss her.

She wasn’t that opposed, but it was weird!

“What if…” Ye Rou stood, slowly closing in, “I want to mess with you?”

“No way!” Bai Yao grabbed a cup from the table defensively. “Come closer, and I’ll hit you!”

Seeing Bai Yao’s strong reaction, Ye Rou backed off.

It wasn’t the right time.

Their feelings weren’t quite there yet~

“Alright, alright” Ye Rou headed to the door. “Just teasing. I’m going home. Come over later”

Bai Yao was startled, thinking Ye Rou might actually overpower her.

At 1.8 meters, Ye Rou could easily dominate her if she tried.

“Ye Rou’s gone bad. Gotta be careful.” Bai Yao muttered.

Sitting on the sofa, she scanned the room.

It seemed a bit dirty. Maybe clean up, then head over.

Soon, Huang Ran and Long Shu arrived, bringing a beautiful iris bouquet.

Seeing her former comrades, Bai Yao was genuinely delighted.

“Wow, you brought such a big bouquet. Won’t this make Huang Ran’s already struggling shop worse?”

“A measly flower shop’s nothing compared to you, Yao Yao.”

Long Shu slung an arm around Bai Yao’s shoulders like a buddy.

“Talk’s cheap. My shop’s startup cost was 100,000, you know?” Huang Ran wasn’t pleased.

“Tch, so stingy.”

“Come on, don’t bicker. Let’s talk nicely.”

As Bai Yao hosted her friends, Ye Rou watched from her second-floor window.

She saw everything, including a floating creature that piqued her curiosity.

“Oh~ is that the magical girls’ guide?”