Chapter 82: Taking Responsibility
The End of the Treatment
With the final massage, the fox ears above Yu Li’s head faded away. The surge of spiritual energy ceased.
“Hah… hah…”
Ai Xinglan panted heavily. Sweat soaked her shirt, clinging to her body. Her eyes were hazy, whether from pain or something else.
“Master… it’s done~” Yu Li leaned down, deliberately blowing a breath by Ai Xinglan’s ear.
“Eek!”
Ai Xinglan’s body trembled, her gaze clearing slightly. She looked up at Yu Li’s ever-present smile, instinctively wanting to shrink back.
This idiot… she’s definitely doing it on purpose.
Grumbling inwardly, Ai Xinglan noted that despite Yu Li’s smile, her eyes held no trace of amusement—only a deep, unsettling intensity.
“Master…”
“What’s wrong?!” Ai Xinglan flinched, as if hearing Yu Li call her “Master” now triggered a shiver.
“Try moving a bit.” Yu Li’s tone was calm, suggesting the painful method should yield results.
Following her prompt, Ai Xinglan tested her body. Though pain lingered, she felt significantly lighter.
“Hm…”
Shocked, she blinked. Her spiritual energy hadn’t recovered, but Yu Li’s method clearly worked. Eagerly, she tried to stand.
But Ai Xinglan was too hasty. As she rose, her legs buckled, and she collapsed.
“Little Ai!”
Yu Li cried out, swiftly catching her from the front.
Due to their height difference, Yu Li’s face buried into Ai Xinglan’s chest. She could feel the dampness of Ai Xinglan’s sweat-soaked body from the massage.
Struggling, Yu Li lifted her head, giving Ai Xinglan a deadpan stare with a hint of exasperation.
“Master, you need to be more careful.”
“Ugh… sorry.” Propped up by Yu Li, Ai Xinglan smiled awkwardly.
Whether it was the maid outfit or the “Master” title, Ai Xinglan felt uneasy facing Yu Li, completely at a disadvantage.
She was rarely in control with Yu Li, but this cautious dynamic was a first.
A Shared Blame
Yu Li helped Ai Xinglan sit back on the bed. Tilting her head, she looked puzzled at Ai Xinglan’s refusal to meet her gaze.
“Sigh…”
Yu Li let out a soft sigh. Desensitization training was proving to be a long road, but…
This was exactly why Little Ai was so endearing.
Her lips curved into a smile. “It’s all Master’s fault… now I’m all sweaty too.”
Standing over the seated Ai Xinglan, Yu Li’s pretty eyes narrowed, as if judging her.
“So, Master has to take responsibility.”
“R-Responsibility…?”
“Yes, let’s… clean up together~”
As she spoke, Yu Li’s hands glowed with energy. She pulled Ai Xinglan up, effortlessly lifting her.
Despite their height difference, with spiritual energy boosting her, Yu Li carried Ai Xinglan with ease.
“Wait, hold on, Yu Li!” Ai Xinglan squirmed, her face flushing.
“What’s wrong, Master?”
“What do you mean, what’s wrong?! How can we… together, like that!”
Ai Xinglan flailed her arms, but with her spiritual energy drained, she was no match for Yu Li. In the end, she could only cover her reddened face.
“Why not? We’re both girls. What’s the problem?”
“Don’t play dumb with me!”
Ai Xinglan’s panic grew. She wasn’t ready for such intimacy, and her words became blunt.
“Hm… fine.” After a brief hesitation, Yu Li relented, setting Ai Xinglan down. She then produced two pieces of fabric from nowhere.
“For my Master, who’s too shy to face her maid, I prepared a second option.”
“Ah! Where did you get those?!”
Seeing the fabric in Yu Li’s hands, Ai Xinglan let out a startled cry, her face turning even redder.
Yu Li unfurled the fabric expressionlessly. It was a swimsuit, clearly not sized for her.
“You, you, give it back!” Ai Xinglan lunged to grab it, but Yu Li dodged easily.
“Will Master put it on?” Yu Li tilted her head, asking.
“As if!” Ai Xinglan shot back instantly.
“Then I can’t return it to Master. I’ll have to help you put it on.”
A perfectly formal smile spread across Yu Li’s face. Clutching the swimsuit, she approached, causing Ai Xinglan to instinctively cross her arms over her chest.
“Don’t come closer!”
But Yu Li ignored her, continuing to advance.
A Master’s Command
Ai Xinglan squeezed her eyes shut and shouted, “I-I command you to stop!”
After a long moment, she peeked open her eyes. Yu Li stood still, looking helpless.
As expected… this idiot listens to her Master’s commands because she’s playing maid.
“Hmph.”
Fuming, Ai Xinglan snatched the swimsuit from Yu Li’s hands.
“Master… are you going to rest all sweaty?” Yu Li asked slowly, making Ai Xinglan pause.
Looking at her sticky body, Ai Xinglan realized she couldn’t rest without bathing.
“So, my Master, what will you do?” Yu Li’s tone was flat, as if uninvolved.
“…Damn it.” Ai Xinglan clutched the swimsuit, her face flushed with an irrepressible blush.
“Turn around… and don’t look, you idiot maid!”
At her command, Yu Li smiled and turned away. The sound of rustling clothes soon followed.
After a while, the noise stopped.
“Ahem, I’m done!”
Yu Li turned back. The golden-haired girl stood in the swimsuit, her face brimming with shy embarrassment. Her legs were pressed together, either from nerves or physical weakness.
“No comments, no talking!” Ai Xinglan ordered before Yu Li could speak.
Yu Li closed her mouth, following Ai Xinglan’s glance to support her unsteady frame.
Leaning on Yu Li, Ai Xinglan spoke slowly. “And…”
“A maid’s job is to serve her master, not to bathe with me… so you’re not allowed to undress!”
Ai Xinglan’s tone carried a hint of tsundere pride, as if she’d found a way to handle Yu Li.
Yet Yu Li showed no disappointment, as if she’d anticipated this. She simply nodded with a smile.
“Hmph, good that you understand!” Ai Xinglan turned away, avoiding Yu Li’s gaze.
A Subtle Shift
Supporting Ai Xinglan, Yu Li felt her rising body heat and shook her head with a smile. Ai Xinglan hadn’t noticed, but she was growing accustomed to her maid.
Little Ai, don’t regret this.
Sometimes, keeping clothes on could be more effective than taking them off.