Little Alpaca – Chapter 172

Volume 5: Tribulation of All Beings

What terrible timing.

“Yi Qiu, in this world… you’re the only one who cares for me.”

You Yan’s voice was a whisper, so soft that if your mind wandered for even a moment, you might have missed it.

But Yi Qiu didn’t miss it. She wouldn’t.

In the small room, it was just the two of them. She could clearly hear You Yan’s every word, every breath, even every heartbeat.

She could feel the subtle shift in their rhythm.

And her own heart began to flutter in response.

She couldn’t help but squeeze those cool hands tighter. She tilted her head up slightly, gazing at You Yan, letting that bewitching face fill her entire vision.

After they stared at each other for a moment, she blinked, flustered.

The next second, she felt warm breath drawing closer. She instinctively leaned back, but with nothing to support her, she was seized by a sudden sense of weightlessness.

But that feeling vanished in an instant.

The woman before her reversed their grip, one hand now holding her wrist, the other wrapped tightly around her back.

Even though I can’t see the whole picture, I can imagine it—this pose is as awkward as a scene from a low-budget costume idol drama,¹ the standard freeze-frame when they’re doling out some manufactured fluff.²

Not wanting to stay in such an awkward position, Yi Qiu tried to sit up straight. But as she leaned forward, You Yan took the chance to pull her into an embrace. Like a captured lamb, she was momentarily flustered, unsure what to do with her hands.

All she knew was that in that instant, even her breath felt like it was burning.

This isn’t the first time, Yi Qiu told herself. Given my relationship with You Yan now, hugging and kissing are nothing. There’s no reason to be nervous.

With that thought, she closed her eyes, lifted her chin slightly, and leaned in.

But just as she could feel that warm breath on the tip of her nose, someone knocked on the door.

In a flash, Yi Qiu ducked down, slipping out from under You Yan’s embrace more smoothly than a fish. She whipped her head toward the door and stammered, “Wh-who is it?”

What the hell? Who would be knocking at a time like this!

“Jian Li sent me with breakfast.” Yue Zhuo’s unenthusiastic voice came from outside.

Yi Qiu’s heart sank. She quickly stood up, smoothed her hair and clothes, and opened the door to take the tray from Yue Zhuo.

“Your face… Are you okay?” Yue Zhuo couldn’t help but ask.

“Couldn’t be better!” Yi Qiu said, shooing the little hot dog away with a few quick words.

As she turned back, she nudged the door closed with her heel. She looked up and met You Yan’s slightly awkward gaze.

The bird woman’s ears are red.

She wanted to laugh but couldn’t. She knew she was probably redder and more conspicuous than the bird woman—after all, the look in the Little hot dog’s eyes had been full of curiosity.

“Um, let’s just eat something,” Yi Qiu said, placing the tray on the table. She pointed to the two bowls of noodles on it, trying to fill the awkward silence. “The Little hot dog brought them.”

“Mm,” You Yan replied, picking up a bowl.

Seeing this, Yi Qiu quickly sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and buried her head in her first meal of the day.

But the atmosphere was too awkward. As she ate, she couldn’t resist murmuring, “Um, about that thing we were talking about earlier… after we eat, I’ll go talk to the little pig trotter and the others.”

“There’s no hurry,” You Yan said softly. “You’ve been up all night. You should get some proper rest.”

Yi Qiu shook her head. “I’m not sleepy!”

You Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. “They are,” she said, her voice cold.

Yi Qiu paused for a moment, then looked down and pouted. “Oh.”

I get it now. You Yan is in a bad mood, so she doesn’t want me talking to anyone else.

Fine, fine. Nothing is happening right now anyway, so it really isn’t urgent. I’ll just indulge You Yan’s peculiar temper for now.

After breakfast, Yi Qiu had just taken the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen when she returned to find You Yan ushering her straight to bed, insisting she make up for the sleep she lost last night.

But this bird woman really had double standards. She hadn’t slept last night either, yet here she was, sitting bolt upright at the table, drinking a pot of plain water as if it were tea, awkward but not without grace.

Yi Qiu pulled the blanket and turned over, lying on her side to face You Yan. “Hey.”

“Still not sleeping?” You Yan asked, her gaze lowered.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I’m not sleepy.”

Yi Qiu frowned and gritted her teeth. “I am, but I can’t sleep with you sitting over there.”

You Yan took a deep breath. “What, you want me to leave?”

“You… you come here. Sleep with me…”

“…”

“The space on the inside of the bed is empty. I’m not used to it…”

You Yan slowly stood up. “I think you’d be more used to sleeping on the floor,” she said coolly.

Yi Qiu bit her lip. Just as she was about to say something, she saw the bird woman, whose mouth says one thing, but her heart means another,³ obediently sit on the edge of the bed and take off her shoes and socks.

Just like that, she swallowed the angry words on the tip of her tongue. A smile bloomed on her face as she lay flat on her back.

Soon, You Yan had taken off her outer robe and was lying beside her. They both lay flat, and as usual, there was a gap between their arms.

Yi Qiu stared at the ceiling beams for a moment, pursed her lips, and reached over to pull the blanket a little higher over You Yan.

After a long silence, she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at her.

That single glance met a pair of dark gold eyes.

Why is she staring at me?

Caught staring, Yi Qiu blinked guiltily. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned onto her side to face You Yan fully and called out softly, “You Yan~~~”

“Quiet. Sleep.”

Are you kidding me? You’re the one who was staring, and now that you’ve been caught, you’re telling me to sleep?

Can’t sleep, don’t want to sleep!

“…It’s broad daylight. I really can’t sleep,” Yi Qiu mumbled.

“Then close one’s eyes to rest one’s spirit,”⁴ You Yan said, closing her own.

Yi Qiu was speechless. She bit her lip and looked away, taking a few deep breaths before lying flat again.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Maybe it’s because the room is too bright during the day. Maybe it’s because the noodles in my stomach haven’t digested yet. Or maybe… maybe it’s because this bird woman… just now, before breakfast… owes me something…

It’s possible. It’s very possible! Why else would I have this nagging feeling that something is unfinished? We’ve been together for a while now, and it’s rare for the bird woman to take the initiative. That Little hot dog’s timing was just awful…

As she thought this, Yi Qiu let out a soft sigh.

And right at that moment, a set of cool fingers reached over and gently took hold of her slender wrist.

A smile instantly lit up her face. She turned on her side and hugged the arm that was touching hers.

“Can you sleep now?” You Yan asked softly.

“Yes,” Yi Qiu whispered, but immediately regretted it.

She bit her lip, thinking for a moment. Looking into You Yan’s eyes, she couldn’t help but add in a low voice, “Or, you could… you could…”

“Could what?”

“Could… ‘that’ me again?” This is bizarre. How can such a simple word be so hard to say?

The moment she finished speaking, You Yan flicked her on the nose.

“Like this?” You Yan asked.

Yi Qiu’s mouth twitched. “No…”

Then, she got a light tap on the forehead.

You Yan asked again, “Like this?”

Yi Qiu frowned, noticing a faint, almost imperceptible smile in You Yan’s eyes.

Why is this bird woman like this! I have every right to suspect she’s playing dumb!

Yi Qiu took a deep breath. “No… not like that. It’s…”

Just as her face turned red with the effort of trying to explain, a sudden kiss stopped her murmuring lips.

It didn’t need to be passionate. That brief moment was enough to completely derail her thoughts.

But the kiss was so light that before she could savor it, it was already over.

Yi Qiu subconsciously hooked a hand around the back of You Yan’s neck, as if to hold her there, or perhaps as an invitation.

But You Yan just ruffled the hair on her forehead and said softly, “Sleep.”

That’s it? That’s it? This doesn’t even compare to our first time!

Yi Qiu pressed her lips together but ultimately didn’t say what was on her mind.

I suppose people in ancient times valued a woman’s reputation highly, she thought. Maybe I, someone from the modern era, shouldn’t be revealing my expectations so early on. At least not before the wedding. I can’t let You Yan think I’m some casual, promiscuous alpaca…

With that, Yi Qiu sulkily retracted her hands and lay flat on her back.

After a moment of silence, she grabbed one of You Yan’s arms, pulled it into her embrace, and held it across her stomach before finally closing her eyes.

…

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

Things could have progressed so much more naturally; where water flows, a channel is formed.⁵

That little hot dog’s timing was just terrible!

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