11

"Oh?" Wen Miaoling let out a playful exclamation as she peered around through the video call, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl Wen Yixin mentioned. Not seeing anyone nearby, she curiously asked, "Where's that girl you mentioned? Is she with you right now?"

Wen Yixin raised an eyebrow, "Why do you ask?"

"What do you mean, why? I just want to see what she looks like," Wen Miaoling said, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she lowered her voice conspiratorially, "Come on, turn the camera toward her so I can take a peek!"

Hearing this, Wen Yixin couldn't help but glance at Qin Ruan. But to her surprise, she only saw the top of Qin Ruan's head, as if she were trying to avoid being noticed, much like a student trying to hide from a teacher's question during class.

It was rather amusing, Wen Yixin thought.

"Qin Ruan," she called softly.

"Ah," Qin Ruan lifted her head, her eyes still holding a trace of nervousness that hadn't yet dissipated.

Wen Yixin smiled, her tone gentle, "Would you like to see my little cousin?"

Qin Ruan bit her lip, her fingers curling slightly under the table as she nodded, her voice soft, "Okay."

Seeing her response, Wen Yixin's smile deepened. "Wait a moment," she said, turning her attention back to the phone.

Ignoring Wen Miaoling's protests, Wen Yixin calmly switched the camera to face an empty spot behind her, revealing nothing.

On the other end of the call, Wen Miaoling immediately started to complain, "Sister! How could you do this?!"

"You're being so unfair."

Wen Yixin chuckled but said nothing, and it wasn't until she was about to pass the phone to Qin Ruan that she responded to Wen Miaoling, "The girl staying with me is a bit shy and easily embarrassed, so you'll have to be patient. Besides, you brought this up first."

"So, bear with it for now." With that, Wen Yixin quickly lowered the volume, cutting off Wen Miaoling's grumbling.

She handed the phone to Qin Ruan, leaning her elbow on the table as she softly introduced the person on the screen, "This is my little cousin, Wen Miaoling."

Qin Ruan, slightly bewildered by Wen Yixin's actions, hesitated for a moment before finally murmuring, "Big Sister Wen, why did you…"

"Nothing much," Wen Yixin replied with a smile, "I just thought if she wants to sneak a peek at you, it's only fair she gets a taste of her own medicine first."

"Besides, you're with me now, so of course, I'm more on your side."

Hearing this, Qin Ruan's expression faltered.

But within seconds, she clenched her fingers, forcing herself to regain composure. Just as she did, Wen Yixin asked, "So, do you recognize my cousin now?"

Qin Ruan nodded slightly, lowering her gaze to where Wen Yixin was pointing. After briefly taking in Wen Miaoling's cute features, her eyes quickly shifted back to Wen Yixin, and she answered quietly, "I remember."

"Good girl," Wen Yixin praised with a smile, then took the phone back. After adjusting the camera back to her own face, she restored the volume.

No sooner had the sound come back on than Wen Miaoling's disgruntled voice filled the air, "Sister, you're not hiding someone away from me, are you?"

You won't even let me see them—what else could it be but hiding someone away?

Wen Yixin blinked in surprise.

Meanwhile, since Wen Yixin hadn't tried to keep their conversation private, Qin Ruan heard Wen Miaoling's offhanded remark about hiding someone away. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she began to fidget, her thumb unconsciously pressing against her forefinger.

In that moment, her heartbeat quickened, and a strange warmth spread through her body.

Across from her, Wen Yixin finally recovered from her momentary shock.

She looked at Wen Miaoling through the screen and responded lightly, "Wen Miaoling, what kind of nonsense are you thinking up now?"

"Don't let your imagination run wild." How could the idea of hiding someone away even apply to her and Qin Ruan?

It couldn't, could it?

Even if it could, it shouldn't be used in reference to her and Qin Ruan.

"Bleh!" Wen Miaoling stuck out her tongue playfully, dismissing her sister's words, "I was just joking around, no need to take it seriously."

"But really, it's not fair that I didn't get to see her while she got to see me. Hmph."

Wen Yixin sighed softly, "Maybe later, when the time is right, I'll introduce you two properly."

For now, it would have to wait—she didn't want to overwhelm Qin Ruan.

Hearing this, Wen Miaoling seemed somewhat mollified, "That's better."

"Just don't forget what you promised, or I'll tell Mom you lied to me."

Wen Yixin: ...

She paused briefly before responding, "I won't forget, so there's no need to tell on me."

"Okay, okay," Wen Miaoling replied, only half-paying attention as she chatted with Wen Yixin for a few more minutes before ending the call.

After the call ended, Wen Yixin set her phone down and turned to Qin Ruan. Noticing something off in her expression, she gently asked, "Qin Ruan, is something wrong?"

Hearing Wen Yixin's voice, Qin Ruan's wandering thoughts snapped back to the present. She quickly shook her head, "No, nothing's wrong."

Wen Yixin wasn't entirely convinced but chose not to press the issue, instead asking, "Did you have enough breakfast?"

"Yes, I'm full," Qin Ruan nodded.

"Good. Let's go back to our rooms and get ready to head out," Wen Yixin suggested.

They had some shopping to do for the dance studio.

"Alright."

Later that evening, when Wen Yixin and Qin Ruan finally returned home, it was already dark.

Wen Yixin rubbed her slightly sore neck and waist before turning to Qin Ruan, "Do you want to shower first?"

Qin Ruan shook her head, "No, you go ahead, Big Sister Wen."

"I'm not in a hurry."

Hearing this, Wen Yixin didn't argue and accepted the offer, "Alright then."

"I'll call you when I'm done."

Qin Ruan nodded quickly in agreement.

Seeing that, Wen Yixin headed to her room, grabbing her clothes before heading to the bathroom.

When she emerged from the bathroom later, she found Qin Ruan waiting in the living room, looking like she had been there for quite a while. Wen Yixin was momentarily surprised.

She had expected Qin Ruan to wait in her room, not the living room.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Wen Yixin asked while drying her hair and walking over to Qin Ruan, "I took a bit longer because I decided to take a bath."

"A bath?" Qin Ruan looked at her.

"Yes, sometimes a nice soak is really relaxing," Wen Yixin suggested, "You should try it."

"Me?" Qin Ruan pointed at herself, hesitantly asking, "Can I take a bath too?"

"But… there's only one bathtub in the bathroom."

"So I've always just used the shower."

"It's alright."

"If you don't mind and want to, you can use it. I won't mind."

"Really?" Qin Ruan still seemed a bit uncertain.

"Really," Wen Yixin nodded, "After your bath, I can help you apply some moisturizing body oil."

"The oil is very soothing, and it's not greasy. After a bath, it makes your skin feel so much better."

Hearing Wen Yixin's words, Qin Ruan's expression shifted slightly. She lowered her eyes and softly replied, "Thank you, Big Sister Wen."

"I'll make sure to clean the bathtub after using it."

"No worries," Wen Yixin said with a gentle smile.

"Go ahead and enjoy your bath; after today's tiring day, it'll feel great."

"Okay," Qin Ruan agreed and went to her room to grab her clothes before heading to the bathroom.

Since Wen Yixin had just bathed, the bathroom was still warm and filled with the light scent of her body wash.

It was the same fragrance she noticed whenever she passed by Big Sister Wen.

She paused, then quickly closed the bathroom door, as if trying to keep the warmth and scent inside.

After a moment, Qin Ruan slowly stepped into the bathtub that had been freshly cleaned.

As she lay back, she felt as if she could still sense the warmth from where Big Sister Wen's body had been.

Something came to mind, and Qin Ruan gently ran her hand along her back, feeling the cool surface of the bathtub…

It wasn't until over half an hour later that Qin Ruan finally emerged from the bathroom.

Her hair was still wet, with droplets of water trickling down and soaking the collar of her freshly changed pajamas.

When Wen Yixin looked up and saw her, she froze slightly, "Why didn't you dry your hair first before coming out?"

"Your clothes are getting all wet."

Qin Ruan bit her lip and looked down, her voice soft, "I forgot."

"I'll go back and dry it now," she said, turning to leave, but was stopped by Wen Yixin's voice, "Wait."

"Hmm?" Qin Ruan turned back to look at Wen Yixin.

Wen Yixin beckoned her over, her tone gentle, "No need to go back."

"I took out a hair dryer earlier when I was drying my hair, and I haven't put it away yet. So, just come here."

"I'll help you dry your hair."

Qin Ruan was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered and walked over to Wen Yixin.

"Sit here," Wen Yixin instructed, pointing to a stool in front of her.

Once Qin Ruan sat down, Wen Yixin gathered her damp hair, gently drying it until it was soft and fluffy.

As she was about to put down the hair dryer, she felt a hand lightly grasp her wrist.

"Big Sister Wen…" Qin Ruan turned around, her gaze locking onto Wen Yixin.

For a brief moment, Wen Yixin's eyes met the sight of Qin Ruan's rosy lips, damp hair clinging to her neck, and the slightly damp neckline of her pajamas. Her gaze wavered slightly.