Chapter 263

Chapter 263: Deep Slumber

As evening approached.

"Mom… Mommy…"

The voice beyond the door roused Lin Yu from her lethargic state. The white-haired woman had been half-reclining on her bed, sipping the sickeningly familiar Magic Recovery Potion while idly "channel-surfing" through her daughters’ activities.

She severed connections with several daughters and turned toward the entrance. A small head immediately withdrew from the door’s edge like a startled turtle. Knowing this particular daughter’s timid nature, Lin Yu silently glided toward the door with feline grace.

When Weak Sound cautiously peered out again after prolonged silence, Lin Yu pounced.

"Eep!"

The captured girl emitted a muffled squeak, instinctively squirming to escape.

"Where," a frosty whisper grazed her ear, "do you think you’re going?"

The chilling tone paradoxically steadied Weak Sound. Hesitant to harm her captor, the girl reduced her struggling.

"Didn’t I mention needing to speak with you? Why flee at first sight?"

"S-sorry…"

"Does Little Sound despise me?"

"N-no! Never… Never hate Mother!"

Little Weak Ant froze mid-struggle, panic widening her eyes.

"Then why this eternal avoidance? Why stammered half-words? Am I your plaything?"

"Wuu… I…"

Tears welled in human-shaped Weak Sound’s eyes – a transformation that rendered her distress heartbreakingly adorable. Though stunningly beautiful, the white-haired girl knew her glacial demeanor and biting words could pierce like winter wind.

Cold-faced campus belle? Heh. How delightfully wicked of me.

After savoring Weak Sound’s flustered misery, Lin Yu finally relented.

"Merely teasing. You do care for me, yes?"

"Mhmm!" A moth-wing whisper answered first, then stronger: "Mhmm!" Her emphatic nod set crimson blossoms blooming across her cheeks, pulse quickening like frightened rabbit’s.

Mustering courage, the trembling girl met pale eyes.

"And… does Mother…?"

"Huh?"

"Mom… do you like me?"

Ah… the counterattack came unexpectedly…

And could you stop staring like that? It’s embarrassing… Wait, why am I the one getting flustered here?

She tried glaring back…

When their gazes locked, the resolve Weak Sound had mustered gradually dissipated under the white-haired woman’s steady observation…

Complete surrender. The girl’s defiant posture crumpled as she withdrew into herself again.

Lin Yu smiled in satisfaction.

"Yes. I do."

Her answer accompanied by a gentle stroke through Weak Sound’s hair.

Something damp and viscous coated her fingers.

Ah… this sticky substance… blood.

The remnants of Weak Sound’s earlier battle with Swift Leopard, now drying in crimson streaks through silver strands.

Now that she looked properly, the girl’s traveling clothes bore multiple dark stains from their hurried journey.

"So… M-Mom wanted to talk about something?"

The crimson flooding the younger girl’s cheeks burned brighter as she stared fixedly at the floor tiles, unable to meet Lin Yu’s eyes after the confession.

"First," the woman’s bloodied hand slid from hair to shoulder in an affectionate pat, deliberately smearing red fingerprints across the already soiled fabric, "you’ll need to bathe."

"Go on then."

"…Okay."

Still dazed by the emotional whiplash, Weak Sound accepted the fresh clothes without noticing the transferred stains.

Her obedient nod preceded a retreating figure disappearing down the stone corridor.

…

Steam still clung to the girl’s freshly washed skin when she reappeared thirty minutes later, lavender soap scent trailing her nervous approach to the third-floor chambers.

Lin Yu’s arm shot through the half-open doorway, intercepting the hesitant shadow. "Inside," she commanded, hauling her dripping-wet charge across the threshold.

"I require your assistance with egg-laying."

The declaration froze Weak Sound mid-step.

During her bath, she’d imagined countless reasons for this summons – new combat training, perhaps punishment for poor performance. Never this.

"E-egg… like Sister Red Pupil does?"

"Exactly."

A choked whimper escaped as Weak Sound studied her toes, shoulders curling inward like flower petals at dusk. The tile patterns suddenly fascinated her trembling gaze.

Lin Yu couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke her little head.

Without waiting for a response, she possessed Weak Sound, seizing complete control over her body.

The instant possession took place, Weak Sound emitted a soft moan before falling completely silent.

"Little Sound?"

"…"

Hmph. Pretending not to hear? Or feigning unconsciousness?

As if to further tease her, Lin Yu approached her own body lying on the bed.

She extended Weak Sound’s delicate hand, gradually moving it toward her original form…

When her fingertips brushed the cheek of her true body, a faint panting sound became audible.

So she really was awake after all.

Wait… No, that breathing pattern—wasn’t that mine?

No way! Can’t help it! I’m just narcissistic, so what!

Ah, but… if that’s the case, did Weak Sound genuinely lose consciousness?

Pathetic, just like Lvzi.

But then… this means I can have my true body all to myself! And with no witness ants around, nobody will think I’m a creep. Not that I am one anyway!

The small hand began trailing down the cheek of her original self…

Just as Lin Yu indulged in self-admiration, knocking echoed from the door.

"Mom? It’s Little Liquor. I want to sleep with you tonight."

Tch. Terrible timing.

Lin Yu rose from her original body and went to answer the door.

"Little Sound? You’re back! Where’s Mom?"

Little Liquor peered into the room and immediately spotted the body on the bed.

"Mom’s already asleep?"

Before Lin Yu could respond, the girl hurried in and darted to the bedside.

"Ah… Mom’s sleeping face is so lovely. It always makes my heart flutter a bit. Don’t you agree, Little Sound?"

Chattering away, she climbed onto the bed and unabashedly gathered the body into her embrace, nuzzling her face against its cheek.

"So soft… so cozy~"

"You’ll wake… Mom like this."

Lin Yu blurted out.

"Little Sound doesn’t sleep with Mom often, so you wouldn’t know. Mom sleeps like a log. Even being held tight is fine—like this—"

The girl pressed her lips to the white-haired girl’s cheek and sucked hard.

*Pop!*

A loud smacking noise resounded.

"Hehe, see? Still won’t wake up."

"…"

So I really sleep this soundly…

Now that I think of it, I kept waking with a sticky face recently. I’d assumed I’d been drooling, but turns out… this was your doing!

"How did you know I… um, Mom sleeps so deeply?"

"Sister Red Pupil told me, of course. Ah, but only because it’s you, Little Sound! Don’t you dare tell the other ants."