Daily Survival After Inheriting a Harem (GL) - Chapter 12

Pei Yuqing’s tone was a bit stiff, but she was always cold and detached, so it didn’t seem strange.

“But holding it like this is uncomfortable.” Qiu Qi frowned, then looked up at Pei Yuqing with a completely unreserved smile. “Madam, please take it off, okay? I want to hold you to sleep; it’s getting in the way.”

“I checked, Elves are naturally cold, so they need to soak in hot water and use warm things often. It just so happens that I’m hot all over like a furnace. If I hold Madam to sleep, Madam won’t easily catch a cold or get sick.”

Pei Yuqing had precisely this intention. She was afraid that if Qiu Qi got curious and pulled out that thing to examine it closely, and they fell out at this critical juncture, she would be the one suffering more. So, it was best to quickly hide the dagger.

“Alright, My Lord, please wait a moment.”

Pei Yuqing stood up and walked to the dressing table, turning her back to Qiu Qi. Using her wide sleeve as cover, she hid the dagger in a jewelry box. When she turned around, she saw Qiu Qi already lying down obediently, curled up on the inner side of the bed, only a pair of clear eyes gazing directly at her.

Pei Yuqing tied her long hair to one side and gently lay down on her side. Because of the profound ice ring on her back, this was the only position she could sleep in. Fortunately, she slept soundly; otherwise, she didn’t know how many times she would wake up in pain at night.

“Madam, sleep now.” Qiu Qi’s hand hovered over Pei Yuqing’s back for a moment. Remembering something, she quickly changed direction and rested it on her waist, patting it gently with a soft palm, in a tone used to lull a baby. “When you wake up tomorrow, everything will be fine.”

Pei Yuqing’s body stiffened for a moment, then quickly relaxed, giving a low “Mm.”

Subsequently, both their breaths gradually softened and calmed down. Their closely aligned bodies could sense each other’s rising and falling breaths, and slowly, their breathing rhythms became synchronized.

From a third-person perspective, the scene of the two embracing and leaning on each other was very harmonious and beautiful, but only those involved knew how difficult that night was.

Qiu Qi’s palm was pressed tightly against Pei Yuqing’s muscles. As long as Pei Yuqing made the slightest movement, she would notice it immediately—she was afraid that if she fell asleep, the other person would send her to the afterlife with a single stab.

Meanwhile, Pei Yuqing’s body was equally tense. On one hand, it was because if she moved even a little, even an imperceptible subtle movement, Qiu Qi would seem to sense it, first muttering a few grumbling sleep-talk words, then wrapping her more tightly, holding her so she couldn’t move.

The arm wrapped around her waist continuously transmitted warmth, wave after wave, as if gradually invading and numbing her nerves.

“Goodnight.”

Just as dawn broke, Pei Yuqing suddenly opened her eyes as if startled awake. She had intended to stay awake all night but unexpectedly fell asleep to the soft, regular breathing beside her.

She didn’t forget the dagger hidden in her jewelry box. She had to move it before Qiu Qi woke up.

“My Lord.” Pei Yuqing turned her face and patted Qiu Qi’s cheek, softly calling her.

The person in her sleep had slightly parted cherry lips, and her peachy, round face still had a sleep crease. She seemed unaware of Pei Yuqing’s actions, at most only trembling her slender eyelashes without even a frown.

Pei Yuqing withdrew her hand and sat up with the lightest movements. She went to the dressing table and found the jewelry box.

It was just dimly lit dawn, the indoor light was very poor, and she was in a hurry and dared not light a lamp to alert anyone. When she reached her finger inside, her index finger suddenly felt a sharp sting. Only then did she remember that she had put the dagger away in a hurry last night and forgotten to put the sheath on.

Bl00d quickly welled up on her fingertip, a stark crimson dot on her pale skin, quite conspicuous.

Pei Yuqing quickly put her finger in her mouth to suck on it. Only when the bleeding stopped did she finally relax, as if she had finally put an end to this assassination plan that almost got exposed midway.

••••

Pei Yuqing held the dagger and returned it to Yin Ci, who immediately took it and sniffed it under her nose.

“Bl00d,” Yin Ci said, very sharp, but quickly frowned and looked up at Pei Yuqing. “Yours.”

“It didn’t succeed.”

“That’s not like you.”

Pei Yuqing said faintly, “There was a reason. She’s not as easy to deal with as I imagined.”

“Fine, it’s difficult for you too,” Yin Ci sighed. “If I had done this, the chances of success would be higher. Your current physique would struggle to even butcher a chicken.”

Pei Yuqing originally wanted to retort; she didn’t like being seen as weak. But the words reached her lips, twisted around, and she swallowed them back.

“These two nights… were you tired?”

Pei Yuqing wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt that Yin Ci’s gaze carried a strange sense of sympathy?

“It’s fine.” It was just not being able to sleep; it was nothing.

Yin Ci cautiously looked left and right before turning sideways and handing over something hidden in her sleeve. “This is something we specifically found for you. Take it. It’ll help you recover.”

Pei Yuqing didn’t take it. She reached out and pulled back the white cloth covering the item, revealing a box of fresh kidneys inside. Her face instantly darkened.

Looking at this “qi and yang strengthening” item, she finally understood what these people were usually thinking. Pei Yuqing thought, Perhaps some Elves despise Beast-folk not because of prejudice, but because this group is simply a race that constantly lacks common sense.

“Thanks, I don’t need it.”

“With such intense daily pleasure, you can actually endure it?” Yin Ci’s eyes widened slightly, astonishment coming from within, even with a hint of admiration for Pei Yuqing. “You’re really something.”

Pei Yuqing glared, her eyes filled with chilling killing intent.

Yin Ci wisely made a gesture. “Alright, I’ll shut up now.”

At noon, Butler Yan knocked on the door.

“My Lord, it’s time to depart,” Yan Wan said, pressing against the door. “You instructed me last night to call you to rise at this hour.”

The person on the large bed rolled over, and with a dry, hoarse sound, a face as haggard as a zombie emerged from under the covers.

Pei Yuqing had a hard night, but Qiu Qi, who shared her bed, was no less strained.

To be fair, she had it even harder than Pei Yuqing. Not only did she have to stay awake, but she also had to slow her breathing and pretend to be sound asleep. Only after Pei Yuqing, with the dagger, left in the early morning, did she dare to relax her nerves and nap for a short while.

“Damn it… my face is stiff.” Indeed, being an Oscar-winning actress isn’t for everyone.

Qiu Qi rubbed the red marks on her face, picked up the mirror by the bed, and looked. Good heavens, her dark circles were even worse than the original owner’s.

“My Lord, are you up?” Yan Wan’s voice came again from outside the door.

“I’m up! Coming right away.”

But before she could sit up, the door opened from the outside.

Pei Yuqing led a dark mass of people standing at the doorway, blocking most of the light. The aura was indeed quite intimidating.

This display made Qiu Qi gasp and lean back. “Wh-what’s wrong?”

“My Lord!” Everyone knelt in unison, shouting loudly, “We humbly request, My Lord, that you spread your favor equally.”

Qiu Qi, clutching her wildly thumping heart: ???