Dragon, Truly Shameless (Yuri Futa, Farming) - Chapter 17

The layout inside the cave seemed unchanged. A stone bed lay against the wall on the right, with a stone table at its head. On the table were two porcelain cups, one of them inverted. The earthenware pot for cooking rice porridge was placed to one side, next to two sets of bowls and chopsticks, one of which was also inverted. Looking at the arrangement of the pot and tableware, it was as if the scene of them sharing scorched rice had just happened yesterday.

Shen Qingming’s eyes welled up as she looked. Her belongings were still kept here, and traces of her life were visible everywhere in the cave, like her second home.

Since it was a home, naturally there were… family members.

Long Qing lay beside her, her shallow breaths caressing Shen Qingming’s face. Being so close, Long Qing’s scent enveloped her—a faint cool fragrance mixed with a delicate aroma, making her heart beat faster and faster. Shen Qingming shifted, feeling warmth on her abdomen, and only then realized she was naked again, without even her pants.

The warmth on her abdomen came from Long Qing’s hand, which rested lightly on her waist, just a step away from her private parts. Shen Qingming felt the temperature in her cheeks rising sharply and quickly grabbed the blanket to wrap herself. Then she noticed a taste in her mouth, indistinct yet present, like a cool fragrance, the same as the one emanating from Long Qing. She licked her lips, and that cool fragrance suddenly intensified.

What was happening? She touched her lips, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards Long Qing.

Perhaps feeling her gaze, Long Qing slowly woke up. This lady, whose appearance and personality didn’t quite match, seemed disoriented from sleep. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered a few times, then opened, revealing a pair of sleepy eyes hidden beneath.

As she rose, her clothes slipped, and her chest opened, revealing a large expanse of lustrous, delicate, warm white skin. There was no concealing camisole underneath; her proud, snowy peaks seemed to call out, forming a deep, dark valley between them. A faint, delicate scent wafted from within, and a scorching warmth permeated her skin, as if it could burn her eyes.

Shen Qingming’s small face instantly flushed crimson, red enough to drip bl00d. If she put an egg on her face right now, it might even cook. She awkwardly lowered her head, and inadvertently caught sight of her own flat chest, immediately feeling an unspeakable embarrassment.

“Little girl’s awake?” Long Qing rubbed her sleepy eyes, wiping away the tears that had formed in the corners from sleep. Seeing the little girl awake, she greeted her, her manner natural and appearing very innocent.

“I’ve troubled M. Long again,” Shen Qingming gently nodded her thanks, not daring to look at Long Qing the entire time, partly out of habit and partly out of shyness.

Seeing the little girl so timid, Long Qing suddenly felt like teasing her. Catching her off guard, she reached under the blanket and then had a girl, light as a goose feather, in her hands. Shen Qingming gasped, and by the time she collected herself, she was already securely in Long Qing’s embrace. She quickly tightened the blanket around herself, as if afraid of being seen.

“Pfft.” Long Qing couldn’t help but laugh. “I originally thought, since you have nowhere to go, we might as well live together. But now it seems…” She deliberately paused, then sighed lightly, expressing regret, “I’m afraid I was being presumptuous.”

“Ah? No, this, no, that’s not it.” Shen Qingming suddenly lifted her head, shock filling her small face, which then quickly subsided into confusion. She seemed not to understand Long Qing’s words, or perhaps she had misunderstood.

“Ms. Long?”

Long Qing glanced at the girl’s small hand gripping the blanket and said seriously, “Your guarded manner makes me seem like a wolf or a tiger. It appears you might not want to live with me.”

This time, Shen Qingming understood. All her uneasiness vanished completely due to Long Qing’s words, replaced by a surge of overwhelming joy erupting from the depths of her heart, unstoppable, splitting open the grey haze of despair and radiating hope. “No, it’s not like that, no, mmph.” The turnaround came too suddenly; the excessive joy exceeded her capacity to bear. She shook her head vigorously, then nodded just as vigorously, trying to speak but unable to stop the upward curve of her lips. Her eyes welled with tears, which she desperately held back, leaving her eyes bloodshot.

Like crying, like laughing, like joy, like grievance, multiple emotions appeared simultaneously on her sallow little face, each occupying its own space. Long Qing gazed at her intently, utterly shocked. She had never seen anyone make so many expressions at once. The little girl’s expression was slightly distorted from emotional excitement, but Long Qing saw an irrepressible glimmer of light in the swirling tears.

To prevent the little girl from getting too agitated, she raised her hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of the girl’s eyes and gently said, “Are you willing to live with me?”

Shen Qingming opened her mouth to speak, but was too choked up to utter a sound. Fearing that Long Qing would misunderstand, she used all her strength and finally, under Long Qing’s gentle gaze, gave a firm nod.

Long Qing’s eyes unexpectedly warmed. “But as you know, the conditions here are simple, probably not as good as your home. Living with me, you might have to endure quite a bit of hardship.”

“It’s fine, it’s already very good. Thank… thank you, Ms. Long. I like it here, I like living here.” Shen Qingming wouldn’t mind at all. Her small head immediately nodded like pounding garlic, and tears finally burst forth at this moment, falling like a cascade.

In this life, she desired nothing but a place to live. For this, she wished she had three heads and six arms, thinking that if she was capable enough, she could surely find a place to belong. Yet, this vast land couldn’t accommodate her. Long Qing’s offer of shelter was not only a lifesaver but also an affirmation for her; at least she had finally found a place to settle.

Shen Qingming, overjoyed and crying, was like a little mute. She couldn’t express her gratitude in words, only nodded repeatedly, as if only this way could she release the satisfaction she had waited for so long.

“Pfft, why do you just nod?” Long Qing pinched the girl’s pointed chin, stopping the little bobblehead-like movements.

“No, no, that’s not it, I…” Shen Qingming looked up, met Long Qing’s gaze, then quickly looked away, her small face flushing red again.

“Pfft, what a silly girl. Since you’re fine, just stay here. You don’t have to be so reserved all the time. If anything happens, just tell me.” Long Qing casually picked up a piece of clothing and put it on. Remembering that the little girl had no clothes, she handed her one. “By the way, your clothes… probably can’t be worn anymore. Just make do with mine for now.”

“Thank you.”

“The little girl is quite polite, isn’t she?” Long Qing chuckled. “I’m going hunting. I’ll probably be back by evening. Don’t run around here, alright?”

“Mm, thank you.”

Still a timid reply, choosing her words carefully. Long Qing’s heart felt soft and pained again. She rubbed the slightly bowed little head, slung her bow and arrow on her back, but before leaving, she heard a small sound from behind.

“Ms. Long, please be careful.”

Long Qing’s nature was usually calm, with little joy or sorrow for thousands of years, yet the little girl’s words of concern inexplicably made her heart skip a few beats. She nodded unnaturally and quickly exited the cave.

The cave gradually quieted. Shen Qingming patted her burning face, then gently caressed her thumping chest, looking at the cave with both joy and shyness.