My Villainess Is Definitely Not a Black Lotus - Chapter 43

H-help her?

Fu Jianxu stared at the girl’s jade-white back, her butterfly-like shoulder blades jutting out due to her thinness. Her mind had frozen, unable to process the situation. She stood frozen to the side.

The water rippled gently. After waiting a long time, the girl suddenly turned around.

Sister?

Fu Jianxu snapped out of her daze as if waking from a dream.

Gulp—

She heard herself swallow hard.

O-okay… she stammered, frantically grabbing the towel floating on the surface. Her fingers trembled as she unfolded it, like raising a white flag of surrender.

When the warm cotton covered that dizzyingly pale expanse of skin, she finally dared to exhale her burning breath.

Whew—

This is better.

Sensing movement behind her, Ji Xiaoyu turned slightly, causing ripples to spread across the water. Her eyes were filled with confusion, as if questioning why Fu Jianxu was acting this way. Sister? Weren’t you going to scrub my back?

I… I was afraid you’d get cold, Fu Jianxu stammered, racking her brain for an explanation.

The truth was, she was afraid her eyes would betray her.

In the misty steam, Ji Xiaoyu’s skin glowed with a pearlescent sheen, the rising heat enveloping her in a hazy veil. She tilted her head, her wet black hair clinging to the side of her neck as droplets slid down her collarbones and into the water.

Suddenly, Ji Xiaoyu leaned closer, her nose almost touching Fu Jianxu’s cheek. Her warm, wine-tinged breath brushed against Fu Jianxu’s earlobe. But I want to move… she drawled deliberately, her fingers climbing onto Fu Jianxu’s shoulder. Sister’s so cool…

With that, she pressed herself against Fu Jianxu. I’m hot

Fu Jianxu froze, every muscle tensing. Reason told her to push Ji Xiaoyu away, but when Ji Xiaoyu’s fingertips lightly traced the back of her neck, a shiver shot up her spine, paralyzing her.

You’re… you’re hot because you’ve had too much to drink, Fu Jianxu stammered, her voice strained. She reached out to push Ji Xiaoyu away, but the younger girl seized her wrist. Ji Xiaoyu’s palm was burning hot, her thumb sensuously stroking Fu Jianxu’s pulse point.

I haven’t had too much to drink… Ji Xiaoyu murmured, her lashes drooping.

From this angle, Fu Jianxu could see Ji Xiaoyu’s slightly parted lips, their moist pinkness like an invitation. But the moment Fu Jianxu’s gaze drifted downward, Ji Xiaoyu suddenly released her grip and leaned backward—

Fu Jianxu hurriedly wrapped his arm around her waist. The water splashed loudly as Ji Xiaoyu used the momentum to crash into his arms, her drenched body pressing tightly against Fu Jianxu’s. Through the thin layer of her wet clothes, Fu Jianxu could clearly feel the other woman’s rapid heartbeat — whether from intoxication or from something else entirely.Sister caught me, Ji Xiaoyu murmured with a soft laugh near Fu Jianxu’s ear. I think I really did drink too much. I can’t even stand straight. Sister needs to take good care of me.

Ji Xiaoyu buried her face in the hollow of Fu Jianxu’s neck. Seeing her like this, there wasn’t a trace of drunkenness.

But the next moment, the younger woman reverted to her dazed act, nuzzling her cheek against Fu Jianxu’s neck. Sister smells so nice…

Fu Jianxu, completely flustered, felt her ears burning as she realized how precarious their position was—Ji Xiaoyu was straddling her lap, their skin pressed intimately together with only a thin layer of wet clothing separating them.

Sit up straight, Fu Jianxu said, turning her face away, her voice raspier than she expected. I’ll help you scrub your back.

Ji Xiaoyu blinked obediently and turned around, but the corners of her lips curled into a mischievous smile the moment her back was turned.

Fu Jianxu took a deep breath.

Fu Jianxu, get a grip! It’s just scrubbing her back! You used to wash a fifteen-pound stubborn cat all by yourself. What can a little girl possibly do to you?!

She steeled herself, pulled aside the girl’s towel with a death-or-glory resolve, and began scrubbing with her eyes tightly shut.

But this level of force didn’t seem to satisfy the girl.

Put a little more effort into it… the young girl chided, glancing back.

Fu Jianxu’s throat bobbed. She soaked the cloth in hot water again, applied more pressure, and pressed it against the white silk.

Unexpectedly, Ji Xiaoyu let out a soft, kitten-like purr, nearly causing Fu Jianxu to drop the cloth into the water.

Sister, your hands are trembling, Ji Xiaoyu suddenly turned, closing the distance between them. The steam blurred their vision, yet made the glistening water on their lips even more pronounced.

Fu Jianxu instinctively retreated, only to find her lower back pressed against the pool wall.

Seizing the opportunity, Ji Xiaoyu pressed closer, raising a wet arm to brace herself against the wall beside Fu Jianxu’s ear, trapping her in the confined space. Her other hand reached for Fu Jianxu’s earlobe, which had remained warm all night.

Fu Jianxu trembled even more violently.

Why are you avoiding me, Sister? Ji Xiaoyu tilted her head, slowly leaning in until their noses nearly touched, their breaths mingling. Didn’t you want to help me?

The steam from the hot spring hung thick and impenetrable in the air.

Fu Jianxu could smell the lingering scent of wine on Ji Xiaoyu’s lips. Her rational mind stretched to its breaking point, but when Ji Xiaoyu deliberately licked her lips—

Splash! Ji Xiaoyu was suddenly spun around by the shoulders. Fu Jianxu frantically draped the cloth over her back. Hurry up and wash. Don’t catch a cold.

Ji Xiaoyu lowered her head and smiled.

She could feel the frantic rhythm of the person behind her’s breathing and the rigid stiffness of the fingers pressing against her shoulder blades.

Jiejie, she murmured softly, leaning back against Fu Jianxu’s chest. My head feels so dizzy…

Fu Jianxu instinctively caught her, but when her palm brushed against the skin of Ji Xiaoyu’s waist, she recoiled as if shocked. Ji Xiaoyu seized her wrist, guiding her hand to her abdomen. It hurts… here…

The skin beneath Fu Jianxu’s palm was supple and warm, rising and falling gently with each breath.

Fu Jianxu’s mind went blank. She could only hear Ji Xiaoyu’s breathy voice, laced with amusement. Jiejie’s hands… feel so good…

The water’s getting cold, Fu Jianxu said quickly, pulling away with a barely perceptible gasp. I’ll add some hot water. Hurry and finish washing…

Through the swirling steam, Ji Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes, watching Fu Jianxu’s retreating figure almost flee. She leisurely smoothed her disheveled hair, tucking stray strands behind her ear and straightening the damp ends.

Stirring the water with her hand, she watched the ripples spread across the surface, thinking to herself, Can you really escape, Jiejie…?

Perhaps overwhelmed by the night’s excitement, Fu Jianxu lay in bed, her mind racing with wild thoughts.

Sister?

Hmm? Why is the little girl still soaking in the tub? She’ll catch a cold.

Fu Jianxu hurried over and cautiously tested the water’s temperature.

Sister, aren’t you coming in? The little girl seemed to possess a magical power whatever she said, Fu Jianxu obeyed without hesitation, as if incapable of independent

She shifted uncomfortably, noticing the sticky, unfamiliar sensation beneath her. Her face flushed crimson. What on earth did I dream about?! Surely no one could have rubbed me like this in my sleep!

She threw back the covers and slipped out of bed, intending to wash herself clean. But she discovered the water jar was empty—all the water had been used for her bath the previous day.

Fu Jianxu let out a silent, guinea pig-like squeak in her mind.

Her cheeks burning, she removed her soiled underwear, used it to wipe herself clean, and put on a fresh pair. She tossed the dirty underwear into a basin, then hid the basin, all while trying to avoid waking the little girl.

It was the day of the New Year’s Eve, a rare day off from work.

When Fu Jianxu returned to the room, she found Ji Xiaoyu still sound asleep. She immediately missed the warmth of the

Fu Jianxu slept soundly for quite some time. When she awoke again, the sun was already high in the sky. She stretched languidly, feeling every bone in her body pleasantly relaxed. Beside her, Ji Xiaoyu stirred, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, the blanket slipping to reveal half her shoulder.

Be careful not to catch a chill, Fu Jianxu said quickly, grabbing a robe to drape over her. Ji Xiaoyu nodded obediently and slowly got dressed.

As they prepared to wash up, Fu Jianxu recalled their earlier awkward moment and scratched her head. We used up all the bathwater yesterday. I’ll go borrow some from Aunt Chunhao and fetch more later.

Sister bathed with me yesterday? Ji Xiaoyu asked, looking up at her.

Fu Jianxu’s face flushed crimson. Y-you were drunk yesterday. I had to keep an eye on you…

It’s a pity I was too drunk to remember much about bathing with you, Sister, the girl said, her voice tinged with regret.

Fu Jianxu secretly wished she remembered nothing at all. She breathed a sigh of relief. I’ll go borrow some water now.

With that, she fled the room.

After washing up, Fu Jianxu picked up a water bucket and headed outside. Ji Xiaoyu immediately skipped after her. I’ll come with you!

Who would have thought this rare day off would be spent working? Just as Fu Jianxu finished filling the water tank, she discovered they were running low on firewood. She had no choice but to head back up the mountain to chop more. By the time she returned with a bundle of firewood on her back, dusk was already painting the horizon.

Ji Xiaoyu, her heart aching with concern, stood on tiptoe and gently wiped the beads of sweat rolling down Fu Jianxu’s forehead with a cloth. You’ve worked so hard, Sister, she said, her voice tinged with guilt. It’s all my fault for insisting on a bath yesterday. Now you’re exhausted today.

Fu Jianxu took the cloth and casually wiped the sweat from her neck, laughing it off. What’s the big deal? If you enjoy it, you can bathe every day from now on.

Her gaze drifted toward the darkening sky, her tone brightening. Once we save enough money, we’ll build a courtyard with a bathhouse. Then you can soak to your heart’s content without all this trouble.

Ji Xiaoyu froze at her words, her eyes suddenly burning with emotion. She threw herself into Fu Jianxu’s arms, burying her face in her sister’s lapel, her voice muffled. You’re so good to me, Sister…

Fu Jianxu was momentarily speechless, awkwardly trying to push the girl off her.

But Ji Xiaoyu wouldn’t budge.

Does Sister not want to hug me?

What?! That’s not true! I’m being framed!

You smell sweaty… Fu Jianxu said helplessly.

Ji Xiaoyu sniffed earnestly. No, you still smell really nice, Sis.

Nonsense! Her inner clothes were soaked through with sweat…