Giving This Moment to You

“A Yue... you're drunk.” Clo examined Li Yue and noticed her cheeks were flushed, giving her a slightly bashful look.

“Mmm... no.” Li Yue waved her hand, turned her back on Clo, and walked back into the room.

“The label on this bottle, mmm... 65 percent alcohol... and there's only a tiny bit left. Did she drink this much?”

With a snap of her fingers, Li Yue changed into a set of white pajamas. She flopped onto the sofa, ignoring her damp, frizzy hair, and curled up with a throw pillow.

Just like back in Yakutsk, whenever she felt waves of sadness, she just wanted to do nothing and take a light nap on the sofa.

Clo closed the door and placed the wine bottle on the table. Turning around, she saw Li Yue curled into a ball on the sofa, half her face buried as she peeked at Clo with hazy eyes.

“A Yue, you're drunk.”

“I'm not. I only had a little bit. I'm not drunk,” Li Yue murmured, rolling over. She felt as if the sofa were spinning, and she was losing the sensation in her limbs. She just wanted to lie there quietly and think of nothing. If fate wanted to toy with her, she wouldn't offer a hint of resistance.

“Goodness, it's actually snake wine...” Clo studied the label, suddenly remembering something and finding herself at a loss for words.

“Clo, tell me... if I were steeped in wine, what would I taste like?”

“...”

Clo opened her mouth but didn't know how to answer. Looking into Li Yue's hazy eyes, she felt something burning in her chest, her heart beating faster and faster...

“How dull...” Li Yue rolled over and then back again. She tossed and turned on the sofa as if unable to fall asleep.

Clo took a sip of the wine. It had a cloudy texture and an extremely pungent alcoholic taste with a hint of anise. As she swallowed, she felt a wave of heat surge through her throat and down her esophagus. She couldn't help but cough, using her magic to resist the intense alcohol.

“It's so hot... Too hot to sleep...” Li Yue sat up and undid the top button of her pajamas. A small glimpse of her fair chest was revealed. Her hand moved down the buttons to the next one, fumbling with it as if having trouble undoing it.

“Ah, A Yue, don't take your clothes off here!” Clo grabbed Li Yue's shoulders, stopping her next move.

“What's wrong? I'm just taking off my clothes...”

“Gosh, that's not the point.” Clo sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning over her. Their faces were very close—close enough for Clo to smell the alcohol on Li Yue's breath and see her dazed eyes and flushed cheeks clearly.

“Clo... it's none of your business...” Li Yue's brows furrowed slightly as she puffed out her cheeks, looking somewhat dissatisfied and annoyed.

“Fine, fine, it's none of my business. Just don't move.” Clo went along with her, her tone like she was comforting a child. Her hands reached for the buttons on Li Yue's chest, carefully fastening them back up.

“I'll help you do up the buttons. Don't wiggle.”

“Clo, you're too close.”

“I can't help it...”

Li Yue lifted herself up slightly, her brow still knit. She watched the serious-looking Clo buttoning her up and caught a whiff of a faint fragrance. It was Clo's scent—the smell of her usual shampoo and perfume.

She's looking down on me again... How annoying... Even when facing such a powerful deity, she dares to get this close. Truly... how annoying.

It makes me want to... eat you up...

Her hand reached behind Clo, her arm hooking around Clo's head. She leaned in and pressed her lips deeply against Clo's, which were slightly parted in surprise.

“Mmm?”

Clo struggled for a moment, then went limp and leaned into her.

This girl... how can she still manage a sneak attack? Truly... adorable.

The body beneath her gradually softened. Clo slowly sat up and touched her lips with her fingertips, as if savoring the sensation from just now. Her heart fluttered, wanting more.

“Mmm...” With her hair spread out, Li Yue fell into a deep sleep on the sofa. A very faint purring sound came from her, as if she had let down all her guards.

“She fell asleep so carefree and cutely... There we go.” Clo picked Li Yue up, adjusting her grip to make her more comfortable. She walked softly, laying her on the bedroom bed and pulling the covers up to her waist.

She brushed the hair away from Li Yue's face and left a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Outside, the rain pitter-pattered with no sign of stopping. Inside, it was quiet, save for the sounds of the rain and the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Clo just sat there, doing nothing else. She pulled out the letters Li Yue had sent her in the past from a cabinet. She read them while finishing the flower crown that had been interrupted countless times during its making.

This moment belonged to no one else but the two of them.