Chapter 10: Please Don’t Leave

Yiluo could tell there were no other sounds inside the house, so it must have been Coco waking up and making some noise.

She didn’t rush.

She stepped out of the pool, dried her body, and let her hair drip only until the water stopped falling—though it still clung together.

Truly, having no hair dryer was unfriendly to long hair.

She put on the inner layer of clothing, her two white legs exposed, and quietly entered the room.

She had already extinguished the oil lamp beforehand, but the moonlight shining through the window still lit the room clearly.

Yiluo walked to the bed.

Coco lay there with her eyes closed, seemingly still unconscious, but from the wrinkles in the blanket and Coco’s shifted position, Yiluo knew she had moved.

Was she scared because the environment was unfamiliar?

Yiluo did not expose Coco’s act.

Instead, she lifted the blanket and got onto the bed, lying down beside her.

Her damp hair bothered her.

There was only one not-very-large bed and one blanket, but since neither of them were fat, it wasn’t crowded.

Yiluo wondered if she should say something to Coco, but didn’t know how to start.

Her wet hair bothered her more and more, until finally she sat up, turned her head, and began to stare at Coco’s face.

Stare————

At first, Coco’s expression was normal.

But after a while, her eyelids began to twitch, her breathing turned irregular—you could clearly see her emotions shifting.

Yes, she was awake—just pretending.

At last, Coco could no longer endure Yiluo’s gaze on her.

Her eyes suddenly opened, pale-red pupils carrying a bit of fierceness.

Probably like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“Hey, you’re awake.”

Seeing Coco’s hostile gaze, Yiluo chuckled, clapped her hands together lightly before her chest—a gesture that was a bit infuriating.

Yiluo actually felt Coco was pitiful.

If she acted overly sympathetic, it might make things worse.

Better to lighten the mood—maybe they could even tease and play a bit.

Coco frowned at Yiluo’s behavior, her fluffy ears twitching.

Her fierce eyes now held confusion.

Probably because Yiluo’s reaction was completely unexpected to her.

Yiluo, on the other hand, was delighted.

Even if Coco’s gaze looked fierce, it was much better than the empty eyes from before.

At least she showed liveliness now.

Yiluo leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on the blanket beside Coco’s arms, and continued studying Coco’s face.

“Your leg is broken, so heal properly, okay? Otherwise you won’t be able to run away.”

She was very close to Coco’s face, and even blinked as she said it.

In this posture, Yiluo looked not only cute but also extremely alluring—her leaning posture exposed most of her white chest.

But the mischievous tone in her voice made her seem rather… punch-worthy.

Whether because she had been exposed pretending to sleep, or because Yiluo looked too tempting—Coco’s face instantly flushed red.

She quickly turned her head away, refusing to look at Yiluo, though her little ears twitched occasionally.

Truthfully, Yiluo wanted to touch those cat ears very much.

But the timing was clearly wrong, so she suppressed the urge.

She smiled and turned to sit on the small wooden stool by the bed, gazing out the window at the moon.

Having been enslaved before, Coco must lack a sense of security.

Yiluo wondered if she’d managed to lessen the distance between them.

For the first time, she felt the difficulty of being a father, sighing internally.

She decided to sit for a while, letting her hair dry before sleeping.

Sleeping with wet hair was unbearable.

The moon of this other world… was also beautiful.

She admired the serene, bright full moon.

“Th… thank you…”

After a long time, Yiluo heard Coco’s uneasy voice from behind her.

Yiluo smiled softly—truly from the heart.

She felt lighter.

Her internal sense of danger and tension faded away in that moment.

“You’re welcome.”

The night was calm as water.

.

.

Morning sunlight streamed into the room.

By now, Yiluo had already put on her dress and was outside boiling water.

“Early bird gets the worm” clearly did not apply to a remote village in another world.

Granny Vini and little Vivian were still asleep.

Only one household in the distance had smoke rising from the chimney.

Gurgle gurgle—

“So hungry…”

Yiluo stared at the bubbling pot and rubbed her stomach.

This was a girl’s body, yet somehow she could eat even more than before.

And strangely…

No matter how much she ate, she never felt full…

Could appetite in this world be linked to combat power?

She would see today—if not, she’d go hunting.

Thinking that, she glanced at Tuotuo and found it hadn’t run away.

It was lazily munching on flowers in the yard, utterly content.

Shameless!

Yiluo’s gaze grew resentful, tinged with jealousy.

Tuotuo suddenly shivered at the neck, its chewing slowing down.

Its big round eyes rolled toward Yiluo—who was staring at it.

…

I thought for so long and still didn’t dare run…

So why is my master looking at me like that…

Tuotuo wagged its tail, pretending not to see her, turning around and continuing to eat flowers.

Its butt facing Yiluo, its tail wiggling smugly.

Didn’t see anything.

Flowers are delicious!

Thus—

“BAAAHHHH!!!!!”

The villagers woke early to the惨叫 of the tuo-beast.

After finishing her mischief and boiling the water, Yiluo returned to the room.

Coco was already awake.

Yiluo handed her a cup of water.

“I know you’re hungry too, but drink a little water and endure for now.”

Coco’s cat ears drooped today.

She wasn’t used to Yiluo’s attentiveness, but hearing her strangely sad tone, she subconsciously accepted the cup and took a sip.

Then—

“MEOW!!!!!”

With a tragic screech, Coco spat all the water out.

Yiluo quickly caught the cup, patted her back, and wiped her mouth.

“Sorry sorry… I didn’t think you were that afraid of heat…”

Indeed, after smacking Tuotuo’s butt and fleeing the scene, she’d rushed back with the hot water.

Even after blowing on it, she still underestimated Coco’s sensitivity.

“But I didn’t expect your voice to be so cute. Do you always meow like that?”

Guiltily, Yiluo began acting like an irresponsible father diverting attention after making a mistake.

Diversion, by force!

And it worked.

“D-don’t… don’t say that!”

“I-I don’t meow like that normally!”

Coco’s face turned red again as she stammered her denial.

“Oh~? Then how do you meow?”

Yiluo asked with innocent curiosity.

“Eh—”

Coco froze.

Was this pure teasing?

Or was this girl truly that pure?

She had saved her.

She didn’t seem to have any malicious intent.

So… maybe she really was that pure?

“I-I don’t meow!”

Why would she even ask such a thing…?

“Oh~.” Yiluo replied casually, then climbed onto the bed and lifted Coco’s blanket.

“MEOW!!!?”

“W-wait—hey hey hey—!”

Coco panicked.

Why was this girl suddenly lifting her blanket again!?

She grabbed the corner tightly and shrank inward.

The movement tugged at her injuries, her ears shooting upright in pain, her mouth twitching.

“Sorry.” Yiluo realized she’d been too abrupt. “I’m just changing your medicine. I want to go hunting today, so I’m not sure what time I’ll be back.”

Coco blushed and refused. “Thank you, but I can… change it myself.”

She wasn’t used to being cared for.

Yiluo grew serious.

“How could that be? Even if the injuries aren’t severe, there are too many spots. Your legs are inconvenient. You can’t reach everywhere.”

“Let me do it. I’m already very familiar with your body!”

“MEOW???”

Coco’s eyes went wide.

What did she mean—familiar with her body!?

What had she done while Coco was unconscious!?

“What are you imagining? I already applied medicine once yesterday. So I know where the injuries are.”

“Alright, don’t overthink it. Be good…”

As she spoke, Yiluo had already begun changing the bandages.

The bruises had faded a lot.

Her recovery was impressive.

Yiluo was surprised—herbs shouldn’t work that well.

Maybe demi-humans just naturally healed faster.

Right—Ouke said Coco was demon-race mixed blood.

She should investigate demons later.

Also—Coco’s skin was really nice.

“Meow?”

“Does it hurt?”

Yiluo softened her movements.

“I-it tickles…”

Coco’s voice was tiny—like a mosquito.

Yiluo’s finger brushing her back felt like spring wind—tingly, itchy, unbearably embarrassing.

“Oh, okay, I’ll… try.”

“Huh…? Eep—meow!…”

Even lighter still made her react.

Yiluo frowned, doubting reality.

She was being so gentle!

No helping it.

She would just finish faster.

And so, the lovely morning passed with Coco’s lovely meows.

.

“Coco seems much better. Truly blessed by the gods.”

“Grandma, Grandma! Coco-sister and Yiluo-sister eat so much! Why can’t Vivian eat that much?”

“When Vivian grows up, she’ll eat plenty.”

At the table, Coco—already having eaten four black breads and halfway through the fifth—blushed in embarrassment at Granny Vini’s words.

Her face, already red from the medicine earlier, reddened further.

She glanced at Yiluo, who was still eating.

Yiluo, like a small hamster, held the sixth long black bread in both hands, nibbling rapidly.

She didn’t care about Vivian’s comment at all.

She even added cheerfully, “Mm-hmm! When Vivian grows up she’ll also be able to eat lots. But eat more now so you can eat even more later!”

Coco was stunned.

She originally thought Yiluo was some sheltered noble lady.

But what noble lady ate like this?

Also—this was black bread.

Even Coco used to dislike eating it!

At least leave some for others!

Even Granny Vini looked embarrassed to eat.

Meanwhile, Yiluo continued eating yet felt… something was wrong.

Why am I still hungry!?

My belly feels full, but I’m still hungry!?

Vivian looked at them with admiration.

Granny Vini looked at them with kindness.

After breakfast, Yiluo helped Coco back to the room, then prepared to go hunting—to nourish Coco and repay Granny Vini.

Just as she said goodbye—

Coco tugged on her skirt.

Yiluo turned.

Coco looked shy, face turned away, and whispered softly:

“Please… please don’t leave…