I've Always Liked You [R-18]

• Chapter 26: I've Always Liked You [R-18]

『Thank you Hitsugaya_taichou, phamtomof57 and sami_funges for your power stones!!』

Note:This chapter is the longest among all previous ones . Enjoy the sweet moment between Foxy and Xiao Bai~

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Back at Shuanglin Hall, Su Mu hurriedly tried to jump onto the bed but was pulled back by Pei Xuanyin.

"No, Foxy, you need to bathe first."

Su Mu frowned, remembering the days on the mountain when her senior sister wouldn't let her go to bed without bathing.

Reluctantly, she turned to head towards the bathhouse.

But… Pei Xuanyin was still following her closely.

"Why are you following me? You said I should bathe," Su Mu asked, confused.

Pei Xuanyin giggled, "Of course, I'm going with you. I need a bath too."

Su Mu's ears perked up, "N-no way!"

Pei Xuanyin looked puzzled, "But didn't we always bathe together before?"

Su Mu shook her head firmly, "That was because that damned Pei Longyue forced us!"

Su Mu nervously blocked Pei Xuanyin's way, "Either I bathe alone, or I won't bathe at all!"

She crossed her arms, looking defiant.

Pei Xuanyin pouted, longing to bathe with Foxy.

"Alright, I'll go prepare your clothes…"

Suddenly, Pei Xuanyin noticed the hairpin and dangling hair ornaments on Su Mu's head, recalling how roughly they were removed last time. She sighed and led Su Mu back to the dressing table.

"Huh?" Su Mu was about to ask what was happening but stayed quiet when she saw Pei Xuanyin gently handling the hairpins.

Pei Xuanyin patiently untangled Su Mu's hair, carefully removing the hairpins.

"Silly Foxy, let me help you with your hair from now on!"

Su Mu shook her head in horror, her long pink and white hair falling over her shoulders, "I never want to wear these things again. Women are too scary!"

Pei Xuanyin giggled and continued working on Su Mu's hair. After a while, she stopped.

Su Mu still felt the sensation of Pei Xuanyin's hands on her head. She touched her head, her fox ears twitching slightly.

Pei Xuanyin got up to find some clean clothes for Su Mu, who then made her way to the bathhouse.

Maids bustled around, filling the pool with water, scattering flower petals, and setting up screens.

"Uh, I can handle it myself. Could you all leave for a bit?" Su Mu asked.

The maids obediently bowed and left.

Standing by the steaming pool, Su Mu's ears turned red, her heart pounding.

The steam thickened, filling the pool. Su Mu looked down at her petite figure, feeling more conflicted.

Stomping her foot, she glanced at the chain around her ankle that prevented her from turning back into a fox.

What should I do? How do I bathe?

Su Mu felt helpless, staring at her delicate body.

With a "poof," Xiao Bai appeared behind Su Mu.

She walked forward slowly, hugging Su Mu from behind and resting her chin on Su Mu's rosy shoulder.

"Let me see what's wrong, my dear master~"

"X-Xiao Bai…" Su Mu blushed, pointing at her chest, "How… how do I bathe like this?"

Xiao Bai smiled knowingly, "Silly master, don't worry. Xiao Bai will help you. Now, take off your clothes."

"W-wait…" Seeing Xiao Bai reach out to help her undress, Su Mu quickly stopped her.

"I-I'll do it myself…"

Xiao Bai sighed in disappointment, "Alright~" Then she started taking off her own dress.

Seeing this, Su Mu quickly turned her back, her ears turning even redder.

"Huff… huff… it's just me… it's okay…" Taking a deep breath, Su Mu closed her eyes, her fingers fumbling to untie the ribbon of her sheer dress.

Slowly, layer by layer, she removed her dress until only the part caught on her tail remained.

Taking a deep breath, she gently lifted the remaining part off her tail.

Standing naked by the pool, facing away from Xiao Bai, Su Mu's body felt stiff.

Xiao Bai admired the shy, petite figure, her eyes revealing a hint of obsession.

She walked forward and hugged Su Mu from behind.

For a moment, the softness of Xiao Bai's body pressed against Su Mu's smooth back, sending a tingling sensation up her spine.

"X-Xiao Bai… you're too close…" Su Mu tried to push Xiao Bai away, her arms wrapped around her chest.

But Xiao Bai gently held her wrists, whispering softly in her ear.

"Master, open your eyes. This is the real you." Xiao Bai's voice, as gentle and sweet as Su Mu's, like soft raindrops, reached Su Mu's heart.

"But…" Su Mu's stiff body trembled slightly.

Xiao Bai hugged her tighter, "Master, no matter what happens, Xiao Bai will always be by your side. So, be brave and accept yourself."

Su Mu slowly opened her eyes, looking into the pool. Through the steam, she saw the faint glow reflecting off the water.

Her petite, delicate figure was mirrored in the pool, her small, white feet nervously close together, separated only by the chain around her ankle.

Two peach-colored fox tails curled shyly around her waist. Above her waist, Xiao Bai held her slender hands, now clenched into small fists.

Her pink neck, with peach-colored hair tips, barely covered her small chest. Through the hair, her shoulders showed a hint of blush.

Finally, her eyes met the shy pink eyes in the water, and Su Mu's body slowly relaxed, "Is this… me?"

Xiao Bai gently released her, smiling warmly, "Yes, this is the real you, master."

Su Mu turned to look at Xiao Bai, whose face was identical to hers. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch Xiao Bai's cheek.

Xiao Bai obediently leaned in, letting Su Mu's fingers caress her face.

Relaxed, Su Mu no longer tried to cover herself, her tails unwrapping from her lower body, revealing a peach blossom-like mark on her abdomen.

Xiao Bai helped Su Mu into the bath.

Their smooth bodies slowly submerged in the water, calming Su Mu's scattered thoughts.

"Xiao Bai."

"Yes, master?"

"Do we look like twins now?" Su Mu asked, stroking her chin while examining Xiao Bai with her pink eyes.

Xiao Bai, dissatisfied, moved closer, hugging Su Mu's arm tightly.

The soft touch made Su Mu want to pull her arm back, but she was still held tightly.

Xiao Bai picked a flower petal from the water and placed it on Su Mu's slightly parted lips. Then she leaned in, sitting on Su Mu's lap.

One arm wrapped around Su Mu's neck while the other released the petal, grasping Su Mu's hand trying to push her away.

Then, gently, Xiao Bai lowered her head.

The steam seemed to thicken, the air still.

Only the sound of water and the insects outside the window could be heard.

Su Mu's eyes widened, seeing the teardrop-shaped mole on Xiao Bai's growing cheek.

In an instant, or perhaps a long while, Xiao Bai's soft lips pressed against Su Mu's.

The softness quickly dominated Su Mu's clumsy resistance.

For a moment, Su Mu forgot to breathe, forgot everything but the sound of two beating hearts, gradually synchronizing.

Her hands struggled briefly, then intertwined with Xiao Bai's delicate fingers.

Their lips moved gently, their bodies soft as if melting together.

Eventually, they parted, gasping, their voices tinged with shyness and affection.

Xiao Bai's eyes, filled with emotion, whispered in Su Mu's ear, "I've always, always liked you, master…"

Su Mu's heart raced, filled with confusion, joy, shyness, and nervousness. Her emotions were a tangled mess.

Xiao Bai, also weakened, lay in Su Mu's arms, her eyes full of satisfaction and reliance.

Both their tails were wet, showing a hint of pink beneath the fur.

Su Mu's tail wrapped tightly around Xiao Bai's waist, while Xiao Bai's tail wound around Su Mu's leg, up to her waist, entwining with Su Mu's tail.

Then, resting her head on Su Mu's chest, Xiao Bai rubbed her cheek against her.

"Xiao Bai…"

"Yes, master," Xiao Bai replied, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion.

Su Mu cupped Xiao Bai's face, seeing the usual lively pink eyes now hazy with emotion.

Su Mu felt a mix of surprise and joy. Looking at the flawless face in her arms, her heart almost overflowed with warmth.

Su Mu whispered in Xiao Bai's ear, "Xiao Bai, I'll always be by your side too."

The still water began to flow, the stagnant air revived. The insects' chirping grew sharper.

Under the moonlit night, Xiao Bai confessed her feelings.

How could Su Mu refuse?

The girl in her arms had long been an inseparable part of her life.

How long ago was it? Perhaps when the girl saved her life, or maybe earlier, on that stormy night in front of the broken temple.

Feeling at peace, Xiao Bai unwound her tail from Su Mu, gently washing it in the water.

Su Mu then noticed Xiao Bai's earlobes were almost dripping with redness.

Smiling mischievously, Su Mu blew gently into Xiao Bai's ear.

"Ah~" Xiao Bai's ears twitched, sprinkling tiny water droplets on Su Mu's face, tickling her.

Su Mu grabbed Xiao Bai's hand and teased, "Weren't you brave just now? Why so shy now?"

It turned out this little girl was even shyer than she was.

Embarrassed, Xiao Bai splashed some water onto Su Mu's head. "You're so annoying, master~ I'll never speak to you again!"

Su Mu splashed water back and pretended to tickle Xiao Bai.

"Ah!"

...

Amidst the playful splashes, the two finished washing each other, and it was about time.

Xiao Bai reluctantly glanced at Su Mu before disappearing into the pool with a splash.

Su Mu stood up from the water, trembling, almost falling back into the pool due to her wobbly legs.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Su Mu smiled. "At least I didn't embarrass myself in front of Xiao Bai..."

Shaking her head to clear away the lingering thoughts, Su Mu pushed open the wooden door with a creak and entered the outer room, where she saw the undergarments and gauze dress Pei Xuanyin had prepared for her.

With a resigned sigh, Su Mu tied the undergarment and then slipped into the gauze dress.

To her surprise, it wasn't complicated, just a thin layer. Su Mu realized it was meant for sleeping.

After tying the sash around her waist and drying her long hair with a cloth, Su Mu slowly left the bathhouse.

At that moment, the moonlight was just right, and a gentle breeze lifted her half-dried hair.

Her reflection was graceful.

To be continued.