234: kiss

The moment Tohru and Yukino Mifuyu’s unique presence quietly entered his perception range, Lin Luo gently squeezed Kirisu Mafuyu’s soft cheeks in his arms and whispered, "Do you want to go over to my place? Tohru and Yukino are back."

Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head almost without thinking, her voice muffled, "No... Your sister is over there too, right? I... feel a bit uncomfortable."

Lin Luo found it a bit amusing. "What, are you afraid of her?"

"I’m not afraid!" Kirisu Mafuyu immediately stiffened her neck and retorted, trying to put on her teacher’s persona. "It’s respect! You should respect your sister too." However, coming from someone who was just blushing in her brother’s arms, it wasn’t very convincing.

Lin Luo looked at her feigned seriousness, the smile in his eyes deepening, but he gave a serious reminder, "You’d better get used to her soon. Because in the future... everyone will be spending time together all the time."

The word "future" was intentionally slowed down by him, carrying a certain unspoken depth.

Kirisu Mafuyu obviously understood, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably again as her eyes darted away. "The, the future is for later! You, you should hurry back!"

"You’re really not coming with me?" Lin Luo made a move to stand up and asked once more.

"I don’t want to move," Kirisu Mafuyu curled deeper into the sofa and grabbed a nearby cushion. "I just want to lie here and watch TV, I’m not going anywhere."

"Alright then." Lin Luo stood up as if conceding, but when he reached the door, he suddenly turned around and lowered his voice, asking in a tone only the two of them could hear, filled with a bit of coaxing and testing:

"Then... how about I come find you tonight?"

The word "tonight" was enunciated especially clearly by him, sounding particularly ambiguous in the quiet room.

Kirisu Mafuyu’s face turned completely red in an instant, even the tips of her ears burning. She gripped the cushion tightly, her voice both shy and anxious, "If, if you’re thinking about that kind of thing... I, I won’t open the door for you!"

Lin Luo looked at her flustered and cute reaction and couldn’t help but chuckle, his tone carrying a bit of rogue-like certainty, "It’s fine... I’ll pick the lock."

After saying that, before she could react, he quickly walked back, leaned down, and planted a swift kiss on her slightly parted lips in surprise, pulling away instantly.

"I’m leaving." He straightened up, winked at her, his smile bright and a bit mischievous. "See you tonight, Xiao Mafuyu."

The door was gently closed, leaving Kirisu Mafuyu sitting dazed on the sofa, clutching the cushion, the heat on her face yet to fade, her lips still seemingly retaining that brief but burning touch.

"S-See you tonight..." She repeated unconsciously in a barely audible voice toward the empty doorway.

The noise from the TV seemed to fade away, but the sound of her heartbeat was unusually loud and clear.

Just as he closed the door, Lin Luo looked up and saw Tohru and Yukino Mifuyu walking side by side from the other end of the hallway. Tohru was carrying several shopping bags and talking excitedly, while Yukino followed quietly beside her, her ice-blue eyes calm and rippleless, but they brightened slightly the moment she heard the movement and her gaze met Lin Luo’s.

Lin Luo smiled and waved at them.

"Lin Luo—!"

Tohru’s golden eyes instantly erupted with a brilliant light of surprise. Ignoring the shopping bags in her hands, she tossed them onto the floor and, like a launched little rocket, flew toward him with a cheer.

Lin Luo was prepared and steadily opened his arms to catch this enthusiastic "golden cannonball." He was knocked back half a step and couldn’t help but laugh, "You’re back? It seems a bit later than usual today."

"Because we queued up to buy a su—per delicious limited edition cake!" Tohru hugged his neck tightly, her cheek rubbing affectionately against his chin, her Dragon tail wagging happily behind her, almost sweeping against the wall.

"Is that so? Then we’ll have to have a good taste later." Lin Luo rubbed her smooth blonde hair, his gaze passing over her shoulder toward Yukino Mifuyu, who was standing quietly in place.

Yukino Mifuyu didn’t pounce over like Tohru; she just stood there quietly, her long ice-blue hair slightly stirred by the wind coming through the hallway window. But if one looked closely, they could see that her usual cold aura had quietly softened the moment she saw Lin Luo catch Tohru and the two of them laughing.

A very faint but genuine smile, like the first glimmer of light appearing when an icy lake cracks in spring, slowly rippled at the corners of her lips, brightening those eyes that were always calm and rippleless.

If this smile were seen by the customers at the "Breath of Midwinter" dessert shop who were obsessed with the owner’s cold temperament, their jaws would probably drop—that Yuki-onna owner, who was always politely distant like a flower on a high mountain, would actually show such a gentle and genuine smile.

"Yukino." Lin Luo nodded toward Yukino while holding Tohru, who was hanging on him, his voice gentle.

Yukino Mifuyu nodded slightly in response. She leaned over and picked up the shopping bags Tohru had carelessly tossed on the floor, her movements elegant. As she approached, she spoke softly, her voice like crushed jade hitting ice, "Welcome back, Luo-kun."

Four simple words, yet they seemed to contain all the unspoken concern and peace of mind.

"Yeah, I’m back." Lin Luo looked at her, his gaze soft. In his arms, Tohru was still excitedly chirping about today’s experiences, while Yukino stood by quietly carrying the things, her gaze always fixed on him.

The preparation for dinner naturally fell to Yukino Mifuyu. Soon, subtle, orderly sounds came from the kitchen, and the air gradually filled with the light and enticing aroma of food.

Meanwhile, Tohru, who had originally vowed to become the perfect maid, had now completely "fallen."

She was like a large feline, lazily lounging on the rug by Lin Luo’s legs, her head resting on his knees, her long blonde hair spread out. As Lin Luo occasionally stroked her hair and those warm Dragon horns, she narrowed her eyes comfortably, a satisfied purr coming from her throat, her Dragon tail slowly sweeping back and forth on the floor.

Lin Luo looked down at her completely relaxed, even somewhat lazy appearance, and couldn’t help but find it funny. He flicked her forehead lightly with his finger, "I say, Tohru, has your maid training been completely abandoned? I think you’re no longer a maid, but a little pet instead."

He glanced toward the kitchen and teased, "Is it because Yukino spoils you too much and has ruined you?"

Tohru didn’t get angry; instead, she let out an "ehehe" laugh. Not only did she not get up, but she also rubbed closer to his hand and said rightfully, "Because Sister Nianyao said that I’m always clumsy as a maid, so I might as well focus on being a mascot!"

She rolled over to lie on her back, her large golden eyes looking at Lin Luo sparklingly, her tone full of pride and satisfaction, "And besides, being the Master’s pet is so great! I can nuzzle whenever I want, enjoy Master’s petting, and I don’t get scolded by Sister Nianyao! It’s much more worth it than being a maid!"

He ruffled Tohru’s blonde hair and said helplessly, "You certainly know how to find excuses for yourself."

"Because it’s the truth!" Tohru said righteously, the tip of her golden tail intentionally curling around Lin Luo’s calf with a bit of a coquettish force.

As she spoke, her large eyes sneakily glanced toward the kitchen door. After confirming that Yukino Mifuyu’s figure was temporarily blocked by the cabinets, she quickly "crawled" up from the rug using her hands and feet. Her knees pressed into the sofa cushions as she pounced onto Lin Luo, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing him into the back of the sofa.

The distance closed instantly, and her golden eyes were startlingly bright, filled with unhidden expectation and a bit of cunning. Her breath carried the heat of excitement as she directly made a request:

"Master~ I want a kiss!"

The request was made righteously, with a bit of childish bossiness.

Lin Luo was stunned by her sudden "attack" and direct request, then he laughed. Looking at her face so close and full of expectation, his nose was filled with the warm, sunlight-like scent of her, with a hint of grassy vitality.

Before he could answer, Tohru was already getting impatient. She moved her head closer, her nose almost touching his, her long eyelashes fluttering as she urged, "Hurry up~"

In the kitchen, the sound of the faucet had stopped at some point, leaving only the subtle sound of cooking. The entire living room seemed to quiet down, focusing on this corner of the sofa.

The smile in Lin Luo’s eyes deepened. He raised his hand, his thumb gently brushing across Tohru’s soft cheek. Instead of satisfying her immediately, he intentionally lowered his voice and asked, "Just a kiss? Nothing else?"

Tohru blinked, not fully understanding what "else" meant for a moment, but she instinctively knew Lin Luo hadn’t refused. So she nodded more vigorously, her tail wagging happily in small arcs behind her, the tip curling with joy, her voice crisp and certain:

"Yes! I want Master’s kiss!"

That pure and passionate longing was simply impossible to refuse.

Lin Luo stopped teasing her. He leaned down with a smile and doting affection, gently kissing the soft and warm lips she had proactively offered.

Tohru immediately closed her eyes in satisfaction, her arms around his neck tightening as she responded passionately, a subtle, cat-like purr of contentment coming from her throat.

The temperature in the kitchen seemed to be a degree lower than the living room, a crisp chill lingering in the air like a precursor to the first snow.

The simple-minded Tohru curled up on the sofa, clutching a cushion and humming contentedly, completely oblivious. But Lin Luo keenly perceived this subtle change. He gave Tohru’s head a soothing rub and stood up, saying, "I’ll go to the kitchen to see if Yukino needs help. You stay here and be a good little pet."

Tohru gave a lazy "mhm" and wagged her tail, indicating she understood.

Lin Luo smiled and walked into the kitchen. It was actually almost finished; soup was simmering on the stove, and ingredients were frying in the pan, all in perfect order. Yukino Mifuyu was standing quietly in front of the stove, her long ice-blue hair glowing softly under the light, her profile serene, though the chill she unconsciously emitted was more noticeable than usual.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head, her expression its usual calm and gentle self. "Luo-kun, it’s almost ready."

Lin Luo didn’t reply but simply walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, resting his chin on her cool shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive ear.

"Yukino..." he whispered, with a knowing smile, "Are you... jealous?"

The cold body in his arms stiffened for a barely perceptible moment, then that deliberately maintained shell of calm seemed to quietly melt at those words. Yukino Mifuyu’s tense shoulders relaxed, and she leaned back slightly, softly sinking into his warm embrace, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible, "I’m not..."

"Is that so?" Lin Luo chuckled, his arms tightening as his nose rubbed against her cool earlobe. "But I feel like the kitchen is a bit colder than outside."

"I... I am a Yuki-onna," Yukino Mifuyu defended in a small voice, trying to maintain a bit of her "dignity" as a Yuki-onna, but her cheeks couldn’t help but flush a faint pink, spreading all the way to the side of her fair neck.

This clumsy excuse made the smile in Lin Luo’s eyes even stronger. He tilted his head and found her cool lips, first touching them gently, then biting down lightly. The moment she opened her mouth in surprise, he drove straight in, capturing her shyly dodging tongue and entangling with it lingeringly.

"Mmm... ah..."

A weak whimper escaped from between their joined lips. Yukino Mifuyu’s ice-blue eyes snapped open, then slowly closed, her long eyelashes trembling like snow-laden branches. The last trace of chill on her seemed to melt away in this hot and deep kiss; her body completely softened, relying entirely on his encircling arms for support. Her hands, which had been pressed against his chest, had at some point weakly climbed onto his shoulders, her fingertips curling slightly.

After a long while, Lin Luo pulled away slightly, an ambiguous silver thread stretching between their lips. He looked at her misty, watery eyes and flushed cheeks, his thumb gently wiping the moist corner of her mouth, his voice low and smiling:

"Now? Are you still jealous?"

Yukino Mifuyu’s breathing was unsteady as she leaned in his arms, panting slightly. Hearing this, she shyly buried her face in his chest, her long ice-blue hair falling to cover her burning ear tips, her muffled voice coming through:

"I... I’m not jealous."

But that voice was so soft and sweet, without a shred of conviction, sounding more like she was acting spoiled instead.

In the kitchen, the aroma of the simmering soup drifted out, interweaving with the lingering atmosphere from just now. The fire burned quietly, reflecting the two people embracing each other.