Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 329, Section 15: "What can you do if you can't sleep at night?"

The "sneak attack" ultimately failed.

While the girls were tugging at each other, Masumi had already changed into a yukata, left the bath looking refreshed, dried her hair, and walked back to her room, leaving wet footprints on the floor.

The water droplets spread throughout the room like a fuse, and Mio and Chia, who returned to the room following this fuse, both wore unhappy expressions.

"Huh? Why do you all look so unhappy after soaking in the hot spring?"

Masumi was taken aback, cautiously observing the expressions of the two women.

Mio and Chiai were wearing yukatas from the hotel, their slightly damp hair cascading down their backs, revealing glimpses of their smooth calves and pink feet beneath the hem of the yukatas.

Perhaps it was the yukata that made the two already charming beauties appear even more graceful and alluring.

"……nothing."

Qian'ai said this with an expression that clearly indicated something was amiss.

I finally mustered up the courage to go... but then Masumi-nii left...

How could she possibly say that?!

"Qian'ai? Is there something you need from me?"

When Masumi tried to ask her a question, Chiai became so flustered that it was almost comical.

Her eyes and mouth became confused, as if drawing a spiral pattern, and her words broke into several fragments.

"Ah, uh... well... it's nothing... important."

Where's Mio?

Masumi Asao asked a question, but the unsatisfied golden retriever just snorted and turned its head away, its honey-gold hair drawing a beautiful arc in the air.

"I'll go get a glass of water."

"Huh? Didn't you just get back to your room?"

Mio silently and gently closed the paper sliding door. Rather than being upset, she seemed to regret her slow movements.

Chiai was extremely shaken by Masumi's persistent questioning, and even nearly fell backward barefoot after being startled.

Masumi immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her back, and then Chiai's foot slipped, and she leaned against him.

Chiai thus came to Masumi's chest.

However, in the end, it seemed as if Masumi had taken the initiative to hug her.

A gentle fragrance filled the air.

Qingmei uses the same hotel shampoo as me, so why does hers smell so good...?

"...Woo!"

Qian Ai opened her eyes wide and froze, motionless.

Then after a short period of time...

What an exaggeration!
After soaking in the hot spring, one's whole body would already be flushed, but Chiai seemed to be flushed to an unbelievable degree because of some very "that" emotion churning inside her.

This was probably the first time Masumi had seen her with not only her ears but also her forehead completely red.

Her body seemed to be bleeding, the red stains gradually expanding, the process of turning red was like being eroded.

It definitely looks like it's harmful to the body.

Moreover, her emerald-green eyes were darting around intensely, making Qian'ai's reactions seem as varied as a circus act.

"Qian'ai? Are you alright?"

"No, it's okay."

She was so nervous that she almost bit her tongue. Then, as if she suddenly realized something, her expression changed, and she began to hold her head in distress.

Then, she shook her head frantically, as if to say, "That's not how it is!"

Masumi was completely baffled by Aomei's restless, springy demeanor.

Could it be...

Is it about H?
—The moment this thought crossed my mind, a figure whose every move exuded a menacing presence swept past the edge of my field of vision.

"Masumi-kun, you're not allowed to bully Chia-Ai!"

"Eh!?"

Caught off guard, Masumi was suddenly caught off guard as a figure appeared from behind, extending an arm to support him.

Although she had no experience in fighting techniques, Masumi's body remembered that familiar fleshy feel.

"Mami, stop! It hurts... Let go of me!"

"How dare you bully Chia! Masumi-kun is hopelessly wicked! Bullying me is one thing... but no! I can't let this go!"

"Could you let go of my hand before you start talking to yourself?"

Seeing the two entangled together, especially Masumi's increasingly rapid breathing, Chiai hurriedly stepped in to stop them.

"Mami-nee! Let go! I wasn't bullied by Masumi-nii!"

"Huh? Is that so?"

Taking advantage of Mami's relaxed arms, Masumi stretched her arms behind her back and pinched the tip of her upturned buttocks with her palm.

"Hey! Masumi-kun! I'm warning you, don't you dare mess around!"

Mami blushed instantly and backed away like a startled rabbit.

The front of the yukata was wide open, and the faintly visible purple lace made it seem as if two rabbits were hiding inside.

With each step she took back, her garment swayed gently between the dark blue hem and the seam of her underwear.

"It's you who's acting recklessly."

Masumi took a deep breath of fresh air, then pressed her temples, saying with a headache:
"You...you almost made me faint just now."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I just saw you holding Xiao Qian'ai like you were interrogating me about something, which reminded me of bad memories."

When the topic turned to "bad memories," Mami gave him a resentful look.

After that inexplicable interlude, it was time for bed.

Everyone's blankets were laid out one by one on the tatami mat. Haiyue was the first to roll onto it, connected her phone to the power bank, and started playing on her phone while lying on the mattress.

"Haiyue."

The unexpected sound from behind startled the jellyfish girl.

Don't use your phone before bed.

"But...I can't sleep right now..."

"Playing on your phone is bad for your eyes, and the backlight of the LCD screen can also affect sleep, making it harder to fall asleep."

The heiress uttered lines that sounded like something a guardian would say.

"Woo..."

The phone was confiscated without mercy, and Haiyue let out a mournful cry.

Rinne continued speaking without wavering:

"Even if you can't sleep, just lying down and closing your eyes is a kind of rest. Let's rest in this way."

Haiyue silently turned her face to the other side, where Mami was engrossed in scrolling through her phone.

Rinne's voice followed closely behind.

"Asami-nee, you've always considered yourself a senior, so you should set an example for others."

"Eh?"

Mami was taken aback, but then nodded obediently under Rinne's stern gaze.

"I-I know."

"I've finished speaking, so goodnight."

The tone left no room for argument.

Masumi looked on with admiration. As expected of the heiress, she switched between the roles of mother and store manager with ease.

"Time to turn off the lights~"

"it is good……"

Upon receiving the girls' unanimous answer, Masumi stretched out her arm and pulled the cord of the fluorescent light.

With a click, the faint light of the nightlight enveloped the room—
He tugged again, and the surroundings were completely enveloped in darkness.

Only a faint ray of light from outside seeped into the room through the curtains.

Masumi crawled into bed, but the sheets were unusually cold, so he had no choice but to lie on his back until the bed warmed up.

He sensed that Chiai was tossing and turning beside him, unable to sleep. Masumi wondered.

Masumi buried herself in the blankets, trying hard to fall asleep quickly.

Soon, the sound of her sweet breathing filled the room, and even Qian'ai, who had been tossing and turning, gradually fell asleep and quieted down.

Click, click... Only the sound of the second hand moving forward was exceptionally clear.

Is it because I did too many exciting and adrenaline-pumping things during the day? My brain is still very active.

Masumi suddenly reached out and groped around on the pillow, her eyes, accustomed to the darkness, following the silhouette of her phone. As her hand reached for the phone—

"No cell phones allowed!"

Rinne suddenly shouted.

"Eh!?"

Masumi was startled and slightly raised her head to gaze at Rinne's face, her beautifully shaped lips moving slightly.

"Haiyue, you're not allowed to...play...on your phone..."

Then it gradually quieted down.

So he was talking in his sleep.

That being said, Rinne has completely taken on the role of Haiyue's guardian.

Just as Masumi regained her gaze, Asami slowly rolled over on top of her:
"Masumi-kun...don't do this..."

Why do they all like to talk in their sleep?

Also, what does "Don't do that" mean? Could it be...?

"Masumi-kun... don't do this... if you take this step... you'll never be able to turn back..."

What kind of dream was that?!

"Mapo tofu... must be sweet... cannot... be spicy..."

Huh? Is this a scene from "Cooking Master Boy"?

Masumi, who betrayed the Guangdong faction and turned to the Sichuan faction, and his senior sister Asami, who advised him to turn back from his wrong path.

"Sister Asami, stop using your phone!"

Rinne's sleep-talking also interrupted at this moment.

The effect seemed to be very good; Mami's babbling stopped abruptly and turned into soft breathing.

So what happens next in the story?

Masumi sighed and turned over, changing from lying on her back to lying on her side.

As a result, his eyes met those of Chiai, who was also lying on the bed next to him.

"..."

"..."

After gazing at each other in silence for a long while, Qian Ai clutched the blanket tightly. The white blanket was wrinkled, and the shallow grooves filled the darkness.

She then pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of her face, and Masumi couldn't help but smile slightly.

He didn't feel sleepy yet.

Besides, the situation of lying in bed and gazing at each other is quite interesting.

So he lowered his voice and spoke to Qian'ai, who had half her face buried in the blanket.

"Is Qian'ai not asleep either?"

"……yes."

Chia also lowered her voice to answer Masumi.

"Tomorrow... will be the last day of this trip."

"Hmm, did you have fun, Qian'ai?"

"I'm very happy, but there's a slight regret..."

Those emerald-green pupils flickered between light and shadow, like a room divided in two by the moonlight streaming through a window.

"What's lacking? Is there anything you felt you didn't get to enjoy it?"

"No! That's not true!"

Qian Ai quickly denied it, and her whole demeanor returned to how she was when she returned to her room after taking a bath.

Even in a dark room, this change can be vaguely seen.

Chiai is very easy to understand. She is straightforward, and even her roundabout ways are quite obvious.

"I'm so heartbroken that Qian'ai is hiding something from me."

Masumi let out an exaggerated sigh, which prompted Chiai to nervously explain, her voice rising considerably.

"I didn't mean to hide it from Masumi-nii! I just... I just..."

"Just what?"

Masumi revealed a composed smile.

"I'm just worried that if I say it, Masumi-nii will think I'm... very indecent..."

"That's not true at all. I like Chiai no matter what she looks like~"

As time passed, Qian'ai's face became clear in the darkness.

Emerald-colored pupils, long eyelashes, a straight nose, cheeks, lips... Even though they are familiar facial features, you still want to keep staring at them.

Qian Ai also gazed at him.

The distance between the two faces was only about ten centimeters.

If either of them changes position, their lips might accidentally touch.

That's probably why Chiai almost turned her body to stone, remaining completely still.

Masumi then reached out and gently grasped Chiai's hand, which was peeking out from under the covers.

It's not just about covering your hand or hooking your little finger together; it's about truly holding hands with Qian'ai, your ten fingers intertwined.

"In the future, I also want to travel to more places with Chiai and everyone else, like skiing in Hokkaido or soaking in hot springs in Kitakyushu."

"Hmm, this feels like it costs a lot of money."

Masumi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled.

"I'm a little surprised that this is the first thing Qian'ai thought of."

"What happened?"

Qian'ai puffed out her cheeks, as if she were sulking.

"Because normally, shouldn't we be excited about the possibility of creating more wonderful memories?"

"Is it abnormal to think about your wallet?"

The grip on his hand tightened.

"Yes, that's normal."

Masumi returned the grip with the same force, squeezing Chiai's warm hand.

"This shows that Qian'ai is considering life planning. She has a future she wants to achieve and is preparing everything she needs for it, which is why she thinks this way."

His voice was so gentle that Qian'ai immediately lost her composure, her eyes darting around as she said:
"Wow! You guys are so presumptuous! I was just thinking about it from a financial perspective, it's that simple!"

Her fingers parted for a moment, but then she grasped Masumi's hand again, took a soft breath, and said:

"Me too... I want to spend more time like this with Masumi-nii and everyone else."

"Yes, it definitely will."

Masumi smiled back.

Qian Ai narrowed her eyes with relief.

Finally, she tapped Masumi's hand lightly with her index finger.

"Hey, Masumi-nii."

"Ok?"

"...Can I hold your hand while I sleep tonight?"

"Sure. Qian'ai, feel free to hold her hand as much as you like."

"Well, then I'm not welcome."

Chiai moved even closer, her fingers slipping between Masumi's five fingers, gently stroking the back of his hand as if to confirm his presence.

The two held hands tightly under the covers, and the perfect body temperature of the plum blossom pulled Masumi's consciousness into a blur.

As they chatted, Masumi and Chiai gradually spoke less and less, and their eyelids began to droop.

Sleepiness washed over them like waves, and they were too lazy to even wipe away the tears welling up in their eyes. In the end, they both drifted off to sleep.

Only the sound of each other's breathing echoed quietly in the room.

(End of this chapter)