My sister, whom I raised, has turned evil after faking her death for three years.

On the other hand, Su Qing actually wanted to stay with Xiao Ran for a little longer, just like before.

She leaned against the soft armrest of the sofa, while Jiang Ran lay on her lap, her hair cascading down her knees, her breathing even and shallow.

Su Qing's fingers were still resting on Xiao Ran's shoulder, and he could feel the warmth emanating from under her thin clothes.

She looked down at that familiar profile, trying to pull herself together, wanting to stay with her a little longer, wanting to hear her call her "sister" again.

But for some reason, even though I wasn't particularly tired today, my eyelids felt like they were weighed down by lead weights, and they kept drooping.

The light in front of her gradually blurred into a warm yellow, and Xiao Ran's profile slowly became less clear.

She sensed something was wrong and wanted to call out to Xiao Ran, but her lips moved only briefly before she couldn't resist the drowsiness that surged from the depths of her bones.

Her breathing gradually became steady and long, and the hand that was on Jiang Ran's shoulder quietly slipped down. She leaned against the back of the sofa and fell asleep peacefully.

The living room remained quiet for a long time.

Jiang Ran waited for a long time.

  

She lay on her sister's lap, her eyes closed, listening to the breathing above her gradually slowing and deepening until she completely lost consciousness.

Su Qing's legs were very soft, carrying her unique, faint fragrance.

Jiang Ran slowly opened her eyes, enveloped in such gentle warmth.

She slowly rose, her movements so light they made almost no sound, as if afraid of disturbing a feather in the night breeze.

The floor lamp next to the sofa was still on, its warm yellow light falling on Su Qing's peaceful sleeping face.

My sister leaned her head against the back of the sofa, her lips slightly parted, and her eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyes.

She looks so adorable when she's asleep, so adorable that you just want to hide her away, hide her in a place only you know.

Jiang Ran just stared at her for a long time.

Then she reached out and her fingertips landed very lightly on Su Qing's cheek.

Jiang Ran's older sister's skin was soft, with the warmth of someone asleep. Her fingertips traced her eyebrows, her nose, and her cheekbones, as if she were painting the most precious picture in the world.

Her fingers finally stopped on Su Qing's lips, lingering there, repeatedly and very lightly caressing them.

"Sister." Her voice was very soft, so soft it was like talking to herself, or like she was repeating a name she had said countless times, a name that caused a slight pain in her heart each time she uttered it. "What am I supposed to do with you?"

Her fingertips did not leave her sister's lips.

"Why are you so naive?" Jiang Ran leaned down, resting her forehead against Su Qing's shoulder, taking a deep breath as if she wanted to inhale her sister's essence into her lungs, into her blood, and into her bones. "Why do you trust your sister so much?"

Her voice, muffled by Su Qing's clothes, carried a suppressed, burning intensity.

Then she looked up at her sister's quiet face and couldn't hold back any longer.

She kissed him.

This kiss was different from every one before.

Although her kisses were deep, she was very careful and restrained, like a child who had tasted forbidden fruit and felt that even the slightest touch was a desecration.

But this time, she didn't want to restrain herself anymore.

She kissed her wildly and without reservation, as if she were using her lips and tongue to plunder everything about her sister—her breath, her warmth, her scent, and the barely perceptible sweetness hidden between her lips and teeth.

She wanted to integrate her sister into her very being, to make her a part of herself, to ensure she could never go anywhere and that no one could take her away.

Su Qing frowned slightly in her sleep, and her body trembled instinctively.

It was a very light touch, as light as a flower branch being blown by the wind, yet it made Jiang Ran's heart tremble.

Her hand started moving downwards.

She felt a slight tremor from her sister's body. It was just an unconscious, physiological reaction, but it made Jiang Ran feel as if she were touching a frightened little animal.

My sister's breathing became a little faster, and she let out a very soft whimper, a sound so delicate and gentle, like a kitten being disturbed in its dream.

Jiang Ran took another step closer.

Then she stopped.

She sensed her sister's resistance.

It wasn't language, it wasn't an action, but something deeper. Her sister trembled slightly under her touch, not from cold, but from fear.

That fear wasn't sharp, but it was like an extremely fine needle, gently piercing Jiang Ran's heart.

She really wanted it.

She was going crazy with worry.

But my sister is in pain.

Jiang Ran paused for a moment, then slowly withdrew her hand.

She looked down at Su Qing, who was leaning against her. Her sister's eyelashes trembled slightly, a small wrinkle appeared between her brows, and her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes, as if she was afraid of something, or as if she was relying on something.

Jiang Ran closed her eyes, slowly suppressing the burning desires that were almost consuming her.

"elder sister."

She gently pulled Su Qing into her arms, resting her chin on the top of her head, her voice extremely low, as if afraid of waking her, or as if making a promise to the person in her arms that belonged only to her, "This time... I'm letting you go, but sister, please don't ever have any thoughts of leaving Xiao Ran..."

She hugged him for a while, then loosened her grip slightly and looked down at Su Qing's face.

Her older sister curled up quietly in her arms, her breathing gradually becoming steady, and the small wrinkle between her brows slowly smoothed out.

Jiang Ran's gaze drifted down to Su Qing's slender ankle peeking out from under her pajama bottoms, and then down to the foot resting quietly on the sofa cushion.

She reached out and gently grasped Su Qing's ankle.

My sister's ankles are so thin that she can wrap her arms around them with one hand.

Her skin was so white it was almost transparent, and you could vaguely see the fine blue veins underneath. The curve of her ankle bones was exquisite and beautiful, like a piece of porcelain carefully sculpted by a craftsman.

Jiang Ran's gaze slowly moved from her ankles to the insteps, where the skin was white with a faint pink tinge. Each toe was round and delicate, and the nails were neatly trimmed, gleaming with a clean and warm luster.

Jiang Ran lowered her head and gently kissed him.

"Otherwise... Xiao Ran can only add something to this beautiful thing to keep her here."

She spoke softly, her tone almost cruelly gentle, as if she were talking to her sleeping sister, or perhaps to the deepest obsession in her heart.

She picked Su Qing up.

My sister is still so light; it takes almost no effort to hold her in my arms.

Her head rested on Jiang Ran's shoulder, her breathing even and long. Her warm breath brushed against Jiang Ran's neck, tickling and warm, like a butterfly gently fluttering its wings.

The bedroom lights were off.

Jiang Ran gently placed Su Qing on the bed, covered her with the blanket, and then lay down herself.

She turned to the side, pulled her sister into her arms, one arm went under her neck, and the other hand gently rested on her waist.

In her sleep, Su Qing seemed to feel that familiar warmth. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to her, pressed her cheek against her chest, and let out a very soft murmur.

Jiang Ran made no other move.

She simply held her sister in her arms, feeling her breath brush against her collarbone, feeling her heartbeat through the thin fabric, blending with her own heartbeat to create a song that only she could hear in the quiet night.

This time, she no longer had to worry about the embarrassment of waking up.

"Just for a little while," she whispered, as if seeking permission from someone who couldn't hear her.

Then she buried her face in Su Qing's neck and closed her eyes.

My sister smells wonderful. It's not the scent of perfume, just her natural scent—a comforting, clean, warm, and homey aroma.

After a while, she lowered her head again, looking at the quiet and obedient sleeping face in her arms. She tried to hold back, but in the end, she couldn't resist and gently placed a kiss on Su Qing's forehead.

"...Okay, let's kiss a little longer, just a little longer."

After kissing her forehead, her lips involuntarily moved to Su Qing's brow, nose, and cheeks, one after another, gently, like a dragonfly skimming the water, or like the fine rain falling on flower petals in spring.

Just for a little while.

Just a little longer.