Chapter 382

Chapter 382: ( •︠ˍ•︡ )

The next morning, Lin Yu discovered Darkling Stalker was no longer in bed.

Yawning as she rose, the blanket slid down her body, bringing an immediate chill.

The white-haired girl snapped awake, retrieving clothes from her Magic Backpack to dress.

Recalling events from yesterday afternoon through the late hours, crimson bloomed across her cheeks, phantom sensations lingering along her skin.

Her gaze swept the room.

The previously disordered bedroom now stood immaculately arranged, as though untouched by chaos…

A dream? Impossible—dreams never held such clarity.

Clearly, Little Shadow had tidied the space.

Suddenly remembering something, the pale-haired maiden leaned closer to sniff her own skin.

No peculiar odors… only a delicate floral fragrance.

This realization deepened her blush.

Hadn’t they bathed together after last night’s…?

Presently…

Glancing outside revealed early morning light—perhaps eight or nine, far from noon.

She swung her legs over the bed’s edge.

Upon standing, her brows knitted faintly.

That persistent ache…

Her waist’s soreness resurged, the earlier relief vanished.

Massaging her side, she ventured beyond the bedroom.

Not merely her room, but the living area… bath chamber… stairway… all gleamed with meticulous care.

Steam curled from breakfast arrangements on the dining table—fresh bread and milk awaiting consumption.

Little Shadow’s departure must have been recent.

As for now…

Lin Yu focused her awareness, locating her daughter near the villa’s perimeter.

The silver-haired girl perched on a sturdy tree branch, gazing absently at the sky.

«Little Shadow?»

Without pause, the mother initiated their mental link.

Since bonding with Darkling Stalker, such connections flowed effortlessly.

«Mother?»

«Why linger there at dawn? Join me for breakfast.»

«Ji Qiao’s turn approaches. Unless emergencies arise, this daughter shall not disturb you today.»

To Lin Yu’s surprise, Darkling Stalker’s voice carried an unusual softness today.

She was also speaking much more than usual,

her demeanor radiating unmistakable cheerfulness.

The reason… well, I can probably guess. It’s all because of what happened between us yesterday… Ah! Wait, did anything even happen? Nothing at all!

Hmm… Isn’t today supposed to be Little Qiao’s turn?

No wonder she’s keeping her distance. Little Shadow seems unexpectedly strict about following the rules now.

Oh! Little Qiao!

When I was upstairs with Little Shadow yesterday, those downstairs – Little Qiao and Golden Fur – might’ve overheard something…

I-I did try my best to stay quiet, but… how could anyone possibly maintain that for so long!

What must those two be thinking now…

Lin Yu descended the stairs with conflicted steps.

In the first-floor living room, the massive golden-furred wolf lay curled like a sleeping mountain on the carpet, while a petite ant-shaped form coiled nearby.

Still asleep…

Was our late-night activity to blame? But we couldn’t have been that loud…

The peaceful sight of predator and prey slumbering side by-side stayed Lin Yu’s hand momentarily.

Yet torn between concern about their possible awareness and the cooling breakfast awaiting upstairs, she tiptoed forward.

Cradling the small parasitic ant delicately in her palms, she ascended to the third floor.

“Little Qiao?”

Placing the ant on the table, Lin Yu traced its antennae with a jade-white fingertip as she called softly.

The sensitive feelers quivered under the touch.

Accompanied by faint squeaking noises, the ant stirred awake, tiny head rising gradually.

«Mommy?»

Ji Qiao blinked sleepily before snapping to full alertness at the white-haired girl’s presence.

«Mommy! Last night I heard you and Sister Darkling Stalker—»

Lin Yu’s finger descended in a sudden whirlwind of head-scritches, reducing the ant to dizzy incoherence.

“You didn’t hear a single thing. Understood?”

The girl’s voice carried playful menace.

«But… the noises—»

Her protest dissolved into breathless squeaks as Lin Yu intensified the tickling assault.

“Whatever you think you heard,” the girl brandished a torn morsel of fluffy bread, “never happened. Clear?”

Exhausted from the ordeal, Ji Qiao lay supine on the table surface, antennae quivering as they tracked the tantalizing bread fragment between Lin Yu’s emerald-nailed fingers…

“Why are you acting like you didn’t hear anything?”

The little ant inquired with genuine puzzlement.

“What exactly did you hear?”

Lin Yu paused, hesitating before she spoke.

“It’s just… those moaning sounds. What are Mommy and Sister doing upstairs?”

“You needn’t concern yourself with their activities, but… you must erase those noises from your memory!”

Lin Yu declared while feeding morsels to her tiny daughter.

The child’s true comprehension remained unclear – whether feigning innocence, genuinely oblivious, or simply lacking knowledge of such matters…

“Oh.”

The ant nodded vigorously, mandibles clicking rhythmically as she devoured bread chunks.

Watching this enthusiastic feast, Lin Yu finally turned to the breakfast prepared by Darkling Stalker.

Little Shadow had cooked lavishly, apparently including portions for the blond-haired girl downstairs. They’d deliver the meal after finishing here.

As breakfast neared completion,

the satiated ant extended a foreleg to touch the woman’s arm.

“Something bothering you?”

Lin Yu inquired after swallowing her bite.

“After what Darkling Stalker Sister said earlier… doesn’t today’s Mommy belong to me?”

“Now now, shouldn’t that statement be reversed?”

Amused by this creature – even more vulnerable than Weak Sound – making such claims,

Lin Yu’s finger hovered playfully. “A tiny ant like you? I could pin you down with a single digit.”

But the insect skittered backward, evading contact.

“Mommy! I want to become human like Darkling Stalker Sister!”

The ant suddenly proclaimed with unexpected courage after avoiding the prodding finger.

Though sensing deeper implications in the request, Lin Yu instinctively checked her interface.

Her Magic Value gauge still showed ample reserves – more than sufficient to grant the “Human Transformation” skill to the determined creature before her.