Dai Chengfeng felt assured, knowing that the potency of the Soul-Forming Pill had been perfectly absorbed by Qiu'er.
He tightened his arms, securely embracing her warm and fragrant body. Lowering his head, he nuzzled her shimmering blue-pink hair with his chin. "That's just normal fatigue from the pill's integration into your soul. A good night's sleep will take care of it."
"Then stay with me," Qiu'er said, tilting her small face up, her eyes sparkling as she made her request in a coquettish tone.
"Alright, I'll stay with you."
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly, lifting Qiu'er again and gently placing her amidst the soft bedding.
Just as Dai Chengfeng was about to straighten up, Qiu'er suddenly extended her delicate fingers, grabbing a strand of his loose hair and tugging lightly.
"Dai Chengfeng…"
"Hmm?"
Dai Chengfeng leaned down, thinking she might still be feeling unwell.
But Qiu'er's eyes flashed mischievously, and her hand darted toward his waist, intending to tickle him.
"You little rascal…"
Dai Chengfeng reacted swiftly, flipping his wrist to precisely grasp her mischievous wrist and gently pinning her arm back to the pillow.
He leaned closer, almost nose-to-nose with her, his eyes full of playful affection. "Feeling frisky right after taking the pill? Seems like my little Qiu'er is in great spirits."
Qiu'er didn't struggle against the restraint on her wrist. Instead, she giggled uncontrollably, her eyes curving into crescents. Her blue-pink hair spread across the pillow, accentuating her snow-white skin and flower-like smile.
She wriggled her body, trying to bump foreheads with Dai Chengfeng. "Of course! Who do you think I am? I'm the Three-Eyed Golden Lioness, Princess Qiu'er! Hmph~"
"Absorbing a mere Soul-Forming Pill is nothing to me…"
Watching Qiu'er's smug expression, Dai Chengfeng smiled. Then, thoughtfully, he lightly grazed a ticklish spot on her side.
"Ah! No…!"
Qiu'er's triumphant tone instantly faltered. She laughed but looked utterly flustered.
"Princess Qiu'er? Hmm?"
Looking at Qiu'er, Dai Chengfeng grazed her ticklish spot again. "So proud, aren't we?"
"Hahaha… Dai Chengfeng! You… you're such a pest! Haha… stop…!"
Qiu'er laughed, writhing her body like a fish out of water, trying to evade Dai Chengfeng's large hand.
"You were the one who started it."
Dai Chengfeng chuckled, his fingers relentlessly teasing her, delivering an endless stream of fine, unbearable itchiness.
He gazed down at her, enjoying the sight of her helpless, laughing until she was breathless.
By the time Qiu'er laughed herself limp, her blue-pink hair tousled on the pillow and tears welling up at the corners of her eyes—glistening and translucent—she finally surrendered.
"Are you going to ambush me again?"
"I won't… hahaha… never again! Have mercy… Dai Chengfeng… good big brother… Daddy…"
In her panic, Qiu'er blurted out her plea, her voice trembling and interspersed with coquettish tones.
"Huh?"
Dai Chengfeng paused, staring at Qiu'er.
He would never admit that the word "Daddy" pleased him.
"Huff, huff, huff…"
As Dai Chengfeng's teasing gradually subsided, Qiu'er seized the opportunity to gulp in deep breaths. Her cheeks flushed red, and her watery eyes glared at him accusingly.
But her glare lacked any real intimidation—it was more like a silent invitation.
Soon, Qiu'er's breathing steadied slightly. She puffed up her cheeks and "fiercely" glared at Dai Chengfeng with her shimmering eyes. However, the lingering laughter in her eyes and her faint panting made her "scolding" utterly ineffective, resembling a harmless little kitten baring its teeth.
"Dai Chengfeng! You… you're so mean! Always bullying me! Taking advantage of your strength to do whatever you want!"
"Big jerk! Super-duper mega jerk!"
Dai Chengfeng looked at the innocent Qiu'er, his eyes overflowing with amusement. Far from being angry, he found her adorable in her indignation.
He obediently nodded. "I am a jerk…"
As he spoke, he leaned closer, brimming with boundless affection. "I'm the kind of jerk who specializes in bullying Qiu'er."
"What… what are you going to do… mmm~"
Qiu'er watched Dai Chengfeng approach nervously, but before she could react—or even finish her sentence—
Dai Chengfeng had already claimed her lips, which had parted slightly in surprise and protest, with an irresistible yet incredibly gentle kiss.
"Mmm…"
Qiu'er put up a token resistance, but her tiny, feigned anger evaporated instantly under Dai Chengfeng's heated breath.
Her long lashes, like butterfly wings, fluttered violently a few times before closing obediently.
Lifting her slightly weakened arms, she wrapped them around Dai Chengfeng's strong neck.
And the words she had intended to scold him with dissolved into muffled whimpers.
After a long while,
Dai Chengfeng reluctantly pulled away slightly, their foreheads touching, both breathing unevenly.
He gazed down at Qiu'er, whose cheeks were flushed and whose eyes were misty as though they could drip water, tenderly stroking her smooth, warm cheek with his fingertips. His voice was hoarse.
"No more nonsense. Be good. It's late, and you've just absorbed the pill's power—you need to rest."
Upon hearing this, Qiu'er immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. Instead of loosening her grip around his neck, she clung tighter, almost embedding herself into his embrace, softly pleading and drawing out her words:
"No~"
"After taking the pill, I feel so full of energy, and I'm wide awake! Not tired at all!"
"Dai Chengfeng, you don't leave often, so play with me a little longer~"
Dai Chengfeng looked into Qiu'er's bright, expectant eyes and found himself completely unable to refuse.
Ultimately, he sighed helplessly but indulgently, lying down beside Qiu'er and extending his arm to envelop her, along with the soft cloud-like blanket, securely in his embrace. He let her rest her head in the crook of his arm, while his other hand gently patted her back, as if soothing a child.
"So, what must I do for my little Princess Qiu'er to go to sleep obediently?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu'er cleverly turned around in Dai Chengfeng's arms, facing him and snuggling into his chest.
She tilted her small face up, her disheveled blue-pink hair spread over his arm and the pillow, adding to her languid charm.
Blinking her large eyes, a sly gleam flashed quickly in their depths:
"Unless… you tell me a story! A really, really good one!"
"I heard that when human children don't want to sleep, their mothers tell them stories. I want to hear one too, okay? Pleeease~"
As Qiu'er spoke, she gently rocked Dai Chengfeng's arm.
"Alright, alright, anything you want…"
Dai Chengfeng lovingly gazed at the pouting Qiu'er, lowering his head to nuzzle her crown and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.
"Then I'll tell you a story about how a 'Buddha Tang' accidentally wandered into Rekshay?"
(T/N: Pig Latin for 'Shrek')
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