In a distant corner, Nyx savored her ice cream with a gleeful grin, her legs swinging playfully in the air. She perched herself on the windowsill, a bold choice considering the emptiness beyond, shrouded by a sea of clouds.
Meanwhile, Xia Shuiyao paced anxiously within the room, her worry evident. She circled around, voicing her concerns aloud, "How can you still eat ice cream? Why hasn't Tian returned?" The passage of time had stretched thin, her daughter having vanished long ago, and now Xia Tian as well?
Nyx's response was a nonchalant "Hmm," as she continued her ice cream indulgence.
The silence that followed piqued Xia Shuiyao's curiosity. Her gaze shifted from her pacing to Nyx's ice cream, and she couldn't help but ask, a hint of bewilderment in her voice, "Is it really that delicious?"
With a swift nod, Nyx's answer was immediate. The enjoyment on her face spoke volumes, a testament to the sheer delight the treat brought her.
Curious, Xia Shuiyao raised an eyebrow and inquired, "May I have a taste?" Her curiosity piqued, she extended her hand toward Nyx's ice cream, only to find herself abruptly frozen in place.
A sudden drop in temperature transformed the room into an icy realm. Nyx turned her head, her gaze a cold, piercing glare that sent shivers down Xia Shuiyao's spine.
In that intense moment, fear gripped Xia Shuiyao as she faced Nyx's fierce gaze. "Nevermind," she stammered, retracting her hand hastily. Nyx's cute smile soon returned, leaving Xia Shuiyao all the more intrigued by the enigma before her.
'Why such an extreme reaction?'
'What's so extraordinary about an ice cream?'
Just as Xia Shuiyao's thoughts swirled, Nyx's soft voice brushed against her consciousness, her words resonating with a sense of determination, "Make your own; I won't share mine."
Xia Shuiyao raised an incredulous eyebrow, scanning the room's barren interior, and retorted, "How am I supposed to make ice cream with no ingredients around? Where would I find milk?"
Nyx, however, offered a subtle hum of agreement, her expression cryptic. "You have the milk," she whispered, leaving Xia Shuiyao utterly perplexed.
"What do you me—" Xia Shuiyao's words trailed off, her voice catching in her throat as her eyes widened in realization, transfixed by Nyx's back.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt'S-She can't mean that!?' A flush of surprise colored Xia Shuiyao's cheeks as she shifted her gaze down to her own chest.
A sudden epiphany washed over her.
The ice cream itself wasn't the unique factor.
It was the milk used to make it that held the secret.
Nyx was consuming ice cream crafted from her own breast milk!
Xia Shuiyao's mind whirled, a mix of shock and realization leaving her feeling drained. She sank onto the bed, her exhaustion apparent.
Unbeknownst to her, the ice cream batches were originally created by Xia Tian for his own consumption. Over time, he grew weary of them and decided to force-feed the ice cream to Nyx.
Nyx certainly didn't intend to consume something created from her own milk. Yet, despite her resistance, she found herself coerced into trying it. Contrary to her expectations, the taste was surprisingly sweet.
Ever since that incident, the extensive supply of ice cream became an occasional indulgence for her.
Given Nyx's protective nature over her own body, it wasn't surprising that she wouldn't permit others, including Xia Shuiyao, to partake in the ice cream crafted from her breast milk.
Eveything started making sense now...
It was never about ice-cream...
But about the milk...
After some time had passed, both Selene and Irene re-entered the main room.
Earlier, it had been the setting for an intimate encounter involving Nyx, Xia Shuiyao, and Long Wanhui. Currently, only Xia Shuiyao and Nyx remained, with Long Wanhui having been sent back to the Xia Family.
Upon seeing Selene and Irene standing at the open door, a spark of delight ignited in Xia Shuiyao's eyes.
Selene and Irene had reverted to their adult forms, having obtained permission from Xia Tian. Their punishment had been temporarily postponed as Xia Tian returned to the Blue Star Realm.
"Sister Irene!" Xia Shuiyao exclaimed, rising from her seat to greet her, and Irene responded with a warm nod and a smile.
Curiosity lighting her gaze, Xia Shuiyao posed a question, "Where's Tian? Isn't he with you two?" She directed the query at both Selene and Irene.
Selene and Irene exchanged a silent communication, a mutual understanding passing between them.
Irene let out a soft sigh, while Selene took a determined step forward, ready to address Xia Shuiyao's concerns. She spoke, her voice carrying the weight of revelation, "He's gone back to the Blue Star Realm."
"What!?" Xia Shuiyao's exclamation was tinged with disbelief, her eyes widening in surprise. She had been fervently awaiting his return, only to learn that he had already departed.
"G-Gone back already?" Her voice held a mix of astonishment and a hint of disappointment, her words barely more than a whisper.
Concern then shifted to Yanyan, and Xia Shuiyao's gaze turned to Irene, seeking answers. "And Yanyan?"
A complicated expression crossed Irene's features, but it was Selene who stepped forward, locking eyes with Xia Shuiyao, her intent gaze unwavering.
"It's time for you to make a choice," Selene's voice was resolute, her words leaving no room for evasion. "You must decide between Xia Tian and your daughter. Keep in mind, you can have as many daughters as you want, but there's only one Xia Tian."
Her statement carried an undercurrent of urgency, invoking the scarcity principle to create a sense of imminent decision-making for Xia Shuiyao.
The gravity of the choice she faced was painted vividly before her, urging her to confront her feelings and make a judgment.
Xia Shuiyao, who had been visibly flustered just moments before, lapsed into silence, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her as tears welled up in her eyes.
She tightly pressed her lips together, forcibly containing her turmoil. Her voice was silenced, leaving her seated on the bed with a vacant expression.
In a twist of fate, she had chosen Xia Tian, sparing herself from a potentially harsh lesson on the depths of obsession that his three daughters could have imparted.
Unbeknownst to them, Xia Tian's intentions concerning Xia Rouyan had shifted. Amidst his ever-occupying pursuits, the girl had slipped from his immediate thoughts, in simple words — he forget about her.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe was merely a fleeting memory, as he found himself engrossed in other intriguing thoughts.
Yet, neither Selene nor Evelynn were privy to Xia Tian's evolving perspective on Xia Rouyan. They held the knowledge of her whereabouts and continued to shield her from the shadows, awaiting Xia Tian's return to guide their actions.
As for Xia Shuiyao — She can only blame her bad luck.
________
In the realm of the Blue Star, within the sprawling expanse of the Eagle Gang territory, a sense of urgency hung in the air like a charged current.
Amid this atmosphere, a vibrant blonde-haired girl moved with a purpose, her footsteps echoing down the hallways.
With a fervor akin to a determined huntress, she combed through each room, her intent clear: to uncover a hidden secret, to find that which remained elusive.
Every door swung open under her relentless push, revealing the hidden corners of each chamber. Yet, despite her thorough search, a cloud of disappointment hovered over her efforts. A sigh escaped her lips, an acknowledgment of the fruitless trail her pursuit had led her on.
Undeterred, she retraced her steps and burst once more into Xia Chen's room, her entrance as abrupt as a lightning strike. "Hey, you couch potato!" Her voice rang out, brimming with frustration. "You said borther Tian was here, but I've scoured every inch and found no trace of him!"
Xia Chen, caught off guard by the sudden intrusion, emitted a sigh that seemed to reverberate with the weight of exasperation. "I honestly don't know. Maybe he's vanished into thin air again."
*BOOM*
With determination etched into her features, the blonde-haired girl slammed the door shut with a resounding thud, her resolve unshaken. Another scan of the room yielded no clues, leaving a sheen of sweat on her brow.
Time ticked by as she tirelessly pursued her mission, investing an hour's worth of effort into her quest.
However, the trail remained cold, the object of her search slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. Frustration mingled with her determination, fanning the flames of her resolve.
In a final bid to assuage her restlessness, she wandered toward the tranquil expanse of the Yellow East River. With a graceful movement, she lowered herself to the water's edge, the gentle lap of the river creating a soothing rhythm.
*Splash*
A hint of wistfulness found its way onto her countenance, mingling with her sigh as she wrestled with her thoughts. The mystery of Xia Tian's newfound aloofness weighed heavily on her heart, casting a shadow over her demeanor.
In an uncanny twist of fate, just as her solitude seemed to encompass her completely, a voice materialized from behind her.
"Why are you here all alone?"