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It’s Maomao and Jinshi’s day off, and on this rare occasion, she’s at his place for breakfast. Suiren tells her that the young master has yet to wake up, and though that means Maomao has to wait a bit to eat, she’s glad to hear he’s at least taking advantage of the day off. Exercise is essential to maintain a good health, but so is sleep. She would have been angry if she were to find him already up and training with Basen, instead of resting.
Chue had brought her from her dormitory earlier in the morning, so when Jinshi finally wakes up, Maomao is pretty eager to fill her stomach. Nowadays, she appreciates every opportunity she has to eat Suiren’s cooking. Jinshi’s company is almost a second thought. Almost.
Maomao is momentarily distracted by the absurd sight that is Jinshi who has just woken up. It seems he has at least freshened up already, but he still looks pretty sleepy, eyes barely open. He has yet to change out of his sleepwear, his hair is messy, and his face is flushed for some reason. Suiren leaves her alone with the creature. That old lady sure is cunning.
Jinshi pats the seat next to his on the couch, but she sits across from him anyway, picking up a bowl of congee for herself. He pouts.
“Maomao…”
She doesn’t react.
Scratching his eye like a little boy, he whines, “Next to me, please…”
What a brat! Sighing, Maomao goes to him, and only then he picks up a bowl for himself.
Jinshi eats happily with her by his side. The one known as the Moon Prince seems really simple in moments like this, just happy to have a meal with company he likes. Now why does he like her? That Maomao can’t say she completely understands.
Maomao has long learned that he can be pretty mellow in the mornings, and as she enjoys the food, she takes glances at him. No one else gets to see this side of him… Jinshi doesn’t seem to notice or care, but his robes are coming undone in a rather enticing way. His shoulder is bare, and his chest is on the way of becoming so.
“Your robes, Jinshi-sama,” Maomao says, monotone.
“Oh.” He pulls them back up, but doesn’t bother to properly tie the sash to keep them from falling open again.
This guy… The worst part is that he isn’t even trying to seduce her right now. Maomao is grateful she’s the only one seeing this, his unassuming morning self is much too enticing for the human eye. But then again, she is still human.
“You shouldn’t allow yourself to be seen like that, sir.” It’s much too alluring, but that she doesn’t say.
“It’s okay. It’s only you.”
Maomao scowls. Is she not a person? She realizes that usually she wouldn’t mind seeing him in such a state, but his careless reply doesn’t make her happy. “Still…”
“If it’s my cat, I don’t mind.” He yawns and smiles lazily. “She can do whatever she wants.”
Maomao coughs, almost choking. “You really shouldn’t say things like that.” Especially not with that innocent expression on his face. What a troublesome man! He really is way too comfortable around her.
“It seems you forget I’m a woman, after all.” She recovers her composure, sipping on her tea. Maybe she should teach him a little lesson.
He tilts his head, clueless. “Hmm?”
Silly little prince. It makes her want to tease.
Maomao lowers the teacup from her lips, shifting on her seat. Deliberately, she stares with sharp eyes, like a cat about to pounce. She gazes, slowly, from his exposed breast, to his uncovered shoulder, and finally to his delectable neck. When Maomao meets his eyes, she can tell he understands. Jinshi’s face becomes rather flushed, his body too, but he quickly gathers his robes together like a scandalized damsel.
“Now tie it properly,” she orders, voice low.
He catches his breath and does as she says.
“Good. As long as you understand.” Maomao sits back, sipping tea again.
In an attempt to distract himself, Jinshi proceeds to stuff his face with congee in a very boyish manner. She has recently come to terms that she enjoys a little bit of teasing, he gives good reactions.
“You don’t mind my attention, do you, sir?” Maomao asks, interested in exploring more. She’s aware that though he hides it well, he doesn’t appreciate the attention that he always receives either because of his looks, status or both.
“I do… mind,” he admits, eyes casting down, “I crave it, all the time. Desperately. You ought to know that by now.” He sounds miffed that she would think otherwise.
Maomao’s eye twitch. How the hell can he just say stuff like that?
“Hmm,” she grunts, “and yet you won’t touch me.”
“It’s for the best,” Jinshi quickly replies, still not meeting her eyes.
“So I’ve been told…” A part of her wonders if now that he has her attention, he’ll get bored. It feels a bit irrational, since throughout the years they’ve known each other, he hasn’t shown himself to be fickle.
“What if I were to touch you?” Maomao requests, having developed a different kind of curiosity about his anatomy as of late.
Jinshi’s eyes are wide as he meets her gaze. “Y-you don’t need to–”
“What if I want to?”
“Nnnghn.”
What is that sound? Maomao is slightly amused.
“Do you… want to…?” he trails off, blushing heavily.
“Yes,” she answers easily, “I’ve explained before that there are things that can be explored without risk of… complications. Instead then, I could experiment on you, sir. You can keep your hands to yourself if necessary.”
Jinshi gulps at the word “experiment”.
“Wouldn’t that just be you servicing me? I don’t like it.”
“You have my word it’s not out of a sense of obligation,” Maomao explains, “think of it as… intellectual curiosity. My knowledge is mostly theory, after all.” She’s had some courtesan training a long time ago, but she’s just decided that’s no longer enough. Maomao’s eyes flicker to his now covered chest, and her hands twitch. “I’d like to get some… hands-on experience.”
He looks suspiciously at her. “Is this a dream…?”
“Think on it, sir.” Maomao sighs, getting up from her seat.
“W-where are you going?”
“I’ve finished my breakfast. I’d like to enjoy the rest of my day off,” she says, having plans to visit the pleasure district, and maybe do some shopping. “You too, sir, need to rest.”
“Right…”
“Well, then.” With a polite bow, Maomao leaves.
Jinshi can’t believe this is his life now.