Chapter 17
As night fell, cool light streamed into the hot spring valley, and geothermal heat gushed out, coating the surrounding green branches and leaves with a layer of moisture.
The girl was curled up on the tatami mat, breathing lightly, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, clearly exhausted.
Hera walked over quietly, and as soon as her fingertips touched the hem of her clothes, she fluttered like a startled kitten, her eyelashes trembling. Hera carefully picked her up horizontally.
It was so light, like a feather falling into my arms.
The wind outside the corridor carried the distinctive sulfurous scent of the hot spring. She looked down at her, and the moonlight fell precisely on half of her face.
I'm not so afraid of her when she's asleep.
It's actually okay to be a little spoiled.
The steam from the open-air hot spring rose up. Hera tested the water temperature first before taking off her "uniform" and bending down to put her into the water.
As the warm water washed over her shoulders, she let out a soft moan and snuggled closer to her. A few drops of water clung to her eyelashes, like morning dew on a butterfly's wings.
Hera raised her hand to brush away the stray hairs from her cheek. The skin her palm touched was warm and cozy, blending with the temperature difference of the spring water, all of which was absorbed into the warm soup.
So good.
Li Jia was half asleep, but she kept feeling someone taking off her clothes, so she forced her eyelids open and closed them a crack.
The fog was so thick that nothing could be seen.
Slender, white hands caressed her body, and in the blink of an eye, her pleated skirt was pulled down, and she was soaking in the spring water, feeling completely relaxed, which made her unconsciously hum softly.
Li Jia could feel another person coming in with her, because she was sitting on that person's lap, and someone was supporting her back to prevent her from sliding into the center of the spring.
This is her private hot spring. The size of the pool was built according to her figure. When she sits down, the water level just covers her shoulders and neck, but when Li Jia sits down, it completely covers her entire body.
Realizing this, Li Jia dared not move, and even pressed herself close to her chest, afraid that she would fall.
It was just a little embarrassing.
Li Jia straddled her knees, completely naked, her vulva pressed against her kneecap, feeling both swollen and numb. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she nudged her knee.
Her sensitive clitoris clenched tightly, and a stream of nectar gushed out, wetting her legs.
How embarrassing.
Li Jia couldn't help but feel relieved that they were underwater and nothing could be seen.
Otherwise, how could she face others?
After a while, the person holding her still showed no sign of letting go, so Li Jia had no choice but to cough twice, then slowly open her eyes, looking flattered: "Your Majesty, where are we?"
It's no wonder she couldn't stay still; the hot spring was just too stuffy and hot. After soaking her whole body in the water for more than ten minutes, her hands were starting to peel.
"The Underworld".
"The name of the soup."
Hera gave a brief response to her question.
This... is quite a sinister name.
Li Jia struggled to get her hands off her arms.
We can't soak it any longer. We need to roast it slowly at a low temperature. Nobody can withstand that. Quickly take the trotters out to cool them down.
As Li Jia soaked in the water, her gaze was drawn to other things.
It appears that the goddess's cup size is only half the size of hers.
A sense of pride inexplicably arose within me; finally, there was something I could surpass her in.
Sensing the thoughts of the person in her arms, Hera casually recited a simile.
Li Jia clearly felt the mountain on her back getting bigger and smaller, then bigger and smaller, until it returned to normal.
Li Jia: ... (Damn it, this person is an idiot, treating her like a Japanese person.)
"Your Majesty, do you think I'm dirty? So you're bringing me here to take a bath?" Li Jia used the same trick again, imitating the scheming wife in TV dramas, speaking in a coquettish voice with a hint of resentment.
"Yeah, a little."
Hera's private bath is located at the forbidden center of the entire hot spring valley, the place with the most abundant divine power in the valley, and the highest point of her divine protection.
It has the wonderful effects of healing wounds, calming the nerves, and relieving fatigue.
No one could see this private bath without her permission; even Winslow and Doreen were unaware of its existence.
It looks like a swamp surrounded by trees, and no one would know about it.
Her soul was connected to the Fragrant City of Springs and the Hot Spring Valley, and no outsider could cross the boundary. However, Hera did not want to govern the Fragrant City of Springs.
Let the truly talented people take over.
Hera is a very strange god, not only the mortal gods, but also the other gods on Mount Meru.
If she were a deity, she would naturally want everyone to submit to her divine power, but she had no such intention. What she pursued was equality for all beings, treating everyone equally.
Li Jia was not discouraged by Hera's answer. If others heard someone complaining that they were dirty, they would immediately turn away and leave.
Li Jia knew that Hera didn't mean that.
After all, it's normal for a god who has been lonely for thousands of years to not know how to get along with his servants for the first time in his life.
She wouldn't stoop to her level.
Embracing a thorny rose requires patience and courage.
"Can I come to take a bath every day from now on? I will make sure I wash myself very clean and will never dirty Your Majesty's bed."
Li Jia looked at the woman pitifully. Li Jia didn't want to go to the small pond to wash every day, and there were only three months left until autumn, when the weather was getting colder and colder. She wanted to soak in a warm hot spring.
Hera seemed taken aback for a moment, then said, "Okay."
"Can I bring Winslow in with me?" Li Jia asked, pushing her luck, thinking of her best friend.
"No, I don't like sharing my things with others."
A firm and unequivocal refusal.
Li Jia thought Hera was referring to the private hot spring, so she nodded. Indeed, it was good enough that Hera was willing to use such a good thing with her, but she wanted to bring her best friend along. It was a bit ungrateful.
Then I can only put my best friend out of my mind.
Hera and Li Jia agreed that only the two of them would know the location of the Yellow Springs Private Bath.
Seeing the little one's unwavering expression, Hera leaned close to her ear and told her the incantation to open the private hot spring.
Seeing that she was dazed and confused, Hera sighed, waved her hand, and the private soup disappeared.
I told Li Jia that she had changed the metaphor to a material one. Whenever she appeared here and touched the ring, the private hot spring would appear, and similarly, it would disappear when she touched it again.
Li Jia can understand this; she simply changed the password to a fingerprint lock, which she's familiar with.
I was still a little worried after she finished explaining, so I had her demonstrate it to me twice before I felt at ease.
Seeing that she had soaked enough, Hera picked her up and stood her on the clean jade slab, then picked up a sheepskin towel to dry the water droplets off Li Jia's body.
Li Jia glanced over and noticed that Hera had changed into a long silk robe at some point. With such a convenient and quick method, why not just dress her up as well?
But since they were both girls, it didn't really matter, Li Jia didn't think much of it, just assuming it was Hera's unique quirk.
I like to feed her, bathe her, dress her, and sleep with her at night.
With Hera around, all the things that used to bother me were easily resolved.
Now, she has friends, enough to eat and wear, and never needs to worry about money.
Li Jia had previously heard her college roommates mention wanting to find a "dad-type" boyfriend. At first, she thought it meant an older man, but after searching online, she realized that was not true.
Originally, it referred to a male partner who, like a father, showed a strong protective instinct, sense of responsibility, and desire to care for his partner.
Li Jia has never experienced fatherly love, but she feels that if everyone can have a "dad-like" boyfriend, then Hera is a "mom-like" girlfriend.
She will handle everything for herself quietly and discreetly.
Today, Li Jia visited the Temple of Marriage and encountered Hera, who was completely different from what she had imagined.
The gods, who are high above, should not have to deal with these trivial matters; they should simply enjoy the offerings and incense.
Doreen and she fought and struggled for the living space of same-sex people.
Just like many times, when a girl feels helpless, she suddenly finds someone behind her supporting and protecting her, telling her not to be afraid and to work together towards the same goal.
Li Jia also understood why the incense at the Temple of Marriage was the most popular.
This is a heartfelt prayer and blessing.
In a daze, Li Jia found Hera had already wiped her body clean and dressed her in her silk pajamas.
Hera held Li Jia in her arms, only her back was visible; her two nipples were too prominent and had to be hidden.
This time, instead of leisurely walking back, she used Shadow Cloak to return to the inner palace.
Li Jia felt that she was just a lazy accessory to the big boss. The big boss was responsible for working hard to support the family, while she was responsible for being beautiful and lying around at home.
Hera put her down, then lit a lamp in the center of the hall, bringing light to the dark room.
Ever since Hera learned that the little guy was afraid of the dark, she would light a lamp every night, and over time it became a habit.
Even when Hera is not at home, the lamps will light up by themselves at the appointed time, guarding the inner palace for her throughout the night.
Li Jia stood on the ground, her gaze sweeping across the hall.
Soon, it focused on Kuromi's backpack on the chair.
While she was taking a bath, she wondered where her backpack had gone.
It won't fall off, will it?
Li Jia felt a little sad as she thought about it, because the box contained donuts, which she had saved for herself as a late-night snack.
Now that she saw her backpack safely placed on the chair, the joy of finding it again overwhelmed her, and she quickly walked over.
Thankfully, it wasn't soft; it still had a crisp, brownish-red texture. I sat down happily by the tea table on the wooden tatami mat.
She wasn't as tall as Hera, so the items and furniture in the inner palace were all custom-made to fit Hera's size. She asked Winslow to find a furniture maker in the human world to make several designs she wanted.
According to the first rule of Li Jia's "Salted Fish Rule," Li Jia will try her best to be good to herself under limited conditions.
Coffee table, rug, sofa, shoe rack, trash can...
It's a pity that there's no electricity in this era, so no one makes idol dramas; otherwise, refrigerators could be used to make TV series.
The once quiet and minimalist hall has been transformed by Li Jia's arrival, with a whole host of things that didn't originally belong there.
Li Jia likes pink and tender things, and she and Winslow hit it off immediately. Whenever she needs something, she just goes to Winslow, and she can never go wrong.
So, next to the tall, black dressing mirror in the deep hall, you can see a Hello Kitty comb hanging on a hook, and next to the wooden desk in Hera's deep hall, there is a SpongeBob trash can...
Fortunately, only she and Li Jia were allowed to enter the inner palace, so Hera let her have her way.
Li Jia took out milk and donuts, ready to enjoy her late-night snack.
Drinking two bottles of milk every day is a strict requirement that Li Jia sets for herself, because...
She glanced at Hera silently. Modern scientific research indicates that bone growth plates can still grow before the age of twenty, so Li Jia was unwilling to give up.
After finishing her milk, Li Jia unwrapped the parchment paper and held a donut in her fingertips, the frosting on it shimmering in the dim light.
Just as Li Jia was about to take her first bite, her wrist was suddenly tugged gently from the side, and the next second, the sugar-coated donut had a new owner.
"Hey! That's mine!"
Li Jia subconsciously turned her head to glare at Hera, who was holding a donut in her mouth, raising an eyebrow at her, with a little sugar on her lips. She swallowed and said, "It's sweet."
"I queued up to buy that, Your Majesty. Don't you not eat human food?" Li Jia said pitifully, carefully protecting the other donut.
I want to eat this today.
"If others can eat it, why can't I?"
The chilling question left Li Jia speechless.
Doreen isn't a stranger, what's she getting so angry about?
Forget it, she doesn't want to argue with that high and mighty elementary school kid god.
Fortunately, Hera went to sleep after finishing her donut, and no one took the last one from her.
Li Jia added another test point to her notebook: In the future, you should buy an extra item for everything, even if there's a stingy person among you.
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