Elder brother's garrison

Xiao Bai smiled and nodded at her, indicating that she should try it.

Littorio then reached out, pinched a strawberry out of the bag, and put it to his mouth.

Littorio's mouth was small, and swallowing such a large strawberry in one gulp would have been a bit too much for her, so she only took a bite of the side of the strawberry and chewed it.

"How does it taste?" Xiaobai asked with a smile.

"..." Littorio covered his mouth, looked at the little white dog, his emerald green eyes widening slightly, "It doesn't taste like what I remember."

"The impression you're talking about... is the common sense about this world that the ship girl construction device gave you, right?" Xiaobai asked with a smile.

“That’s right.” Littorio nodded. “I remember strawberries as sweet and sour, but the strawberries you gave me, Admiral, are even more delicious and juicy, with a richer flavor.”

"This was hand-cultivated by one of the ship girls in our naval base. She's really amazing, you know. Even I can only get this much from her each time." Xiaobai said, smiling at Littorio. "Take it and eat it if you like."

"Is this a gift from the Admiral?"

"Hmm...you can think that way too."

"Then can I choose how to use it?"

"Of course you can." Xiaobai nodded.

“I understand.” Littorio placed the strawberry box on Xiaobai’s desk. Holding the doll in one hand, she took a plump strawberry from the box with the other and offered it to Xiaobai’s mouth. “Admiral, this one is for you.”

"Thanks." Xiaobai brushed a strand of hair behind her ear with one hand and gently brought her mouth to take the strawberry that Littorio offered.

Returning to his seat with the strawberry in his mouth, Xiaobai gently poked the strawberry with his index finger and slowly put it into his mouth.

Strawberries are still very delicious.

"What are you going to do with the rest of the strawberries?" Xiaobai asked Littorio.

“There are six people left outside, so these seven can be shared among them,” Littorio said, adding, “I’ll eat the last one, so I’ll have one extra.”

"It's fine if you eat it all by yourself."

“Admiral, there is nothing in this world more lonely than enjoying dessert alone,” Littorio replied, holding up the box of strawberries.

"That's nice," Xiaobai exclaimed, her gaze gentle as she looked at the cat plush toy in Littorio's arms. "Hmm... speaking of which, Littorio, is that cat plush toy you're holding... one of those ship-mounted pets or something?"

"No, it's just a cat plush toy that I love."

"No wonder you kept her in your arms the whole time; I never saw you take her down."

"...Would the Admiral like a hug?"

"Huh?" Xiaobai looked away, staring at Littorio with some surprise.

Littorio said to Shiro, "Normally I wouldn't let anyone else touch this cat plushie, but since the Admiral gave me a gift, if you promise not to pull its tail, I can let the Admiral hug it for a little while."

"Ah...not really..."

“This cat doll is a treasured prop of mine. To me, she is a part of my body. I would not give her a chance unless she is someone I trust and acknowledge.” Littorio stared into Little White’s eyes and said, “This is all out of my good intentions. I believe her value is not much less than a box of particularly delicious strawberries.”

"Um..." Feeling Littorio's gaze, Xiaobai suddenly felt a bit pressured. She awkwardly put down her pen and said to Littorio, "Then... can I hug you?"

“Hmm, it seems you, Admiral, also agree that this cat plushie is attractive.” Littorio said, finally releasing the plushie from his arms and handing it to Shiro with both hands.

Xiaobai smiled as he accepted Littorio's doll and gently stroked it.

Littorio's doll... probably because she had been holding it tightly in her arms, it had picked up some of her scent.

Xiao Bai only felt that the doll had a faint rose scent, and the doll's fabric was very fluffy, which felt really nice to touch.

Yes, this is a very good quality cat plush toy.

Xiaobai understood Littorio's point of view to some extent, and she looked up at Littorio and spoke.

"Littorio, what are you doing, you little cat?"

Just as Xiaobai was about to say something, she suddenly stared at Littorio in front of her, her eyes widened, and she froze on the spot, her hand that was stroking the doll hanging in mid-air, not falling for a long time.

"Admiral? What's wrong?" Littorio asked.

“Littorio, you…you…you…” Little White stammered, staring at Littorio. Her hand trembled as she pointed at Littorio’s body, as if looking at some monster. “You…you…how could you…how…”

"Me?" Littorio was confused after being pointed at by the little white dog for a while, and looked down at her own body.

The shocked Xiaobai was pointing at Littorio's chest.

Littorio subconsciously raised his chest with his arm.

Hidden beneath the shawl, where the shirt part of the princess dress was covered, the rather conspicuous heaviness was thus somewhat contained.

In Littorio's view, his body had not undergone any strange changes; it was still exactly the same as he remembered himself.

"Admiral, is there something strange about my body?"

In response to Littorio's question, Xiaobai's expression kept changing.

Xiao Bai experienced a series of emotions almost instantly, including shock, disbelief, and doubt.

Oh my god...

Previously, with the cat plush toy covering her chest, Xiaobai hadn't noticed anything, and she had reason to believe that the others hadn't noticed either... But after Littorio took the cat plush toy off, Xiaobai looked at the obvious curves of Littorio's chest, now completely exposed, with its striking, heavy lines, and its full shape, and realized something quite terrifying.

Littorio... she seems quite "fierce"!

Good heavens, isn't she the same size as Veneto?

They were clearly made from the same mold before, so how come they suddenly look so exaggerated after I took the doll off?

Could this be the legendary Tong Ju?

Is this doll's hiding effect that good?

Xiao Bai subconsciously looked down, grabbed the doll in her hand, and instinctively held it to her chest.

It really is.

The doll was just the right size to block out all the view from her chest, and Littorio tended to lean forward when she hugged it, which explained her previously unassuming demeanor.

"Admiral, why are you looking at me like that?" Littorio asked, puzzled, seeing the drastic change in Xiaobai's expression.

"You...you don't know yourself..." Xiaobai hugged the cat plushie, not knowing how to start speaking for a moment.

"I?"

"Did you...did you do that on purpose or accidentally?"

"Intentionally? Accidentally?" Littorio still didn't understand.

"Ah... hiss..." Xiaobai took a deep breath, composed herself, and slowly exhaled, holding her forehead. "No, it's nothing... I understand..."

Littorio seemed to be aware of his physical condition.

But her reaction suggested that she genuinely didn't realize that everyone had always viewed her as someone with Veneto's physical attributes...

After all...

Is this really the fate of battleships...?

Even though its height is almost the same as Veneto's, its width is definitely...

Xiao Bai glanced sideways, his feelings complicated as he looked at Littorio's chest, which, once uncovered, was nearly as large as Rome's.

Xiao Bai suddenly began to feel sorry for Veneto.

Chapter 3480 Keeping the Secret

Just as Xiaobai and Littorio were speechless, and an awkward silence fell over the office.

Boom boom boom!

A crisp knock sounded, and then the office door was opened a crack.

“Admiral? Is Littorio here? I just saw…” Veneto pushed open the door and walked into the office as he spoke.

Veneto's gaze was lowered, and her left foot had just touched the office floor when she was about to lift her red eyes slightly to look at Littorio and Little White.

“Wa ...

Before Veneto's gaze could fully shift to her, Little White couldn't help but let out a sharp crack. With lightning speed, Little White almost instinctively stood up from her seat, then grabbed Littorio in front of her and pulled her into her arms, holding her shoulders tightly.

Littorio offered no resistance whatsoever, his long, wine-red hair rippled with every movement of Xiaobai.

“…Huh?” Veneto was startled by Xiaobai’s voice. She looked at Xiaobai in a daze, her gaze first glancing subconsciously at the cat plush toy that had fallen to the ground, then at Xiaobai’s arms tightly hugging Littorio’s. Her eyes immediately became alert. “…Admiral, what are you doing?”

"Ah, no, no, nothing..." Little White, panting, smiled awkwardly at Veneto, "I, I was just chatting with Littorio..."

"Are there situations where people hug this tightly while chatting?"

"Well, because Littorio is cute..."

"That sudden shout from the admiral was..."

"Because I couldn't resist her cuteness!"

“Oh…” Veneto listened to Little White’s words, her gaze softened, and she glanced at Littorio’s back with agreement. “I understand the Admiral’s thoughts. It seems that you also like her very much, Admiral.”

"Yes, yes..."

“In that case, I won’t disturb your conversation with Littorio any longer, Admiral.” Veneto entered the office, first going to the desk, bending down to pick up the cat plush toy from the floor and placing it on the desk, then saying to the two, “I heard from others that Littorio ran into the Admiral’s office, and I thought she was disturbing your work, but seeing how harmonious you two are getting along now, it seems I don’t need to worry so much… Admiral, I’ll go find Roma and the others now.”

"Mmm, mmm!" Little White nodded quickly and patted Littorio on the back.

"Veneto, see you later." Littorio turned his head, quietly nestled in Little White's arms, and spoke to Veneto.

"See you later." Veneto nodded, glancing at Little White and Littorio with apparent satisfaction before turning and leaving the office.

Xiao Bai watched nervously as Veneto left the office step by step and closed the door.

The office once again returned to the state of being just the two of them, Xiaobai and Littorio.

Xiao Bai breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Phew... Luckily I was quick enough.

It seems that Veneto hadn't discovered Littorio's "secret".

Veneto had waited so many years to finally find a sister who suited her heart, and Xiaobai didn't want to see her beloved wedding ship suffer a mental blow and have her Dao heart shattered...

"Admiral, were you serious when you just called me cute?" Just then, Littorio, who was in Xiaobai's arms, raised his head and asked Xiaobai.

"Huh?" Xiaobai was taken aback for a moment, and she subconsciously looked at Littorio.

Littorio sat quietly in Xiaobai's arms, her delicate face only a hair's breadth away from Xiaobai's. At this distance, Xiaobai could clearly see Littorio's flawless face and every detail in her emerald green eyes.

My chest... is so soft and squishy.

When Xiaobai thought about her current position with Littorio, she blushed and quickly let go of Littorio.

"Littorio, no, I'm so sorry... just now I..."

“Admiral, if someone else had treated me like that, I would have punched them in the chin with an uppercut immediately.” Littorio patted his shoulder and said quietly and obediently to Xiaobai, “But there was no uncomfortable look in your eyes just now, so I choose to hear your explanation first.”

"Haha..." Xiaobai looked at the cat plush toy on the desk, held it up with both hands and handed it to Littorio, "Littorio, here's your cat plush toy back."

"Hmm." Littorio took the doll and hugged it to his arms.

It's quite peculiar, really. The very prominent lines on Littorio's chest were completely covered the moment she hugged the cat plushie, and she turned back into the petite, delicate, and reserved little girl she used to be.

"Littorio, you absolutely mustn't take this cat plushie off in front of other people," Xiaobai said to Littorio.

"Why?" Littorio asked in return.

"Sigh... this is for Veneto's own good." Xiaobai said with mixed feelings, "I know this can't be hidden forever, but I hope to delay her finding out about you as long as possible..."

"The Admiral's mention of 'hidden'... could it be referring to this place of mine?" Littorio asked, pointing to his cat doll.

"That's it."

"Did Veneto dislike people like those from Rome and the Empire?"

“No, that’s not it. They get along very well, but… it’s a long story…” Xiaobai didn’t know where to begin. She thought for a moment and then continued to explain to Littorio, “You know about Veneto’s situation… As a battleship, her physical appearance is somewhat unique. Of course, from my own perspective, she is still an excellent and perfect battleship. But having been in our naval base for so long, meeting a sister who is similar in appearance to her is probably something that makes her genuinely happy, so…”

“I see, I understand now.” Littorio nodded. “Veneto would prefer me to be a short, thin lady.”

"...There's no need to be so direct," Xiaobai grinned, "but that's roughly the idea."

"..." Littorio hugged the doll, turned around and looked at the surroundings, then said to Shiro, "Admiral, but you know, although I know what you mean, a good lady should not hide her truth from others."

"Of course I respect your opinion," Xiaobai replied, bowing her head.

"..." Littorio looked at Shiro, then glanced down at the strawberry box on the table. "However... I usually hold the doll all the time, and apart from the Admiral, no one else would have the chance to touch it. Even if I don't have any particular intention to hide this, it probably won't spread anytime soon."

"You mean..." Xiaobai raised her eyes instantly.