“She’s called Xiao Tao. You said before that you wanted someone to keep you company, so it’s her.”
Watching the timid, petite girl standing beside Chu Mo, Bai Qingran’s pupils suddenly widened.
The alluring red within them trembled violently for an instant, like a candle flame swept by an icy wind.
From the day he had lured Chu Mo into “carving” words on his body to the way she had looked these past few days, Bai Qingran was absolutely certain that his named “guilt” had whipped her heart bloody with its barbed iron lash.
He had planned to keep tormenting Chu Mo with his pitiful act a while longer—until her mental defenses were about to break down—then pretend to be generous, timid, even humble, and show that he was still willing to accept her. After that, he would use a sickeningly manipulative “green tea” attitude to guilt-trip her into arranging for someone to stay by his side.
He had not expected the previous act to work so powerfully.
In that moment, the vicious characters “Chu Mo” that had faintly stung his chest suddenly seemed far more worthwhile.
But now… the show had to continue, only with a new persona more suited to the current situation.
Bai Qingran lowered his head.
His snow-white fox ears drooped from fear and kept trembling against his white hair.
He pressed his lips tightly together, left hand hanging limply at his side while his right arm wrapped across his chest gripping his left.
His clean white robe was crumpled where he clutched it.
Behind him his fox tail lay listlessly on the ground, sweeping dust back and forth.
He suddenly shrank back several steps.
His voice sounded as if it had been forced from a dry throat, every word accompanied by uncontrollable tremors.
“No… Chu Mo… I… I don’t want it anymore…”
His eyes brimmed with tears, as though the person he had always wanted to keep him company was not standing before him but some catastrophe that would bring Chu Mo’s cruel punishment down on him instead!
Heh.
With acting skills like mine, why did I waste my last life as a corporate drone?
I could have been an actor—probably would have swept every Best Actor award.
Seeing him like this, Chu Mo felt both a twisted, sick satisfaction and a needle-like pain.
Those fantasies about “sunlit” love had turned into instruments of torture that flayed her heart!
Her voice unconsciously softened, like a clump of sweet, fluffy cotton candy.
“You helped me greatly with Yan Qingge’s matter. Don’t be afraid.”
Chu Mo led Xiao Tao in front of Bai Qingran. “Are you satisfied?”
Only now did the red pupils have the chance to examine Xiao Tao carefully.
The girl wore patched, shabby clothes.
She really was extremely short; in this female-dominant world she probably did not even reach the height of most men.
Her appearance was not bad—actually rather delicate and pretty—but right now she was like a shriveled flower bud that had yet to bloom.
What caught Bai Qingran’s attention most was the hazy gray film over her eyes.
They held no sparkle at all and made it hard to see clearly.
“Her?”
Bai Qingran looked at Chu Mo in confusion.
“Mhm. She was born with an eye disease. She can’t see.”
Heh.
No wonder.
So the beast had this backup plan hidden away.
But looking at Xiao Tao’s empty eyes, Bai Qingran sighed inwardly.
Another pitiful person.
While Bai Qingran studied Xiao Tao, she was also quietly assessing the situation in her mind.
True Disciple Chu actually wants me to take care of a man?
And… why does the air smell like a flower fragrance I’ve never encountered anywhere else?
It’s unique and pleasant.
“My name is Bai Qingran. Xiao Tao, from now on you’ll stay with me.”
“Mm, mm, all right! Young Master Bai.”
Her thoughts had been interrupted, so Xiao Tao hurriedly came back to herself and answered while bowing.
“Don’t be nervous. Come, I’ll show you to your room.”
Leading Xiao Tao, Bai Qingran brought her to a house in the courtyard.
He pushed open the door and the two of them walked in one after the other.
“This will be where you live from now on. If it’s inconvenient for you… I can help you tidy up.”
“No, no need, Young Master Bai. Although I’m blind, I can perceive my surroundings with spiritual power. Young Master Bai doesn’t have to worry about me.”
“Mhm. If you need any help, just call me.”
After Bai Qingran left the room, Xiao Tao subconsciously sniffed. This flower fragrance… could it be… Young Master Bai’s natural scent?
Instantly a blush spread across Xiao Tao’s cheeks.
She frantically patted her face and loudly warned herself in her heart not to let her imagination run wild.
Then she busily took out her own belongings and began to arrange them.
In the small courtyard, Bai Qingran walked over to Chu Mo with his hands behind his back.
He lowered his head obediently, hesitated for a moment, then seemed to summon all his courage.
He reached out, wrapped his arms around Chu Mo’s waist, and rubbed his face against her chest like a kitten.
“Chu Mo… thank you…”
The whisper was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
Chu Mo felt a warm spring flow through her heart.
The corners of her mouth curved in satisfaction as her fingertips gently combed through Bai Qingran’s hair.
“I’m a little hungry.”
“What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
Chu Mo named several dishes.
Bai Qingran was about to let go when Chu Mo caught his hand instead and pulled him domineeringly into her embrace.
“Let me hold you a little longer. These past few days you’ve been avoiding me…”
“Who’s to blame for that?”
Bai Qingran lifted his head.
His vermilion lips pouted slightly, his face filled with grievance and hurt.
His crimson pupils shimmered with moist, seductive tears that seemed ready to spill at any moment.
This little fox… Chu Mo swallowed hard.
The fire that had built up in her belly for days was ignited by the little fox.
She bent down and bit fiercely at his mouth.
“Mmph… gentler…”
For a time the wet, sticky sounds of their tangled kisses echoed through the empty courtyard.
Xiao Tao had just finished tidying the room and stepped out the door when she heard the strange noises.
She instinctively used her spiritual power to sense them.
The moment she vaguely “saw” the two people in the courtyard locked in an intimate embrace, a sharp cry nearly burst from her throat.
In the next instant, pitch-black spiritual power clamped tightly around her neck, completely silencing the sound in her throat.
Then mountain-heavy killing intent smashed down from above.
Even while kissing Bai Qingran, Chu Mo’s gloomy eyes remained fixed on Xiao Tao.
Xiao Tao was so frightened she clapped both hands over her mouth.
She slid down the door until she was sitting on the ground.
Her whole body shook like a sieve.
Using both hands and feet, she scrambled in a panic, opened the door, and crawled inside.
Only after the door was shut tightly did Xiao Tao dare to gasp for breath.
Just now… True Disciple Chu was clearly warning me with death!
Although Xiao Tao was blind, she had heard plenty about Chu Mo while chatting with the other disciples—especially lately, when Chu Mo had caused an especially big stir.
True Disciple Chu has a white moonlight named Pei Yunqing, right?
Everyone says the man True Disciple Chu loves most is him.
So… so how can she be with Young Master Bai?!
Realizing what she had just witnessed, Xiao Tao shrank in on herself.
Then it felt as if she had been pressed into freezing water mixed with crushed ice.
Her mind buzzed, and dizziness and nausea spun through her like the world was turning upside down.
This… this job really is a massive trap!