“Master, I’m back.”
Su Yun carefully pushed open the door, her movements so light as if afraid of disturbing something.
The two or three hours inside the Trial Tower had translated to two or three days here for Mo Qingqing.
The moment she pushed the door, she even subconsciously tensed her nerves, fearing she would be greeted once again by that cold, teasing face.
But the scene that met her eyes made her pause slightly.
Mo Qingqing was sprawled in a soft beanbag chair, wearing none other than Su Yun’s old, loose cotton pajamas.
The oversized fabric hung loosely on her, failing to conceal her flawless, exquisite curves. Instead, it made her skin appear even fairer. The collar revealed delicate collarbones, the cuffs were rolled up to her forearms, exposing a section of slender yet strong wrists.
Su Yun looked at her like this and couldn’t help but grumble internally.
Heaven is truly fair.
It gave Mo Qingqing a body so perfect there’s not a single flaw, yet it didn’t give her a normal mind.
Otherwise, how could she be fierce as a witch one moment and lazy like this the next? It’s impossible to figure out her thoughts, let alone know how to get along with her.
“Hmm? Come here.”
Hearing the sound, Mo Qingqing put down her mouse without looking up, stretching out with a big yawn.
The arc of her stretch revealed smooth lines. She even yawned lazily, her eyes carrying a hint of drowsiness from staying up late.
The once untouchable, domineering aura she exuded had now vanished without a trace. Her entire being radiated a boneless, lazy languor.
This version of Mo Qingqing did relax Su Yun’s tense nerves a little.
She tiptoed over, like a kitten accustomed to snuggling with its owner, and naturally nestled into Mo Qingqing’s embrace. Her cheek pressed against Mo Qingqing’s warm chest, her nose filled with the faint scent of shower gel mixed with Mo Qingqing’s unique, cool fragrance.
Mo Qingqing’s hand naturally came down, her fingers threading through Su Yun’s soft hair, gently rubbing her little head, then sliding down her neck to pinch the tip of her pink-blue tail, her fingertips giving it a light twist.
The fur on the tail was soft and fluffy, feeling unbelievably good to the touch.
The next moment, Mo Qingqing suddenly leaned down, burying her face into the crook of Su Yun’s neck and taking a deep breath.
The warm breath brushed against Su Yun’s skin, carrying the sweet fragrance of the strawberry candy Mo Qingqing had just eaten. Su Yun’s body stiffened for a moment before relaxing again.
She was long used to Mo Qingqing’s sudden, intimate gestures.
Like the calm before the storm, after every bout of such gentleness, there was always some other “program” waiting for her.
“Haa…”
Mo Qingqing exhaled contentedly. When she lifted her head, her eyes held a clear smile, and even her usually somewhat sharp eyebrows had softened a few degrees.
“Mmm…” Su Yun let out a muffled sound, shrinking further into her embrace, the tips of her ears turning slightly red, but she didn’t pull away.
It’s all temporary anyway.
She knew very well in her heart. This kind of gentleness was like a fleeting bloom; it wouldn’t be long before Mo Qingqing reverted to the witch who loved to tease and torment her to the point of agony.
“Here, give me your little hands.”
Mo Qingqing suddenly let go of the tail she was rubbing and extended her own fair, slender hand, palm up, held flat in front of Su Yun.
Su Yun was stunned for a moment, her big eyes full of confusion.
She hesitated for two seconds, but still obediently raised both of her little hands.
Her fair, tender little hands were carefully placed on Mo Qingqing’s palms.
“So good.”
Mo Qingqing chuckled softly, holding Su Yun’s hands.
Her palms were warm and dry, the strength not great, but just enough to completely envelop Su Yun’s two small hands.
Immediately after, she gently shook Su Yun’s wrists, like someone teasing a puppy or kitten, the movement carrying a hint of childish playfulness.
Su Yun was shaken so that her body swayed slightly along, her pink-blue ears twitching. Her big eyes blinked as she looked at Mo Qingqing, the confusion in them growing deeper.
How long was I even gone?
I just went to clear the Trial Tower. Has this Master learned some strange new game from the internet again?
Mo Qingqing looked down at the person in her arms, at those big, bewildered eyes, at the slightly reddened tips of her ears, at her dizzy but still obediently staying in her embrace. The fondness in her heart felt like it was about to overflow.
She had spent these past few days immersed in Earth’s internet, reading many strange posts and articles. Only then did she belatedly realize—her previous urge to “eat” Su Yun…
It wasn’t because she was hungry, nor was it because she wanted to bully her. It was because she liked her too much.
Liked her so much that her body developed an almost obsessive protective urge. That impulse to completely hide someone away, to possess them utterly, had been misunderstood by her as a thought of “wanting to eat them.”
When people like something to an extreme, they can develop a destructive tendency towards it.
For a few days, she even looked in the mirror, wondering if she had awakened some ogre bloodline. Thinking about it now, it was utterly ridiculous.
Fortunately, this little fox Su Yun was quite sturdy, not breaking no matter how she was played with.
“You know what?” Mo Qingqing looked at Su Yun’s bewildered little face and suddenly spoke, her voice soft and carrying a hint of laughter.
Su Yun’s heart gave a violent jolt. She instinctively tensed her body, even her breathing becoming lighter.
She cautiously looked up, meeting Mo Qingqing’s gaze, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum: “Um… what are you referring to?”
She really couldn’t guess what scheme Mo Qingqing was hatching by suddenly saying this.
Mo Qingqing looked at her, as jumpy as a startled bird, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
She tightened her palm, holding Su Yun’s little hands even tighter, enunciating each word clearly and seriously:
“I just realized, I actually really, really like you.”
“……”
Su Yun’s brain instantly went blank.
She stared blankly at Mo Qingqing, at those eyes that were usually always filled with teasing or coldness, now brimming with genuine laughter. Yet, not a shred of joy rose in her heart. Instead, a thick wave of panic surged up.
She even subconsciously shrank back a little, her lips trembling. It took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence: “Y-you saying that… I am truly overwhelmed by your favor.”
Heaven knows, she was panicking like crazy inside right now.
Like?
Hearing such words from Mo Qingqing’s mouth scared her more than any threat.
She knew this Master’s temperament all too well. One moment she could be holding her gently, the next she could pull out those magic tools comparable to torture devices.
Only a ghost would believe such nonsense about liking her!
“It’s fine.” Mo Qingqing seemed to see through her thoughts but didn’t offer any further explanation. She just lowered her head and rubbed Su Yun’s little head again, the strength in her fingertips impossibly gentle.
Su Yun, however, didn’t dare relax in the slightest.
Buried in Mo Qingqing’s embrace, her heart was beating wildly. Only one thought filled her mind.
What new trick is she going to play now?
She understood her own situation all too well.
If she were truly foolish enough to believe this “I like you,” she would probably really turn into a ghost.