Chapter 23: An Unexpected Detour and an Unsettling Question

Just as Bai Chen started his beloved electric scooter, a vibration emanated from the phone in his pocket.

Upon retrieving his phone and checking the message, the joy on Bai Chen’s face was considerably diluted.

“What’s wrong?” Mo Qiu asked, standing by, awaiting her turn to get on.

“I received a message from my workplace; I need to rush over there immediately.” Bai Chen put his phone away, a wry smile gracing his lips. “How about I just drop you home? We can go out together next time, when we have the chance.”

‘Next time?’ Mo Qiu thought. ‘How could something like this be postponed until next time?’

Though Mo Qiu’s expression remained unchanged, her mind was a flurry of incessant complaints.

Today, a prime opportunity had been lost due to the bustling demands of her part-time job, and tomorrow, she might find herself equally occupied with the Demon Hunter’s Guild.

As for the day after tomorrow, that would be Monday.

“I can go with you.”

“Huh?”

Bai Chen froze, utterly bewildered.

“I’m not going home; I’m heading to the shop where I work. If it’s a joyride you’re after, we can set a time for that later. You should just head home…”

“I don’t want to go home.”

Mo Qiu cut him off, her placid eyes fixed intently on his face.

“I only came out of the house so I could go home later.”

For Mo Qiu, the concept of home felt as cold and devoid of warmth as the words she had just uttered.

After a moment of stunned silence, Bai Chen reluctantly conceded, “Alright, get on.”

‘I can’t believe that actually worked,’ Mo Qiu thought, a subtle arch to her brow as she settled into the seat behind him.

“Hold on tight,” Bai Chen announced, “the old driver (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for an experienced person, often used humorously to refer to someone skilled in a particular area, in this case, driving) is about to depart.”

No sooner had Bai Chen spoken than he twisted the throttle, sending the electric scooter surging forward.

The sudden acceleration caused Mo Qiu to lurch backward, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around the waist of the person in front of her.

Even through their clothing, Bai Chen could distinctly feel the softness of her ‘big white rabbits’ (TL Note: A humorous, colloquial term referring to large breasts). As the young woman’s chest pressed forward, they gradually shifted shape, flattening against his back.

Her embrace was quite tight; even when Bai Chen reduced his speed, she showed no sign of loosening her grip. The warmth of her body steadily transferred to Bai Chen.

“Beep! Beep! Beep!”

The piercing blare of a horn jolted Bai Chen back to reality, narrowly averting a collision with another vehicle.

Sweat beaded on Bai Chen’s brow as his attention shifted from the girl behind him to the road ahead.

After approximately ten minutes, the electric scooter finally pulled up to the entrance of the Midsummer Night Restaurant.

Bai Chen parked nearby and, with Mo Qiu, stepped through the large entrance.

Just as the manager had stated in the message, business was booming, explaining why he had been urgently summoned back to help.

Eighty to ninety percent of the tables were occupied, and the area near the entrance was a constant stream of people.

‘So many people,’ Mo Qiu thought.

Mo Qiu’s expression was far from pleasant; she instinctively shifted a step closer to Bai Chen.

‘I feel like I’m going to be swallowed by this crowd,’ she thought. ‘The clamor was also grating, making her feel a little dizzy.’

‘What should I do now?’

As Mo Qiu pondered her next move, Bai Chen spoke first:

“See, it’s quite busy, isn’t it? Why don’t you find a place to sit, and I’ll go say hello to the manager and the others.”

“Mm-hm.”

Just as Mo Qiu was about to take a step, she heard someone call Bai Chen’s name.

“You rascal, what took you so long to get back? Didn’t I tell you to leave earlier?”

It was Su Wanghai, who had just entered the shop, having arrived back at the restaurant entrance only a moment after Bai Chen and Mo Qiu.

He had originally intended to lecture Bai Chen thoroughly, but upon seeing the young woman beside him, Su Wanghai swallowed his words.

“You scoundrel, slacking off (TL Note: A Chinese slang term meaning to slack off at work, or to ‘fish in troubled waters’ – to avoid work while appearing busy) during work is one thing, but you’re even flirting with girls?”

“I’m not! She insisted on coming along.”

“Oh, sure. Keep pretending.”

“I’m not pretending.”

Su Wanghai was simply someone who couldn’t hold his tongue, and news of Bai Chen bringing a girl back quickly spread among the other staff.

In an instant, everyone’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

Having just sat down, Mo Qiu suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, and she glanced left and right, searching for anyone who might bear her ill will.

‘Strange,’ she mused. ‘I distinctly felt surrounded just now. Could it be that the crowd in this shop isn’t accidental, but rather a disguise for demon hunters who have infiltrated it?’

‘Is Bai Chen playing hard to get (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to deliberately let someone off or give them rope, in order to catch them later or achieve a greater goal; “to play hard to get” or “to feign indifference to gain an advantage”), deliberately luring me into a trap?’

Just as Mo Qiu’s interlaced fingers twisted tightly together, a smiling waitress approached her, seemingly to take an order, but in reality, she was discreetly asking a question:

“Little sister, are you Bai Chen’s friend?”

Mo Qiu paused, taken aback. “Uh, yes.”

‘It really is a trap?!’

“You’re so cute! I didn’t have such lovely skin when I was your age.” The waitress couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek.

‘Considering this is enemy territory,’ Mo Qiu thought, ‘I can only endure her torment. If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move. I refuse to believe they’d dare to make a move in a place with so many people.’

The waitress glanced behind her, then whispered again, “How did you meet Bai Chen?”

This question plunged Mo Qiu into a prolonged contemplation.

It was a matter from a very long time ago, stretching back to her previous life. Some things, even now, she couldn’t forget.

“Because of a mistake he made, I lost something incredibly important.”

“Huh?” The waitress looked utterly bewildered (TL Note: A Chinese slang term meaning to look utterly confused or bewildered). “Did he do something really terrible?”

“I still can’t forget that feeling… otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

The waitress pursed her lips slightly, a hint of sympathy entering her eyes. “Did it hurt a lot?”

Mo Qiu nodded.

‘It hurt terribly,’ she thought. ‘The pain of losing my future—even if I were to relive it, I would never forget.’

“I understand,” the waitress declared. “I’ll make sure to give him a good talking-to on your behalf.”

The waitress marched away, full of righteous indignation, leaving the still bewildered young woman behind.

At that moment, Bai Chen, having changed into his shop uniform, emerged from the staff restroom and suddenly noticed that his colleagues were looking at him strangely.

“What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face?” Bai Chen touched his cheek, goosebumps prickling his skin.

Su Wanghai approached, patting his shoulder. “From now on, I suppose I should address you as ‘Master.’”

“Bai Chen, you went too far with her.”

“Exactly! How could you lay hands on something so important to a girl? You scumbag (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to a scumbag or a man who treats women poorly)!”

Bai Chen: ???

Meanwhile, Mo Qiu, sipping her drink, suddenly felt considerably more cheerful as she gazed out at the road through the adjacent glass wall.

‘If some poor soul has run into trouble,’ she thought, ‘I’d hum a little tune and mock him mercilessly.’

In stark contrast to the leisurely young woman, Bai Chen endured an afternoon that could hardly be described as pleasant.

Thanks to someone’s problematic statements, in the brief time it took him to change clothes, he had emerged as a universally condemned scumbag. It took considerable effort for him to clarify the situation and convince everyone of his innocence.

“So I misunderstood?” The waitress covered her mouth lightly. “Why would she mislead me?”

“It’s normal,” Bai Chen replied. “Mo Qiu’s way of speaking often leads to misunderstandings.” He had grown accustomed to it.

“Well, then you should take responsibility and correct her mistakes.”

“My relationship with her isn’t that close…”

“Scumbag.”

‘How did I become a scumbag again?!’

Unable to reason with her, Bai Chen rolled his eyes and resumed his work. As he wiped glasses behind the counter, his vision suddenly darkened, and a playful voice sounded from behind him:

“Guess who I am! Guess correctly, no prize; guess wrong, and there’s a penalty.”

“Manager, stop messing around, I’m busy.” Bai Chen knew instantly who it was without even needing to think.

Only one person in the entire shop would behave this way: Manager Cheng Xuan, a woman past thirty who remained single, an “older leftover woman” (TL Note: A Chinese term referring to an “older leftover woman” or “leftover lady,” often used to describe women over a certain age who are still unmarried, sometimes with a derogatory connotation) who had never even held a man’s hand.

“I heard you forcibly took an innocent girl’s… virtue?”

“I already told you, it was a misunderstanding.”

“Then why does she look so forlorn?”

Following the direction of Cheng Xuan’s finger, Bai Chen saw Mo Qiu sitting alone. No matter how lively the shop environment, it seemed to have no bearing on her; she sat like a doll, her eyes devoid of sparkle, gazing out the window, occasionally sipping her drink.

“She’s always like this.”

“She’s so lonely,” Cheng Xuan pressed. “Shouldn’t you go and warm her up a bit?”

“You’re crazy.”

“Don’t be in such a rush to leave!” Cheng Xuan pulled him back. “Look, I’ve prepared a secret weapon for you.”

Bai Chen’s gaze dropped, landing on a mousse cake displayed on the counter—the most expensive one, at that.

“Consider it my treat,” Cheng Xuan said. “Go quickly and have a heart-to-heart with her.”

“But I still have work to do…”

“I’ll give you an hour,” Cheng Xuan waved dismissively. “I’ll have Su Wanghai cover for you. Don’t dally; go on now!”

Knowing that she was mostly just enjoying the spectacle, Bai Chen nevertheless picked up the mousse cake and headed towards Mo Qiu.

As he sat down, he pushed the cake towards her. “It’s on the house, feel free to enjoy it.”

Mo Qiu nodded, her fingers idly toying with the straw in her drink, seemingly lost in thought.

“Bai Chen.”

“Hm?”

“I can’t finish it,” Mo Qiu said, pushing the drink towards him. “Could you help me drink half?”

“Huh?” Bai Chen was dumbfounded. “You’ve already drunk from this…”

“Do you dislike things I’ve drunk from?”

“Not exactly, but if you can’t drink it, don’t force yourself. Just pour it out.”

“One must not waste food.” Mo Qiu stared intently at him. “Waste is a shameful act.”

‘Why do I feel like a child being lectured by an old mother?’ Bai Chen muttered inwardly, yet resignedly picked up the drink and cautiously drank half of it.

With a quarter of the drink remaining in the cup, he returned it to Mo Qiu’s hand, all the while discreetly observing her actions.

Noticing Bai Chen’s gaze, Mo Qiu’s fingers gently nudged the straw. Right in front of him, she parted her lips and placed the flattened straw into her mouth.

Without a hint of hesitation, even though it still bore Bai Chen’s saliva, she drank with evident relish.

‘Didn’t she say she couldn’t drink any more?’

Watching the drink vanish at an astonishing speed, Bai Chen swallowed hard.

‘An indirect kiss,’ he thought. ‘Such things are genuinely awkward when they happen.’

Sliding the cup, now filled only with ice, to the side, Mo Qiu met his gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Bai Chen quickly averted his eyes. “Hurry and eat; I’ll send you home right after this.”

At his words, Mo Qiu’s hand, holding her fork, hovered in mid-air.

‘I can’t drag this out any longer.’

“Bai Chen.”

“Hm?”

Mo Qiu looked up, her lifeless eyes meeting his. “Do you think I’m… pretty?”