Chapter 149: A Morning in His Arms

The chirping of birds outside the window roused Su Mian from her deep slumber.

A long-forgotten serenity washed over her first, as if her entire being was enveloped in a warm, soft cloud.

As her awareness slowly returned, she realized she wasn’t in her own bed.

The crisp, clean scent of cedar wood mingled with the faint, warm fragrance of sun-kissed fabric, lingering at her nose.

Her cheek rested against a finely woven fabric, which rose and fell gently, allowing her to discern the solid, well-defined musculature beneath.

A warm arm was gently wrapped around her waist, providing an unexpected sense of security.

Su Mian’s eyes snapped open.

What greeted her was Xiao Moyuan’s sharply defined jawline. Her gaze traveled upwards to his closed eyes, where long, dense eyelashes cast faint shadows in the morning light.

He was asleep, his breathing steady and deep. The usual cold, aloof aura he exuded had vanished without a trace, leaving him in a rare, unguarded state.

She, on the other hand, was curled up in his arms like a small animal that had found its nest, her head resting on his shoulder, one hand unconsciously clutching the lapel of his shirt.

Memories of last night flooded back instantly—she had fallen asleep in Xiao Moyuan’s arms, and then… he had simply held her like this, on the sofa, for the entire night?

Su Mian’s face flushed crimson, her heart rate instantly accelerating. Her ears and tail threatened to spring out uncontrollably.

She dared not move, fearing she would wake him and make this overly tranquil, yet awkward, scene even more unbearable.

Golden shafts of light streamed into the living room through the gaps in the curtains, and tiny dust motes danced slowly within the beams.

The world was utterly silent, save for their intertwined, soft breaths and the faint sounds of early-rising students chatting outside the window.

Su Mian secretly lifted her gaze, studying Xiao Moyuan’s sleeping face up close. Stripped of his waking sharpness and indifference, his features appeared exceptionally soft in the morning light, even… breathtakingly handsome.

His nose was high and straight, his lips thin and elegantly curved, and his brow, usually slightly furrowed, was now relaxed.

Her gaze involuntarily fell upon his pale lips, and her heart pounded even faster. A strange, tingling sensation of yearning quietly spread through her.

She quickly averted her eyes, only to accidentally glance at his subtly bobbing Adam’s apple…

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!”

Su Mian felt as if she were suffocating, blood rushing to her head.

She had to escape this “dangerous” embrace immediately!

She held her breath, attempting to gently move the arm wrapped around her waist with the smallest possible motion.

The moment her fingertips brushed his wrist, his arm seemed to unconsciously tighten, pulling her even closer into his embrace.

“Mm…”

Su Mian let out a tiny gasp, her body stiffening.

Xiao Moyuan’s eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His deep brown eyes held a hint of drowsiness at first, but they quickly cleared as they focused on her face, which was incredibly close and flushed crimson.

He lowered his gaze to their entangled posture, then met her flustered, evasive eyes. There was no surprise on his face; instead, he looked as if he were long accustomed to such a sight.

“Awake?”

His voice, husky and deep with the unique quality of just waking up, was even more magnetic than usual, making Su Mian’s ears tingle.

“I, I… How did you…”

Su Mian stammered, frantically trying to wriggle out of his embrace. The more she struggled, the closer she got to his chest, nearly tumbling off the edge of the sofa.

Xiao Moyuan reached out, gripped her waist, and gently pulled her up, securing her in his arms with a natural, practiced ease, preventing her from falling.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze seeming to observe something, and his thin lips parted as he said calmly, “Don’t move.”

Su Mian froze, rigidly maintaining the position of being held by him, her mind in a chaotic whirl.

After a moment, she finally gathered her courage, looked up at him, and said in a voice barely above a whisper, “Um… you, you’re awake.”

Xiao Moyuan’s eyelashes lowered slightly, his gaze resting on her face. Then, he gently brushed her earlobe with his finger, a faint smile, like melting spring snow, appearing and vanishing in an instant.

“Mm.”

Su Mian: “…”

Su Mian: “Are you… are you planning to keep holding me like this?”

He subtly raised his eyes, his gaze falling upon hers, filled with an unreadable meaning.

“Do you want me to let go?”

Su Mian: “…”

‘No, I don’t want to at all.’

Her heart pounded violently in her chest, her rationality almost entirely gone, leaving only an irresistible urge to stay in his arms for just a little longer.

“N-no…” she stammered, “That’s not what I meant, I just… I…”

He pulled her closer, lowering his head to kiss her hair, his voice deep as he whispered in her ear, “Only now remembering to be shy?”

Su Mian’s mind exploded with a *boom*, her face flushing to the tips of her ears, her heartbeat almost deafening.

His arm around her slowly tightened, completely enveloping her in his embrace.

Su Mian felt her breathing grow difficult, her entire being wrapped in his warm presence, unable to think.

His deep, magnetic voice sounded in her ear once more.

“Last night, you climbed into my arms and fell asleep.”

Xiao Moyuan deftly scooped her back into a secure position.

Then, he naturally released his hold, sat up straight, and stretched his somewhat stiff shoulders and neck.

“You were drunk last night.”

He explained concisely, as if stating the most ordinary fact. “You were a little restless, so I held you like this all night.”

His demeanor was so natural that Su Mian felt she was making a fuss over nothing.

She lowered her head, unsure where to put her hands, as the tip of her tail subtly peeked out from behind her, nervously sweeping the sofa cushion.

“I-I’m sorry… my alcohol tolerance is really bad…” she mumbled softly.

“It’s fine. You were very enticing last night.”

Xiao Moyuan stood up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains slightly to let more sunlight stream in.

With his back to her, his voice was calm. “Go wash up. There are no urgent arrangements this morning, so you can relax. We’ll start your demon power control practice this afternoon.”

The sunlight outlined his tall, straight back. Hearing him compliment her as ‘enticing’ made Su Mian’s face flush even deeper.

“Oh… okay.” Su Mian tried to stand up, feeling her legs still a little weak.

She quickly ran back to her room, closed the door, leaned against it, and covered her still burning cheeks. Her heart thumped wildly.

***

After washing up and changing into casual clothes, Su Mian lingered for a while before stepping out of her room.

The aroma of food already permeated the air.

Xiao Moyuan, wearing the dark apron she recognized, was making breakfast in the open-plan kitchen.

Sunlight filled half the living room, falling upon him and casting a warm glow over his stern profile.

This scene was quiet and ordinary, yet it was so beautiful that Su Mian found it hard to look away.

She suddenly recalled that long ago, when they were ‘online dating’ on the internet, he had half-jokingly mentioned that his dream was to wake up in the morning to sunlight and the scent of food.

What she had once thought would forever remain a fantasy was now, unexpectedly, coming true in a different way.

“Why are you standing there? Come eat.”

Xiao Moyuan plated the fried eggs and toast, brought them to the dining table, and poured the milk.

“Coming!”

Su Mian scurried over and sat down at the dining table. The breakfast was simple but exquisitely presented, the fried eggs cooked to perfection.

She took a bite of the toast, which was crispy outside and soft inside, spread with a thin layer of her favorite blueberry jam.

She then tasted a bite of the fried egg; the yolk was runny, and it was seasoned just right.

“Delicious!”

She narrowed her eyes, shaking her head contentedly, and a pair of snowy white fox ears popped out from her head with a *whoosh*, wiggling happily.

Xiao Moyuan sat opposite her, took a sip of his black coffee, and his gaze fell upon her relaxed expression, where her true form had unconsciously revealed itself due to the delicious food. A barely perceptible smile flickered in his eyes.

Breakfast concluded in a peaceful atmosphere.

Xiao Moyuan cleared the dishes. Su Mian offered to help but was shooed away by him with the excuse of “don’t make things worse.”

She aimlessly wandered around the living room a couple of times, then suddenly remembered something, her eyes lighting up.

“Xiao Moyuan, how about we… go out for a walk?”

“Just around the neighborhood?”

“To buy some things.”

She had been in N City for so long but had barely explored it properly.

Moreover, the thought of going out with Xiao Moyuan like ordinary people filled her with a small thrill and anticipation.

Xiao Moyuan dried his hands and glanced at her.

The little fox’s eyes sparkled with eagerness, and her tail wagged slightly behind her, unable to hide her thoughts.

He asked, not opposing her suggestion, “Just… the commercial street near the school?”

“I heard there’s a bubble tea shop there that’s really good!”

Su Mian immediately suggested, then felt a little embarrassed. “I, I just said it casually…”

“Alright.”

Xiao Moyuan nodded, taking off his apron. “Go change into outdoor clothes. Remember to suppress your demon energy.”

“Okay!” Su Mian responded happily, turning and running back to her room.

A few minutes later, she emerged in a simple light-colored hoodie and jeans, her hair tied in a neat ponytail.

Under the influence of her demon power, her appearance was adjusted to be closer to her original ‘Su Mian’ look, though the delicate and lively aura in her eyes was hard to completely conceal.

Xiao Moyuan also changed into casual attire: a simple black shirt and trousers, topped with a thin khaki trench coat. This softened his usual exorcist’s sternness, adding a touch of youthful elegance and refinement.

The two walked out of the apartment building side by side.

The commercial street around N University was bustling and vibrant with youthful energy. Snack shops, stationery stores, cafes, and small bookstores lined the street, with student couples and groups of friends laughing and walking through.

Su Mian and Xiao Moyuan walking together attracted quite a few glances.

Xiao Moyuan, of course, was already a prominent figure on campus; even in casual clothes, his outstanding demeanor was undeniable.

Although Su Mian had adjusted her appearance, her clean and delicate look, combined with her naturally intimate posture beside Xiao Moyuan, was enough to spark speculation.

Su Mian was initially a little uncomfortable, but she was quickly drawn in by the array of charming shops and the enticing aroma of food drifting through the air.

She was like an active little animal, looking left and right. She would stop at stalls selling cute accessories and her eyes would light up at popular snack shops with long queues.

Xiao Moyuan followed half a step behind her, neither rushing her nor lingering. He simply paused when she did, his gaze calmly sweeping over the things that caught her interest, occasionally offering concise opinions when she was indecisive.

“That one! That’s the bubble tea shop!”

Su Mian pointed to a warmly decorated small shop ahead, with cute standees at its entrance.

The shop was quite crowded, mostly with students.

As they waited in line, a young couple in front of them was sweetly sharing a bubble tea. The girl playfully urged the boy to try a sip, and he smiled as he leaned down.

Su Mian watched, and for some reason, her cheeks felt warm. She secretly glanced at Xiao Moyuan, who seemed oblivious to the pink bubbles of affection surrounding them.

It was their turn to order.

“I’ll have a… hmm, a Cheese Berry, less sugar, no ice,” Su Mian told the staff, then looked at Xiao Moyuan. “What would you like?”

Xiao Moyuan had never been particularly fond of sweet drinks, but seeing her sparkling eyes, the “no need” on the tip of his tongue changed to, “Americano, no sugar.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

While waiting, Su Mian overheard a few girls nearby whispering.

“Look! It’s Senior Xiao Moyuan!”

“It really is him! He actually came to buy bubble tea?”

“Who’s that girl next to him?”

“Never seen her before… She’s quite pretty and delicate, but she doesn’t seem to be on the same level as our school beauty, right?”

“Could it be his sister?”

“Doesn’t look like it… The atmosphere feels a bit… subtle?”

Su Mian pricked up her ears, feeling a little smug (‘See, he’s buying bubble tea with me!’) and a little guilty (‘Our relationship is indeed subtle…’), and an inexplicable flutter of joy.

She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Xiao Moyuan, only to find that he had, at some point, turned his head, his gaze calmly fixed on the gossiping girls.

His look wasn’t sharp, yet it carried an invisible aura. The girls instantly fell silent, blushed, averted their eyes, and quickly took their finished bubble tea before leaving.

“Your Cheese Berry.”

The staff handed Su Mian the finished bubble tea, with the straw already inserted.

Su Mian took it, eagerly taking a sip.

It was cool and refreshing, the cheese foam salty and creamy, and the berry tea beneath was sweet with fruit pulp. It was delicious!

She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, licking a bit of foam from the corner of her lips.

Xiao Moyuan took his Americano, took a sip, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly—it was indeed very bitter.

“Is it good?”

Su Mian, instinctively sharing, offered the straw to his lips. “Do you want to try? The cheese foam is really fragrant!”

Only after making the gesture did she realize it might be inappropriate.

‘This… this is like indirect…?’

Xiao Moyuan looked at the straw offered to his mouth, then at her instantly flushed face and bewildered eyes. He paused, then lowered his head slightly, taking a small sip from the straw in her hand.

“Mm.”

He straightened up, his evaluation still brief. “Too sweet.”

Su Mian froze in place, holding the bubble tea, feeling an alarming heat at the spot on the straw that had touched his lips.

Her heart thumped against her chest, and the heat on her face spread all the way down to her neck.

‘He, he drank from it!’

‘With the straw I used!’

‘But last night’s kiss was much more direct…’

‘This isn’t such a big deal, is it?’

“Shall we go?”

Xiao Moyuan asked, his expression unchanged, as if nothing had happened.

“G-go!”

Su Mian hastily withdrew her hand, clutching the bubble tea tightly, feeling as if she were holding a hot potato.

She lowered her head, taking small sips, trying to use the cold sensation to cool the flush on her face. Yet, that subtle, alien scent seemed to linger on the straw, refusing to dissipate.

The two walked slowly back along the commercial street.

Su Mian’s heartbeat gradually calmed, replaced by a sweet, warm feeling, like the bubble tea in her hand, and like the autumn sunlight.

She secretly glanced at Xiao Moyuan’s profile; he was looking straight ahead, his expression serene.

But she inexplicably felt that his mood, at this moment, couldn’t be bad either.

‘Perhaps… such a daily routine isn’t so bad.’

Just as they reached a relatively quiet street corner, Su Mian’s peripheral vision seemed to catch a familiar figure.

She instinctively turned her head to look, and across the street, in front of a bookstore window, stood two people.

A man and a woman. She didn’t recognize the man, but the woman was Shen Zhixia!

Moreover, the two appeared to be very intimate.

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