Chapter 20: A Desperate Plea and a Devil’s Bargain

It was not until the other party had fully departed that Xia Zhiquiu’s lush, delicate form finally collapsed to the ground.

Her hair splayed around her, and in the dim light, her exquisite face took on an even more alluring, almost bewitching quality.

In that moment, a profound sense of helplessness washed over her; the monstrous entity that had consumed her daughter’s essence had been right before her eyes, yet she had been utterly powerless to act.

Unbeknownst to Xia Zhiquiu, however, her desolate, self-pitying posture struck the young man observing from a short distance as incredibly alluring.

A faint smile played on his lips, signaling that it was time for his entrance.

“Aunt Xia, it seems you’re in need of my assistance.”

Xia Zhiquiu’s expression froze at the sudden appearance of the young man, and it was a moment before she could voice her exasperation.

“You’ve been following me? Bai Hao, don’t you think you’re acting like a ‘chīhàn’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to a perverted stalker or lecher)?”

Upon hearing her words, Bai Hao wagged a dismissive finger.

“That term, ‘chīhàn,’ is reserved for ugly, sleazy old men. Aunt Xia, with my dashing good looks and refined demeanor, how could I possibly be lumped in with such a description?”

Xia Zhiquiu rose from the ground once more, casting a captivating, world-weary eye-roll at the young man.

“It seems you’re not only ‘xiàtóu’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term meaning cringe-worthy or off-putting), but utterly shameless as well.”

Bai Hao paid no mind to the mature, stunning woman’s assessment of him; her alluring, seductive voice alone was enough to send a thrill through him.

With that, he stepped closer to Aunt Xia.

Standing 178 centimeters tall, Bai Hao, despite being only eighteen, was still half a head taller than the thirty-four-year-old, beautifully mature Xia Zhiquiu.

Xia Zhiquiu instinctively wished to step back from the boy’s proximity, the memories of that fateful day still searingly vivid in her mind.

Before she could even move, however, the young man’s voice drifted to her, low and haunting.

“Aunt Xia, you want to kill that Shadow-Devouring Ghoul that ate your daughter’s shadow, and save her, right?”

Xia Zhiquiu did not deny it.

“So what if I do? I’m in no mood to waste time with you; Xia Wei’s situation is incredibly perilous right now.”

With that, Xia Zhiquiu prepared to dismiss the young man and depart.

Though she had no idea how to slay the Shadow-Devouring Ghoul, she refused to stand by idly.

Seeing her intent, Bai Hao merely spoke with an air of nonchalance.

“Aunt Xia, what if I told you I knew how to eliminate that Shadow-Devouring Ghoul?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s delicate form stiffened at his words, and she immediately spun around, a tremor of excitement in her voice.

“Are you telling the truth?”

Yet, just as quickly, she came to her senses.

For days, she had sought information in vain; how could this boy possibly know anything?

“You’re not trying to trick me, are you?”

Bai Hao raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“If Aunt Xia doesn’t believe me, then so be it. Consider my words unsaid.”

“No, wait, I believe you! Of course, I believe you!”

Xia Zhiquiu was at her wit’s end; her daughter’s spiritual energy had been deteriorating rapidly over the past few days, and she could no longer afford to delay.

Thus, even if there was a ninety percent chance the young man was merely toying with her, she had no choice but to try.

A flicker of amusement danced in Bai Hao’s eyes as he observed the aunt’s desperate state, and he feigned a troubled expression.

“Aunt Xia, it’s too late for belief now. My mind holds far too many memories, and I typically purge any that prove useless.

Unfortunately, just a few moments ago, I deleted the memory concerning the method to eliminate the Shadow-Devouring Ghoul.”

As he spoke, Bai Hao shrugged his hands, his feigned innocent expression causing Xia Zhiquiu’s ample bosom to tremble with indignation.

‘That bastard! Does he think he’s a robot? Deleting memories, indeed!’

Xia Zhiquiu, of course, understood that the young man was deliberately toying with her, hence his stream of utter nonsense.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke, her expression tinged with a hint of supplication.

“Bai Hao, stop joking around. Please, just tell Auntie. Besides, you and Xia Wei dated for a while, didn’t you? You can’t just stand by and watch her die!”

At her words, Bai Hao abruptly drew closer to the woman before him.

After taking a deep whiff of the intoxicating, mature fragrance clinging to her, he finally curled his lips.

“But wasn’t our breakup—mine and Xia Wei’s—your doing, Auntie? And what if I’m only interested in you now?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s expression faltered.

Suppressing the rising vexation in her heart, she tried to reason with him.

“Bai Hao, there can be nothing between us.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m old enough to be your mother. The age difference alone makes it unsuitable…”

Bai Hao narrowed his eyes at her words, then stated without hesitation.

“What’s unsuitable about that? I happen to prefer older women.”

Xia Zhiquiu was rendered speechless by the young man’s remark.

Then, as if an idea struck her, she gritted her teeth.

“Bai Hao, let me be frank with you. Do you know why I’ve been single for so long, and why I even used to pretend to be a man? It’s because I like women!”

These words were not a lie; it was just that she hadn’t merely pretended to be a man—she had, in fact, been a man before.

Bai Hao froze for a moment at the aunt’s declaration, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Seeing his reaction, Xia Zhiquiu’s face darkened.

‘What’s so funny about that?!’

“Aunt Xia, if you’re going to lie, at least come up with a better excuse. We were boyfriend and girlfriend for two months, after all; I can feel the desires stirring within your heart.”

As he spoke, the young man reached out to stroke the beautiful woman’s hair, earning a fierce glare from Xia Zhiquiu, who promptly slapped his hand away.

“Believe what you will, but in any case, we are impossible.”

Bai Hao merely shrugged at her declaration.

“Very well. If Aunt Xia insists, then I’m afraid I can only offer my deepest regrets.”

With that, the young man turned to leave, leaving Xia Zhiquiu torn between shame, anger, and utter helplessness.

She could only stamp her foot and mutter a low curse.

‘Bastard!’

At the same time, she hurried after him, blocking his path, her voice laced with resignation.

“Just tell me, what do I have to do for you to reveal it?”

Bai Hao tilted his head, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“Hmm… well, Aunt Xia, do you know the story of the Frog Prince? The princess kissed him, and he turned back into a human. So, if you marry me and become my wife, my deleted memories might just recover.”

Xia Zhiquiu’s eyes widened instantly at the young man’s words, her red lips parting slightly as she fumed.

“You—you’re going too far!”

And what in the world does the Frog Prince have to do with any of this?

Bai Hao, unhurried, spoke with a languid tone.

“There’s no other way. If Aunt Xia refuses to be my girlfriend, then I’ll just have to make you my wife. So, tell me, do you feel my sincere heart?”

As he spoke, the young man took the woman’s delicate hand in his own, placing it over his chest.

Xia Zhiquiu felt nothing but a faintly cool body temperature beneath her palm.

She understood, of course, that the young man was merely trying to coerce her into submission; everything else was utter fabrication.

Yet, Xia Zhiquiu found herself utterly helpless against him, for her daughter was, undeniably, her greatest weakness.

“Can—can we change the demand?”

Finally, Xia Zhiquiu’s voice softened, laced with a faint, alluring plea.

Bai Hao, hearing her, gently stroked the mature aunt’s exquisite face and tempting red lips, a faint smile playing on his own.

“I’m afraid not…”