Chapter 29: The Unsettling Charm of Mo Qiu

My agitated heart settled instantly.

Bai Chen glanced at the still-closed bathroom door, his mind replaying the day’s events.

Truth be told, an astonishing number of things had transpired that afternoon.

From the moment they met, one mishap after another had unfolded; both the peculiar young woman’s behavior and her utterly unconventional palate exuded an aura that made her difficult to approach.

Bai Chen had, at one point, desperately wanted to flee the scene.

Reflecting on it now, the fact that he hadn’t seized the opportunity to slip away while Mo Qiu was showering felt nothing short of a miracle.

‘What had interrupted my urge to escape?’

Bai Chen pondered this question, searching for an answer within his memories of the afternoon.

‘Was it pity for Mo Qiu? A fear that she might do something outrageous? Or merely pure lust?’

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the candle on the table, almost entirely consumed, with only a tiny pool of wax stubbornly clinging to its last flicker.

That tiny flame brought back memories of their dinner.

Mo Qiu’s ravenous enjoyment resembled both a starving child and a small beast that hadn’t hunted in days.

She ate with her head bowed, clutching her bowl tightly.

For a girl who usually behaved like a doll, such intense desire was hard for Bai Chen to ignore, especially since it was the direct outcome of his own efforts.

Amidst his excitement, he was surprised to feel as though something had fiercely gripped his heart, a sharp pain radiating through his nerves.

“Bai Chen?” Su Wanghai’s voice from the other end of the phone line broke his train of thought.

“You ask if I’m happy? Of course, I’m very happy.”

Bai Chen let out a soft chuckle.

“Tonight, I witnessed an incredibly precious scene; this trip was certainly not in vain.”

Despite the numerous encounters, the mere thought of Mo Qiu’s face, finally alive with human warmth as she savored her meal, caused all his vexation to dissipate.

“Is that so? When will you share it with us?” Su Wanghai’s tone softened.

“Share your head (TL Note: A colloquial expression meaning ‘no way’ or ‘in your dreams’),” Bai Chen retorted, clearly annoyed.

“I’m hanging up, hanging up.

Call me when you get here.”

Hanging up the phone, Bai Chen stretched languidly on the sofa, then reclined, gazing at the ceiling.

He couldn’t help but recall the image of Mo Qiu eating, her mouth working while her eyes darted ceaselessly, those vacant pupils seemingly on guard against any potential predator who might snatch her food.

‘She was exactly like a small animal protecting its food, truly adorable.

But she’s far too tense; it’s not like I’d ever compete with her.’

Mo Qiu had devoured the better part of the pickled fish, leaving Bai Chen to pick at the meager scraps to sate his hunger.

While Bai Chen found Mo Qiu’s lack of sparkle in her eyes intriguing, he didn’t wish to see her live out her days like a mere doll.

Having successfully conquered her stomach today, he was confident that one day he would transform her into a normal girl, one who could genuinely smile from the depths of her heart.

‘I wonder if the shop managed without me this afternoon.’

Checking the time, he noted it was well past the evening rush, and the shop should be quieter by now.

His colleagues had often teased Bai Chen, claiming the shop’s efficiency dropped by a quarter whenever he wasn’t there.

‘I’ll ask Su Wanghai when he arrives.’

Just as Bai Chen lay on the sofa lost in thought, the sound of water in the bathroom ceased, and he immediately sat bolt upright.

‘Why is my entire body tensing up? It’s not like I’m facing a demon…’

It took Bai Chen only a second to grasp the reason for his apprehension.

If a burly man were to emerge from the bathroom, bare-chested and “strolling his bird” (TL Note: A humorous euphemism for a man exposing himself), Bai Chen wouldn’t just feel no shame; he’d seize the opportunity to mock the man’s “model.”

The crucial point was that Mo Qiu was the one emerging!

Recalling her past actions, the possibility of her running out completely naked was even higher than for a man!

In that case, it wouldn’t be a “bird” on display, but a “secret garden.”

Bai Chen swallowed hard, and the moment the bathroom door opened, he simply squeezed his eyes shut.

The soft shuffle of slippers on the floor reached his ears, and he sensed a warm presence approaching him.

The sofa dipped.

She had simply sat down beside Bai Chen.

At that moment, Bai Chen’s brows furrowed so tightly they almost converged, and the hand resting on his thigh clenched into a fist.

“Bai Chen, why are your eyes closed?” Mo Qiu’s voice chimed.

Whether it was Bai Chen’s imagination or not, her voice seemed to have grown even clearer and more melodious after her bath.

“My eyes are tired; I’m just resting them.”

“Is that so? Let me see.”

His nostrils flared, and a citrusy fragrance wafted towards him.

As the warm presence drew closer, curiosity still compelled Bai Chen to open his eyes and turn his head to look beside him.

One glance, and his breath hitched.

So close, impossibly close.

She genuinely intended to examine Bai Chen’s eyes, leaning her upper body forward until his nose nearly brushed her forehead.

What greeted his gaze were Mo Qiu’s unique eyes.

The clear water hadn’t washed away the grime… No, that wasn’t grime; her eyes were inherently dim jewels, beautiful enough to captivate the soul.

Delicate water droplets still clung to her slender brows, each hair distinct.

Fresh from her bath, Mo Qiu’s smooth, long hair cascaded behind her, each strand shimmering with a subtle luster.

Her delicate skin, adorned with tiny water droplets, appeared exceptionally luminous and translucent.

Her neck was long and graceful, her figure exquisitely proportioned, and her thighs, due to her forward-leaning posture, were pressed together.

Her sleepwear, simple and understated, perfectly complemented the detached aura she exuded.

The scent emanating from her, a blend of youthful feminine fragrance and bath gel, almost made Bai Chen feel as though he were adrift in a bewildering sea of flowers.

“No bloodshot veins, no swelling.

Does it hurt?”

It wasn’t until Mo Qiu’s fingers brushed the area around Bai Chen’s eye socket that he snapped back to reality, scrambling backward to put distance between them.

Watching him tumble back and retreat, Mo Qiu froze in place.

“Ah, it’s nothing.

Just a bit of eye strain.

I’ll be fine after a rest.”

“Is that so?”

Before Bai Chen could even sigh in relief, the sofa began to vibrate continuously.

He mechanically turned his head, spotting the girl advancing towards him.

Without even bothering to put on her shoes, she knelt on the sofa, each movement creating a slight depression as she crawled towards him.

Thanks to her carefully chosen loose-fitting sleepwear, the wide neckline constantly shifted, allowing Bai Chen an easy glimpse of half of her “big white rabbit” (TL Note: A euphemism for a woman’s breast).

After her bath, it too appeared soft and delicate.

“Um, Mo Qiu?”

Bai Chen retreated until his back was against the wall, yet Mo Qiu continued to press closer, finally nearing his face once more.

“Thank you for tonight.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

“I should have been the one to cook for you…”

“It’s fine.

We’re friends.”

With every word Mo Qiu spoke, her warm breath brushed against Bai Chen’s face, painting his cheeks crimson.

‘The thanks are done, so shouldn’t it be time to say goodbye?’

Bai Chen waited for her to speak, but Mo Qiu remained silent, simply staring at him.

“Tonight, are you in a hurry to leave?”

‘Help me, she actually asked!’

Bai Chen forced a bitter smile.

“Not in a hurry, but…”

“Then stay a little longer.”

“I still have to work.”

“It’s already so late.”

“I still have to work, precisely.”

“But you said you weren’t in a hurry.”

At this moment, it wasn’t Mo Qiu who was in a hurry, but Bai Chen himself; he was on the verge of being overwhelmed by the allure radiating from the young woman.

Just then, a sudden ringtone erupted from his pants pocket.

Both of them paused, exchanging glances.

Mo Qiu voluntarily backed away, allowing him to answer the call.

Seeing it was Su Wanghai, Bai Chen intentionally put the call on speakerphone.

– “Hey, I’m downstairs.

Where are you?”

– “I’m coming right now!”

Hanging up, Bai Chen let out a long breath.

“Apologies, my colleague has come to find me.”

“I know.

I’ll see you out.”

“Alright.”

Mo Qiu followed Bai Chen downstairs and quickly spotted the person who was impeding her.

He looked somewhat familiar; hadn’t he been a nuisance once before?

Su Wanghai, who had been waiting impatiently in front of the residential building, ran over as soon as he saw them, his gaze lingering on Mo Qiu for a moment longer than necessary.

“You brat, you even managed to take a bath.”

“Don’t say so much.

Where’s the car?”

“Who said I have a car?”

“If you don’t have a car, how are you picking me up?”

“I’m picking you up so you can drive me.”

Bai Chen truly wanted to punch that guy’s smirking face.

He told Su Wanghai to wait, then led Mo Qiu a short distance away.

“Take this,” Bai Chen whispered, secretly slipping something into her hand.

“This is…” Mo Qiu brought it to her nose and sniffed, recognizing the familiar scent.

“It’s a spray for dealing with demons; it can save your life in a critical moment.”

‘Ah, so it was that.’

Mo Qiu recalled what had happened in the alley, and the hand clutching the spray tightened.

This improved version had been tested, ensuring that the issues Bai Chen had previously complained about would no longer occur.

Gazing into her profound eyes, Bai Chen spoke earnestly:

“Protect yourself.”

“Can we still eat pickled fish together?”

“Of course, I promise.”

After finishing his instructions, Bai Chen drove away with Su Wanghai.

Due to someone’s freeloading behavior, their boisterous voices carried all the way to Mo Qiu’s ears.

‘The spray… is it really effective?’

‘It’s certainly not effective on me.’

The young woman’s lips curved upward, her smile bearing an eerie quality.

‘Plan complete.jpg’ (TL Note: A popular internet meme indicating successful execution of a plan, often with a mischievous undertone.)

Bai Chen’s performance tonight had, after all, met her expectations.

Mo Qiu carefully put away the item Bai Chen had given her, then turned and walked towards the other end of the road.

It was now time for the next step of her plan.

Mo Qiu retrieved a disguise mask, placed it on her face, and her figure instantly transformed.

After gracefully traversing the rooftops, she finally arrived at her target’s address.

Even before opening the door, she could hear complaints from within.

“Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have been so greedy for that small advantage.”

“Not only Saluk, but also the Demon Hunter Guild… I can’t stay in this city anymore.”

“First, I’ll send my daughter away, then I’ll restart elsewhere in another city.”

Click.

The door opened.

The nervous man nearly shrieked, pointing at the young woman who had just entered:

“Who are you? I’m out of that business!”

“Zhou Wanchen, I understand your predicament.”

Mo Qiu walked past him, brazenly sat down, a harmless smile gracing her face.

“I can help you overcome it.”

“You’re a demon too, aren’t you? Are you here for that thing? I’ve already told you all, it’s not on me anymore.”

“Rest assured, since I’ve investigated you, I naturally know your situation.”

Mo Qiu spoke casually, unperturbed by his agitation.

“They’re not planning to let you go, are they?”

“…”

“You have a daughter, and you care for her deeply, don’t you?”

“What exactly do you want?”

Seeing that he was finally showing signs of capitulation, Mo Qiu couldn’t help but chuckle, her star-dusted eyes fixed intently on him.

“Don’t you love collaborations? Tonight, I’m here to discuss one with you.”

“What do you want from me?”

“You misunderstand,” the young woman waved her hand.

“What I desire, you cannot yet provide.”

“Huh?”

Mo Qiu’s fingers traced her chin, her eyes narrowing into a playful smile.

“However, I have someone who can assist me, and it has to be you.”