Chapter 30: Cat and Mouse in the Hotel Room

“Sister Yuan…”

Xiao Xi sat awkwardly on the hotel bed. Sister Yuan, having put her belongings away, also settled onto the bed with a smile. Initially, they maintained a respectful distance, but soon, Sister Yuan subtly shifted closer.

‘No, this isn’t…’

Xiao Xi quietly tried to inch away. Yet, how could his hesitant movements possibly match Sister Yuan’s speed? In no time, his arm was pressed against hers.

‘Uh…’

‘Perhaps… I should move a bit more?’

Xiao Xi shifted to the left and, with a yelp, landed squarely on the floor. ‘Ow… that hurts! Damn it, I didn’t realize I was already at the edge of the bed!’

Sister Yuan was startled by his fall and quickly moved to embrace Xiao Xi. It must be said, Xiao Xi was remarkably light. Sister Yuan effortlessly swept him into a princess carry.

‘Help me, Sister Yuan’s damned boyfriend-strength!’

‘I refuse to believe it. Sister Yuan must be a muscle demon! A disciple of that black-haired, twin-tailed magician in a red coat from Fuyuki City! It can’t possibly be because I’m so light that she can princess-carry me so easily…’

‘Mm…’

‘Sister Yuan is looking at me.’

Xiao Xi, flustered, closed his eyes. Then… with a forceful shove from Sister Yuan, he was tossed onto the soft hotel bed. Her light laughter followed. ‘Hey, hey, hey, this is a little off, isn’t it!’

‘How can she be so rough? Is throwing me onto the bed supposed to make me appreciate its softness?’

Xiao Xi unhappily opened his eyes, only to see Sister Yuan also leap onto the bed. She began crawling towards him, step by step. ‘Hey, hey, hey, Sister Yuan, what’s with that predatory look, like a cat stalking a mouse? It’s too intense! I feel like I’m about to be devoured…’

His earlier displeasure instantly morphed into an inexplicable fear… tinged with a hint of excitement? Xiao Xi retreated towards the headboard, step by step, as Sister Yuan, with a mischievous grin, advanced.

Hiss—

‘This is a little mouse trapped at its hole—and we agreed it would just be a rub, didn’t we?’

‘Cough, cough, no, no!’

‘What should I do? I’m already at the headboard! They say a boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge, so if Xiao Xi reaches the headboard, wouldn’t that mean…’

‘No, no, I’m being stupid, stupid!’ Xiao Xi turned his head, his mind storming with strategies for a complete escape.

‘Ah, yes, yes, yes!’

Suddenly, Xiao Xi spun around and began crawling towards the edge of the bed. ‘Isn’t this the right move? When you encounter a landslide, you run to the sides! When Sister Yuan traps you at the headboard, you crawl towards the edge of the bed! I’m getting off this bed right now!’

With a swift motion, Sister Yuan suddenly blocked Xiao Xi’s path to the edge of the bed. Leaning in slightly, she whispered into his ear, “Foolish Xiao Xi, where do you think you’re going~?”

“I… I, I’m looking for miniature cameras, hahaha. Oh, Sister Yuan, when staying in hotels these days, one must be careful to prevent privacy leaks. It concerns both of us, so we must be especially vigilant~”

“Is that so~?” Sister Yuan nodded contentedly. “Alright~ It seems Xiao Xi has agreed. So… first, a shower, and then~ we can play cat and mouse together~”

“Hiss— ” Xiao Xi gasped, sucking in a cold breath. ‘Cat and mouse? Sister Yuan, are you sure it’s not cat *eating* mouse? Is this reasonable? Is this appropriate? Aren’t you ashamed to say such suggestive things in broad daylight? Is there no shame?’

‘Ah, no… it seems it’s nighttime now…’

****

Sister Yuan laughed, rose from the bed, and headed to the bathroom for a shower, leaving Xiao Xi temporarily saved, yet utterly bewildered.

‘Hmm…’

‘Maybe I should take advantage of Sister Yuan’s shower to make a run for it?’

‘Excellent idea!’

Xiao Xi stood up, intending to flee. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened.

Sister Yuan—or rather, Sister Yuan, who would need a holy glow to pass censorship—stood in the bathroom, gazing at the risen Xiao Xi with a look of resentment.

‘Ah, this…’

“What are you doing?”

“Hahaha… uh… nothing, really nothing. I was just… getting up to stretch, just stretching~”

“Don’t run around, or I’ll lock you in the house forever!”

Sister Yuan grumbled discontentedly, then slammed the door shut. Xiao Xi stood rooted to the spot, enduring a minute of silent punishment.

‘I’d better sit down, sob!’

All thoughts of escape vanished. Xiao Xi sank into despair. A moment later, Sister Yuan emerged wrapped in a bathrobe, drying her hair as she gestured for Xiao Xi to also take a shower.

Poor, helpless Xiao Xi could only comply, entering the bathroom to obediently wash himself.

‘Uh…’

Just as he began, Xiao Xi suddenly realized he hadn’t removed the earphones Senior Sister had given him. He pulled them off, clutching them in his hand. ‘Hiss… I almost forgot to take them off.’

Decisively, he removed the earphones and put them away. Xiao Xi then puttered around in the bathroom, procrastinating, absolutely refusing to come out. ‘Are you kidding? If I go out, Sister Yuan will devour me! I’ll just wait in here for a bit…’

‘What if I come out later and find Sister Yuan asleep?’

‘Hmm… that makes sense. Back in the day, Sima Yi defeated Zhuge Liang by simply delaying. I suppose I can stall for a bit too, and if it works… hey, no! Sister Yuan, why did you just push open the bathroom door and walk right in!’

“Hehehe~ Xiao Xi, I can’t wait~”

Sister Yuan, her face flushed, looked at Xiao Xi with excitement. Terrified, Xiao Xi hugged himself, shaking his head frantically. “No, no, not here! Please, go out! I’ll be right out!”

‘Wuwuwu…’

‘Is there no escaping this? Sister Yuan, you’re too perverse!’

‘Since I can’t escape… between the bathroom and the bed, I’ll choose the bed! At least lying on the bed will be a bit more comfortable… wuwu…’

“Hmph~” Sister Yuan pouted unhappily, then turned and closed the door, waiting quietly for Xiao Xi to emerge. Before long, Xiao Xi stepped out.

Their eyes met briefly. Xiao Xi shyly averted his gaze, while Sister Yuan smiled faintly. She took Xiao Xi’s hand, sat him on the bed, and began to dry his hair.

He closed his eyes, savoring the calm before the storm.

A sigh escaped him.

After a moment, the hairdryer ceased. Sister Yuan rested her head on Xiao Xi’s shoulder, whispering into his ear, “Xiao Xi, let’s begin~”

“Sister Yuan… no…”

“Pfft~ Xiao Xi, your ‘no’ means ‘yes,’ you know~ Sister Yuan understands everything~”

“N-no… it’s not…”

“Awoo~”

“Ah, Sister Yuan… stop, be gentler!”

****

The night had deepened. Sister Yuan gently turned over, looking at Xiao Xi, who lay beneath her, utterly exhausted and fast asleep. A rarely seen expression graced her face, her eyes holding complex emotions: love, a possessive desire, and perhaps… much more.

She gently tugged the blanket, covering Xiao Xi, then pulled out her phone to check the time.

‘Hmm, it’s quite late. But I have company matters tomorrow morning, so I should get some rest soon.’

However…

Sister Yuan smiled at her phone screen, opened her photo album, and looked at the pictures she had just taken… Xiao Xi’s eyes-rolling-back expression~ So adorable.

Xiao Xi’s urgent cries still echoed in her ears. ‘That boy… he only called her ‘husband’ when he wasn’t quite lucid. Pfft~ Could it be that his true nature only revealed itself at such times?’

‘Still… no matter what he calls me, I’m so happy~’

She turned over, gazing at Xiao Xi, who slept soundly beside her. She shook her head with a smile. ‘That child still has a strange perfume scent on him today. I wonder what happened…’

A sigh escaped her.

‘My adorable Xiao Xi~’

She lifted her head, looking out at the night sky beyond the window. The tranquil night, the bright moonlight, the empty ceiling, the busy work—none of it mattered. Only Xiao Xi…

‘Xiao Xi, I want to give you everything I possess.’

‘I want to give you everything you desire.’

****