Chapter 61: The Fox in the Snare

Everything was, indeed, under Xiao Moyuan’s control.

He knew this little fox too well.

From the deliberately ambiguous phrase, “There might be a chance,” he had left for Shen Zhixia in the classroom yesterday, to the hint he gave “Sweetheart Marshmallow” about “uncertain timing the day after tomorrow.”

Every single one of his actions was designed to plant a seed of ‘crisis’ in Su Mian’s heart.

He had accurately predicted that, given “Sweetheart Marshmallow’s” intense possessiveness and wariness towards Shen Zhixia, Su Mian would never allow him even a moment of free time to interact with Shen Zhixia tomorrow.

From beginning to end, he had never intended to go on a date with Shen Zhixia.

His true objective had always been the clumsy yet adorable little fox before him, who believed she was acting, but had, in fact, already fallen into his snare.

Until he understood Xia’s background and had arranged for Su Mian to move into his new apartment, he certainly didn’t want her returning to the dorms.

***

Stepping out of the mall, Su Mian settled back into the passenger seat of the familiar black sedan.

Yet, this time it was “Sweetheart Marshmallow” in the seat, not Su Mian.

The car smoothly departed from the bustling commercial district, and the scenery outside the window gradually became unfamiliar. Su Mian’s hands were clasped together nervously, her fingertips icy cold.

She gazed at the smooth lines of Xiao Moyuan’s profile and couldn’t help but ask in a hushed tone, “Brother… aren’t we going to a hotel?”

Xiao Moyuan kept his eyes on the road ahead, responding casually, “No, we’re going home.”

Home? Su Mian froze.

A hotel, at least, was a public place. But going to his private residence… that carried an entirely different implication, as if stepping into his absolute territory. The invisible sense of pressure and intimacy instantly magnified severalfold.

“What? Scared?” Xiao Moyuan seemed to sense her unease. He turned his head, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips. “Didn’t you just say… you wanted to stay with me?”

“Who, who’s scared!” Su Mian’s back straightened at his provocation, and she forced herself to appear calm. “I just… I was just a little surprised.”

Xiao Moyuan chuckled softly and said no more, focusing on his driving.

But Su Mian felt his laughter was full of knowing amusement and mockery, causing half of her recently mustered courage to deflate.

The car eventually entered a high-end apartment complex, serene and tightly secured. After parking, Xiao Moyuan led her to the elevator, riding it straight to the top floor.

As he used his fingerprint to unlock the heavy entrance door, a spacious, bright space unfolded before Su Mian. Its minimalist decor exuded an understated luxury at every turn.

Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lay the city’s vibrant panorama. The interior was so clean and tidy it almost lacked any signs of life, and the air was filled with the same crisp, pleasant cedar scent that clung to him.

“Make yourself at home.” Xiao Moyuan took off his jacket, casually draping it over the armrest of the sofa. His movements were as natural as if he were in his own house… which, indeed, he was.

Su Mian stood stiffly in the entryway, feeling quite at a loss.

This was not the “straight to the point” scenario she had imagined. This overly casual and domestic atmosphere, paradoxically, left her unsure how to react.

Xiao Moyuan walked to the island counter in the open-plan kitchen, poured a glass of water, and slowly sipped it, his gaze fixed on her as if admiring an interesting collectible.

He watched her tense body, her eyes darting everywhere but at him, and the faint blush on her ear tips. He deliberately asked in a lazy, suggestive tone:

“Do you… want to take a shower first?”

Boom—! Su Mian’s face instantly flushed crimson.

It’s here! Was it truly inescapable?

Innumerable indescribable images flashed through her mind, and her heart hammered as if it no longer belonged to her.

“I… I showered before I left this morning!”

She practically shouted it, her voice cracking.

“Is that so?” Xiao Moyuan set down his water glass and slowly walked towards her.

With each step he took closer, Su Mian felt the air around her thin, her body stiffening like a statue.

He stopped directly in front of her, his tall figure casting a shadow that completely enveloped her.

He leaned down slightly, nearing her ear, his warm breath caressing her sensitive neck. His voice was a low, alluring murmur, imbued with a captivating magnetism:

“But… I’m a little tired and want to rest first. Would you… like to join me?”

Join him for a rest?

How should she ‘join’ him?

Hadn’t they agreed it was just for simple sleep?

Indeed, all a man’s words before bed were lies.

Su Mian’s mind was a chaotic mess, countless restricted images uncontrollably surging forth.

She was utterly bewildered, even her breathing becoming difficult.

Just as she thought she was doomed tonight, even beginning to ponder how to explain or escape once her gender was exposed, Xiao Moyuan suddenly straightened up.

He took her cold hand and led her to the spacious, comfortable sofa in the living room.

Then, under Su Mian’s horrified and bewildered gaze, he sat down on the sofa first, and… actually leaned back, resting his head on her tightly closed, black-stockinged legs!

Su Mian completely petrified, all the blood in her body seemingly rushing to her head.

He… he was…

Using her as a lap pillow?

He hadn’t experienced such treatment from any other girl…

Damn it!!!

“Lend me your lap for a bit.”

Xiao Moyuan closed his eyes, his voice carrying clear fatigue, as if all the previous teasing and ambiguity had been merely her imagination. “A little tired, I’ll sleep for half an hour.”

“The TV remote is on the sofa. You can watch TV if you’re bored.”

With that, he actually adjusted into a more comfortable position, entrusting his full weight to her legs, his breathing gradually becoming steady and deep.

Su Mian: “???”

She stiffly looked down at Xiao Moyuan, who was resting on her lap as if already asleep. Her mind was blank, utterly unable to comprehend this sudden, dramatic turn of events.

Just… like this?

Sleeping?

Not sleeping with me?

Was it really just… literal sleeping?

None of the “dangerous” scenarios she had anticipated had occurred.

There was no further intimate contact, no unbearable teasing, and certainly no identity exposure crisis, which she feared most…

He simply slept on her lap, like a tired child returning home, completely unguarded?

The immense contrast left Su Mian momentarily speechless.

She maintained her rigid posture, not daring to move, afraid of waking him.

The weight and warmth of his head on her leg were remarkably distinct, even through the thin stockings and skirt fabric.

His eyes were closed, long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them. His usually stern features softened considerably in sleep, even revealing a rare vulnerability.

Su Mian’s heartbeat gradually calmed, replaced by an exceedingly complex swirl of emotions.

There was the relief of escaping danger, the embarrassment of being teased, and a hint of… a strange tenderness blooming in her heart as she gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, a feeling she herself was reluctant to admit.

This guy… he was absolutely doing this on purpose!

He clearly saw her nervousness and fear, so he deliberately teased her with words and actions, scaring her half to death.

Only to end up just sleeping on her lap!

Cruel! Too cruel!

But… why, as she looked at his unguarded sleeping face and listened to his steady breathing, did that irritation in her heart gradually give way to an indescribable tranquility?

She lowered her gaze to him, her eyes involuntarily falling on his slightly pale face and the faint shadows beneath his eyes.

He seemed… genuinely tired.

Was it because he hadn’t rested well last night?

Or… was there another reason?

Su Mian dared not make any large movements, only cautiously maintaining her posture, her gaze complex as she watched the ‘sleeping beauty’ on her lap.

So… he brought her back just to… find a comfortable “pillow”?

This realization made Su Mian both amused and exasperated.

And Xiao Moyuan, seemingly asleep, curved his lips into an almost imperceptible, extremely slight smile at an angle Su Mian couldn’t see.

Teasing the little fox was, indeed, endlessly enjoyable.

And the feeling of having her confined within his territory… seemed rather good too.

Time flowed slowly in the silence, and Su Mian’s taut nerves finally began to relax, little by little.

The sensation of weight on her leg remained clear, and Xiao Moyuan’s steady, deep breathing allowed Su Mian to relax slightly.

Perhaps… he really was just too tired and needed rest.

This realization brought her a measure of peace, even stirring a hint of idle boredom.

Her gaze swept across the large LCD television mounted on the opposite wall, hesitating whether to turn it on to pass the time.

However, just as her mind eased, a subtle yet undeniable itching sensation emanated from her leg…

It was Xiao Moyuan’s hair.