Chapter 74: A Private Performance and a Hero’s Consolation

The instant Mo Qiu sharpened the scissors, Bai Chen was seized by the surreal sensation of dreaming.

He remained frozen for a long moment, only jolting upright when she finally stood before him.

Mo Qiu was startled by his fervent reaction, watching him gesticulate wildly before her, his mouth agape yet unable to utter a single coherent word.

Mo Qiu’s eyes widened slightly, and she couldn’t help but muse inwardly:

‘Could Bai Chen’s mind have been addled during the recent battle?’

The very thought of spending the latter half of her life tending to a brain-damaged hero of salvation made Mo Qiu’s head throb.

‘His intelligence isn’t exactly stellar to begin with,’ she pondered, ‘and if it diminishes further, won’t I be reduced to a weary mother caring for a perpetual infant?’

“Mo Qiu, what are you doing here? Did someone summon you?” Bai Chen nearly choked on his own saliva, managing to force out the words with considerable effort.

“I came on my own.”

“Where did you go?” Bai Chen continued to press. “The drama club members said you vanished midway through, and I was deeply worried about you.”

“I was looking for you.”

‘Just as I thought,’ Bai Chen drew a deep breath.

“Were you attacked?”

“No, I didn’t encounter any demonic creatures.”

“Then, are you injured anywhere?”

Hearing this, the young girl raised her hand, revealing several still-unhealed wounds marring her fair skin.

“This… what happened?”

“I fell.”

Mo Qiu deliberately left some of the wounds, ensuring they didn’t resemble burns.

As expected, Bai Chen readily believed her, genuinely thinking she had sustained them from a fall for his sake.

Bai Chen slumped onto the ground, cradling his head.

“You should have remained with Old Zhu and the others,” he murmured, “I am truly sorry if I caused you any distress.”

‘Had I not chosen to pursue Saluk then, Mo Qiu would not have risked venturing out to search for me, nor would she have sustained these injuries from a fall.’

“I’m not angry.”

Hearing this, Bai Chen lifted his gaze, meeting her vacant eyes.

The silver moonlight etched a luminous outline around the girl, who exuded an ethereal, mysterious beauty.

“It’s good that you’re alright.”

Those two simple statements brought an ineffable sense of relief to Bai Chen’s tightly constricted heart.

Upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

Why would Mo Qiu ever be angry with him over something like this?

She wasn’t like other girls; she wouldn’t throw a tantrum over such trivial matters.

Even if Bai Chen hadn’t returned safely, she likely wouldn’t have wept or made a scene, but rather retreated to a corner alone, allowing her emotions to consume her.

Now that he knew she was safe, Bai Chen finally allowed a small smile to grace his lips, then cast his gaze upon the silent expanse of Wanhua Plaza.

Mo Qiu stood silently by his side, much like a loyal attendant.

“Having rehearsed for such an extended period, only to never even grace the stage…” Bai Chen’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“I feel like this entire week of anticipation has been utterly wasted.”

“Anticipation?” Mo Qiu precisely caught the word, turning her head to observe his profile.

‘Oh no,’ Bai Chen hastily clapped a hand over his mouth, realizing he had inadvertently vocalized his innermost thoughts.

What Bai Chen had most anticipated during the performance was the moment he would appear on stage with Mo Qiu.

They had rehearsed diligently all week, confident that their efforts would surely come to fruition.

Bai Chen had longed to witness Mo Qiu gracing the stage in her elegant gown, for all to behold the resplendent bloom flourishing quietly in a forgotten corner of the world.

Yet, with so many unexpected incidents unfolding tonight, all of Bai Chen’s hopes had been dashed.

Now, only discarded tourist trash bags littered the audience area, and no spotlights illuminated the stage.

“Does Bai Chen want to see it?” Mo Qiu suddenly asked.

“Yes… I do,” Bai Chen admitted, seeing no need for pretense now, a wry smile on his face. “Perhaps if there’s another opportunity, we can try again.”

Mo Qiu remained silent for a moment, then abruptly darted away from his side, leaving Bai Chen utterly bewildered.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Trusting that Mo Qiu would return, Bai Chen waited patiently where he sat. Soon, a message from her appeared on his phone:

[Close your eyes.]

Bai Chen quirked an eyebrow, and though he couldn’t quite fathom the meaning behind her words, he nonetheless complied.

‘What could she be planning?’ he mused. ‘Even if she’s bringing me something delicious to console me, does it really warrant such secrecy?’

Bai Chen occasionally sniffed the air, but detected nothing beyond the scent of dust.

After what felt like an eternity, his tense body finally relaxed upon hearing Mo Qiu’s voice.

[Alright, you can open your eyes now.]

‘What kind of food could possibly take this long to prepare?’

When Bai Chen opened his eyes, the sight that greeted him rendered him utterly dumbfounded.

He beheld Mo Qiu, adorned in her performance gown!

Moonlight, like liquid silver, cascaded softly upon the girl’s form, transforming her into an ethereal sprite emerged from a dream.

With her slightest movement, the graceful curve of her thighs became subtly visible beneath the moon’s glow, an elegant yet mysteriously alluring sight.

Bai Chen gazed, utterly transfixed, as she drew nearer, as though he were witnessing a goddess materializing from the very essence of the moonlight.

Mo Qiu stopped before him, then took his hand.

From such close proximity, Bai Chen observed her moonlit skin, which appeared even more translucent and alabaster, hinting at the delicate tracery of veins beneath.

Each of the girl’s eyelashes was distinctly defined, and her gem-like eyes reflected nothing but his own bewildered face.

Her beauty was utterly breathtaking.

“Mo Qiu?”

“Do you like it?”

“Ah… I…” The sheer impact of the moment left Bai Chen utterly speechless.

His muted response caused Mo Qiu to subtly furrow her brow, for it was entirely divergent from the reaction she had anticipated.

Although she had ultimately lent a hand, Bai Chen had nonetheless vanquished Xinleit, a feat worthy of commendation.

A small reward for her obedient ‘baby’ would surely motivate him to exert himself even more vigorously next time.

However, Bai Chen’s reaction was far too subdued. ‘Didn’t he say he wanted to see it? Now that I’ve shown him, why isn’t there even a single word of praise?’

“Your complexion looks terrible, and you’re sweating.”

“It’s nothing, just a bit nervous.”

“Nervous? I see, so you haven’t fully recovered yet. It seems the reward wasn’t quite enough.”

Mo Qiu pursed her lips, then settled into his former seat, gesturing for him to sit beside her.

Uncertain of her next move, Bai Chen cautiously took a seat beside her, only for Mo Qiu to gently cup his head and guide his body to recline.

As his cheek brushed against the soft yielding warmth of the girl’s thigh, Bai Chen’s mind nearly short-circuited.

Looking upwards, he could perceive only a segment of the vast night sky.

“How is it? Comfortable?”

Mo Qiu tilted her head down, her fingers gracefully sweeping the stray strands of hair behind her ear.

‘This is my first time giving a lap pillow,’ she thought. ‘The dress is so thin; Bai Chen’s hair is making my thigh feel a little ticklish. But this is Bai Chen’s reward, so I’ll just have to endure it for now.’

Bai Chen remained stunned for a long moment, then exhaled and nodded in reply: “Comfortable.”

It was a solace akin to a profound embrace, moving him almost to tears.

In moments when life’s currents turned against him, to have a caring girl willing to don her finest attire and offer him the comforting sanctuary of a lap pillow felt utterly surreal.

In his seventeen years of life, Bai Chen had never encountered such a profound gesture of affection; he was utterly overwhelmed with emotion.

Mo Qiu had been closely observing his expression, noting the tear glistening at the corner of his eye.

‘Such tender sentiment for a hero,’ she mused.

The great hero who had so recently battled fearsome demons now lay upon her lap, resembling nothing so much as a sorrowful child.

‘It was… simply exquisite.’

Not only could she inspire him to fight on her behalf, but she could also evoke such profound emotion within him.

‘Could anyone else in this world achieve such a feat?’

The girl’s fingers gently caressed his hair, the corners of her lips curving upwards.

She gazed unblinkingly, intent on etching this indelible scene into the depths of her memory forever.

Her gaze lingered on the tear glistening at the corner of his eye, and Mo Qiu’s expression suggested she had discovered a delectable prey.

Leaning closer, she pressed her lips against his skin, a soft kiss landing precisely upon Bai Chen’s cheek.

Bai Chen’s eyes widened in shock.

He attempted to sit up, only to collide with the soft expanse of her chest, sending him sprawling back onto her lap.

“Mo Qiu, what are you doing?”

“An extra reward.”

“…Alright.” Bai Chen gently rested his palm on her thigh, but dared not apply any pressure.

Seeing his unexpected docility, Mo Qiu’s eyelids subtly narrowed, and a faint blush bloomed upon her cheeks.

‘After all my efforts,’ she mused, ‘indulging a small personal desire isn’t entirely unreasonable, is it?’

In that moment, Bai Chen was entirely her possession, nestled in her embrace; even his tears belonged to her.

The girl licked her crimson lips, savoring the salty tang that seemed to seep from the very depths of his being, and she appeared to relish it immensely.

Suddenly, a memory of Bai Chen’s words from earlier in the week surfaced, prompting her to inwardly ponder: ‘Who, indeed, has truly become the object of possession?’

As the moonlight bathed them, the night seemed destined to linger, unending.