Chapter 76: The Uninvited Guest

Upon hearing Su Yao’s words, Lin Qing froze instantly, rooted to the spot. It took him a considerable moment to snap back to reality, his gaze settling on Su Yao with profound wariness.

‘What was Su Yao even saying?’

If he couldn’t maintain a distance at school, was his home no longer safe either?

‘Did she truly intend to invade every corner of his life before she was satisfied?’

“Relax,” Su Yao said, “it’s just a special day, which is why you can’t go back.”

Yet, seeing Lin Qing’s entire being etched with resistance, a subtle smile played on Su Yao’s lips. Her dark eyes gleamed with anticipation, reminiscent of a fox brimming with mischievous intent.

She was clearly plotting something in the shadows.

Su Yao’s fingers, which had been idly tapping the table, suddenly flipped over. She took a firm hold of Lin Qing’s right hand, guiding the black pen he still clutched, drawing deliberate strokes across the surface.

Her face wore a serious expression, but her eyes sparkled with a knowing smile.

As she leaned closer, her long black hair swayed forward, cascading like a dark waterfall. Several strands drifted down to the tabletop, settling motionlessly on the back of Lin Qing’s hand.

It was as if a net had suddenly descended from above, ready to ensnare him.

A large section of the textbook was already scribbled over, the black pen continuing to write, obscuring the specific words beneath a dense layer of ink.

Yet, Lin Qing knew precisely what was being written.

Su Yao.

It was as if she knew what the black ink was concealing.

Stroke by careful stroke, she wrote.

A silent, chilling reminder.

Once the character ‘Yao’ was complete, Su Yao released his hand with a smile. She straightened her posture, and the faint tickle from her hair instantly disappeared.

Following closely, however, was a pang of inexplicable loss.

Lin Qing subconsciously tightened his grip on the black pen, deliberately ignoring the myriad signals his body was sending him.

“Take me home!”

Su Yao watched as Lin Qing’s body tensed once more, her eyes twinkling. She found these easily decipherable anxieties of a young man surprisingly endearing rather than irritating.

In fact, they were quite pleasant.

Lin Qing harboring feelings for her was only natural.

After all, what man could truly resist a young, beautiful woman who continually sought intimacy, time and time again?

If Lin Qing had shown no reaction to her whatsoever, Su Yao might have begun to wonder if he preferred men.

Or perhaps, if there was something inherently wrong with him.

Of course, it was possible Lin Qing was merely playing hard to get, but Su Yao knew the truth deep down.

Lin Qing’s initial revulsion and fear of her had been genuine. While she remained unsure of the exact cause, she was certain he’d harbored no ulterior motives towards her at first.

It was only through their continuous interactions that other feelings began to stir within him.

He was even conflicted, desperate to maintain his distance.

Unfortunately, with her constant interference, he had failed.

Now, seeing Lin Qing’s contradictory, tsundere-like behavior, she couldn’t help but find him rather adorable.

“Even if I refuse, it’ll be useless, won’t it?”

“Mhm.”

Hearing Su Yao reiterate her request to be taken home, Lin Qing knew in his heart that he was powerless to refuse her demand.

With a resigned sigh, he could only nod in agreement, consenting to take Su Yao home.

The black pen, tightly clenched in his hand, finally loosened its grip. The textbook, smeared with black ink, snapped shut, mirroring the abrupt composure he forced upon his turbulent emotions.

Lin Qing gathered his textbooks, then rose from his seat and, with Su Yao, departed from the school grounds.

Having been delayed for a while, by the time Lin Qing and Su Yao emerged from the school building, only a few students lingered outside, the rest having either headed home or to the cafeteria.

Su Yao walked beside Lin Qing, her hands clasped behind her back, her steps light and airy. She then casually lifted a hand, intending to tightly interlace her fingers with his.

However, Lin Qing instinctively clenched his hand into a tight fist, thwarting Su Yao’s attempt.

Even though few students remained, they were still very much in public.

He had no desire for his relationship with Su Yao to become the subject of distorted rumors.

Noticing his resistance, Su Yao playfully poked the back of Lin Qing’s hand. Then, settling for a compromise, she simply caught hold of his clothes’ hem, following his steps with a look of utter contentment.

Su Yao always maintained a graceful posture, her chest lifted and head held high. This accentuated the generous swell of her bosom, while the tailored waist of her uniform perfectly highlighted her slender figure.

Every movement she made exuded an undeniable charm.

Then there were her captivating, watery eyes—like the seductive gaze of a siren, they seemed to ensnare all who looked upon them. With every subtle shift, they shimmered with an alluring, liquid light.

Lin Qing merely stole a glance at Su Yao before swiftly averting his eyes.

‘Su Yao was too beautiful.’

‘One careless moment, and he would be completely ensnared by her allure.’

‘To hold onto his resolve felt impossibly difficult.’

“Lin Qing,” Su Yao’s voice cut through his thoughts, “I just caught you looking at me. Tell me, am I truly that captivating?”

As Lin Qing wrestled with these thoughts, Su Yao’s sudden question shattered the fragile peace. He could almost hear the sound of glass splintering within his heart, a relentless, crashing ‘shua shua’ echoing in his ears.

‘Had Su Yao noticed?’

“While I appreciate your admiration,” Su Yao continued, a teasing note in her voice, “you mustn’t harbor any improper thoughts, alright? And speaking of home, is anyone else there?”

With a swift change in topic, Su Yao began inquiring about his living situation.

As she hadn’t thoroughly investigated Lin Qing, she remained unaware of his family circumstances.

From what little she did know, Lin Qing’s financial situation wasn’t particularly good. It suggested a potentially complex family background, rife with various possibilities.

“Only I live at home,” Lin Qing replied, “my mother passed away from illness.”

Lin Qing understood the underlying meaning of Su Yao’s question; she was meticulously trying to gather information about him.

He saw no reason to conceal it, as the information was already publicly accessible.

If Su Yao truly wished to investigate, she could uncover it with ease; there was simply no way to hide it from her.

“I see…”

“So, do you still intend to come home with me?” Lin Qing pressed, “A single man and woman alone… what if I were to actually make a move on you? That would be rather dreadful, wouldn’t it?”

Lin Qing still hadn’t given up on deterring her, even resorting to tarnishing his own image in the process.

However, his words merely prompted Su Yao to burst into laughter.

Her clear, melodious laughter didn’t cease immediately. She laughed and laughed until tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, forcing her to lift a finger to wipe them away.

Still smiling, Su Yao’s gaze met Lin Qing’s before she finally spoke.

“Lin Qing, I actually hope you make a move on me. Should we start by taking off your shirt?”

As Su Yao spoke, she placed one hand over her chest, her gaze unwavering on Lin Qing. Her fingers, however, deftly unbuttoned the first button of her collar.

Her previously modest attire, now with a loosened button, revealed a tantalizing glimpse of a sensual line tracing down her slender, pale neck.

In an instant, abstinence transformed into wantonness.

Just as Su Yao was about to unbutton the second button, Lin Qing swiftly reached out and seized her hand.

Despite his hair obscuring part of his face, Lin Qing’s cheeks were flushed crimson.

His ears, too, burned a deep red.

His palm, wrapped around Su Yao’s hand, radiated heat, causing her to pause her actions. She knew, once again, that she had claimed the ultimate victory.

“Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

His plan to dissuade Su Yao had failed, so Lin Qing abandoned any further attempts and obediently led her all the way back to their neighborhood.

However, upon their return to the complex, they noticed a crowd gathered at the main entrance.

The clamor suggested something significant had occurred.

Among the crowd was Auntie Wang, their next-door neighbor, waving her arms in fury as she vociferously recounted an incident to those around her.

“Lin Qing, let’s go watch the show!”

After Lin Qing had forcibly made her re-button her uniform, Su Yao looked towards the crowd ahead. Beneath her seemingly earnest words, a thrill of anticipation shimmered in her heart.

The trap she had set earlier had already sprung. What would Lin Qing’s reaction be once he discovered the truth?

She eagerly awaited the unfolding events.