Chapter 79: The Aftermath of Terror

Su Mian’s sobs echoed with stark clarity in the empty, dark room.

She clutched tightly at the fabric over Xiao Moyuan’s chest.

“W-woo… Xiao Moyuan… there’s, there’s a pervert… I’m scared to death…”

She choked out the words, repeating them incoherently as tears uncontrollably soaked the fabric on his shoulder.

“W-woo, it’s truly disgusting, so terrifying!”

The sensation of being touched, of being scrutinized like prey, sent shivers down her spine and waves of nausea through her stomach.

Xiao Moyuan neither pushed her away nor offered verbal comfort; he simply allowed her to release her pent-up terror.

One of his hands rested steadily on her back, while the other instinctively and gently patted her lower back.

The familiar scent of cedarwood, mingled with the steady warmth emanating from his body and the reassuring caress on her back, gradually calmed Su Mian.

After an unknown stretch of time, the trembling of the slender body in his arms slowly subsided, leaving only soft, tear-induced whimpers.

As the tumultuous emotions receded, reason returned, swiftly followed by a monumental wave of shame that threatened to engulf her.

‘I actually cried into Xiao Moyuan’s arms, and while I was completely conscious. My crying must have sounded utterly awful.’

Her ears burned crimson. She awkwardly pulled away from the warmth of his embrace.

She lowered her head, not daring to meet Xiao Moyuan’s gaze. Her fingers haphazardly wiped away the tear streaks on her face, and her voice, still thick with a nasal tone, stammered, “I-I’m so sorry… I was too scared, I lost control for a moment…”

Xiao Moyuan observed her flushed earlobes and evasive eyes. A nearly imperceptible curve touched his lips, and his tone held a rare blend of calm and teasing.

“It’s fine. It’s not the first time you’ve taken advantage of me, so I’m used to it.”

Su Mian’s cheeks grew even hotter. She instinctively retorted in a quiet voice, attempting to dispel the ambiguous and awkward atmosphere with a forceful assertion of gender.

“W-we’re both men, what ‘taking advantage’ is there… You talk as if you’re some delicate young lady, being so calculative…”

Xiao Moyuan seemed amused by her words. He played along, his voice laced with a knowing, playful sarcasm.

“In my entire life, so far, you’re the only one I’ve ever slept with. Most of what could be called ‘first intimate contacts’ have been given to you.”

Listening to his words, Su Mian felt something was subtly off. Logically, there seemed to be nothing wrong, yet when combined with his deep voice, it inexplicably made her heart flutter.

A secret sweetness quietly blossomed, diluting the lingering fear.

She lowered her eyelashes, staring at the tips of her shoes, and mumbled in an even smaller voice, “As if… as if it wasn’t my first time either…”

Xiao Moyuan distinctly caught her near-whisper. A faint smile flickered in his eyes, and his mood inexplicably brightened.

He looked at her still-reddened eyes and slightly swollen eyelids, then deliberately steered the conversation in another direction, as if confirming a boundary.

“However, if I didn’t know you liked Shen Zhixia, I might actually question your orientation just now.”

Sure enough, at the mention of Shen Zhixia, Su Mian reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She immediately looked up, and though tear streaks still adorned her face, her tone became urgent, as if to distance herself from something.

“Of course! I-I’m straight as an arrow, alright!”

Through Xiao Moyuan’s intentional or unintentional prodding, Su Mian’s taut nerves finally completely relaxed.

The relief of having survived slowly replaced her terror.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing, and with lingering trepidation, recalled her recent ordeal. Her brows furrowed in confusion.

“But… I still haven’t figured out whether that was a real pervert who snuck in, or if the haunted house staff went too far with their script?”

She paused, a hint of lingering fear and dissatisfaction in her voice.

“If it was a script, that’s truly excessive! It completely exceeded the scope of normal scares!”

Xiao Moyuan’s gaze fell upon the necklace on her fair neck, his eyes deepening slightly.

The triggered spirit tool, the lingering trace of demonic energy in the air… all of it pointed to a clear answer.

But he did not expose it, maintaining his silence. In his mind, he already had a clear guess about the attacker’s identity.

Su Mian suddenly remembered something and looked at him curiously, temporarily casting aside her bashfulness.

“Oh, right, how did you find me? And so quickly? And… why did you come alone?”

The haunted house was vast and its routes complex. For him to precisely locate this hidden room was quite incredible.

Xiao Moyuan gave her a fleeting glance, his tone returning to his usual coolness, yet with a self-evident rhetorical question.

“Is it not good that I came alone? Did you want Lu Yang, Qin Xuan, or… Shen Zhixia to witness you crying hysterically and clinging to me, refusing to let go?”

The image immediately flashed in Su Mian’s mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

Falling asleep while drunk and leaning on Xiao Moyuan at the KTV today was embarrassing enough. If everyone else saw her utterly broken, crying, and desperately clinging to Xiao Moyuan for help…

She would probably have to consider fleeing the city overnight and applying for a transfer!

“I-I wouldn’t want that!”

She immediately shook her head. Then, as if to reinforce her point, she unconsciously added, blurting out her true thoughts.

“Rather than letting Zhixia see such a weak and useless side of me… it’s better if only you see it…”

The words left her own mouth, and she froze.

Xiao Moyuan raised an eyebrow, precisely catching the logical flaw in her statement, his tone playful.

“Oh? Being seen crying by me, your ‘love rival,’ doesn’t make you feel ashamed?”

Su Mian choked at his question, then, throwing caution to the wind, puffed out her cheeks and spoke in a nearly petulant tone, “Anyway… anyway, I’ve lost face in front of you more than once or twice recently, I’m already used to it!”

She even lifted her still-moist eyes, deliberately glaring at him, putting on a harmlessly ‘fierce’ expression, trying to regain some initiative.

“I’m warning you, Xiao Moyuan, if you dare to say one word about what happened today, I’ll, I’ll…”

She faltered, quickly searching her mind for the most ‘damaging’ threat.

Finally, recalling her ‘feat’ while drunk, she steeled herself and declared, “I’ll tell everyone that I slept with you! Let’s see where you’ll put your face, Mr. Campus Prince!”

‘My integrity is already shattered anyway, one more time won’t make a difference.’

In front of Xiao Moyuan, she felt she had no image left to maintain, so she might as well completely let loose.

Xiao Moyuan had not expected this little fox to use the ‘lie’ he had readily admitted to in order to keep her, to threaten him in return.

He watched Su Mian, whose ears were crimson with embarrassment, yet she was putting on a bravado of ‘I’m not ashamed.’ He found it… somewhat adorable.

He certainly wasn’t afraid of such a threat.

In fact, to some extent, he welcomed it.

However, it was not yet time to lay his cards on the table. This act, he still needed to continue.

He suppressed the smile that was almost overflowing from his eyes, his expression remaining cold with a hint of helplessness. He simply commented, “You really are… getting more shameless.”

Seeing that he didn’t seem angry, Su Mian grew bolder. Her face was red, but she stubbornly held her ground.

“Hmph! Since you know I’m shameless, then you, the famous Campus Prince, had better keep today’s events buried! Otherwise… I’ll let you see what true shamelessness is!”

At this point, Su Mian belatedly realized that a long time might have passed.

Perhaps everyone else had finished and gathered at the exit.

She stood up, tentatively looking around.

Though she had escaped the most dangerous situation, being in this darkness, the terrifying experience still loomed like a shadow over her heart, making her uneasy. She hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out her hand, her voice carrying a dependence she hadn’t even noticed.

“It’s too dark here… I can’t see the way. You, you take me out.”

Xiao Moyuan looked down at the hand gripping his clothes, its knuckles white from the slight pressure. His tone betrayed no emotion.

“Is this… a new round of threats?”

Su Mian pursed her lips, then gave in. “Just consider it a threat.”

Xiao Moyuan seemed to ponder for a moment, then proposed an even ‘more convenient’ solution.

“Since you’re already threatening me, why not be more direct? I’ll carry you out. It’ll be faster, and you won’t get lost.”

Su Mian was stunned. She actually began to seriously consider the suggestion.

In the darkness, no one could see anyone else… and her legs were still terribly weak, she had no strength.

What if she walked out and got separated by the crowd, or accidentally stumbled into another terrifying scene, encountering something strange again?

The mere thought made her scalp tingle.

In comparison, being carried out by Xiao Moyuan seemed to be the optimal solution.

“You… you’re sure you can carry me?”

She asked quietly, with a hint of doubt.

Xiao Moyuan did not answer; he proved it with action.

He extended an arm, wrapped it around Su Mian’s waist, and with a slight exertion of force, effortlessly hoisted her onto his shoulder like a sack of rice.

“Ah!”

The sudden sensation of weightlessness and being upside down made Su Mian gasp.

Xiao Moyuan’s hard shoulder pressed right between her chest and abdomen. A distinct pain shot through the soft area tightly bound by her chest binder, causing her to instantly frown.

“This position is too uncomfortable!”

She quickly slapped Xiao Moyuan’s back, her voice urgent and laced with an unconscious embarrassment.

“P-put me down! You… you’d better just hold me! This is uncomfortable!”

Xiao Moyuan complied, lifting her into a bridal carry. His tone remained flat, yet subtly conveyed a hint of exasperation with her demands. “You certainly have a lot of requests.”

“Why a bridal carry? This position is really embarrassing, you know!”

She licked her somewhat dry lips, attempting a final struggle, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. “Xiao Moyuan… how about… you carry me on your back instead? That… might work too…”

Being carried out in a ‘bridal carry’ by her love rival… The mere thought of that image made her toes curl with shame.

Xiao Moyuan placed her back on the ground. This time, his voice turned completely cold, carrying an undeniable pressure. “Su Mian, are you playing with me?”

He leaned down slightly, closer to her, his deep voice carrying a dangerous edge.

“I wouldn’t mind leaving you here alone, or… using a more direct method to silence you.”

Su Mian was startled by the sudden coldness he exuded and immediately caved, waving her hands frantically.

“Sorry, sorry! I was wrong! Just, just carry me like this! It’s perfectly fine! Let’s go quickly!”

She dared not challenge Xiao Moyuan’s patience again. If he truly became enraged and abandoned her in this haunted place, she would be completely helpless.

So, Xiao Moyuan said no more. He slipped his arms beneath her knees and back, and with a slight effort, steadily lifted her into his arms.

Su Mian instinctively reached out to wrap her arms around his neck for balance, curling into his embrace. Her cheek inevitably pressed against his firm chest, clearly feeling the warmth and powerful heartbeat beneath the fabric.

An indescribable sense of security and immense shame simultaneously enveloped her, making her afraid to move.

Xiao Moyuan carried her, his steps steady, moving towards the exit he remembered.

His eyesight seemed exceptionally keen, allowing him to clearly discern pathways and obstacles even in dim or completely dark environments.

During their journey, dedicated NPCs still leaped out from corners, emitting various eerie shrieks.

However, Xiao Moyuan didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. His arms were as steady as a rock, and his heart rate remained unchanged as he walked directly through the scenes designed to scare them.

Conversely, Su Mian, nestled in his arms, flinched with every sudden noise, instinctively burying her face deeper into his chest, as if this could shield her from the terrifying sights and sounds.

After an unknown duration, a faint light finally appeared ahead, growing steadily brighter—it was the exit!

Before Su Mian could speak, Xiao Moyuan gently set her down while they were still a distance away, where the light remained dim.

“Can you walk on your own now?” His tone returned to its usual flatness, as if he hadn’t been the one carrying her through the darkness moments before.

“Yes, I can, thank you.”

Su Mian thanked him softly, her feet on solid ground. She tidied her somewhat disheveled clothes, took a deep breath, and tried to make her expression appear natural.

The two of them exited the haunted house one after another. The dazzling natural light made Su Mian instinctively squint.

Outside, Lu Yang, Qin Xuan, and the two girls Xia had brought were indeed waiting.

Upon seeing them, Lu Yang immediately approached, his face filled with concern and curiosity. “Mianzi! Xiao Moyuan! You two finally made it out! What were you doing in there? Why were you separated from the main group for so long?”

Su Mian’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a calm demeanor, conjuring a somewhat stiff smile, and explained with the excuse she had already prepared.

“Ah, there were too many岔路 in there. We accidentally got lost and spent ages trying to find our way out…”

Lu Yang looked at her with suspicion, his gaze shifting between Su Mian’s slightly red eyes and Xiao Moyuan. He lowered his voice and asked again, “Lost? Xiao Moyuan got lost with you too?”

Su Mian nodded stiffly. “Yeah… I happened to run into him when I was lost, so we looked for the way together.”

“That’s quite a coincidence…”

Lu Yang chuckled, then, as if remembering something, his face lit up with excitement, and he began to gossip.

“Oh, right, right, you probably didn’t see it! Something big happened in there just now!”

Su Mian cooperatively showed a curious expression. “What happened?”

Lu Yang immediately described in vivid detail how Xiao Moyuan had unceremoniously shrugged off the two girls who tried to get close to him. At the end, he tutted twice, nudged Su Mian with his shoulder, and winked.

“See that? Those two girls now look at Xiao Moyuan with a bit of fear. I really didn’t expect that our great Campus Prince isn’t cold to everyone. He’s just… uh, his tolerance is specific? It seems he’s especially tolerant of you?”

Su Mian: “…”

She was at a loss for words and could only let out a dry laugh.

In her heart, however, Lu Yang’s unintentional remark brought forth another wave of undeniable sweetness.

But then, a thought, like cold water, splashed over her.

‘Could this also be one of the acts Xiao Moyuan is deliberately putting on for Shen Zhixia?’

‘Right, where’s Shen Zhixia?’ She instinctively looked around but did not see Shen Zhixia’s figure.

And Xia, he didn’t seem to be there either.

Lu Yang seemed to notice her confusion and proactively explained, “Oh, Xia said he had an urgent matter and left earlier. He sent a message in the group chat. Shen Zhixia also said she wasn’t feeling well and asked me to tell you that she went back to school to rest.”

Standing nearby, Xiao Moyuan narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this.

Su Mian’s spiritual sense being triggered would have undoubtedly caused harm to the attacker.

Based on the unique demonic energy of a bloodkin that lingered in the air at the time, the opponent was seriously injured.

And now, Xia ‘just so happened’ to have an urgent matter and left, while Shen Zhixia, a bloodkin, ‘just so happened’ to feel unwell and left early…

He never believed in coincidences.

All the clues, like scattered puzzle pieces, now clearly pointed to the same conclusion.

Xia, disguised as a half-blood transfer student, was the ‘Special-Grade Bloodkin’ lurking behind Shen Zhixia, manipulating her.