A Moment of Intimacy

A few minutes later, two cups of freshly brewed hot tea were placed on the small coffee table by Mo Bai. The wafting steam rose gently from the cups, and a faint fragrance gradually spread throughout the cramped rental apartment, instantly making Mo Bai feel much more at ease. While the tea’s aroma couldn’t compare to those of expensive tea leaves, it was far more pleasant than the musty smell of the old rental apartment.

“Go ahead and drink.”

“Ah… Thanks, Mo.”

Bai Xia carefully cupped the paper cup, blew on it, and took a small, tentative sip. The warm green tea flowed down her throat, carrying a subtle aroma that made her involuntarily close her eyes. Mo Bai, meanwhile, sat down beside her, his long fingers tapping lightly on the rim of the cup as he turned his head to look at the stunning girl sitting next to him.

Bai Xia’s snow-white long hair fell to the side of her adorable face, creating a natural curtain, and her ruby-red eyes peeked through the pure white locks. Her delicate nose occasionally scrunched up, as if she were carefully savoring each detail of the inexpensive tea bag.

Although Mo Bai didn’t find the tea bag particularly fragrant, he imagined that for Bai Xia, this was likely the best beverage she could afford in her daily life.

Watching the girl hold the tea cup with such care, an inexplicable emotion stirred in Mo Bai’s heart.

“Is it good?” Mo Bai asked from beside her, and he, too, picked up his cup to take a sip. He was curious about what his classmate usually drank.

But after tasting it, to be honest… it was barely drinkable for him.

However, when he turned his head and saw the girl’s cheeks slightly flushed from the steam, her eyes gently closed in satisfaction, Mo Bai found himself momentarily stunned.

For Mo Bai now, what he was drinking no longer mattered. What was important was the girl in front of him, who could show such a happy expression over a cup of inexpensive tea.

So easily satisfied… No wonder she ended up in that kind of place.

For some reason, when Mo Bai connected this to Bai Xia working at a bar, he felt like he understood why she was there.

She must have been tempted by some small advantage, and now look at where she’s ended up.

Bai Xia, hearing Mo Bai’s question, quickly turned her head, her gem-like eyes blinking at Mo Bai before nervously looking away, a hint of shyness in her nod.

“It’s pretty good… I just don’t know if you’d like it.” Bai Xia mumbled softly.

Mo Bai just smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair, which made Bai Xia carefully shift her body away, trying to create some distance between them.

“And Mo, please stop messing up my hair. It took so long to fix it…” Bai Xia added with a hint of complaint.

Today’s Mo Bai seemed a bit off, and Bai Xia couldn’t quite figure out why. Usually, he was so aloof at school.

Bai Xia couldn’t quite understand, but she couldn’t help but think that maybe it was because she had become a girl that Mo Bai was acting this way.

Although Bai Xia had had such thoughts, remembering her previous misunderstanding of Mo Bai’s actions, she decided to trust him.

He’s just trying to be kind to me as a classmate, so what’s wrong with that? If there really were any issues…

What if there really are issues? What would happen if Mo Bai were to pursue me? That’s impossible. Even though Mo Bai had been helping her all along, and recently, he had even saved her life twice, the thought of being pursued by a boy was still hard for her to accept.

At most… just a little bit…

Well, considering everything Mo Bai has done for her, maybe she could give her classmate a chance. It wouldn’t be so bad, right?

“What, after all the help I’ve given you, you can’t even let me ruffle your hair?” Mo Bai asked, looking at the girl who had shifted her body away from him.

Who are the usual people who ask for his help? Second-generation officials? Second-generation rich kids?

Even if they were, Mo Bai usually ignored them, given who he was. But here, his classmate was being cautious of him, which was really frustrating.

Mo Bai could only think: Well done, girl, you’ve managed to catch my attention.

It wasn’t that Mo Bai wanted to force anything on Bai Xia, but it was annoying to help someone and then have them keep their distance.

“Come closer.”

“M-Mo, even if you say that… I’m a girl now.” Bai Xia put down her tea cup, her eyes holding a hint of sadness. But she had seen Mo Bai get angry before, and he didn’t look good right now.

So, despite her words, Bai Xia quietly shifted her body closer to Mo Bai. Her snow-white long hair swayed with her movement, and her ruby-red eyes stole a glance at her classmate’s expression until she noticed that Mo Bai was also observing her.

“I just prefer the more lively you, Bai Xia.” Mo Bai reached out to gently move the hair that was covering Bai Xia’s profile, revealing her flushed, delicate cheek. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her reddened earlobe, causing Bai Xia’s body to tremble slightly.

“Why are you being so awkward? I’m not going to eat you, you know.” Bai Xia blushed and mumbled softly, her long white hair falling back over her earlobe as she lowered her head. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her nightgown, and her small feet rubbed against the floor.

“And just now, you were… I don’t mind, but Mo, please stop teasing me…” Bai Xia’s voice was barely a whisper.

“How was I?” Mo Bai asked, his lips curling into a smile.

Although he wasn’t sure why, Mo Bai realized that Bai Xia as a girl seemed to blush and get shy so easily, especially when she was red-faced and quietly protesting. It was so adorable that he wanted to tease her more.

How had he never noticed how adorable his classmate was before? Oh, she was just a struggling student who worked hard to make ends meet, that’s all.

Before Bai Xia could respond, Mo Bai suddenly pulled her onto his lap, her long white hair tracing a graceful arc in the air.

“Ah!” The sudden loss of balance made Bai Xia cry out, her hands instinctively wrapping around Mo Bai’s neck. Just as she was about to close her eyes in fear, she found herself safely seated on Mo Bai’s lap, who was looking at her with an amused expression.

“M-Mo!” Bai Xia blushed and tried to struggle free, but Mo Bai held her firmly in place.

“Are you scared?” Mo Bai’s voice held a hint of playfulness, his warm hand resting lightly on her waist. The girl’s waist was so slender that he could almost circle it with one hand, and through her thin nightgown, he could feel Bai Xia’s body trembling slightly with tension.

Only then did Bai Xia realize how intimate their position was, her earlobes turning a deep red, and her eyes flashing with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

“M-Mo, let me go…” Bai Xia tried to push herself away, but Mo Bai tightened his arms around her, pulling her even closer.

“Not a chance, you ungrateful girl. I helped you so much, and you’re still wary of me.” Bai Xia was at a loss for words, her small, sharp teeth biting her lower lip. While she was now cautious of Mo Bai, it was because…

“It’s that, okay? I’ll do it…” Bai Xia mumbled, her voice growing softer as she lowered her head, her long white hair covering her reddened earlobes, “…I’ll repay you…” Bai Xia’s voice was barely audible.

Mo Bai’s eyes flashed with a hint of mischief as he watched Bai Xia gradually lean closer. How would his little classmate repay him?