A Satisfying Meal and a Lingering Embrace

“Well, I have to admit, it really is quite delicious.”

Taking a bite of the beef skewer, Mo Bai couldn’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship of this humble street stall. Crisp on the outside and tender within, the aroma of cumin, intertwined with the rich fat, blossomed on his tongue, leaving a more memorable aftertaste than even the dishes from high-end restaurants.

‘Could this be what they mean by ‘the minor hermit hides in the wilderness, while the great hermit hides in the city’? Was this seemingly unassuming barbecue stall owner actually a retired head chef from some高级 restaurant?’

Though he wasn’t sure, he had to concede one undeniable truth: it was delicious!

“Right? Right? I told you the flavor was excellent!”

Seeing her tablemate’s praise, Bai Xia couldn’t help but puff out her subtly rising chest, a small, triumphant smile playing on her lips.

While the ambiance of these street stalls certainly couldn’t compare to high-end restaurants, in some respects, the food they served far surpassed that of many established eateries.

“If you like it, eat more.”

A rare, gentle smile graced Mo Bai’s face.

‘The little one is quite easily satisfied, aren’t they?’

While Bai Xia was still engrossed in her skewers, Mo Bai feigned being overly full and went to buy water. When he reached the stall owner, he discreetly settled the bill for Bai Xia’s entire meal. As Bai Xia had said, the two of them had only spent just over a hundred yuan. Mo Bai truly couldn’t imagine where else in the capital, where land commanded exorbitant prices, one could find such affordable barbecue.

As the sun gradually dipped below the horizon, and Bai Xia finished her last plate of eggplant, the white-haired girl, completely devoid of any young lady’s decorum, collapsed into a relaxed slump. Her delicate frame slowly leaned back against the plastic chair, her snow-white hair cascading over the grease-stained backrest.

“Gulp~”

‘Utterly satisfied~ Her life was now perfect.’

Her ruby-like eyes narrowed into contented crescents, and Bai Xia, like a sated kitten, rubbed her slightly puffed-out belly with her hand. A closer look would reveal gleaming specks of chili and cumin still clinging to the corners of the girl’s mouth.

“Do you really need to eat so much?”

Mo Bai watched Bai Xia beside him, a mixture of amusement and helplessness in his gaze. Although he knew her life had always been tough, the way she beamed with happiness after a good meal was, inexplicably, quite endearing.

“I usually can’t bear to eat this much, so what’s wrong with eating a bit more?”

Bai Xia sat up, dabbing her mouth with a tissue, instantly transforming back into the dignified young lady she usually was. “Brother Mo, are you going home soon?”

“Why, do you expect me to stay at your place?”

Mo Bai raised an eyebrow, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over the girl’s slightly dishevelled white hair.

‘Upon closer thought, it didn’t seem entirely out of the question. After all, there was still one day of vacation tomorrow, and he wasn’t going home. At most, he’d just need to discuss Bai Xia’s situation further with that guy named Chu Feng. While the environment wasn’t ideal, Bai Xia’s home seemed to have only one bed, right? Hmm? If he thought about it that way, wouldn’t he be able to get closer to his little tablemate tonight?’

“Uh… I, I was just asking, Brother Mo. I’ll go pay first.”

The girl, seemingly having reached the same conclusion as Mo Bai, immediately flushed crimson across her fair cheeks, rising in a fluster as if to pay the bill.

“No need, I’ve already paid for it. Consider it my treat.”

Mo Bai reached out, gently pressing down on her shoulder to guide her back to her seat. Fortuitously, the lingering glow of the setting sun cast a warm hue across the girl’s delicate face, obscuring her blush and preventing Mo Bai from noticing anything amiss.

‘But the thought of Mo Bai actually staying at her house for the night… Bai Xia dared not imagine further. No, no, absolutely not.’

“Then, Brother Mo, when will you be heading back?”

Suppressing the turmoil within her, Bai Xia asked with feigned composure.

“Are you trying to kick me out so soon?”

Mo Bai feigned annoyance, glancing at the girl beside him, which instantly made Bai Xia shrink her head back in alarm.

“Wh-what? No, I was just asking…”

Bai Xia mumbled softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her small skirt. “And Brother Mo, you’ve seen it yourself; my place is tiny, and there’s only one bed…”

“Then we’ll just sleep together.”

Mo Bai’s voice drifted down lightly. He reached out, his fingertips twirling a wisp of Bai Xia’s snow-white hair from her temple. Bai Xia felt her entire face instantly flush as if set ablaze.

“Th-that won’t do, Brother Mo! You’ll definitely bully me again!”

Teased by Mo Bai once again, Bai Xia met his gaze with a mix of shyness and indignation this time.

‘Why would a distinguished young master with such a grand house choose to crowd in with her? Bai Xia couldn’t understand. And with a single man and woman alone in a room late at night, Bai Xia was genuinely worried about what Mo Bai might do.’

“Alright, alright, I’ll head back after a short stroll.”

Seeing Bai Xia’s shy, almost tearful, aggrieved expression, Mo Bai’s hand, which had been toying with her white hair, slowly slid down to gently pinch the girl’s soft, plump cheek.

‘Being too hasty wouldn’t do. Matters of the heart required a gentle, steady progression, taking things slowly.’

“Then how about we get some bubble tea and walk around?”

“We just had barbecue; won’t bubble tea be too cloying?”

“You don’t have to drink it, Brother Mo, I will…”

As the sun dipped lower, darkness quickly enveloped the sky, and the unique nightlife of the urban village was just beginning to stir. Unlike Mo Bai’s own quiet residence, the urban village transformed into a bustling sea of people as night fell. All sorts of vendors set up illuminated signs, pushing their carts out to peddle their wares, filling the air with the mingled aromas of various street foods.

Although he had heard tales of the urban village’s vibrant nocturnal activity, witnessing it firsthand still filled Mo Bai with a touch of surprise. These bustling streets and alleys stood in stark contrast to the refined world he typically inhabited.

The girl’s small hand clasped Mo Bai’s larger one tightly, ensuring her tablemate wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. With her other hand, she held a cup of bubble tea, sipping it delicately as she carefully guided Mo Bai through the throngs of people, all the while describing the place she had called home.

Though she knew a top-tier young master like Mo Bai might find it utterly unimpressive, Bai Xia still led him around. Mo Bai, in turn, did his best to shield Bai Xia by his side, using his shoulder to carve a path through the dense crowd, wary of any ill intentions.

After all, with such an adorable white-haired girl, curious glances were inevitable, especially in a mixed environment like the urban village. It wouldn’t do to attract the attention of local ruffians.

“Do you like your current life, Bai Xia?”

The two walked from the urban village to a nearby small park. Mo Bai watched the girl beside him, her face radiant with happiness as she held her bubble tea, and asked.

Bai Xia bit her straw, looking at Mo Bai with a slight start, her snow-white hair gently stirred by the night breeze.

“I do.”

Her ruby-like eyes gazed toward the distant lights of the urban village as she softly said, “Even though… the house is small, and I don’t have much money, I think I’m quite happy, especially today.”

“Then I’ll talk to my parents about your situation and see if we can sort out your identity.”

“Thank you, Brother Mo…”

To be honest, Bai Xia was deeply grateful to her tablemate, yet at present, she felt she truly lacked the means to repay Mo Bai.

She gazed at Mo Bai’s sharply defined profile, then recalled his ambiguous actions back in the rental room, and couldn’t help but turn her flushed face away again, no longer looking at him.

However, Mo Bai suddenly seemed to remember something: “Speaking of which, if you’re a Blood Princess, don’t you need to drink blood?”

Mo Bai’s sudden question made Bai Xia’s fingertips, clutching the bubble tea, tremble. Her small heart immediately began to pound. “Y-yes, Brother Mo, but I always buy chicken and duck blood.”

“Chicken and duck blood? I see…”

After confirming that Bai Xia wasn’t drinking human blood, Mo Bai breathed a slight sigh of relief. Still, Bai Xia’s demeanor somehow made him feel as if she were hiding something from him.

‘A Blood Princess? He wondered if his parents knew. He’d ask them when he got home.’

Accompanying Bai Xia, they settled onto a quiet lounge chair in the park. Before Bai Xia could even set her finished bubble tea aside, Mo Bai suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Oh… what are you doing…?”

The girl gasped, the bubble tea cup in her hand nearly slipping. Yet, Mo Bai’s strong, firm arms encircled her completely, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive ear tip. “I’ll be leaving soon. Just let me tease you a little more.”

“I knew it…!”

Bai Xia protested softly, her face flushed, yet she remained obediently still, offering no struggle. Her snow-white hair, stirred by the night breeze within Mo Bai’s embrace, gently lifted, its ends brushing against his neck, creating a ticklish sensation that could easily be mistaken for playful provocation.

“Brother Mo is such a big meanie…”

The girl mumbled, her fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of Mo Bai’s clothes, as if afraid he might suddenly let go.

Bai Xia didn’t understand why she was acting this way, but the sense of security she only found in Mo Bai’s embrace always captivated her.

“What, now that you’re a girl, you don’t want a brother anymore, huh?”

Mo Bai deliberately rubbed his chin against the soft crown of Bai Xia’s head, his voice tinged with playful teasing. “Didn’t you used to say you wanted to be my little follower? Now you protest even a hug?”

“Do… do whatever you want, it’s only for today anyway.”

Bai Xia’s voice grew fainter and fainter, until finally, she buried her head into Mo Bai’s chest, like an ostrich attempting to escape reality. The night breeze carried the faint scent of flowers from the park, yet it couldn’t mask the refreshing aroma of the young man, which only made her heart beat even more erratically.

Bai Xia truly looked exceptionally lovely today, especially in her school uniform, which always gave Mo Bai the impression of a noble young lady from a magical academy. Beyond the appealing attire, her small feet, encased in lacy white socks, fidgeted restlessly. The tips of her rounded leather shoes occasionally tapped against each other, betraying her inner nervousness. The delicate lace trim of her socks subtly peeked out at her ankles, making the exposed skin appear even fairer.

Mo Bai’s gaze was involuntarily drawn downwards, and only then did he notice how slender Bai Xia’s ankles were, as if one could easily encircle them with a single hand.

‘So cute…’

‘Once Chu Feng had finished handling matters, and with a little more assistance from his parents, his little tablemate should finally be able to live like a normal person.’