77: Chapter 77 Lock the door first

The air was thick enough to be suffocating.

Leng Qingxuan was still trembling.

That sense of shame didn't fade with the passage of time; instead, under Huang Mao's silent gaze, it grew wildly like weeds.

Just when she was about to snap and wanted to scream and crouch down.

"Screech—" The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor was exceptionally harsh in this pin-drop silent room.

Huang Mao finally moved.

He didn't pounce on her as Leng Qingxuan had expected, nor did he turn and run away.

He simply stood up slowly and bent over.

The black T-shirt that Leng Qingxuan had thrown onto the floor earlier to "prove her resolve" was picked up by him.

This series of movements was fluid and without any hesitation, instantly breaking the almost explosive ambiguity and stalemate in the room.

Leng Qingxuan was stunned. The energy she had been holding back inside, like a balloon pricked by a needle, instantly deflated by half.

Huang Mao walked up to her.

As the distance closed, a masculine scent washed over her.

Leng Qingxuan subconsciously wanted to retreat, but her feet seemed to have taken root, unable to move.

The next second.

The black T-shirt, carrying the body heat of both of them, wasn't forcibly put back on her.

Instead, like a cape, it was gently draped over her smooth, yet slightly flushed shoulders from nervousness.

The rough cotton fabric touched her skin, bringing a hint of long-lost warmth.

"Although my room is quite warm."

Huang Mao's voice sounded from above, carrying that lazy tone unique to him.

"But it's the middle of the night, and you just took a shower. If you stay like this, plus sweating from being emotional, it's very easy to catch a cold."

"If you get a cold, that would be a huge hassle."

"I'd have to go buy medicine, take care of you, and listen to you sniffling."

"The most critical thing is, viruses don't have eyes."

"If you end up infecting me, and then it spreads to the others, everyone in this house will be bedridden."

"Who would cook then? Who would clean the house? Everyone being a patient—I get a headache just thinking about that scene."

It was still that same sarcastic tone.

Still that same complaining rhetoric.

Even at this critical moment of baring all and the atmosphere threatening to ignite, this guy's mouth still wouldn't stop, spouting this nonsense.

If it were a romance drama male lead, he would have already been saying something affectionately like "I won't allow you to hurt yourself."

But it just had to be Huang Mao.

It just had to be this rambling that sounded completely unromantic.

Yet, it hit like a heavy hammer, smashing down on the crumbling line of defense in Leng Qingxuan's heart.

So...

His first reaction wasn't desire, nor was it disgust.

It was fear that she would catch a cold.

This kind of concern, ubiquitous in this home and full of the flavor of everyday life, was exactly what she craved most and what she lacked the most.

Compared to those ethereal vows, this old T-shirt draped over her shoulders was so real it made her want to cry.

"Wuu..."

Leng Qingxuan couldn't hold it in anymore.

Tears fell like broken strings of pearls, welling up and overflowing without warning.

All the grievances, all the fear, all the shame, at this moment turned into tears, bursting forth like a dam.

This explained her mood at this moment better than any words could.

Looking at the Campus Belle crying like a pear blossom in the rain before him, Huang Mao was helpless.

Just a moment ago, she looked like a Valkyrie ready to fight a life-or-death battle with her own mother; how did she suddenly become such a crybaby?

"Sigh..."

He sighed again.

He didn't know how many times he had sighed tonight.

But his hands didn't stop.

His rough fingertips gently brushed across her cheeks, wiping away those scalding tears.

The movements weren't gentle, even a bit clumsy, but they carried a temperature that put one at ease.

"Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, your eyes will get swollen and you won't look pretty."

Huang Mao withdrew his hand, looked at her red eyes, and finally decided to stop playing dumb.

"Since things have reached this point, I won't hide anything anymore."

He paused, his eyes becoming serious.

"Actually... I do have feelings for you."

"Duh, I'm a normal man, too."

"A top-tier beauty of your level, hanging around in front of me every day..."

Huang Mao's gaze drifted downward involuntarily, then he quickly pulled it back and gave a dry cough.

"Cough... and you're not even wearing clothes right now."

"Plus all your recent offensives, and those feelings that are practically written on your face..."

"I'm made of flesh and blood, not some saint like Liuxia Hui, how could I not feel anything?"

"The reason I kept playing dumb before was indeed because of this so-called 'fear of trouble'."

"I thought I'd maintain the status quo for a while longer, putting it off day by day. After all, I'm used to a stable life and don't want to challenge a high-difficulty dungeon."

"But..."

Huang Mao looked at her, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Seeing you just now... doing something like this just to put my mind at ease."

"If I still used 'fear of trouble' as an excuse to push you away, what would that make me?"

"I'm not that cowardly."

These words, while lacking flowery language, hit every word into the depths of Leng Qingxuan's heart.

He admitted it.

He finally admitted it!

It wasn't out of sympathy, nor was it because he was forced into it; he really had feelings for her!

A massive wave of joy instantly washed away the shame and fear.

Leng Qingxuan sniffled, and her tears flowed even more fiercely, but this time they were tears of joy.

"Huang Mao..."

She called out with a choked voice.

The next second.

The black T-shirt that had been draped over her shoulders slid down her smooth skin.

It fell silently to the floor.

She was bare again, without any covering.

But this time, she didn't stand stiffly.

Instead, like a stray cat that had finally found its owner, she took a step forward, opened her arms, and hugged Huang Mao's waist tightly.

"Mmm..."

She buried her burning cheeks into his broad chest, greedily breathing in his scent.

It was his scent, the one that put her at ease.

"Then... accept me."

Her voice was muffled, still carrying the remnants of her crying, but it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"Accept me completely."

"Don't think about whether it's a hassle or not anymore, I just want to be your woman."

Soft, fragrant jade in his arms.

The impact of this moment was even more violent than a nuclear explosion.

Huang Mao's body instantly stiffened into stone.

He was only wearing thin pajamas, which couldn't block anything at all.

He could clearly feel every detail of the body in his arms.

That astonishing softness, that delicate touch, and that unreserved attachment.

Especially the wetness coming from his chest—that was her tears, scaldingly hot.

Damn it.

Who could withstand this?

The dam of reason was being crazily assaulted by the flood of desire, and it was on the verge of collapsing.

Huang Mao took a deep breath, trying to use the last shred of clarity to control the situation.

This was a matter of principle.

Although the atmosphere had been built up to this point, if some realistic problems weren't solved, it would be irresponsible to both himself and her.

"Um... Qingxuan, calm down for a second."

Huang Mao's voice was a bit hoarse and didn't sound very convincing.

"Although I really want to say yes, but... it's still not possible right now."

The person in his arms visibly stiffened.

Leng Qingxuan looked up, watching him with teary eyes, her gaze full of confusion and grievance.

"Why?"

"I've already done this much... are you still going to reject me?"

Huang Mao gave a wry smile and gestured around.

"It's not rejection, it's just that the reality doesn't allow it."

"First, although we've confessed to each other, this relationship hasn't been officially confirmed yet, we need some sense of ritual, right?"

"Second, and this is the most critical part..."

He scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.

"I don't have... that here."

"You know what I'm talking about, right? That... safety measure."

"I'm a single shut-in, I don't have this kind of need usually, how could I possibly have that stuff stocked at home?"

"It seems the shops nearby don't sell this either."

Hearing this, Leng Qingxuan was stunned for a moment.

Then, her face flushed red "poof" all the way to her ears.

So that was what he was worried about.

It wasn't that he didn't like her, nor was he trying to dodge, it was purely... no equipment.

This reason, while very Huang Mao, also showed that he was genuinely thinking about her.

If it were some scumbag who just wanted to take advantage, he would have already gone for it without a care; why would he care about whether there were measures or not?

Thinking of this, the last shred of hesitation in Leng Qingxuan's heart vanished.

She bit her lip, a flash of determination in her eyes.

Since they had come this far, there was no turning back.

"This... I have also considered it."

She said, blushing, but staring straight into Huang Mao's eyes without flinching.

Upon hearing this, Huang Mao's eyebrows shot up.

"Huh? You considered it too?"

"No way, Campus Belle, don't tell me... you bought that stuff in advance and tucked it in your pocket?"

"But I don't see you having any pockets?"

Leng Qingxuan punched his chest in shame and anger.

"What are you thinking! Who would buy that and carry it around all the time!"

"I mean..."

Her voice became smaller and smaller, like a mosquito's hum.

"I keep track of my days."

"Today... is that."

"Safe period."

The last three words were so soft they were almost drowned out by the computer's noise.

But in Huang Mao's ears, it was like a thunderclap.

Good grief.

This was even more exciting than using safety measures.

Huang Mao helplessly covered his forehead, feeling his head buzzing.

"I say, classmate Leng Qingxuan, you're also someone who has received higher education, can you believe in science a little?"

"You're not a child anymore, you should also know that the so-called 'safe period' is definitely not one hundred percent safe."

"The human body is very complex; emotions, environment, stress—if any factor changes, the cycle gets messed up."

"Especially with your emotional fluctuations being so large lately, that thing is even less accurate."

"We can't take risks with this."

The more Huang Mao spoke, the more serious he became, as if he were conducting an academic debate on life and death.

"Think about it, if I accept you now, that means I'm prepared to fight against the big BOSS that is your mother with you."

"But this has to be done step by step."

"What if..."

"I mean what if, I accidentally get you pregnant."

"We haven't even negotiated with your mother yet, and we show up holding a baby?"

"At that point, forget about fighting; I estimate that before I even enter the door, I'll be hacked into pieces by your mother."

"That's a total Bad Ending, a dead end!"

Huang Mao's lecture was very logical.

But to the current Leng Qingxuan, this was just making excuses!

This was fleeing from battle!

She had already gone this far, she had stripped herself clean and delivered herself to him, and this guy was still lecturing her on biology?

Still analyzing tactical risks with her?

Screw his "step by step"!

Screw his Bad Ending!

She only wanted him now!

The shame and anger of being rejected again, mixed with the desire of wanting but not getting, completely overwhelmed Leng Qingxuan's reason.

Whatever restraint of a campus belle, whatever image of being cold and aloof—let them all go to hell!

She stood on her tiptoes.

That burning body was almost completely pressed against Huang Mao.

She leaned into his ear, her warm breath spraying onto his earlobe, carrying a numbing current.

"Then..."

Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of all-in madness.

"Then can't you just keep track of it yourself?"

"At the last moment..."

"Can't you just use an emergency avoidance measure..."

Boom—!

Huang Mao felt the string in his brain called "reason" snap completely the moment those words were spoken.

He widened his eyes, looking at the girl in his arms in disbelief.

Is this something Leng Qingxuan could say?

Is this the tiger-wolf language that the unreachable, Iceberg Campus Belle who wouldn't even let people touch her hand could say?

Emergency avoidance?

Is that how this term is used here?!

This is simply trampling the bottom line underfoot!

This isn't just awareness; this is practically a sacrifice!

To get him, she really didn't care about anything anymore.

All defenses, all excuses, all hesitations, at this moment, completely collapsed.

"Sigh..."

A long sigh escaped Huang Mao's lips.

But there was no helplessness in this sigh, nor was there any lecturing.

There was only a resignation-like compromise, and a hint of heat that had been completely ignited.

He lowered his head, looking at the girl in his arms who was both too shy to open her eyes and full of pleading and expectation.

He shook his head with a wry smile.

"You say it so lightly."

"It's not that simple in practice; what if I can't hit the brakes in time?"

Hearing this, Leng Qingxuan knew he had been swayed.

Her heart was filled with wild joy, and she leaned in again, pecking lightly at his lips.

It was like comforting him, yet also like tempting him.

"It's okay..."

"I'll keep track of it with you."

"I trust you... there won't be any problems."

...

Things had reached this point; not making a move now would be intolerable to heaven and earth!

Huang Mao looked at her watery eyes and sighed with a smile.

"You..."

"You really don't leave anyone a way out."

After saying that, he didn't say anything more.

His arms exerted force suddenly, and he lifted the surprised and happy girl in his arms horizontally by the waist.

"Ah!"

Leng Qingxuan exclaimed, her body lifted into the air.

She subconsciously wrapped her arms around Huang Mao's neck, her legs naturally hooking around his waist.

In these firm and warm arms.

She was carried step by step toward that large bed, which would decide the final outcome of tonight.

Her heartbeat was so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

Finally... it was finally coming.

Just as Huang Mao gently laid her on the bed, Leng Qingxuan seemed to suddenly remember something crucial.

She reached out, grabbed Huang Mao's collar, and blushing, she reminded him breathlessly:

"Oh... right..."

"Go lock the door first..."

"I noticed when I came in earlier... you didn't lock the door, right..."