79: Chapter 79 Maintaining the status quo for a while isn't bad.

"Perhaps... maintaining the status quo is not bad either."

Leng Qingxuan's voice was very soft, like a feather brushing against the tip of his heart.

After she finished speaking, she seemed to shed a heavy burden, leaning softly against Huang Mao.

That lazy and satisfied appearance was just like a Persian cat that had just finished stealing a dried fish and was basking in the sun.

Huang Mao raised an eyebrow, quite surprised by her answer.

To be fair, he really hadn't expected Leng Qingxuan to give such an answer.

According to his understanding of this young lady, combined with her hidden "competitive" attribute.

After achieving such a huge "victory," one could even say she had directly secured the "first kill" achievement.

Shouldn't the normal script follow with her rushing out of the room impatiently, and if not broadcasting it to the whole school with a megaphone, at least holding her head high in front of An Ran?

But this girl actually chose to... endure?

This was not like Leng Qingxuan at all.

Looking at Huang Mao's "have you been possessed" expression, Leng Qingxuan rolled her eyes at him grumpily.

Although the corners of her eyes and brows still held lingering charm, this eye-roll returned a bit of her usual coquettishness.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Do you think I've changed my nature?"

Leng Qingxuan pouted, burying her head in the crook of his neck, her voice muffled.

"I just... don't want to add any extra 'trouble' for you anymore."

When mentioning the word "trouble," she clearly felt Huang Mao's body stiffen.

That was the reaction of being poked in a vital spot.

The corners of Leng Qingxuan's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of cunning.

As expected.

"I was too impatient before."

"I only thought about how to conquer you, how to fill up the progress bar, and how to win against them."

"But I forgot the most important point—what happens after the conquest is successful?"

"If I were to declare my sovereignty with great fanfare now, wouldn't this home immediately become a battlefield for a world war?"

"An Ran, with that explosive temper of hers, would definitely blow up, and although Su Muxue looks docile, she isn't someone to be trifled with either."

"In that case, who would be the most miserable person caught in the middle?"

"It would be you."

Leng Qingxuan raised her head, her eyes, still carrying a hint of moisture, were exceptionally clear at this moment.

That was the clarity that comes after reason returns.

"I used to be a 'player,' only thinking about how to clear the game."

"But now..."

She paused, a blush appearing on her face that was a bit shy yet exceptionally firm.

"We are already 'accomplices.'"

"Since we are accomplices, I have to consider things for you; I can't just think about my own pleasure."

"What good would it do me to push you into the limelight and make you suffer?"

"I don't want to see you frowning and dealing with a Shura Field (shuraba) every day; that would... make my heart ache."

These words were simply a fatal blow.

It precisely hit Huang Mao's sweet spot.

One could even say it was a direct critical hit.

Huang Mao's requirements for a partner were never about anything earth-shattering or grand, nor were they about romantic oaths.

What he yearned for was actually a kind of "ease."

A sense of comfort that didn't require him to rack his brains to guess, to coax, or to balance relationships.

Take Su Muxue, for example; he was actually quite fond of her.

That maid-type girl was simply too sensible and too worry-free.

But she was a bit too extreme; that almost self-sacrificial obedience sometimes made Huang Mao feel an inexplicable pressure.

And now, Leng Qingxuan...

She seemed to have found a perfect balance point.

She had retained her original personality while learning to think from his perspective.

The value of this kind of "sensibility" was simply ridiculously high.

Although Huang Mao also knew in his heart that this girl most likely still harbored a bit of "possessiveness."

After all, as long as it wasn't public, she could continue to enjoy this secret time that belonged only to the two of them in this room.

But regardless, in terms of results, this was all benefit and no harm to him.

To be able to turn a high-risk operation like "stealing the home" into a "peaceful evolution."

This level of operation had indeed leveled up.

"You..."

Huang Mao chuckled, the smile in his eyes impossible to hide.

He reached out and held Leng Qingxuan's hand, which was still causing mischief on his chest, and gently squeezed her soft fingertips.

"It's truly great that you can think this way."

"I was really afraid you'd get hot-headed just now and rush out to start a fight."

"If that had really happened, I don't think any of us would be getting any sleep tonight."

Feeling the warmth from her hand, the last bit of anxiety in Leng Qingxuan's heart dissipated.

She knew that she had made the right move.

In this home, whoever could make Huang Mao feel "at ease" had already won half the battle.

"However..."

Huang Mao restrained his smile a bit, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"Since you've decided to maintain the status quo, there's a problem you need to think through clearly."

Huang Mao looked into her eyes, his tone carrying a bit of probing and a bit of helplessness.

"What about them?"

"An Ran, and Su Muxue."

"If I don't make our relationship public, in their eyes, I am still that single, conquerable NPC."

"Their offensive won't stop."

"You know that girl An Ran; although she's quite timid sometimes, when she really gets carried away, she doesn't care about consequences."

"Su Muxue goes without saying; I might not even be able to parry those sets of combo attacks she has."

"Can you accept other women continuing to stare at me, fawning over me, and even..."

Huang Mao paused, his gaze somewhat playful.

"...even getting handsy with me?"

This question could be said to be quite sharp.

It even sounded a bit too "scumbag-like."

It was like asking a legitimate girlfriend: "Can I continue to flirt with other girls in the future?"

If it were the old Leng Qingxuan, hearing this would probably have made her blow up at least once.

Even if she didn't flip out on the spot, she would have had to make a few sarcastic remarks.

After all, her possessiveness was quite strong.

But at this moment.

Facing this overly direct, and even somewhat shameless question.

Leng Qingxuan laughed.

In that smile, there was not a trace of anger, nor a bit of bitterness.

Instead, it carried an unprecedented confidence and composure.

It was like a general who had just won a battle, looking at the defeated general still simulating on the sand table.

That kind of confidence could not be faked.

It was as if overnight, she had completed some kind of ultimate transformation in her mindset.

"I don't care."

She parted her red lips and uttered these three words nonchalantly.

Huang Mao was stunned for a moment.

She didn't care?

Was this still the same Leng Qingxuan who could get so angry that she would hide in her room and shut herself off just seeing him and Su Muxue return from grocery shopping?

Had this realization improved a bit too quickly?

Looking at Huang Mao's "seeing a ghost" expression, Leng Qingxuan gently shook their clasped hands.

"Actually..."

"This was also a lesson Su Muxue taught me last night."

Mentioning Su Muxue, Leng Qingxuan's eyes became somewhat complex.

There was both admiration and a sense of superiority as a victor.

"At the time, she told us that she didn't care who was by your side, nor did she care about any title."

"As long as she could stay by your side to serve you, she would be content."

"This is a kind of devotion like a believer."

"At the time, I actually felt a bit that she was self-hypnotizing, looking for an excuse for herself."

"I felt that such humble love was not a normal relationship at all."

Speaking of this, Leng Qingxuan laughed at herself.

"But now, I understand."

"That wasn't humility; that was extreme 'trust.'"

"Because she believes that no matter what, the 'Master's' heart will ultimately have a place for her."

"She believes in her own value, and she also believes in your character."

"And me..."

Leng Qingxuan raised her head, staring intently at Huang Mao, her eyes shining astonishingly bright.

"I believe now, too."

"I am yours now; this is a fact no one can change."

"This 'first kill' achievement is already engraved in your bones, and it's also engraved on me."

"With this confidence, what else do I have to fear?"

She straightened her body slightly, and that oversized black T-shirt slipped off her shoulder a bit, revealing a large area of snow-white skin.

It radiated a lustrous glow under the light.

That kind of confident beauty made her whole being shine.

"The harder they try, the more they rack their brains to please you, the more it proves how excellent you are."

"It proves that my eye for men is correct."

"Why should I be jealous?"

"I will only feel proud."

"Look, such an excellent man, his first time was taken by me."

"This feeling... is actually quite satisfying."

These words were full of the "composure of the primary wife."

Huang Mao was left dumbfounded.

Good heavens.

This logical loop was simply invincible.

If Su Muxue knew that her "believer theory" had ultimately become a tool for Leng Qingxuan to consolidate her position as the primary wife.

What would she think?

Is this what they call "using the barbarian's methods to control the barbarian"?

But it wasn't over yet.

Leng Qingxuan seemed to be on a roll, or perhaps she wanted to completely dispel Huang Mao's concerns.

She suddenly leaned close to Huang Mao's ear.

Her warm breath sprayed onto his ear, carrying a tingling, electric sensation.

She spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear, with a bit of allure and a bit of small pride:

"Besides..."

"You need to understand the primary and secondary relationship."

"No matter how much they struggle, at most they can only think of ways during the day, like cooking for you, massaging your legs, and so on."

"Those are all superficial efforts."

"And me..."

She stuck out the tip of her tongue and gently licked Huang Mao's ear.

She felt satisfied as his body tensed up instantly.

"I am the one who can get the 'reward' at night."

"Daytime hours can be shared with them, but nighttime hours... now belong only to me."

"I've calculated this account very clearly."

"As long as I want, I can do this like tonight anytime..."

"To make you belong only to me."

"Tell me, is there any need for me to compete with them for those superficial things?"

At this moment.

Huang Mao completely let out a sigh of relief.

This girl had truly evolved.

From a girl who liked to sulk and get stuck in a rut, she had evolved into a "primary wife" who understood "magnanimity."

Huang Mao shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He had always been someone who ate soft but not hard.

Especially when facing a girl who considered everything for him wholeheartedly, and even didn't hesitate to wrong herself for his sake.

He simply couldn't bring himself to refuse.

In a sense, it wasn't wrong to call him a scumbag.

But he at least had one merit—that was, he would never let down those who treated him sincerely.

"Absolutely never abandon, absolutely will take full responsibility," he was still confident he could do that.

"Alright then."

Huang Mao sighed, his tone full of doting and compromise.

"Since you've said so, let's do as you say."

"We'll just keep this secret hidden for now."

"However..."

He pinched Leng Qingxuan's nose and deliberately put on a stern face.

"Don't get too full of yourself."

"If you play too hard one day and get discovered by them, I'm not responsible for putting out the fire."

Leng Qingxuan wrinkled her nose and let out a cute, light snort.

"Don't worry, my acting skills are very good."

"On the contrary, you should be careful and not get too carried away yourself."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

A tacit understanding flowed in the air.

This secret was like an invisible shackle.

Not only did it not make them feel bound, but it also made their relationship even tighter than any public couple.

This was a sweet conspiracy that belonged only to the two of them.

All the anxiety, all the awkwardness, all the concerns.

At this moment, all dissipated with the reaching of this agreement.

The atmosphere in the room finally completely relaxed.

It was the tranquility after the storm.

It was also the warmth after the dust had settled.

Leng Qingxuan leaned back into Huang Mao's embrace, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, feeling unprecedentedly at ease.

After a while.

She suddenly raised her head, looking at Huang Mao with her big eyes blinking.

There was a hint of anticipation and a hint of shyness in her eyes.

"Um..."

"Since things are settled..."

"Can we... do it one more time?"

Huang Mao was startled and subconsciously wanted to shrink back.

"Again? Can you handle it?"

"You have to be moderate with this kind of thing, young person!"

Seeing Huang Mao's look of facing a great enemy, Leng Qingxuan couldn't help but burst into laughter with a "pfft."

She reached out, hooked her arms around Huang Mao's neck, and pulled him toward her.

"What are you thinking!"

"I mean..."

Her gaze fell on Huang Mao's lips, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Just now... it was too chaotic."

"I didn't even have time to properly feel it..."

"Can you... give me a more formal kiss?"

"Just like... real lovers?"

This request was not excessive.

Huang Mao looked at that pretty face so close at hand.

Looking at the cautious expectation in the depths of her eyes.

The softest part of his heart was touched heavily.

He didn't speak.

He just gave the answer with his actions.

He lowered his head.

He gently pressed his lips onto those slightly trembling ones.

This time.

There was no impatience, no panic, and no impurities.

Only tenderness.

Endless tenderness.

Leng Qingxuan closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Two lines of clear tears slid down the corners of her eyes.

Those were tears of happiness.

In this slightly messy room.

In this deep night filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.

Two young souls finally truly merged together.

Although the future might still be full of various troubles and Shuraba.

But at least at this moment.

They had each other.

That was enough.