White Lotus 33

Coincidentally, it was Miao Jiaxi's birthday that day. At noon, the two of them, along with friends from school, gathered for a meal. Tang You, aware of Ami's social anxiety, had reserved a private room here for the three of them to celebrate.

 

However, Ami accidentally ended up on the wrong floor and stumbled upon Xiao Zexing, who was accompanied by an unfamiliar woman. As she passed by their door, she happened to catch Xiao Zexing beckoning the woman.

 

Ami perceived the subtle dynamic between Xiao Zexing and Tang You, and she immediately informed Tang You of the incident.

 

Unable to contain her curiosity and having her own questions about Xiao Zexing's studio, Tang You couldn’t help herself; she had to go over and inquire about the situation. 

 

She hadn't expected to see Xiao Weijing.

 

After speaking to him and not receiving a response, Tang You furrowed her brows and tried to move past him, repeating, "Excuse me, please move."

 

It was truly peculiar.

 

What was going on with Xiao Weijing?

 

Why was he so oblivious?

 

Xiao Weijing found himself briefly in a state of existential doubt, staring blankly as Tang You walked past him.

 

While it might be her straightforward personality to speak that way, being chastised by Tang You still felt uncomfortable for him.

 

She shouldn't have spoken to him like that.

 

As Tang You entered the room, she happened to notice a person concealing themselves, using a suit jacket to cover their face. The person stealthily walked past her and out of the room, leaving Tang You bewildered. Her gaze lingered on that person for a moment.

 

What was going on?

 

Why would someone suddenly cover their face like that?

 

Before Tang You could make sense of it, Xiao Zexing had already approached her. "What's the matter, Youyou?"

 

Tang You hesitated for a moment, her peripheral vision catching sight of Wen Ling in the corner.

 

The unfamiliar woman Ami mentioned was likely her.

 

By now, Tang You had realized the situation.

 

Most likely, Ami had mistaken Xiao Weijing for Xiao Zexing.

 

Xiao Weijing and Xiao Zexing were of similar height, with resemblances in their features.

 

The room was filled with the strong scent of alcohol and smoke, far from being pleasant.

 

Tang You knitted her brows and looked up at Xiao Zexing. "I'd like to ask Second Uncle for some advice on choosing a location for the studio. Can I?"

 

Surprisingly, she could detect a faint smell of cigarettes on Xiao Zexing without feeling repulsed. Yet, when she had just entered and brushed past Xiao Weijing, the smell of smoke and alcohol on him had made her uncomfortable.

 

"I've already tasked Yang Mingwei with that," Xiao Zexing said, looking down at her. "You'll have an answer by tomorrow afternoon."

 

Wen Ling stood awkwardly in the corner.

 

She couldn't bring herself to meet Tang You's gaze.

 

Her heart raced uncontrollably.

 

With Hao Yun having gone to tend to his personal needs, Xiao Weijing still stood by the doorway, feeling like he didn't quite fit in here.

 

The food on the table remained largely untouched. Xiao Zexing gestured for Tang You to take her previous seat and smiled, asking her, "Youyou, would you like some milk?"

 

Xiao Weijing walked over stiffly and sat on the other side of Xiao Zexing, coincidentally hearing this statement. He was surprised by his uncle's gentle tone.

 

Xiao Zexing had truly begun to treat Tang You like a delicate little bird.

 

Xiao Weijing felt uneasy.

 

Although they had been engaged for over four years, he and Tang You only met a few times after their engagement. At that time, Tang You was still in high school, nothing but a naive, innocent child. Xiao Weijing, on the other hand, was already a normal adult male who never had any inappropriate thoughts about her.

 

He only felt that his marriage was being manipulated, and he didn't like that feeling at all.

 

During that period, Xiao Weijing had just identified Wen Ling through the "bracelet." His mind was focused on how to repay this lifesaver, and when he heard from Wen Ling that Tang You had been ostracized and forced to quit the swimming team due to financial difficulties, he thought it was only right to help her. After all, she was his ex-fiancée, and he felt responsible for resolving this situation, so he transferred a substantial sum of money to Wen Ling.

 

Throughout his over twenty years of life, Xiao Weijing had faced no major setbacks and never paid much attention to money.

 

It wasn't until after their engagement was called off that Xiao Weijing suddenly realized he had never truly cared for Tang You throughout their engagement period or fulfilled any duties as her fiancé.

 

Now, as he watched Xiao Zexing patiently ask Tang You what she wanted to drink, Xiao Weijing unexpectedly felt a subtle pang of bitterness.

 

Tang You's smile should belong to him.

 

Taking care of Tang You should be his responsibility.

 

It shouldn't be Xiao Zexing's.

 

Tang You declined the offer of milk. The atmosphere in the room was tense and strange, making her uncomfortable. "No, thank you, Second Uncle."

 

Looking at Wen Ling in the corner, she asked, "Why is she here?"

 

Xiao Zexing replied, "She's here to find Weijing."

 

Xiao Weijing added, "There are a few documents that need your signature. Don't overthink it. Right now, Wen Ling and I are just in a superior-subordinate relationship."

 

Tang You turned to him with a puzzled expression. "I won't overthink it. Why are you trying so hard to explain it to me?"

 

Xiao Weijing replied, "It's nothing."

 

He was worried that Tang You might misunderstand or become jealous.

 

He had never thought about things in this way before. It was only now, prompted by his uncle, that he realized how poorly he had behaved before.

 

In the eerie atmosphere, Hao Yun entered the room.

 

Beside him was the man who had previously covered his face with his suit jacket. Now without the coat, his face was swollen, and his shirt was stained with blood.

 

Tang You was sure that she had never seen this unfamiliar face before.

 

Noticing Tang You's gaze, Xiao Zexing explained nonchalantly, "He had a bit too much to drink and accidentally fell. Did he startle you?"

 

"Thankfully, no."

 

Tang You couldn't have imagined that Xiao Zexing would be the one to lay a hand on someone. She gave the injured man a sympathetic glance. 

 

Oh, poor guy.

 

He looked like he had been beaten up. The fall must have hurt.

 

He must have been really drunk to end up in such a state.

 

Hao Yun was skilled at adapting his language to his audience, and he smiled to smooth things over. "Youyou, what would you like to eat? Would you like to order more dishes?"

 

Tang You shook her head. "No, Brother Hao. My friend is still waiting for me outside."

 

Leaning on the table, she felt the air in the room growing stuffier and decided to head outside.

 

Xiao Zexing stood up. "I'll walk you out."

 

Xiao Weijing initially wanted to stand up and say he could walk Tang You out, but then he realized that when Hao Yun and the others were spouting those absurd words, he hadn't stopped them in time.

 

If it weren't for his uncle's anger, he might not have noticed that something was amiss.

 

If Tang You knew that her friends were gossiping about her like that behind her back, she would probably feel uncomfortable.

 

Regret gnawed at him, causing him to halt in his tracks.

 

He had no right to accompany her.

 

Subconsciously, he believed that he could just cajole her.

 

However, looking at it now, that didn't seem to be the case.

 

Xiao Zexing walked Tang You downstairs with a calm expression, while she felt somewhat awkward.

 

She lowered her head to look at the shadows on the ground.

 

He was so tall that his shadow was also large. Standing behind Tang You, their shadows overlapped perfectly, completely enveloping her.

 

The terms "overlap" and "envelop" seemed a bit inappropriate at this moment.

 

It felt like they were doing something illicit.

 

In even more unflattering terms, they seemed to be melting into each other.

 

Tang You had completely merged into this shadow. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, inappropriate images conjuring in her mind subconsciously. 

 

Miao Jiaxi had been enthusiastically sharing many drawings depicting a significant height difference between characters. One of them was drawn from behind, showing a girl being pressed down by a uniformed boy, revealing only a trembling pair of small, pale feet that were entirely covered by the boy's large hand.

 

Tang You felt she was truly living up to the name "Yellow Tang."

 

Why had she started imagining such things out of nowhere?

 

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard Xiao Zexing calling her by her name.

 

Tang You looked up, her face flushing. "Second Uncle?"

 

Being abruptly pulled out of her strange thoughts, her heart raced.

 

"It's easy for you to call other people 'brothers,' but when it comes to me, I suddenly become an elder," Xiao Zexing complained as he looked down at her, his face devoid of any trace of a smile. "Tang You, that's not fair."

 

Tang You hadn't expected him to say this out of the blue and stumbled over her words, "But… you are an elder."

 

Xiao Zexing stopped in his tracks and leaned down.

 

His slightly calloused fingers gently brushed across her cheek, wiping away a bit of the white cream that had accidentally landed there.

 

Xiao Zexing stared at her intently and asked, "When other elders wipe your face, does your heart race this fast? Do you also avoid looking at them?"

 

Tang You remained silent.

 

Xiao Zexing sighed and used a tissue to carefully wipe away the cream residue from her cheek. After cleaning his fingers, he patted the top of her head a couple of times. "From now on, don't call other men 'brothers.'"

 

Tang You was bewildered. "Why?"

 

Xiao Zexing looked at her and uttered each word with force, "Because your second uncle will get jealous."

 

After Xiao Zexing and Tang You left, the room's quiet atmosphere didn't dissipate.

 

Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Wen Ling trembled as she spoke up. "Mr. Xiao, I should probably leave first."

 

"No, you don’t have to." Xiao Weijing stared at her intently, his voice heavy. "Stay here. I have some questions for you."

 

Cold sweat covered Wen Ling's forehead, and her limbs felt numb.

 

She felt like a fish trapped in a shallow pool that was slowly evaporating, knowing that death was imminent and giving up futile struggles.

 

Xiao Weijing questioned, his tone firm, "Where did you get that bracelet?"

 

He continued, "You have a chance to tell the truth now. If I find evidence that you're lying, it won't be so easy for you to get away."

 

Wen Ling's face turned pale, and she stammered, "I—I found it."

 

As expected.

 

Of course.

 

Xiao Weijing stiffened, his grip tight, preventing him from throwing the cup on the table at her.

 

Nearly five years.

 

He had been deceived by a simple bracelet for almost five years.

 

He had even lost his fiancée because of it.

 

Xiao Weijing suppressed his anger. "Where did you find it?"

 

Wen Ling only cried and remained silent.

 

"Stop crying!" Xiao Weijing's frustration surged, and he raised his voice. "You've deceived me for so many years, and it's not like I did the same to you. Why are you crying?"

 

Xiao Weijing felt like he was about to explode.

 

When Xiao Zexing had warned him earlier, he had indeed conducted some investigations. However, so much time had passed that he couldn't find any evidence.

 

He visited the place where Wen Ling had worked before, which was the shop where they had first met. The elderly owner slowly recollected, remembering that Wen Ling had always worn the bracelet and never taken it off.

 

The bracelet was made of obsidian with a central gold bead engraved with the Xiao family motto. It was a unique piece, specially made by Xiao's grandfather for Xiao Weijing when he was young.

 

Xiao Weijing had given it to his savior.

 

Wen Ling had held onto it, deceiving him all these years.

 

For so many years.

 

Hao Yun remained silent as well.

 

Coincidentally, Xiao Zexing entered the room. Seeing the scene, he glanced at the tearful Wen Ling before averting his gaze and pouring himself a cup of tea.

 

Xiao Weijing's face was rigid. He asked in a strained voice, "Second Uncle, where’s Tang You?"

 

"Tang You is celebrating her friend's birthday. You don't need to disturb her," Xiao Zexing said with discontentment while glancing at Wen Ling's tearful state. "You didn't find out anything?"

 

Xiao Weijing remained silent.

 

Xiao Zexing had grown weary. He looked at Xiao Weijing, frowned, and stood up. "You two can talk. I'm tired, so I'll go back."

 

Xiao Weijing hurriedly stood up after him. "Let me walk you out."

 

"No need," Xiao Zexing replied calmly as his gaze landed on him. "You've been played around by this little sparrow. No wonder you’ve made so many mistakes in your projects. Weijing, you should do something about your eyes in the future and don't allow yourself to be deceived so badly."

 

Xiao Weijing was scolded by him as he accompanied him to the door. At the entrance, Xiao Weijing couldn't help but say, "Second Uncle, about Tang You…"

 

He paused for a moment and then struggled to speak. "Could you say some good words on my behalf?"

 

Xiao Zexing stopped in his tracks, looking at him. "What are you planning to do?”

 

"It's nothing," Xiao Weijing said. "I've realized how much I owe Tang You in the past. Looking back now, I truly regret my actions. If it's possible, I want to pursue her again.

 

"It's not possible," Xiao Zexing coldly interrupted, finally meeting his nephew's gaze. "An arrow released from the bow never returns. What makes you think that Tang You will forgive you?"

 

Xiao Weijing's face displayed embarrassment. "Second Uncle…"

 

Xiao Zexing ignored him, his demeanor cold, as he walked away briskly.

 

These past few days, Tang You had felt unusually content.

 

The rift between Wen Ling and Xiao Weijing had become irrevocable. While she wasn't privy to all the details, she knew that Wen Ling had moved out of the property under Xiao Weijing's name, looking disheveled and defeated.

 

The address for the studio had been finalized, and they had recruited some basic staff members. Ah Mai's condition had stabilized significantly, allowing her to gradually interact with the new members in the studio.

 

After prolonged practice and regular counseling with a psychologist, Tang You's fear of water had lessened considerably. While she still couldn't swim freely like before, she had managed to take a significant step forward.

 

She immediately shared this good news with Huo Xunan, who first congratulated her on overcoming her psychological barriers. Then, in a gentle, friendly manner, he asked, "Tang you, if you're free next week, could you come over? I'd like to do an early photo shoot."

 

Tang You readily agreed.

 

She was preparing for her collaboration with her childhood crush in excitement when she unexpectedly received a task assigned by Meng Yunqiu. She was astonished and pointed at herself in disbelief. "You want me to accompany Xiao Weijing to an auction? Why?"

 

After all, she had already annulled her engagement with Xiao Weijing.

 

Xiao Zexing glanced at her, and Tang You's eyes welled up.

 

During dinner that evening, Meng Yunqiu had also invited Xiao Zexing. Tang You had been eating quietly, so she was caught off guard by this strange request.

 

Meng Yunqiu gently stroked the docile cat in his arms and smiled. "The old master wants to personally buy some jewelry, but he feels that he doesn't quite fit in with the younger crowd. He thought of taking you along. However, he caught a cold and hasn’t been feeling well these past few days, so he wants Weijing to go to his place."

 

Tang You asked anxiously, "But isn't that inappropriate?"

 

She had no intention of spending more time alone with Xiao Weijing.

 

Could it be that the old master was still not giving up and wanted to play matchmaker between her and Xiao Weijing?

 

"It is indeed a bit inappropriate," Xiao Zexing added, putting down his chopsticks and speaking calmly. "You’re no longer engaged, so it wouldn't be appropriate to attend such an event together. How about this? I’ll talk to the old master and offer to go in his place."

 

Meng Yunqiu remained composed, continuing to stroke the soft fur of the cat. His tone slightly teasing, he looked at Tang You and asked, "What do you think? Do you want your second uncle to accompany you?"

 

Tang You couldn't meet Xiao Zexing's gaze and said hesitantly, "After all, I've already annulled the engagement with Xiao Weijing. It would be quite awkward to go together."

 

Compared to Xiao Weijing, she felt more at ease around Xiao Zexing.

 

Meng Yunqiu agreed, "You're absolutely right."

 

Xiao Zexing looked at her with a gentle smile.

 

"I'll go with my second uncle then." Tang You made a difficult decision. "When is it?"

 

Meng Yunqiu smiled. "The flight is tomorrow night."

 

Tang You was surprised. "You've already booked my flight ticket?"

 

Meng Yunqiu shook his head, looking at her calmly. "No, it's your second uncle's private jet. The flight itinerary has been arranged."

 

Tang You was taken aback.

She knew that Old Master Xiao had his own airplane but was unaware that Xiao Zexing had one too. Not even Xiao Weijing had one.

 

Previously, there had been rumors that Old Master Xiao was grooming Xiao Weijing as his successor, but now, it seemed that wasn't the case.

 

Tang You hadn't visited the Xiao family often, but she was perceptive enough to sense that, in various aspects, Old Master Xiao seemed to trust Xiao Zexing more.

 

If one day the old master were to find out about her and Xiao Zexing…

 

It would likely have significant consequences for Xiao Zexing as well. After all, having certain thoughts about your own nephew's former fiancée was something you'd typically only find in some explicit novels or more risqué comics.

 

Tang You wasn’t sure what Xiao Zexing was thinking, but she felt that the current situation was quite unfavorable and potentially risky.

 

She was treading on thin ice.

 

Tang You’s overthinking caused her to oversleep completely the next day.

 

Her loyal alarm clock failed to wake her up. When Tang You finally jolted awake from her slumber, she realized that time had slipped away, leaving her with only thirty minutes until the agreed departure time.

 

In a rush, Tang You quickly got dressed. She hadn't even finished packing her suitcase when she heard a knock on the door.

 

Xiao Zexing called out to her, "Tang You?"

 

Tang You hurriedly gathered all her underwear into a nearby small box, closed the lid tightly, and placed it by her side. "Please come in."

 

Xiao Zexing pushed open the door and saw the fluffy Tang You.

 

He had never seen her in this bunny-print nightgown before. While the bunny itself was pure white, the tips of its tail and the area between its ears had a tender pink hue.

 

It was quite tempting to touch.

 

He asked, "Why did you sleep for so long today? Are you feeling unwell?"

 

"No, no…" Tang You shook her head, speaking quickly due to her urgency. "Please give me a moment. I'll pack my suitcase quickly."

 

Xiao Zexing's gaze paused as it fell on her rather disheveled suitcase.

 

He said, "You don’t have to go through so much trouble. They've already prepared clothes for you over there. You just need to bring a few personal items."

 

Since Xiao Zexing said so, Tang You felt somewhat relieved.

 

He was always a man of his word, and he had always been considerate.

 

Tang You stood up, and the little fuzzy tail on her pajamas accidentally brushed against the nearby box, resulting in a soft sound and an assortment of pants scattered all over the floor.

 

Her skin was delicate, and her underwear didn't have excessive decorations. Instead, they focused on patterns; they were either little bunnies and carrots or cat heads with strawberry cookies and tiny stars.

 

At first glance, it really resembled what Xiao Zexing had teased about—children's underwear.

 

Tang You was rendered speechless at the humiliating sight.

She hurriedly lowered her head, picked up the scattered underwear, and placed them back into the box.

 

In the corner of his eye, Xiao Zexing turned away like the gentleman that he was.

 

Tang You blushed profusely, and she didn't bother tidying up her suitcase. She grabbed some personal items, packed them in a small bag which Xiao Zexing took, and they got into the car.

 

To avoid being teased, as soon as Tang You boarded the plane, she immediately put on an eye mask, pretending to be asleep.

 

As she continued to feign ignorance, she unintentionally dozed off. In a drowsy state, she felt someone lightly graze her cheek and heard a faint sigh.

 

"Why are you still so small?"

 

When the plane successfully landed in New York, Tang You was still half asleep. She was carried off by someone; their embrace was exceptionally warm. Unable to resist, she snuggled closer. In a stupor, she muttered softly, "Mom."

 

The person’s strong, solid chest brought Tang You back from her drowsiness. She looked up and saw that it was Xiao Zexing who was carrying her. She was startled. "Uncle?"

 

Xiao Zexing lowered his gaze and asked her helplessly, "You always call me either 'Mom' or 'Uncle.' What about something more appropriate for your peers?"

 

Tang You called out softly, "Sister?"

 

Xiao Zexing fell silent for two seconds.

 

Tang You, feeling confident, and even a bit cocky, added, "Or maybe, 'little sister' for you, Little Xiao Zexing?"

Xiao Zexing gazed at her kindly. "If you keep calling me names like this, I'll have you take care of Huhu, my little sister."

 

Terrified, Tang You clamped her lips tightly, not daring to move.

 

Xiao Zexing had previously purchased two properties in New York. For convenience, he took her to stay in an apartment.

 

He had already arranged for the room to be cleaned and prepared. As soon as he put Tang You down, she asked where the wardrobe was and eagerly ran over to see the clothes prepared for her.

 

She had a weakness for pretty clothes.

 

As soon as she entered and took a look, Tang You was instantly stunned.

 

Everything was plush.

 

There was an assortment of garments that resembled animals: kittens, bunnies, squirrels, and dogs… 

 

Without exception, all of them had cute ears and little tails sewn onto them.

 

Moreover, these garments didn’t look like something she could wear out.

 

Furious with what she was seeing, Tang You questioned, "You want me to wear this to the auction? Are we going there to bid on items, or are you planning to auction me off? Is this a regular, legitimate auction?"

 

She couldn't help but imagine scenarios from novels and anime where slave girls were being auctioned off.

 

Surely it wasn't that horrifying, right?

 

Xiao Zexing chuckled. "It's a proper, legitimate auction. You can relax."

 

His gaze skimmed over these garments, and he smiled. "These are all footed pajamas. You said you love plush items the most, right?"

 

Tang You hummed in response.

 

Wasn't he also a fan of plush items?

 

A perverted plushophile.

 

Although she also had a thing for plush items, her preference was wearing plush clothing.

 

It wasn't like Xiao Zexing.

 

He always dressed so impeccably. His hobby probably involved other types of plush things.

 

Tang You hadn't brought pajamas with her. Being in someone else's house, she had to lower her head. She reluctantly picked up the garment with the lowest skin exposure and went to freshen up.

 

Thankfully, Xiao Zexing's apartment was spacious with a total of five bedrooms.

 

Tang You assessed his previous behavior. He probably wouldn't go to the extremes of being tyrannical.

 

If anyone dared to come, she'd use all her might to defend herself.

 

Even though she had been sleeping all day, Tang You still felt the need to adjust to the time difference.

 

After the alarm clock incident, her trust in alarm clocks had significantly diminished.

 

Before going to bed, Tang You reminded Xiao Zexing, "Remember to wake me up tomorrow."

 

Xiao Zexing was reading his emails. Upon hearing her words, he looked up, grinning as he asked, "How should I wake you up?"

 

He pondered for a moment. "By calling you my darling baby? Or my little sweet pomelo? Which nickname do you prefer?"

 

Tang You was momentarily stunned. She threw a hair tie at his face angrily. "Just wake me up like how you would every other normal person!"

 

Xiao Zexing calmly caught the hair tie, chuckling. "As you wish, my little princess pomelo."

 

Tang You ran back to the bed grumpily and curled up under the covers.

 

As she recalled all the embarrassing things that had happened from morning until now, she buried her face in her hands and once again had trouble falling asleep.

 

No.

 

There must be something wrong with her and Xiao Zexing's astrological signs.

 

Why did she keep embarrassing herself in front of him?

 

The next day, as promised, Xiao Zexing woke her up, but Tang You was still terribly sleepy.

 

The fluff on her sleepwear was all flattened. There was a small tuft of hair sticking up on top of her head, and her cheeks were rosy pink.

 

When Xiao Zexing handed her the milk, Tang You didn't react in time. Fortunately, Xiao Zexing intercepted it just in time, preventing her toes from meeting a squished fate.

 

However, some milk had splashed onto Xiao Zexing's shirt and pants, forcing him to change into new ones.

 

There was a space in the walk-in closet where she could change, and Xiao Zexing went in as he instructed. "Pick a shirt and tie for me and bring them over."

 

Facing numerous seemingly similar shirts, Tang You was at a loss and stared at the myriad of clothes blankly.

 

She carefully selected a few according to her aesthetic standards and preferences, but then she didn't know how to proceed.

 

It was too hard; they all looked the same to her.

 

Tang You couldn't help but turn back to ask Xiao Zexing which one he wanted.

 

After all, he was the one who had to wear it.

 

Coincidentally, Xiao Zexing was changing his clothes.

 

She sneakily glanced over and froze.

 

Xiao Zexing had already taken off his white shirt, revealing his light tan skin.

 

He looked good in a shirt and equally good without it.

 

With his back fully turned to Tang You, she could clearly see the smooth, well-proportioned muscle lines on his back, along with numerous scars on his skin.

 

Tang You was stunned.

 

During their first swimming lesson, the sun had been bright, and she had been too flustered to look closely. She only vaguely remembered the scars on Xiao Zexing's back. Now, up close, she could see them clearly.

 

The scars were varied, and the deepest one ran from his right shoulder to the center, a stark, pale mark against his skin.

 

How did this person end up covered in injuries?

 

Although Old Master Xiao could be heavy-handed in his discipline, these scars didn't look like they were from corporal punishment.

 

His belt was casually placed aside, and he was in the process of taking off his pants. Tang You moved cautiously and then realized that this man had really long legs.

 

They almost reached her chest.

 

It couldn't be that terrifying, right? It must be her imagination.

 

If she really wanted to achieve that tiny goal, it seemed like there were many positions that wouldn't work.

 

Why were perverted thoughts filling her mind?

 

She couldn't help but transform into Pokonyan¹.

 

Miao Jiaxi had confidently claimed that height and a certain aspect of the body were somewhat related. Generally, taller guys, as long as they didn't gain weight during puberty, wouldn't be too disappointing in that department.

 

Oh, the guilt!

 

Tang You felt like she was genuinely enchanted by Xiao Zexing's good looks.

 

That sly old fox was just too tempting.

 

His face was tempting, and his body… That shouldn’t even be a question.

 

Even though she knew what she was doing was immoral and that she’d viciously curse herself once these feelings have passed, the flustered Little Youyou still couldn't tear her eyes away.

 

Watching Xiao Zexing put on a new pair of pants, Tang You's mouth went dry. She had just thought about retreating but was caught off guard when he turned around and calmly locked eyes with her.

 

!!!

 

Tang You turned her head, taking a step or two away, but she was easily scooped up from behind and gently placed on the crimson-colored plush sofa where he had laid out his clothes.

 

Xiao Zexing leaned against the wall, lowered his head, and grinned at her. "Look what I've caught!

 

Tang You was startled by his actions, her breath becoming shallow. Wrapped up entirely in her fluffy sleepwear, the little pom poms on the hem of the skirt hung down obediently, brushing against his leg.

 

He wanted to punish her properly.

 

However, he couldn't bring himself to.

 

Xiao Zexing swallowed. "You have quite the courage, daring to peek while I change clothes."

 

"I wasn't peeking," Tang You tried to defend herself. "I came over to ask you which shirt you wanted! Why are you suspecting me?"

 

Xiao Zexing hadn't put on his shirt yet, and now that they were so close, even though there was no physical contact, Tang You felt as if she was trapped by him.

 

The cunning old fox had masterfully woven a large net, carefully setting a trap and enticing the innocent little rabbit over. Then, he slowly and deliberately ensnared her in the center, not allowing her to escape.

 

Tang You didn't know where to look.

 

Her mind was a mess, focusing on all sorts of strange questions.

 

Oh no, what if Xiao Zexing tried to kiss her later? She had just eaten a lot of strawberries and drank a lot of milk, and she hadn't brushed her teeth yet.

 

In her increasingly nervous state, Xiao Zexing's gaze darkened, but he restrained himself and simply pinched the soft little bun she had hastily tied on her head.

 

And the fluffy little tail and ears on her skirt.

 

One by one, right in front of her, he gently pinched them.

 

Tang You stared at him.

 

"Don't look at me like that." Xiao Zexing sighed. "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."

 

He stood up.

 

Out of the corner of her eye, Tang You saw the veins protruding on his wrist as if he were holding back.

 

Holding back? What for? Why was he speaking so ambiguously and terrifyingly?

 

Since he did not give her a kiss, she felt a bit… disappointed.

 

Once she realized this, Tang You became completely flustered.

 

She hurriedly stood up, quickly grabbed a few shirts she had just chosen, and proudly presented them to Xiao Zexing, trying to cover up her previous embarrassment. "Uncle, which shirt would you like?"

 

As the conversation reached this point, she was still a bit worried. "Actually, I don't know much about men's shirts, and I'm not sure what kind you should wear for this occasion."

 

Xiao Zexing had already tidied up his belt and glanced at her casually. "It's quite simple. Just pick one that you'd most prefer to take off."

 

Take off?

 

For someone skilled in daydreaming and who had a penchant for uniform aesthetics, just that sentence was enough to trigger a rapid flurry of wild thoughts in her mind.

 

A formal, dignified white shirt, paired with a tie. They could sit face to face with him in his tailored suit, and she'd remove his tie, securely bind his wrists, and then slowly unbutton his shirt, one button at a time.

 

Or even with a simple white shirt, she could press him down, roughly tear open his shirt, and gently nibble at his Adam's apple.

 

Ah…

 

When did her thoughts become so improper?

 

No, as a pillar of the country's future, equivalent to the rising sun, she couldn't let herself sink any lower. She had to firmly and resolutely prevent herself from overthinking.

 

Tang You's face tensed, and she gathered up all the shirts. "How about you just don't wear any?"