The morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a gentle glow over Chu You’s sleeping face.
There wasn’t the slightest sign of waking in her expression, but the faint upward curve of her lips made it clear she was in the midst of a deeply satisfying dream.
In the dream, Chu You was brimming with confidence, playing with a belt dipped in chili oil, barefoot as she stomped heavily on Lin Mo’s shoulder.
Lin Mo knelt humbly on the floor, his body uncontrollably trembling as he begged, “I was wrong, Senior. I’m not some novel’s protagonist—you’re the destined one! Please don’t hit me anymore. I won’t dare oppose you again.”
Just as dream-Chu You was about to continue disciplining Lin Mo.
The bedroom door creaked open abruptly without warning.
A tall figure walked in against the light, heading straight to the bedside.
Lin Mo lowered his gaze, watching the girl on the bed, her face still wearing that triumphant smile even in sleep.
A faint glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
From what he knew about Chu You, he could almost be certain she was having a very satisfying dream… probably one where she was punishing and taking revenge on him.
At that thought, Lin Mo’s lips curved into a subtle smile as he bent down and skillfully lifted her out of the blanket.
“Mm?”
The sudden loss of weight and swirling sensation yanked Chu You harshly from her dream.
Still not fully aware, she groggily opened her heavy eyelids to find Lin Mo’s handsome yet utterly disgusting face mere inches away.
Her mind still clinging to the remnants of the dream, reality and illusion overlapped heavily.
Frowning slightly, she mumbled sleepily with a heavy nasal tone, sounding lazy.
“You bastard, who told you to look directly at me?”
Her brows furrowed, her tone still carrying the commanding air of her dream, “Get down on your knees and keep kowtowing to confess!”
The moment her words fell, the air seemed to freeze.
The smile at the corner of Lin Mo’s mouth dimmed slightly; his eyes flickered, clearly not expecting such a reaction from Chu You.
But what came next surprised him even more.
After saying that, Chu You seemed to exhaust the last trace of her consciousness.
Without waiting for any response, she tilted her head, resting her forehead against his neck, her brain shutting down again.
Not only that, she subconsciously sought warmth and support.
Her arms wrapped around Lin Mo’s neck without intention, her legs naturally curled around his waist, clinging to him like a koala seeking shelter.
“…”
Lin Mo’s body stiffened sharply.
The girl’s warm figure pressed tightly against him, her softness and familiar body heat clear even through the thin pajamas.
A faint fragrance drifted from her neck, making Lin Mo’s breath hitch.
However, the Chu You clinging to him seemed not quite comfortable, turning her body slightly in her sleep to find a more pleasant position.
If she hadn’t moved, it would have been fine.
But once she moved—
Lin Mo’s pupils contracted abruptly as he distinctly felt a foreign heat surge sharply through his lower abdomen, accompanied by an indescribable tightness.
An alarmingly dangerous, uncontrollable signal blared sharply within him.
This can’t go on.
Almost instinctively, he raised his hand suddenly, with a barely perceptible mixture of panic and determination, placing it neither too hard nor too soft on the smooth, pale upper part of Chu You’s thigh.
“Slap!” The crisp sound echoed clearly in the silent room.
“Mm?” Chu You woke instantly from the slight sting, lifting her head and blinking wide, “Who’s attacking me!”
Their eyes met the next moment.
There was still some lingering confusion and fright in Chu You’s gaze, while Lin Mo had remarkably regained his usual composure, though something new and subtle flickered deep in his eyes.
“Could you get off me first?”
Lin Mo spoke calmly, his voice flat yet deliberately slow.
He paused, locking eyes with her flustered ones, enunciating the last few words clearly: “Or… how am I supposed to kowtow and confess to Senior?”
Hearing Lin Mo emphasize “kowtow and confess” with a pointed meaning, Chu You’s muddled mind was struck like lightning, instantly clearing.
The dream’s scenes and his words aligned perfectly, sending a shiver through her whole body.
How did Lin Mo know,Could it be I talked in my sleep?
That bastard, just how much did he hear!
Realizing this, Chu You hurriedly wriggled free from Lin Mo’s hold, stumbling backward several steps until her back pressed against the cool wall.
Her face was full of panic, written all over with the embarrassment of having her secret exposed.
With Lin Mo’s vindictive nature, hearing what she said in her sleep would definitely lead to retaliation!
But just as her mind raced wildly, a sudden spark of clarity cut through the chaos.
Wait…
This is damn wrong, isn’t it?!
She’d been sound asleep in bed—how did she suddenly end up hanging on that bastard Lin Mo?
And how did she even wake up?
Right now, the faint prickling sensation at her upper thigh felt especially out of place.
Thinking this, Chu You abruptly looked up, catching Lin Mo spinning around swiftly, slightly hunched and facing away from her with a strange posture.
That motion instantly ignited her doubts and fury… Bastard, feeling guilty, huh?
She straightened her back, pointed a finger at Lin Mo’s back, trying to cover her own guilt with as loud a voice as she could muster, demanding, “Lin Mo, why are you in my room?!”
“And I was sleeping peacefully, so how did I suddenly… cough cough, anyway, you’re a complete pervert.”
“Why so quiet? Are you naturally a man of few words?”
“Heh, always turning your back to me—are you feeling guilty? Hmm?”
Under Chu You’s verbal onslaught, Lin Mo’s body seemed even stiffer than before.
He remained silent for several seconds, seemingly suppressing something fiercely, then spoke in a low, hoarse voice without turning around: “Touching, groping?”
He repeated the words slowly, “Senior, do you need me to remind you who was the one clinging like an octopus just now, refusing to let go no matter how much I tried?”
∑(O_O；)
Chu You was speechless, her face flushing scarlet: “Y-You… I… that was only because you picked me up, so I…”
“Oh?” Lin Mo finally turned leisurely, his expression returning to usual calm.
His gaze swept over the spot on Chu You’s upper thigh where he’d just slapped, where a faint, barely noticeable red mark lingered.
Chu You didn’t notice Lin Mo’s glance; her mind resumed its frantic calculations.
Why does Lin Mo look so unashamed?
Could the real situation not be what I thought?!
“You don’t remember anything, do you?”
Lin Mo gave her no time to think, stepping closer until she was enveloped in shadow.
At this, a flicker of panic flashed across Chu You’s face.
Lin Mo caught the subtle change precisely, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice: “I just wanted to wake Senior up for school, but you grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go, then even clung to me for some advantage? Tsk, Senior, tell me… who’s really to blame here?”
As he spoke, he stared intently at Chu You, enjoying the deepening redness of her face and her nowhere-to-hide panic.
“As for your sleep-talking…” Lin Mo straightened up, lightly hooking a finger under her chin, “Since you’re working hard getting up early for school, I’ll generously let it slide.”
Chu You parted her lips but couldn’t find any words.
She did like to cling to blankets or pillows while sleeping, and Lin Mo’s words did make a certain amount of sense.
Though something still felt off…
She really couldn’t find a flaw to argue against.
She glanced at Lin Mo, then down at her toes, holding back for a long time before finally squeezing out a weak, “I’m going to wash up and change… Y-You should get out quickly!”
Seeing her bluff so transparently, Lin Mo’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but he didn’t push further.
Instead, he obediently turned and headed for the door.
At the door, Lin Mo paused, half-turned his face, and casually left a parting line: “Oh, right, Senior.”
Hearing that, Chu You looked at him warily.
“Next time you have that kind of dream…” His eyes gleamed with unhidden teasing, “Remember not to shout so loud. It sounds really embarrassing~”
With that, he gently closed the door behind him, leaving Chu You standing alone.
“Ahhhh!”
Her face a chaotic mix of red and white, Chu You tore at her hair in mortified frustration, letting out a regretful wail.
Outside, Lin Mo listened to the noise inside and let out a slight sigh of relief.