Chapter 160: Playing with Fire and Getting Burned, She Trapped Herself This Time
Is that stupid love rival just a big dummy or what?!
Lin Yibai had been working all day and was already really tired. She didn’t have the energy or interest to do anything romantic or exciting.
She just thought, based on what she knew about Xia Changyu’s personality, that nothing bad would happen, so letting him stay wasn’t really a big deal.
But seriously, why couldn’t he tell what she really meant?
Everyone knows there are plenty of places to stay out there. Worst case, go sleep under a bridge or something!
After listening to him go on and on, Lin Yibai summed it up with just one sentence.
Stay or don’t. It’s up to you.
Then, she started slowly nibbling her pizza again. One small crescent-shaped bite after another. Just watching her eat made people hungry.
Xia Changyu, on the other hand, was stuck.
Should he stay, or not? That really was the question now.
One of the things about his "image" was that he was supposed to be a proper gentleman.
But staying overnight, in the same room, with a girl?
If he stayed, it would go against that image. If he left… well, come on, deep down he already knew the answer, didn’t he?
He wanted to stay. But as a guy, he still had his pride!
Just a moment ago, he had been acting all serious and determined to leave. And now suddenly deciding to stay, wouldn’t that make him look like he had no principles?
Right now, he really needed an excuse.
And Lin Yibai, being who she was, naturally understood what was going through his mind. So, she came up with a perfect way to help him save face and let go of the pressure.
She took two more bites of her pizza, eating the middle part filled with cheese and ham, the tastiest part, and then left the thick outer crust behind.
Looking a little troubled, she asked, “Hey, do you still want some pizza?”
Xia Changyu was confused, “Huh?”
“The thick crust on the edge, I’m kind of full now. I can’t eat any more. But throwing it away feels like such a waste, doesn’t it?”
Xia Changyu: “Hmm?”
Lin Yibai smiled: “Eat it?”
Xia Changyu: “Eat!”
What a childish girl! She obviously couldn’t finish that much food, but still ordered a huge pizza. And now, look, she couldn’t finish it.
Still, Xia Changyu’s pride had been saved, and he had a reason to stay, just like that.
More importantly, when he looked at the thick crust she left behind, he noticed the little crescent-shaped bite marks.
Those were the parts she had bitten into.
If I take a bite where she already bit… doesn’t that sort of count as an indirect kiss?
The thought made his imagination go wild.
Temptation really is everywhere. And she really knew how to play the game!
Just then, Lin Yibai pulled out a big, double-layer beef burger and started eating it in huge bites.
She still looked really hungry.
Seeing Xia Changyu zoning out, Lin Yibai asked while eating, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like the thick pizza crust?”
Xia Changyu shook his head. “No.”
Lin Yibai asked again, “Then why aren’t you eating it? Is it because it doesn’t taste good?”
Xia Changyu: “......”
Ahhh~~~ This girl in front of him was just too good at this, and way too attractive!
But… what were they now, exactly?
They weren’t even a couple, yet they were staying in the same room. Was she really not afraid something might happen?
Was she not afraid of playing with fire and getting burned?
And also… They were all alone, just one guy and one girl.
If nothing happened tonight, Xia Changyu would start to wonder if he was even a real man.
After all, Lin Yibai was wearing a bathrobe.
Her legs were crossed, with her right leg resting over her left, causing the robe to fall open a bit, showing off more than just a little. Under the dim light of the hotel room, her skin looked so fair and soft.
She looked really relaxed, too. Half her body leaning against the chair, like she might just fall asleep any second.
Gulp~
Xia Changyu couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Maybe it was because it was already midnight, and the street outside had gone quiet. No cars, no noise. So that little gulp of his sounded way too loud and awkward.
Lin Yibai looked up and made a curious sound. “Hmm?”
Xia Changyu gave an embarrassed laugh. “Uh, hehe…”
Lin Yibai found it a bit funny and asked, “Is the pizza crust really that tasty?”
Xia Changyu was completely caught off guard, saying something might make it worse, but staying silent felt even harder. She really was a girl who knew how to mess with people’s hearts!
Maybe saying nothing was the best answer?
But Lin Yibai was clearly in the mood to tease him. She gently asked again, with a playful tone.
“So… which one tastes better, the pizza crust, or me?”
The answer to that question should’ve been obvious, right?
Just a while ago, this girl had been so thoughtful, giving him a reason to stay and helping him keep his pride. But now she was messing with his head again!
It was like she wanted to peel back all of his thoughts, layer by layer, and lay them out on the table for all to see, like she didn’t want him to have any secrets left.
What do you want from me?
You’re playing with fire, huh?
Then fine, I’ll play too.
Xia Changyu’s breathing got heavier, and he stepped closer to the girl. He said in a low voice:
“...I don’t think you should ask that kind of question. Because, Baiyi, you already know the answer.”
Lin Yibai replied calmly, “Know what?”
Xia Changyu took a deep breath and said, “You’re asking even though you already know, aren’t you?!”
He reached out, trying to grab her wrist, wanting her to face the consequences of her teasing. This time, you brought it on yourself.
Lin Yibai saw his hand reaching toward her. Should she dodge?
But after working all day, she really was too tired...
Dodging would take effort. Not dodging... might be even more exhausting.
So why did she dare to let him stay the night?
Because she was sure of one thing, that her annoying love rival had a good heart. He was not some guy who would lose control just because he saw a little skin. He wasn’t some gross man who only thought with his lower half.
Lin Yibai didn’t even move. She let him grab her wrist.
But just as he was about to cross the line, she looked up, her eyes calm and cold like a deep pool of water, silently asking him.
“Are you really going to do this?”
That one look pulled Xia Changyu back to his senses. Was he really about to do something like that?
No, he couldn’t. But wasn’t all of this because she was playing with fire in the first place?
Lin Yibai still looked calm and fearless. She stood up, pulled her hand free, and walked to the hotel window.
She was so sure of his character that she could confidently say.
“I know you’re a good guy.”
Xia Changyu took a deep breath and argued.
“So just because I’m a good guy, it’s okay to mess with me?”
Lin Yibai scoffed, “What, you call this messing with you?”
Xia Changyu said, “Isn’t it?”
“Nope.” Lin Yibai shook her head, and then said firmly. “This isn’t messing with you at all. It’s because I know you’re a good person, and I trust your character, that I dared to let you stay here tonight. You know that saying, right? ‘You can only have what I give you. If I don’t give it, then you can’t take it,’ understand?”
What’s that? Sounds like something only bold or wild people would say?
Lin Yibai had walked over to the window and stood still. In the reflection, she could see Xia Changyu getting closer. She gave a small smile, ready to end her teasing game.
But then she suddenly realized, wasn’t this annoying guy standing a bit too close?
“Hey~”
She was about to say, "If it made you uncomfortable, I can say sorry!" But before she could even finish raising her left hand, it was grabbed by Xia Changyu again.
Lin Yibai frowned a little, not happy about how close he was getting. She asked, “What are you doing?”
Xia Changyu’s chest was nearly pressed against her back. He held her wrist and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Just like you wanted. Even quiet guys get mad when they're teased too much, right?”
Lin Yibai was surprised, “You’re angry?”
Xia Changyu seemed to have taken control now. He continued:
“Even the calmest person can get annoyed. And here you are, standing right in front of me, looking so alive and beautiful. Have you watched an anime called 'Teasing Master Takagi-san'? Are you trying to act like the girl in that anime? But you know what? That girl ends up becoming Mrs. Nishikata.”
Lin Yibai started to feel nervous. Was she really about to get burned by the fire she lit herself?
Teasing a good guy... Was she finally about to lose to one?
“What are you trying to do?”
Xia Changyu replied, “Punish you.”
“...What?”
The next moment, she felt something getting closer. His strong body pressed gently against her back.
Then, she felt something strange and tingly on her neck. Xia Changyu had softly bit the back of her pale neck.
“Ah~”
Lin Yibai was shocked at the sound that came from her mouth. She quickly covered it with her hand.
What was that weird sound?! How could something like that come out of her?
She sounded like a little kitten.
That sudden tingling feeling made her whole back arch slightly, her shoulders twitching from the sensitivity.
Was this the price of teasing a quiet guy?
She... she had really been punished by this annoying guy. Unwilling to let it end like this, Lin Yibai started to fight back.
“Hey, hey… If you keep doing that, I’ll… I’ll really get mad!”
Only now you’re saying that? Where was that earlier?
She was the one who started all of this, and now she wanted to back out?
Xia Changyu left a light bite mark on the back of her neck, along with a faint trace of moisture, evidence of his "revenge."
And now, she was saying she might get angry? How funny.
Xia Changyu turned her around so they were face to face.
Just as Lin Yibai’s eyebrows drew together and she looked ready to explode, Xia Changyu gently pulled her into a hug.
With a long sigh, he cut off whatever she was about to say.
Even though he hugged her softly, there was a bit of frustration in it. He held her close and said near her ear, his lips brushing against her hair.
“You know how much I like you. But instead of letting things move forward, you just keep teasing me.”
Lin Yibai stayed quiet.
Xia Changyu’s voice sounded lonely, but full of longing.
“When will you finally say yes to me? I really do like you, you know.”
Sigh...
Hearing that sigh, Lin Yibai suddenly realized that there's a kind of feeling that has no answer.