Not long after, Mo Yao left. She still had to work after all.

Xia Chuan remained dazed for a while, as if everything that had just happened was a dream.

But the lingering warmth from the half-eaten bag of xiaolongbao told him it was all real.

*Why has Mo Yao become like this?* Xia Chuan lowered his head silently.

He’d known her for some time now, yet only today did he realize—he might not truly understand her at all.

In his mind, Mo Yao was a pitiful girl. She... had once been imprisoned and raped. She’d even carried that bastard’s child.

Back then, she must have been utterly desperate. But the child in her womb was innocent. In the end, she chose to give birth.

*Maybe after having the baby, I’ll find a reason to live?*

That’s what Mo Yao had hoped. But...

She suffered a difficult labor.

It was unavoidable, wasn’t it? She’d been deeply depressed then, her body and mind in terrible shape. A difficult birth wasn’t surprising. But the child didn’t make it. The very reason Mo Yao had clung to for survival vanished just like that.

Xia Chuan didn’t know the details after that. Most of what he knew came from neighbors’ gossip.

Truthfully, the neighbors didn’t treat Mo Yao kindly. To them, she was tainted—unworthy of standing under the sun. Some might pity her, but none would get close.

Xia Chuan remembered his first day moving into this apartment building—the first time he saw Mo Yao.

She’d been surrounded by a group of middle-aged women, their voices sharp with accusation.

Close enough to hear, Xia Chuan caught their words: *"You seductive fox!" "Thinking your pretty face lets you steal other women’s husbands?" "Die already, you vixen!"*

As he watched the women, his eyes naturally fell on Mo Yao trapped in their midst.

The moment he saw her, Xia Chuan was stunned. She was breathtakingly beautiful—even he felt his breath catch for an instant.

But beneath that exquisite face lay eyes filled with...

Honestly, Xia Chuan had never seen such utter despair in a young girl’s gaze. It screamed a constant, silent wish for death.

Mo Yao didn’t argue back against the women’s insults. She just stood there, silent.

Xia Chuan watched quietly from the side. Even he, a grown man, flinched at some of their words.

He hadn’t planned to intervene. But then one woman, frustrated by Mo Yao’s silence, slowly raised her hand to strike.

The motion was deliberate. Mo Yao had ample time to react. Yet she simply closed her eyes.

*What...*

That moment broke Xia Chuan. He didn’t care if she truly was the "vixen" they claimed. He couldn’t stand so many ganging up on one girl.

Dropping his luggage, he rushed over just as the woman’s palm descended—and caught her wrist.

"That’s enough."

Since he’d soon be living here too, Xia Chuan kept his tone measured.

Seeing a man step in, the woman pulled back, muttering nothing. The group dispersed, knowing they couldn’t hassle Mo Yao further.

Only after they left did Xia Chuan turn to the girl.

"You okay?"

She seemed dazed, her eyes clouded with confusion. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak.

Xia Chuan expected thanks. Instead, her first words were:

"Why... why help me? Someone like me."

Out of nowhere, Mo Yao had said that. Xia Chuan didn’t understand, but the bewilderment in her eyes made his chest ache faintly.

He felt he owed her an answer. Smiling gently, he said:

"Because you’re pretty."

At those words, a flush spread across Mo Yao’s pale cheeks. Only then did Xia Chuan feel a flicker of life in her.

"N-no... I’m not," she stammered, her voice trembling.

That was Xia Chuan and Mo Yao’s first meeting. Back then, he didn’t grasp why a simple compliment could fluster her so. A beauty like her must hear it often, right?

He didn’t know then that for Mo Yao, it wasn’t just praise. In her pitch-black world, Xia Chuan was the only one who’d ever offered warmth.

No—*hope* was the better word for what he gave her...

Later, by sheer coincidence, Xia Chuan became Mo Yao’s neighbor. Proximity led to casual interactions, then familiarity.

At first, Mo Yao resisted his kindness. But slowly, her guard dropped. Xia Chuan learned of her tragic past and resolved to help however he could.

Mo Yao was hopeless in the kitchen, so Xia Chuan insisted she eat at his place. When the middle-aged women harassed her again, he drove them off.

Their accusations were baseless anyway—just their husbands ogling Mo Yao. What fault was that of hers?

Thanks to Mo Yao, Xia Chuan himself became ostracized by the building’s residents. But honestly, he didn’t care about such neighbors.

Xia Chuan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but after they became neighbors, the lifelessness in Mo Yao’s eyes began to fade.

*Did something good happen to her recently?* he’d wondered.

Over time, he realized Mo Yao was simply a kind, timid girl.

He’d come to see her as a little sister. (Technically, she was two years older, but her delicate looks and gentle nature made "older sister" feel wrong.)

If he had to compare her to an animal? She was like a gentle deer.

So why would this deer-like girl tie him to a chair?

Xia Chuan knew Mo Yao meant no harm. Her actions felt more like... a desperate need to keep him close.

He didn’t understand why. Or what this morning’s intimate gestures meant. Or perhaps... he did understand but chose to pretend he didn’t.

Honestly, it was almost absurd that someone as physically slight as Mo Yao could kidnap a guy like him.

Then again, considering he slept like a log with his door unlocked every night—it made sense.

*Just yesterday, I was helping Liu Yixia pick Liu Ziyang’s birthday gift. Today I’m tied up. Life’s unpredictable,* Xia Chuan thought wryly.

In the dim room, Xia Chuan could just make out the shapes of Mo Yao’s furniture. The curtain behind him fluttered in the breeze. Slivers of sunlight slipped through the gaps, painting shimmering patterns on the polished floor.

He stared at the dancing light, lost in thought.

Time flew. Evening fell in the blink of an eye.

Mo Yao hadn’t returned at noon—likely swamped at work.

She was a waitress at a restaurant, working at least ten hours daily. She usually got home around eight or nine.

Surrounded by darkness, Xia Chuan couldn’t see the clock.

*She must be busy again today...* he thought.

Just then, the door opened.

Blinding hallway light flooded the dark room, making Xia Chuan squint.

The door shut. A switch clicked. Light filled the space.

Blinking against the sudden brightness, Xia Chuan finally made out the figure standing by the door.

Mo Yao.

Exhaustion lined her face after a long shift. Without pause, she rushed toward him.

"I’m so sorry, Xia Chuan. I was swamped at lunch—I couldn’t get away. You must be starving. I’ll cook for you right now."

She hurried into the kitchen with her bags, already unpacking groceries.

Up close, Xia Chuan saw the deep weariness etched on her face. She was dead tired, yet she insisted on cooking for him.

He wanted to say, *Stop. I’m not hungry. Go rest.* But the gag in his mouth silenced him.

So he could only watch her back as she moved busily in the kitchen.

The meal was ready quickly. Despite Xia Chuan’s earlier lessons, Mo Yao remained a hopeless cook.

The dishes looked fine—but one bite could ruin your life with salt.

Mo Yao settled onto Xia Chuan’s lap and began feeding him mouth-to-mouth again.

Beyond the flustered heat flooding his face, Xia Chuan finally grasped her intent.

She was using this method to keep him silent—replacing the gag’s effect.

It was almost laughable. He could easily break free and shout for help.

But he couldn’t. If neighbors saw this scene, they’d call the police. Mo Yao’s reputation was already fragile enough.

So Xia Chuan swallowed his urge to call out. He’d already found a way to escape on his own.

Even tied up, he didn’t want her to get hurt.

Mo Yao’s food was still too salty. But her intimate gestures made him forget the taste entirely.

For a virgin like Xia Chuan, this was unbearable.

"Hah..."

After feeding him, Mo Yao stuffed the gag back into his mouth. Her breathing was quick, her face flushed crimson—adorably flustered.

"Hah... Xia Chuan. Time for your bath now..."

—

After the bath, Mo Yao prepared for bed.

But damp clothes clinging to his skin made sleep impossible for Xia Chuan.

To prevent escape, Mo Yao had dragged him—chair and all—into the bathroom and washed him fully clothed. She’d apologized repeatedly while scrubbing him, but...

*Seriously, girl! This is messed up!* Xia Chuan thought, surprised he could still muster sarcasm.

After changing into pajamas in the bathroom, Mo Yao moved to turn off the lights.

But first, she stood before Xia Chuan.

Softly, she said:

"Time to sleep, Xia Chuan."

Then—to his shock—she began untying the ropes binding him to the chair.

*Xia Chuan’s heart leapt. Is she letting me go?!*

In moments, every rope fell away.

But after untying all the ropes on the chair, Xia Chuan realized something—he was still bound by another layer of ropes beneath. No wonder he felt no relief at all.

"Xia Chuan, let's sleep..."

Mo Yao gazed at him, her eyelids slightly lowered as she smiled softly. Then she pushed him off the chair, landing him right on the bedroll on the floor.

Wait—did Mo Yao plan to sleep with him?

After all, this was the only bedroll on the entire floor.

At that thought, Xia Chuan’s face flushed again, betraying his embarrassment.

Worse, the moment he imagined sharing the bed, his mind uncontrollably drifted to impure thoughts.

Just as Xia Chuan wrestled with his panic, Mo Yao turned off the light and walked toward him.

What to do? What to do! I like Liu Yixia! No matter how beautiful Mo Yao is, I can’t betray her!

Huh?

Before he could finish his inner turmoil, a soft body suddenly embraced him. The warmth flooding him in that instant left his mind blank.

Xia Chuan never expected Mo Yao to hug him despite his soaked clothes. She held him tighter and tighter, as if trying to bind him with her own body.

"Xia Chuan, let's sleep..."

Mo Yao lifted her head slightly to look at him and whispered softly.

She made no further moves—just held him quietly and drifted into sleep.

She fell asleep fast; today had truly exhausted her.

Xia Chuan stayed awake. Honestly, after sitting in this room all day, he wasn’t tired. Besides, being held like this by a beautiful girl kept him wide awake.

This was his first time sleeping beside a girl his age—and his first time being hugged so tightly by one.

Mo Yao’s face was inches away. Xia Chuan could clearly see her delicate features, her long eyelashes gently fluttering in the breeze.

Pure moonlight seeped through the curtain gap, bathing her fair skin. At that moment, her face looked exceptionally vivid.

Gazing at her, Xia Chuan couldn’t help but stare blankly.

She slept so peacefully...

Maybe a girl like Mo Yao just needed someone to rely on. She was the kind you’d want to protect forever.

But that person definitely wasn’t me.

Xia Chuan thought indifferently. He liked Liu Yixia. Even after Mo Yao’s intimate gesture, it couldn’t shake his feelings for her.

He couldn’t betray his love for Liu Yixia. True affection never wavered over small distractions.

Not even if Liu Yixia didn’t return his feelings.

At that thought, a pang of sadness hit him.

Then he looked back at Mo Yao’s lovely face. Her peaceful expression seemed to lighten his own mood.

You sleep like a lazy pig, Mo Yao...