Chapter 34 Li Xiao's Independent Side Story - Obsession (19)

When Li Xiao pushed the door open and came in, Yu Qingzhou was in a daze.

It wasn't until she smelled that familiar sweet fragrance in the air that Yu Qingzhou belatedly realized that the boy standing next to her was there.

They were living a life of constant danger and peril.

Li Xiao always smelled of various candies and pastries, just like a greedy little child...

As the thought flashed through her mind, Yu Qingzhou looked up and met the fair face hidden by half of the armor.

The boy lowered his head, his jade-green eyes hidden in the shadows cast by the screen, like a quiet lake at night.

Her long, silver-gray hair, cascading down from her shoulders, was like silk woven from moonlight, radiating a soft, lustrous sheen.

Yu Qingzhou watched for a while, then silently reached out and slowly ran her fingers through the hair. In addition to the expected cool touch, there was also a faint dampness.

"You specially...took a shower before coming here?"

Yu Qingzhou asked, casually twirling a strand of half-dry hair between her fingers.

Li Xiao, who had been staring at Yu Qingzhou’s mischievous fingers in a daze, paused slightly when he heard the question, seemingly surprised.

For some reason, the boy pursed his lips.

He finally nodded and answered Yu Qingzhou's question.

"Yeah, it was a bit dusty on the way back," he said.

"I see."

As expected, Yu Qingzhou simply echoed the boy's words without any doubt.

But actually, this is just one of the reasons... the most insignificant one.

In fact, every time Li Xiao returned from a mission, he would carefully wash off the smell of blood from his body with water before reporting back.

Although a simple spell could achieve a similar effect, Li Xiao preferred to stay under Yu Qingzhou's watchful eye for a few hours with her long, wet hair.

Until the wet hair dries naturally over time, until no trace is left.

So why did Li Xiao do that?

Even he himself couldn't explain it.

It was as if a ridiculous sense of ritual had taken root in the boy's heart, directing his mind and controlling his limbs, forcing him to stubbornly repeat this futile action time and time again.

So, is it because you want to show your best side to Yu Qingzhou?

It doesn't seem worth it...

After all, it was Yu Qingzhou who assigned him to deal with those dirty things from the very beginning.

Self-indifference, hypocrisy... that human being was essentially such a wicked fellow, seemingly humble and polite to everyone, but actually not caring much about anyone.

Regarding this point, it is believed that he gradually came to understand it during subsequent interactions.

Rather, Li Xiao had a premonition from the very beginning of their encounter.

A person who can walk leisurely in a place filled with the mixed smells of blood and burnt corpses.

A guy who judges others by the same standards he uses to assess the value of an item, and who uses dangerous means to reach unfair agreements, is definitely not a good person...

But that's often how things are.

Just when you've prepared for the worst and are determined to face the conspiracy hidden beneath the facade, it never comes.

You dared not let your guard down, thinking that perhaps it was hidden too deeply and had not yet had time to reveal itself. So you patiently held your breath and continued to wait.

But that terrible future never came.

One year, two years, three years... a full seven years have passed.

Seven years may not seem like much to the demon race, which often lives for hundreds or thousands of years, but it is a significant period for the entire race.

When it comes down to each individual, especially a naive half-demon like Li Xiao, their perception of time is actually not much different from that of humans.

Initially, Yu Qingzhou brought Li Xiao back and gave the child the necessary medical treatment.

Then there were clean clothes, delicious food, and a spacious and bright residence... Li Xiao received something here that she had never been given before. It's hard to describe, but if I had to, it would probably be a feeling of home.

At the same time, Li Xiao's attitude towards Yu Qingzhou was also undergoing a subtle change.

From initial complete wariness, to occasional moments of vulnerability and dependence, to longing and yearning when unable to meet...

Li Xiao was no longer just someone passively waiting for instructions.

He began to have expectations, to be seen, to be praised, to be... remembered in the same way.

So, despite Li Xiao's constant complaints and apparent reluctance, he would always take on those notoriously difficult and complicated tasks... and then finish them as quickly as possible to get back to Yu Qingzhou's side.

Just like countless times before... and just like this time.

My mind went blank; all my suspicions and doubts were thrown to the back of my mind and set aside—except for that one thought, which was also the only one.

I want to see them... I want it to be sooner, much sooner...

Unfortunately, the boy's excitement was shattered by the ambiguous scene of the two people pulling at each other.

Then it was confirmed that what I saw before me was the reality that truly belonged to me.

In reality, Yu Qingzhou would never worry about Li Xiao's absence, even if the latter's missions became increasingly difficult.

Yu Qingzhou would not eagerly await the boy's possible early return either... let alone personally greet him like she would Xun Xun.

Even if Yu Qingzhou did manage to notice that Li Xiao had taken a shower before coming over, she wouldn't really care why the boy did that...

Before meeting Yu Qingzhou, Li Xiao was filled with resentment.

Having worked non-stop for over ten days, carrying out missions and rushing around, Li Xiao was already extremely irritable... Faced with Xun Xun's deliberate provocation, Li Xiao almost lost control of himself.

In that critical moment, he thought of Yu Qingzhou.

Thinking about what this woman might mean to Yu Qingzhou... and what the consequences would be if she let her impulses run wild.

Yu Qingzhou's hostility and hatred?

—This is far from the worst part.

What Li Xiao was truly afraid of was that if Xun Xun really died at this point in time, at the moment when their relationship was at its most harmonious, he might truly become an irreplaceable presence in Yu Qingzhou's heart.

Li Xiao used to dare to waste time because he bet that Yu Qingzhou was an innocent person... but now it seems that's not entirely true.

An indescribable sense of loss welled up in my heart, accompanied by a touch of bitterness.

Just then, the boy suddenly felt a gentle tug from below.

Li Xiao lowered his head in response to the force, and met Yu Qingzhou's scrutinizing gaze without any warning.

That look in his eyes was similar to the way he looked at me when we first met... yet different.

It was something Li Xiao had never seen before.