The Smut-Novel Heroine in the Beast World - Chapter 9

Dusk settled around us.

Fu Yan drove me home.

From far away, I could see Xu Bai’s tall, slender figure, straight as a pine.

Except his hair was even greener now.

It was almost fluorescent, conspicuous in the darkness.

“What is he playing at, standing there like a stone statue waiting for his wife?”

Fu Yan scoffed. “Standing on the roadside like a traffic light.”

“He may look harmless, but cut him open and I guarantee he’s full of black water.”

I stared. “…You’re awfully prejudiced against Xu Bai. Do you know him?”

“Mm. We crossed paths a few years ago.”

“It didn’t go well?”

“It went exceptionally badly.” Fu Yan got out and opened my door.

“Thanks.” I moved to get out.

“Wait.” He bent over me, bracing an arm between the car door and my body.

“You’re leaving just like that?”

“What else am I supposed to do?”

He leaned close to my ear. “You should at least pet the puppy’s head goodbye.”

Warm breath spilled over my ear.

Instinctively, I looked toward Xu Bai at the roadside.

A light breeze stirred the black hair over his forehead. His expression did not change.

When our gazes met, he even smiled gently.

“Why are you looking at him?”

Fu Yan caught my chin and turned my face back toward him.

“I saw the red marks on your body. He’s allowed to leave marks, but I’m not even allowed a pat on the head?”

“You promised the two of us would compete fairly.”

Helpless, I rubbed his head. “Happy now?”

Fu Yan did not let go. “You have to say, ‘Goodbye, puppy.’”

“Why a puppy? Aren’t you a snake?”

“Because in the dreams, you said it didn’t matter what animal I was. In front of you, I had to be a dog.”

…

“Fine.” I pushed him away, got out of the car, and walked toward Xu Bai.

Xu Bai came to meet me. As naturally as could be, he held out his hand and laced his fingers through mine.

I turned and waved at Fu Yan.

“Goodbye, puppy-snake.”

Fu Yan stood in the night, his emotions hidden from view.

The streetlights stretched our shadows long.

Xu Bai’s warm hand closed a little more tightly around mine.

“Did the date go well?”

“Mm. It was all right, I guess,” I said.

“Puppy-snake… Is that your pet name for him?”

I shook my head. “A nickname at most. Not a term of endearment.”

“So you haven’t started a relationship?”

“Of course not. But I did promise to give him a chance.”

“A chance at what?”

Xu Bai tilted his head toward me. “To adopt you, or… to become your partner?”

“To become my partner.”

We were home.

I stopped at the door and waited for Xu Bai to open it.

He did, then stepped aside.

I went in.

He knelt on one knee, held my ankle, and removed my high heels for me.

“Do I have one too?”

“Hmm?”

He looked up at me. “Do I have a chance to become your partner too?”

The air was quiet for several seconds.

“You do,” I said.