Chapter Thirteen: Xiao Mo

Chapter Thirteen: Xiao Mo

“Have you seen enough?” Xiao Mo’s voice, as clear as silver bells, carried a hint of coldness. She lifted her slender, fair wrist, revealing a red bracelet. With a flash of crimson light, the thicket of brambles before them vanished, replaced by a cave.

Ye Bai scratched his head awkwardly. “No, uh, it’s not that, it’s…” He hadn’t expected Xiao Mo to know he was watching her even without turning around.

At that moment, Xiao Mo turned to face him, catching Ye Bai’s embarrassed and shy expression. She couldn’t help but find it amusing. The boy who was usually so cheerful looked rather endearing when flustered. She pressed her lips into a smile, and a pair of dimples appeared on her cheeks.

“Oh? Then what is it?” Xiao Mo gestured invitingly for Ye Bai to enter the cave, still intent on teasing this innocent young man.

Ye Bai’s face, still tinged with blush, reddened further at her words. “I was just curious about how the bramble trees suddenly disappeared and turned into a cave.” He tried to brush it off with a casual excuse, inwardly praying that Xiao Mo wouldn't pursue the topic any further.

“So that’s it? I’ll choose to believe you, then.” Xiao Mo parted her red lips, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement. In truth, it wasn’t that Xiao Mo wanted to make things difficult for Ye Bai. She had simply spent several days alone in the depths of Ghostwood Mountain, longing for someone to talk to. Her charm was something she understood well; whenever she appeared in her clan, a crowd inevitably followed. But Ye Bai, though he looked at her, did so with genuine admiration rather than the predatory gaze of others. That was why she acted this way.

As the topic faded, silence settled in the cave. Ye Bai, usually cheerful and talkative with Li Fei, found himself at a loss when it came to girls, as if stepping into uncharted territory. He certainly couldn’t tell any of the risqué jokes Li Fei shared—they’d surely get him thrown out of the cave in under three seconds.

As for Xiao Mo, though she was born into a prominent line and showed prodigious talent from an early age, her status in the clan was high. Yet, the admiration she received came at the cost of her childhood and friends. Her memories were filled with elders’ teachings and endless cultivation, surrounded by eyes full of awe, envy, and reverence—but more than anything, she endured over ten years of loneliness.

She wanted to escape, to break free from the deep sea of solitude, to have friends like other girls. So, at sixteen, she entered the high school Ye Bai attended. At first, it was no different from her clan; nearly everyone either tried to curry favor with her or kept their distance. Those who approached were invariably drawn by her beauty or wishing to forge connections for their own families.

Seeing all this, Xiao Mo felt no difference from her clan. She was ready to leave until she entered Ye Bai’s classroom. If it was like the others, she’d simply walk away. But, unexpectedly, this class was different—or rather, two people were different.

One was Ye Bai, sitting in the middle of the classroom, a faint smile on his lips as he spun a pen in his hand. In his gaze, Xiao Mo saw no feverish obsession with her beauty, though he was clearly struck by her appearance. More than anything, his eyes held genuine appreciation and curiosity for the new classmate.

As for the chubby boy in the last row, Xiao Mo didn’t even want to recall him; he was asleep, oblivious to the loud voices around him. Was he a devotee of asceticism? For a moment, Xiao Mo doubted her own attractiveness. Had her charm diminished? Even so, to be so thoroughly ignored was infuriating, especially since she was an undeniably beautiful girl.

Of course, the only one capable of such indifference was Li Fei.

The air grew heavy with silence. Ye Bai glanced at the darkening sky outside the cave, then let his gaze linger on Xiao Mo for a few moments before looking elsewhere.

Suddenly, a sound in the cave made Ye Bai mortified.

Two loud growls echoed in the silence.

There was nothing to be done about it. From hunting the town wood-beast to being chased by the ghost-headed wasps, and after fainting in the river, he’d barely drunk a few mouthfuls of water and hadn’t eaten for nearly a day. He hadn’t felt hungry while fleeing, but now, with a moment to relax, his stomach felt empty. He’d hoped to ignore it, but the more he thought about it, the hungrier he became.

“Hungry? How long has it been since you ate? That rumbling’s loud enough for someone to mistake it for thunder. I bet even the mutant beasts nearby would flee, thinking a storm was coming.” Xiao Mo raised her delicate brows, her rosy lips teasing Ye Bai mercilessly.

Still, despite her words, Xiao Mo went deeper into the cave to fetch food for Ye Bai.

“I’ve been searching for a way out of Ghostwood Mountain’s depths since I arrived, and haven’t had a chance to eat yet.” Ye Bai watched her graceful figure and felt that Xiao Mo enjoyed joking around. She had none of the spoiled arrogance he’d expected from a clan heiress; instead, she was easygoing and approachable.

In no time, Xiao Mo returned with an armful of food—some things Ye Bai wouldn’t normally dare to eat, and a few he didn’t even recognize.

While Xiao Mo was retrieving the food, Ye Bai built a campfire near the entrance. He intended to grill some food for her. He was quite skilled at barbecuing, since his mother was rarely home and it was just him and his sister. On weekends, he’d take her to the rooftop, where they’d eat barbecue and watch the stars. Truth be told, the sky was much clearer now compared to before the Dark Era—no more smog, and the stars shone bright at night.

When Xiao Mo emerged, Ye Bai waved for her to bring the food over.

“What’s this?” Xiao Mo stared at the fire, her beautiful eyes puzzled.

“Barbecue. Surely the great Miss Xiao hasn’t tried it before?” Ye Bai, familiar with her personality now, teased her.

Xiao Mo brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, her eyes momentarily dim. “Don’t call me Miss. I just want a friend. At home, all the food is carefully arranged, tailored for my constitution.”

On the other side of the fire, Ye Bai looked at Xiao Mo illuminated by its glow. Her exquisite features were tinged with melancholy, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. He blurted out, “If you don’t mind, you can be my friend.”

At that moment, Ye Bai’s eyes were filled with sincerity, gazing into her dark, slightly somber eyes.

Looking into his gaze, Xiao Mo’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned away, and in a voice only she could hear, whispered, “I don’t mind.”