"Let's have a competition."
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled, her wet braid swinging behind her. Standing just a fraction shorter than Su Bei, she puffed her cheeks proudly. "If you can beat me, I'll… reluctantly forgive you for peeking."
Su Bei tilted his head, almost amused. Of all the reactions she could've had, this was the one? She didn't demand responsibility or threaten lifelong payback for seeing her bathing—her rabbit brain went straight to sparring.
He recalled the stories. Xiao Wu, born from beast blood, had grown up without any human teaching beyond her mother's brief guidance before Bibi Dong's blade turned her into a soul ring. Raised by Daming and Er Ming instead, she lacked human concepts of shame. To her, body and battle weren't tangled in modesty. She was simple, direct, and clung only to instinct.
That innocence made her roll in the grass with Tang San in the original story. Now, it might just give him an opening.
Su Bei thought for a moment, then his lips curved with mischief. "Fine. But every competition needs stakes."
Big violet eyes blinked. "What stakes?"
"If you lose, you have to kiss me."
"Hmph. I never lose. But if I do win—what then?"
Su Bei spread his hands solemnly. "I am a fair man. If you win… I'll also let you kiss me."
Xiao Wu froze, tilting her head, then snorted. "…There's no difference!"
"Exactly." Su Bei's grin widened.
For a heartbeat, her face puffed red, but then she cupped her fists playfully. "Fine, then don't cry when you lose!"
Before he could prepare, her long leg whipped up like steel spring, aiming for his chin. The wind whistled. If that landed, his perfect jawline would've been rearranged.
Su Bei yelped and flickered aside in a blur, Lingbo Micro Step humming beneath his feet. His body tilted like water flowing through cracks.
"Damn, this rabbit girl is quick!" he thought. Every twist, every bound was lightning-fast. The soft-bone rabbit lived up to its name. If he slipped once, her thighs would have him in a chokehold again, and judging by earlier… she knew how to squeeze.
The match stretched on. Ten minutes. Su Bei danced nimbly through leaves and stones, Xiao Wu lunging again and again, sweat streaking down her face.
Finally, she stomped angrily, chest heaving. "You're only dodging!"
"And yet…" Su Bei reappeared behind her shoulder, flicking her braid with a grin. "…you still can't touch me. So who really lost?"
Her breath hitched. He was right.
Her cheeks burned red as she pouted. "Hmph… maybe. But that doesn't mean you won!"
"Then bring your face closer."
Suspicion flickered in her eyes, then sly mischief. "Fine." She tilted her head and stepped near, lips pursed.
Su Bei inhaled, heart pounding. He leaned in trustingly.
Then—bite!
Pain lanced through his cheek as two rabbit teeth dug in. He yelped, clutching his face as she flipped smugly aside.
"Obscene boy, you lose!" she chirped, legs crossing triumphantly. Her petite frame slumped sideways against him, pinning him with casual ease.
Su Bei rubbed his cheek with a groan. "Your bite's worse than Er Ming's slap! Fine. I admit defeat. Still… a lost bet means I get to kiss you."
Xiao Wu blinked. His casual tone melted her mischief into something softer. "But… no biting."
Her cheeks glowed.
Su Bei nodded solemnly. "Don't worry. I'm not you."
He leaned forward lightly, brushing his lips against her hot cheek. Gentle, fleeting. But she felt it—warm flooding through her skin, curling all the way into her chest.
Her heart stuttered wildly. So… this is what Mother meant by that feeling?
[System Achievement: Affection Check-in with Goddess Xiao Wu Complete. Reward: +10% Speed permanently.]
Already faster, Su Bei smiled. Xiao Wu just stood frozen, fingers against her cheek, confused and strangely elated.
An hour later.
The ice between them had melted entirely. Through teasing quips and ridiculous internet pick-up lines dredged from Su Bei's "scumbag library," Xiao Wu slowly opened. Where before she viewed him only as a suspicious stranger, now… the word slipped softly from her lips:
"Ge… Brother Bei."
Recognition as elder brother. The first rung of intimacy. Tang San's timeline… stolen clean.
Su Bei hid his smirk. Tang San, forgive me, but I strike early.
The forest around them settled once more. Er Ming loitered nearby lazily, bored beyond belief, yet vigilant. Su Bei stretched, reached back—his fingers brushed something smooth.
A comb. Carved red sandalwood, small yet finely made. Its glossy teeth gleamed like treasure.
Before he could admire it, Xiao Wu darted forward, snatching it. "That's mine! My comb!"
Su Bei blinked, realization dawning. "This… is from your mother, isn't it?"
Her pout faltered, lips quivering faintly.
Without teasing, he reached out and ruffled her damp hair gently. "Let me comb it for you."
Her violet eyes shot wide, a tear sparkling before she whispered, voice faint as fallen dew: "Brother Bei… do you… love me?"
The question slapped Su Bei harder than her earlier kick.
For him—a transmigrator chasing systems and strategies—it was easy to speak honeyed words. But true love? It was the one thing scumbags never dared fully promise. Still, the weight of her trembling hope struck deeper than he expected.
"I…" He faltered.
But Xiao Wu shook her head gently. "Never mind. Mother said… a woman's hair can only be combed by one man in her life. If he combs, he must comb forever."
Her hands clutched the comb to her chest as she muttered her mother's words:
"Love is a disaster. For the one you love, you'll give everything—even if you never get it back. The swan cannot escape the rain… when love comes, you cannot dodge."
Her lips trembled bitterly but she forced a smile. "So if you comb my hair… you have to do it for life."
Su Bei stilled.
The playful air vanished. For once, the little rabbit wasn't teasing.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Su Bei felt the true weight of being seen as more than a scoundrel—they wanted his forever.
--
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