“I’m not afraid to look!” Xiao Hu denied.

Lin Xi laughed again. “Then why don’t you look at me?”

Her long hair had already fallen over Xiao Hu’s face, tickling him like a gentle itch. “Looks like you’re just tough-talking—still too scared, huh?”

“Not at all!” Xiao Hu turned his head in a huff, only to meet Lin Xi’s challenging gaze. His bravado instantly melted, and he tried to turn away again, but Lin Xi held him fast.

“Have you been drinking?” Xiao Hu was more nervous than he’d ever been in his life; his heart felt like it might leap out of his chest, and his breathing grew heavy and labored.

With no better excuse or answer in mind, he could only ask that question.

But Lin Xi shook her head firmly. “You’ve stayed here with me for so many days—you should know I almost never drink.”

“So then…” He wanted to ask: “Why are you acting so strange? Surely you’re not possessed by a ghost, are you? Besides, there aren’t really any ghosts in this world anyway!”

“Me…” Lin Xi brushed the long hair that had been covering Xiao Hu’s face, squinting mischievously as she said bluntly, “If I told you I’d been alone for too long and needed someone to keep me company, would you think I was joking?”

Xiao Hu’s head spun again.

He shook his head, then nodded, then shook it again—over and over.

Lin Xi chuckled. “So now you’re shaking your head, nodding, and shaking it again—does that mean I’m joking, or that I’m not?”

“I…”

“You’re not daring to say it?”

“No…”

“So you don’t like me?”

“No…”

“Then what is it? You can’t possibly be saying you have no interest in that sort of thing, can you?” Lin Xi kept firing question after question, quickly leaving Xiao Hu speechless.

At last, Lin Xi let out a deeply regretful sigh. “Fine, fine—looks like I really did get ahead of myself. You little brat clearly has no such feelings. I’ll go find someone else outside!”

She smoothed her hair, quickly released the two hands that had been holding Xiao Hu captive, stretched lazily, sat up slowly, and then pushed herself up to stand.

But before she could fully rise, a warm, large hand suddenly appeared on her wrist—a young, impetuous Xiao Hu whose expression had changed in an instant, glaring at her with a bit of indignation.

He was angry!

As expected, that person’s eyes were still as sharp as ever.

Lin Xi remained seated, looking down at Xiao Hu, who still hadn’t let go of her wrist. “What are you doing? Do you really want to interfere with my freedom?”

“No!” Xiao Hu didn’t know what had come over him—he just couldn’t release her wrist, as if something were blocking his chest, making him feel terribly uncomfortable.

Especially when he thought about how casually she’d spoken just moments ago, his frustration only grew worse.

After being around her for so long, he knew very well she wasn’t the kind of person to act like that—but… somehow, she really did seem capable of doing just that.

Lin Xi sat there, looking down at Xiao Hu, who still wouldn’t let go. “Then why are you still holding onto me? Just let go, will you?”

“I…”

“What ‘I’? You don’t want to, but you won’t even let me see someone else? Boy, do you really think you’re anyone special to me?” Lin Xi reached out with her other hand, placed it on Xiao Hu’s face, and gently tugged at a patch of skin on his cheek.

To be honest, the feel was quite nice.

Xiao Hu’s face darkened abruptly. He yanked his hand away from her grip, sprang to his feet, and in a flash scooped Lin Xi up into his arms, carrying her forward with confident strides toward Linxi’s bedroom.

End of Chapter 146: Counterattack 72