Xiao Hu didn’t say a single word; after gulping down more than half a bottle of water, he just sat there with his head down, silent. Lin Xi had never seen such an expression on this man before, and her heart immediately tightened. She reached out to stroke Xiao Hu’s head, confirming he didn’t have a fever, then switched to gripping his hand tightly and asked anxiously, “Why won’t you speak? What exactly happened? What did you encounter in there? Why do you look like this?”

Xiao Hu slowly raised his head, and in his clear eyes there was something akin to grievance welling up. “Xi Xi, I wanted to follow your and Sister-in-law’s instructions and get close to her, using the honey trap tactic. But…”

Once again, he stumbled at the crucial moment.

Lin Xi was frantic and hurriedly pressed him, “But what happened? Oh my goodness, can you stop beating around the bush? Just say it—what’s there to be afraid of for a grown man?”

“I’m afraid of her!” Xiao Hu said.

Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback and quickly followed up, “Her? Who is she?”

“Just the one inside—the woman named Xiao Yu,” Xiao Hu said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. “Xi Xi, I really don’t have the courage to go over there. Please don’t put me through this anymore.”

“Why? She’s quite a pretty girl, and people even deliberately approach her to strike up a conversation. What are you afraid of? Is she some kind of monster that’ll sneak up and gobble you whole when you’re not looking?” Lin Xi’s anxious heart finally settled, and she said, somewhat exasperated.

At the same time, she also noticed certain changes in herself.

Especially toward the man beside her.

She… seemed to care about him more and more, her emotions swaying with his joys and sorrows.

Xiao Hu’s complexion softened slightly, but he still clutched Lin Xi’s hand tightly, looking like a frightened child. Yet what came out of his mouth was, “I’m not afraid she’ll eat me in one bite. What I’m afraid of is that she’ll take a fancy to me and refuse to leave my side. And I’m also worried that if I happen to glance at her a bit too closely, I’ll feel all uncomfortable—her makeup smell is so heavy, it’s downright awful, whereas you, Xi Xi, always smell so good.”

Lin Xi: …

She pulled her hand away in disgust, finally understanding what was going on in this man’s mind, and couldn’t help but shoot him a big, scornful glare.

Xiao Hu just chuckled.

After all, he was determined to stick by her no matter what; as soon as her hand withdrew, his big hand was right back on hers, just like those frightened children who only feel a little bit safer when they hold onto someone’s hand tightly.

“Stop pretending. I can see right through your little tricks. Come on, tell me—since you’re not going, what about Yue Yue’s plan? This matter is very important to her. Are you really going to let her design everything for nothing?”

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow and jabbed at him, “And don’t forget, it was you yourself who said you’d help me and Yue Yue finish all this. If you want to back out now, I won’t allow it.”

“Xi Xi?”

Xiao Hu gave an embarrassed smile.

Lin Xi didn’t care; she kept a stern face. “No joking around—this trick won’t work on me. Since we’ve already come out today, either we finish the mission and head back to rest early, or we just keep dragging it out. Either way, don’t think you can slip through unscathed—I’ll supervise you meticulously.”

Xiao Hu frowned and suddenly asked Lin Xi seriously, “Sister, if one day both Sister-in-law and I are in danger at the same time, would you save me or Sister-in-law?”

Without even thinking, Lin Xi replied, “Of course I’d save Yue Yue.”

Xiao Hu’s dao xin shattered in an instant.

But soon he heard a soft voice beside him saying, “You’ve got so much skill—why would you need me to save you? I’m afraid that before I even get a chance to act, whoever dares to mess with you will already have their neck snapped by you!”

End of Chapter 196: Counterattack 123