In Wang Xiao''s experience, most women would have shown some concern or jealousy in such situations.


    Sensing his confusion, Anran borated, her voice carrying a hint of awkwardness as the conversation veered into sensitive territory.


    "You see... I can''t control you... If I tried, you''d probably leave me. And as long as youe back home, I don''t really care about the specifics..." She finished off the sentence, her voice trailing off as she gave a small nonchnt shrug.


    "Oh," Wang Xiao uttered, a bit taken aback by herid-back attitude.


    A thought crossed his mind – was she actually more intelligent and aware than she let on, perhaps even feigning her clumsiness?


    "But..." Anran''s voice trailed off, her expression shifting to one of slight concern, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that she had not previously shown.


    "But what?" Wang Xiao''s expression shifted, a shadow of irritation flickering across his features.


    Anran hesitated for a moment, her words cautious. "You should take care of your health... If you''re with so many girls at once, every day... In the future, it might bring y—"


    "Shut up," Wang Xiao interjected sharply, cutting her off mid-sentence.


    "Okay," Anran replied, unfazed by his interruption. She shrugged nonchntly, then added a surprising suggestion, "By the way... if you like many girls, I could bring Aisha or a few more girls over..." She offered, her voice hinting at a yful conspiracy.


    Wang Xiao stared at her, a mix of disbelief and exasperation in his eyes. He sighed heavily. "How would you even know which girl to bring?"


    "You could tell me," Anran suggested simply, as if it were the most obvious solution.


    Wang Xiao countered, "Then? Just because I say, doesn''t mean she would follow you..."


    Anran chuckled, a hint of nervousness in herughter, aware that her next words might bring her some beating.


    Yet, she ventured forth nothenless, "Then we kidnap her!" Her lips curled into a mischievous smile, her hands innocentlyid over him.


    Bonk!


    Wang Xiao lightly knocked her head, though more gently than before. His voice was steady but tinged with scolding. "Why do you think I would need your help to kidnap women? Can''t I do it myself?"


    "Or have you started to think you''re better than me?" he added, his questionyered with a mix of sarcasm and genuine curiosity about her thought process.


    Anran''s softughter filled the room, a sound that was both light and carefree. "Of course not! You''re the best!" she eximed with genuine admiration. Leaning forward, she closed the distance between them, stopping just shy of his face.


    "Can I kiss you?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with a mix of yfulness and affection.


    Wang Xiao raised his eyebrows, his responseced with a touch of bemusement. "Are you really asking that after everything? Don''t ask such pointless things and waste my time."


    "Okay," Anran replied, undeterred and smiling. She leaned in, nting a series of quick kisses on his cheeks. Wang Xiao''s eyshes fluttered in mild irritation, but as she moved towards his lips, he reached out, pulling her closer.


    Clothes fluttered around them, caught in the sudden whirlwind of events.


    In Wang Xiao''s presence, Anran found afort and ease she couldn''t fully exin.


    By societal standards, he might have had zero redeeming factors, but that didn''t matter to her.


    Her affection for him wasn''t driven by societal expectations but by a deeper, more instinctual connection.


    Her behavior was influenced by a desire for freedom, something she found in abundance with Wang Xiao.


    Unlike her disciplined life under Li Zhiming, where she was constantly on guard, following strict military orders, and always disciplined, Wang Xiao offered a stark contrast.


    He seldom cared about her daily activities; she could spend all day lounging in front of a fan, and he wouldn''t bat an eye as long as her tasks werepleted.


    Thisck of restraint, this freedom to just be herself, was perhaps what drew her to him, creating an unconcious bond that was as unconventional as it was profound.


    _________


    On the morning of May 19th, 2026, Wang Xiao was greeted by an unusual sight as he checked his phone.


    It was flooded with texts, most of which were from Josephine.


    She had apparently arrived early in the morning, at around 8 am.


    ncing at the clock, he realized it was already 10 am. She had been waiting outside for two hours.


    However, the doors of the vi weren''t locked, and Aisha was usually up by this time. Shrugging off any immediate concern, Wang Xiao carefully disentangled himself from Anran, who was still deep in sleep, and made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower and change of clothes.


    Thirty minutester, refreshed and dressed, Wang Xiao descended the stairs, only to find Josephine and Aisha sitting on the couch. The scene before him was peculiar – Josephine appeared to be consoling Aisha.


    "What happened to her now?" Wang Xiao frowned, his curiosity piqued. The atmosphere seemed heavy, the air thick with an unspoken tension.


    Josephine''sforting demeanor contrasted sharply with Aisha''s apparent distress, painting a picture that demanded exnation.


    Wang Xiao''s entrance into the ce altered the scene subtly, his presence drawing the attention of both women.


    "Wang Xiao..." Josephine looked up, a serious expression etched on her face, while Aisha seemed lost in her own world of sorrow.


    "What''s going on here?" Wang Xiao asked, his voice calm but carrying an underlying note of concern.


    Josephine took a deep breath before exining. "It''s... about Aisha."


    "Her parents... they were in an ident. And it''s not just her; her dormmates Elisa and Maya have also disappeared, and their families suffered idents too."


    "ident?" Wang Xiao''s frown deepened as he processed the information. It sounded too coincidental to be a mere string of unrted tragedies.


    "I believe it''s connected to me," Josephine continued, her voiceced with guilt. "It seems like a warning, a message from my pursuer. They''re targeting people close to me."


    Aisha, her eyes red and swollen from crying, looked up at Wang Xiao.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her usual spirit was nowhere to be seen, reced by a helplessness that was heart-wrenching.


    Josephine''s gaze, intense and filled with concern, locked onto Wang Xiao. "Please be careful, Wang Xiao. This isn''t just a threat to me... It could very well extend to you and anyone close to you."


    Wang Xiao''s brows furrowed in concern. He took a seat beside Aisha, then turned his attention back to Josephine. "How did you manage toe here? Didn''t your mother expressly forbid you from going outside?"


    Josephine hesitated, her eyes reflecting a turmoil of emotions. "Um... About that..." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Mom said... It''s fine if I am going to you..."