Charade

Sitting on the sofa waiting for Huang Xiaotao to fetch something, I was incredibly nervous. For a moment, I even wanted to flee out the door.

The other voice in my head was roaring, "Song Yang, how can you be so useless?"

Those few minutes felt like years. Then Huang Xiaotao came out from the bedroom, hands behind her back, smiling and asking, "Guess what I've got? I'll give you a hint - it's made of plastic, has holes, and is for protection."

I was stunned for a moment before cleverly guessing, "It wouldn't happen to be a CD, would it?"

"Damn, how did you guess right!" Huang Xiaotao looked disappointed as she took out an unopened CD case containing the classic horror movie The Ring.

After experiencing such a psychological rollercoaster, I calmed down a little and said, "What were you hoping I'd guess instead?"

Now it was Huang Xiaotao's turn to blush, though just a faint shade of red appeared on her cheeks. "What else could a CD be? I was just testing your intelligence."

"Hah, stop pretending to be all innocent!" I finally had a chance for payback after being teased.

"How dare you say that to me? I'm allowed to tease you but not the other way around." Huang Xiaotao knocked my head with the corner of the CD case, making tears nearly fall from the pain.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I begged for mercy.

"Hmph!" Huang Xiaotao had her arms akimbo.

Still rubbing my head, I asked, "How come you've never seen such an old movie before?"

Huang Xiaotao flipped the case over and looked at the cover. "I hadn't, but I'd always heard this movie was scary beyond belief. I bought it but didn't dare watch alone. Luckily you're here today to watch with me. Have you seen it before?"

"Nope!" I shook my head.

"Great, let's watch together then!"

With that, Huang Xiaotao opened up the CD case and popped the disc into the player. Of course, I'd already seen The Ring back in middle school, but I didn't want to ruin her excitement.

As the movie started playing, Huang Xiaotao turned off the lights to set the atmosphere. She curled up on the sofa, hugging her legs. Her fair smooth legs and intoxicating scent made me feel restless, not knowing where to look. Only then did I realize the phrase "soft, fragrant, and tender" was no exaggeration at all. For a moment, I even felt an urge to put my arm around Huang Xiaotao, but I really didn't have the guts.

Rather than scary, this movie felt oppressive, permeated by a suffocating atmosphere that made the back of your neck tingle with chills at every turn, fearing what might jump out behind the actors.

It seemed the Japanese were unmatched in perversion - even an old granny would keep fighting if she collapsed!

By midway through, Huang Xiaotao was letting out frequent shrieks, clearly frightened as she clutched my arm tighter and tighter until it hurt. I'd thought she was quite bold, yet she too had fears. I took the remote and turned down the volume.

With the horror movie volume lowered, it wasn't so scary anymore. When the ghost girl appeared for the third time, Huang Xiaotao didn't react at all. I wondered if she'd been pretending earlier since she adapted so quickly.

But looking over, Huang Xiaotao had actually fallen asleep, head resting on my shoulder as she let out soft snores.

I reached over to brush the hair from her ear. Huang Xiaotao's sleeping profile was so beautiful, like a napping kitten, adorable and docile. Although I could see her fair cleavage from this angle, I preferred gazing at her sleeping face.

I realized I had become a bit shamelessly infatuated.

The alluring fragrance from her body seemed to seduce me. I couldn't help leaning in, my heartbeat racing uncontrollably again. I admonished myself - Song Yang, how could you take advantage of her like this?

Yet it was as if another voice said, seize the moment, what are you waiting for, are you even a man?

After an intense inner struggle, reason prevailed in the end, and I decided to act like a gentleman.

But I couldn't just let her sleep like this all night, tiring myself to death. So I slowly, carefully shifted my body to stand up, moving extra slowly so Huang Xiaotao's head wouldn't loll when losing my support. I quickly turned and caught the back of her neck with my hand.

Then I slipped my other hand under her knees and carried her princess style. Though my physique was average, I could still lift a girl under 100 pounds. Huang Xiaotao's hair tips brushed my arm, ticklish.

I brought Huang Xiaotao to the bedroom and laid her on the bed, about to withdraw. But she suddenly hooked her slender arms around my neck, startling me. Was she not fully asleep after all?

Then she mumbled in her sleep, slurring, "Don't let him get away..." before starting to grind her teeth.

I had to stifle my laughter. Sleeping Huang Xiaotao was just too cute.

I slowly lowered my head, easing it out from her arms while using both hands to hold up her elbows so her arms wouldn't hit her chest when released. It was a delicate maneuver that I completed with painstaking patience until finally succeeding in disentangling us.

Huang Xiaotao slept sprawled out. It seemed heartless to just leave like that, so I tucked the blanket over her.

Back in the living room, I naturally didn't continue the horror movie but turned off the TV and got ready for sleep. Lying in darkness, I repeatedly recalled what had just happened, smiling to myself - ah, I really am shamelessly hopeless!

It had been an exhausting day, and I soon fell asleep, only to be awoken by the ringing phone as Huang Xiaotao spoke in the bedroom, "The body's been found...got it, I'll be right there..."

Then she shouted towards me, "Song Yang, Song Yang!"

"I'm up," I responded.

"Get dressed and go to the station, they've discovered a corpse." Huang Xiaotao urged.

"Got it!"

It was only 4 AM. After getting dressed, Huang Xiaotao soon emerged fully clothed with a holstered pistol. She took a jacket off the coat hook and put it on, smoothing down her hair. The moment she donned this outfit, she instantly transformed from a cute, bold girl into a mature, icy policewoman.

"Sleep well?" she asked.

"Being woken at 4 AM, what do you think?" I couldn't help but wryly smile.

"That's a policeman's life, can't be helped. Oh right, if you're hungry there's some bread in the fridge."

"No need." I picked up my bag and followed Huang Xiaotao downstairs, then got in her car heading for the station without much conversation.

As we neared the station, I said, "Let me off here."

"What's up?" Huang Xiaotao asked.

"It's early morning now. If your colleagues see us arriving together, it might lead to gossip...I don't want that." I explained.

Huang Xiaotao laughed. "Didn't realize you were so considerate."

She stopped the car so I could get out, but just as I was about to leave, she suddenly asked, "Oh right, how did I end up sleeping in bed?"

"Huh?" I was stunned speechless.

"Don't tell me you carried me over?"

I shyly admitted, "I did!"

"And you tucked me in too?" Huang Xiaotao asked.

"Y-yes!" My head was practically buried in the ground now.

Huang Xiaotao suddenly reached out and gently stroked my chin. "Thanks!"