Chapter 8: Losing Control
Meng Hao had been leaning on Li Yao as they walked, her arm wrapped firmly around him for support. Over time, the intoxicating warmth of his body against hers had begun to erode her self-control. His presence—so close, so *maddeningly* alluring—sent waves of unfamiliar desire coursing through her. Her fingers, initially resting innocently against his back, now traced slow, deliberate circles over the fabric of his robes. The sensation of a man’s body beneath her palms was entirely new, and the more she touched him, the harder it became to resist the pull drawing her toward him.
Meanwhile, Meng Hao couldn’t help but muse inwardly, *"What’s gotten into this girl? Tsk... Who caresses someone’s back for this long? Then again... seeing a maiden like her lose herself like this is... entertaining. If my old friends from my first life saw this, they’d choke on their envy."*
Just as he was enjoying the teasing strokes of her fingers, a mechanical voice chimed in his mind:
[Ding! Host is detected alone in the forest with a Daughter of Luck. Mission issued: Elevate her infatuation by kissing her. Reward: +60 Charm Points.]
A smirk curled his lips. As a virgin himself, resisting temptation had been difficult, but he’d held back—waiting for the system’s prompt. Now, he could kill two birds with one stone. And,he—
Seizing the moment, he deliberately stumbled, letting out a sharp cry as his knee hit the ground. Li Yao reacted instantly, catching him by the shoulders, her face etched with concern.
"Junior Brother, what’s wrong?" she asked, kneeling beside him.
Meng Hao grimaced. "Senior Sister, I... I don’t think I can walk for a while. Let me rest..."
Nodding, she guided him to the base of a tree, settling him so that he faced her. As she stood before him, her breath quickened, her gaze darkening with hunger.
Meng Hao feigned gratitude. "Senior Sister, thank you for saving me." His eyes flickered up to hers, holding her stare just long enough to make her pulse spike.
She swallowed. "It’s nothing, **Junior Brother." Her voice was softer now, her restraint fraying.