Chapter 208. Qibao's Victory!!
"Why did you suddenly want to go out?"
Amused, Kiana looked like she'd gotten anxious all at once. "Just say if you're going or not!"
"I'm going, I'm going. I'm free anyway—I'll keep you company for a walk~"
He rose from the sofa. After so much rest, that faint trace of fatigue had vanished; Xander Masato felt like he was back in shape.
"Th-then let's hurry up and go!"
Glancing left and right to make sure no one was around, Kiana moved like a guilty thief, hurrying to the door. Standing at the entryway, she even turned back to wave at Xander, urging him to pick up the pace.
"A walk's a walk—no need to rush."
"Mm..."
How could she not be rushing? Who knew when Bronya and the others would get back? If they dawdled and ran into them right away, her whole plan would be ruined?!
Seeing her keep her head down and say nothing, Xander changed his shoes and, in passing, ran a hand through her white hair. "Let's go."
"Mm!"
She opened the door. Seeing no one around and no sign of Bronya and the others on the street, Kiana finally breathed a sigh of relief.
All right—step one, successfully got Xander out!
The soft streetlamps cast a warm glow that wasn't harsh. Kiana and Xander walked out of the yard, and before Xander could say anything, Kiana pointed to the right-hand side of the road. "Let's go this way!"
"Sure."
Their place was already at the very back of the whole residential area. Farther to the right, the road had only a quiet garden on one side and a thriving, dense forest on the other. The woods hadn't been developed; beyond them lay the seashore, acting as a natural barrier.
They strolled along, chatting in bits and pieces. Kiana's words were all over the place—clearly her attention wasn't on talking. Xander didn't mind; whatever Kiana said, he followed along.
Besides, he was really curious: what trick was Kiana going to pull today?
Step by step, they drew closer to the path leading into the garden, and Kiana's heartbeat quickened.
Closer, closer—just a few more steps!
Just as Xander was about to turn into the garden, Kiana suddenly stepped forward to block him, reached out to hug his arm, and nudged his body toward the other side.
Success—got his arm!
Holding down the excited thumping in her chest, she didn't even notice her voice trembling a little. "I-I have a place I want to take you, Xander!"
"A place you want to go?"
Looking at the pitch-black woods ahead, Xander turned to Kiana in confusion.
Her cheeks were flushed. The two hands that had slid around his arm a moment ago had no intention of letting go; she held tight against her chest, pressing that intoxicating softness against him.
"Just come with me."
"...Okay."
Feeling the girl's heart pounding against his arm, Xander thought for a moment and nodded lightly.
"Whew~"
When Xander didn't ask more, Kiana finally relaxed a little. She tugged him along and stepped into the woods.
Click.
Kiana pulled out a flashlight and switched it on. She had obviously come prepared. The bright beam fell on the ground, picking out a little forest path full of shoeprints.
"Come here often?"
"Mm."
Withered leaves lay scattered over the soil. Their shoes made a soft rustle as they stepped.
The woods at night were so quiet that even the slightest sound, not made with any effort, rang out as if whispered at the ear.
They kept walking forward. Xander wondered about Kiana's goal; Kiana didn't know what to say. The two of them fell into a strange silence. After a while, perhaps because they were close to the sea, the wind grew stronger, whooshing over the treetops above them and making the branches and leaves sway, announcing their presence.
Then Kiana paused, and the next second, quickened her step. Xander lengthened his stride to follow.
Dozens of paces later—suddenly, the view opened up.
He finally understood what that feeling was.
They stepped out of the treeline, and the world in front of them spread out at a glance.
A cool sea breeze, salty and fresh, washed over them. The sea's horizon met the sky, reflecting the crescent moon and a splendorous night. That sudden sense of the world turning vast was, indeed, mesmerizing.
"You want me to see this?"
At his words, Kiana nodded first, then shook her head. "Let's go a bit farther."
She pointed to a not-so-high cliff not far away, eyes bright with expectation.
Behind the cliff was a gentle slope connecting to the woods. The two easily made their way up to the top.
The top had a decent amount of space, with a few trees growing apart from each other. A somewhat withered trunk lay across the ground; lush green grass spread around it.
Their steps stopped naturally. The scene was weirdly familiar.
Then Xander chuckled, looking at Kiana. "This place?"
"Surprised, right~"
Seeing Xander's astonished expression at last, Kiana was inwardly delighted, tugging him forward to sit.
"It is surprising."
Bending down, he ran his fingers over the rough bark, and the two of them sat on the trunk.
Facing the breeze, he lifted his head to the bright moon. It looked like two little children were waving at him happily.
One was John, and one was Little Brook.
"Too similar."
Kiana let out something like a sigh and happily chimed in.
"Right, right~"
Once she sat, she finally let go of Xander's arm. She propped both hands on the trunk; her feet in sandals swung lightly. A bit of dark-brown soil clung to the shoes, only making the elegant lines of her arches look even whiter. Her toes, painted a pale blue, opened and closed, little pads pressing and relaxing—cute beyond words.
"How did you find this place?"
After watching the sky for a while, Xander lowered his head to look at Kiana.
Moonlight draped a silver veil over the girl. Beneath it, her face was faintly flushed. Kiana scratched her cheek with a fingertip, squinting as she smiled in embarrassment—adorable beyond describing.
"One day, I had a fight with Sirin and went out to clear my head. By mistake, I stumbled on this place. I wanted to tell you then, but I never found the chance."
Her silver hair fell loose down her back, a blue flower tucked at her ear. The sea breeze lifted a few strands, revealing a slender, fair neck. In that moment, Kiana looked like a goddess fallen to the mortal world—so very beautiful.
At some point, Xander felt Kiana had grown less fond of that slightly tacky braided pigtail. These days she either wore her hair loose or tried other styles. That girl who once looked simple and cute had become prettier and more alluring by the day—though her personality hadn't changed much.
With her mouth shut, she was a refined, unapproachable beauty; the moment she spoke, she was the goofy girl next door. The contrast had only added to her irresistible charm.
"Well, that's quite the coincidence. Thank you for waiting to bring me here. I'm very happy."
"Really? As long as you're happy."
Her voice softening, Kiana suddenly noticed the way Xander was looking at her. She couldn't help but tease, "You're staring at me so seriously. What, did you finally realize I'm a rare beauty in this world?"
It was meant as a joke, but Xander answered with utter seriousness. "Mm. You really are beautiful. I can't quite look away."
"Eh?"
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh?!
Dude—no warning at all, okay? She hadn't steeled herself for this!!!
So—Xander finally understood she wasn't a bro, but a girl?!
Her face burned. Kiana was both shy and delighted, not daring to meet Xander's eyes.
Silence settled over them again. In contrast, Kiana's thoughts were a tangled mess, almost knotted into a ball of yarn.
S-so, since Xander said that... could she try to...
At the thought, Kiana's hand on the fallen trunk began inching toward Xander's. With her heart thudding, her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket.
In an instant, Kiana's sneaky, outstretched hand shot back fast, and she cursed herself in her heart for being such a wimp.
Getting spooked by a phone was way too embarrassing. And she'd been hugging his arm the whole way here—why did trying to hold his hand feel even more embarrassing now?!
The mood was right there, Kiana—push through it!!!
Silently giving herself a pep talk, Kiana set her hand on the trunk again. She angled her gaze at Xander's hand, also resting on the wood. Her five fingers edged forward, dragging her palm bit by bit closer.
Just as her fingertips were about to brush his, she glanced up on reflex—and immediately met eyes full of laughter.
Her body jolted. The hand that had been inching over tried to yank back—but at that moment, a warm palm came down over the back of her hand, freezing her in place.
Feeling that close, steady warmth, Kiana opened her mouth and stared at him in disbelief.
"Mm?"
A smile touched his lips. His gentle gaze made Kiana's cheeks burn. She whipped her eyes toward the sky.
Her hand went stiff on the trunk—she didn't dare move at all. But if she stayed still, Xander would be the one to move.
The hand covering the back of hers gently closed, wrapping that slightly smaller hand in his palm. Then their fingers began to intertwine, slowly fitting together.
Th-this-this!!!
Xander was definitely answering her, wasn't he? She knew it—coming here tonight had been the right call!!
Her chest heaved and fell fast. Blood surging to her head left Kiana dizzy; even her eyes went a little hazy.
It's now—it's now!!
The little general inside her heart blew the trumpet with all his might.
The line she'd been rehearsing—the very romantic words she'd learned in that late-night talk with Mei—after who knew how long, finally gathered the courage to leap off her tongue.
"X-Xander..."
"Mm~"
"Th-the moonlight is... so beautiful..."
As soon as the words fell, Kiana's heart jumped into her throat. For a moment, the whole world seemed to freeze. She shut her eyes; all that remained was her breath and heart hammering with nerves.
She had chosen this very spot—one that held special meaning for Xander—and set the time to night, all for this moment!!
Kiana—sound the charge!
Her trembling voice reached Xander's ears. He paused, then chuckled softly. "It is. The weather's nice tonight. The moon and stars are lovely."
"..."
Why was the result... not what she'd imagined...
Her heart, strung taut, dropped straight into the valley. Kiana didn't dare open her eyes—she was afraid that the instant she did, tears would spill.
There was no way Xander didn't know what that phrase meant. Why dodge it?
So—so he really...
"But compared to the night, I'd rather keep my eyes on you."
"Eh?"
A tender murmur brushed her ear. Kiana couldn't help but open tear-bright eyes.
"I like you, Kiana."
"Eh? Th-th-th—Xander, I—mm...."
Flustered and lost, Kiana looked so very cute. He couldn't help leaning down to block her babbling with a kiss.
At once, Kiana couldn't speak—and didn't need to.
For a rookie like her, just two minutes had her breathless enough to push Xander away. But after two quick breaths, she wrapped her arms tight around his neck and kissed him again.
She didn't know any technique. But the fire in her heart felt like payback for Xander's earlier mischief—her movements were fierce, and she even tasted a hint of iron on her tongue.
Laughing and crying, she held him, kissed him, and played for a full half hour before she finally went limp, leaning against her lover.
Feeling the sharp sting at the corner of his mouth where she'd bitten him, Xander couldn't help but wince. This girl—she bit hard.
Seeing his reaction, Kiana huffed adorably. "Serves you right for bullying me. Hmph."
Her voice was soft. It sounded less like a complaint and more like she was being coy.
With things between them changed, Kiana's manner had softened even more.
"When did I bully you? At least let me finish what I was saying."
Amused, Xander slid an arm around the waist he'd longed for. His palm settled there; that slender, taut feel was truly perfect.
"Have you wanted me for a while already?"
Feeling her lover taking an interest in her body, Kiana asked happily.
"I won't deny it."
He'd been craving Qibao's waist for a long time.
"Heh~"
Smug, Kiana snuggled closer to make things easier for Xander. Resting her head on his shoulder, she pinched his collar and asked again, "Did you also know for a while that I like you?"
"Not that early. You know what you were like before."
He teased with a smile. Kiana smacked his chest in protest. "What are you laughing at? In the end, you were still charmed by me!"
"Right, right—I was captured by the cute and enchanting Qibao~"
"Qi—Qibao!!! Y-you—how could you..."
The sudden pet name sent Kiana flailing with excitement.
"What, you don't like it?"
"N-no, I—It's not like it's impossible..."
Blushing, she leaned close to his ear. "B-but only call me that when it's just the two of us, g-got it?!!"
"Okay, Qibao~"
"Mm!!!! O-once more!!"
"Qibao~"
"Hiss~~~ I'm good."
After a bit of lovey-dovey, Kiana remembered what had just happened and couldn't help asking, curious again, "So when did you know for sure, exactly?"
"This morning."
"? Th-this morning??"
"Yeah."
Arm still around her waist, Xander pulled his phone from his pocket. In front of Kiana, he opened a chat labeled clearly: Dr. Mobius.
The empty chat had only a single short video from the other side.
All at once, Kiana had a bad feeling—and as the video played, that feeling became reality.
On-screen, a white-haired girl spread her arms to shield someone sprawled on a table. Looking into the camera, face flushed, she shouted in Kiana's most familiar voice, "Xander is mine! I absolutely, absolutely won't hand him over to you!!!"
The short clip ended soon. Seeing Kiana's face turn even redder than on the screen, Xander said, amused, "With such a fervent confession—who wouldn't be moved~"
"Y-you, I—th-that—she..."
To have her black history exposed the moment they made things official—Kiana felt heat shoot straight to her head.
"S-so you knew, and you still bullied me today!!! I—I'll fight you!!!"
She dove into Xander's arms, pushing him down. The two tumbled onto the grass. Their laughter carried away on the breeze, drifting far into the boundless sea and night sky—until it vanished without a trace.
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