The Little Succubus's Hypnosis Manual - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Caught in the Act
“Why didn’t you take your medicine properly?”
Zhou Qiyue froze mid-motion while taking off his coat, staring at Xie Nanxing in surprise. Then, he suddenly smiled gently.
“When I come home, I should give you a hug first.”
He reached out with his broad palm, wrapped it around Xie Nanxing’s waist, and pulled him into his arms.
Zhou Qiyue still carried the chill from outside. The cold made Xie Nanxing shiver, but the stolen hug felt incredibly warm.
He buried his head in Zhou Qiyue’s shoulder, lightly inhaling his scent.
They used the same brand of shampoo and body wash, yet Zhou Qiyue always carried a subtle, lingering scent of agarwood, making Xie Nanxing want to smell him a little longer.
The cold was slowly evaporated by the warm embrace, and spiritual energy quietly flowed into Xie Nanxing’s body.
“You’re so clingy,” Zhou Qiyue suddenly came to his senses and pried Xie Nanxing off of him.
“Mm.” Xie Nanxing felt wronged—how was just a hug considered clingy? He moved to stick close again, only to be stopped by Zhou Qiyue.
“Did you do the assignment I gave you this morning? Did you practice reading?” Zhou Qiyue asked while hanging up his coat.
Xie Nanxing’s eyes shifted evasively. Hearing the sound of Aunt Wu chopping vegetables in the kitchen, he pointed toward it. “Food.”
Zhou Qiyue gave a short laugh through his nose—clearly, the assignment had been neglected. Still, he could settle the score after dinner.
Xie Nanxing wanted to cling to him but was afraid of being grilled about homework, so he slipped into the kitchen to help Aunt Wu.
Aunt Wu didn’t let him do anything too complicated—just washing vegetables or grabbing condiments.
He helped her bring dishes to the dining table and called Zhou Qiyue over for dinner.
Before, because he couldn’t use chopsticks properly, Zhou Qiyue had to feed him, so they sat side by side.
Today, however, Zhou Qiyue sat across from him.
Xie Nanxing paused, chopsticks in hand, confused. Then he picked up his bowl and moved to sit beside Zhou Qiyue.
He had no clue about the storm about to hit and even proudly demonstrated how proficient he had become with the assistive chopsticks.
His eyes sparkled as he looked at Zhou Qiyue like a puppy begging for praise.
Zhou Qiyue originally intended to give him a stern lesson, but seeing his innocent face made him smile despite himself.
“Mn. Very good.”
Just those two words made Xie Nanxing so happy he ate an extra half bowl of rice.
He completely forgot about the medicine.
Zhou Qiyue picked up a pill from the table, tore it open, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to Xie Nanxing.
Xie Nanxing reluctantly took the capsule but didn’t want to swallow it. Zhou Qiyue’s watchful gaze left him no choice.
He popped the capsule into his mouth, rolled it under his tongue, drank a bit of water, and faked a swallow, easily fooling Zhou Qiyue.
“Go to the study after this. I’ll check your homework,” Zhou Qiyue said.
But with the pill still under his tongue, speaking would give him away. Xie Nanxing bit his lip and shook his head.
Zhou Qiyue, rarely losing his temper, showed a trace of irritation.
“Fine. Then don’t come to my room tonight. Even if you cry, I won’t let you in.”
“Mm…” The capsule began to dissolve, and its bitter contents spread across his mouth, overwhelming his taste buds.
Before he could speak, he started coughing violently. Zhou Qiyue quickly grabbed the trash can and held it up for him. Xie Nanxing spat out the dissolved medicine particles.
Zhou Qiyue immediately realized—Xie Nanxing had refused to talk because he’d hidden the pill in his mouth, not just to avoid homework.
Furious but helpless, he handed him another glass of water.
Xie Nanxing gulped it down, finally washing away the bitter taste.
“Why won’t you take your medicine properly?” Zhou Qiyue asked, barely containing his anger.
But the little troublemaker had a way of avoiding questions he didn’t want to answer—by pretending not to understand. He simply refused to reply.
His face just looked obedient.
“If this keeps up, I’ll call and send you to Dr. Li’s private hospital. You’ll come back only when you’re fully recovered.”
As he spoke, Zhou Qiyue pulled out his phone.
“No!” Xie Nanxing rushed over and grabbed his hand. Afraid he’d really be sent away, he nearly burst into tears.
“You… get well… I leave.”
Zhou Qiyue froze, finally recalling that he’d once said Xie Nanxing would leave once he was healthy. That’s why he had refused to take his medicine.
He gently comforted the boy, regret flashing in his eyes.
“The police are still looking for your family. In the meantime, you can stay here. I won’t send you away.”
“Rea…lly?” Xie Nanxing looked up at him in disbelief, afraid he’d imagined it. He raised his pinky and made a pinky promise gesture.
“Mn.” Zhou Qiyue ruffled his hair, hooked pinkies with him.
“But you still have to study your initials and finals. Don’t you want to talk to me?” Zhou Qiyue asked gently, his tone soft enough to melt.
If his subordinates saw this, they’d probably rub their eyes, wondering if Zhou Qiyue had been possessed.
Xie Nanxing looked distressed. “Want to.”
Zhou Qiyue sighed in relief. At least the kid had a conscience.
“Good. Take your medicine now.”
Zhou Qiyue tore open another pill, and this time, Xie Nanxing obediently swallowed it. Seeing Zhou Qiyue still watching, he opened his mouth, lifted his tongue, and rotated to show every angle of his mouth to prove he really had taken the pill.
Zhou Qiyue nodded in satisfaction and brought him to the study. He printed a chart of initials and finals and asked him to read it.
Xie Nanxing could recite them, but correctness was another matter.
Zhou Qiyue rubbed his forehead, reminding himself not to get angry with an idiot.
“I’ll teach you. Repeat after me.”
Xie Nanxing blankly stared at the alphabet. Zhou Qiyue got him a chair, placing it right next to his so he could teach him more easily.
The chart was placed between them. Zhou Qiyue pointed to the first syllable, his arm brushing against Xie Nanxing’s.
Spiritual energy flowed into Xie Nanxing’s body through the contact, making his mind wander.
He raised his arm as if following Zhou Qiyue’s pointing finger but deliberately pressed his arm against Zhou Qiyue’s.
The energy flowed through the contact point. He smiled contentedly.
“What are you smiling at? Repeat after me. ‘A’.”
“E.”
Zhou Qiyue: “…It’s ‘A’.”
“E?” Xie Nanxing blinked innocently. Their demon school had never taught such complex human language—just a basic introduction.
Zhou Qiyue closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. “Next one: ‘O’.”
“Oh.”
Zhou Qiyue really wanted to pull out Xie Nanxing’s tongue to see if it was structurally different from his own.
“Hm?”
Zhou Qiyue fell silent. Xie Nanxing tilted his head, silently asking what happened.
Zhou Qiyue didn’t speak. He downed a glass of cold water before continuing.
At first, Xie Nanxing struggled, but after two rounds, he started improving. Meanwhile, Zhou Qiyue began to notice something odd—his chair felt a bit crowded.
He looked down and realized Xie Nanxing’s butt was almost halfway on his seat. Their upper bodies were pressed together.
Zhou Qiyue finally noticed the warmth. Both wore thin loungewear, and their arms were touching. Xie Nanxing’s fingers were subtly brushing his skin.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Xie Nanxing’s legs were practically glued to his, swinging happily.
Zhou Qiyue’s forehead darkened. He glared at Xie Nanxing.
“Are you here to study or just to stick to me?”
Xie Nanxing actually thought about it seriously, then decisively replied, “Stick.”
Now Zhou Qiyue’s face went pitch black, as dark as a scorched pot. He grabbed Xie Nanxing by the back of the neck like a naughty kitten and tossed him out of the room, voice cold as ice.
“Read this ten times by yourself in your room.”
Before Xie Nanxing could react, he was shut out.
He picked up the chart, his little face scrunched up like a steamed bun. With someone as top-tier as Zhou Qiyue, of course he couldn’t focus on studying.
Besides, the chair was way too small. There was no way the two of them could sit together—it made his butt and legs ache.
If only he could sit on Zhou Qiyue’s lap to study, that would be perfect.
Xie Nanxing began fantasizing: he’d be on Zhou Qiyue’s lap, their bodies pressed together, and every time Zhou Qiyue spoke, he’d feel the vibrations from his chest.
Too bad he already used his hypnosis for today.
But tomorrow—tomorrow, he had to try.