Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Ming Fei Yu often found it difficult to resist when Xie Zhi Gui looked at him with such yearning.

It was like a proud, untouchable flower bowing down to him, revealing its fragile, tender side, humbly asking for his help; he couldn't refuse. He would cradle the bloom tenderly, unable to bear seeing it lower its proud head. The flower he had fallen in love with was meant to grow and flourish at the top of the tree, not bend for anyone. If it did, it was his own failure.

However, if this crafty flower was deliberately falling to trick him into catching it, that was a different story.

Since Ming Fei Yu didn't respond, Xie Zhi Gui grew anxious, worried he might have overplayed his hand, his act seen through, yet he could find no fault in his earlier performance.

If Ming Fei Yu had seen through him, his reaction wouldn't be so composed.

Xie Zhi Gui decided to take the initiative, asking again, "Is it not possible?"

But Ming Fei Yu's gaze drifted to the window, to the cloud-covered sky where the moon was mostly hidden, soon to reemerge.

If he didn't leave now, Xie Zhi Gui would be in danger.

Internally cursing that it was an inconvenient time, he found himself with no choice but to decline Xie Zhigui.

"Not now."

"Oh."

He saw the light fade from Xie Zhigui's eyes in an instant, watched as the other’s hand, holding a comb, drooped in disappointment. Xie Zhigui's dejection tugged at his heartstrings.

Time was of the essence for him, yet he couldn't just leave abruptly.

After taking a few steps, he paused, sighed, and then turned back to sit beside Xie Zhigui.

He had Xie Zhigui turn slightly, back facing him, and then he began to tidy the neglected, disheveled hair with his hands.

Once he had secured the hair at the back, he had him turn around to face him, brushed a few stray strands from his forehead, and as he lowered his gaze, he met Xie Zhigui's eyes—his own reflection in them, singular and sharp.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Is there a problem?"

Ming Feiyu swallowed, his voice hoarse, "Like hooks that could ensnare one’s soul."

Xie Zhigui replied, "But you're before me, whom else should I look at?"

Ming Feiyu stared blankly for a few seconds, a flash of red seemingly crossing the depths of his eyes.

The person who had wished him dead the day before yesterday, now claimed to see only him—only a fool would believe such a shoddy lie.

Ming Feiyu believed it, even if it was false, for the longing in his heart and body for Xie Zhigui had made him involuntarily lean in for a kiss at the light blush of his eye's corner.

Xie Zhigui was unusually compliant today, accepting the kiss and embracing the subsequent hug with open arms.

Ming Feiyu held him too tightly, wanting to possess him entirely out of desire, yet fearful that losing control might cause harm.

Oblivious to the turmoil within Ming Feiyu, Xie Zhigui’s hands slowly climbed up his back, his forehead resting against Ming Feiyu’s chest, reciprocating the urgency of the embrace.

The hug didn't last long. Xie Zhigui felt Ming Feiyu had to leave, and just before letting go, he asked without a trace of emotion.

"Will you come back?"

"I will."

Pressing his face against Xie Zhigui’s neck and shoulder, he inhaled his scent greedily—it would be the sustenance that would get him through the upcoming solitary torment.

"I'm likely to be in a foul mood soon, I might lash out at you, or even do something excessive. If you sense something's wrong, find somewhere to hide, understand?"

"Mm."

Xie Zhigui thought there was something off about Ming Feiyu’s voice, it was hoarse and seemed to be suppressing something.

With a murmur of agreement, a silver moonbeam illuminated them, and as if responding to an instinct, Ming Feiyu hastily pulled Xie Zhigui into his arms, tucked him into bed, daring not to linger his gaze, and swiftly rose to leave. It was as if one second more and something uncontrollable might ensue.

Once alone, Xie Zhigui crawled out from under the covers, closed the door after getting off the bed, and leaned against it, taking a long breath in relief from the precarious situation just passed.

Had he managed to deceive Ming Feiyu, then?

Reflecting on the recent events, Ming Feiyu seemed wary of something outside the window. What was out there?

Puzzled, he walked to the window, initially only seeing the dense night outside. The moon hung prominently in the sky, exceptionally round and bright. On closer observation, a faint red halo could be seen around it, almost with a strange allure, holding his gaze transfixed.

It wasn't until his eyes ached and he blinked that the moon shockingly appeared blood red! He felt as if a colossal crimson eye had fixed upon him, and in fear, he stumbled away from the window, tripping over a chair and falling onto the floor.

"Ah!"

Ignoring the pain, he looked back in horror to find the moon normal again.

But the red halo seemed to have deepened in color.

Xie Zhigui was still unsettled, wondering if what he had seen was just an illusion.

Yet the pounding heart and the sensation of blood running backward felt too real, as if he had indeed locked gaze with some terrifying beast.

At this moment, his thoughts turned to Ming Feiyu; without the tether of a lover’s affection, Ming Feiyu’s eyes might be far more dreadful than the blood-red moon of his hallucination—cold and sinister, driven by the most primal instinct to hunt, like an unrestrained beast.

Xie Zhigui tried to push himself up from the floor, but his palms were too slick with sweat to get a grip. Only then did he realize that his palms, back, and forehead were drenched.

It was as if his body was signaling him to leave this place quickly.

Could it be that something horrific was about to happen here?

——

It was many days later when Ming Feiyu finally returned.

After several days without a sign of him, Xie Zhigui began to suspect that Ming Feiyu was toying with him, never intending to return, merely leaving words to keep him hanging.

But without Ming Feiyu, there was no way for him to find the path to leave this place.

Xie Zhigui had tried to venture out in search of an exit during Ming Feiyu’s absence, but as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, those red creatures would instantly detect his scent and swarm over from who-knows-where, forming a buzzing red fog that barricaded the gate, forbidding him to leave even a step further.

With wings both sharp and venomous, these bizarre beings deterred Xie Zhigui from rash contact. He had no choice but to retreat and consider another strategy.

His hair had grown long again; no sooner had he cut it short today, it would grow back even longer and more unmanageable the next.

This exceedingly abnormal phenomenon was unnerving, leading Xie Zhigui to suspect Ming Feiyu’s hand in this.

But with no one to be found and nowhere to inquire, he was at a loss.

Sitting in front of the mirror, combing his tangled hair while lost in thought about what to do next, he felt irked.

Suddenly, a pale and slender hand reached over from behind him and snatched the comb. Snapping back to reality, Xie Zhigui saw in the mirror that Ming Feiyu had appeared behind him at some unknown moment, nearly giving him a fright.

How did this man move so mysteriously and unexpectedly?!

Ming Feiyu's demeanor had returned to its usual calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

The fierce arguments of before were buried deep down, sealed with a kiss, a hug, and a mutual unspoken agreement never to be dredged up again.

Ming Feiyu gathered Xie Zhigui’s hair in one hand and with the other took the comb to smooth out the knots.

Xie Zhigui immediately tried to stand, but Ming Feiyu gently pressed him back down.

“Sit still, I'll take care of it.”

“Be gentle with your hair; pulling too hard will only hurt yourself,” Ming Feiyu said with a hint of helplessness, looking at the rough and discolored strands that were once glossy and black. Just a few days without his care, and Xie Zhigui had let himself come to this.

Impatiently, Xie Zhigui retorted, “Long hair is too troublesome, I want to cut it.”

“Keep it,” Ming Feiyu simply replied.

"Why?"

"Keep it for me."

Ming Feiyu looked up, his gaze meeting Xie Zhigui's reflection in the mirror. A smile touched his lips, tenderness swirling in his eyes. "I enjoy the sight of you with long hair, is that alright?"

Xie Zhigui's heartbeat skipped as if pausing for a moment. After a few seconds of dazed silence, he awkwardly turned his head away, murmuring discontentedly in his mind: Is it me he likes to look at, or is he seeing someone else through me?

But Ming Feiyu knew; this was an acquiescence. He continued to comb Xie Zhigui's hair with unhurried motions.

Outside the window, the morning sunlight poured in, bathing the two in a warm, prolonged moment.

After a while, Xie Zhigui stole a glance at Ming Feiyu, who was engrossed in his task. Feeling the time was right, he ventured, "Are you going to leave again later?"

Without looking up, Ming Feiyu countered, "Do you want me to leave?"

Xie Zhigui hesitated for a few seconds, then admitted, "It's a bit cold sleeping alone."

Before the words fully faded, Xie Zhigui yelped as he felt his feet leave the ground—he was hoisted up by Ming Feiyu, his arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, and then he heard Ming Feiyu's light chuckle above his head.

Ming Feiyu carried him towards the bed.

Realizing the precarious turn of events, Xie Zhigui quickly inquired, "What are you doing?!"

"Didn't you say it's cold sleeping alone? I'll keep you company," Ming Feiyu responded.

Xie Zhigui clenched his teeth and fists, protesting, "...It's daytime now."

Ming Feiyu remarked, "A nap in the daytime is refreshing."

“……”

In the nest of blankets, Xie Zhigui lay with his back against Ming Feiyu, whose arm was wrapped around his waist. Xie Zhigui couldn't close his eyes, his entire body tensely wired.

Who could relax enough to actually fall asleep next to a monster like this?!

Ming Feiyu, so close, naturally sensed his tension.

"Don't be afraid, I won't do anything to you."

Having said that, he buried his head in the crook of Xie Zhigui's neck, indulging in his scent.

In his heart of hearts, Xie Zhigui still felt fear, not wishing to be so close to him, and tried to quietly shift further into the bed. But at his slightest movement, Ming Feiyu sensitively detected it and pulled him back.

"Don't move. I've been very tired these past few days and just want to hold you while I rest. Keep fidgeting, and I won't be so polite anymore," he warned.

Indeed, Xie Zhigui could now discern the weariness in Ming Feiyu's voice.

He ceased resisting and lay quietly in Ming Feiyu's arms. As he calmed down, he detected a hint of blood on Ming Feiyu, a scent so strong that not even washing and masking with herbal fragrances could conceal it completely.

What on earth had Ming Feiyu been up to?

He had taken note of the items in the inner room. Despite Ming Feiyu's instructions to stay out, his disobedience wasn't a first-time offense. He knew Ming Feiyu had taken some ropes—strange red ropes with bells attached, of a material he'd never seen before, marked with runes that matched those on Ming Feiyu's coat.

He felt an ominous air about those ropes, though he didn't know who they were meant for.

Before long, he heard Ming Feiyu's breathing even out, signifying he had fallen asleep.

A weight seemed to lift from Xie Zhigui's heart.

It seemed he really was exhausted. From past experience sharing a bed, Ming Feiyu wouldn't just fall asleep holding him. He would usually playfully poke and prod, particularly teasing his sensitive spots until he lost his temper before settling down.

Today's Ming Feiyu was unusually quiet, and with his erratic movements over the past few days, Xie Zhigui felt a premonition of even worse things to come.

Night after night, he was plagued by nightmares. He lay in a pitch-dark place, blind to any light, weak-limbed and struggling to move. Just as he managed to pull his feet free, a pair of hands would suddenly grab his ankles, cold and slender fingers slithering over his skin like a serpent's tongue. He would wake up drenched in cold sweat, heart pounding as if he had nearly drowned.

These nightmares made him afraid to fall asleep too easily.

The thought of leaving grew stronger, as if a voice was desperately screaming at him to run, to not stay with Ming Feiyu any longer.

He demanded to know why.

The voice answered him, but it wasn't clear what was said; only the chilling terror was remembered.