Chapter 365: Nightmare’s 18 Techniques to Lull You to Sleep (Part 13)

Chapter 365: Nightmare's 18 Techniques to Lull You to Sleep (Part 13)

Four hours later, Song Chuyi finally fell asleep, worn out.

Jiang Zhuxiu gently drew him into his embrace and kissed his forehead.

"A'Chu, have sweet dreams."

After a moment, he frowned slightly, as if something felt off.

"Nightmares."

Satisfied, he closed his eyes.

Shadows crept across Song Chuyi's forehead.

The dream began to unfold again.

————

In a dark, damp room, the overpowering stench of blood filled the air.

Song Chuyi opened his eyes and saw Jiang Zhuxiu lying in a pool of blood.

He raised an eyebrow to himself.

This was definitely a dream.

But why would Jiang Zhuxiu hurt himself?

What’s he up to now?

Song Chuyi stood up, walked over, and crouched down to poke Jiang Zhuxiu’s chest.

Jiang Zhuxiu’s eyes fluttered open, locking onto his.

"Just kill me."

"Huh?" Song Chuyi was confused. "You’re asking me to kill you?"

Jiang Zhuxiu stood firm, unyielding. "I'd rather die than submit to you."

Song Chuyi twitched his lips. "Thanks a lot."

He lifted Jiang Zhuxiu and carried him to the nearby bed, setting him down gently.

It was then he noticed Jiang Zhuxiu’s legs were broken.

This Nightmare was really hard on himself.

He found himself wondering if Nightmares experienced pain in dreams. As he tended to Jiang Zhuxiu’s wounds, Song Chuyi’s thoughts wandered.

All the while, Jiang Zhuxiu held onto his unyielding pride.

Song Chuyi didn’t mind, making small talk.

"Your legs are so long. Won’t it be a shame if they’re broken in half?"

"Breaking your own legs won’t help, I don’t need your legs."

"You’d have to break your little Zhuxiu for it to matter."

"Alright, I know you’d never do it."

"What do you like to eat? Pastries? Or spicy snacks?"

"Pastries might be a bit too rich, but they go great with tea or coffee."

…………

Jiang Zhuxiu: …

Song Chuyi just doesn’t stop talking.

He still doesn’t get how he can ramble on so much, jumping from one thought to another.

One second he’s talking about his legs, and the next he’s onto pastries.

Dreams don’t follow logic, and Nightmares will do whatever it takes to create a nightmare.

Logic doesn’t exist in dreams.

After all, Nightmares aren’t logical like humans.

Still, Song Chuyi’s chatter left Jiang Zhuxiu feeling helpless.

He couldn’t keep pretending.

He’d wanted A’Chu to feel the pain of being rejected by someone he loved, thinking it would be unbearable.

But A’Chu… didn’t feel a thing.

Jiang Zhuxiu’s feelings were a tangled mess.

He couldn’t help wondering, does A’Chu even love him?

If he loves him, why isn’t he hurt by the rejection?

He’d crafted this nightmare specifically for him, using himself as bait to corrupt him.

He wanted to savor A’Chu’s despair, the bitter sweetness of his pain.

But A’Chu… was just happy.

With Song Chuyi’s endless chatter, Jiang Zhuxiu couldn’t take it anymore.

"Why are you so happy?"

Song Chuyi cleared his throat, trying to hide his grin.

"Huh? Do I look happy?"

"I’m just concerned about your legs."

"Does it hurt bad?"

"Want some painkillers?"

"The painkiller’s kinda bitter, can you take it?"

Jiang Zhuxiu stayed silent.

"I’m not in pain," he said, his face stern. "Even if you’re so concerned about me, I won’t give in."

"I’d never like someone like you who forces things."

Song Chuyi sat nearby, the faint scent of blood still in the air.

But he still propped his face with one hand, feigning seriousness as he asked:

"Seriously?"

"You don’t like me?"

"Or is it that you don’t like me forcing you?"

"I’m not forcing you either; I’m just waiting for you to stand up."

Jiang Zhuxiu frowned, not catching on at first.

"My legs are broken; I can’t stand."

Song Chuyi stifled a laugh, "I’m not talking about your legs."

"It’s..."

Jiang Zhuxiu’s face flushed instantly.

"You!"

"No way!"

He’d never give in!

He created this dream to relish in negative emotions, not to be toyed with.

Jiang Zhuxiu told himself, his chest slowly calming.

"I won’t give in to you; forget it."

"Mhm," Song Chuyi waved, "You’ve said that a million times; come up with something new."

"Like..."

He paused at just the right moment, sparking Jiang Zhuxiu’s curiosity.

"Like what?"

Song Chuyi looked up and asked, curious.

"Where’re your little demon horns?"

"And your tail."

"Show them off?"

Jiang Zhuxiu was stunned.

Did Song Chuyi really remember the last dream?

Is his memory really that sharp?

No, it's not his memory; it's his strong mental strength.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t remember so clearly.

Did he see through me? Did he figure out I'm a Nightmare?

That can't be possible. Jiang Zhuxiu thought to himself, there's a barrier between Nightmares and humans.

Even now, Nightmares can only enter human dreams, not their real lives.

Only he can blend into human society by disguising himself.

But he’s sure he hasn’t been exposed in human society.

With no precedent, Song Chuyi likely wouldn’t guess he’s a Nightmare.

Jiang Zhuxiu kept reassuring himself, barely staying calm.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

His voice turned icy, "Let me go, or kill me."

Song Chuyi stood up, stretching lazily.

His slender, pale waist was almost blinding.

"What if I pick neither?"

Jiang Zhuxiu was briefly dazed but quickly snapped back.

"What?"

He didn’t catch what Song Chuyi had just said.

Song Chuyi walked over and sat down beside him.

He leaned forward, placing his hand on Jiang Zhuxiu’s head and patting it.

"Let me see your little horns~"

His long lashes fluttered, his delicate face eager.

"Last time I didn’t get a good look or touch them. Show me, okay?"

Jiang Zhuxiu turned away, "No."

Instantly, he sensed the negative emotions from Song Chuyi.

It was sadness and disappointment—the very emotions he craved.

He eagerly absorbed them, savoring the taste.

Sweetness filled him, tinged with a hint of bitterness.

Luckily, he was used to Song Chuyi’s bittersweet emotions; as long as he had something to feed on, he could ignore the bitterness.

Maybe the sweetness was overwhelming, or maybe the little hand on his head was distracting him.

Either way, just as Song Chuyi wanted.

He rose to his feet.