Chapter 370: Nightmare’s 18 Lullabies (18)

Chapter 370: Nightmare's 18 Lullabies (18)

Jiang Zhuxiu gently stroked Song Chuyi's fingertips, his tail hook gently nuzzling them.

A slight smile played on his lips.

"A'Chu."

He whispered softly, as if wanting to carve this name into his soul.

Song Chuyi was deep in sleep, not even a dream crossed his mind.

His consciousness drifted in darkness, and it wasn't until a faint light fell on his face that he stirred.

Song Chuyi moved his fingertips and slowly opened his eyes.

The familiar ceiling brought him a sense of calm.

In his ears was Jiang Zhuxiu's deep, steady breathing; upon closer listening, it seemed to carry a faint hint of exertion.

Song Chuyi: Huh???

He was instantly awake.

"You..." His lips twitched slightly, "You didn't do anything... unusual while I was asleep, did you?"

Jiang Zhuxiu let out a low chuckle. "No."

He had simply reverted to his true form while Song Chuyi was asleep and brushed his tail hook against him.

It's just that his tail hook was particularly sensitive, so his breathing inevitably became heavier.

"Did you have a pleasant dream, A'Chu?"

Song Chuyi reminisced about the vivid scenes from his dream, a smile creeping into his eyes.

"Not exactly a pleasant dream?"

"It was just... quite passionate."

He let out a soft laugh.

"Rather than a good dream, it's more like... a dream?"

He whispered the second-to-last word so softly, almost brushing it against Jiang Zhuxiu's ear.

Jiang Zhuxiu felt the word 'spring' brush against his ear, and his breath hitched.

"Did you enjoy it?" he asked.

"I did," Song Chuyi reached up and touched the back of Jiang Zhuxiu's ear. "If you had dreamed the same scenes as me, you'd definitely enjoy it too."

Jiang Zhuxiu joined in his laughter.

How could he not have dreamed it?

Those dreams were his creation, and he had personally taken Song Chuyi to other Nightmares to experience those dreams.

They had gone through those dreams together, so naturally, he knew the breathtaking scenes Song Chuyi had painted in those dreams.

Jiang Zhuxiu swallowed hard. "I've taken three days off."

"Are you planning to rest up at home these days?"

Song Chuyi instantly understood his meaning.

"So, you're planning to dream a lot these days, huh?"

"Sure," he replied with a smile. "I haven't been getting much rest lately anyway."

He reached out and ruffled Jiang Zhuxiu's hair.

Jiang Zhuxiu paused, almost thinking Song Chuyi knew something.

But Song Chuyi quickly withdrew his hand.

"I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat at home?"

Pushing aside his suspicions, Jiang Zhuxiu took Song Chuyi to eat.

For several days in a row, Jiang Zhuxiu crafted enchanting dreams for Song Chuyi.

He didn't disguise himself in the dreams; the Nightmare's true form was both fierce and alluring, enough to ignite deep-seated desires.

Song Chuyi enjoyed playing with the little horns on his head, and when it became too much for him, even his hands holding the little horns trembled.

Jiang Zhuxiu fed on the myriad emotions emanating from Song Chuyi, mostly positive ones.

Excitement, exhilaration, joy, lust...

These emotions mixed together, crystallizing into bitter coffee beans that Jiang Zhuxiu consumed.

The surge of energy they provided was overwhelming, making Jiang Zhuxiu grow much stronger.

His mental energy surged uncontrollably, and gradual increases eventually transformed his abilities.

Jiang Zhuxiu discovered he could siphon energy from the dreams conjured by other Nightmares.

Not only that, he enabled other Nightmares to feed on human positive emotions.

Thus, the existing two hundred Nightmares were all empowered with Jiang Zhuxiu's capabilities.

These Nightmares could also harvest energy from delightful dreams.

This development thrilled the Nightmares, as it meant an additional sustenance source for them.

Although human positive emotions were bitter, some were even sour.

But compared to starving, they could tolerate the tang and bitterness.

Moreover, some Nightmares even liked sour and bitter tastes; these Nightmares were very pleased with this change and wholeheartedly accepted Jiang Zhuxiu as their sovereign.

Jiang Zhuxiu navigated the vast expanse of the dream realm, collecting many human dreams.

Then he recreated each one meticulously for Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi had to admit that the human mind was truly peculiar; even though most dreams are now dominated by Nightmares, some people could still forge unique pathways.

Finding hope in adversity, finding joy in hardship, and cultivating exquisite blooms amidst despair.

Because Jiang Zhuxiu had absorbed too much of Song Chuyi's emotions, his spirit became so overactive that he couldn't revert to his human form in reality.

So, he took an extended leave.

After two months, as expected, Jiang Zhuxiu was fired.

Song Chuyi... well, he got fired too.

After all, no company would keep an employee who took two months off in a row.

Both got their termination emails at the same time, and after exchanging looks, Song Chuyi was the first to laugh.

"This is bad, we need to find new jobs now."

Jiang Zhuxiu closed his email and hugged Song Chuyi.

"I have savings, so there's no rush to find a job."

Song Chuyi looked up at him and asked, "So, what's your plan?"

Jiang Zhuxiu stayed silent.

He still hadn't told Song Chuyi his true identity.

Maybe it was a cowardice that shouldn't belong to a Nightmare, or maybe because living in the human world for so long had made him pick up human fears.

Anyway, at that moment, he still didn't have the courage to tell A'Chu he was a Nightmare.

Seeing him silent, Song Chuyi seemed to guess his hesitation and spoke up first.

"Are you trying to tell me you're actually a cute Nightmare?"

Jiang Zhuxiu's pupils trembled, and he quickly looked down.

He didn't dare look at Song Chuyi's expression, afraid he might see fear, scare, and disgust.

Song Chuyi reached up and grabbed his chin, making him look at him.

"I've known for some time."

Jiang Zhuxiu's lips quivered, "You... you're not scared?"

"Not scared." Song Chuyi let go and smiled, "You've made so many dreams for me, don't you know what scares me?"

Jiang Zhuxiu stared at him, stunned.

Of course, he knew what scared him.

A'Chu was afraid he wasn't happy.

A'Chu always wished for him to be happy.

"I..." Jiang Zhuxiu's eyes darkened, shadows swirling between his brows.

Almost instantly, the little horns of a demon popped out, and his tail hook curled around Song Chuyi's wrist.

"I know."

"But I'm different from A'Chu."

"I'm afraid of many things."

He tightly gripped his wrist.

"I'm afraid A'Chu will despise me."

"Afraid you'll distance yourself from me because of our different social standings."

"Afraid the world will end while A'Chu is still around."

He fears so many things.

Shadows had somehow coiled around Song Chuyi's wrist.

Song Chuyi raised his hand and gently stroked the little horns on his head.

"You're afraid of so many things, yet they all tie back to me."

"So, you're just afraid I'll leave you."

He laughed.

"I'm actually pretty easy to please."

"Keep me happy, and I won't leave."

He lowered his head, his lips brushing against the little horns.

"Just let me get my seven hours of sleep, and I'll never leave you."