Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Shi Yu: "..."

Why are you laughing now? Aren’t you worried you’ll make the baby cry? He thought.

He turned his head and shot Sang Huaiyu a look, causing the Evil God to tone it down a little.

Little Monster watched its parents exchanging glances, just starting to feel puzzled when it was suddenly lifted onto the baby seat. It trustingly believed its mother’s words.

After all… Mom wouldn’t… lie to it!

Shi Yu sighed in relief. It was good that Little Monster didn’t suspect anything—otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to console a child.

The family of three prepared to head out.

This was Shi Yu’s first time taking the child out, and he was still a bit uneasy. Even after Sang Huaiyu folded the baby seat and buckled Little Monster in the back with a seatbelt, he kept checking on it periodically.

Fortunately, Little Monster wasn’t an ordinary child. Though it was its first time riding alone, it adapted quite well.

It was just slightly bummed about not being able to sit with Mom.

Sang Huaiyu glanced back. "Xiao Yu, what movie do you want to watch?"

He passed Shi Yu the tablet to look through first.

Shi Yu took a look. Huh, there were quite a few new movies that had recently been released, and they all looked pretty decent.

But the one he most wanted to see… His eyes settled on a sci-fi film.

"I’m kinda leaning toward this one," he said.

"But let’s ask Little Monster’s opinion first. After all, it was its idea to come to the movies."

Shi Yu glanced at two newly released animated films nearby, thinking Little Monster would probably prefer those.

Kids naturally go for cartoons, after all.

Sang Huaiyu nodded while gripping the steering wheel. "No big deal. We can do separate showings."

"This mall has a special children’s movie theater, filled with kids around its age."

"It can go make some friends while we watch the sci-fi movie."

Really?

"Then we’ll play it by ear."

Shi Yu hesitated, torn between temptation and worry about whether Little Monster would adjust.

In the back seat, Little Monster obediently watched its parents. When it met its mother’s gaze and realized she was looking at it, it immediately subtly sucked in its belly, acting all innocent.

Shi Yu: "..."

So goofy.

Why does it look so clueless?

Is it really ready to watch a movie alone like this?

Shi Yu was a bit doubtful. Even after arriving at the cinema, he still couldn't rest easy leaving Little Monster alone. In the end, he decided... to watch two movies.

The first one would be the sci-fi film he liked, and the second would be the animated movie Little Monster preferred.

As long as it could be with its mother, Little Monster didn’t mind at all, happily looking around from the stroller.

Sang Huaiyu raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression neutral after Xiao Yu got the movie tickets. He pushed the stroller to buy some typical human snacks.

Though it was his first time watching a movie, having lived in the human world for so many years, Mr. Sang knew the basics.

Shi Yu turned his head and saw that Mr. Sang had bought his favorite milk tea and fries!

His eyes lit up.

"Thanks, babe."

Sang Huaiyu: "You're welcome."

Both of them were strikingly good-looking, pushing a baby stroller in the cinema, instantly drawing stares from everyone around. Oddly, no one seemed bothered despite watching them for a while.

Shi Yu had initially worried about stares, but he didn’t expect such high acceptance.

He glanced to the side and, seeing the onlookers avert their gazes, quietly said to Mr. Sang, "No one even bats an eye that we’re pushing a child around."

Sang Huaiyu also took a look. "Guess it’s normal these days."

"You worried, Xiao Yu?"

Shi Yu relaxed slightly. "Not really."

Just surprised, is all.

While the two were talking, the stroller had rustled at first but eventually fell completely silent.

After the movie started, Shi Yu saw Mr. Sang pushing the stroller onto the elevator. He glanced down and—huh?

When did Little Monster fall asleep?

Earlier, it’d begged to come out to watch a movie, yet it dozed off so quickly—kids for you.

Shi Yu: "..."

Should he wake the kiddo?

Just as Shi Yu was hesitating, Sang Huaiyu noticed his gaze and followed it to see a snoozing—hedgehog ball.

Its tentacles were coiled tight around it, looking out like a light.

He moved a little more gently, careful not to wake it up.

After all, it was better if it slept—less interruption for their date with Xiao Yu.

Unaware of Mr. Sang’s thoughts, Shi Yu entered the theater with him, found their seats, and placed Little Monster in the baby seat.

Seeing the little one still hadn’t woken up, Shi Yu dropped the idea of waking it.

Meh. The first movie was sci-fi anyway—it wouldn’t get it. Better to let it sleep.

He tugged Little Monster’s tiny cloak down. Settling into his seat, Shi Yu took a sip of his milk tea when suddenly, something felt... off.

Why is this so much heavier than his milk tea?

As the movie started and the screen darkened, Shi Yu glanced back guiltily, glancing at the cup in front of him and then to his right.

Wait, something’s not right.

Did he just grab Mr. Sang’s cup by accident?

The realization hit him. Shi Yu nonchalantly placed the milk tea cup back, acting like nothing happened, and focused on the screen. He failed to notice how unusually quiet Mr. Sang had become.

Sang Huaiyu, of course, had noticed Shi Yu taking the wrong cup—but it had been intentional, just to see Xiao Yu’s reaction.

And sure enough, Xiao Yu had put it back.

He picked up the milk tea cup. Normally He wouldn't touch human drinks, but after sensing the momentary stiffness in the person beside Him, He slowly took a sip, playing with Xiao Yu.

Shi Yu kept stealing glances, cringing hard—especially when Sang Huaiyu drank from the exact spot he had.

“Xiao Yu, what are you looking at?”

Sang Huaiyu turned to him then.

Coming back to his senses, Shi Yu realized how obvious his staring had been. “Uh… I might’ve taken a sip from your cup earlier.”

Just as Sang Huaiyu narrowed His eyes, Xiao Yu boldly added, “Does that… count as an indirect kiss?”

Even though they’d kissed several times before, Shi Yu’s heart still raced at the slightest intimate gesture. He thought it was ridiculous himself.

Between him and Mr. Sang, there seemed to be this instinctive, magnetic pull. Even the slightest contact made him lightheaded.

Was it the same for the other?

The words barely out, he instinctively bit his lip. He wasn’t thirsty—he’d just drunk plenty—yet his mouth went dry.

The cinema echoed with the movie’s soundtrack. On screen, the protagonists faced danger, the tension thick and eerie. But in the very back row, Shi Yu heard a soft chuckle—so quiet he nearly missed it. Gone was the usual gentle warmth, giving way to something… predatory.

“Does Xiao Yu prefer indirect kisses… or direct ones?”

He left the question hanging.

Before Shi Yu could react, the white silk that usually covered Sang Huaiyu’s eyes fell over his own, blocking his vision. In the pitch-black darkness of the cinema, the man he’d provoked leaned in and crushed their lips together.

The surroundings fell into silence. No one noticed, in that frozen moment, the couple kissing in the corner.

Still reeling from the kiss, Shi Yu grabbed Mr. Sang’s arm.

But unlike before, this time, he actively extended his psychic energy. The moment it brushed against Sang Huaiyu, realization struck.

—Mr. Sang wasn't right.

He’d been suspicious ever since the world’s barriers strengthened.

Now, after close contact, his psychic energy accidentally brushed against Sang Huaiyu’s injuries—and immediately understood.

Mr. Sang was hurt.

And not some minor wound either.

The moment his energy made contact, Sang Huaiyu paused, and let out a sigh.

“Xiao Yu’s testing me now.”

She’d been clearly terrified before, but now she’s already planning step by step to test him. Yet, Sang Huaiyu isn’t the least bit displeased; instead, he’s relieved Xiao Yu wasn’t scared of him anymore.

Shi Yu’s brow twitched, flushing slightly after being exposed. But from holding hands when they went out today until now, he had been testing Mr. Sang the whole time.

He never expected to find this out.

Though he had long suspected that the Horrors automatically entering the boundary and the weird energy shifts during the day were related to Mr. Sang.

But Shi Yu never thought he could get hurt.

“What happened to you, Mr. Sang?”

He tore off the white blindfold, staring intently at Sang Huaiyu, this time dead set on getting the truth.

Sang Huaiyu just looked at Xiao Yu.

“If Xiao Yu wants to redraw the line between yin and yang…”

“I might have to shed those useless Authorities.”

During the kiss just now, Sang Huaiyu had shed another one, making his energy flicker for a second.

Shi Yu’s eyes widened, stunned someone could be this crazy. You can just toss those aside?

Moreover, Sang Huaiyu was already injured.

His chest burned, his palms tightening:

“Stop this.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

Shi Yu himself didn’t even know what he was trying to achieve, just some gut instinct pushing him, telling him this was the key.

—Just his true identity.

Yet he never expected Sang Huaiyu to actively help him.

“If it’s different, it doesn’t matter. It’s all for Xiao Yu anyway.”

Sang Huaiyu gave a weak chuckle, his usually divine and handsome face strangely pale.

“Xiao Yu will protect me, right?”

His handsome, considerate boyfriend asked if he would protect him. Shi Yu froze for a moment before nodding immediately, protective instincts kicking in, not realizing he’d been the one getting kissed.

He opened his mouth: “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Sang Huaiyu’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Then I’ll leave it to Xiao Yu.”

He pondered for a moment: “I’ll be weak for maybe a month.”

“You’ll take good care of me.”

Shi Yu pressed his lips together and agreed softly, whispering “Thanks” as Sang Huaiyu leaned back.

When Little Monster woke up from its nap, something between Dad and Mom felt… different.

Little Monster didn’t understand human language, only noticing that Mom’s lips seemed unusually red. It curiously let out a “Wala!” sound, about to ask Mom what had happened.

But then a hand flicked its forehead, sending it rolling “Gulu gulu” into the seat.

Sang Huaiyu clicked his tongue, raising an eyebrow as Little Monster clambered back up in confusion: “Don’t look at your Mom.”