Chapter 5

Chapter 5

At 5 p.m., Lin Xingshu clocked out numbly, his mind foggy as he boarded the subway home.

For some reason, he couldn’t shake the chill running down his spine. Even on the subway, he felt as though someone was watching him, the feeling of being watched making him deeply uncomfortable.

He scanned everyone warily around him and hurriedly returned to his apartment building once he reached his stop. Only when he saw the familiar surroundings did his unease subside slightly.

Lin Xingshu let out a long sigh and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for his floor. Just as the doors were about to close, a sharp *thud* startled him, making him jump. A pale hand shot in, stopping the doors.

The elevator doors slid open again, and a tall man stepped inside. Lin Xingshu looked up and was surprised to recognize the person.

From outside the elevator, a young man with dyed white hair walked in. He was strikingly handsome, dressed in a cream-colored sweater, his tall, muscular frame emphasized by the fabric. When he saw Lin Xingshu, his dark eyes curved into a smile, and he greeted him warmly.

Lin Xingshu raised an eyebrow, surprised by the uncharacteristic politeness. Out of courtesy, he returned the smile.

This person was his neighbor, Xu Yuan, a boundary-pushing streamer who made his living through his looks.

Xu Yuan had moved in not long ago, keeping odd hours. Lin Xingshu often heard provocative background music coming from next door, which drove him up the wall.

One day, he came across Xu Yuan’s videos on a short-video platform. His username was simply his real name, and in the clips, Xu Yuan danced provocatively in revealing outfits, dropping suggestive lines that made Lin Xingshu profoundly uncomfortable.

Unable to tolerate the nightly noise any longer, he resolved to confront Xu Yuan. Coincidentally, they ran into each other in the elevator that day. Not beating around the bush, Lin Xingshu asked him to lower the volume.

At the time, Xu Yuan had been scrolling on his phone. He glanced up coldly, looking Lin Xingshu up and down before scoffing and brushing past him wordlessly. The noise never stopped afterward.

In short, Xu Yuan was a thoroughly unpleasant person, and Lin Xingshu didn’t like him.

“You’re off work so early today?”

Xu Yuan stepped into the elevator and stood right beside him, their arms brushing as he struck up a conversation.

Lin Xingshu frowned slightly, his eyes lingering on Xu Yuan.

Something wasn't right about him today.

His face was the same, but why was he suddenly so much taller? He was at least a full head taller now, and his body seemed bulkier than before…

Out of politeness, Lin Xingshu nodded. “Yeah, just got off.”

“Lin Xingshu… Xingshu. Can I call you that?”

Xu Yuan leaned even closer, his chilling presence pressing in. His dark eyes were alight with amusement, but Lin Xingshu felt an involuntary shudder. He instinctively shifted away.

Xu Yuan’s gaze reminded him of Li Yun’s—a disturbing, cloying intensity.

Moreover, they had only met once. How did Xu Yuan even know his name?

Lin Xingshu’s frown deepened as he discreetly withdrew his arm.

“Just call me Lin Xingshu.”

“Hmm…”

Xu Yuan seemed disappointed, but Lin Xingshu found the behavior odd. He lowered his head to scroll through his phone, ignoring him.

Opening his chat with Xie Guan, Lin Xingshu hesitated, about to delete him when Xu Yuan suddenly spoke up beside him.

“Xingshu, who are you talking to?”

Lin Xingshu stiffened and turned to see Xu Yuan staring intently at his phone screen, his dark eyes cold and inscrutable, mixed with something else.

The invasion of privacy angered him. Lin Xingshu immediately locked his phone, his voice turning sharp.

“We’re not that close, are we? I already told you to call me by my full name. Snooping on someone’s phone is incredibly rude.”

“…Sorry.”

*Ding—*

The elevator reached the 20th floor. Lin Xingshu stepped out first, with Xu Yuan following closely behind.

In the hallway, the fluorescent light above flickered erratically. Lin Xingshu stooped to unlock his door, then paused when he noticed a tall shadow reflected on it. Slowly, he turned around.

Xu Yuan stood under the flickering light, his dark eyes fixed on Lin Xingshu with a disturbing intensity. The harsh glow made his face appear ghostly pale.

That gaze sent an involuntary shudder down Lin Xingshu’s spine, rekindling that same sickening sensation of being watched.

“Xu Yuan…?”

Xu Yuan tilted his head and suddenly smiled, his eyes forming crescents.

“Xingshu, was that person just now your boyfriend? Do you like him?”

The question was sudden and strange. Lin Xingshu found it completely bewildering.

The next moment, the lock clicked open. Lin Xingshu quickly moved to enter, but a rush of air whipped past his ear—Xu Yuan had materialized beside him with unnatural speed. Before he could react, the door slammed shut again with a loud *bang*.

“Xingshu, do you like that guy? If I looked like him, would you like me instead?”

“Xu Yuan—! Are you insane?!”

Lin Xingshu finally snapped, yelling in anger.

What the hell was happening today?! First strangers confessing out of nowhere, and now this—who had he offended?!

Wait…

A thought struck him. He suddenly recalled what had happened that morning.

Li Yun was supposed to be abroad, yet another Li Yun had appeared at the company, behaving completely differently. The situation was eerily similar to what was happening with Xu Yuan now…

He knew Xu Yuan—this guy was disrespectful and crude. They had only met once. There was no way Xu Yuan actually liked him! And he had never even told Xu Yuan his name!

Could it be… that this “Xu Yuan” wasn’t the real Xu Yuan at all?!

“Xingshu, I really do like you. Tell me what you want me to look like, and I can become it. I’ll be the perfect lover for you…”

*The perfect lover.*

How familiar those words sounded.

Lin Xingshu froze, staring at Xu Yuan. Right now, those jet-black eyes were locked onto him, overflowing with a warped, obsessive devotion.

Xu Yuan’s dark gaze overlapped with Li Yun’s—their eyes were identical.

In an instant, gooseflesh prickled across Lin Xingshu’s skin. He was now certain: the figure before him was *not* the real Xu Yuan!

Xu Yuan didn’t seem to notice Lin Xingshu’s realization. He took Lin Xingshu’s hand and pressed it against himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"My body is in great shape, believe me, I will definitely satisfy you. I am the one truly suited to be your partner, Xingshu. Do you want to try mating with me?"

Mating!?

Is this something a human would even say?!

Xu Yuan, as he spoke, actually took Lin Xingshu's hand and guided it under his clothes, enveloping it with his own large palm before pressing it against his chest, allowing Lin Xingshu to grope freely.

The sensation of warmth and softness against his palm left Lin Xingshu momentarily stunned, his ears turning red with embarrassment. It wasn’t until Xu Yuan’s hot breath brushed against his cheek that he snapped back to reality. Without hesitation, he pushed Xu Yuan away hard.

Caught off guard, Xu Yuan staggered back several steps.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Xingshu quickly unlocked the door and bolted inside. Just as the door was about to shut, a hand suddenly shot through the gap. Before he could react, the door crushed the intruding hand.

"Damn it!"

Lin Xingshu gasped and immediately yanked the door back open. Xu Yuan stood outside, expressionless, his hand clinging stubbornly to the doorframe—the back of his hand already bright red and scraped raw.

"Xu Yuan, what the fuck are you— Mmmph!"

Before he could finish, Xu Yuan pulled him into a tight embrace, one arm wrapping around his waist while the other pressed his face firmly against Xu Yuan’s chest. Trapped against the firm, muscular chest beneath the sweater, Lin Xingshu could barely breathe.

"Xingshu, I’m sorry… I should’ve been more patient. But you smell so good—I can’t control myself anymore. Xingshu, please don’t be with him, okay? I’m better looking than that guy, and I’ll treat you better. Just give us a shot?"

"Mmmph—!"

Lin Xingshu tore himself away from the suffocating embrace. "Get the hell away from me—!"

He slammed his fist hard into Xu Yuan’s face. With a pained grunt, Xu Yuan released him, and Lin Xingshu seized the moment to stumble toward the stairs.

Frantically mashing the elevator button, he watched as the numbers crawled upward, sweat beading on his forehead. His gaze flicked back to Xu Yuan, who was touching the bruised side of his face, dark eyes locked onto him with disturbing focus.

"Xingshu…"

Xu Yuan whispered his name, then slowly lifted a foot. His movements were stiff, arms swinging unnaturally as he lunged forward with terrifying speed.

His expression and gait were eerily reminiscent of the creepy guy Lin Xingshu had encountered on the subway that night—the same vacant stare, the same unnatural motions.

Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened in horror. Without another thought, he turned and bolted, pulling out his phone to call 911.

The call connected almost instantly, a calm female voice answering:

"Hello, this is A City Police—"

"Hi, I’m at XX Singles Apartments in A City! My neighbor is coming after me—he’s chasing me right now! Please hurry!"

"Harassment? Does he appear to be carrying any weapons, such as a knife—?"

"I don’t know, but he’s—"

Panting, Lin Xingshu relayed the details as he raced down the stairwell, his frantic footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. A glance over his shoulder made his blood run cold.

Xu Yuan was already right behind him, smiling creepily.

"Xingshu, don’t run away."