Chapter 10

Chapter 10

His head throbbed, threatening to split open.

Lin Xingshu was jolted awake by a series of knocks. Bleary-eyed, he rose, his brain pounding. He glanced at his phone—it was already past noon. He’d been feverish since last night; the antipyretics had only worsened his headache, leaving him dizzy and muddled.

Thankfully, Xie Guan had cooked for him yesterday. Otherwise, he might have starved to death unnoticed.

The knocking persisted. Lin Xingshu stumbled to his feet, dragging his weary body to the door. Through the peephole, he saw Xie Guan.

…Why was he back?

Today, Xie Guan wore a black sweater that clung tightly to his sculpted physique. Lin Xingshu’s gaze lingered on his broad chest and lean waist, momentarily dazed.

*Damn, he’s fit,* he thought, distracted.

Still dizzy, Lin Xingshu opened the door.

"Xing Shu, good morning… You look terrible. Are you unwell?"

Lin Xingshu mumbled a vague reply and tried to usher Xie Guan in. His mind swam, his body swayed, and he nearly toppled forward. Xie Guan swiftly stepped in, catching him.

The moment Lin Xingshu felt Xie Guan’s cool skin, he let out a contented sigh. Perhaps due to the cold, Xie Guan’s body was chilled. Feverish, Lin Xingshu instinctively leaned closer.

Feeling Lin Xingshu’s face against his chest, Xie Guan froze, not daring to move. His hands trembled uncontrollably.

"Xing Shu…"

Hearing Xie Guan’s voice, Lin Xingshu weakly looked up. "Mr. Xie, I’m sorry… I-I can’t stand steadily…"

Gasping for breath, Lin Xingshu leaned his forehead weakly against Xie Guan’s chest.

"I-It’s fine!"

Xie Guan stared at Lin Xingshu in his arms, his face flushing crimson, utterly speechless.

This was the first time… Lin Xingshu had initiated contact.

So fragrant, so incredibly fragrant. Just the scent alone made the cells in his body tingle.

Lin Xingshu’s body was so soft. He could even feel the warmth of Lin Xingshu’s breath through the fabric, tickling his chest—almost as if… as if Lin Xingshu were lightly licking his chest through the sweater.

At this thought, his body trembled harder. His breathing became uneven as he carefully wrapped his arms around Lin Xingshu, his mind involuntarily conjuring vivid fantasies.

Holding Lin Xingshu close, Lin Xingshu pressed against his chest, a sliver of tongue just visible beneath the fabric, lapping at his skin like a cat. Lin Xingshu tilted his head slightly, those beautiful eyes shining with tears as they gazed at him…

No, he couldn’t—he couldn’t keep thinking like this.

Lin Xingshu hadn’t accepted his feelings yet, nor was he his partner. He couldn’t force Lin Xingshu to…

Xie Guan took a deep breath and gently guided Lin Xingshu into his embrace, speaking softly, "Xing Shu, you’re still running a high fever. Let’s go to the hospital."

The hospital… the hospital…

Lin Xingshu stiffened, his mind suddenly flashing with the image of that perverted man.

Disguised as a stranger, standing among the crowd, those eyes brimming with obsessive devotion fixed on him…

"No!"

Lin Xingshu suddenly shrieked in terror, his eyes wide as if recalling something horrifying.

"I won’t go to the hospital… I’ll run into him…!"

"Xing Shu, your fever is severe. We have to go—"

"No! I won’t!"

Lin Xingshu shoved Xie Guan away, his body weakly slumping against the door, his face deathly pale.

Xie Guan reached out to steady him, only for Lin Xingshu to swat his hand away with a sharp *smack*.

"He’ll find me, he’ll follow me… I can’t go out, I can’t!"

Leaning against the doorframe, Lin Xingshu’s breath came in gasps. His face was sheet-white, yet his cheeks burned with an unnatural flush.

His mind was foggy, but those dark, smiling eyes kept floating in his thoughts. Faintly, he could even hear the man’s low voice whispering in his ear.

The voice was soft, repeating over and over its overwhelming proclamations of love—like an invisible hand, coiling around him like vines, leaving him no escape.

"Xing Shu, who is this person you’re talking about?"

Lin Xingshu hugged his trembling body helplessly, his eyes empty.

"I don’t know who he is… but I know he can take on anyone’s appearance. Every time, his face is different. His skin is pale, almost grayish, and he has jet-black eyes, just like…"

Slowly, Lin Xingshu lifted his gaze, falling on Xie Guan before him. When he saw those same dark eyes, his own widened in shock. A trembling finger pointed at Xie Guan.

"It’s you!"

"How are you here?!"

Xie Guan stiffened, a flood of panic crashing over him, threatening to overwhelm him. His mind went blank.

Had he been discovered? Did Lin Xingshu know he was the impostor pretending to be Xie Guan?

No, impossible. His disguise was flawless, without a single flaw. There was no way Lin Xingshu could tell…

Panicked, Xie Guan forced a smile.

"Xing Shu, you must be delirious from the fever. How could it be me…?"

He gave a weak laugh, but when he saw the pure terror and revulsion in Lin Xingshu’s beautiful eyes, his heart felt as if stabbed through. It hurt like hell.

"It is you! Your eyes are exactly the same… I’d recognize them anywhere… Get out! Get the hell out!"

"I hate you!"

Lin Xingshu’s thoughts were scrambled. After his frenzied shout, his strength gave out completely. His body swayed uncontrollably, and just as he was about to collapse, he fell into cool arms.

The person’s body was freezing, perfectly soothing his feverish heat. His consciousness blurred, and before he knew it, he had blacked out.

…

"I hate you."

Lin Xingshu’s words struck Xie Guan like a bolt of lightning, piercing his heart.

Gazing at the person he had longed for day after day, now lying in his arms, Xie Guan’s dark eyes were filled with sorrow, and a sharp pain stabbed through his chest.

Trembling, he reached out, his fingertips brushing against Lin Xingshu’s burning cheek before tucking the sweat-drenched black hair behind his ear.

"I’m sorry for frightening you. I promise that person will never appear again."

Because soon, he would take full control of this face. Then, he would replace that man and become the real Xie Guan.

Even if he could never return to his original form, even if he could never eat fresh meat again, it didn’t matter.

He had sworn that for Lin Xingshu, he would do anything—even love him under another’s face and identity.

That wasn’t the most important thing. He would become Xie Guan, take his place, and live happily with Lin Xingshu. He would be the perfect partner.

Hiding the sorrow in his eyes, Xie Guan gazed fondly at the beloved in his arms. Gently, carefully, he carried him back to the bedroom. Looking at the frail Lin Xingshu on the bed, he sighed softly before closing the curtains.

In an instant, the room plunged into darkness, with only slivers of daylight seeping through the gaps into the darkened bedroom.

Standing by the bed in the dark, Xie Guan confirmed Lin Xingshu had fallen sound asleep before slowly removing his clothes, revealing his well-built torso. Then, he cautiously climbed onto the bed, laying himself over Lin Xingshu.

Next, he reached up and began peeling away his flawless face, pulling it back toward the nape of his neck. With the sound of tearing flesh, his true form was finally unveiled.

A grayish-white face, featureless—save for a massive, fanged maw that occupied most of it. From within the gaping maw, a thick, crimson tongue flickered out like a snake’s, slowly descending.

He was a complete monster.

Suddenly, the monster extended its long-fingered hands, cradling Lin Xingshu’s face with utmost tenderness. It leaned down, its enormous maw and scarlet tongue drawing closer to Lin Xingshu’s cheek, its chest rising and falling with growing intensity.

In the presence of his beloved, his body had already had the most basic physical response.

The monster lowered its head, inhaling deeply the scent of Lin Xingshu’s neck. It lifted slightly, its open maw hovering just above Lin Xingshu—close enough that the slightest dip would bring its crimson tongue into contact with his skin.

Just before the tongue could touch him, the monster bowed its head, pressing its icy forehead against Lin Xingshu’s.

At that moment, the frown on Lin Xingshu’s face relaxed, his rapid breaths gradually steadying.

Carefully, the monster pulled Lin Xingshu close, pressing his feverish cheek against its chest. As if comforting a child, it gently patted his back.

All the while, its cold forehead never left his.

In the dark room, the blushing young man lay curled in the embrace of the huge, terrifying monster. He slept peacefully as the monster held him tenderly—one hand patting his back, the other caressing his cheek.

The scene was both absurd and heartwarming.

In his half-awake state, Lin Xingshu’s consciousness slowly returned.

He felt someone holding him, their skin freezing cold. Pressed against their chest, he heard the rapid pounding of their heart.

Cold fingertips traced his face, and in his daze, he heard a deep, familiar voice humming an unknown lullaby in his ear.

Unable to resist the heavy pull of sleep, he drifted off again, sleeping soundly through the night.

*

The next day, Lin Xingshu woke feeling refreshed, his mind clear. Instinctively reaching for his phone to check the time, his hand instead landed on a solid, muscular arm.

He froze instantly. Bolting upright, he stared in shock at Xie Guan—bare-chested, lying in his bed, eyes closed, fast asleep.

"X-Xie Guan?!"

Lin Xingshu gasped, quickly checking himself—his clothes were intact, his body felt normal…

"Hmm…?"

Xie Guan stirred awake, exhaustion evident, yet he forced himself up, reaching to touch Lin Xingshu’s forehead.

"Good, the fever’s gone…"

He exhaled in relief, weariness etched on his face as he smiled. "I’m glad you’re okay. You had a high fever all night."

Lin Xingshu blinked. He remembered the fever, but not Xie Guan arriving—or why he was bare-chested in his bed…

After a pause, he asked carefully, "When did you come over last night? I don’t remember…"

"Ah… you don’t recall?"

Xie Guan paused while dressing, quickly lowering his gaze. When he looked up again, his eyes smiling warmly:

"I came to check on you, but you were feverish and confused, refusing to go to the hospital. I couldn’t leave you alone, so I stayed. You begged to sleep next to me, saying I felt cool."

He sighed. "What else could I do? You were sick, after all."

"Really?"

Lin Xingshu doubted. Had he really been that clingy? But he did faintly recall cuddling against someone’s chest, a man humming in his ear—a voice exactly like Xie Guan’s.

Suddenly, his face turned bright red.

"Mr. Xie, I’m so sorry for troubling you last night…"

"No trouble at all. I like you—it’s what I should do."

The sudden confession shocked Lin Xingshu, his ears turning pink. Xie Guan’s smile deepened, his dark eyes mirroring Lin Xingshu’s embarrassed face.

"Xingshu, I like you. Do you… like me too?"