Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Spring always brought rain.

Raindrops pattered against the window, trickling down the glass in winding paths. Through the pane, a beautiful woman, Shi Zheng, could be seen busily working in the kitchen.

Holding a deboning knife, she deftly and effortlessly filleted the meat from a whole chicken, her movements fluid and natural.

One might have expected her to toss the meat into a pot, but she didn’t. Instead, she carefully picked up a piece of chicken with chopsticks, brought it to her nose, and sniffed it delicately, like an animal. Her eyes flashed with a sharp glint.

Suddenly, she reached out, her fingers trailing across her face. Slowly, her mouth began to open, her jaw stretching wider and wider until her once-lovely, charming face was overtaken by a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp fangs. Her facial features were distorted and pushed backward.

A thick, red tongue slithered out, scooping the raw chicken into her maw. Her sharp teeth worked like a meat grinder, quickly turning the chunks into mincemeat.

Shi Zheng let out a satisfied sigh, seemingly unaware of the blood seeping from the corners of her lips.

*Ding dong—*

*Ding dong—*

The doorbell suddenly rang. Startled, Shi Zheng swiftly reverted to her normal appearance. She wiped the blood from her lips with a fingertip, fixed a smile on her face, and hurried to the door.

"Honey, you're back— I was just about to— What?! It's you?!"

"Why did you come here looking like this? Are you insane?! Get inside, now!"

At that moment, a man stood motionless at the door, his head hanging low. His face was covered in distorted swellings, his features twisted and contorted, making him appear monstrous.

Water dripped from his hair, one drop at a time. Whether from cold or something more, his entire body trembled.

He said nothing as Shi Zheng dragged him inside. For a moment, he stood dazed, his gaze lifting to the enormous wedding photo hanging on the living room wall.

In the photo, a beautiful woman smiled sweetly, nestled against the man’s shoulder as he held her close. Both looked radiantly happy.

It was a scene he had fantasized about countless times over the past few days—even in his dreams.

But now, that fantasy could never be realized.

The monster’s body shook harder, tears mixed with blood streaming down his pale cheeks like a light rain. A bestial whimper of grief escaped his throat.

Unable to contain himself any longer, he clutched his face and let out a piercing wail. Bloody tears seeped through his fingers as his large body shook uncontrollably.

Shi Zheng stared at him in shock, swallowing back the reprimands she had prepared. Instead, she silently comforted the monster.

"Was it because of that human? Did he find out?"

"No..."

Shi Zheng let out a relieved breath. "Then why...?"

The monster slowly lifted his head from his hands, his eyes filled with despair.

"That impostor used this face to hurt him. He said... he never wants to see me again."

The man’s pale face was streaked with trails of bloody tears, making him look even more horrifying. His blank eyes fixed on the floor, as if his soul had been ripped away.

Lin Xingshu’s cold gaze, his disgusted tone—the memory wouldn't fade.

But he couldn’t explain to Lin Xingshu that the one who had uttered those cutting words wasn’t him.

Because he was merely a thief—a thief who had stolen Xie Guan’s face and identity.

If he had chosen to assume another’s identity, to use another’s face to seek happiness, then he had to face the repercussions.

"You’re this upset over such a small matter?"

Shi Zheng chuckled softly, her cold fingertips tracing over the monster’s distorted face. The monster froze, not understanding her meaning.

"You should be able to control this face perfectly by now, right?"

Tilting her head, Shi Zheng smiled gently. Her gaze drifted to the unending downpour outside, her smile stretching wider.

"I checked the weather forecast. This heavy rain will last for days."

"Isn’t it time to make that bastard disappear?"

The monster lifted his eyes, his dark gaze returning to the wedding photo on the wall.

For a fleeting moment, the figures in the picture transformed into him and Lin Xingshu—Lin Xingshu leaning against his shoulder, holding him tenderly, both of them smiling with pure joy.

He quickly dropped his gaze. When he looked up again, he and Shi Zheng turned their attention to the rain-streaked window.

Staring at his distorted reflection in the glass, he raised a hand and carefully adjusted his twisted features. His fingers gently wiped away the blood-tinged tear tracks beneath his eyes.

His face was perfect again.

*

The next evening, the rain still continued unabated.

"Xie Guan, what stupid mistake have you done now? How could you mess up even this order? How did I end up with such a worthless son?"

In the office, the elder Mr. Xie’s face turned crimson with rage as he hurled a folder at Xie Guan, who stood motionless before him. The old man breathed heavily, struggling to catch his breath.

Xie Guan took it all silently, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His dark bangs veiled his eyes, perfectly masking the fury burning within them.

The elder Mr. Xie slammed his fist on the desk, his expression frustrated.

"Last time, I bailed you out when you lost that major international contract. Now you expect me to step in again? Xie Guan, if this continues, I can’t possibly hand the company over to you—"

"If not me, then who else could you give it to?"

The elder Mr. Xie froze. "What did you say?"

Xie Guan bent down, picked up the folder from the floor, and placed it back on the desk. He lifted his gaze, meeting his father’s eyes without fear, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

"Aside from me, the only other options are those cousins from Uncle’s side. I admit, they’re more competent than me. But Dad, would you really hand over the business you built through hard work to someone else?"

"You know perfectly well that both uncles are eyeing the company. I’m your only son. You have no other choice."

"You—you!"

The elder Mr. Xie trembled as he pointed at Xie Guan, his face alternating between flushed then pale. Xie Guan had no interest in arguing further with his aging father. He turned away with a dismissive wave.

"Don’t worry. We’re rich enough to hire highly qualified professionals to manage the company for us."

"I’m leaving. I have plans."

With that, Xie Guan ignored his father’s furious shouts and walked out.

Inside the elevator, he hesitated for a moment with his phone before finally sending HR the message: *Fire Lin Xingshu.*

After finishing all this, he put away his phone in good spirits as the elevator descended to the B1 level underground parking garage.

It was long past rush hour, and the garage was deserted and poorly lit. The drumming of heavy rain outside echoed faintly, a steady pitter-patter.

"Tap—tap—"

In the vast parking lot, only his footsteps echoed. Xie Guan made his way slowly toward his car, head lowered as he scrolled through his phone.

The sound of footsteps mixed with the rain continued. The overhead lights flickered intermittently. Just as Xie Guan was about to send a message to a friend, he suddenly paused, as if he sensed something.

He could have sworn he heard footsteps behind him...

Xie Guan turned around and looked back, but aside from a few scattered cars, there was no one else in sight.

The rain continued falling. Frowning, Xie Guan turned and continued toward his parking spot.

"Tap—tap—"

The footsteps resumed, blending with the rain. Xie Guan stopped dead, as if struck by a thought, yet the heavy footsteps still echoed in his ears.

His grip on the phone tightened. He hadn't misheard—he really did hear someone else’s footsteps, and that person… seemed to have been following him all along!

Nervously, he scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on a car ahead. When he saw what was in front of it, his pupils contracted to pinpricks instantly.

In the dim light, a tall SUV sat dark and silent in the darkness. The flickering overhead lights intermittently illuminated a man and a woman standing behind the vehicle.

The yellowish glow fell on their faces, both wearing matching smiles—even the curve of their lips was exactly the same.

But what shocked him most was that the man… looked exactly like him.

But he had no twin brother!

Noticing his stare, the man who looked just like him smiled and waved. Instantly, Xie Guan felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

He recoiled two steps before breaking into a sprint. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the two still standing under the flickering lights, grinning unnaturally.

Only after getting into his car did Xie Guan’s racing heart slow slightly. He exhaled deeply, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. Just as he was about to start the engine, his peripheral vision noticed something in the rearview mirror—and he went rigid.

In the reflection, a man and a woman sat in the backseat, smiling at him.

Ice ran through his veins. His breathing became shallow, but he dared not move.

Suddenly, an icy touch brushed his shoulder. He jolted violently as razor-sharp nails scraped his neck, leaving a thin trail of blood.

Those nails were unnaturally sharp, too inhuman—more like claws.

"Aah! Mmm—!"

Before Xie Guan could scream, a hand slammed over his mouth. The same hand that had been on his shoulder now gripped his throat, sharp nails pressing against his windpipe. A male voice whispered eerily from behind:

"What a lovely face you have."

Recognition dawned—that voice! It was him! The man who had attacked him in the parking lot earlier!

Trembling uncontrollably, he couldn’t utter a word.

Through the rearview mirror, he watched as the man who looked just like him drew nearer, razor-like nails now tracing his jawline. The slightest pressure, and those nails would puncture clean through.

"I envy you so much. Envious of this beautiful face… and even more jealous that you get to have him openly."

*Him? Who?*

Xie Guan drew a blank. *Was this person talking about Lin Xingshu?!*

Suddenly, he recalled Lin Xingshu’s strange remarks—about how Xie Guan had cared for him, cooked for him… *Could it be that this man had been the one doing all those things?*

The next moment, the man’s sharp nails dug into his chin. Xie Guan trembled violently, tears flowing freely as he made pathetic, muffled sounds. Through the mirror, he pleaded with the man in desperation.

"Are you begging me?"

Xie Guan bobbed his head wildly, clasping his hands together in supplication. The man suddenly laughed, his black pits locking onto Xie Guan’s in the mirror.

"I could let you go."

Xie Guan went limp with relief, tears flowing even harder. But just as he relaxed, a dark chuckle came from behind.

He looked up to see the man grinning like a Cheshire cat, his dark eyes curved into crescents.

"Just kidding. Die now."

The next instant, the man’s jaw unhinged grotesquely, his features contorting toward the back of his skull. His once-perfect face vanished, replaced by a gaping, tooth-filled maw. A forked, crimson tongue flicked out.

"Mmm—!"

Xie Guan’s eyes bulged before rolling back—he blacked out completely.

"What a pathetic coward."

The monster released him, morphing back to human form. He stared at the unconscious Xie Guan with open revulsion.

"Take him away. I don’t want to see him again."

Shi Zheng smiled and agreed. Her gaze lingered on the monster. "Now that you’ve become Xie Guan, what’s your plan?"

The monster lowered his dark eyes and murmured, "Well… his birthday is coming up. I want… I want to do something…"

*Even though Ah Shu said he never wanted to see him again… he still missed him so much.*

*Just one more meeting would be enough…*

Shi Zheng’s eyes glittered darkly as her lips curled into a smirk. "In that case, let me teach you a trick."

The monster blinked. "What?"

Her grin widened, crimson nails tracing her bewitching face.

"Play helpless, act pitiful—hound him relentlessly if you must. Even dirty tricks are fine, as long as they make him soften. All's fair in love, understand?"

"I understand…"

……

Under the dim lights, Xie Guan exited the vehicle. Straightening his askew tie, he smiled and waved at the driver’s seat as the car slowly drove away.

He then left the parking garage and returned to the company. In the glass reflection, he saw his own perfect, handsome features.

From now on, he was Xie Guan.

He would cherish Ah Shu as he deserves in Xie Guan’s place. They would marry, be together always… No one would ever keep them apart again.