Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Ahhh—! Get away from me!"

Lin Xingshu shrieked, slapping the monster across the face. The sharp crack echoed startlingly clear in the rainy night.

"Heh heh heh—"

The monster paused, then let out a muffled, delighted chuckle. "Why so gentle? Afraid you'll hurt me?"

Lin Xingshu’s breath hitched. He tried to push the monster away, but it suddenly clamped down on his wrist.

A crimson tongue slid along the inside of his forearm, tracing the blue veins with slow, deliberate licks. Sharp teeth pressed against his fair skin—just a little more force, and the monster could bite off his arm in one go.

Lin Xingshu’s scalp prickled with terror, his mind already conjuring bloody visions. He desperately tried to wrench his arm free, but it was futile. When he felt the monster’s fangs and cold, wet tongue drag across his skin, he finally lost control and screamed:

"Monster! Stay away from me! Get the hell away—!"

He abruptly drove his knee up, slamming it hard into the monster’s abdomen. The creature let out a pained grunt and instinctively released him. Suddenly freed, Lin Xingshu reeled backward a few steps before crashing to the ground.

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared. The wind howled, making the door groan ominously. The monster quickly recovered from the pain and took slow, measured steps toward Lin Xingshu.

"Y-you... stay back!"

Trembling uncontrollably, Lin Xingshu could only cower helplessly into the corner. The monster ignored his plea, crouching down and unfurling that red tongue toward him.

Lin Xingshu let out a shriek like a cornered animal, tucking his head and wrapping his arms tightly around himself. He didn’t dare look up, his entire body shaking violently.

"Are you afraid of me?"

A familiar voice hissed beside his ear. A cold hand slithered beneath his arms, its palm pressing against his cheek, fingers gently stroking his face.

"Is it because of this face?"

"But Ah Shu, didn’t you once say that no matter what I became, you’d still love me?"

"Why is it that now, without Xie Guan’s face, you don’t want me anymore?"

Lin Xingshu seemed deaf to the words, shaking his head helplessly, eyes swimming with terror.

His mind involuntarily projected those gruesome scenes—the monster tearing off his limbs, devouring him piece by piece. The thought made his face turn ghostly pale, his trembling worsening.

Seeing Lin Xingshu cowering in the corner, the monster went still momentarily. He shifted slightly, wanting to embrace him as he once had, but Lin Xingshu wailed like a trapped creature, slapping his hand away and scrambling backward on all fours.

The monster’s hand hovered uselessly. Lin Xingshu wasn’t strong—logically, it shouldn’t have hurt. Yet for some reason, his hand throbbed, and his heart even more so.

"Ah Shu, are you really this scared of me?"

"Does losing Xie Guan’s face make me nothing to you? Did you ever feel anything for me? Even the slightest bit?"

"No—!"

Unable to bear the relentless questioning, Lin Xingshu finally lashed out. He jerked his head up, shouting raggedly at the monster:

"I don’t like you, okay?! Will you let me go now?!"

*Boom—*

Amidst the thunder, the monster froze entirely. After a long pause, he slowly withdrew his hand. Lin Xingshu clenched his jaw, a glimmer of hesitation flashing in his eyes before he finally lowered his head.

"I don’t believe you."

Lin Xingshu froze, wondering if he’d misheard. As if confirming his thoughts, the monster repeated:

"I don’t believe it. That’s not the truth. You *do* like me. You *do*..."

"You wouldn’t lie to me. You said you loved me. I remember. I’ve always remembered... Yes, you must still like me..."

The monster rambled to himself like a lunatic. The next second, a cold touch wrapped around Lin Xingshu’s ankle—someone had seized him. His heart lurched, eyes widening in shock:

"What are you doing?! Let go—!"

Before he could finish, the monster tightened its grip on his ankle. From its fanged maw, a thick, crimson tongue slithered out, coiling up his leg, inch by inch, licking his skin with unnerving thoroughness.

The sensation was disgustingly slick, like a deadly viper coiling around his calf. The monster’s sharp fangs pressed lightly against his skin—just a little more pressure, and they’d pierce through...

Lin Xingshu’s face went ashen. Gritting his teeth, he snapped his leg up, trying to kick free. But the monster anticipated this, tightening its grip and dragging him closer with terrifying ease.

In an instant, a wave of damp, cold air washed over him. The monster loomed above, hands planted on either side of his head, its chiseled, cold chest pressing against him. The damp shirt clung to its body, hinting at the form beneath.

The familiar scent engulfed him. Lin Xingshu instinctively held his breath, clamping his eyes shut, too afraid to look.

Then, a cold touch brushed his face. Startled, he slowly opened his eyes. The monster was bent low, its monstrous tongue swirling along his neck while its hands cradled his face, thumbs stroking gently.

For a moment, Lin Xingshu felt dazed.

This gesture was achingly familiar. Back when they were together, the monster would often do this—nosing and lapping his neck like an affectionate dog.

Memories flooded his mind, scenes of their past together resurfacing despite his lingering fear. Strangely, he didn’t resist the monster’s touch.

"Ah Shu."

The monster suddenly called his name. Lin Xingshu snapped back to reality, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the creature.

"You’re reacting."

*!!!*

Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened in shock. He jerked his head down, staring at his crotch—just as the monster said, his loose sweatpants tented noticeably.

Instantly, an indescribable shame scorched through him. His hands clenched the fabric of his pants, his face cycling between red and pale. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

His mind was blank.

*How could this happen?*

He was *terrified* of the monster—so why was his body responding like this? How? *How?!* This thing had harassed him over and over!

And besides... he was human. The monster wasn’t. How could he possibly get aroused by something of an unknown species?!

"See? Ah Shu *does* like me."

The monster let out a strange, giggling laugh. Despite its towering size, it suddenly seemed like a lovestruck girl, pressing its head sweetly against Lin Xingshu’s chest, its grin stretching ear to ear.

It stayed there, listening to Lin Xingshu’s racing heartbeat, a deep satisfaction swelling inside.

This reaction—this frantic pulse—wasn’t because of Xie Guan’s face. It was because of *him*.

The monster slowly lifted its head, nuzzling Lin Xingshu’s cheek like an affectionate puppy. Its voice was tender, yet tinged with shyness. "Ah Shu, I’m so happy. So... I’ll do everything I can to make you happy too."

"Wait... uh—!"

Before he could even refuse, his neck was suddenly softly gripped by the monster. Lin Xingshu's eyes widened in shock. Just as he thought the monster was about to strangle him, the next moment, a slick, cold pressure pressed against his lips.

"Mmmph—!"

The monster's tongue forced its way in, filling his mouth entirely. Lin Xingshu frantically shook his head, but the more he resisted, the deeper the monster's tongue pushed, as if it truly intended to devour him whole.

Tears welled in the corners of Lin Xingshu's eyes from the overwhelming sensation. He pushed against the monster, but it only gripped the back of his head, deepening the kiss.

He was going to die—really, he was going to die.

The monster's tongue was nothing like a normal tongue. Back when the monster had worn Xie Guan's face, it had never kissed him so roughly. He was already struggling to breathe, his lips and the corners of his mouth slick with moisture.

He could feel the monster's tongue pushed deeper into his throat.

"I'm sorry... Ah Shu, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have been so brutal. It's all my fault, hah... I just love you so much... I've never been with you like this before, in my true form... Sorry, let me kiss you properly again..."

Though the monster apologized, it didn’t stop. Instead, it grew even more fervent. Just as Lin Xingshu was about to pass out from lack of air, the monster finally—reluctantly—released him.

Dazed from the kiss, Lin Xingshu gasped for breath, his mind blank from oxygen deprivation. His lips and the corners of his mouth were wet, his cheeks flushed an unnatural red.

"So cute... Ah Shu is really so cute..."

The monster let out an unnatural chuckle, its tongue feverishly lapping at his neck. One hand effortlessly lifted his thigh, its tall, muscular body completely covering him.

A rustling sound followed, and a chill crept up from his feet. Slowly regaining his senses, Lin Xingshu hazily lifted his head—only to be assaulted by an overwhelming wave of alien sensations. He nearly cried out, quickly covering his mouth with his hand.

He looked down in disbelief, shame and anger flashing in his eyes, his fair face burning scarlet from the extreme emotions.

He tried to push the monster away, but it seized his wrist, its slender fingers stroking the delicate skin on the inside. The air was heavy with moisture.

Lin Xingshu's spine arched violently before collapsing, his mind utterly blank.

Summer was always rainy. Outside, the rain lashed down violently, leaving nowhere to hide. Rainwater cascaded from the eaves, soaking every corner—fierce and unrelenting.

The rain grew heavier, battering the leaves with a loud patter, making them quiver precariously. Droplets rolled down the veins of the leaves, gathering before draining into the gutters.

After the storm, the world finally quieted. Outside, the rain slowed, though thunder still rumbled in the distance.

Inside, Lin Xingshu lay on the floor, his vision swimming, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The drenched clothing clung tightly to his skin.

The monster studied his heart’s desire with satisfaction, tilting his head slightly as he breathed in the musky scent lingering on his fingertips. A low, guttural laugh rumbled in his chest.

"So sweet."

"Thank you, Ah Shu. I loved it."

Slowly, the monster reached out, dragging icy fingers down Lin Xingshu's damp cheek, claiming his face with icy fingertips.

The sudden cold touch made Lin Xingshu convulse violently.

"As thanks, I’ll do my best to make Ah Shu happy too."

His fingers trailed downward, finally resting on Lin Xingshu's bare abdomen. The monster's freezing hand splayed against his abdomen as he cocked his head with a predatory grin.

"Ah Shu, this might be quite intense later. You'll need to bear it, okay?"