Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Ding-ding—"

The sudden alarm, sharp as a hammer blow, jolted Lin Xingshu awake. He gasped, sitting bolt upright in bed.

"Hiss—"

A strange sensation pulsed between his legs, eliciting a startled cry. He threw off the covers and froze.

His body was covered in the monster’s telltale marks—clear handprints pressed into his skin, leaving hardly a pristine patch.

In an instant, memories of the previous night flooded back.

In the pitch-black, humid night, he had been embraced by the monster, moved from the bed to the door, then held and seated on the table, violated again and again without mercy.

Like a madman, the monster had ignored his struggles and pleas, continuing its assault until he could no longer even scream. Only then did it reluctantly release him, still looking insatiable.

Before losing consciousness, he felt the monster press its palm against his lower abdomen, gently massaging it while a slightly apologetic voice murmured in his ear:

"Sorry, I went too far… I think I overdid it this time. Does your stomach hurt? Let me help you…"

He had been too exhausted to remember anything after that, falling into a deep sleep until morning.

Lin Xingshu snapped back to reality, instinctively glancing beside him—only to find the space empty. The room was silent, but a white sheet of paper on the nearby desk caught his eye.

Slowly, he rose, enduring the discomfort as he cautiously approached the desk and picked up the note.

"Ah Shu, I had to return to City A for some business. I’ll be back tonight. I already changed the bedsheets—the one reeking of you is mine now!"

The monster’s handwriting was as childish and scrawled as ever. Even from just a few lines, Lin Xingshu could vividly imagine its twisted tone. The memory of last night’s depraved acts made him shudder, and he tossed the note aside in disgust.

Too perverted.

The lingering strange sensation in his lower body made him tremble. If he truly stayed with that monster, he’d surely be fucked to death.

When the monster had still been disguised as Xie Guan, he could tolerate it—but now, it was no different from a wild beast. He was just an ordinary human. How could he possibly endure this?

No… No! He had to move. Leave this city and start fresh!

Trembling, Lin Xingshu pulled on his clothes, then, with practiced ease, found a resignation letter template, quickly filled it out, and sent it to his manager.

After hastily packing his belongings, he slung his bag over his shoulder. Just as he reached the front door to open it, a sudden, urgent knocking erupted from outside—heavy and insistent, making the metal gate clang loudly.

Lin Xingshu’s heart lurched. He muffled his footsteps, instinctively holding his breath. Cautiously, he approached the door and peered through the crack, seeing a face he knew all too well.

It was Xie Guan—the real Xie Guan.

At this moment, Xie Guan stood outside, frantically knocking. His frame was gaunt, his face sunken, his skin darkened by exposure to the elements. He wore a thin short-sleeved shirt, a stark contrast to his former spirited appearance.

Yet the impatience in his eyes was unmistakable, the hostility in his brow impossible to hide. This demeanor—it couldn’t be the monster.

Lin Xingshu was stunned. The last time he’d seen Xie Guan was at Zhong Cheng’s place. He hadn’t expected him to actually awaken…

"Lin Xingshu, I know you’re in there! Open the door, now!" Xie Guan snarled, a flash of fury in his eyes. "I went through hell to find you. If you want to keep living like this, then keep cowering! But that monster will come for you sooner or later!"

Lin Xingshu’s grip on the doorknob tightened. He pressed his lips together, hesitating—then, with a sudden resolve, he wrenched the door open. Xie Guan’s knocking hand froze. When his clouded eyes landed on Lin Xingshu, they suddenly lit up with joy.

"Lin Xingshu, so you are here after all!"

Xie Guan was overjoyed. Suddenly, he glanced around warily, quickly pulling Lin Xingshu into the courtyard before securely locking the gate. Only then did he finally relax.

"Xie Guan, you…"

"You thought I was dead, didn’t you?"

Xie Guan’s gaze lingered on him, narrowing slightly when he noticed the hickeys on Lin Xingshu’s neck. He let out a disdainful snort. "Seems like in my absence, that monster has been enjoying quite a few benefits while impersonating me."

Lin Xingshu felt uneasy under his scrutiny, the harsh words making him burn with embarrassment. Instinctively, he covered the marks on his neck and changed the subject:

"How did you find me? Since you’ve woken up, you must know Zhong Cheng, right? Where is he?"

"Hmph."

Xie Guan scoffed, his eyes flashing with hatred at the mention of the monster. "I do know Zhong Cheng, and I found out everything from his diary. But by the time I woke up, it was too late—he’d already been killed by that monster."

"Dead…?! How could that be…"

Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened in shock, his face paling. Xie Guan’s eyes grew colder.

"He’s been dead for almost a month… I was only able to find you thanks to his chat logs with you. You mentioned going to City B, so as soon as I woke up, I came straight here. It took me a long time… but I finally spotted you at a convenience store and figured out where you lived."

The sudden news of Zhong Cheng’s death left Lin Xingshu reeling. He couldn’t believe that Zhong Cheng had died at the hands of that monster.

His lips trembled slightly as he looked tiredly at Xie Guan. "Are you here to ask me to join you in avenging Zhong Cheng?"

"What? Revenge?"

Xie Guan frowned, letting out a scornful laugh.

"That’s not why I’m here. In the end, he was a monster too. Saving me was just for his own gain—never expected he’d end up getting himself killed."

His voice was icy, as if Zhong Cheng’s death meant nothing to him, making Lin Xingshu shiver.

"But I do know Zhong Cheng gave you a knife—a weapon capable of killing that monster. Right now, that thing has taken over my life, leaving me with nowhere to go. It deserves to die."

"Lin Xingshu, don’t you want to return to City A too?"

Xie Guan suddenly fixed his gaze on him, eyes narrowing slightly. "That monster is crazy about you—so much so that it took my place just to be with you. You’re probably the only one who can kill it."

Lin Xingshu’s heart lurched, and he instinctively took two steps back. "What are you saying?"

"Listen, Lin Xingshu. I know you want your old life back—so do I. If you agree to kill that monster, I promise you’ll get enough money to live comfortably forever. Just kill it, and everything will be settled."

Lin Xingshu’s lips quivered. "You want me… to kill him?"

"I know it won’t be easy, but that monster has committed countless atrocities. Death wouldn’t even begin to atone for them. You’d just be doing the right thing—what’s wrong with that? Don’t worry, we’re in this together. Once I reclaim my position, I’ll take care of everything for you."

"That knife is in your hands. If you want, you can kill him anytime. Lin Xingshu, you don’t want to keep working at that convenience store forever, do you?"

Lin Xingshu’s head spun, Xie Guan’s words ringing in his ears like a curse.

It was true—the monster had done too many terrible things. Because of it, he had ended up like this, constantly hiding despite having done nothing wrong…

If he killed the monster, everything would go back to normal. No more creepy stalkers. And the monster didn’t even know about the knife—it’d be a piece of cake…

But still…

"So? Made up your mind yet?"

"I…"

Lin Xingshu clenched the hem of his clothes, his thoughts a tangled mess. Xie Guan sighed, "Are you really content being just a convenience store worker? Do you want to keep hiding forever?"

"Lin Xingshu, don’t just clam up. Speak."

"I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to—!"

Faced with Xie Guan’s aggressive questioning, Lin Xingshu suddenly clutched his head, squeezing his eyes shut in pain. Xie Guan stood behind him, smirking with satisfaction.

"Kill him, and all your problems will be solved."

Xie Guan patted his shoulder and left quietly, his goal already achieved. There was no need to pour fuel on the fire.

The door closed, leaving Lin Xingshu alone in the empty courtyard. He stood motionless for a long time before staggering back inside, slumping into a chair. His neatly packed things were now scattered on the floor.

Among them was Zhong Cheng’s knife.

Lin Xingshu’s gaze fell on the blade, his eyes empty. Hands shaking, he picked it up, his fingers tightening slightly as the knife slid from its sheath. The sharp edge gleamed coldly under the natural light.

It was sharp enough to pierce skin with the slightest pressure.

His memories returned to the previous night, when the monster had pinned him to the bed, lost in passion, murmuring "I love you's" against his neck.

They had been so close. The monster had exposed its vulnerable neck and bare chest without hesitation. Had Lin Xingshu acted then, the monster would’ve been dead for sure.

His mind even conjured the image of the blade plunging into the monster’s chest.

The once lively creature, endlessly professing its love, would collapse in a pool of blood, utterly still…

"Clang—"

The knife slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. Lin Xingshu jerked back to the present, only to find his cheeks wet with tears.

Was he crying?

He touched his cheeks—damp.

He was supposed to hate the monster—hate its endless hunger, despise its relentless harassment, hate that it pretended to be Xie Guan and deceived him…

So why was he crying? Why did his heart ache so much?

He didn’t know. He truly didn’t.

Lin Xingshu pressed his hands over his eyes in anguish, tears dripping between his fingers.

*

Late at night.

"Click—"

The bedroom door let out a soft click, creaking open slowly. Heavy footsteps approached the bed.

In the pitch-black darkness, a tall, muscular figure sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the young man sleeping soundly with his back turned. A hint of tenderness flashed in the man’s dark eyes.

He loosened his tie, stripping off his confining clothes, and placed his phone on the table. Then, slowly, he lifted his head and opened his mouth. Under the moonlight, the man revealed his true form.

His pale face was just one huge gaping mouth, devoid of a nose or eyes. His body, now bare, pressed carefully against Lin Xingshu’s slender back, flush against him. His arms encircled Lin Xingshu’s waist tightly, as if he wanted to melt into him.

Suddenly, the body in his arms stirred. A rustling sound followed as Lin Xingshu turned to face the monster, pressing himself against its chest and wrapping his arms around it.

The monster froze in shock.

"I missed you," Lin Xingshu murmured against its chest.

The monster was taken aback. In its memory, Lin Xingshu had rarely expressed affection so openly. At a loss, it could only place a tentative hand on Lin Xingshu’s back.

The next moment, Lin Xingshu suddenly shifted, flipping them over and pinning the monster beneath him.

Sitting astride its hips, Lin Xingshu wore only thin sleepwear. Moonlight spilled through the window, painting him in silver. He braced his hands on the monster’s chest, staring down with unreadable eyes.

The monster’s breath came faster. Its hands instinctively gripped Lin Xingshu’s thighs, stroking with purpose as its body reacted. Its touch traveled upward, settling on his waist.

"Ah Shu, can we…?"

Lin Xingshu remained silent. Under the moonlight, his eyes were dark and unreadable. He leaned down, his shirt falling open to reveal more of his body. He reached out, pressing a warm palm against the monster’s cold face, his thumb gently caressing its cheek.

The monster’s pale face flushed. It nuzzled his palm like a puppy. Watching its enamored expression, something dark flashed in Lin Xingshu’s eyes. His other hand slid stealthily beneath the covers.

When his hand found the knife’s grip, Lin Xingshu’s breath hitched. His pulse pounded in his ears.

Now was the time. The monster would be done for—its slender neck, exposed chest, every weakness laid bare before him. All he had to do was strike.

But a stabbing pain hit his chest. Lin Xingshu gritted his teeth, gripping the knife tightly, but his arm refused to move.

"Ah Shu, why hesitate?"

Lin Xingshu jolted, the color draining from his face. He stared down at the monster in disbelief.

It had known all along.

The monster lay beneath him, its featureless face unreadable. One hand still rested on Lin Xingshu’s waist, as if it had anticipated everything.

"When… when did you know?"

"From the moment I entered the room."

Lin Xingshu’s throat tightened. He lowered his eyes, averting his face slightly. His voice trembled, "If you knew, why pretend otherwise? You could have killed me first."

"Ah Shu."

The monster called his name softly, lifting his hand to kiss his palm.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I love you. Truly, deeply."

"If you die by my hand… I’d be happy. So… go ahead, Ah Shu. You can kill me."

Lin Xingshu went rigid. The monster, however, reached for the hand clutching the knife. Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened in panic. He shook his head desperately, tears making his vision swim.

The monster chuckled, pulling Lin Xingshu’s wrist from under the covers. Moonlight glinted off the blade, its sharp tip aimed at the monster’s chest.

"No—!"

Lin Xingshu screamed, tears overflowing. Everything he’d held back came bursting out.

"No! I won’t kill you!"

"Shh, don’t cry."

The monster extended a hand, tenderly wiping away Lin Xingshu’s tears, then forcibly gripped his wrist, forcing him to plunge the knife into its own chest.

"Don’t be afraid. I know… you actually despise me. I’ve done awful things. My death will let your life go back to normal. After this, I’ll never appear before you again. It’s alright—it’s a sharp blade. I won’t feel any pain."

"No… I told you I don’t want this! Let me go—!"

Lin Xingshu struggled desperately, his voice raw from screaming. But the monster was far stronger. No matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t loosen his grip on the dagger. The monster, like someone possessed, forced his wrist downward, pressing the blade into its own chest.

"You’re insane—! I don’t want this—!"

The monster ignored him. The blade had already pierced its skin, blood bubbling from the wound as the knife inched deeper toward its heart.

Blood dripped from the monster’s body, blooming across the white sheets in small, spreading pools.

Lin Xingshu’s mind went blank. His heart hurt so badly he could barely breathe. Unable to suppress his emotions any longer, he cried out in a ragged, desperate voice:

"I don’t want you to die! I take it back—I don’t want you to die, please…"

"I love you! I love you! I can’t live without you…"

"Whether you’re human or monster doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t want you to die. I want you to live. Let’s… let’s start over…"

Lin Xingshu’s head dropped weakly, tears streaming uncontrollably. The room filled with his broken, desperate weeping.

No matter how much he had tried to convince himself—that he couldn’t love a monster, that he couldn’t love a twisted pervert—he could no longer lie to himself.

The moment he saw the blood seeping from the monster’s chest, his heart felt torn apart. He couldn’t bear to lose this monster.

"Ah Shu… you… you mean it?"

The monster finally stopped, hope flooding its voice. Lin Xingshu didn’t answer with words. Instead, he leaned down, nestling his face submissively against the monster’s shoulder. His scalding tears fell on its skin as he whispered:

"It’s true… it’s true…"

"So… stop hurting yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be Xie Guan anymore. Let’s leave this place, move to another city, and start fresh…"

"I’m so happy… I’m really happy."

The monster gently wiped his tears away, nuzzling his cheek like a devoted animal.

"I promise you. We’ll start over. Ah Shu, Ah Shu… I love you…"

It slowly released his hand, whispering his name repeatedly. The knife clattered to the floor as they embraced tightly. Lin Xingshu shut his eyes, listening to the monster’s heartbeat, his own heart finally at peace.

It didn’t matter anymore—monster or human, he didn’t care.

All he knew was that he couldn’t lose it.

Lost in his own world, Lin Xingshu didn’t see the way the monster rested its head on his shoulder, its mouth splitting unnaturally wide, its crimson tongue quivering with barely restrained excitement.

Had it known this gambit would work so well, it would have done it sooner. Why wait until now?

At last, it had claimed its beloved—not just his body, but his heart. Now, its lover would never leave.

The monster held him close. On the table, its silenced phone lit up with a message from an unknown number:

"Success?"

Without a sound, the monster reached out, turning off the screen before Lin Xingshu could notice. Then, as if nothing had happened, it wrapped its arms around him again.

Meanwhile.

Xie Guan chuckled as he read the sent message, lighting a cigarette.

So, that thing had succeeded. And now, he could finally take back what was his.

From the moment the monster had found Lin Xingshu, it had all been a ruse.

That day, he’d thought the monster would kill him. Instead, it had proposed a deal:

If Xie Guan played along in its scheme to win Lin Xingshu back, the monster would return everything it had taken from him—and disappear forever.

With no other choice, he’d agreed. The monster had plotted carefully, only allowing him to approach Lin Xingshu today.

He knew why the monster had done this. And he thought it was ridiculous.

What did love matter next to power? If he were the monster, he’d never trade status and wealth for something so fleeting.

But it didn’t matter now. The monster must have gotten what it wanted. By tomorrow, he’d be back in City A.

*

In July, Xie Enterprises officially passed into the hands of its heir, Xie Guan.

By January of the following year, due to mismanagement, Xie Enterprises suffered catastrophic losses, teetering on the brink of collapse.

In May, Xie Enterprises declared bankruptcy.

Watching the news, Lin Xingshu could only sigh. The once-powerful Xie empire had crumbled under Xie Guan’s leadership.

"Ah Shu, time to eat."

A deep voice murmured beside him. Lin Xingshu turned to see his husband standing there, wearing a kitchen apron, the fabric pulling tight over the swell of his chest. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing lean, muscular arms.

His face was blank save for a yawning maw, fangs gleaming when it smiled.

This was his husband—an inhuman creature.

After that night, the monster had returned Xie Guan’s identity to him, and the two of them had left their old city behind, moving to a new one.

Using its abilities, the monster had assumed the form of an ordinary man—a face so ordinary it disappeared in crowds. Through an introduction from a fellow creature named Shi Zheng, it had found work at a taxidermy shop, working mainly with animal specimens—and occasionally, human organs.

As for Lin Xingshu, he’d gone back to his old job. Their days were simple, but happy.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Lin Xingshu smiled, throwing his arms around his husband’s neck and leaning against him. The man obediently wrapped an arm around his waist—then, before Lin Xingshu knew what was happening, gripped the back of his neck and crushed their mouths together.

Instantly, the room filled with ragged breaths and the wet sounds of their kissing.

Lin Xingshu had to contend with the monster’s thick, crimson tongue, his own tongue accidentally scraping against its sharp fangs. The creature shuddered, kissing him even more fervently, its tongue nearly filling his entire mouth.

Saliva spilled from the corners of his lips, dripping onto his collar. Struggling for breath, Lin Xingshu weakly pushed at its chest.

"W-Wait—mmph—!"

The monster’s breathing grew heavier. Ignoring his protests, it hoisted Lin Xingshu’s legs up, yanking off the apron before pinning him to the couch.

"Mmm! Stop it! I—I’ll get angry!"

Lin Xingshu’s face burned red as he mumbled incoherently. The monster slowly withdrew its tongue, panting like an eager dog before licking his cheek. It gazed up at him with pitiful eyes.

"Can I? I really want to…"

Lin Xingshu was nearly breathless from being kissed. He yanked the monster’s tongue in frustration, lowering his voice, "No!"

"Ah Shu… Ah Shu…"

Feeling his lover’s fingertips glide over his tongue, the monster’s voice grew even hoarser, edging into a whimper.

"Please… I’ll die if we don’t. I want… punish me, I need— Ah Shu…"

His hands began to wander restlessly, but Lin Xingshu slapped them away with a sharp "smack." A wicked glint flashed in Lin Xingshu’s eyes as he tugged the monster’s tongue again, his fingers grazing the sharp fangs.

The monster shook harder, his pale face flushing red.

"Ah Shu, good Ah Shu, darling, please…"

"No, begging won’t work."

Lin Xingshu kept refusing, drawing his knee up to press against the monster’s abdomen, while the sole of his foot found its mark.

A cruel idea struck him.

With that thought, he dug in with his toes—predictably, the monster let out a muffled groan, the veins on his arms bulging as he braced against the couch, his neck flushed an unnatural red.

"Don’t… don’t do this…"

Lin Xingshu taunted with a cruel smirk. "I did it on purpose. Like that? Why didn’t you listen when I told you to stop earlier?"

Watching the monster’s desperate, unsatisfied expression, Lin Xingshu reveled inwardly.

"I’ll listen, Ah Shu, stop stepping…"

"Too late."

Lin Xingshu pressed down harder, and the monster’s thoughts dissolved into static.

It was both pleasurable and painful—if he pressed even harder, it might feel even better, the monster thought hazily.

Next time, he’d definitely get Ah Shu to stomp somewhere else…