Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The old bus rattled and swayed, coming to a stop in front of a weather-beaten station. Lin Xingshu carefully helped Xie Guan alight.

Lin Xingshu scanned the horizon. It had been a long time since he last returned to his hometown, yet the village looked unchanged from his memories.

Surrounded by mountains, the village was dotted with scattered houses. The two walked along a rugged path into the village as the sunset painted the hills in gold. Familiar scenes surfaced in his mind—it had been three years since his last visit. Upon entering, he noticed many villagers had already moved away, leaving behind crumbling, dilapidated houses. The once-large village now had only a handful of residents.

Not only that, but the farmland had also gone wild, and the clear stream from his memories had dried up. The village looked the same, but nothing was.

"Xing Shu, look over there."

Xie Guan suddenly tugged at his hand. Lin Xingshu followed his gaze and saw a small lake dappled with sunset ripples.

"Do you remember?"

A faint smile played on Xie Guan’s lips, his eyes unfocused. Lin Xingshu stared at the lake and replied softly, "Of course. That’s where we first met."

Memories surfaced—that summer three years ago—when Xie Guan had accidentally slipped into the water, and Lin Xingshu, a strong swimmer, had dived in without hesitation to save him.

Xie Guan had been terrified of water, shaking like a leaf after being pulled out. His slender frame was drenched, his dark hair clinging to his cheeks, making him look heartbreakingly vulnerable.

At the time, Lin Xingshu hadn’t known Xie Guan was a *yāoguài*. Out of sympathy, he had given Xie Guan his own clothes, and that was how their friendship began.

Every afternoon after that, Lin Xingshu would come to the lake to fish, and Xie Guan would always appear, watching shyly from the trees.

Over time, they grew close. For the entire month of July, Xie Guan stayed by his side—truly his best friend back then.

But Lin Xingshu never realized when that friendship had warped into something so extreme and obsessive.

"Xing Shu, do you ever regret it?"

Xie Guan suddenly spoke, his eyes fixed on the lake. He turned his head slightly and smiled. "Do you regret saving me?"

Lin Xingshu froze for a moment before he managed a weak smile. "What are you talking about? Of course not."

"Really?"

Xie Guan quietly reached out and intertwined his fingers with Lin Xingshu’s, their hands clasped tightly.

Feeling the unnatural coldness of Xie Guan’s skin, Lin Xingshu realized for the first time that he hadn’t once taken the initiative to hold Xie Guan’s hand since they reunited.

Not only that, but Xie Guan’s leg was still in a cast, making his steps slow. Yet Lin Xingshu, lost in his own thoughts, hadn’t bothered to match his pace, leaving Xie Guan lagging behind him.

This wasn’t how a normal couple behaved.

A wave of dread washed over Lin Xingshu. Why would Xie Guan suddenly ask if he regretted saving him? Did he know about his plan?

"Xing Shu, I’m glad to hear you say that. I thought you might regret it."

Xie Guan tightened his grip and led him toward the old Lin family house. His halting steps cast a solitary outline against the sunset.

"I’m a centuries-old *yāoguài*—so long the years blur. In all those centuries, no human has ever spoken to me or even seen me. Only you. Only you could see me."

"Back then, I was so surprised. You were the first human I ever interacted with. You saved me, gave me delicious food, played with me every day… I was so happy."

*Buzz—*

His phone buzzed, and Lin Xingshu’s heart lurched. He glanced at Xie Guan, who seemed oblivious, still walking ahead. Lin Xingshu discreetly slipped out his phone.

"Xing Shu, have you brought him? The sun’s setting. I’m ready—hurry back!"

Lin Xingshu’s throat tightened, his blood pounding in his ears. Swallowing hard, he quickly typed, "We’re here."

Shoving his phone back, he followed Xie Guan toward the house. But Xie Guan inexplicably quickened his pace, pulling him forward so fast he nearly stumbled.

"Xie Guan… slow down…!"

"Xing Shu, thank you."

Xie Guan’s words came out of nowhere. As they neared the Lin family home, he suddenly stopped and turned, his piercing black eyes locked onto Lin Xingshu.

"Wh-why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong…?"

"Baby, forget about me."

"Wha—*ghhk—!*"

Before Lin Xingshu could react, Xie Guan’s hand shot out and clamped around his throat. His black eyes seethed with torment. The bone-chilling grip sent a shock through Lin Xingshu—was Xie Guan trying to kill him?

But… why didn’t it hurt?

In the next instant, the talisman around his neck shattered with a crisp *snap*. Countless spectral chains erupted from the broken seal, snaking around Xie Guan’s arms and binding him tightly.

Lin Xingshu reeled backward, clutching his throat as he stared in disbelief.

Xie Guan stood motionless before him, utterly composed. He calmly observed the chains restraining him, a faint, almost serene smile ghosted his lips. He even lifted his hands slightly, letting the jade bangles chime.

"The bracelets are beautiful. I love them. Thank you."

Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened. "You… you knew—"

"Xing Shu—! Move!"

Before he could finish, Xu Kai’s urgent shout rang out. A forceful shove sent Lin Xingshu sprawling to the ground.

Xu Kai lunged forward, a wicked blade in hand. The steel glinted coldly as it plunged toward Xie Guan, who made no move to resist. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Lin Xingshu.

Just before the dagger pierced his chest, he smiled.

*Thud—*

The blade buried itself in Xie Guan’s gut. The metallic tang of blood filled the air as Xie Guan’s face paled. Blood bubbled past his lips and from his wound, the pain erased any trace of calm as his brows furrowed in agony.

The chains shattered. Xu Kai ripped the blade out, his expression icy as he glared at the fallen figure.

"No will to fight? Not even a struggle?"

Xie Guan coughed up a spray of crimson and slowly closed his eyes. "If I truly wanted to fight, you wouldn’t be alive right now."

"So you’re choosing death? Fine. I’ll grant your wish."

Another stab. More blood pooled scarlet on the ground.

Lin Xingshu trembled, his lips quivering as he watched, his face chalk-white.

Lurching upright, he tried to rush to Xie Guan, but Xu Kai blocked him, his voice stern.

"Don’t. He’s a poisonous arachnid—his very blood burns. If you touch him…"

Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Lin Xingshu stepped past him, his footsteps unsteady as he approached Xie Guan.

Xie Guan lay on the ground, blood oozing from his stomach, his face as pale as paper, his breaths shallow. Sensing Lin Xingshu's approach, he summoned what little strength he had to open his eyes and managed a weak smile for him.

The iron tang of blood filled Lin Xingshu's nostrils as he knelt before Xie Guan, his eyes already bloodshot from crying.

"I'm sorry... truly, I'm sorry..."

"You knew all along, didn't you? Why didn't you resist? Along the way, I was so careless—you had plenty of chances to leave. Why... why didn't you go?"

Xie Guan's trembling hand reached out, his bloodstained fingers lightly brushing Lin Xingshu's cheek.

"Back then, you saved my life... now I return it to you. This settles our debt..."

Weakly, Xie Guan took his hand, and just as he had said, the red thread connecting them began to fade until it vanished entirely.

"No need to apologize... I thought long and hard after you left that day."

"I knew, no matter how much I said or did, you would never come to like me... To catch your attention, I did many despicable things. I could see the genuine disgust in your eyes."

"I didn’t want to go on like this anymore, Xingshu. I’m letting you go. Forget about me."

His eyes slowly closed, blood spilling from his lips as his breathing grew fainter, his body gradually morphed from human form into that of a spider.

Lin Xingshu buried his face in his hands in anguish, tears falling uncontrollably. Xu Kai, seeing him like this, let out a heavy sigh and pulled him back.

"Don’t cry. Don’t get his blood on you."

"It’s me... it’s all my fault..."

"You’re not at fault. That spider was too deeply obsessed. He disrupted the order among humans—he deserved to die. Don’t blame yourself."

Xu Kai comforted him softly, but Lin Xingshu's sobs only grew louder. He didn’t understand why, but his heart ached unbearably, as if gutted, leaving an emptiness inside.

He felt as though he had lost something precious.

He was exhausted. Devastated.

Xie Guan would never bother him again, yet he felt no joy—only sorrow.

As he wiped his tears, Lin Xingshu was overwhelmed by fatigue. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled as he collapsed into Xu Kai’s arms, the world went black.

"Xingshu? Xingshu—!"

Xu Kai called his name urgently, but there was no response. With a final glance at the spider’s corpse on the ground, he quickly carried Lin Xingshu away.

A night wind stirred the fine hairs on the spider’s body, quivering like grass.

Rustle, rustle—

Suddenly, an odd sound came from the nearby bushes. Leaves whispered as something slithered out—a black serpent thicker than a man’s arm.

Its forked tongue flicked, its vertical pupils locked on the spider’s corpse. After a glance at Xu Kai and Lin Xingshu’s retreating figures, it slowly opened its jaws.

The sound of tearing flesh echoed as blood splattered. The serpent tore into the spider’s carcass like a starved beast, yet its gaze showed no appetite—only cold focus.

Discarding the remains, it spat out a mouthful of blood. Upon spotting something in the spider’s abdomen, its pupils dilated with delight, its tongue hissing excitedly.

Inside the spider’s belly lay a tiny spider, encased in viscous fluid. It was the spitting image of Xie Guan, its eyes shut tight, no rise and fall of its chest.

The serpent’s excitement grew. It swallowed the spider whole, then vanished into the bushes, slithering toward the mountains.

Through dense forests and past waterfalls, the serpent reached the depths of the forest. Night had fallen, pitch black all around. It opened its maw and spat out the spider.

In the shadows, the serpent’s body shifted, its upper half morphing into a strikingly beautiful woman. Though her face was mature, she was clearly the same girl who had once begged Xie Guan to leave Lin Xingshu alone.

"Hmph, you wretched spider. Making me save you again. Just wait till you’re reborn—I’ll make you pay."

With a cold laugh, she tenderly buried the tiny spider in the soil, pouring some prepared concoction. Like tending to a flower, she even loosened the earth around it.

*

Lin Xingshu awoke in the hospital two days later. His body was unharmed—only some toxic exposure and extreme stress had caused his collapse.

After discharge, he returned to school. Expecting questions about Xie Guan, he was stunned when no one mentioned him. Even his deskmate had returned without explanation.

Shocked, he tentatively asked around, but no one remembered a student named Xie Guan.

Life resumed. He regained his position as the top student, working harder than ever.

Finally, the college entrance exams ended.

All seniors sighed in relief, leaving campus with smiles, regardless of their results.

On results day, Lin Xingshu topped the city’s rankings. The school erupted in celebration, news crews swarmed for interviews, and even his old critics came to congratulate him—not a soul brought up Xie Guan. His mother, too, seemed to have forgotten Xie Guan entirely.

Everyone had forgotten him completely, as if he’d never existed.

The day Xu Kai left the country, Lin Xingshu went to see him off.

Before boarding, Xu Kai looked at him with complex emotions, sighing, "All is governed by fate; none can resist its pull."

Lin Xingshu knew he meant Xie Guan, but he couldn’t bear to dwell on it. The mere thought sent stabbing pains through his chest.

From then on, he kept a diary, recording every memory of Xie Guan. Once he moved on, the diary would disappear.

Life went on smoothly. In September, he started at his dream university.

On his first day, he bumped into a young man in the cafeteria, sending his books flying and shattering a glass. He began apologizing repeatedly, bending to gather the items, offering compensation.

The stranger silently helped, grabbing Lin Xingshu’s wrist before it touched broken glass.

"Let me. Don’t cut yourself."

The voice made his heart ache with familiarity. Stunned, Lin Xingshu looked up—and froze.

The young man’s face was identical to Xie Guan’s.

"No need to pay for the glass. Just treat me to dinner sometime."

With a smile, he handed Lin Xingshu a slip with his contact before leaving with friends. Lin Xingshu stood rooted to the spot, tears streaming down his face before he even realized.

*

Five years later.

Lin Xingshu sat at his desk, resting his chin in his hand, writing in his diary.

"Tomorrow marks four years together—and the day we first met. We’re finally getting married. I’m nervous... and happy. Xie Guan, you’d give us your blessing, wouldn’t you?"

Closing the diary, he put it away for good. These were his last words on the matter. Between him and Xie Guan, this was the end.

At that very moment, his husband walked in and embraced him from behind.

"Ah Shu, what are you writing?"

"Nothing. Why are you home so early today?"

"I missed you, so I came home early."

His husband held him tightly, and Lin Xingshu chuckled. "You’re all grown up, but you still love being clingy."

Though he said so, he nestled happily against his husband's shoulder, closing his eyes to soak in his warmth.

His husband looked strikingly similar to Xie Guan, but their personalities were entirely different.

His husband treated him well, always thoughtful, gentle, and attentive, never forcing him to do anything he disliked. Even in bed, he always put Lin Xingshu’s pleasure first. They had been together since college, and tomorrow, they would finally marry.

After tomorrow, he would burn that diary written for Xie Guan to ashes, then put Xie Guan behind him for good, and live a good life with his husband.

Lin Xingshu clung to his husband, lost in happiness. But he didn’t know that his husband’s dark eyes were locked onto the diary on the desk.

A breeze rustled the pages. The man smirked slightly as his gaze slowly shifted to Lin Xingshu. He raised a hand, gently stroking Lin Xingshu’s back, his voice a low, teasing murmur:

"You don’t like it when I act spoiled? It’s because I love you, baby."

Lin Xingshu stiffened—his husband had never used that pet name before… Suddenly, he remembered how Xie Guan used to call him the same way, many years ago…

"What’s wrong?" Sensing his reaction, his husband immediately asked with concern, his eyes full of tenderness.

"N-nothing… Why ‘baby’ out of nowhere?"

Lin Xingshu managed a weak smile. His husband’s hand moved to his face, his thumb brushing over his teardrop mole beneath his eye before leaning down to kiss his lips.

"If Ah Shu doesn’t like it, I won’t call you that again."

Lin Xingshu shook his head and snuggled deeper into his husband’s arms, closing his eyes.

"It’s fine. You can call me anything. If you like this nickname, then use it."

"Okay."

His husband’s kiss brushed his ear, his voice warm with laughter as he whispered: "Baby."