Chapter 556 Falling for It Again

Chapter 556: Succumbing Again

"Hmm—"

Feng Xuelan felt like she was dreaming. She dreamed that Tian Yue was chatting with her. In the dream, Tian Yue spoke to her in the happiest, gentlest voice. The two of them stood facing each other in a park full of blooming flowers, as intimate as when they had first become friends.

"Xuelan!"

In the dream, Tian Yue smiled and opened her arms, as if wanting to embrace her.

Feng Xuelan froze for a moment, her steps involuntarily halting. Her heart clenched violently, as if something was stuck in her chest, giving her a vague, inexplicable unease.

She should be happy. The person before her was her best friend, Tian Yue, the one she had always cherished most. This Tian Yue was smiling, her eyes full of affection and anticipation. So why was she hesitating? Why did she instinctively want to avoid this?

If she had to describe herself, Feng Xuelan might self-deprecatingly say she was a classic people-pleaser. She always longed for close relationships with others, yet was always filled with anxiety and fear about those relationships. She was afraid of doing something wrong, afraid that a single word, a single glance, or even a moment of silence from her might affect the other person's mood. So she always carefully weighed her words, always paid attention to the other's reactions, always treaded on eggshells in every relationship, pouring herself into them.

Feng Xuelan didn't resent the Nightmare Game, because the Nightmare Game had given her Tian Yue as a friend.

Tian Yue was stronger than her, more free-spirited, braver, more straightforward, and more decisive. In Tian Yue's world, all emotions were direct and clear, all decisions were resolute and firm. Feng Xuelan loved Tian Yue's personality, and feared losing this friend just as much.

Because Tian Yue was good to everyone.

When they went out shopping together, even when facing a completely unfamiliar shopkeeper, Tian Yue could chat away and burst into laughter. Every time that happened, Feng Xuelan would feel a pang of fear, afraid she couldn't be the most special friend in Tian Yue's eyes.

To avoid losing this friend, Feng Xuelan was willing to join the Special Operations Unit with her, even though she didn't really like it. She was willing to spend her salary with Tian Yue buying luxury goods that weren't her style at all. She was willing to sacrifice her personal life to stay by Tian Yue's side.

Feng Xuelan believed that to Tian Yue, no one was more special than her. No one would overlook Tian Yue's various flaws like she did. No one would still hypocritically agree with Tian Yue's mistakes like she did. No one would regard Tian Yue as the most perfect, flawless friend in the world like she did.

But even so, Tian Yue still married a man who, in Feng Xuelan's eyes, had nothing going for him except his face. Feng Xuelan would no longer be the closest person by Tian Yue's side.

Feng Xuelan had once tactfully asked Tian Yue why she got married. Tian Yue just smiled brightly and said being with him made her happy.

Then what about her? What did all her efforts mean to Tian Yue?

Watching Tian Yue and that man walk away, a struggle suddenly began in Feng Xuelan's heart... Perhaps all her efforts weren't due to a people-pleasing personality. Perhaps it was just her own conceit? All her sacrifices were just her own idea of nobility? She was actually doing things that Tian Yue disliked?

"Talk to me again when you're truly ready to explain yourself to me!"

Tian Yue's angry voice suddenly echoed in Feng Xuelan's mind, but she quickly shoved it aside, because the Tian Yue before her was smiling at her, opening her arms to embrace her.

"Xuelan!"

Perhaps that angry rebuke from Tian Yue, even Tian Yue marrying someone else, were just parts of a nightmare she was having. Only this smiling Tian Yue before her was real.

"Xuelan!"

A relieved smile spread across Feng Xuelan's face as she walked step by step towards the open-armed Tian Yue.

"Feng Xuelan, you damn well better wake up!"

Just as Feng Xuelan was about to step into "Tian Yue's" embrace, a furious roar exploded in her ears like a thunderclap shattering the dream!

Feng Xuelan's pupils contracted sharply, her steps jolted to a halt. Her heart felt as if seized by an invisible hand, squeezing so hard her breath hitched.

Then—

A flash of cold, sharp light flashed across her vision, accompanied by a crackling sound of electricity. A sharp blade slammed through "Tian Yue's" temple from the side!

The sound of blood spraying rang out beside her ear. Warm liquid splattered everywhere, large splashes of crimson blood splattering across Feng Xuelan's face, hands, even the front of her clothes, scalding hot and suffocating.

"Ahhh—!! Tian Yue!!"

Witnessing the scene before her, Feng Xuelan's pupils shrank to pinpoints, her heart plummeted. An indescribable, searing pain tore through her sanity! Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. Her legs almost instinctively gave way as she stumbled forward, throwing herself at "Tian Yue," her arms wrapping tightly around the other, her fingers trembling so violently they were nearly spasming from the force.

Her chest heaved violently, her breathing so rapid she seemed on the verge of suffocation.

"Slap!"

A stinging slap landed squarely on Feng Xuelan's face!

The tremendous impact whipped her head to the side. Her cheek instantly burned with pain, her ears began to ring, and the world before her blurred for a moment.

Then her body was yanked away with brute force, slamming into the wall unprepared!

"Feng Xuelan, what the hell are you seeing?! Is it you who's hallucinating, or is it me?!" An irate shout rang out, filled with great anger and a hint of poorly concealed fear.

Feng Xuelan jerked her head up. The light before her rapidly faded. The warm sunlight, the park, the lake, and the blood-stained "Tian Yue" all vanished in an instant, like a torn-up dream disintegrating into darkness.

The only thing remaining before her eyes was a butterfly glowing with a blood-red light, drifting slowly in the darkness, its faint glow illuminating the scene ahead.

Feng Xuelan's pupils slowly dilated, her chest rising and falling unevenly, her fingertips trembling slightly with fear.

In that faint light, she finally saw clearly—

The person who had been standing before her wasn't Tian Yue at all!

It was a thing wearing a nurse's uniform.

Its mouth still held that eerie smile, its face still bore some resemblance to "Tian Yue." And the nurse's temple was still impaled by the dagger crackling with electricity.

Feng Xuelan finally understood that what she had just embraced wasn't Tian Yue, but the Eerie Entity that had bewitched her.

But it was too late now. She must have already succumbed.

"Zzt."

The lights in the corridor began to flicker. The nurses that had been surrounding everyone started retreating one by one. When the corridor lights came back on, only the nurse Tian Yue had stabbed with the dagger remained in place, the electrical sparks on the blade not yet dissipated.

"I'm sorry!" Feng Xuelan's whole body went limp as she collapsed to her knees, suddenly bursting into violent sobs. "You're right, I was wrong. You won't see me getting close to you again. But even if we can't be friends, I still..."

"Huh?" Tian Yue frowned, looking at Feng Xuelan who was sitting on the floor, her hairstyle and face gradually taking on a more youthful appearance. Her tone carried a hint of gritted teeth. "Over something like this, you want to cut ties with me?"

"No, it's me..." Feng Xuelan was somewhat dazed.

"Feng Xuelan." Tian Yue crouched down, placing her hands on Feng Xuelan's shoulders. Her tone was firm, carrying a sense of exasperated disappointment. "Relationships like best friends and sisters can't possibly exist without ever fighting. If you see me angry next time, remember to come running over early to appease me, not throw yourself into the arms of some illusionary 'Tian Yue'! Got it?!"

Feng Xuelan's tears fell even harder. Her mouth opened as if she was about to burst into loud sobs, but before she could make a sound, Tian Yue, looking pained, directly reached out and clamped her hand firmly over Feng Xuelan's mouth.

"Mmph—" Forced to swallow her sobs, Feng Xuelan could only whimper and nod vigorously.

"Stop making noise and attracting danger." Tian Yue's face darkened, her tone both angry and helpless.

She was indeed angry with Feng Xuelan, but seeing this person crying her heart out while calling her name had inexplicably dissipated some of that anger.

"Although Feng Xuelan fell for it, overall, this was a close call. The most surprising thing is that your attacks were actually effective against these nurses, Tian Yue." Chi Yan looked at the nurse standing motionless there, dragging its withered branches, his expression tinged with inquiry and confusion. "We need to recall what exactly just happened, and these butterfl..."

Chi Yan's words cut off halfway as his gaze suddenly shifted to Su Bai behind them, his expression turning somewhat astonished.

"Brother Su, your face..."

In Chi Yan's line of sight, red patterns had appeared on Su Bai's face at some point.