C90 – Sinister Lover [Slice]

The next day, Chu Chen’an woke up early.

 

He leaned on the soft pillows and looked around the large and classical room.

 

A burst of fragrance permeated the surroundings, the white window veil shed a furtive light and shadow, and two mahogany cabinets were displayed on the inner wall.

 

Lan Huai’s home was also large, but the style was different from Lan Xu’s home.

 

The last time he came to this copy, there wasn’t yet a bed and breakfast here, so he stayed at Lan Huai’s house temporarily.

 

He recalled the first time he and Lan Huai met, when he was forgotten by his fellow travellers and relied on his sense of direction to find the village.

 

The first person he met was Lan Huai.

 

At that time, Lan Huai stood in the sunset, also wearing a cool purple robe, and the silver jewellery in front of his neck occasionally flashed with silver light.

 

Lan Huai’s aura was cool and gloomy, and he was watching him with narrowed eyes as he moved his luggage towards him bit by bit.

 

Lan Huai was very tall, and when Chu Chen’an approached, he found himself only reaching his neck; his aura was too cold, making Chu Chen’an a little afraid to go up and talk to him, but Lan Huai was the only one there.

 

So Chu Chen’an made up his mind and took a few steps forward.

 

His cheeks were slightly red, and he asked Lan Huai in a small voice, “Excuse me, do you know if there is a place to stay here?”

 

“There is.” Lan Huai stared at Chu Chen’an’s pale face, he was like a weak deer that had lost its way, and he faintly said, “Follow me.”

 

Later, Chu Chen’an followed Lan Huai into his house.

 

At first, they didn’t bother each other and got along well.

 

Chu Chen’an was a freelance photographer at the time, and every day he would stand in front of Lan Huai’s high-rise balcony to take a few pictures of the sunset.

 

Lan Huai would sit not far away from the gallery, holding an ancient book carved from bamboo to read. Chu Chen’an felt that he was noble and sacred; the gentle sunlight outlined his sharp features like a painting.

 

Chu Chen’an couldn’t help but stare blankly. He turned the camera in his direction and pressed the shutter on Lan Huai.

 

“Click”.

 

 

 

Which drew a sideways glance from Lan Huai. He put down his book and glanced at Chu Chen’an.

 

Chu Chen’an’s face held  embarrassment at being caught; his face was flushed, and he smiled dryly. “I’m sorry, I just thought you looked very pretty, so I took a picture.”

 

Chu Chen’an stood in front of the haze; behind him was flooded with hazy light gold, lining his white skin and red lips, adding a few points of hazy beauty.

 

His eyes were beautiful, causing Lan Huai to look at them for a few more seconds.

 

During these few seconds, it was as if time stood still.

 

Lan Huai smiled gently, a far cry from the cold and holy him just now.

 

“It’s fine; you can take as many pictures as you want.”

 

Chu Chen’an looked slightly stunned; in all the days he had come to stay here, it was the first time he had seen Lan Huai smile.

 

In a trance, he felt that when Lan Huai smiled, it was completely like he was a different person.

 

Or maybe not the same person.

 

……

 

Chu Chen’an didn’t take this strange illusion to heart.

 

 

Later on.

 

He and Lan Huai were no longer as detached as they were in the beginning.

 

Lan Huai would come to him every day and bring him a bouquet of crimson and beautiful flowers.

 

Those bouquets were beautiful and smelt good.

 

Whenever Chu Chen’an smelt the flowers, he was able to fall asleep very quickly and have a dreamless night.

 

One day, he accidentally splashed water on the bouquet.

 

 

The sleep-aiding scent faded significantly, but it didn’t affect his sleep.

 

He closed his eyes and quickly fell into a light sleep.

 

The perimeter of the room was quiet, so the soft thud of the door lock opening disengaged Chu Chen’an from his slumber.

 

He closed his eyes and frowned a little aggravatedly, intending to go back to sleep.

 

Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming from the doorway, accompanied by a crisp silver bell.

 

Chu Chen’an was half-awake; he laid down and didn’t dare move.

 

 

Someone walked over to the edge of his bed and rubbed his cheeks and lips with long, strong fingertips.

 

“The mates of all the witchmasters have been fated, and I am no exception.”

 

It was Lan Huai’s cold voice.

 

“I can determine who that person is.”

 

It was as if he were talking to someone, rubbing the back of his fingers lightly against Chu Chen’an’s face.

 

Chu Chen’an’s sleepiness vanished; he was already quite awake, but he closed his eyes tightly.

 

Lan Huai suddenly laughed softly and lightly. “He looks so delicious; I like him too.”

 

“Then you have to watch closely ah, don’t let this little guy get away.”

 

The cold and holy Lan Huai in the past was now leaning down and licking and kissing on Chu Chen’an’s earlobe.

 

After a long time, he kissed Chu Chen’an’s cheek again with intent.

 

He faintly said, “Of course I know.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s heart trembled in fear, waiting for Lan Huai to leave before slowly opening his eyes.

 

He frantically gasped for breath.

 

 

He was too stunned and flushed, and he raised his hand to rub his earlobe, which had just been licked for a while.

 

The normally sacred man was actually a per-vert!

 

 

……

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s retrieved his thoughts; he sat up to put on his shoes, and his eyes glanced at that thing without thinking.

 

 

The mahogany ocarina was hanging intact at the head of his bed, the spike beads on it swaying gently.

 

 

No matter where he threw it, this ocarina would follow him in a ghostly manner.

 

 

Chu Chen’an got up and went to the bathroom to wash up hastily, then opened the door to his room.

 

 

Lan Xu stood in front of his room and smiled. “Good morning. I was about to come and call you.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an froze and said, “Good morning.”

 

 

“Let’s go eat breakfast,” Lan Xu said.

 

 

“Okay.” Chu Chen’an closed the door and walked downstairs with him.

 

Lan Xu asked, “Are you used to living in that room?”

 

Chu Chen’an held the handrail and said, “Yes, I’m getting used to it.”

 

 

“That’s good,” Lan Xu said with a smile. “That room has good feng shui; it might even ward off evil spirits.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s eyes were wide as he whispered, “Is that so?”

 

 

Could it be that Lan Huai didn’t come to him last night because of this room?

 

 

He got to the ground floor, and Lan Xu scooped a bowl of porridge for him. “What are your arrangements for today?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an thought for a moment and said, “I’m planning to go find He Xuesheng to paint together.”

 

 

“So envious,” Lan Xu smiles sweetly. “If only I knew how to paint, I’d still be able to join you.”

 

Lan Xu’s words carried a hint of another meaning, which made Chu Chen’an a bit afraid to answer.

 

 

Chu Chen’an lowered his head and laughed dryly, taking a piece of white snack and eating it by himself.

 

 

His slender brows furrowed, and his movements were very pretty.

 

 

Lan Xu didn’t eat much and only smiled as he watched him.

 

 

After eating breakfast, Chu Chen’an put down his bowl.

 

 

He was stared at by Lan Xu, and his peach blossom-like eyes glanced to the side. “Thank you; I’ll just go to the B&B to eat in the future.”

 

 

“Don’t be polite with me, la; I usually eat breakfast alone; it’s so lonely.” Lan Xu handed him a napkin. “I’m happy that you could eat breakfast with me.”

 

 

Lan Xu’s personality was easygoing and bright. Chu Chen’an was slightly stunned as he looked at his face, which was exactly the same as Lan Huai’s.

 

 

Chu Chen’an took the napkin and softly thanked him.

 

 

He didn’t stay long and quickly left Lan Xu’s house to find He Xuesheng.

 

 

He Xuesheng was squatting by the bedside, watching Old Liang put medicine on himself.

 

 

Old Liang was holding a cotton swab to sterilise his wounds. He narrowed his eyes and glanced at He Xuesheng. “No, can’t you be a little sympathetic?”

 

 

“How do I not sympathise with you?” He Xuesheng changed his position and squatted, his hands propped up on his knees, as he profoundly accused, “I came here to see you; how else can I sympathise? Should I tell the pain to run or fly away? Old Liang, you are a big age, yet you’re still like this; be careful or I’ll tell my cousin that you’re not decent!”

 

 

 

Old Liang knew deep down that He Xuesheng was a straight man of steel.

 

 

He stared at He Xuesheng and slightly raised his arm. “Don’t you feel that something is missing?”

 

 

He Xuesheng looked at Old Liang’s arm for a long time before concluding, “It seems… like the wound is a bit purple.”

 

 

Old Liang gave him a blank look.

 

 

“That means you didn’t take a bath yesterday!” He clapped his two hands together. “I was wondering why there was a smell!”

 

 

Old Liang took a deep breath. “Look at what you stepped on underneath your dirty soles.”

 

 

He Xuesheng looked down at his feet; a large roll of white gauze had become his footbed, dirty yellow with black.

 

 

He laughed out loud in embarrassment and quickly stood up. “Haha, I wondered why the ground was so soft, and… can it still be used?”

 

Old Liang squinted at him. “Do you think it can be used?”

 

 

He Xuesheng exited the door and laughed dryly. “I’ll go get a new one right here!”

 

 

When He Xuesheng returned to the corridor with the gauze, he happened to bump into Chu Chen’an, who had come to look for him.

 

 

Chu Chen’an greeted him.

 

 

“He Xuesheng, let’s go downstairs and paint over the stone path today; there are more people over there, and it’s close to the B&B.”

 

 

It should be relatively safe.

 

 

He didn’t dare stay in the house for more than a few hours during the day; he was afraid that the moment he closed his eyes, Lan Huai would come looking for him.

 

 

Of course, He Xuesheng was happy to do so. “Sure, I still have two assignments left to finish.”

 

 

“Why isn’t your wound healed yet?” Chu Chenan glanced at He Xuesheng’s neck; the wound had turned black and purple, it was flowing with some pus, and hadn’t healed even after a long time.

 

 

“Hey, it’s fine,” He Xuesheng said, touching his neck. “I don’t even feel any pain, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an still felt something was wrong; he said, “If it’s still like this tomorrow, go put some more medicine on it.”

 

 

“Okay, I know.” He Xuesheng bounced on his feet and casually answered.

 

 

He and He Xuesheng arrived at Old Liang’s room together.

 

 

“Director Liang.” Chu Chen’an said politely as he stood in the doorway.

 

 

As soon as Old Liang saw Chu Chen’an arrive, his attitude changed drastically, he mildly responded, “Chen’an is here; come, come, come, sit down.”

 

 

“Okay,” Chu Chen’an smiled and sat down on a chair not far away.

 

 

He Xuesheng handed Old Liang the gauze and smiled. “Want me to help you, brother-in-law?”

 

 

“No need; it’s a matter of going around in circles. You didn’t do it well before; I still have to go back to see your cousin.” Old Liang didn’t trust him at all; he took the gauze and wrapped it around his arm.

 

 

Chu Chen’an looked at his wound and asked, “Did you guys get lost when you arrived at Wulan Mountain then, Director Liang?”

 

 

“Yes,” Old Liang said, looking serious. “We got lost when we arrived.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an asked, “Did you pass through the plains?”

 

 

“Plains?” Lao Liang shook his head. “I was looking at it from halfway up the mountain; all sides were mountains; there was no plain to be seen.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s heart thumped; something was fishy.

 

 

He could clearly see the plain at the foot of the mountain.

 

 

How come Old Liang and the others didn’t see it?

 

“I’ve searched the surrounding area many times these days, and apart from the forests, it’s just mountains, so I suspect that the secret realm doesn’t exist at all.” Old Liang dejectedly concluded.

 

 

Chu Chen’an pinched the corner of his coat tightly.

 

Feeling that the situation was more and more bizarre.

 

 

Lan Xu had clearly taken him into the secret realm yesterday.

 

 

The last time he came to this copy, he hadn’t even heard of the existence of the secret realm.

 

 

“I also think so.” He squatted aside and nodded seriously. “Maybe it was made up by those marketers; the purpose is to stimulate tourism consumption; those princes and lords’ treasures were probably also made up. The feng shui here is really no good; I’ve fainted twice in this hellish place.”

 

 

“But then again,” He Xuesheng frowned. “I was poisoned yesterday; I fainted for a whole afternoon, and slept like I was dead. How come you and Lan Xu were not poisoned?”

 

 

“It may be that individuals have different physiques.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an said, and then suddenly reacted, “Wait, you said you slept for an afternoon? Didn’t Lan Xu wake you up and tell you about us going to find Old Liang first?”

 

 

“Nope,” He Xuesheng shook his head dully. “I slept directly from the poisoning till you guys came back, and I never even heard Lan Xu’s voice in my dreams. What’s wrong?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an shook his head and said, “Nothing.”

 

 

This wasn’t quite the same as what Lan Xu said yesterday; Lan Xu said that he used herbs to detoxify him.

 

 

But that icy feeling in the dream seemed to be real.

 

 

In the dream, Lan Xu was kissing him.

 

 

Chu Chen’an clenched the hem of his coat, feeling vaguely uneasy.

 

 

On second thought, Lan Huai was the NPC boss behind this world, so how could Lan Xu suddenly kiss him?

 

 

Had he discovered that he was actually Chen An?

 

 

No, he and Lan Xu were strangers; how could he possibly recognise him within these few days?

 

 

He forced himself to stop thinking, gathered his thoughts, and went downstairs to paint with He Xuesheng.

 

 

The stone roadside was spacious, and not far away was a field of oiled wheat.

 

 

It was very suitable for sketching.

 

 

They found a shady spot and set up their easels.

 

 

“The weather is really nice today.” He Xuesheng said, and he began to draw as he pleased.

 

 

Not far from the stone-paved road was the housing area, and there were also many narrow paths between the houses.

 

 

Lan Xu’s home was the tallest and most gorgeous one, and the rooftop in the attic was diagonally facing their side.

 

 

He Xuesheng suddenly nudged Chu Chen’an’s arm with his elbow. “Eh, look, doesn’t it look like you?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an turned his head sideways to look. He Xuesheng had drawn a little pig, white and chubby.

 

 

It had to be said that He Xuesheng was very talented at painting, and this little pig was painted vividly.

 

 

Chu Chen’an couldn’t help but think that He Xuesheng was really childish.

 

 

He then retorted, “It looks like you!”

 

 

He Xuesheng laughed along with him; his laughter was already low, so when he joined, a loud laughter spread into the building area.

 

Chu Chen’an curled his lips, intending to draw a small turtle as revenge.

 

 

He Xuesheng glanced at Chu Chen’an’s painting, unwilling to lag behind, and smiled evilly. “Wait, brother, I will draw you another handsome picture.”

 

 

Seeing that He Xuesheng was drawing faster than him, Chu Chen’an pulled over his drawing paper, one side of his brush falling fast.

 

 

He Xuesheng laughed out loud again. “Puhahaha. You’re drawing yourself, right, Xiao Chu.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an grumpily retorted, “I said it was you!”

 

 

……

 

 

Lan Xu stood on the rooftop of the tall building.

 

 

 

He looked down at the duo under the shade of the trees as they giggled

 

 

Lan Xu’s eyes were dark as he smiled and whispered, “It’s nice to know how to draw.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an and He Xuesheng fooled around for a few minutes before continuing their respective paintings.

 

 

Suddenly, there was a loud bang in the distance.

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s shoulders trembled in fear, and he inclined his head to look not far away, only to see that several pearwood chairs had been thrown to the ground.

 

 

By the time they landed, the chairs were already shattered to the point of being unformed.

 

 

Those chairs were quite far away from them, probably because the owner who smashed them knew they were here.

 

 

He froze and looked upwards. There were two or three households nearby; he didn’t know who had smashed them.

 

 

“I… That scared me to death.” He Xuesheng looked to that place and was full of regret: “That is a pear wood chair; right, that colour is extra rare; tsk tsk, too bad.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an was surprised. “How do you know?”

 

 

He Xuesheng: “My family is in the wood business; I’ve seen a lot of valuable wood.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an nodded; he didn’t speak again.

 

 

The doubts in his heart secretly deepened.

 

 

At this time, He Xuesheng suddenly asked again, “Do you think I can go pick up some wood shavings?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an: “……”

 

 

They drew until noon and then went back.

 

 

He had wanted to go back to Lan Xu’s house to wash his face before returning to the B&B for dinner, but just as he entered, Lan Xu poked his head out of the kitchen door.

 

 

Lan Xu grasped the edge of the door with one hand and smiled sweetly. “You’re back; quickly wash your hands; it’s time to eat.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an was stunned. “No, no need; I’ll just go to the B&B to eat.”

 

 

Before he finished his words, he saw Lan Xu come out with soup, and the table was already filled with smoking hot, fragrant rice.

 

 

Lan Xu had actually made it early in the morning.

 

 

“Come, have a bowl of soup first.” Lan Xu ladled a bowl of soup for him and said, “Be careful of the heat.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an couldn’t refuse anymore and sat down and said, “Thank you.”

 

 

The fish soup’s broth was thick and tasty, and Chu Chen’an quickly drank half a bowl.

 

 

 

Lan Xu watched him drink. “Is it good?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an nodded. “Yes, it’s good.”

 

 

“It’s good if you like it.” Lan Xu stared straight at him.

 

 

Chu Chen’an finished the bowl of soup and couldn’t help but admire him in his heart.

 

 

Lan Xu seemed to have always lived alone and was also exceptionally young, yet his cooking skills were actually this good.

 

 

Lan Xu gave Chu Chen’an a lot of dishes, offhandedly saying, “Your relationship with He Xuesheng looks very good.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an ate seriously. “Yes, he’s my classmate from the same department.”

 

 

Lan Xu peeled a plate of prawns for him and asked, “He likes you?”

 

 

Chu Chen’an choked and quickly took the water that Lan Xu handed him. “No, his preference… he likes girls; we are just good friends.”

 

 

“Is that so?” Lan Xu said calmly. He stared at Chu Chen’an’s small face and didn’t speak again.

 

 

Chu Chen’an ate a lot this time.

 

 

He wanted to help clean up the dishes, but was stopped by Lan Xu.

 

 

Lan Xu held his oil-stained fingertips and said, “Leave it; someone will come to clean it up later.”

 

 

Chu Chen’an’s face reddened slightly, and after Lan Xu finished wiping his face, he withdrew his hand.

 

 

“I’m going to find He Xuesheng to paint together.”

 

 

Lan Xu looked at his departing back, his smiling eyes narrowing slightly, his eyes transmitting an eerie chill.

 

 

In the evening, Chu Chen’an specially ate dinner at the B&B before returning to Lan Xu’s house.

 

 

He was currently staying with him for free; one or two meals were fine, but he couldn’t keep bothering Lan Xu.

 

 

As soon as he entered, he saw Lan Xu sitting at the dining table.

 

The rice on the table was smoking hot, and Lan Xu was scooping a bowl of clear soup for him. “Why did you draw so late? Ah, come and eat.”

 

Chu Chen’an waved his hand repeatedly and said, “No need; I’ve already eaten at the B&B.”

 

Lan Xu looked like he had been waiting for him, so Chu Chen’an couldn’t help but feel a little guilty in his heart.

 

Lan Xu’s movements gave a start; his turquoise eyes carried a bit of loss. “That’s so.”

 

 

Chu Chenan looked into Lan Xu’s eyes, and his heart immediately softened. He sat down at the dining table and said in a small voice, “I can still have a bowl of soup.”

 

 

“Hmm.” Lan Xu proceeded to smile sweetly and quickly scooped up a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Chu Chen’an. “Quickly taste it.”

 

 

In the end, Chu Chen’an finished the bowl of soup and went upstairs first.

 

 

Lan Xu used the same bowl that Chu Chen’an had used to serve himself a bowl of soup, but the laughter in his eyes was completely gone.

 

 

He took a sip of the soup and stared gloomily at the surface of the bowl.

 

 

“Well, brother, I admit I’m jealous.” He spoke sulkily to his surroundings.

 

 

The bowl plummeted to the ground, falling apart.

 

 

Chu Chen’an took a shower and opened the window of his room.

 

 

It was directly opposite the B&B.

 

The wind at night was cool, and it was almost dark downstairs, with not many people passing by.

 

 

He rubbed his wet hair, intending to enjoy the night breeze for a while.

 

Suddenly, he glanced at it without thinking, and his eyes widened abruptly.

 

 

He saw that the bamboo window of the room directly across from him was half-open, and a scarlet figure floated past, and that figure climbed up to the edge of the bamboo window.

 

 

It was only then that Chu Chen’an got a good look at the ghostly figure’s face.

 

 

It was a face covered with scars; its whole body was scorched black and blo-ody; there were many wounds on its body; he didn’t know whether it was a man or a woman; its scalp was ulcerated; and on top of it were all kinds of regular pits.

 

 

Constantly overflowing with blo-od.

 

 

Chu Chen’an was so scared that he backed up and quickly closed the window.

 

 

[Ding~ Congratulations on activating a temporary mini-quest]

 

[Task name: Close the opposite window]

 

[Task Time Limit: 30 minutes]

 

[Reward Points: X1000]

 

Chu Chen’an sighed in his heart and could only open the window again.

 

This small task didn’t have any value, but it could be a matter of life and death.

 

He only opened a crack and stared at the ghost’s every move.

 

The ghost across the street wandered around the house he had originally lived in for five or six minutes, following which it turned and disappeared off the porch.

 

Gone?

 

Chu Chen’an hurriedly grabbed the moment, took a fruit knife and a torch, and ran downstairs.

 

It was now almost ten o’clock.

 

He thought to himself as he left Lan Xu’s house.

 

Not long after he left, a crisp silver bell came from the door.

 

……

 

Chu Chen’an quickly ran up to the B&B building.

 

He carefully looked around outside the long corridor to make sure that the ghost was really gone before quickly running towards the charred house.

 

 

He held a small torch, his heart pounding with panic, and the dark silence around him made him gasp for breath.

 

 

He squeezed the fruit knife in his hand and headed straight for the wide-open bamboo window.

 

 

He closed the window as fast as he could.

 

 

As soon as he turned around, he saw the ghost’s morose form suddenly appear in the doorway.

 

 

He saw that the ghost had already climbed up the door of the room.

 

 

It turned to look at him.

 

 

That ghost’s voice was hoarse and horrible: “Blo-od… smells good.”

 

 

The ghost lunged at Chu Chen’an.

 

 

Chu Chen’an was so scared that he squeezed the fruit knife in his hand, and when the ghost yanked on his shoulder, he fought to stab it.

 

 

There was a “poof” sound.

 

 

The fruit knife stabbed the ghost’s thigh.

 

 

Blo-od gushed out in a steady stream.

 

 

Chu Chen’an was stunned.

 

 

This… this wasn’t a ghost.

 

 

Was it a living person?

 

 

The scarred man hissed as he grabbed onto Chu Chen’an’s back and clutched Chu Chen’an’s shoulder to bite down.

 

 

Chu Chen’an pulled out his fruit knife, and before he could continue to resist, the heaviness on his body suddenly disappeared.

 

Someone else was here.

 

 

Painful wails and howls ensued from the chamber.

 

 

The surroundings were too dark for Chu Chen’an to see, and he scrambled to pick up the torch that had fallen on the floor and shine it at the source of the sound.

 

 

He only saw Lan Xu with his hands full of blo-od, holding the back of the man’s neck and continuously smashing it against the wall.

 

 

The scarred man’s face was even worse now, and blo-od flowed down the wall.

 

 

Lan Xu’s hand movements still didn’t stop; the force he used was terrifyingly heavy.

 

 

Until that person was silenced.

 

Chu Chen’an’s hand holding the torch was shaking.

 

 

Lan Xu leisurely held that person’s face and grinded it on the wall, blo-od stained on the white wallpaper, like he was making a painting.

 

 

Lan Xu turned to look at Chu Chen’an, smiling sweetly. “Did I paint a good picture?”

 

---

TN:

I missed my favorite psycho 😮‍💨