Category: My Cthulhu Girlfriend (gl)

Chapter 63: Toying

The vast office was empty, the weak sunlight from outside only illuminating half of Shen Yuhe’s face.

The other half was shrouded in shadow, obscuring her expression, only her dark, mist-filled eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, visible.

Suddenly, her finger pressed against Xiang Er’s lips, and Xiang Er, who should have shyly averted her gaze, couldn’t. She stared into those eyes, as if gazing into the depths of a bottomless abyss.

A distinct sense of fear gripped her heart, different from the usual flustered feeling of being cornered by Shen Yuhe, its source unknown, yet persistent.

She firmly turned her head away, dodging Shen Yuhe’s finger, pushing her away, shaking her head frantically:

“No! Don’t! Don’t!”

She didn’t even know what she was refusing, driven by pure instinct, her hands pushing blindly, then suddenly encountering the rough texture of the bandage on Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, making her freeze.

Her mind cleared, and she realized… what was she doing?

Trying to push away her savior, the object of her affection, the only woman she had ever felt this way about, her potential first love… was she losing her mind?

Xiang Er quickly withdrew her hand, her gaze filled with apology:

“Ah… I didn’t hurt you, did I? I’m so sorry…”

But Shen Yuhe caught her hand, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s, and placed Xiang Er’s hand against her cheek.

Then… she extended her tongue and gently licked Xiang Er’s palm.

“Ah…”

In the familiar office, filled with desks, chairs, and computers, Xiang Er’s freedom was completely taken away, Shen Yuhe’s presence overwhelming, their breaths mingling…

This was already incredibly embarrassing, if any of her colleagues saw this, she would die of shame!

And now, her hand was being licked by a warm, wet tongue.

Xiang Er was about to explode.

An unbearable tingling sensation spread through her palm, a sweet, almost painful pleasure, like sinking into quicksand, the more she struggled, the deeper she sank…

Shen Yuhe’s grip on her wrist was firm, inescapable, her long, red tongue, like a serpent’s, tracing the lines of Xiang Er’s palm, from the center to the base of her fingers…

“Let go… ah…”

Xiang Er barely dared to make a sound, her voice high-pitched and strained, unnatural, even her whispered plea echoing through the empty office, she was going to lose it!

And yet, at this excruciating moment, her senses were heightened, and she heard footsteps approaching… from the direction of the meeting room.

She endured the wet, slimy sensation and glanced towards the sound.

It was… Officer An… A wave of shame washed over Xiang Er, and she quickly averted her gaze, biting her lip, turning her face away from Shen Yuhe as well. This was… too much… she wanted to bury her head in the sand and never come out!

And so, she didn’t see…

An Yue walking slowly, mechanically, towards them, her eyes vacant, as if her soul had been taken.

But deep within her eyes, a flicker of fire occasionally flared, a spark of resistance, a sign that she wasn’t completely under control.

And the moment she appeared, Shen Yuhe stopped, turning to look at An Yue, her gaze sweeping over her face and eyes, noticing the small sparks of defiance within them.

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow, and, right in front of An Yue, extended her tongue, red as blood, and continued, provocatively, to lick, to caress, to savor, one of Xiang Er’s fingers.

It was a blatant challenge. An Yue couldn’t save the girl trapped in Shen Yuhe’s grasp, she couldn’t even save herself, she couldn’t save anyone, she could only watch, helplessly, as it all unfolded.

This was the best way to break a warrior, like slow-cooking a chicken in a simmering broth, until the skin and flesh melted away, leaving only bones, the soul extinguished. It was a simple trick for a Evil God, a common form of amusement.

An Yue’s steps faltered, her face contorted, her limbs twitching. She was still trying to resist, how interesting.

Shen Yuhe removed her tongue from Xiang Er’s finger, but the torment didn’t end.

She took Xiang Er’s wet, glistening finger and put it in her mouth!

Xiang Er gasped, turning her head, her face a mask of fear and shame, staring at Shen Yuhe in shock!

Bright red lips engulfed the pale, almost translucent finger, Shen Yuhe’s throat moving slightly, as if she had bitten it off, swallowed it whole, absorbing it into her very being!

This horrifying, almost mesmerizing scene made An Yue’s eyes widen, her body instinctively lunging forward!

But her body wavered, and she could only stand there, her gaze lowered, her voice flat and lifeless:

“Ms. Shen, I’ll go attend to my other duties. Please excuse me.”

Shen Yuhe slowly released Xiang Er’s finger, a slow, wicked smile curving her lips:

“Very well, Officer An. I’ll be in charge of matters here from now on, you can request a transfer.”

Shen Yuhe’s tone was official, but her actions were far from proper, her hand still gripping Xiang Er’s wrist, her body pressing Xiang Er against the wall, the warmth of their bodies almost heating the wall itself.

Xiang Er, still unable to move, her face burning with shame, raised her other hand to cover her face, wishing her hand were larger, wishing she could disappear.

An Yue, standing a few feet away, nodded, her voice respectful and submissive:

“Thank you for your consideration.”

She said, walking towards them without meeting their eyes.

As she passed by Shen Yuhe, she nodded politely, completely ignoring Xiang Er, trapped and helpless in Shen Yuhe’s grasp.

Her tall, broad figure walked out of the office, disappearing quickly. And Xiang Er, watching her leave, felt a strange, unsettling pang of despair.

She seemed… to be carrying a heavy burden, each step a struggle.

Perhaps being an investigator was a truly stressful job… but!

Xiang Er turned her head, she had no time to worry about other people’s pain, she had just been utterly humiliated in front of Officer An! It was all Shen Yuhe’s fault, doing such things here!

She glared at Shen Yuhe, her voice low and angry:

“Let go of me!”

Shen Yuhe looked at her, a smile playing on her lips, as if amused by a grumpy little animal, not threatened at all, just… finding her cute.

She released Xiang Er’s hand, pinching her nose playfully, her voice low and husky:

“Are you that angry? Were you… uncomfortable just now?”

Xiang Er was momentarily speechless. This… how to put it… comfortable or not… she retorted defensively:

“What comfortable or not, you’re being ridiculous! We’re at the company, how could you…”

Shen Yuhe stepped back slightly, giving her some space, and chuckled:

“So you mean, it’s okay if we’re not at the company?”

Xiang Er, walking back to her workstation, almost stumbled, and she turned, glaring at Shen Yuhe:

“It’s not okay anywhere!”

Shen Yuhe, with a mock-pitiful expression, leaned closer:

“Then when is it okay?”

Xiang Er:

“…”

She grabbed a tissue and tried to wipe her hand, but it only made it feel stickier, and she threw the tissue away, heading to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Shen Yuhe followed her to the bathroom, leaning against the wall, watching her.

The sound of running water, the cold water against her skin, calmed Xiang Er’s nerves, her breathing returning to normal, the anger towards Shen Yuhe fading.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, mingling with the sound of water, asked:

“Do you like Officer An?”

Xiang Er:

“I don’t really know her, we just met, why?”

She turned to look at Shen Yuhe, her expression serious, almost sullen, and a sudden realization made Xiang Er’s eyes widen:

“Are you… are you jealous?!”

Shen Yuhe stared at her intently:

“You’re just realizing this now?”

Xiang Er’s face, which had just returned to its normal paleness, instantly flushed crimson. So… so she had been acting like this because she was jealous… she really did like her that much…

Xiang Er quickly lowered her head, continuing to wash her hands, her skin burning from the icy water, unable to respond, just continuing to wash her hands. “You idiot. I’m afraid… afraid that someone will steal you away…”

Shen Yuhe suddenly leaned closer, her words a mixture of sigh and confession, whispered against Xiang Er’s ear.

The words ended in a sigh of regret, tenderness and affection woven into her low, magnetic voice, like a melody from another world, intoxicating.

Shen Yuhe stepped closer and gently pulled Xiang Er into an embrace.

The water continued to flow, but Xiang Er’s mind was elsewhere, her soul soaring, looking at Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face, a wave of joy washing over her, her reason fading.

…

When Xiang Er finally came back to her senses, she was leaning against Shen Yuhe, her body limp, her forehead, eyes, nose… all kissed, Shen Yuhe’s lips almost touching hers.

Her eyes were hazy, she could barely see what Shen Yuhe was doing, but… just as those red lips were about to touch hers, their breaths mingling…

“No!”

Xiang Er abruptly pulled away and stood up straight, looking at her flushed face in the mirror, her voice filled with disbelief:

“You, you! You’re… you’re terrifying!”

Shen Yuhe’s arms were suddenly empty, and she looked at Xiang Er’s reflection in the mirror, her face puzzled:

“What’s wrong?”

Xiang Er, suddenly angry, said:

“You’re asking me what’s wrong! Don’t you realize where we are? We’re in a bathroom!”

Shen Yuhe’s confusion deepened, a hint of grievance appearing on her beautiful face:

“What’s wrong with the bathroom?”

Xiang Er, looking at that innocent face in the mirror, was even more exasperated, her anger turning into laughter:

“Whose first kiss happens in a bathroom! A first kiss! In a bathroom! How am I supposed to remember this fondly?!”

Shen Yuhe:

“…”

My apologies, she was just a newly arrived Evil God, unfamiliar with human customs, a clear miscalculation.

Chapter 62: The Investigator

The meeting room was bright and clean, a potted pothos plant on the table, a neat stack of folders forming a small, blue mountain in the center.

Xiang Er sat down cautiously:

“How should I address you?”

“My surname is An, my given name is Yue, like the Five Sacred Mountains. You can call me Officer An.” *(yue (岳) is high mountain, characters used in The Five Sacred Mountains)*

Just the name itself brought a sense of reassurance, someone associated with mountains, a police officer, that was good.

An Yue didn’t open any folders, nor did she take out a notebook. Instead, she pulled out a long, thin cigarette, looked at Xiang Er, and raised an eyebrow:

“You don’t mind, do you?”

Xiang Er hesitated and said instinctively:

“But this is a no-smoking area…”

But An Yue ignored her, went to the window, opened it, lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled, turning her head towards the window.

The muscles in her neck, taut as she turned, resembled a wolf stalking through the snow.

She turned back to Xiang Er, her gaze, sharp and intelligent yet seemingly affable, piercing through the swirling blue smoke.

She must be a skilled interrogator… Xiang Er thought.

“Your name is Xiang Er, correct? According to our records, you exhibited some unusual behavior after work last Friday, entering an alley without surveillance cameras, staying there for a long time, and emerging with injuries, accompanied by another person… What exactly happened during that time?”

An Yue’s voice was clear and strong, her gaze unwavering, not missing a single flicker of emotion on Xiang Er’s face.

Xiang Er had nothing to hide, and the fact that someone was finally taking this seriously made her feel a surge of excitement. She could finally report what had happened!

She even leaned forward slightly, her hands on the table, her voice eager:

“It’s like this, Officer An, I encountered a mutated person, General Manager Cheng, after work that day…”

She recounted the events of that day, describing General Manager Cheng’s appearance in detail, her voice rising slightly as she spoke, worried that An Yue wouldn’t hear her, but An Yue’s reactions reassured her.

An Yue’s responses were carefully measured, nodding occasionally, sometimes feigning surprise or confusion, encouraging her to continue, her expression neutral, not betraying any judgment, making Xiang Er feel comfortable enough to reveal more.

She described General Manager Cheng’s monstrous form, their conflict, omitting, of course, the existence of the small eyeball.

Meanwhile…

A loud boom echoed from the elevator lobby, and everyone looked up, startled, their faces pale, their gazes fixed on the elevators.

The elevator doors had been blown open, the heavy metal doors ripped from their hinges, sparks flying from the mangled frame, people who had been waiting for the elevator screaming and running, clutching their faces!

“Aaaaaah…”

“It hurts, it hurts!!”

Their screams formed a strange, harmonious backdrop as a pair of black high heels stepped through the wreckage, emerging from the elevator.

Shen Yuhe, in a white blouse and black suit trousers, stood before the destroyed elevator, her teeth clenched, her eyes dark as ink. A barrier had been placed on the elevator, a barrier targeting her power, although weak and insignificant, it had delayed her!

But… she couldn’t frighten Little Ears. Shen Yuhe, using the mangled elevator doors as a mirror, calmly adjusted her clothes as the people around her screamed and fled, even touching up her lipstick, applying a coat of blood red.

She knew Little Ears liked bright red lips.

---

Back in the meeting room, the interrogation continued.

Xiang Er knew that An Yue was a professional, possibly even a person with special abilities, so, wanting to make Shen Yuhe look good, she described Shen Yuhe’s arrival as a dramatic, almost divine intervention, emphasizing her bravery and selflessness.

“…And that’s what happened. My friend, Shen Yuhe, was injured, but she risked her life to defeat the mutated person. That’s when I realized she was a member of your organization, sent to investigate these incidents. You’re probably the same kind of people, right? She’s truly amazing, incredibly capable, she’s very dedicated to her mission, she not only protected me but also the entire company, you should give her a medal…”

Xiang Er, praising Shen Yuhe, spoke eloquently, her eyes shining, her cheeks flushed.

An Yue listened patiently, her expression one of polite interest, not interrupting.

The cigarette had burned down to its halfway point, and Xiang Er exhaled:

“That’s everything that happened.”

An Yue nodded, then asked seriously:

“How do you know that Miss Shen is… one of us? Did you see any identification?”

Xiang Er was taken aback:

“No, but she was able to defeat the mutated person…”

An Yue raised an eyebrow, casually crossing her legs:

“Then where is the body of the mutated person now?”

Xiang Er:

“Huh? I didn’t see a body…”

As soon as she said the words, she realized… something wasn’t right.

No body? Why wasn’t there a body? That mutated person, impaled by bone spurs, why hadn’t he left a body behind?

Shen Yuhe had gone to the hospital with her after being injured, she hadn’t seemed to do anything else, had her colleagues retrieved the body? But Xiang Er remembered that Shen Yuhe hadn’t used her phone at all, not even at the hospital.

Her thoughts turned dangerous. And just then, An Yue, her gaze sharp as a wolf’s, grabbed Xiang Er’s wrist:

“You know… as far as I’m aware, no one has been assigned to investigate this incident. And within our organization, we’re called ‘special investigators,’ not… people with special abilities.”

What did that mean? Xiang Er’s eyes widened, the implications of those words hitting her like a ton of bricks.

She looked up at An Yue, whose face, although not conventionally beautiful, possessed a wild, rugged attractiveness, her eyes like searchlights, piercing through Xiang Er, sending a chill down her spine!

She stammered, her voice barely a whisper:

“Are you saying… Shen, Miss Shen, she…”

An Yue didn’t answer.

Xiang Er looked at her and saw that her gaze was fixed on the meeting room door.

Her back went cold, a faint sweet fragrance reaching her nostrils, her body trembling involuntarily, her fingers twitching.

So, Shen Yuhe, who was she… had she come?

“Little Ears.”

An incredibly gentle, incredibly sweet voice, like honey, flowed into her ear from behind.

Xiang Er’s neck stiff, she slowly turned her head, and seeing Shen Yuhe, she smiled instinctively, a fleeting moment of happiness.

But the smile, like melting snow in spring, quickly vanished.

Shen Yuhe pushed open the glass door of the meeting room, a gentle smile on her face, and walked quickly towards them:

“Why aren’t you at your desk?”

Her gaze, casually yet pointedly, swept over Xiang Er’s wrist, held by An Yue, a coldness in her eyes.

Xiang Er followed her gaze and saw that An Yue’s state… was suddenly very wrong.

Her normally stylish wolf-cut hair was now standing straight up, as if electrified, a comical halo around her head, her facial muscles twitching, drool trickling from the corner of her mouth, her forehead creased, the veins in her temples throbbing visibly!

Xiang Er gasped and reached out to grab An Yue’s wrist:

“Oh my god, Officer An, are you okay?!”

Her outstretched hand was caught by Shen Yuhe, who smiled at her, shaking her head, and whispered:

“If it’s a sudden illness, you shouldn’t touch her.”

Xiang Er reluctantly stopped, then immediately reached for her phone:

“Then I’ll call an ambulance!”

Shen Yuhe didn’t stop her, the smile on her lips fixed, like a wax figure, her gaze, however, turning icy cold in a direction Xiang Er couldn’t see.

Her pupils, dark and reptilian, like a predator’s, were fixed on An Yue.

This one’s willpower… was stronger than she had anticipated, but it wasn’t a problem.

Shen Yuhe stared into An Yue’s light brown eyes, as if wanting to gouge them out and devour them.

An Yue’s body continued to twitch, her hands reaching up, as if trying to clutch her head, but stopping before reaching it, her fingers trembling, her muscles tense, as if fighting against some invisible force…

Then, suddenly, her shoulders relaxed, the veins in her forehead receding, her hair falling back into place, the contortions in her face disappearing, replaced by a calm, peaceful expression.

Xiang Er, stunned, lowered her phone and looked at An Yue. She still looked the same, but… something was different.

Like a wolf that had been tamed, transformed into a dog… Xiang Er frowned.

An Yue stood up and, suddenly, saluted Shen Yuhe, her voice filled with respect:

“Greetings, Ms. Shen! I’m An Yue, a Class A special investigator from the Lǜ’è City Police Department. I didn’t expect to see you here, it’s an honor to meet you!”

Shen Yuhe casually raised a hand in acknowledgment:

“Hello, Officer An.”

She stood casually, one arm at her side, her aura still commanding, her delicate face aloof and dignified, as if she were of a higher rank, not interested in further interaction. Her gaze swept over An Yue’s face, and she said softly:

“How is your investigation going?”

An Yue hesitated, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, then she quickly regained her composure and said:

“It’s concluded.”

Xiang Er:

“Huh? It’s… it’s over already?”

She was puzzled. An Yue had seemed to have something important to tell her, and she had been concerned about what she had said about Shen Yuhe…

Shen Yuhe suddenly turned to look at her, and Xiang Er’s thoughts scattered.

Shen Yuhe turned back to An Yue, a faint smile on her lips:

“Then, you can go back to your other duties.”

She nodded politely, turned to Xiang Er, and extended her hand, her palm open and inviting:

“Now, my Little Ears, shall we go?”

Xiang Er looked at her hand, and although she didn’t understand, she felt… a sense of unease.

Something… wasn’t right.

An Yue’s sudden change in attitude, what she had said about the missing body, the discrepancy between “person with special abilities” and “investigator”… too many questions, too many inconsistencies, more than just “confidentiality” could explain.

But… Xiang Er looked up at Shen Yuhe, her gaze soft and trusting.

On that beautiful, sculpted face, affection, like dew drops trembling on a flower petal, was clearly visible.

Her eyes were gentle and vulnerable, her red lips parting slightly, as she said:

“What’s wrong, Little Ears? Are you… unhappy with me?”

Xiang Er, of course, wasn’t unhappy.

She didn’t hesitate any longer, extending her hand, taking Shen Yuhe’s, and walking towards the door.

As they left the meeting room, she turned to say goodbye to An Yue, but An Yue just stared at them blankly, like a puppet.

Even stranger… but Xiang Er didn’t care. She had Shen Yuhe, and Shen Yuhe was clearly more powerful than An Yue, more capable of protecting her.

Shen Yuhe lifted Xiang Er’s hand and kissed it, sending shivers down Xiang Er’s spine, a smile blooming on her face, impossible to suppress.

She even forgot that they were at the company, that her colleagues might see them, but when she looked around, the office was… completely empty.

“Huh? Where is everyone?”

Xiang Er asked in surprise.

“There was an accident with the elevator, it malfunctioned, they all went to see what happened.”

Shen Yuhe said casually.

“Huh? What’s so interesting about an elevator malfunction?”

Xiang Er asked.

“I don’t know. But I think… in an empty office, we should do something like this…”

Shen Yuhe’s voice, light and playful, caressed Xiang Er’s ear, a cold finger suddenly pressing against her lips.

Shen Yuhe’s gaze, hungry and possessive, fixed on Xiang Er’s soft lips.

She wanted to pull her back into the cage, to reclaim what might slip from Her grasp.

In other words… She wanted to kiss her, very much.

Chapter 61: Balance

The bustling, luxurious mall was filled with glittering decorations, the air thick with sweet, artificial fragrances, a dizzying sensory overload.

Xiang Er stood amidst the crowd, her mind slightly dazed, yet a firm resolve surfaced within her.

She spoke softly, her voice clear:

“No. Next time, I’ll initiate it.”

Her first kiss, she would be in control. In this fleeting, uncertain world, all she had was herself, all she could control was herself.

When she experienced her true first kiss, it would be on her terms.

Thinking this, she added, her voice shy yet firm:

“What happened earlier… doesn’t count as our first kiss.”

Shen Yuhe looked at her, her eyes filled with confusion, a flicker of something else igniting within them.

She asked:

“But it happened, can we just pretend it didn’t?”

Xiang Er nodded resolutely:

“Yes, we can pretend it didn’t happen.”

Shen Yuhe’s confusion remained, but she hesitantly nodded, filing this information away.

Since that was the case, she would have to wait.

Xiang Er took Shen Yuhe to a regular restaurant, not a couple’s restaurant, and they had a simple meal, then bought milk tea, strolling along the street, their cups warm in their hands.

Xiang Er also explained the situation with her senior. She had helped the senior, who was also an outsider, with some club activities in university, and the senior had become fixated on her, repeatedly confessing her feelings.

“Back then, I thought I was straight, I was completely freaked out, I told her several times, but she wouldn’t give up, so I blocked her when she graduated, she definitely wasn’t my first love.”

Xiang Er’s explanation was slightly hurried, and Shen Yuhe, listening, smiled faintly.

Shen Yuhe, her words laden with meaning, asked:

“You said you thought you were straight back then, what about now?”

Xiang Er hesitated, looking down at her feet:

“Now… I’m not sure.”

Shen Yuhe leaned closer to Xiang Er’s ear, her voice soft and seductive:

“Then if she wasn’t your first love, who was?”

Xiang Er, her face burning, didn’t dare turn to look at Shen Yuhe, just quickened her pace, the bag of plush toys bouncing in her hand.

Shen Yuhe, watching her retreating figure with a satisfied smile, waited until she stopped before slowly catching up.

She knew the woman wasn’t Xiang Er’s first love, not even a friend, so she had only imposed a small punishment.

Let her stand guard at the mall until tomorrow.

The winter air in Lǜ’è City was cold, and Xiang Er warmed her hands with her milk tea, her mood shifting subtly. She deliberately kept a small distance from Shen Yuhe, but their elbows still occasionally brushed against each other, each touch making her heart skip a beat.

Shen Yuhe, holding her extra-sweet milk tea, walked beside Xiang Er, her gaze almost constantly fixed on her, but not too close.

In the plastic bag full of plush toys, the small eyeball was watching Xiang Er, its thin tentacles occasionally reaching out to touch her wrist, but each time Xiang Er looked down, it would widen its red eye, its expression pitiful.

Looking at it, Xiang Er remembered Shen Yuhe saying that it was like their child… That was ridiculous, how could that be? Although its expression now, really did resemble a child whose parents weren’t getting along…

Xiang Er shuddered at the thought.

Soon, Xiang Er found the owner of the hardware store near her apartment and took him back to measure the broken window. The owner returned to his shop to cut the glass, promising to deliver and install it tomorrow.

Xiang Er, Shen Yuhe, and the small eyeball sat in the living room, looking at each other.

The wind outside grew stronger, howling like a ghost, the temperature in the apartment plummeting, the heater struggling to keep up.

Shen Yuhe, looking at the broken window in the guest room, casually asked:

“You can’t sleep in your room tonight, why don’t you sleep in mine?”

Xiang Er:

“…”

She wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard.

Shen Yuhe’s slender fingers gently caressed the small eyeball on the table, not a trace of the black slime clinging to her skin, her touch smoothing the eyeball’s surface, making it gleam like obsidian.

The small eyeball, curled up as if asleep, didn’t react to her touch, only a tentacle, emerging from somewhere on its body, swayed gently, as if enjoying the caress.

Shen Yuhe, having smoothed the small eyeball, looked at Xiang Er:

“So? I promise, I won’t kiss you without your permission.”

Xiang Er:

“…That’s not…”

She took a deep breath and said after a moment of thought:

“I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow, her fingers slowly stroking the small eyeball again, but this time, her touch seemed to carry a warning, and the small eyeball suddenly opened its eye, flinching slightly under her gaze.

That night, Xiang Er still slept in her own room. After showering and changing into her pajamas, she came out to find that Shen Yuhe had sealed the broken window, blocking out the cold wind.

“Then… good night.”

Shen Yuhe’s expression was gentle, her skirt swaying as she turned to leave, quietly closing the door behind her.

Xiang Er sat on the edge of her bed for a moment, then crawled under the covers, trying to sleep.

But her mind was a jumble, replaying the kiss from earlier, her thoughts like quicksand, pulling her down, down, down.

Then she thought about other things, like Shen Yuhe asking her who her first love was… She wanted to answer, it’s you, but she couldn’t say the words.

What exactly was their relationship now?

Just then, her door creaked open.

Xiang Er flinched, but for some reason, she decided to pretend to be asleep, only opening her eyes a sliver to peek.

In the dim light, a graceful silhouette approached, her slender figure and flowing nightgown unmistakable, it was Shen Yuhe, in her beautiful silk pajamas!

Xiang Er’s heart pounded, her hands motionless beneath the covers, her pretense of sleep even more convincing.

Shen Yuhe reached her bedside and leaned over, her long ribbons dangling onto the bed, her long, cool, damp hair brushing against Xiang Er’s cheek.

Xiang Er remained motionless, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, like a butterfly with trapped wings.

Her lips were tightly closed, her breathing deep and even, her lips burning in the darkness, along with her racing heart.

Shen Yuhe’s hair fell forward, enveloping Xiang Er’s face in complete darkness, her strands of hair tickled by Xiang Er’s breath.

Xiang Er’s heart pounded with anxiety and a growing fear.

Shen Yuhe remained motionless, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s face, intense and unwavering.

After what felt like an eternity… Shen Yuhe climbed onto the bed, lay down beside Xiang Er, and pulled the quilt over them.

Xiang Er was stunned, her eyelids twitching, but she couldn’t move, she had to maintain her pretense of sleep.

She was pretending to be asleep.

And Shen Yuhe knew she was pretending.

A strange balance formed between them, and in the gradually intensifying sweet fragrance, they drifted together into the depths of a dark, dreamlike realm.

---

After the weekend, on Monday morning, Xiang Er and Shen Yuhe went to work together, parting ways at the elevators.

Xiang Er, standing alone at the entrance of her company, felt like she had stepped into a different world. So much had happened in the past week, including the weekend, her life turned upside down, her relationship with Shen Yuhe progressing rapidly.

Being alone like this was rare, and Xiang Er took several deep breaths, looking around the office, a sense of unease settling over her.

There seemed to be fewer people… A third of the workstations were empty, the open space feeling strangely desolate.

Last Friday, she had encountered the monstrous General Manager Cheng. After just a weekend, so many people were gone, could it be related to him?

Xiang Er hesitantly entered the office. She had planned to submit her resignation today, perhaps the others, like her, had simply quit.

She hoped that was the case… she had a bad feeling.

She put down her bag, sat at her workstation, and turned on her computer. Zhu Minmin suddenly appeared, her face pale and anxious, as she leaned in, surprisingly not mentioning the beautiful CEO, but asking Xiang Er:

“Investigators came to the company, saying there’s some strange scientific phenomenon here, they’re going to interview everyone, do you know anything about it?”

Xiang Er looked at her in surprise. Zhu Minmin’s round face was filled with fear, her eyes darting around nervously, her entire demeanor anxious and restless.

Xiang Er asked cautiously:

“What kind of scientific phenomenon? Are the investigators scientists?”

Zhu Minmin scratched her face, her voice trembling with fear and anxiety:

“I don’t know, I heard it’s some kind of magnetic field causing human mutations! Have you seen it? It’s terrifying, mutated humans! Like zombies, it’s contagious, just seeing them, or touching something they’ve touched, can cause mutations! Oh my god… I thought it was all fake, but it’s real! There’s even a government agency investigating, oh my god!”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, pulling out strands of hair without even noticing, her mind consumed by fear, unable to focus on anything else.

Xiang Er also felt a surge of anxiety, remembering General Manager Cheng’s head, covered in bone spurs… She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the image.

She had Shen Yuhe’s protection, she didn’t need to be afraid, she didn’t need to be afraid… she repeated silently in her mind.

It was time to work, but no one seemed to be working, either whispering to each other or chatting online, no one organizing the tasks, the usual Monday morning meeting seemingly cancelled.

Xiang Er opened her computer and started writing her resignation letter. She had to leave this company, no matter what, and then figure out her next move.

As she was writing, a voice suddenly spoke behind her:

“You’re Xiang Er, right?”

Xiang Er turned around and saw a tall woman in a suit, her hair styled in a wild, wolf-like mane, the muscles in her exposed arm clearly defined.

She narrowed her eyes at Xiang Er, sniffing the air like a wolf, then raised an eyebrow, as if she had discovered something interesting.

She gestured towards a nearby meeting room:

“I’m An Yue, a government investigator, I’m investigating a safety incident at your company, please come with me to the meeting room. Xiang Er, was it? I’ll remember that.”

Xiang Er immediately stood up, her heart pounding with nervousness, and followed An Yue, who pressed a button inside her jacket as they walked.

At the same time, in the office downstairs, Shen Yuhe, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them, her expression serious, as she stood up, pushed open her office door, and strode out.

She could no longer sense Xiang Er’s presence!

Chapter 60: Triggered

The world froze.

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, like a small bird caught by a predator, her lips pressed firmly against another’s.

Her entire body was held captive, her waist bent backwards at an unnatural angle, almost breaking, as she was pressed against the restaurant table, Shen Yuhe’s face looming large, almost blurring her vision.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss. Shen Yuhe’s lips were forceful, almost devouring, her teeth biting down hard on Xiang Er’s lower lip.

The taste of blood filled her mouth.

But she could still feel the softness of Shen Yuhe’s lips.

Xiang Er reached out, trying to push Shen Yuhe away, but she couldn’t. She tried to turn her head, but she was trapped, her slender body pinned against the table, forced to endure Shen Yuhe’s sudden kiss.

She didn’t even understand what was happening.

The soft music, like viscous fluid, flowed around her, the kiss continuing for an impossibly long time.

The other diners stared in shock, a drink slipping from a waiter’s hand and shattering on the floor. The short-haired woman’s eyes were wide with disbelief, her expression one of utter shock.

If the intention had been to make a statement, Shen Yuhe had succeeded. But she still didn’t stop.

With a single arm, she held Xiang Er tightly against her, their lips and bodies pressed close, refusing to let go, as if afraid she would disappear.

Or as if… she was savoring the kiss.

Like a child who had never tasted candy before, suddenly given the most exquisite treat, she couldn’t bear to let go.

She wanted to devour it completely!

The sweet fragrance filled the restaurant, and many of the diners, as if spurred by the scene, by the scent, turned to their partners, whispering, some even… kissing.

The waiter looked at the cashier. The cleaning lady reached for the security guard. Even the short-haired woman’s eyes glazed over, her gaze unfocused…

Until Xiang Er finally let out a muffled sob:

“Let… go of me!”

She was upset, and Shen Yuhe, in the midst of her passionate fervor, finally noticed.

Shen Yuhe gently released Xiang Er’s lips, but her arm remained firmly around her waist, holding her captive.

Shen Yuhe stared at her, a dark fire burning in her eyes, uncontrollable, threatening to consume Xiang Er completely.

Xiang Er’s lips were red and swollen, bruised like crushed flower petals. She opened her mouth slightly, her words broken and fragmented:

“Why…”

And then she started crying.

She didn’t know why, the tears just came.

A torrent of emotions, too complex to name, overwhelmed her, a formless, monstrous weight pressing down on her heart, tears streaming down her face, uncontrollable.

Her mind was numb, she just stared at Shen Yuhe, tears like endless rain, sliding down her cheeks, dripping onto the table.

Shen Yuhe was clearly at a loss. She hesitated, reluctant to let go of Xiang Er, just gently pulling her upright.

Xiang Er’s tears continued to flow.

Shen Yuhe leaned in to kiss her tears, but Xiang Er turned her head away.

Shen Yuhe’s beautiful lips hovered in mid-air, suspended.

Xiang Er, her vision blurred by tears, raised her hands and gently pushed Shen Yuhe away. She easily broke free from the embrace and stumbled out of the restaurant.

Xiang Er’s tears seemed to extinguish the sweet fragrance in the restaurant, and the diners, momentarily lost in their own desires, came back to their senses, settling back into their seats, embarrassed and silent.

Several couples who had been kissing publicly now looked mortified, quickly getting up to pay their bills.

The waiter and the cashier, who had been embracing passionately, separated, the security guard shyly releasing the cleaning lady’s hand.

The short-haired woman chased after Xiang Er, and Shen Yuhe, after a moment of stunned silence, quickly followed.

She saw Xiang Er’s retreating figure, so slender and fragile, like a delicate reed about to snap, yet still walking forward, despite her unsteady gait.

Shen Yuhe followed, the small eyeball in the bag of plush toys extending a long, thin tentacle, which, like lightning, wrapped around Xiang Er’s wrist.

Xiang Er’s hand froze, and through her tears, she saw the tentacle, tightly coiled around her wrist, crawling up her arm.

She quickened her pace, the tentacle stretching, almost snapping, and the small eyeball, with a desperate leap, landed on her back, clinging to her clothes.

The short-haired woman called out:

“Little Ears! Ears, what’s wrong? Are you upset? Tell me…”

Shen Yuhe, annoyed, waved her hand at the woman, and the short-haired woman suddenly found herself unable to speak, her body rooted to the spot, as she watched the beautiful woman with long hair stride past her, towards Xiang Er’s retreating figure.

Xiang Er felt a wave of panic, a visceral reaction.

The last time she had felt this sense of violation, it had been with the Devil God. The Devil God hadn’t kissed her, but It had… taken control of her entire body…

It was the Devil God’s signature move, that sense of forced compliance, that terrifying feeling of being small and insignificant, completely at its mercy… It had almost completely overshadowed the fleeting joy of being kissed by the person she loved.

Now, as the initial shock subsided, only that familiar terror remained, a deep sense of grievance.

Shen Yuhe was supposed to be gentle and kind… she was supposed to be her protector… why would she force herself on her like this?

They had been having such a nice time, everything progressing so naturally, and Shen Yuhe had ruined it, completely destroying the sweet, perfect first kiss she had imagined!

How could Shen Yuhe be like this?

Xiang Er couldn’t understand. She knew Shen Yuhe sometimes liked to be a little forceful, but she had thought there were limits, a kiss shouldn’t be like this… it had even triggered her trauma from the Devil God!

She couldn’t accept this kind of first kiss!

“Little Ears…”

Shen Yuhe’s voice suddenly echoed beside her ear, startling Xiang Er, and she involuntarily turned to look.

Shen Yuhe’s expression was a mixture of worry and confusion, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, as she asked:

“What’s wrong?”

Xiang Er didn’t know how to answer. She turned away and walked towards the escalator, silent.

As she reached the escalator, Shen Yuhe gently grasped her wrist, her voice trembling slightly:

“Did you… hate me kissing you?”

Xiang Er stopped and looked at Shen Yuhe, finally deciding to tell the truth:

“No… I didn’t hate it.”

Shen Yuhe’s hand tightened around her wrist, then she lifted Xiang Er’s hand and placed it on her shoulder.

Xiang Er felt the rough texture of the bandage beneath Shen Yuhe’s coat, and a pang of guilt pierced her heart. Then, Shen Yuhe’s voice, soft and gentle, asked:

“Then did you… like it?”

Xiang Er’s hand rested on the bandage, a reminder of Shen Yuhe’s injury, her feelings a tangled mess.

She pulled her hand away, avoiding the question:

“Don’t do that again.”

She spoke coldly, suppressing her emotions, and stepped onto the descending escalator.

Shen Yuhe hesitated, then followed, standing on the step below her. She leaned down and, with a surge of emotion, gently kissed Xiang Er’s hair.

Her voice, almost desperate, whispered:

“But I liked it, I like your lips, I can’t stop thinking about kissing them, touching them… devouring them, even if you don’t want me to.”

Xiang Er turned around, startled, a chill running down her spine, and she couldn’t help but ask:

“Are you crazy?”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes were dark and deep. She rarely spoke so much, but the kiss had broken through her control, the words, her true feelings, pouring out, her usual caution and restraint forgotten!

She just wanted to savor that sweet, soft delicacy again, a thousand times, a million times.

Those lips, so close, so tempting, yet forbidden!

Shen Yuhe reached out a hand, her other hand, still feigning injury, almost reaching out as well, a faint black mist swirling behind her… she was almost ready to reveal herself.

But the escalator suddenly jolted, and Xiang Er stumbled backwards, crying out, almost falling.

Shen Yuhe instinctively reached out and caught her, pulling her into an embrace.

But Xiang Er recoiled, her gaze meeting Shen Yuhe’s, her eyes filled with fear and revulsion.

Her voice, flat and lifeless, said:

“Are you going to force yourself on me again…”

Shen Yuhe’s burning desire, like an overinflated balloon pierced by a single, tiny, yet incredibly sharp needle, deflated instantly.

She suddenly didn’t want to kiss her anymore.

If kissing her would make her look like this… she wouldn’t do it.

Shen Yuhe suddenly understood, this was what humans called “love,” sometimes desire itself, sometimes its opposite.

Such an intangible thing, sometimes indulged, sometimes restrained, sometimes uncontrollable, sometimes a cage… Shen Yuhe had thought she understood, but only now did she realize, she still didn’t understand what love was.

She released Xiang Er, like a predator suddenly releasing its prey.

She whispered:

“No, I won’t force you again.”

The escalator reached the bottom, and Xiang Er, her legs unsteady, stood on the ground, looking up at Shen Yuhe.

Tears still stained her face, but her lips, with great effort, curved upwards slightly, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

She said:

“I knew… you truly respect me, you’re protecting me. Let’s… take it slow, okay?”

Shen Yuhe’s expression, however, grew even more melancholic, as if she had heard something that filled her with despair, a self-deprecating smile even appearing on her lips.

Xiang Er, confused, thought she was still upset about the unanswered question.

She thought for a moment, realizing that it was her fault for comparing Shen Yuhe to a Devil God, she should make amends.

So she forced a smile:

“Actually, if it were… normal… I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t mind…”

As she spoke, her face flushed crimson, like a ripe fruit hanging from a branch, ready to be plucked.

Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up, and she said immediately:

“Then let’s find a place, and try again?”

Chapter 59: Claw Machine

Resigned, Xiang Er left the apartment with the small eyeball clinging to her wrist, hidden beneath her sleeve.

A date, at a restaurant suitable for couples.

Xiang Er stepped out the door, her heart lighter than the leaves swaying in the breeze, she looked at the trees, and the leaves were her, trembling in the gentle wind generated by Shen Yuhe’s presence, like she had drunk too much wine, her heart full of unspoken words.

She descended the old stairs, walked along the cracked and uneven stone path, leaving the silent, old residential compound. No one here understood her happiness, and no one outside would either.

No one understood her happiness, the lightness in her steps as she walked beside Shen Yuhe, the way she was enveloped by Shen Yuhe’s unique fragrance… and she didn’t even dare glance at her.

As they walked side by side, Xiang Er felt a strange sensation on her wrist. She looked down and saw the small eyeball peeking out from under her sleeve, a tentacle lifting the edge of the fabric.

“How… does it also want to see the outside world?”

Xiang Er asked in surprise.

She turned to look at Shen Yuhe, a natural movement, but the moment their eyes met, she froze, her face flushing crimson.

Shen Yuhe glanced at the thing on Xiang Er’s wrist:

“It’s still so young, it’s normal for it to be curious.”

Xiang Er looked down. The small eyeball, hidden in her sleeve, wasn’t noticeable, and she whispered to it:

“Stay hidden, don’t let anyone see you, okay? If they see you, I’ll hand you over to Little Fish!”

She glanced at Shen Yuhe:

“You’ll help me keep an eye on it, right?”

Shen Yuhe smiled and nodded.

The sunlight illuminated the sky, and Shen Yuhe, like a meticulously crafted jade statue, her face serene and gentle, her eyes filled with unconcealed affection, that affection, like water, reflecting the light, making her face glow.

It was a breathtaking beauty, a warmth that made Xiang Er’s heart race, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in the rare sunlight, the reason she had fallen in love with this world.

Shen Yuhe suddenly took Xiang Er’s hand, the one with the small eyeball attached.

Her long fingers gently squeezed Xiang Er’s palm.

Like a silent game between them, neither looking at the other, yet aware that every small gesture, every touch, could send ripples through their hearts.

Xiang Er felt intoxicated, her fingers clumsily reaching out, wanting to touch Shen Yuhe’s palm, but the moment she extended her hand, Shen Yuhe grasped it firmly.

A warm, firm grip, as if wanting to meld their hands together.

The small eyeball extended a tentacle towards Shen Yuhe’s hand, then quickly retracted, hiding in Xiang Er’s sleeve, its red eye darting around.

They walked hand in hand, and Xiang Er had never found the ordinary streets so beautiful before, wanting to point out everything she saw, to share it all with Shen Yuhe.

“Look over there! That statue is so cute, two hearts joined together~”

“That tree looks like it’s been grafted, the leaves on the top and bottom are different.”

“That person just drove past on a motorcycle with a mirror strapped to his back, so dangerous!”

And Shen Yuhe patiently responded to every comment, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s profile.

“Yes, it’s a cute statue, I like it.”

“It doesn’t matter if they’re different, they’re both trees, grafted together they can grow taller.”

“He’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Xiang Er pulled Shen Yuhe into a shopping mall, where several claw machines lined the hallway. She glanced at them, and a thought crossed her mind: Don’t couples usually play claw machines together?

Shen Yuhe, as if reading her mind, took her hand and whispered:

“Let’s go play the claw machines, I have a feeling you’ll be lucky today.”

Xiang Er’s eyes lit up, Shen Yuhe had the same thought!

Was this what they called being on the same wavelength?

She was already floating on cloud nine, and she smiled, saying:

“No, claw machines are a rip-off…”

But her hand was still in Shen Yuhe’s, and Shen Yuhe gently pulled her towards the claw machines.

“Oops…”

The floor was slippery, and she almost stumbled, but Shen Yuhe quickly caught her, her wrist twisting, and Xiang Er, helplessly… fell into her arms.

Xiang Er looked up, startled, her gaze meeting Shen Yuhe’s smooth, delicate jawline, her beautiful face illuminated by the colorful lights of the claw machine.

Shen Yuhe was holding her… Realizing this, Xiang Er’s body went limp, a mixture of shyness and secret delight. She reached out, wanting to grab something…

And the handle of the claw machine was placed in her hand.

The claw machine played a cheerful tune, its colorful lights flashing on their faces, the world spinning, the plush toys inside smiling at her.

Xiang Er felt like she was at a glamorous party, Shen Yuhe’s date, dancing under her watchful eye.

Shen Yuhe held Xiang Er’s hand, her long fingers sliding between Xiang Er’s, their hands together on the joystick, her breath warm against Xiang Er’s hair:

“Which one do you want?”

Xiang Er looked at the plush toys inside, each one adorable, and said sincerely:

“Any one is fine.”

Shen Yuhe, through Xiang Er’s hand, guided the joystick, left, then right, their fingers intertwined, gently touching, caressing, the delicate, creamy sensation sending shivers through Xiang Er’s hand, through her heart…

Xiang Er barely exerted any force, her hand simply following Shen Yuhe’s movements, then her hand lifted, Shen Yuhe’s hand covering hers, their hands pressed together as they pushed the button.

The claw descended, its movements shaky and uncertain, grabbing the ear of a plush toy, its grip precarious. Xiang Er thought it was going to drop it when…

A thin, black line, seemingly from nowhere, snaked into the claw machine, taking control of the claw, and with a “thud,” swung it towards the chute.

The plush toy was deposited into the prize slot, the claw machine playing a triumphant jingle.

Xiang Er:

“Wait, I think I saw something…”

Shen Yuhe, suppressing a smile, said:

“It was nothing, you must have imagined it.”

Xiang Er:

“?”

She picked up the plush toy, and the small eyeball on her wrist immediately extended a tentacle, wrapping it around the toy and holding it close, swaying happily.

Xiang Er:

“Ah… it seems to like it?”

Shen Yuhe chuckled softly, her fingers caressing Xiang Er’s, and whispered:

“Don’t you think… it’s rather cute sometimes?”

Xiang Er:

“It is a bit cute, but…” it was still a monster!

Shen Yuhe caressed the back of Xiang Er’s hand, her palm, her smile widening as she leaned closer:

“Don’t you think… it’s a bit like our child?”

Xiang Er:

“Huh? No, I don’t think so…” How could she have such an ugly child?!

Shen Yuhe sighed in mock disappointment and placed Xiang Er’s hand back on the joystick.

With Shen Yuhe’s help, Xiang Er played ten times and won eleven plush toys. Yes, one time the claw even managed to grab two toys at once, a double prize.

Xiang Er, overjoyed, clutched the pile of plush toys, almost jumping for joy:

“Wow! You’re so good at this! You’re amazing at claw machines!”

Shen Yuhe:

“It’s you who’s amazing, for finding me, for controlling me.”

Xiang Er paused, not quite processing the meaning of her words, and went to ask the shop assistant for a bag, carefully placing the plush toys inside, one by one.

As she was putting in the last one, the small eyeball suddenly jumped from her wrist, its tentacles flailing as it fell into the pile of colorful plush toys.

Xiang Er was startled, and when she looked again, the small eyeball had already emerged from the plushy ocean, its tentacles gripping the toys, climbing to the top of the pile before opening its red eye, rolling around, its expression one of pure joy.

It looked like a slightly unusual plush toy itself.

Xiang Er suddenly realized that, for a moment, she had actually found it cute… This was ridiculous! Had she forgotten that it was part of a monster?!

Shen Yuhe chuckled:

“It’s truly adorable, anyone who sees it would find it cute.”

Xiang Er:

“Huh?”

Shen Yuhe casually stopped a passerby and asked politely:

“Excuse me, do you think these are cute?”

The elegant woman in her forties smiled at the bag:

“Of course they’re cute! Especially that eyeball one, so interesting, where did you get it? I want to get one for my child!”

Shen Yuhe helpfully pointed out the claw machine, and the woman, her face alight with excitement, walked towards it, leaving Xiang Er standing there, speechless.

Had she become so out of touch with modern aesthetics? Or did she truly have a prejudice against this small eyeball?

No! The point wasn’t that, the point was, why could ordinary people see the small eyeball now!

She turned to Shen Yuhe, about to ask, when Shen Yuhe answered:

“The small eyeball has lost its power, it can’t hide itself anymore, everyone can see it now. It’s better to keep it in the bag than on your wrist.”

Now Xiang Er couldn’t object. The small eyeball lay sprawled amidst the plush toys, its tentacles waving happily.

Shen Yuhe took Xiang Er’s hand again, their fingers intertwining, and asked with a smile:

“So, have you found your couple’s date restaurant yet?”

Xiang Er:

“I don’t really have any experience with this… wait a moment, I’ll check online.”

She took out her phone, clumsily trying to use it with one hand, Shen Yuhe leaning in to look, making her even more nervous and clumsy.

Shen Yuhe pointed at the screen with a slender finger:

“Let’s go to this one.”

It was an Italian restaurant, its description emphasizing “private and intimate atmosphere,” the reviews mentioning “saw several couples kissing secretly, a single person’s nightmare.”

Xiang Er blushed crimson. What was this woman planning? No way… in a restaurant? That would be her first kiss…

She nodded:

“Okay…”

Shen Yuhe, a playful smile on her lips, lifted Xiang Er’s hand and kissed it, making Xiang Er blush even more deeply and quickly pull her hand away, looking around:

“Don’t do that! What if someone sees us?”

Shen Yuhe chuckled and stopped teasing her. They took the escalator, not in a hurry, as long as they were together, every moment was a joy.

The restaurant was tucked away in a corner on the fourth floor, its ambiance elegant, the entrance and walls adorned with lush greenery, soft music playing in the background.

The waiter led them to a table, and Xiang Er, glancing around, suddenly tensed up, as if she had seen someone she knew.

Shen Yuhe followed her gaze. Sitting diagonally across from them was a cool, handsome woman with short hair, staring at Xiang Er with a bewildered expression.

Clearly an old acquaintance… Shen Yuhe frowned slightly.

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, and she whispered:

“Let’s change tables…”

But it was too late. The short-haired woman had already stood up and walked towards them, her face a mask of shock:

“Ears, I can’t believe you’re in this city too! I’ve missed you so much these past few years, why did you block me? You didn’t even leave me any way to contact you!”

Xiang Er, flustered, instinctively let go of Shen Yuhe’s hand, stood up, and stammered:

“Senior, I…”

But the short-haired woman looked at Shen Yuhe, her expression a mixture of anger and mockery:

“So this is your type?”

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow, her gaze cool as she looked at the woman:

“And you are?”

The short-haired woman lifted her chin proudly:

“I’m Ears’ first love!”

Xiang Er’s eyes widened in alarm, and she frantically waved her hands:

“No, I’m not! I’ve never been in love! She’s just… mm!”

Shen Yuhe stood up, pulled Xiang Er close, and kissed her, a deep, forceful kiss.

Chapter 58: Intelligence

With so many tentacles working together, the task was quickly completed. A tentacle emerged from the open bedroom door, carrying a bucket to the bathroom to fetch water for the final cleaning, a fully automated process.

Xiang Er sat leisurely in the living room, sipping her coffee, watching the tentacle clumsily carrying the bucket back and forth, and, like a nagging landlord, called out:

“Make sure you wipe up any spills!”

The tentacle placed the bucket back in the room, then quickly extended again, forming a heart shape in mid-air, as if acknowledging her command.

Xiang Er smiled in satisfaction. This little worker was quite efficient. She took a sip of her coffee, its aroma rich and strong, even the cheapest instant coffee tasted better when Shen Yuhe made it.

Shen Yuhe sat beside her, fiddling with her diamond-encrusted phone.

Xiang Er also scrolled through her phone, reading the local news, and she couldn’t help but sigh:

“Are these… all within your jurisdiction?”

#Giant snake found in resident’s home, captured by zoo#

#Hospital reports escaped patient with contagious skin disease, police urge residents to report any sightings and avoid contact#

#Giant bird, a rare mutated species, sighted in residential area#

The news reports were carefully worded, but Xiang Er could read between the lines, having encountered so many monsters herself, she knew these were all monster-related incidents.

With Shen Yuhe protecting her home, there must be other people with special abilities like Shen Yuhe, fighting for humanity’s safety, protecting other places where monsters appeared, right?

Shen Yuhe looked up at the news on Xiang Er’s phone, her expression unreadable:

“Yes. These are all abnormal entities. You should stay away from them.”

Xiang Er nodded:

“I know. But… why haven’t I seen you go out and deal with them? Especially since some of these incidents happened nearby. Haven’t you received any assignments?”

Shen Yuhe was silent for a moment, then said:

“Our organization has enough personnel. Don’t worry, my mission is to protect your safety.”

Xiang Er blushed slightly, unsure if this was the truth, or just something Shen Yuhe said to reassure her, but either way, it made her happy, very happy.

If they had enough personnel, then Shen Yuhe staying here with her shouldn’t be a problem. Xiang Er glanced at Shen Yuhe, then looked down, a smile playing on her lips.

She thought for a moment, then asked:

“Is it because the thing that appeared here is the most dangerous, that’s why you have to stay here and watch me? What do you call it, containment? You’re containing the sculpture, right? That sculpture is a Devil God, isn’t it? Are Devil Gods the most powerful?”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Shen Yuhe, her hands wrapped around her coffee mug.

Shen Yuhe smiled, her lips curving upwards, and replied:

“It is indeed the most powerful being, It is what you humans call a Devil God.”

Xiang Er couldn’t help but gasp, although she had suspected as much, she was still surprised. What kind of luck was this, encountering a monster, and it happened to be the most powerful one, she didn’t know if it was good luck or bad.

She asked again:

“Then… how many Devil Gods, like that sculpture, are there? Does your organization know?”

Shen Yuhe smiled, her eyebrows raising slightly, her allure undeniable, as she reached out a slender hand, gently lifting Xiang Er’s chin, her voice carrying a hint of playful dominance:

“What do you think? A being like that, how many can this world handle?”

Xiang Er was speechless. How was she supposed to know? She wasn’t an expert, and besides, that slimy, black thing hadn’t exactly displayed its full power, had it?

But Xiang Er thought for a moment, then smiled, and said to Shen Yuhe, a hint of playful challenge in her voice:

“I don’t know how powerful It is, but It was quite obedient, I told It to leave, and It actually left, so doesn’t that make me the most powerful? Hahaha! I can command a Devil God, hahaha…”

She laughed, amused by her own joke. Her, someone so weak, so clumsy, so flawed, the most powerful? Don’t be ridiculous!

But to her surprise, Shen Yuhe didn’t laugh, just stared at her, her gaze deep and unfathomable, like the vastness of the starry sky.

She opened her red lips, her voice tinged with a sigh and a hint of defeat:

“You’re right.”

Xiang Er:

“Haha… huh? What did you say? How am I right?”

Shen Yuhe’s long fingers gently caressed Xiang Er’s jawline, her touch cool and delicate, like stroking silk and brocade, her eyes fixed on Xiang Er, as she whispered:

“You… are the most powerful, able to command a Devil God…”

Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words lingering in the melancholic smile on her lips, her beautiful fingers lingering on Xiang Er’s cheek, reluctant to leave.

Xiang Er reached out and placed her hand on Shen Yuhe’s, not to stop her, but simply to touch her, the simple contact bringing her comfort and reassurance.

She sighed and said:

“But I… I’m just an ordinary person? It was just a joke.”

Then, a thought struck her, and she opened her eyes, her hand firmly gripping Shen Yuhe’s, pressing her fingers against her cheek.

She said:

“If… if that Devil God ever comes back, you mustn’t fight It, you can’t defeat It! It wants me, don’t get involved, okay?”

Shen Yuhe’s expression was complex, and she didn’t answer.

Xiang Er’s gaze was serious, fixed on her:

“Promise me, or I won’t share my intel on the Devil God.”

Shen Yuhe:

“Oh? What intel do you have?”

Xiang Er:

“It has weaknesses too…”

Shen Yuhe finished her sentence:

“Its weakness… is you.”

Xiang Er froze:

“Huh?”

Shen Yuhe stared at her intently.

Xiang Er’s mind raced, wanting to argue, but she realized… she couldn’t.

The apartment was quiet, except for the sounds of cleaning coming from the guest room, and the howling wind outside, the cold of winter approaching, accompanied by the rustling of falling leaves.

The apartment wasn’t very warm, and Xiang Er shivered slightly, thinking that if her weakness truly was Akhe’s weakness… then perhaps Its obsession with her was even stronger than she had imagined.

Perhaps the Devil God would come back for her, and the scenario she had just described might actually happen.

But why?

If that happened, could she stop Shen Yuhe from throwing herself into a suicidal battle? And could she bear to watch Shen Yuhe be devoured by the Devil God, sacrificing herself to save her?

She couldn’t… she couldn’t think about it anymore, her head was starting to ache.

Xiang Er suddenly thought that perhaps she should distance herself from Shen Yuhe, if they weren’t so close, then the things she feared wouldn’t happen… But how could she possibly do that?

She looked at Shen Yuhe, her touch so gentle and affectionate, and if her eyes were a lake, Xiang Er would have gladly drowned in them… She couldn’t escape.

Just then, several small tentacles emerged from the guest room, one of them curling up and tapping Xiang Er’s shoulder.

Xiang Er turned, and the small tentacle gestured towards the room.

Shen Yuhe smiled and said:

“It wants you to go in and inspect its work.”

Xiang Er stood up, pushing aside her worries, and entered the guest room. It was surprisingly clean and tidy, the small eyeball had done a good job, the closet doors open, the clothes neatly organized, the torn bedding gone, replaced with a fresh set.

Somehow, it even knew how to put on a duvet cover, something Xiang Er herself always struggled with.

The small eyeball was perched on the desk, its round body supported by four tentacles, another tentacle extending from its back, swaying gently.

Xiang Er looked at it, the sight strangely endearing.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, soft and amused, said:

“It’s imitating your favorite animal.”

Xiang Er, puzzled, asked:

“It’s… imitating a puppy?”

Shen Yuhe:

“Perhaps? Don’t you think it’s… cute?”

The small eyeball, hearing this, immediately widened its eye, its red pupil filled with anticipation, the tentacle mimicking a tail wagging even more enthusiastically.

Xiang Er could only say:

“You did a good job, keep up the good work, okay?”

The small eyeball, its tentacles mimicking a puppy’s paws, walked in a circle on the desk, then sat down facing Xiang Er, its posture one of proud accomplishment, waiting for praise.

Xiang Er:

“…”

Wait, how had a small monster become a puppy, where was its monstrous dignity?

She looked away, unable to bring herself to praise the small eyeball, she wasn’t used to it.

Then she noticed the problem. The broken windowpane hadn’t been replaced, although the shards of glass had been cleaned up.

Shen Yuhe, as if reading her mind, said:

“How do we fix this window?”

This was Xiang Er’s area of expertise. As a socially awkward orphan, no matter where she moved, she always made sure to locate the nearest repair shops, so she could easily find someone to fix things when they broke.

Xiang Er, scrolling through her phone, said:

“There are a lot of hardware stores around here, I’ll see if I have their number… wait, I don’t think I saved their number. Never mind, I’ll go downstairs and ask someone to come up.”

Shen Yuhe nodded:

“Then let’s go together, and we can have dinner, and… do something fun. I’ve always wanted… a normal date, with you.”

“A date? Ah… okay, that sounds good, I don’t want to order takeout again… I know a good place nearby, perfect for friends to eat together… we can go there, and then have some milk tea afterwards…”

As she spoke, Xiang Er’s face flushed, had she just agreed to a date? Did Shen Yuhe mean it in that way?

Shen Yuhe raised a hand, interrupting her:

“I want… a restaurant suitable for a couple’s date.”

The words hung in the air, and the room fell silent.

Xiang Er froze, her face as red as a camellia, caught off guard. She wanted to look at Shen Yuhe, to see her expression… but she couldn’t turn her head.

She could feel Shen Yuhe’s warm hand on the back of her neck, like a snake, gently caressing her skin, a lingering touch.

The hand moved to her throat, and Xiang Er shivered, her voice dreamlike:

“Then, then let’s… let’s go.”

Xiang Er looked straight ahead, her face and neck burning, a thin sheen of sweat on her skin. She felt the touch on her neck change, as if… as if Shen Yuhe had pressed her nose against her skin, inhaling her scent, the sweet fragrance filling the air.

Xiang Er suddenly worried, would she bite her? It felt like she was savoring the aroma of food, or the bouquet of fine wine.

If she didn’t bite, would she kiss her neck?

Just then, a thin, black tentacle, seemingly from nowhere, wrapped around Xiang Er’s wrist. The next second, the small eyeball launched itself through the air, landing on her wrist with a “splat.”

It raised its red pupil, swiveling it towards Xiang Er, its tentacle tail wagging excitedly, its message clear: I want to go too! Take me with you!

Xiang Er:

“…”

It was just a self-propelled cleaning ball! What did this have to do with it?!

Chapter 57: Cleaning Up

On a gloomy, overcast morning, the sun vanished without a trace, the wind howling like a sharp blade, tearing through the city. Many trees in the south still held their green leaves, but they seemed coated in a thick layer of dust, their branches swaying anxiously in the fierce wind.

Something had changed, unnoticed by Xiang Er.

Xiang Er fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, a sense of unease holding her back. She looked at Shen Yuhe, her eyes filled with trust and apprehension, and asked:

“What… what is it?”

Shen Yuhe’s expression was gentle and serious, tinged with a rare melancholy, her brow furrowed, as if troubled.

Her voice, soft as a melody, said:

“You’ll see when you come in. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

She entered the room first, leaving the door open, and stood by the desk, looking at Xiang Er, the black slime on her clothes dripping down in thin, dark streaks.

Xiang Er sighed:

“Okay.”

Shen Yuhe would protect her.

She stepped inside, and her hair immediately stood on end, the scene before her shocking.

The room was a disaster! Black slime covered almost every surface, furniture overturned, a chair leg broken, even the bedsheets torn, a large hole in the pillow, as if something had smashed into it!

Black slime trails dripped down the walls, forming a grotesque pattern… Xiang Er’s head buzzed!

Thankfully, it was only black. If it had been red, it would have looked like a murder scene!

Shen Yuhe, beside her, took her stiff hand and led her towards the bed:

“Look at this.”

Xiang Er, her stomach churning at the sight of the mangled bedding, exclaimed:

“What happened! This is my favorite bedding set, who did this?!”

The next second, she saw the culprit.

A fist-sized thing was partially hidden beneath the torn sheets, several black tentacles peeking out, holding up the quilt, half of an eyeball looking out cautiously.

Who else could it be but the small eyeball?

Xiang Er almost wanted to laugh in exasperation! What was this? The large eyeball that had been clinging to her, now back in its small form, showing off in front of her? And it had trashed her room, what was it doing, seeking revenge?!

Xiang Er was about to roll up her sleeves when the small eyeball, seeing her, rolled out from under the covers.

It raised two thin, black tentacles, their tips touching above the eyeball, forming a heart shape.

The small eyeball, completely defenseless, formed a perfect heart shape, its single eye shining with a mixture of timidity and eagerness.

Xiang Er froze. She remembered the silenced alarms, the small eyeball clinging to her wrist, accompanying her everywhere. It had even dealt with General Manager Cheng… during that time, knowing the small eyeball was there had given her a strange sense of security.

She had known then that the small eyeball wouldn’t hurt her… but after it grew larger, everything had changed, that dream, that reality beyond the dream, had truly traumatized her.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, gentle and soft, spoke beside her ear:

“It was quite large when I came in. After fighting with me, it shrunk to this size. Its mental capacity is now like a three-year-old child’s. According to protocol, I can’t kill it, I can only contain it for now.”

Xiang Er turned to her, puzzled:

“What kind of protocol is that? Showing mercy to a monster? What happens when it grows up, won’t it harm humans again?”

Shen Yuhe was silent for a moment, then said:

“It won’t grow any larger. If it does, I’ll kill it. Even monsters are living beings.”

The wind howled outside the broken window, the cold air carrying the metallic scent of winter dampness, the world holding its breath.

Xiang Er considered Shen Yuhe’s words, and she realized that she was right, even monsters were a form of life.

But this kind of life, appearing in the human world, harming humans, would naturally cause panic. But like wild animals, as long as they were properly managed, perhaps a harmonious world could be achieved.

Perhaps this was the intention behind the protocol, perhaps this organization, with its vision of a changed world, wanted monsters and humans to coexist peacefully, to create a space for monsters in this vast world. It was also a display of compassion… after all, even the most ruthless of humans rarely harmed the young of their enemies.

Xiang Er’s gaze returned to the small eyeball in front of the quilt.

The small eyeball was still making the heart shape, its large, red pupil swiveling, following Xiang Er’s gaze, a clear yearning in its single eye.

This thing… did it truly only have the mental capacity of a three-year-old? Then, when it climbed into her bed, had it already reached the age of… desire? Did monsters mature so quickly?

Xiang Er turned to Shen Yuhe, her expression serious:

“You promised that if it grows any larger, you’ll kill it?”

Shen Yuhe nodded solemnly, her gaze intense, fixed on Xiang Er:

“It seems to consider you its closest companion. It specifically came to your room from outside, and even after I almost killed it, it refused to leave.”

Xiang Er’s heart stirred, and she looked back at the small eyeball.

The small eyeball, still diligently holding up its tentacle heart, bounced excitedly when Xiang Er looked at it, like a small, black ping pong ball, its movements surprisingly energetic.

Xiang Er asked cautiously:

“Then… it doesn’t have any… strange abilities now, right?”

Shen Yuhe said:

“No, it’s too small to do anything.”

Xiang Er stared at the small eyeball, the small eyeball stared back at Xiang Er, its tentacle heart swaying, as if offering it to her, wanting her to see it clearly.

Silence fell upon the room, only the howling wind, and the now-dried black slime trails on the wall.

Shen Yuhe watched Xiang Er’s profile, as if studying her expression. Xiang Er frowned at the small eyeball, her mind troubled. The small eyeball, its gaze fixed on Xiang Er, eagerly swayed its tentacle heart, bouncing closer and closer, until it reached the edge of the bed.

Shen Yuhe suddenly broke the silence:

“So… will you let me… keep it… I mean, contain it?”

Xiang Er sighed. It seemed she had no choice. She said to Shen Yuhe:

“You can keep it on your side, just don’t let it come over here.”

The small eyeball immediately jumped three feet in the air, its tentacles flailing wildly in delight, as if it had heard the most beautiful music, its single eye crinkling in what seemed like a smile.

Xiang Er raised an eyebrow and said to the small eyeball:

“However, you have to clean this room. Do you know how to clean?”

She frowned and continued, her tone stern:

“If you don’t even know how to clean, I’ll throw you away!”

The small eyeball, thoroughly intimidated, immediately rolled towards the black slime trails on the bed, absorbing them as it rolled, and after a few rotations, the bed was clean.

Xiang Er, feeling slightly less aggrieved, nodded:

“Very good. Now clean the entire room. I’ll get you some tools.”

She left the room, returned with a broom, a rag, a mop, and a bucket of water, placing them on the floor.

The small eyeball had already removed the torn bedding, placing it in a pile. It bounced and extended several long, thin tentacles, grabbing the broom, the rag, and the mop.

Then, its small eye narrowed into a determined, energetic crescent, and the tentacles, moving independently, began wiping the tables, sweeping the floor, and mopping.

Its small, spherical body swayed precariously in the air, but it remained focused on its task, diligently cleaning.

Xiang Er watched from the doorway, and Shen Yuhe’s amused laughter echoed behind her:

“Pfft… you’re quite resourceful.”

Xiang Er, her arms crossed, her chin raised, her face serious, said:

“Look how good it is at cleaning! It can do all the housework from now on, freeing up our hands.”

Shen Yuhe chuckled again, then suddenly reached out and pulled Xiang Er into an embrace.

As she spoke, her breath caressed Xiang Er’s ear, like a silken thread, reaching deep into her heart, making her heart skip a beat.

“Thank you for forgiving me… and I really like that term you used: ‘Our home.’”

Shen Yuhe’s tone was serious, not playful.

But her sweet fragrance, and the way her voice resonated in Xiang Er’s ear, made it difficult for her to focus on the words.

She leaned into the warm, soft embrace, smiling at Shen Yuhe, and whispered:

“I thought… you wouldn’t like me saying ‘our home.’ After all, you’re only living here… because of your mission, right?”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was firm:

“No, this is our home, it was, and it always will be.”

She gently kissed Xiang Er’s ear, a tender, loving gesture, and with one arm, held Xiang Er tightly, sighing contentedly.

Xiang Er, equally content, lost herself in the embrace and the kiss, basking in the warmth, forgetting to question the meaning behind them.

She thought, perhaps this was what they called the honeymoon phase… She felt that Shen Yuhe must also like her, but she wasn’t sure how much, and it was this uncertainty, this anticipation, that made it so exciting, every moment a new thrill.

Since that time, when Shen Yuhe had been injured protecting her, Xiang Er had understood her own feelings: She liked Shen Yuhe.

Not just as a friend, but romantically.

But… for now, she wouldn’t say it out loud.

Xiang Er, lost in Shen Yuhe’s sweet embrace, like a drowning person falling in love with the lake, didn’t want to leave.

She heard Shen Yuhe’s voice above her head:

“When will you… like the real me…”

Her voice was soft and indistinct, like a murmur in a dream, and Xiang Er, confused, just hummed in response, not quite hearing the words.

She only felt Shen Yuhe’s hand tighten around hers, almost painfully so, then her hand was guided, pressed against something soft.

It was Shen Yuhe’s heart.

 

Chapter 56: Breakfast

Xiang Er had slept soundly last night, a deep, dreamless sleep.

She was still savoring the pleasant sensation of rest, her mind not yet fully awake, when Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face, in close-up, suddenly appeared before her, and she froze.

Then, Shen Yuhe kissed her forehead.

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, her expression less like someone who had been kissed, and more like someone who had been punched in the face!

Was she still dreaming?!

But her senses told her she was awake!

But a beautiful woman in her bed, a good morning kiss… this was… too surreal…

Xiang Er was so stunned that her blush was delayed, her face slowly turning red only after she had confirmed that she was indeed awake.

Then she remembered, she had come home last night and fallen asleep immediately, without even washing up… How oily must her forehead be! It must be shining!

How could Shen Yuhe kiss her forehead like that?!

Shen Yuhe said good morning, but receiving no response, she raised an eyebrow, a puzzled look on her face.

And Xiang Er… Xiang Er’s entire face, neck, and collarbone flushed crimson, as if she had been dipped in boiling water, steam practically rising from her head.

She suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, jumped out of bed, and ran to the bathroom, a flurry of activity as she began to wash up.

Shen Yuhe, still lying on the bed, her posture alluring, looked puzzled, then couldn’t help but smile. Truly adorable, her Little Ears.

Xiang Er frantically scrubbed her face at the sink, until her forehead was clean and shiny, then brushed her teeth vigorously, thoroughly, even cleaning her tongue.

She didn’t know why, but she felt the need to maintain good oral hygiene, perhaps she would need it today!

But then she was startled by her own thought, need it for what… Xiang Er, get a grip! Shen Yuhe was a person with special abilities! Although she wasn’t sure of the details, perhaps she was a government agent, here on a mission, not to… well, not to do that with her!

After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Xiang Er suddenly realized that today was Saturday, she didn’t have to go to work.

She immediately took a quick shower, applied conditioner to her hair, used fragrant shower gel, and then body lotion, finally feeling presentable.

By the time she was done, forty minutes had passed. Xiang Er took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door.

As expected, Shen Yuhe was standing outside the door, her good arm resting impatiently against the wall, her body leaning against the doorframe, her gaze fixed on the door, ready to greet the person emerging.

Xiang Er knew she had been waiting for a long time and quickly apologized:

“Oh, I’m sorry, I took a bit long, I made you wait!”

But Shen Yuhe didn’t seem impatient at all. Instead, she looked Xiang Er up and down, a sweet smile curving her lips:

“You’re very clean now.”

Xiang Er blushed again. How did she know she was clean… well, she had just showered, but… there was something about the way she said it… a double entendre…

“Um, it’s Saturday today, I don’t have to go to work, how about you? Do you have to go to work?”

Xiang Er asked, fiddling with her pajama sleeve.

“Saturday? I don’t have to go to work either.”

Shen Yuhe said, standing up gracefully and, extending her arm, pulling Xiang Er into an embrace.

Xiang Er’s heart pounded, her limbs stiff and awkward, her face pressed against Shen Yuhe’s familiar chest, the familiar… scent of her skin filling her nostrils.

Her mind reeled, her body weakening.

And her damp hair brushed against Shen Yuhe’s skin, the cool, wet touch almost intoxicating.

Her voice, unconsciously husky, like a seductive caramel latte, whispered:

“You haven’t said good morning to me yet.”

So that was it… Xiang Er’s face pressed against Shen Yuhe’s collarbone, and she turned her head, trying to avoid touching Shen Yuhe’s skin with her lips.

She found a pocket of air and mumbled:

“Good morning… Little Fish… mmph…”

Pressed so close, her words were muffled and slightly slurred.

But she didn’t want Shen Yuhe to let go.

She just wanted… to stay like this forever, in this embrace, until the end of time… to never wake up, to never see the monsters, the black slime, just to stay like this with Shen Yuhe, forever… that was her wildest dream.

But Shen Yuhe suddenly released her, coughing as if in pain, and quickly stepped back.

He could clearly hear the voice in Xiang Er’s heart, but that voice, like a thousand tiny knives, pierced His true form, an unbearable agony!

The more she loved Shen Yuhe, the more He suffered. He couldn’t embrace her…

Seeing her cough and retreat, Xiang Er suddenly remembered the bandage on her shoulder. She panicked, how could she have forgotten that Shen Yuhe was injured! Letting her hug her so tightly, she must have aggravated the wound!

Xiang Er, filled with guilt, rushed forward and helped Shen Yuhe sit down on the sofa:

“How’s your shoulder? Does it hurt? Did I hurt you… I’m so sorry, I forgot about your injury.”

Shen Yuhe just looked at her, her gaze unwavering, saying nothing, just shaking her head.

Xiang Er, confused by her reaction, asked:

“Where does it hurt? Did the bandage come loose…”

Shen Yuhe said:

“I’m fine.”

She smiled at Xiang Er, but her smile was tinged with sadness and disappointment.

Xiang Er, flustered, stood there for a moment, then said softly:

“I’ll go make breakfast.”

She went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

Shen Yuhe followed her, standing at the kitchen doorway, watching her, glancing inside the refrigerator.

Xiang Er felt a pang of embarrassment:

“Ah… there’s not much in here, haha.”

Well, she wasn’t in the habit of cooking at home, so the refrigerator was mostly empty, barely enough ingredients for two simple egg sandwiches.

Xiang Er, under Shen Yuhe’s watchful gaze, started cooking, diligently scrambling a few eggs.

Shen Yuhe looked at the scrambled eggs and said with apparent sincerity:

“Wow, is this what they call a ‘dark dish’ online? You’re a true culinary genius!”

Xiang Er:

“…”

It was hard not to detect the sarcasm in her voice.

Well, the edges of the eggs were burnt, the insides still runny, and there were suspicious black spots… they didn’t look very appetizing.

There was no helping it, Xiang Er’s cooking skills had always hovered between “edible” and “poisonous,” never quite reaching “normal.”

She sighed and took out more eggs, preparing to try again.

However… a shadow suddenly fell over her, Shen Yuhe’s scent filling the air, her breath warm against Xiang Er’s ear and neck, a long, white hand reaching around her and picking up an egg, cracking it gently against the edge of the bowl.

A crisp “crack” as the eggshell broke, the yolk spilling into the bowl.

Xiang Er froze, her arms raised, as if unsure why she was even there. She turned to look at Shen Yuhe.

Shen Yuhe was standing behind her, her profile elegant and focused, her gaze fixed on the egg in her hand, not looking at Xiang Er.

But her body, pressed against Xiang Er’s back, its curves and warmth… Xiang Er’s heart raced, her face flushing.

Shen Yuhe’s attention was on the eggs. Still not quite proficient with chopsticks, she had found a spoon to whisk the eggs, then, with a single hand, heated the oil in the pan, the eggs sliding into the pan with a sizzle, forming golden bubbles.

Throughout the process, Xiang Er remained trapped in Shen Yuhe’s embrace. Afraid of the hot oil splattering, Shen Yuhe turned Xiang Er around, so that her back was to the stove.

Xiang Er tried to move away, struggling slightly, but something soft, like Shen Yuhe’s hand, yet not quite, pressed against her back, holding her in place, then quickly releasing her.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, above her head, said:

“Don’t go…”

Xiang Er could only stand still, her face close to Shen Yuhe’s chest, the smooth skin beneath the thin straps of her nightgown on full display, and Xiang Er could only try to meditate, to calm her racing heart.

It was, of course, a futile effort. She wanted to kiss that skin, to bite it, or at least… to touch it.

She imagined herself touching it… letting her imagination run wild, after all, no one knew what she was thinking, right?

Shen Yuhe continued cooking. With a casual flick of her wrist, she stirred the eggs with the spoon, then sprinkled some pepper, and soon, a perfectly cooked plate of scrambled eggs was ready.

The eggs, served on a white porcelain plate, a simple dish yet expertly executed, neither too oily nor too dry, perfectly fluffy and golden, looked like something from a five-star hotel.

Shen Yuhe chuckled softly, her voice vibrating against Xiang Er’s head:

“Stop thinking about it, let’s eat.”

Xiang Er was startled. How did she know what she was thinking…? No, she couldn’t possibly know, she must be imagining things… Stop overthinking!

She turned around and, seeing the perfect eggs on the plate, exclaimed in surprise:

“You can’t even use chopsticks, how can you cook?!”

Shen Yuhe:

“Not being able to use chopsticks doesn’t mean I can’t cook. Besides, these are American scrambled eggs.”

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, and she looked up at Shen Yuhe, a series of questions tumbling out:

“Did you study abroad in America? When did you discover your special abilities? Are you working for the government, or a private organization?”

Shen Yuhe pursed her lips and didn’t answer. She took out some bread from the refrigerator, put it in the pan to toast, and sliced some cucumbers and tomatoes.

Xiang Er wisely stopped asking, she was a good citizen who understood confidentiality protocols.

Soon, two sandwiches and two cups of instant coffee were ready.

Xiang Er was finally released from Shen Yuhe’s embrace, and she carried the food and drinks to the coffee table with a smile.

Shen Yuhe, also smiling, brought over a cup of coffee. Xiang Er took a bite of her sandwich and exclaimed dramatically:

“Oh my god, this is so delicious!”

The toasted bread was crispy, the scrambled eggs perfectly fluffy and fragrant, the vegetables adding texture and flavor, every bite a delightful explosion of taste, such a simple meal, yet so incredibly good!

She smiled at Shen Yuhe:

“I’m going to be so spoiled.”

Shen Yuhe sipped her coffee, her lips curving upwards, but there was no mirth in her eyes, as if her mind was elsewhere.

Xiang Er, eating her sandwich, felt that the moment was finally right, and she asked cautiously:

“If you don’t mind, can you tell me… about things that aren’t classified?”

She hesitated, then asked:

“Like… did you come here… because of the thing in my room?”

Was it because of that thing, or because of… me?

She didn’t dare ask the second part, just held her coffee, her gaze filled with anticipation.

Shen Yuhe’s answer was natural, matter-of-fact:

“No, I came for you.”

Xiang Er was about to respond when she suddenly heard a sound from her bedroom.

A soft, squishy sound, like something wet hitting the floor.

Xiang Er frowned, a bad feeling creeping in, and Shen Yuhe immediately stood up, her expression serious, put down her coffee cup, and rushed into Xiang Er’s room, slamming the door shut!

“Hey? What happened?!”

Xiang Er, outside, panicked, afraid to enter. A series of crashes and bangs echoed from inside, along with angry shouts and the sound of things being thrown!

Like the roar of a wild beast, the sounds of furniture colliding, then Shen Yuhe’s commanding voice, “Don’t move! Surrender!”

Was there… a fight going on inside?!

Xiang Er’s hand trembled as she approached the door, her heart pounding with worry. Shen Yuhe’s injury hadn’t healed yet! What kind of monster was she fighting? What if she couldn’t defeat it, who could she ask for help?!

Xiang Er thought, Shen Yuhe should have given her the contact information of one of her colleagues, so she could call for backup! What was she supposed to do now?!

She paced anxiously for a while, the sounds of fighting and crashing gradually subsiding, then a weak cry, like a small animal whimpering, reached her ears.

The door opened, and Shen Yuhe stood there, splattered with black slime, but thankfully, no blood, she seemed uninjured.

Xiang Er frowned at the sight of the black slime.

Shen Yuhe said cautiously:

“I have something to show you, are you… ready?”

Xiang Er:

“…”

She had a very bad feeling about this.

Chapter 55: Going Home

The world turned upside down, everything spinning.

At the last moment, Xiang Er turned her head slightly.

Shen Yuhe’s warm lips landed on her cheek.

She paused for a few seconds.

Those seconds stretched into an eternity, every cell in Xiang Er’s body tingling, a weight pressing down on her, stealing her breath, her eyes wide, staring into the darkness of the courtyard.

She saw the stars and moon swirling in the sky, tracing curved paths, black winter birds perched in the trees, taking flight, circling endlessly.

Her mind was numb, she didn’t register the softness of Shen Yuhe’s lips, the warmth of her breath, her senses overwhelmed, only a dizzying sensation, a silent scream in her mind.

She felt her body trembling, every pore open, every cell screaming!

It didn’t feel like a kiss, it felt like she had been thrown into the sky, floating on a cloud, adrift, detached from the world… She was flying, soaring through the clouds, through Shen Yuhe’s kiss, through her hair and the warm, damp air…

Shen Yuhe pulled away, the contact broken.

But Xiang Er was still floating, hadn’t yet fallen back to earth.

A husky, magnetic voice echoed:

“Let’s go home…”

Shen Yuhe’s arm tightened, lifting Xiang Er, carrying her forward.

And Xiang Er, motionless, her mind blank, her face burning, could only stare ahead.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her emotions a jumbled mess, her face and neck flushed crimson, a blooming rose, her eyes glistening.

Shen Yuhe carried her all the way to her apartment building. As they entered, Xiang Er finally snapped out of her daze, struggling to get down:

“Okay, okay, I can walk…”

Shen Yuhe, with only one good arm, couldn’t stop her, and Xiang Er slipped from her grasp, darting into the stairwell and running upstairs.

Shen Yuhe called after her, her voice slightly raised:

“Be careful!”

Xiang Er’s footsteps didn’t falter, she ran all the way to the top floor, stopping at her door, gasping for breath.

If she ran a bit faster, she could blame her blush on the exertion, and not on… the lingering memory of Shen Yuhe’s kiss.

Had it even been a real kiss? She wasn’t sure, but she felt like she was burning up, her face on fire.

Shen Yuhe’s hurried footsteps echoed behind her, her shadow, like a dark river, quickly approaching.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, a beautiful, flowing river of words, reached her:

“Why aren’t you opening the door? Did you lose your key?”

Xiang Er hadn’t lost her key, she had just forgotten to take it out, too focused on catching her breath.

At Shen Yuhe’s words, she reached into her pocket, her trembling fingers fumbling with the key.

She tried several times, but the key wouldn’t go into the lock. The motion-sensor light in the stairwell turned off, and Xiang Er stomped her foot, but the light, apparently malfunctioning, didn’t come on.

In the darkness, Shen Yuhe’s presence was close.

Her alluring voice, like a seductive spell, said:

“Let me.”

Xiang Er didn’t move, and Shen Yuhe took the key from her hand, standing behind her, her body enveloping Xiang Er, her arm reaching around her to the door.

She could see, in the dim moonlight, Shen Yuhe’s shadow completely obscuring hers.

She could feel Shen Yuhe’s warm breath on her neck, her face and lips probably right beside her ear.

The faint scent of blood, mingled with Shen Yuhe’s unique, intoxicating fragrance, made her head spin.

A sudden thought crossed Xiang Er’s mind: If she kisses me again… what should I do?

And then, she realized she was actually looking forward to it, even leaning back slightly… like a baby bird waiting for its mother’s beak…

The next second, the lock clicked, and Shen Yuhe opened the door, switching on the bright overhead light by the shoe cabinet.

Xiang Er quickly straightened up, her heart pounding, her demeanor perfectly composed.

Shen Yuhe chuckled softly behind her ear, her warm breath sweet against Xiang Er’s skin, and whispered:

“Come in.”

Xiang Er mechanically stepped inside, finally understanding the meaning of “whispering sweet nothings.”

So that’s what it felt like, a voice so close to your ear, like a small animal nibbling at your earlobe, a tingling, itchy sensation.

Xiang Er remembered Shen Yuhe kissing her earlobe in the restaurant… and now, her cheek.

What… did it mean?

She didn’t dare think about it any longer, her face would betray her, the blush impossible to control.

Inside the apartment, Xiang Er changed her shoes and looked at Shen Yuhe.

Under the dim, old-fashioned light, Shen Yuhe casually kicked off her broken high heels and slipped her feet into the fluffy rabbit slippers, a fleeting glimpse of her milky-white ankles disappearing into the soft fur.

Shen Yuhe closed the door, took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and by the time she reached the sofa, she had removed her white wool sweater, revealing her bra and the bandages on her shoulder.

“I’m so tired…”

Shen Yuhe adjusted her bra strap and looked at Xiang Er, her gaze slightly suggestive:

“How am I supposed to shower like this?”

Xiang Er, still struggling to control her blush, frowned:

“Huh?”

She was right… showering was a problem, Shen Yuhe’s shoulder was bandaged, it couldn’t get wet.

Did that mean… Xiang Er’s face burned.

But Shen Yuhe’s voice was soft:

“I’ll shower by myself tonight, you go and rest, you’re also… very tired.”

But Xiang Er, hearing this, felt a pang of disappointment. She looked up at Shen Yuhe, bravely meeting her gaze, carefully avoiding looking at her bare upper body.

Gathering her courage, she said:

“Ac… actually, you saved my life today, I… I can help you shower, it’s the least I can do!”

As she spoke, her face flushed, the color spreading, making her eyes shine even brighter.

Shen Yuhe looked at her for a moment, then sighed:

“No… don’t. Don’t be so kind to me, I don’t…”

She stopped, her eyes clouded with emotion, glancing at Xiang Er before turning away.

Xiang Er, bewildered, let out a soft:

“Huh?”

What was that supposed to mean?

She quickly explained:

“I don’t mean anything by it, you really did save me, and you’re injured, I would feel terrible if I didn’t help.”

Shen Yuhe shook her head, looking at the bandage on her shoulder, and stood up:

“No, thank you, I can manage.”

She walked towards the bathroom.

Xiang Er sensed a withdrawal, a distancing, and the blush on her face faded, her mouth opening and closing, unsure what to say.

Shen Yuhe, passing by, couldn’t help but glance at her again.

Xiang Er’s face was no longer flushed but pale, her lips also pale, her expression a mixture of surprise and disappointment, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Are you… are you disgusted by me? Because I’m not… special… and I’m not… strong…”

Xiang Er’s voice was barely a whisper, her face growing even paler.

Shen Yuhe sighed, suddenly turned around, and pulled Xiang Er into an embrace, her warm hand resting on the back of Xiang Er’s head, as she said with a sigh:

“You’re the only reason I’m still here, how could you be useless?”

Then, her hand tightened slightly.

Xiang Er’s face was pressed against Shen Yuhe’s chest, and she almost couldn’t breathe.

She was stunned, those words, that embrace, like a thunderbolt.

But Shen Yuhe quickly released her and continued towards the bathroom, closing the door behind her without looking back.

The sound of running water soon followed.

Xiang Er turned, her gaze fixed on the closed bathroom door, utterly bewildered. After a moment, she went to her own room and opened the door.

The room was exactly as she had left it that morning, cozy and simple, her little sanctuary.

Xiang Er entered and began changing into her pajamas, her damp clothes needing to be washed. As she was getting dressed, she noticed a small, black stain on her coat, which easily came off when she rubbed it.

The texture, the appearance, it was so similar to the black slime secreted by the small eyeball…

Xiang Er examined it closely, then decided she must be imagining things. It was probably just a mixture of blood and dirt, there was no need to be paranoid.

She had thrown the eyeball away, and the Evil God was long gone.

More importantly, she had Shen Yuhe, a powerful person with special abilities, protecting her, she would be safe.

She tossed the stain into the trash and continued getting dressed, a lingering worry in her mind, how was Shen Yuhe going to shower with that injury on her shoulder?

Meanwhile, in the bathroom.

Shen Yuhe had shed her human skin, a swirling mass of black, shapeless matter huddled in a corner, extending tentacles to wash the skin.

She scrubbed the skin roughly, inside and out, like laundry.

After cleaning it thoroughly, she tossed the skin aside and curled up, as if in thought.

A tentacle opened the small bathroom window, extended outside, and quickly returned, its tip wrapped around a football-sized black eyeball.

The eyeball shivered in the steamy bathroom, blinking innocently at the tentacle.

Deep within the black, formless mass, a strange fire burned, observing, thinking.

She picked up the large eyeball, wrapped it in a tentacle, and with a swift motion, tore it in half.

The large eyeball became two medium-sized eyeballs.

The two medium-sized eyeballs twitched and split again, becoming four small eyeballs, the same size as the original one.

The black, shapeless mass casually selected one of the small eyeballs and reabsorbed the other three.

Then, a tentacle lifted the small eyeball, extended it out the window again, and disappeared.

The black, shapeless mass shifted, picked up the discarded human skin from the floor, and with some effort, squeezed itself back inside.

Shen Yuhe, clean and refreshed, stood up again, looking at the damp bandage on her shoulder. Her other hand transformed into a tentacle, touched the bandage, and quickly absorbed the moisture.

She put on the revealing nightgown, left the bathroom, and walked straight into Xiang Er’s room.

Xiang Er, exhausted, had already fallen asleep. Shen Yuhe gently lifted her onto the bed, covered her with the quilt, then lay down beside her, her head propped up on one hand, watching Xiang Er sleep.

As dawn broke, Xiang Er’s phone by the bed lit up. The alarm.

Shen Yuhe reached out and silenced the alarm, her fingers gently caressing Xiang Er’s cheek, smoothing the frown lines on her forehead.

Just like the small eyeball used to do every morning.

But Xiang Er still woke up. She slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw… was Shen Yuhe!

Shen Yuhe lay beside her, her hand supporting her chin, and she smiled gently at Xiang Er, leaning in and kissing her forehead softly.

“Good morning, my Little Ears.”

Chapter 54: Buttons

Time froze.

Xiang Er’s eyes sparkled, fixated on Shen Yuhe, like she had discovered a new world, her gaze filled with curiosity and wonder.

And Shen Yuhe… her face expressionless, the fierce aura of the bloodstains fading, her features softening, only her brow slightly furrowed in confusion.

Behind her, the swirling black shadow quickly receded, the countless tentacles retracting, her shadow returning to its normal, human shape.

After a long moment, under Xiang Er’s inquisitive gaze, Shen Yuhe finally… finally nodded slowly.

Her voice, hoarse and strained, finally spoke:

“You… are very clever.”

Xiang Er exhaled, relieved that she had guessed correctly. She knew that someone like her, entangled with a Evil God, would eventually be discovered by some organization.

She knew that in this world of monsters and Evil Gods, there must also be people with special abilities, humans fighting against these creatures, trying to restore order to the world!

She looked up, her voice hopeful and cautious:

“Then, what is your official designation? How should I address you?”

Shen Yuhe seemed lost in thought.

The moon in the sky returned to its normal, silver-white brilliance, the barrier completely gone, the sounds of the city flooding back, the streetlights and car headlights illuminating the scene, the branches of the trees swaying gently in the wind.

The world, washed clean by the rain, was fresh and crisp, the air damp and pleasant, several pedestrians passing by, glancing at them curiously.

Shen Yuhe’s voice finally spoke again:

“Just as you said, a person with special abilities. I can’t reveal any more than that, please forgive me.”

Xiang Er looked at Shen Yuhe and saw that she was avoiding her gaze.

But she understood. Having watched countless movies and TV shows, she knew about confidentiality protocols, it was usually better for ordinary people to know less about these things.

She smiled, her voice light and relieved:

“It’s okay, I understand, you’re here to protect me, that’s enough.”

Shen Yuhe nodded slowly, her response delayed:

“I’m here to protect you.”

Xiang Er smiled, a genuine smile, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders.

She no longer had to be suspicious of Shen Yuhe… Her mind and heart, freed from their burden, felt alive again, as if winter had passed, and she was soaring in the springtime.

She realized they were standing in an alley behind the office buildings, a secluded spot, the bright streetlights illuminating everything.

The road was wide and empty.

The rain had washed away all traces, no bone spurs, no monster, no General Manager Cheng, not even a scrap of clothing or skin.

Was she the only witness to that terrifying battle in the rain?

If Shen Yuhe belonged to some organization, how would she write her report?

But for now, treating her injuries was more important.

Xiang Er reached out and supported Shen Yuhe:

“Let’s go to the hospital!”

Shen Yuhe allowed herself to be led, offering no resistance, obediently following Xiang Er.

They quickly left the industrial park, and Xiang Er hailed a taxi, taking Shen Yuhe straight to the emergency room.

Fortunately, although Shen Yuhe’s wound looked frightening, the bone spur had miraculously missed any vital organs. Her injuries were mostly superficial, requiring only some bandaging and medication.

Xiang Er told the doctor that she had fallen on a piece of rebar, and the doctor nodded understandingly.

Shen Yuhe watched silently as Xiang Er fussed over her, obediently following her instructions, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s every move.

By the time they left the hospital, it was almost ten o’clock. Xiang Er went to a nearby clothing store that was about to close and bought a long coat.

She carried the coat back, her voice slightly apologetic:

“It’s too late, there wasn’t much choice, this will have to do for now.”

Xiang Er unfolded the coat, stood on tiptoe, and draped it over Shen Yuhe’s shoulders, her hands reaching around Shen Yuhe’s neck to adjust the collar.

Then, one by one, she buttoned the coat.

Her cold fingertips were still stained with dried blood, but she ignored it, focused on keeping Shen Yuhe warm, carefully fastening each button.

Her movements were slightly slow in the cold winter air, her fingers stiff from the pain and the bloodstains, occasionally pausing before continuing.

Her fingers brushed against Shen Yuhe’s collarbone, a light, fleeting touch, like cool mist, like morning dew.

Shen Yuhe looked at the person before her, her head bowed, her hair slightly frizzy from the rain, her eyelashes casting a shadow on her thin cheeks, which were flushed with an unnatural, cold-induced redness.

She couldn’t see Xiang Er’s eyes, but she could see the care and concern in every line of her body.

Button after button, fastened without hesitation, without pause.

She looked like a stubborn hero.

A powerful surge of emotion coursed through Shen Yuhe’s true form, the human heart she had crafted aching with a strange, unfamiliar pain.

It wasn’t a physical pain, not an injury, not even mental pollution… was this what humans called emotion?

Shen Yuhe suddenly reached out her uninjured hand and gently, yet firmly, grasped Xiang Er’s left hand.

“Hmm?”

Xiang Er looked up at her.

Her eyes, normally a deep brownish-black, now shimmered with gold in the dim light of the streetlamp, her pupils like precious jewels, igniting the god’s desire to collect them, to kiss them.

Her eyelashes fluttered, like butterfly wings, scattering iridescent dust that shimmered and danced in the air. The unconscious beauty of her eyes and the curve of her lips, soft and delicate like flower petals…

Shen Yuhe, her heart aching, pulled Xiang Er’s left hand, drawing her into an embrace.

“Ah…”

A soft sigh escaped Xiang Er’s lips. She didn’t resist, letting herself fall into Shen Yuhe’s soft embrace, despite the lingering scent of blood and antiseptic.

She was like a drop of water merging with the ocean, even though Shen Yuhe’s body wasn’t warm, she felt the warmth of the sun.

Shen Yuhe held her close, lifted her left hand, and held it before her face, exhaling softly.

Xiang Er felt a cool breeze against her hand, then a tingling, itchy sensation on her fingertips.

Quickly, her entire hand felt warm, comfortably so, like soaking in warm water, the lingering pain in her wounds fading.

But Shen Yuhe’s breath was cold, and her body was also cold, why did she feel so warm?

Shen Yuhe lowered her left hand and picked up her right hand, exhaling softly against it, the sweet fragrance filling the air.

Xiang Er, her curiosity finally piqued, looked down at her hands. Both of them were now… smooth and clean, no trace of injury, perfectly healthy.

It was… magical.

Xiang Er looked up at Shen Yuhe, her eyes wide with surprise, and whispered:

“You healed my injuries? Is this… your special ability?”

Shen Yuhe, even in a cheap, brown coat, standing casually under the streetlight, her shoulder bandaged, was still as beautiful as a goddess in a classical painting.

Especially when she looked at someone with such tenderness in her eyes.

Xiang Er felt overwhelmed by the gentleness, submerged in it – the dim, suggestive light, the soft breeze, the stars and moon above… the atmosphere was so beautiful, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Shen Yuhe nodded slowly:

“Something like that.”

Her magnetic voice sent shivers down Xiang Er’s spine.

She looked at Shen Yuhe intently and concluded:

“You must be a very powerful person with special abilities.”

Shen Yuhe didn’t confirm or deny, just continued to stare at her, her gaze deep and unwavering.

Xiang Er smiled and continued buttoning Shen Yuhe’s coat. Her fingers, now nimble, quickly finished the task.

They hailed a taxi and sat in the back, the open space suddenly shrinking around them, the close proximity making Xiang Er slightly uncomfortable.

Her recently healed fingertips were still a little cold, and as soon as they were in the car, Shen Yuhe took both of Xiang Er’s hands and held them in hers, warming them.

Perhaps because of the car’s heater, Shen Yuhe’s hands, usually cold, were now warm, and as she held Xiang Er’s hands, they quickly grew warmer.

As if she had been a doll before, and now, finally, she was real. Warm blood flowed through her veins, emotions stirred within her, her world filled with color.

Her hands were warm, so warm.

Xiang Er felt drowsy, her exhaustion compounded by the warmth of Shen Yuhe’s hands, her head nodding.

“Come here.”

Shen Yuhe whispered, leaning closer.

Xiang Er, barely conscious, instinctively leaned against the warm body beside her, her head resting on Shen Yuhe’s shoulder.

Shen Yuhe tucked both of Xiang Er’s hands inside her coat, freeing her only good hand to adjust Xiang Er’s collar.

She simply mimicked Xiang Er’s earlier actions, carefully adjusting the collar, her fingers gently brushing against Xiang Er’s hair.

Shen Yuhe suddenly realized, with surprise, that… Xiang Er’s hair was cold, as cold as her own fingers had been.

She hadn’t paid attention to temperature before.

Until today, she suddenly realized that Xiang Er’s warmth towards her had always been… fiery.

A fiery warmth that made Xiang Er create countless excuses and justifications for her, defending her, refusing to let her go.

A warmth that… burned the unreal Shen Yuhe.

That fiery trust made her heart ache, and she didn’t know what to do.

This wasn’t a solution, it was a trap, Shen Yuhe realized clearly.

But she couldn’t find the real solution.

When Xiang Er regained consciousness, she felt her body swaying, she was outside, the sounds of wind and trees surrounding her.

She opened her eyes and quickly realized: Shen Yuhe was carrying her, like a sack of flour, towards her apartment building.

Shen Yuhe, using her one good arm, was carrying her over her shoulder, her pace swift.

This… this position, it was so embarrassing!

Xiang Er almost screamed, her hands slapping Shen Yuhe’s back:

“Aaaah! Put me down, what if the neighbors see us!”

Shen Yuhe said softly:

“They won’t.”

She didn’t put Xiang Er down, instead… she shifted her grip, lifting Xiang Er higher.

“Aaaah! What are you doing!”

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in weight, Xiang Er almost fell, her arms instinctively wrapping around the only thing she could grab – Shen Yuhe’s neck.

Her upper body now hanging onto Shen Yuhe’s neck, she felt slightly more secure, but she still tried to look back at Shen Yuhe’s face:

“Put me down! Your body isn’t… you’re injured…”

Shen Yuhe suddenly chuckled, turning her head:

“What’s wrong with my body?”

She paused, her sweet fragrance filling the air.

Their faces were inches apart, and they both instinctively licked their lips.

Shen Yuhe suddenly leaned closer, her beautiful face, illuminated by a soft glow, impossibly close!

Xiang Er’s heart almost stopped, her mind a blur.

Those full, luscious lips were right in front of her, the whole world reduced to those lips, and Xiang Er, with all her willpower, resisted the urge to kiss them.

But they were so close, their bodies pressed together, their breaths mingling, their hair intertwined…

A wave of fragrance washed over her, Xiang Er’s eyelashes fluttering, her eyes wide.

Shen Yuhe kissed her.

The world turned upside down.