Category: My Cthulhu Girlfriend (gl)

Chapter 53: A New Game

“Little Fish! No!”

Xiang Er lurched forward, her body heavy, wanting to reach Shen Yuhe, to pull her back, but she was too weak!

She stumbled after a few steps, falling to the ground, the relentless rain pelting her face, her eyes stinging, her vision blurred by tears and rain.

The sky darkened abruptly, further limiting her vision. Xiang Er looked around, but she couldn’t see any light source, couldn’t see what was happening ahead.

She was going to lose it! Her Little Fish, fighting that monster! And she was stuck here, unable to help, unable to even stand up, she was useless!

Xiang Er gritted her teeth, clawing at the slippery ground, trying to stand, her fingers digging into the mud, but the ground was too wet, there was nothing to hold onto, she couldn’t get a grip, she couldn’t see!

The world was completely dark, only a few faint, reddish glimmers in the distance, like stars in the sky, or distant lights… Xiang Er stared intently at the darkness, and she seemed to see flashes of white, was that… the glint of bone spurs?

Her heart clenched in her chest, like a fist squeezing tight, unable to breathe, her body cold and trembling. She crawled forward, her body like a rag in the rain, crawling, just crawling!

She had forgotten everything, her movements driven by pure instinct, she didn’t want to run away, she wanted to go forward, towards that terrifying battle!

She had to know if Little Fish was alright!

Those bone spurs were so thick, so sharp, extending and retracting, it was a monster! A terrifying being beyond human comprehension, a product of this world gone mad! Shen Yuhe was just an ordinary person… perhaps not so ordinary, but still human!

The image replayed in her mind, over and over.

Shen Yuhe pushing her aside, taking the brunt of that thick bone spur, turning to smile at her, that smile gentle, broken, sincere, and pure.

Pure as a lily, as a camellia, as all things innocent, so beautiful, yet so fragile.

Shen Yuhe mouthing the words, don’t worry.

How could she not worry?!

Xiang Er crawled and crawled, tears and rain streaming down her face. She lifted her head, her voice hoarse, and cried out into the darkness:

“Run! Shen Yuhe! Run!”

There was no answer. She couldn’t see the battle in the darkness ahead, she couldn’t hear if there was a reply, the rain drowning out everything, the blood, the horror, the guilt… everything suspended in uncertainty.

Xiang Er lifted her head, continuing to crawl, her fingers bleeding, a sharp pain, but she kept crawling.

She could vaguely make out something now, a blur of grey ahead, some flickering lights, some blackness, and a faint, almost indistinguishable red… what were those?

She strained her eyes, but she couldn’t see clearly.

But… the rain suddenly stopped.

The world became eerily silent, the darkness even more so, a silence that terrified Xiang Er.

She stared, her eyes stinging, the salty water blurring her vision, but she could still vaguely see…

Something was approaching from the darkness.

The smell of blood. A pungent, overwhelming stench, even stronger than the smell of rain, making her nostrils ache.

A sound accompanied the stench, a scraping, dragging sound, like something large and heavy being pulled across the ground. The sound grew closer, and Xiang Er, lifting her head, saw… something larger than the darkness itself, almost blocking out the sky above her…

Then, a flash of white appeared.

Xiang Er held her breath, hope, like a wildfire, spreading through her.

As the rain stopped, an invisible barrier, imperceptible to humans, shattered, strange light filtering through the cracks.

Like the dawn breaking after a long night, the pure white of a figure slowly materialized, like a curtain being drawn back.

A woman in white, her clothes stained with blood, her high heels clicking against the ground, sending up sprays of water, red water, tinged with blood.

Xiang Er looked up, her eyes filled with uncontainable joy and relief. It was her, that familiar, beautiful face.

“Shen Yuhe!”

Her voice was hoarse as she cried out, and before she could say anything else, she burst into tears.

Tears of joy streamed down her face, but even as she cried, she couldn’t bear to close her eyes, her gaze fixed on Shen Yuhe, taking in every detail.

One of Shen Yuhe’s arms hung limply by her side, clearly useless, a dark, bloody hole in her shoulder.

Her white clothes were stained with blood, hers or the monster’s, she couldn’t tell.

Her clothes were torn, her umbrella gone, one of the straps on her high heels broken, making her limp slightly, perhaps she had other injuries as well.

Her beautiful face was streaked with blood, washed down by the rain, like the tribal markings of some ancient warrior, a badge of honor made of her enemy’s blood.

Her long hair, completely soaked, clung to her shoulders and face. She walked slowly and with difficulty, like a cold-blooded assassin after a battle, an aura of death and danger clinging to her, yet also an irresistible allure.

In Xiang Er’s blurred vision, Shen Yuhe bent down, extending her uninjured arm, and gently lifted her.

Xiang Er, leaning on her, stood up.

“Careful…”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was hoarse and tired. After helping Xiang Er to her feet, she withdrew her hand, not touching her again.

As if maintaining a cautious distance, she took a step back, her eyes carefully scanning Xiang Er’s body, a look of relief on her face.

Xiang Er suddenly remembered, in the elevator, just moments ago… she had screamed at Shen Yuhe, “Don’t touch me.”

She was such a jerk!

Tears streaming down her face, her body weak, Xiang Er leaned forward, collapsing into Shen Yuhe’s arms.

She couldn’t see Shen Yuhe’s expression, but she could feel her body stiffen in surprise, then relax, a small detail that brought her comfort.

Xiang Er wrapped her arms around Shen Yuhe’s back, pressing her body against Shen Yuhe’s, her head resting beneath her neck, the strong scent of blood filling her nostrils.

But this blood wasn’t the putrid stench from before, it was Shen Yuhe’s blood, carrying her unique sweet fragrance.

An almost intoxicating scent of blood.

Xiang Er nuzzled her face against Shen Yuhe’s neck, her voice hoarse and slightly accusatory:

“I… told you to run!”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was also hoarse, but incredibly gentle:

“I told you not to worry, I’m fine.”

Xiang Er’s heart ached. Even now, Shen Yuhe was comforting her, despite the gaping wound in her shoulder.

Thinking of this, Xiang Er immediately tried to stand up, her words tumbling out incoherently:

“No, you’re injured, your wound is so serious… we need to go to the hospital, now! Let’s go…”

But a gentle force pushed her back into the embrace.

Shen Yuhe’s uninjured hand rested on Xiang Er’s back, holding her close.

Xiang Er immediately stopped struggling, relaxing her body, her arms tightening around Shen Yuhe, her heart pounding against her ribs, wanting to burst through her skin and flesh, and merge with Shen Yuhe’s.

She didn’t need Shen Yuhe to speak.

She understood. Completely understood.

Shen Yuhe was saying, don’t go, don’t leave, let me hold you, let me be comforted after that terrifying battle.

Shen Yuhe’s hoarse voice, close to Xiang Er’s ear, said something completely unexpected:

“You see… this is the truth.”

Xiang Er hadn’t been thinking about that at all.

She had been too focused on the trust and comfort Shen Yuhe offered, on her sweet fragrance and her heartbeat, she had almost forgotten about the truth… She suddenly remembered now.

She opened her eyes slowly and looked at Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, at her long, damp hair, matted with blood.

And beneath that hair, on her jade-white neck, even at such close proximity, there were no visible veins.

Was that… the truth…

Fighting a monster covered in bone spurs and emerging unscathed, and judging by the pungent smell of blood, it was the monster who had died, not Shen Yuhe.

Her entire being, so exquisitely beautiful, almost inhuman, yet she wasn’t a celebrity, there were no records of her fame.

Her lack of common sense, her occasional adorable clumsiness.

The way she acquired things so quickly, as if she had a private express delivery service… The necklace, for example, seen just last night, appearing in her hands this morning.

Xiang Er hadn’t had time to ask about the necklace, but even she knew that something wasn’t right.

And that black substance the small eyeball had secreted, Shen Yuhe had been able to see it clearly.

Who… was Shen Yuhe?

Shen Yuhe’s hand rested on her back, her face nuzzling against Xiang Er’s neck, like a predator sniffing its prey.

Her breath, cold, damp, and sweet, caressed Xiang Er’s skin.

Shen Yuhe sighed, a long, melancholic sigh, and held Xiang Er even tighter, as if cherishing the moment.

Her voice, low and cello-like, whispered Xiang Er’s name:

“Xiang Er, Xiang Er… do you understand now? Who I am?”

A faint, chanting melody echoed in the dark silence, birds taking flight in the distant sky, the world undergoing a strange transformation…

If Xiang Er had looked up, she would have seen the hazy, golden moon, as if seen through frosted glass, slowly turning a vivid red, the blood-red consuming the fading gold…

It was the power of the world, clashing against the Evil God.

The Evil God would choose, based on her answer, whether to save, or destroy, this world.

The fate of the world hung in the balance, dependent on Xiang Er’s thoughts, and she didn’t even know it.

Her thoughts, flowing freely and naturally, reached a conclusion.

Goosebumps rose on her neck, then spread across her entire body.

She thought she understood the truth, piecing together the clues, arriving at the correct answer.

She had summoned Shen Yuhe.

The Evil God came first, then Shen Yuhe!

She slowly pulled away from Shen Yuhe’s embrace and stood up straight, her body trembling.

The frail girl, her back slender, stood tall, facing the rain-soaked woman, unflinching.

Xiang Er stared at Shen Yuhe, her gaze unfamiliar, as if seeing her for the first time.

Shen Yuhe’s face was expressionless, waiting for her answer. Xiang Er didn’t see the shadow on the ground behind Shen Yuhe rapidly expanding, turning into a swirling mass of darkness, sprouting countless tentacles.

Just as the tentacles were about to break free from the shadow, just as the crimson red was about to consume the moon, just as the world was about to be turned upside down…

Xiang Er spoke.

Her voice was soft:

“So you’re… a person with special abilities? Here to help me deal with that thing?”

Chapter 52: Breaking the Stalemate

At six o’clock in the afternoon, Xiang Er packed her worn-out bag and stood up, leaving the company.

Zhu Minmin had wanted to talk to her about the beautiful woman, to persuade her not to be angry with her, but seeing Xiang Er’s expression, she didn’t dare approach.

Xiang Er’s expression wasn’t exactly scary, she just seemed completely indifferent to everything around her, cold and distant, like a stone.

Xiang Er hadn’t always been like this. When she first started working, she had been a timid but cheerful recent graduate. About a month ago, she had suddenly become withdrawn and distracted, often late, her expression anxious, like a startled bird, flinching at the slightest noise.

But even during that period of distraction, she had never worn such a cold, indifferent expression.

It was as if she had once been a living, growing plant, weathering the storms, constantly on guard – but today, the plant was dead. Turned into a fossil, a piece of hardened wood, a cold lump of iron discarded in the dirt.

She seemed devoid of emotion, simply going through the motions, working, then leaving when it was time to leave.

As if she had suffered a great blow… Zhu Minmin stuck out her tongue, then quickly packed her things, wanting to follow Xiang Er and see what happened. She was truly invested in this ship!

Fortunately, she soon witnessed a new development.

In the elevator lobby at the corner of the hallway, on Xiang Er’s path, Shen Yuhe was standing there, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

Shen Yuhe, dressed in pure white, like a lily, held a closed, transparent umbrella. Her long legs and slender waist were subtly visible beneath her clothes, her black hair flowing over her shoulders, her gaze soft and gentle as she looked at Xiang Er.

Xiang Er, seemingly oblivious to her presence, walked towards the elevator, which had already been called, and stood there motionless, staring at her feet.

Shen Yuhe approached her, leaned closer, and said softly:

“It’s raining outside.”

Xiang Er didn’t respond, like a broken machine, her eyes unmoving.

Zhu Minmin, however, overhearing this, became excited, quickly taking out her phone and typing in her group chat: OMG, you guys! The classic rain scene is about to happen again! Why is it raining again today? This couple is perfect for sharing an umbrella in the rain! Aaaaaah, I’m so excited!

Shen Yuhe, receiving no verbal response, heard the voice in Xiang Er’s mind:

It’s raining again… I don’t like it.

Shen Yuhe hesitated slightly. She had assumed that Xiang Er liked rainy days, but now it seemed she didn’t.

This fragile, vulnerable, and unresisting little life form was more fickle than the weather.

And even more frightening was that some of her thoughts, emotions, opinions, ideas, seemed to… escape His control.

Controlling the weather and the environment was so easy, controlling other people’s minds and thoughts was so easy, but controlling hers was difficult.

Why?

Lost in thought, Shen Yuhe, unusually, didn’t react when the elevator doors opened.

Xiang Er stepped inside, waited for a moment, and as the doors began to close… she looked up and saw that Shen Yuhe hadn’t entered.

Xiang Er’s slender finger lifted and pressed the “open door” button, an almost unconscious action, a habit formed from their previous interactions.

She was still instinctively considerate of Shen Yuhe, and realizing this, she frowned slightly.

But Shen Yuhe’s eyes suddenly lit up.

In that instant, Xiang Er saw again the blossoming camellias from their first encounter, only this time, they were white, the white of guilt and purity. Shen Yuhe, standing amongst the white camellias, her eyes shining, as if granted forgiveness, quickly stepped into the elevator, standing face to face with Xiang Er, her gaze fixed on her.

Xiang Er had already withdrawn her hand, her gaze averted.

The elevator doors closed with a soft hum, and the elevator began to descend.

The back wall of the elevator was a large mirror, perfect for office workers to check their appearance. Xiang Er usually ignored it, but today…

Xiang Er turned and saw Shen Yuhe’s reflection behind her, her tall figure and breathtaking beauty reflected in the mirror.

Shen Yuhe smiled at her in the mirror, her smile bright and innocent, seemingly very happy.

This position, this scene… Xiang Er quickly closed her eyes, a sharp pain stabbing through her head!

She remembered the dream she had deliberately buried in the recesses of her memory. Not the nightmare from last night, but an earlier one… her first dream!

This scene was so similar to that dream!

She, in front, vulnerable and defenseless, trapped by Shen Yuhe behind her, the world a romantic, chaotic blur, a beautiful woman behind her, a terrifying Evil God in the mirror before her…

Xiang Er’s already weak body couldn’t handle it. Her legs buckled, and she grabbed the cold, metal handrail just before collapsing.

“Are you alright…”

Shen Yuhe reached out to support her, her hand lightly touching Xiang Er’s arm, and Xiang Er screamed:

“Don’t touch me!!!”

The elevator reached the ground floor, the lobby appearing before them, and Xiang Er, gritting her teeth, pulled away from Shen Yuhe and ran!

She ran into the cold winter rain, her slender figure like a delicate poppy in the wind and rain, its fragile stem about to snap!

Shen Yuhe immediately chased after her, not even bothering to open her umbrella, running through the rain, her clothes soaked, her hair plastered to her face, but she didn’t care!

Zhu Minmin, just emerging from the other elevator, only caught a glimpse of Shen Yuhe running into the rain, and her eyes widened in surprise.

What was going on? Why wasn’t she using her umbrella? Running through the rain with her lover, getting completely drenched, was this the romance of love? Shen Yuhe didn’t seem like the type to do such a thing… But this contrast, this reckless act of love, was so… shippable!

The winter rain in the south was cold and biting, each drop like a needle piercing her skin, the pain more intense than the discomfort of being wet.

The rain veiled the world in a thick mist, obscuring the buildings and scenery, making it difficult to see where she was going.

Xiang Er hadn’t run far before she realized she was lost, surrounded by identical office buildings, those towering steel structures, cold and impersonal.

Her head throbbed, her body drenched, her steps heavy with misery, she could barely move… Her clothes weighed her down, her body cold and shivering, the rain and fog blurring her vision, the ground slippery beneath her feet, as she trudged forward, unsure of her destination.

She didn’t want to go home! That home, that apartment… where the tentacles might still be lurking, the horrifying scenes from her dream replaying in her mind, her thoughts and dreams no longer safe…

And the person she relied on most had hurt her deeply, a thought she couldn’t bear to dwell on.

She couldn’t bear to think about who that person really was, why she had approached her, whether her past kindness and concern had been genuine or an act… She couldn’t bear to think about whether their shared moments had been just a performance, she couldn’t bear to think about whether her sincerity had been a joke!

Was she a joke?!

A heart given away couldn’t be taken back so easily! If it were that simple, there wouldn’t be so many people heartbroken!

“Wuwuwu…”

Cold water streamed down her face, and she whimpered, not realizing she was crying, thinking it was just the rain, wiping her face with her hand, her red, swollen eyes looking ahead, still hoping for something, for a change…

A figure, a shadowy silhouette, slowly emerged from the misty rain.

Xiang Er stared at the figure, a strange anticipation in her heart. What was it?

Was it the truth Shen Yuhe had hidden from her, finally coming to light?

Or was it a sign of divine favor, a reward, an end, a beautiful vision?

The rain beat down relentlessly, making Xiang Er’s scalp ache, her vision blurring, the buildings distorted in the downpour, the plants in the greenbelt turning a dark grey, the sky darkening, night approaching.

The figure in the mist slowly materialized.

Xiang Er wiped the rain from her face, her gaze filled with hope as she looked closer.

Suddenly, her blood ran cold, the icy rain on her numb face nothing compared to the chill in her heart.

It was a man, a… a mutated man.

He wore a dirty suit, his arm in a cast, his body drenched as he slowly trudged through the rain.

His other arm was abnormally long, almost reaching the ground, his fingers a cluster of grotesque bone spurs, which protruded from his body, tearing his clothes to shreds. The white bone spurs, stained with dried black blood, emerged from his chest, back, shoulders, legs, neck, and even his head.

He looked less like a man, and more like a corpse, pierced countless times by bone spurs, animated by some mysterious force, dragging itself through the rain.

He wasn’t slow, and he quickly approached, his face now visible, his head impaled by a thick bone spur, bits of brain matter clinging to it, yet his eyes were open, his face contorted in a mask of hatred.

His hateful gaze, piercing through the rain, fixed on Xiang Er, his prey, beneath the downpour!

His face, oh, his face! Xiang Er’s heart lurched, it was… General Manager Cheng!

A wave of nausea washed over her, but the sight of that mangled face, strangely, cleared her mind.

She had experienced this several times now, and her resilience had grown. She understood, General Manager Cheng had turned into a monster… and he was probably here for revenge!

General Manager Cheng stared at her, his gaze filled with malice, letting out a disgusting, wheezing sound. He was no longer human, yet he still clung to human obsession, and that obsession was… her! Xiang Er!

Xiang Er should have run, but… she tried to move her legs, but even with the adrenaline coursing through her veins, they felt heavy as lead, impossible to lift.

She didn’t dare turn around, turning her back on this monster would be suicide!

The monstrous Cheng continued to stare at her, his malice and hatred palpable, washing over her.

Xiang Er could only step back, and back again, cautiously, but the monster had already noticed her.

The monster growled:

“Grrr—”

He twitched, and more bone spurs erupted from his body!

The bone spurs, as if sentient, or perhaps weapons wielded by the monster, shot through the rain, towards Xiang Er!

“Look out!”

Shen Yuhe’s voice suddenly rang out!

Xiang Er was knocked aside by a powerful force, and she turned to see a bone spur embedded deep in Shen Yuhe’s shoulder!

And Shen Yuhe… who had been looking at her, smiled gently even as the bone spur pierced her flesh.

She mouthed the words: Don’t worry, I’m fine.

Xiang Er’s vision blurred with tears, and she cried out:

“Little Fish!!!”

But Shen Yuhe, ignoring the bone spur in her shoulder, slowly stood up and walked towards the monster.

Her Little Fish, her slender figure casting a shadow, a shadow that fell upon Xiang Er.

Her Little Fish, walking towards… her death!

Chapter 51: The Aftermath

Xiang Er stood up silently, gathered herself, and, her body aching, walked out of the bathroom.

She didn’t look back.

Shen Yuhe followed her, but before she could enter, Xiang Er closed the guest room door.

The click of the latch was soft, not forceful, yet Shen Yuhe hesitated at the door, her hand on the doorknob, unable to bring herself to open it.

A long time passed. Shen Yuhe checked her watch. Twenty minutes later, Xiang Er emerged.

She was neatly dressed, light makeup on her face, a small backpack slung over her shoulder, no jewelry, her appearance simple and understated.

She wore a heavy, brownish-grey coat, a scarf, and a hat, her head lowered as she walked past Shen Yuhe, towards the door.

Shen Yuhe followed closely behind.

Reaching the entrance, Xiang Er suddenly turned and looked at Shen Yuhe, her voice flat:

“I don’t want to walk with you.”

Shen Yuhe froze.

She watched as Xiang Er left the apartment, walked down the stairs, and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Silence fell upon the apartment. Shen Yuhe looked around the living room, then walked slowly towards Xiang Er’s closed door, peering inside.

The quilt was rumpled, the window tightly shut, the room dimly lit, the lingering scent of Xiang Er on the bed, the sweet fragrance of arousal, now fading, like a flower abruptly withering and falling, its petals turning to ash on the floor.

Unexpected.

Shen Yuhe saw a mirror on the desk and looked at her reflection, a strange, complex expression on her face.

She didn’t quite understand the myriad expressions a human face could make. She didn’t understand, she didn’t understand anything.

She had done everything right, hadn’t she? Following the countless examples she had absorbed from human interactions, she had followed all the necessary steps to becoming a couple.

Giving a gift. Check.

Helping with problems. Check.

A sweet date, a walk and a meal. Check.

A romantic confession. Check.

Romantic wine, a slight intoxication. Check.

Doing things that only couples did. Half-check…

Where had she gone wrong?

Shen Yuhe looked down at the floor, a single rabbit slipper lying there. In her haste to leave the room, she had left it behind.

She wondered if Xiang Er had seen it.

They should have become the closest of lovers, but Shen Yuhe had a feeling that Xiang Er now disliked her.

And… it wasn’t the kind of dislike directed at a Evil God.

It was a dislike of her, of this body, of the name “Shen Yuhe.”

Why?

Shen Yuhe picked up the rabbit slipper and returned to the master bedroom.

The bed was neatly made. She sat on the edge, thinking, and a new set of clothes appeared on her body.

A warm, white outfit, suitable for the season. Light makeup appeared on her face, her lips a soft, non-threatening pink, her eyeshadow a gentle, warm pink.

She walked out of the room, the door closing automatically behind her. The next moment, she was on the subway, where Xiang Er was.

A beautiful woman suddenly appearing on the train, the other passengers barely glanced at her, their initial surprise replaced by a vague sense of “she was already here, I just didn’t notice,” followed by a fleeting appreciation of her beauty, before politely looking away.

Shen Yuhe, across the crowded car, saw Xiang Er standing amongst the passengers, her back turned, her head lowered, holding onto a pole, motionless, like a small, brown cloud.

A cloud that could dissipate at any moment.

Shen Yuhe watched her silently from a distance, observing her every move, but not approaching.

The god’s false heart ached with a strange, unfamiliar pang.

Was this what humans called “pain”?

It was a truly strange sensation.

Xiang Er arrived at the company and calmly worked through the backlog from yesterday.

Her supervisor walked past, hesitated, then left without saying anything, not even calling her to the morning meeting.

General Manager Cheng wasn’t there today, nor was the big boss, and everyone took advantage of the opportunity to slack off.

Zhu Minmin, her eyes bright with excitement, kept glancing at Xiang Er, but seeing her pale face, she wisely kept her distance, only offering her a bottle of water during lunch break.

Xiang Er didn’t order takeout, nor did she eat anything. She didn’t even drink the water, just sat there, staring blankly.

The office bustled with activity during lunch break, everyone eating, chatting, watching videos. Only Xiang Er’s corner remained cold and silent.

She sat at her computer, her face expressionless, her eyes open but unseeing.

Suddenly, the entire office fell silent.

Xiang Er sensed something, but she didn’t move, not even blinking.

A voice, Zhu Minmin’s excited voice, called out:

“Xiang Er! Someone’s here to see you!”

Xiang Er remained motionless, like a statue.

Zhu Minmin walked over and tapped her shoulder:

“That person, that person is here to see you!”

Xiang Er, after several taps, finally turned her head slowly and looked towards the entrance.

And there she was, standing at the entrance, the entire office staring, their faces alight with curiosity, even pausing their meals.

Shen Yuhe, dressed in white, elegant as a lily, holding two takeout containers, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er.

Seeing Xiang Er look at her, Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up, a smile appearing on her face as she waved.

Xiang Er looked at her. Shen Yuhe was different today, not just her clothes and makeup, which were more subdued, but her demeanor, a cautious hesitancy Xiang Er had never seen before.

Shen Yuhe, seeing Xiang Er’s expressionless face, her smile faltering.

Zhu Minmin whispered:

“Go to her! No wonder you didn’t eat anything today, someone brought you lunch!”

But Xiang Er turned to Zhu Minmin, her eyes cold and resolute, startling Zhu Minmin.

Xiang Er spoke, her first words since arriving at the office:

“No, thank you.”

Then she turned back to her computer, clicking the mouse, mindlessly refreshing her desktop.

Zhu Minmin’s eyes widened in surprise, then she looked at Shen Yuhe at the entrance, sensing trouble in paradise! What had happened? Had they fought? A lovers’ quarrel?

She desperately wanted to ask Shen Yuhe, but didn’t dare. She could only approach Shen Yuhe and say:

“She said… no, thank you.”

The light in Shen Yuhe’s eyes had vanished the moment Xiang Er turned away, her beautiful face now clouded with sadness, a sight that made even Zhu Minmin’s heart ache.

Zhu Minmin couldn’t help but say softly to Shen Yuhe:

“Don’t… don’t worry, it’s normal for friends to fight. As long as you don’t give up, show her how you feel, shower her with love and care, you’ll definitely make up, I’m sure of it! I’m rooting for you guys, I support you!”

She gave Shen Yuhe a thumbs-up and winked.

Shen Yuhe finally looked at her and asked cautiously:

“Really?”

Zhu Minmin, full of confidence, declared:

“Of course! “

She patted her chest:

“I’ve been the love guru for countless friends! Trust me, I know what I’m talking about!”

Shen Yuhe looked at her for a moment, nodded, and said politely:

“Thank you. Then, could you please take this to her?”

She offered the two takeout containers, customized meals from a high-end hotel nearby, nutritionally balanced, and beautifully presented. Zhu Minmin had seen these meals online before, each one costing hundreds of yuan, she had scoffed at them as overpriced, and now, here they were.

Zhu Minmin took the containers, genuinely impressed:

“Wow! You’re so good to Xiang Er, I’m definitely shipping you two!”

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow:

“Shipping? What does that mean?”

Zhu Minmin:

“It means… like a couple. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, are you and Xiang Er a couple?”

Shen Yuhe hesitated for a moment, then said:

“Maybe… not yet.”

Hearing this, Zhu Minmin’s shipper heart soared. She was witnessing a budding romance, how lucky! She immediately offered her best wishes:

“You will be soon! Good luck!”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up slightly.

Zhu Minmin carried the takeout containers inside and placed them on Xiang Er’s desk, then leaned down and tried to persuade her, repeatedly gesturing towards the entrance.

Xiang Er only showed her profile, barely speaking, not even glancing at Shen Yuhe at the door.

Zhu Minmin helped open the containers and placed the chopsticks in Xiang Er’s hand, then returned to her own workstation.

Xiang Er held the chopsticks, looking at the food, for a long moment.

Shen Yuhe waited expectantly.

Xiang Er put down the chopsticks, without taking a single bite, closed the takeout containers, and pushed them away.

Shen Yuhe frowned deeply.

Remembering what Zhu Minmin had said, Shen Yuhe suddenly pushed open the office door and strode inside, walking quickly towards Xiang Er’s workstation.

Her demeanor was aggressive, like she was ready for a confrontation, but as she reached Xiang Er’s desk, her expression softened, her voice lowering:

“Eat something. Don’t you like the food? I ordered something bland, according to your preferences.”

Xiang Er’s neck was stiff, her gaze seemingly fixed on her computer screen, or perhaps at nothing at all. She didn’t turn, didn’t look at Shen Yuhe.

Even though Shen Yuhe’s unique sweet fragrance filled the air, she remained motionless, like a clay statue of a Bodhisattva, her eyes unseeing.

She didn’t say a word.

Shen Yuhe tried to listen to her thoughts, but there was only one: I don’t want to see her anymore. I’m tired.

“Eat something…”

Shen Yuhe pleaded softly.

Xiang Er remained motionless.

Shen Yuhe scooped up some rice and vegetables with a spoon and held it out to Xiang Er.

Xiang Er turned her head away.

Shen Yuhe moved the spoon closer, and Xiang Er stood up and walked out of the office.

Her figure was slender, but her back was straight, her demeanor resolute, as if bravely walking away from this life, from this world.

Shen Yuhe immediately followed, finding her in the bathroom down the hall.

Xiang Er entered a stall and locked the door. There were other people in the bathroom, but as soon as Shen Yuhe entered, they were all influenced by a mysterious thought and quickly left.

The bathroom fell silent. Xiang Er sat on the toilet, her eyes unfocused, she didn’t know anything, nor did she want to know.

She just wanted to be left alone.

But… outside her stall, the sound of high heels clicking against the tiles echoed, sharp and jarring.

A jade-white hand gently opened the stall door.

The locked door, before Xiang Er’s eyes, its latch retracting, easily opened.

Shen Yuhe stood before her, her brow furrowed, her face a mixture of confusion, pain, and sadness, an expression that didn’t suit her, an expression she had never shown before.

Trapped, with nowhere to hide, Xiang Er’s gaze finally met Shen Yuhe’s, their eyes dark and unreadable, two equally matched opponents.

“What do you want?”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was tinged with a rare self-doubt.

“I want… the truth.”

Xiang Er’s voice was hoarse, but firm.

That was all she wanted.

She wouldn’t tolerate, absolutely wouldn’t tolerate, any secrets from Shen Yuhe! Shen Yuhe was her beacon of hope, if even she was hiding something, if even she wasn’t being honest, then what was the point of living?

What was the point of living a lie!

She took a deep breath, the cheap air freshener stinging her nostrils, and she started coughing, a violent, wracking cough, until her throat bled!

She spat out a bloody mouthful of saliva and laughed, a self-deprecating laugh:

“I want the truth, tell me the truth!”

Her voice was high-pitched and shrill, a desperate cry laced with madness! She was doing this on purpose, she knew Shen Yuhe couldn’t bear to see her like this, she knew it would make her feel bad… she was doing this on purpose!

She even smiled, a defiant smile, her gaze challenging, fixed on Shen Yuhe’s beautiful, confused face.

She was gambling, gambling that… Shen Yuhe still cared.

“Okay. I’ll tell you the truth when we get home tonight.”

Shen Yuhe whispered.

Chapter 50: The Temple

Xiang Er slept soundly.

She knew she was dreaming, so when she opened her eyes and saw the magnificent temple, she wasn’t surprised. She just thought: My brain is quite the architect, able to create such impressive scenes, it’s a shame I’m not a game designer.

The temple was enormous, its outer courtyard filled with white jade pillars, intricately carved with unusual patterns, not the usual flowers and animals, but… intertwined, serpentine shapes.

Xiang Er looked closer and realized with a start that they were tentacles! Tentacles of various shapes and forms, carved so realistically they seemed almost alive.

It seemed the Evil God had left a lasting impression on her.

The beautiful courtyard extended towards the temple itself, its shimmering doors wide open, welcoming visitors. Inside, the floor was made of the same luminous white material, the entire space bathed in a dreamlike glow, as if seen through frosted glass, leaving no doubt that this was a dream.

Xiang Er walked forward, noticing that she was wearing a simple, white robe, draped over her shoulders, its long hem trailing behind her. A warm, gentle breeze, carrying a sweet fragrance and a hint of alcohol, caressed her skin. Distant birdsong echoed in the air.

She stood at the entrance of the temple, peering inside. The ceiling, incredibly high, was adorned with indistinct murals. The hall was vast and empty, not a soul in sight, the polished jade floor spotless, without a speck of dust or a single footprint, like an eternally pristine heaven.

She carefully lifted her bare foot and stepped inside, walking towards the back. A black throne stood at the far end, a woman seated upon it. She wanted to know who it was, but she already had a feeling.

Time and space, the laws of physics, no longer applied here. After only a few steps, she was standing before the throne.

A tall, beautiful woman with black hair sat on the black throne. Her hair, her eyes, her long, gauzy black dress, all were dark, except for her bright red lips. Her presence was commanding, as if she, alone, held dominion over the entire temple.

She leaned against the armrest, her beautiful face turned towards Xiang Er, her gaze fixed on her.

Xiang Er saw her face, and of course, it was Shen Yuhe. She knew it…

Shen Yuhe, on the throne, extended a hand, her wrist adorned with bracelets of coiled, black tentacles, accentuating the smooth, white jade of her skin, her fingers long and slender.

She spoke softly:

“Come closer, my offering.”

Xiang Er, drawn in by an irresistible force, walked towards her, closer and closer, until her knees touched Shen Yuhe’s.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, she was lifted into the air, a pair of arms embracing her. After a moment of dizziness, she found herself lying in Shen Yuhe’s lap.

She had become a delicacy, waiting to be savored, her innocent eyes blinking, her hand reaching out to touch Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension…

But… she had dreamt this before, the scene familiar, and Xiang Er started to think, maybe this time, she should abandon her wavering resistance, indulge her desires… after all, it was just a dream, wasn’t it?

No one would know.

Shen Yuhe, equally perfect in the dream, suddenly lowered her head, her lips pressing against Xiang Er’s, sharp as a rose thorn.

Xiang Er couldn’t help but cry out softly:

“Ah, it hurts…”

She reached out, trying to push Shen Yuhe away, but of course, she couldn’t. Her feet dangled over the edge of the throne, the air filled with the scent of wine and flowers, and she looked up, gazing into the deity’s eyes, finding no trace of malice there, only a gentle warmth, her own face reflected in them, cherished and loved.

Xiang Er’s resistance crumbled, and she sank into those eyes, like drowning in a warm river. Her thoughts drifted, the pain fading, she became a bird, soaring through the vast, ornate temple, light as a cloud.

After a long time, as Xiang Er’s consciousness began to dissipate, her body heavy, sinking downwards, a thought, like a sudden gust of wind, cleared the fog…

Something… wasn’t right…

Xiang Er opened her eyes wearily, her pupils dilating, her mind jolted awake, and she screamed:

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!”

All pleasure and indulgence vanished, her scream filled with terror, a boundless terror, a tidal wave of fear and trembling, threatening to engulf her, suffocating her.

Holding her was no longer a beautiful woman with black hair, but a… a thing with countless black and red tentacles erupting from its neck, flailing wildly!

She screamed and looked down. What was this? Her skin, her limbs, every inch of her body was covered in dark red tentacles, like thick, black blood, like rotting flesh in a dark forest, she had been consumed, she was no longer herself.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”

Xiang Er screamed and woke up!

Her hands were wet, as if soaked in seawater, her fingers numb and cramping, yet still clutching the sheets and quilt. The room was dark and cold, the seawater not only on her palms, but also on her forehead, her neck, dripping down, into her eyes, into her mouth, a bitter, salty taste.

Xiang Er’s eyes stung. She tried to convince herself it was just a dream, a nightmare, she was too exhausted for any more fright, but she couldn’t help but open her eyes, her gaze fixed on her own body.

The moonlight was dim, the shadows deep. There seemed to be no barrier between dream and reality, they existed on opposite ends of the world, and reaching the end of one, opened the door to the other.

She was still enveloped, still that deep color, that damp sensation, still those writhing, tangled tentacles.

Xiang Er screamed again:

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

She raised her weak, trembling hands and clawed at the things on her body!

The things were viscous, cold, like mud clinging to her fingers, soft yet incredibly strong, holding her captive.

Xiang Er desperately tried to pry them off, but before she could muster all her strength, one of them fell off, landing beside the bed.

Gasping for air, she looked at it.

She wanted to scream, to erupt in flames of anger and shame, if she were a dragon, she would have incinerated the entire building! But she could do nothing.

She saw it, the football-sized eyeball, staring at her, its countless tentacles writhing, its blood-red pupil evil and terrifying in the darkness, cold and merciless!

She understood. In her dream, the one who had entwined with her, who had… who had possibly violated her body, was this thing! Its tentacles! It wasn’t Shen Yuhe at all!

Trembling, she reached out and grabbed one of the eyeball’s thick tentacles. In her rage, she used the tentacle as a rope, lifting the eyeball into the air, suspending it!

Adrenaline surging through her, she held the eyeball aloft, her teeth clenched, her mind too consumed by rage for coherent thought, she just wanted to say:

“Get out! Don’t ever appear before me again!”

Holding the eyeball, she jumped out of bed, her bare feet padding across the floor to the window. She threw open the rusty window!

The wind howled outside, a mournful, ghostly wail, the branches of the camphor tree thrashing wildly, the cold air blasting in, almost pushing Xiang Er back.

But Xiang Er gritted her teeth, holding the giant eyeball, swinging it wildly in the wind, almost dislocating her arm!

The wind roared, tearing through the buildings, the air thick with mist, darkness engulfing the world, not a single glimmer of light!

“Aowu…”

The thing seemed to whimper, but its cries were lost in the wind, unheard, unheeded!

Xiang Er, her arm aching, threw the thing out the window!

Then, with all her might, she slammed the window shut, the old rust on the frame crumbling and falling!

The wind was shut out, the terrifying eyeball along with it. Her hands were cold and sticky, coated in the tentacle’s slime, and she trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of madness!

She looked down at her bare feet, her pajamas ripped in several places, her appearance disheveled and pathetic.

If that thing, if that eyeball had truly entered her…

She couldn’t bear to think about it! She threw open her bedroom door, rushed into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, and started scrubbing herself, splashing icy water over her body, frantically trying to wash it all away!

“Little Ears! Little Ears! What’s wrong, Xiang Er! Open the door!”

Someone was banging on the door, Shen Yuhe’s voice, filled with urgency, but Xiang Er couldn’t hear her.

She was losing her mind! She had to wash herself clean, wash away the slime, wash away everything! Wash away the dream, wash away her shameful desires, wash away all traces of that disgusting Evil God remnant! She wanted to turn back time, to undo everything, she would never have bought that souvenir, no, she would never have gone on that trip, none of this would have happened…

She heard herself sobbing, her body trembling. It took a moment for her to realize that it was her own voice.

She was crying, her hands wet with tears, warm tears, at least her tears were warm…

“Xiang Er!”

A tall figure burst in, blocking the bathroom light. She was backlit, and Xiang Er looked up, startled, and saw the fear and panic in her eyes.

It was the first time Xiang Er had seen fear on Shen Yuhe’s face.

Xiang Er pulled her soaked pajamas down, feeling a wave of shame.

An overwhelming shame.

Tears streamed down her face.

She sobbed, her voice barely a whisper:

“I… I’m in so much pain…”

It was her own fault, her pain was self-inflicted, she was crazy, she should be crazy, she should have gone crazy a long time ago, perhaps she should just die…

The tall figure rushed towards her, and in an instant, Xiang Er was enveloped in a tight embrace.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Xiang Er could barely hear her voice, only her sobs, and between the sobs, a trembling apology.

Xiang Er was confused, what did this have to do with her? The confusion momentarily overshadowed her pain, and she reached out and touched Shen Yuhe’s face, asking:

“Why are you crying?”

Shen Yuhe’s sobs abruptly stopped. After a moment, she said:

“I’m sorry.”

Xiang Er:

“Why?”

But Shen Yuhe didn’t answer, just stood up silently, turned on the hot water, and started washing Xiang Er’s face.

The warm washcloth against her skin, Xiang Er still looked up at Shen Yuhe and asked:

“What are you hiding from me?”

Her voice was soft, hoarse and trembling from crying.

But it echoed like thunder, making Shen Yuhe freeze.

Shen Yuhe sighed, the steam from the washcloth obscuring her dark eyes, and she said:

“Actually, I…”

But just then, Xiang Er’s phone alarm blared.

“Beep, beep, beep—” It was her morning alarm, the one the small eyeball hadn’t silenced.

The small eyeball wasn’t coming back, Xiang Er thought coldly.

Chapter 49: Mulled Wine

This winter was exceptionally cold. The pale sunlight streamed through the window onto the balcony, carrying the weary hues of dusk as it slowly dipped below the horizon, offering no warmth, like a harsh spotlight on a stage.

The world, too, seemed like a bizarre stage set, spinning rapidly. Xiang Er’s memories of the afternoon were hazy and fragmented, only a faint sensation on her earlobe, followed by a kaleidoscope of colors.

Like the old, bulky television from her childhood, the screen filled with static snow, or meaningless patterns of overlapping colors, when the station went off air in the late afternoon.

But the kiss on her earlobe had been real. Xiang Er shuddered, she remembered being kissed, but she didn’t remember biting anyone, had she been unconscious when she bit Shen Yuhe?

“Um… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to kiss you. I’ll help you treat it, and… I’ll do whatever you want to compensate you.”

Xiang Er’s throat was dry, and she took a large gulp of wine. The warm liquid, smooth and fruity, flowed down her throat, calming her nerves, allowing her to finally think clearly.

Shen Yuhe swirled her wine, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er, deep and unfathomable as the starry sky.

But Xiang Er’s mind wandered. She felt like something was changing.

Logically, after sending Akhe away, her life should have returned to normal, to peace and quiet. But in reality, every day was more chaotic and unpredictable than the last, her own state of mind increasingly precarious, now even forgetting what had happened just hours ago.

Her boss was acting like that, she might lose her job, her life was a mess, her memory faulty.

And that giant black spider was still lurking in her bed, the thought exhausting.

She longed for a peaceful, happy life, for a taste of romantic bliss, but she seemed… unable to control anything.

She was like a leaf adrift on the water, tossed by the waves, battered by the rain, drifting aimlessly, unsure what to do.

Only… Shen Yuhe was her anchor. The source of happiness in her life.

She looked at Shen Yuhe, unaware of the trust and dependence in her eyes.

Shen Yuhe’s fingers tightened around her wine glass, her fingerprints blurring against the glass and the red wine, her gaze meeting Xiang Er’s, and she chuckled softly.

“It’s alright… don’t worry about it, I won’t hold it against you. But I have a small request.”

Her voice, like a honey-soaked sponge, was smooth and persuasive, utterly captivating.

“What is it?”

Xiang Er instinctively leaned forward, her attention focused on Shen Yuhe.

“I haven’t decided yet. But you have to promise me first, then I’ll tell you what it is.”

Shen Yuhe’s hand rested against her lips, her nails, now painted a stark black, accentuating the unnatural paleness of her skin, an unhealthy, almost ghostly pallor.

“Okay.”

Xiang Er readily agreed. Could Shen Yuhe possibly harm her? And besides, it was just a promise, what she actually did would depend on the situation.

Xiang Er, still slightly worried, added:

“Then… about me biting you, are we good? You’re not mad at me, are you?”

Shen Yuhe smiled:

“Of course not, why would I be mad at you…”

She took a sip of wine and said with a sigh:

“I didn’t realize you were so… strong, it really hurt.”

Xiang Er, embarrassed, took another large gulp of wine. The cinnamon flavor was strong, a bit overwhelming, but it quickly warmed her, a perfect drink for winter.

She changed the subject:

“I didn’t know you could make mulled wine, and it’s quite good.”

Shen Yuhe smiled again, sitting on the sofa, her legs crossed, the long, smooth lines of her thighs and calves on full display, her toes, in those adorable slippers, dangling playfully.

Her wine glass swayed gently.

Xiang Er felt her own heart swaying with it, unable to settle. She suddenly wanted to ask some questions, like…

But Shen Yuhe spoke first:

“I don’t like mulled wine, because when I was abroad, I always spent Christmas alone, drinking mulled wine by myself, it’s the taste of loneliness. But it’s different now, now I have you with me, and I feel…”

She paused, her gaze locking onto Xiang Er’s as she leaned closer.

Her voice, as she spoke, was thick with the scent of wine, like a heady fragrance of fermented flowers, filling Xiang Er’s nostrils.

She stared into Xiang Er’s eyes, her own deep, dark eyes reflecting Xiang Er’s surprised face, her wine-stained lips parting and closing, like a secret incantation:

“I feel… sweet, as sweet as you… I’ve tasted you, you’re truly sweet… can I have another taste?”

The intense scent filled Xiang Er’s senses, her mind hazy, her emotions soaring.

She felt like an onion, the layers of reason and caution peeling away, revealing the vibrant, passionate core within.

She gasped for air, her wine glass trembling in her hand, a childlike joy bubbling up within her, the warmth of the wine spreading through her body, filling her heart and stomach, making her feel light, as if she could fly, her insides light and airy!

She could barely hear what Shen Yuhe was saying, but she tried her best to understand.

What had Shen Yuhe said? Sweet… yes, it was sweet, could she have another taste? A taste of what? Her wine?

Xiang Er smiled, unaware of her own intoxication, only knowing that she had never felt this carefree before.

She offered her swaying wine glass to Shen Yuhe, her voice slightly higher than usual:

“If you want a taste, have a taste!”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up, a fire suddenly igniting within them, spreading rapidly, illuminating her entire face!

But… she suddenly pulled back slightly.

She reached out and took Xiang Er’s wine glass, her voice slightly louder:

“Are you still sober?”

Xiang Er giggled, not even noticing that her glass had been taken, shaking her head, making incoherent noises:

“Beep boop beep boop… blah blah blah… heeheehee, you’re so beautiful, heeheehee…”

She was quite drunk.

Xiang Er’s hand grabbed Shen Yuhe’s arm, her weight leaning against it, her fingers finding the bite marks. Her laughter stopped abruptly, her brow furrowing, and she mumbled:

“Mm… I did that, I’m a bad person, I’m a bad person! I should hit, hit myself!”

She raised her other hand and slapped herself across the face. Shen Yuhe quickly caught her hand.

Shen Yuhe’s expression darkened:

“No.”

Xiang Er, her hand held captive, didn’t resist, just stared blankly for a moment, then looked at Shen Yuhe’s face and smiled sweetly:

“Haha… wuwuwu…”

Her laughter turned into tears, genuine, heartfelt tears streaming down her face, her hands flailing, as if trying to push something away.

Shen Yuhe held both of her hands, her brow furrowed. She didn’t know how to deal with a drunk human.

Xiang Er sobbed, her tears falling onto the sofa, onto herself, and onto Shen Yuhe’s thigh. As the warm tears landed on her skin, a small, red sucker sprouted on Shen Yuhe’s thigh, absorbing the tears.

They tasted bitter.

Xiang Er’s life was truly… bitter. A drunk person could only cry, unable to articulate their grievances.

True bitterness couldn’t be expressed in words, only tasted in tears.

But Shen Yuhe could feel it.

Shen Yuhe pulled Xiang Er into an embrace, gently patting her back, and as she patted, her hand transformed into a soft tentacle, completely enveloping Xiang Er’s back, like a mother holding her child.

The grotesque tentacle, however, held the girl’s slender body with a gentle, protective embrace.

Thick tentacles spread across the sofa, absorbing the girl’s tears.

He savored every drop, not wasting a single one, feeling her emotions, experiencing her pain, absorbing every fragment of her soul.

Xiang Er gradually stopped crying, comforted by the soft, warm, elastic embrace of the tentacles, like sleeping on the most comfortable bed. She had never slept on such a comfortable bed in her life, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Seeing the girl’s eyes close, Shen Yuhe’s expression returned to its usual impassivity.

She retracted the extra tentacles and lifted Xiang Er into her arms.

She tried holding her like a human would. Xiang Er’s head on her shoulder, one hand supporting her hips, the other her back, a close, face-to-face embrace.

She held the sleeping Xiang Er like this, carrying her back to her room.

The football-sized eyeball on the bed watched Shen Yuhe enter, its demeanor perfectly docile, its thin tentacles helpfully pulling back the covers. When Shen Yuhe placed Xiang Er on the bed, it quickly covered her with the quilt, expertly tucking it under her chin, even patting it with a tentacle.

Shen Yuhe glanced at the large eyeball and sat down on the edge of the bed.

She opened her mouth, a long, thin, blood-red tentacle extending, slowly reaching towards the sleeping Xiang Er.

Xiang Er slept soundly, her breathing even and slightly heavy, her brow still furrowed.

The thin, blood-red tentacle, after a moment of hesitation, touched Xiang Er’s temple.

Night had fallen, the darkness flowing in through the window like a black river, filling the small, dark, and cramped room.

The beautiful, tall woman sat upright on the bed, her face expressionless, her mouth wide open, unnaturally so, her jaw seemingly dislocated.

From her gaping, blood-red mouth, a thin tentacle extended, glistening, its cold, slimy surface touching the unsuspecting girl’s forehead, gently pulsing and swaying.

The large, black eyeball beside her also climbed onto the bed, extending its black tentacles, reaching beneath the covers, joining the pulsing tentacle, at just the right moment, wrapping, tightening, even penetrating the girl’s body…

It was sharing Its senses, creating an unparalleled, magical, and yet real, erotic dream.

Just for her… her downfall.

Chapter 48: Evolution

Xiang Er didn’t know where she was. Opening her eyes, she saw only a blur of grayish-yellow, and it took a long time for her vision to focus.

It was the afternoon sun, shining on the ceiling of her room, a bright, golden light, dappled with the shadows of leaves, like ripples on a golden lake.

Xiang Er was disoriented, her head throbbing, a dull ache in her ear. Images flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t piece them together, couldn’t remember why she was lying in bed.

She struggled to recall, vaguely remembering going to the police station this morning, with Shen Yuhe.

And then? And then the police station had been ravaged by wind, and she and Shen Yuhe had left, walking on the street, talking about mothers and daughters, and she had even cried, how embarrassing.

The memory was both warm and awkward.

But what happened after that? They had gone to a restaurant, Shen Yuhe had ordered spicy food, and leaned against her, acting coquettish… and then what?

Xiang Er racked her brains, but she couldn’t remember, she didn’t know how she had ended up in bed.

She must have fainted, but why? She couldn’t recall.

Was it another health issue? Xiang Er’s health hadn’t been great lately, all sorts of minor ailments common among young people, plus some lingering effects from childhood malnutrition, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, cervical spondylosis, all of which could cause her to faint.

Xiang Er ran her fingers through her hair, her head too heavy to even move.

She touched her ear, her fingers gently exploring its delicate contours, nothing unusual.

Then her fingertip reached her earlobe, and a jolt, like lightning, shot through her, her memory flooding back!

She remembered, Shen Yuhe had… kissed her earlobe!

Xiang Er’s face instantly flushed crimson, but then she remembered, her earlobe had hurt afterwards.

She gently touched her earlobe, but it was smooth and soft, no sign of injury, then what had that pain been about? It had felt like her earlobe was being ripped apart, the agony making her dizzy.

Xiang Er sat up and went to her desk to find her makeup mirror, examining her ears. Both earlobes were perfectly normal, no wounds, no tears.

Was her memory faulty?

Then why had she fainted? Because Shen Yuhe had kissed her earlobe, and she had been too overwhelmed? That seemed a bit far-fetched…

Xiang Er muttered to herself, then her gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed… a large patch of black substance on her quilt.

She froze, her first thought that it was the small eyeball’s doing. That little thing was constantly secreting black slime, sometimes getting it on the bed and quilt, and she would have to force it to clean up the mess.

But… Xiang Er walked over and touched the black substance, and it suddenly transformed into a blood-red eyeball.

The large, black mass covering most of her bed… was a single, giant eyeball!

Xiang Er stumbled back, a scream escaping her lips:

“Ah!”

She couldn’t suppress her scream, this was too bizarre! How could there be such a large eyeball on her bed?!

She frantically searched the room, lifting the quilt, checking her desk, her heart pounding with fear.

No way… the small eyeball, the one that had been attached to her wrist, the size of a watch, was gone!

Then this one on her bed… Xiang Er slowly turned, her neck stiff, forcing herself to look at the eyeball, despite her fear and panic.

Dozens of tentacles extended from around the eyeball, spreading out in all directions, almost covering the entire bed, like courtiers surrounding their king.

The crimson pupil was fixed on Xiang Er, blinking, as if greeting her.

Xiang Er’s head buzzed, her mind unable to process what she was seeing. She slowly averted her gaze, her neck feeling incredibly heavy.

So… the small eyeball, it could… evolve?

When she had first found it, she hadn’t expected it to evolve!

This was terrifying, it had only been a few days, how had it grown so large?!

It had gone from the size of a fist, to the size of a football!

This thing… she hadn’t even fed it, how had it grown so much? Could it survive on air alone?

And how much larger would it get?

Xiang Er licked her dry lips, thinking about Akhe, how large was Akhe’s true form? Would this small eyeball eventually grow to that size?

Wouldn’t it burst through the entire building?!

Xiang Er felt faint, the thought of sharing her bed with a giant eyeball… She frowned.

The small eyeball… no, the large eyeball on her bed, was lazily spreading its tentacles, clinging to the edges of the bed, like a giant, red spider that had just woken up.

For Xiang Er, who was afraid of insects, this was even more terrifying! A strange thought crossed her mind, could bug spray kill this thing?

The large eyeball suddenly turned and glared at her, its expression one of shock, as if saying: You want to kill me! I haven’t done anything!

Xiang Er, under the gaze of that giant eye, felt a pang of guilt, and the guiltier she felt, the more ideas about getting rid of the eyeball popped into her head, along with images of delicious squid dishes: stir-fried squid, grilled squid, spicy squid tentacles, boiled octopus, raw squid sashimi…

She couldn’t control her thoughts!

The large eyeball stared at her, its expression shifting from shock to utter astonishment, completely bewildered by the images in her mind!

Seeing those tantalizing squid dishes, the large eyeball slowly retracted its tentacles.

Slowly, it curled up into a ball, nestled on the quilt, trying its best to look cute, even rolling around on the bed like a ball, occasionally glancing at Xiang Er with a pitiful, pleading look.

It seemed to be saying: If you want, I can be a ball for you to play with, just don’t eat me!

Xiang Er covered her head with her hands, sat down heavily at her desk, and, feeling a sense of resigned amusement, chuckled:

“Pfft… haha!”

Well, this was something new, who had a pet eyeball the size of a football! Her life was truly… haha! Stranger than fiction!

Just then, a knock on the door echoed, followed by Shen Yuhe’s voice:

“Little Ears, are you awake? I made you something, come out and have some.”

Shen Yuhe’s voice transformed the old room into a concert hall, even the large eyeball turned towards the door, swaying slightly, as if enjoying the sound.

Xiang Er walked to the bed, wrapped the large eyeball in the quilt, placed a pillow on top, and thought threateningly:

“If you dare to show even one tentacle, I’ll chop you up and stir-fry you! With extra chili peppers!”

A faint wave of panic emanated from the large eyeball, and Xiang Er was startled again.

It seemed that it wasn’t just its body that had grown, its communication abilities had also evolved, it could now project emotions directly into her mind… what was she going to do?

Xiang Er sighed, turned, and walked to the door, taking several deep breaths before opening it.

Shen Yuhe stood outside, wearing a thin, black nightgown, her jade-like skin visible beneath the sheer fabric.

Xiang Er suddenly realized, didn’t Shen Yuhe seem to… have a habit of not wearing a bra? And such a see-through nightgown…

She closed the bedroom door behind her, her gaze fixed on Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face, and said, forcing a cheerful tone:

“What did you make?”

Shen Yuhe smiled, holding up a large glass jar:

“Mulled wine.”

Xiang Er didn’t even bother asking where the wine had come from. She knew that someone as wealthy as Shen Yuhe probably had a large wine collection.

She followed Shen Yuhe to the sofa and sat down. Shen Yuhe placed the jar on the table. It was filled with a deep red liquid, swirling gently, with slices of orange and lemon, looking quite professional.

Shen Yuhe turned and walked towards the kitchen, her black nightgown swaying gracefully, her long legs flashing beneath the knee-length skirt.

Xiang Er’s face flushed, but her mind was racing with questions, leaving little room for such distractions. She had a lot to ask Shen Yuhe.

Shen Yuhe returned from the kitchen, carrying two elegant-looking stemmed glasses.

Xiang Er sat up straight. Shen Yuhe, still wearing her rabbit slippers, bent down gracefully and placed the glasses on the table.

Xiang Er, while she wasn’t looking, stole several glances at the beautiful, jade-white scenery beneath the black nightgown… She almost had a nosebleed and quickly rubbed her nose.

Shen Yuhe suddenly looked up, her gaze catching Xiang Er’s.

It was a look that hooked Xiang Er’s heart, making her eyes widen, her mouth open slightly, wanting to confess her transgression.

But Shen Yuhe just chuckled softly and poured the mulled wine into the glasses.

As she poured, her magnetic voice filled the air:

“I heard mulled wine doesn’t make you drunk easily, and it helps with sleep. I saw you were very tired lately, so I made this for you. I hope you like it.”

As she finished, she looked up at Xiang Er with a smile.

Xiang Er fidgeted, barely able to sit still, and said hesitantly:

“I… I like it. Thank you.”

Actually, she had never had mulled wine before. She had only had regular wine, and she couldn’t handle even a single glass. Even those alcoholic cocktails were too much for her, she had a very low tolerance for alcohol.

But it was fine now, she was at home, drinking mulled wine made by Shen Yuhe.

They said that the alcohol evaporated during the cooking process, so it wouldn’t make her drunk, and even if she did get drunk, Shen Yuhe would take care of her, everything would be fine.

Shen Yuhe finished pouring, the two stemmed glasses filled with a beautiful, deep red liquid, that looked almost like… blood.

Shen Yuhe picked up a glass, her slender fingers gently swirling the liquid, admiring its slow descent along the glass, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Xiang Er also picked up her glass, hesitated for a moment, then asked:

“What exactly happened in the restaurant earlier?”

Shen Yuhe took a sip of wine, a deep red stain lingering on her lips, like a smear of blood.

She smiled, her gaze locking onto Xiang Er’s:

“Nothing much, we just… did what we wanted to do.”

Xiang Er narrowed her eyes:

“Specifically?”

Shen Yuhe:

“I kissed your earlobe, and you bit me.”

She pulled up the long sleeve of her nightgown.

There, on her arm, were two distinct bite marks, deep and dark red, the blood already dried, a shocking sight.

Xiang Er, completely unprepared for this revelation, stared at the marks, then looked up in disbelief:

“I… I did that?”

Shen Yuhe, with a mock-injured expression, extended her arm, her voice coquettish:

“You can bite me again and compare, if you want!”

Xiang Er, of course, wasn’t going to bite her again. She examined the marks closely and recognized her own teeth marks.

So… she had bitten Shen Yuhe, and she didn’t even remember?

Shen Yuhe took a sip of wine, her voice dropping slightly:

“I just thought your earlobe looked very pretty, so I kissed it gently, I didn’t expect such a big reaction, so you really hate me… I’ll remember that, I won’t touch you again.”

Xiang Er:

“…”

No!

Chapter 47: Ears

This scene, Xiang Er had experienced it once before, but back then, she and Shen Yuhe weren’t close, and she hadn’t harbored any inappropriate thoughts.

Now, it was different.

This was her only friend, someone she had feelings for, it was… difficult… to remain purely platonic!

Looking at those alluring lips, as red and inviting as a bed of roses, Xiang Er’s fingers trembled, her whole body shaking, her head spinning.

But her willpower ultimately prevailed.

She reached out and gently pushed Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, creating some distance between them, then carefully helped her lean against the back of the sofa.

Shen Yuhe allowed herself to be moved, still muttering:

“So spicy… is this what spicy feels like… I feel… a little excited…”

Like a smooth, slippery fish, she turned and slid back into Xiang Er’s arms, her eyes watery as she looked at Xiang Er’s face and asked softly:

“Aren’t you excited?”

Xiang Er closed her eyes, her breathing rapid.

She really… couldn’t handle this woman! Even if she was excited, what then, could Shen Yuhe take responsibility?!

She opened her mouth with difficulty:

“Little Fish, get up, we’re in a restaurant, you can’t be like this.”

Xiang Er pushed Shen Yuhe’s shoulder a little harder, but Shen Yuhe simply turned her head and buried her face in Xiang Er’s stomach, whimpering coquettishly:

“No…”

The soft, sweet whimper, warm against Xiang Er’s skin, seeped through her clothes, staining her, permeating her senses, reaching her heart, which was pounding a sweet, frantic rhythm.

Forget about eating! All she wanted to do was crush this coquettish woman and swallow her whole, then teach her a lesson in her stomach, about how dangerous it was to act so carelessly in public!

Shen Yuhe suddenly chuckled, as if amused:

“Haha…”

She then sat up, her body soft and boneless as she leaned against the back of the sofa, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s face.

Xiang Er’s face was burning, but she pretended to be calm, her ears, however, were a bright, translucent red. The sunlight streaming in from outside only intensified the blush, highlighting the fine hairs on her cheeks, her eyelashes fluttering, her dark eyes… refusing to look at Shen Yuhe, fixed on her plate.

“Okay… you should eat. If it’s too spicy, you can order something else…”

Xiang Er’s voice was shaky as she reached for the menu, speaking to Shen Yuhe without looking at her.

Only one of her bright red ears, and half of her blushing face, were visible to Shen Yuhe.

And Shen Yuhe’s gaze was fixated on them.

The earlobe, red and soft, like a translucent, rose-gold candy, swayed gently.

Ears… Little Ears. Their secret code.

Shen Yuhe suddenly reached out and gently pinched the earlobe, her fingers kneading it lightly.

Xiang Er’s body instantly stiffened, like a kitten whose scruff had been grabbed, completely motionless, a strange sound escaping her throat:

“Mm…”

Shen Yuhe continued to pinch the earlobe, making it even redder, the faint golden light making it look like a beautiful gemstone offered as a sacrifice by some small creature in an ancient ritual, millions of years ago.

Once, She had enjoyed those hard, glittering stones, but now, She preferred soft, yielding flesh.

Her fingertips gently kneaded and pressed, rubbing the small ear piercing.

Shen Yuhe licked her lips, her expression like a decadent, blooming flower, a sight that sent shivers down Xiang Er’s spine.

Several people in the restaurant were now stealing glances at their booth.

Xiang Er, catching a glimpse of them from the corner of her eye, felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her, from her eyes to her spine, then exploding downwards, like fireworks… She quickly averted her gaze, but the sensation on her ear was so real, so vivid, making her squirm uncomfortably, wanting to escape, yet not wanting to leave…

The menu slipped from her hand, and Xiang Er whimpered, pleading softly:

“Stop pinching me… let go, please…”

Shen Yuhe chuckled softly, the sound, so close to her ear, like a clap of thunder, making Xiang Er tremble.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, close to her ear, said:

“You’re my Little Ears, I can play with my Little Ears, what’s it to you?”

Xiang Er:

“…”

Xiang Er was almost angry! Where did this woman learn such twisted logic! Who was her Little Ears, really… she was going to get angry!

She turned and glared at Shen Yuhe, lowering her voice:

“Who’s yours! You… don’t go too far!”

The wind howled outside, although not as strong as before, still buffeting pedestrians and cars like leaves in a storm, waves crashing against the city’s shores.

But the sun shone brightly, its light untouched by the city’s waves, undisturbed in the small restaurant.

In the small restaurant, at the center of the world, in an unremarkable booth, the god was dissatisfied.

Xiang Er had turned slightly, her face flushed, and if her face were a hawthorn berry, the pout on her lips would be a thin layer of sweet and sour glaze, truly… tempting, delectable.

Shen Yuhe did as she pleased.

She nodded slightly, and the power of the Evil God, twisting and distorting reality, erased their booth, their table, from everyone’s perception, making them vanish completely from this world.

Then…

She leaned forward and suddenly, took Xiang Er’s earlobe into her mouth.

The world fell silent.

---

Xiang Er’s heart plummeted.

The impact made her ribs ache, her mind blanking, everything fading away.

The sunlight was too bright, she couldn’t see what was happening beside her face, only the sensation on her skin told her: Her earlobe, enveloped by something warm and soft.

Her earlobe… enveloped! By what? By the thing she didn’t dare to imagine?

Xiang Er couldn’t turn her head, couldn’t move her face, only her eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the truth from the corner of her vision.

As her eyes moved, she saw Shen Yuhe’s perfect face, incredibly close, so close it startled her!

Shen Yuhe’s eyes were open.

And those normally dark eyes were slowly turning blood red!

Xiang Er’s heart leaped into her throat, and just before she screamed… the eyes changed back, returning to their dark, obsidian-like brilliance, the pure, focused gaze of a newborn.

Shen Yuhe, her expression like someone examining a curious new object, was… consuming her earlobe.

Yes… consuming. Swallowing, devouring, a primal, simple act.

Xiang Er thought she must be seeing things.

But… the sensation on her ear couldn’t be mistaken.

Her earlobe was indeed enveloped by something warm, wet, and moving, lips or tongue… she didn’t dare think about it, but the image automatically appeared in her mind!

A wave of heat spread through her body, and Xiang Er couldn’t bear it. She raised her hands and tried to push Shen Yuhe away, but her hands met only air, her body weak and disoriented, only able to try blindly, her hands flailing, Shen Yuhe like a phantom, without substance.

But the sensation on her earlobe was undeniably real.

Was it licking? Or devouring? Or teasing, playing… she could feel it all, with excruciating clarity.

So clear that it became a kind of torment!

Xiang Er moaned, clutching Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes:

“Ah… it hurts!”

Her earlobe ached, a searing pain that ignited the flames within her, a dull ache quickly escalating into an unbearable agony!

It was no longer playful flirtation, it was like being preyed upon by a wild beast, torn apart by a vulture! The pain was so intense she almost screamed, even her head throbbed, the agony consuming her consciousness!

Blood flowed from her earlobe, and she could feel it, the warm blood, being devoured, bit by bit…

Her already weak body couldn’t handle such intense sensations, and the pain only fueled the flames of desire within her, burning even more fiercely!

She frantically grabbed Shen Yuhe’s collar and, her gaze fixed on the smooth, jade-like skin of Shen Yuhe’s arm, bit down hard!

She didn’t know what she was biting, her desire turning her into a beast, she was being devoured, and she would devour in return… She bit and licked and tasted the blood in her mouth, the adrenaline numbing her own pain.

She no longer felt pain, her mind no longer rational, only the primal urge to bite! To devour!

Hunger was the most primal of human desires, just like lust, and often, the two were inseparable.

If anyone had witnessed this scene, they would have lost their mind, driven to the brink of madness!

On the side of the girl’s thin face, a thick tentacle coiled, extending from the beautiful woman’s mouth, its suckers wrapping around the girl’s earlobe, blood flowing from the wound, directly into the tentacle’s suckers! The suckers devoured the blood, opening and closing, yearning for more, more!

And the girl, biting the woman’s arm, her eyes vacant, her mouth wide open, like a beast, her white teeth stained with blood, which dripped onto the floor!

They were intertwined, biting, devouring each other.

A sight that would stun anyone, yet a sight that would also make them say, they were… a perfect match.

After an eternity, long enough for centuries to pass, for blood to run dry, for the world to end and be reborn…

Xiang Er finally lifted her head, her mouth filled with blood, her fevered eyes only catching a glimpse of Shen Yuhe’s bloodstained lips.

She fainted.

Only the wreckage of their shared madness remained.

Blood still flowed from Shen Yuhe’s arm.

Tentacles extended, lifting Xiang Er, placing her within their protective circle.

Shen Yuhe walked out of the restaurant, blood dripping from her body, staining her black dress a vivid crimson. From her tailbone, the black fabric extended, transforming into several thick, black and red tentacles.

And between those tentacles, cradled carefully, was the faint outline of a slender girl.

The girl’s face was deathly pale, her ear torn, her brow furrowed, held aloft by the tentacles, like a bouquet of flowers, her head exposed, allowing her to breathe, her disheveled hair drying in the sunlight, her white dress stained with blood, like a bleeding cuckoo.

The girl, in this moment, was breathtakingly beautiful.

And Shen Yuhe, her demeanor calm and composed, walked out of the bustling restaurant, past the noisy crowd, the diners and drinkers.

No one could see Her.

Akhe, her tentacles swaying, carried Her lover and prey, walking through the human world, towards their own private abyss of darkness.

A slight worry crossed Her mind: Little Ears was so easily broken, perhaps… she needed to be handled more carefully, to be gradually accustomed to it.

Chapter 46: Orphans

Seeing Xiang Er pull out her employment contract, the two police officers exchanged confused glances, clearly not expecting this.

Xiang Er, her demeanor polite, said:

“Could you please take a look at this contract? Clause six, regarding the Party B’s obligations, doesn’t seem to comply with the labor laws. Could this affect my future career prospects and compensation?”

Why had she brought her employment contract to work? Actually, after being harassed by General Manager Cheng, Xiang Er had already decided to resign. She had reviewed her contract the previous night and noticed some discrepancies, intending to discuss them with HR today.

Since she happened to be at the police station, it made sense to consult more qualified professionals. Unfortunately, the police officers weren’t particularly helpful, simply suggesting that if the clauses were indeed illegal, she could file a complaint with the labor bureau and seek compensation.

Xiang Er, satisfied with this answer, felt she had at least defended her rights as a worker.

But she still had something else in mind. As she was leaving, she stood up and subtly lifted her sleeve, revealing a few thin, black tentacles on her wrist, towards the two officers.

If they could see them… perhaps they would ask her about it. If they couldn’t, Xiang Er wasn’t going to say anything, it would only make her seem like she was hallucinating.

The two officers walked past her, completely oblivious to the writhing tentacles on her wrist, clearly unable to see them. Xiang Er carefully lowered her sleeve, thinking that this must be fate.

She smoothed down her sleeve, gently touching the small eyeball on her wrist, a strange thought crossing her mind: Like petting a small pet… a little hamster or something.

Stepping out of the interrogation room, Xiang Er gasped in surprise.

The police station was in chaos! Papers were scattered everywhere, computers and keyboards overturned, some even rolling out the door, slogans, signs, even pieces of the wall had fallen off, door frames were crooked and askew, the whole place a disaster!

People were scrambling to clean up the mess, some clutching their heads and groaning, everyone covered in dust, the floor littered with leaves and branches, a scene of utter devastation!

The row of chairs opposite the interrogation room was in disarray, but Shen Yuhe sat calmly on one of the remaining upright chairs.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a black clematis blooming amidst the ruins, her demeanor cold and aloof, but the moment she saw Xiang Er, her expression softened.

Xiang Er walked towards her, a smile naturally appearing on her face:

“Were you waiting for me?”

Shen Yuhe nodded, her expression strangely complex, her eyes as if holding back unspoken words.

Xiang Er, puzzled, asked:

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter? You look… different.”

Shen Yuhe shook her head:

“It’s nothing, I just… misunderstood something.”

Xiang Er asked again:

“What happened here? I was only in there for a few minutes, how did it get like this?”

Shen Yuhe looked at the devastated police station, her expression innocent and guileless:

“I don’t know, maybe… the wind blew in?”

Xiang Er:

“What kind of wind is this strong! Strong enough to blow things around inside? That’s so strange…”

She even wondered if the small eyeball on her wrist had done it, but the small eyeball had been perfectly behaved, there was no reason for it to create such a wind. And besides, surely it wasn’t that powerful?

A cold hand gently grasped her fingers. Xiang Er looked over and saw Shen Yuhe, but her touch was hesitant, unlike her usual assertive manner.

Normally, when Shen Yuhe held her hand, she would grasp her entire hand, her fingers intertwining with Xiang Er’s, a firm, possessive grip.

But today… Shen Yuhe’s hand, like a soft serpent, only gently held her fingertips, not forcefully intertwining their fingers, as if giving her the control.

Xiang Er tugged lightly, and Shen Yuhe obediently followed, her steps matching Xiang Er’s.

The feeling was novel, and Xiang Er helped clean the floor of the police station for a while, then, when it was mostly tidy, she led Shen Yuhe out.

Shen Yuhe was unusually docile and obedient, following Xiang Er’s lead, stopping when she stopped, her hand gently holding Xiang Er’s fingers, like… a child holding onto her mother’s hand.

Xiang Er was startled by this thought. What mother, what child, her mind shouldn’t be so strange! They were just good friends, why was she thinking about mothers and children!

Xiang Er realized that her mind, never particularly sharp, became even more muddled when it came to Shen Yuhe… She wouldn’t normally have such strange thoughts, really!

She glanced at Shen Yuhe, who was walking beside her, a faint smile on her lips, her presence as warm and comforting as springtime in the winter sun. Seeing Xiang Er look at her, Shen Yuhe turned, her smile innocent and guileless, her bright red lips parting:

“Why did we stop, Mom?”

A chill ran down Xiang Er’s spine, and she couldn’t believe her ears:

“What… what did you call me?”

She had just been thinking about mothers and children, and Shen Yuhe had said it out loud… Was it just a coincidence?

Could Shen Yuhe, like Akhe, read her mind? This terrifying thought made Xiang Er’s legs go weak, a wave of coldness washing over her.

But Shen Yuhe just smiled naturally, shaking their joined hands, and said:

“I just thought, you holding my hand like this, it really looks like a mother holding her daughter’s hand, isn’t that a normal joke between friends?”

Her explanation made sense, but Xiang Er couldn’t stop the cold sweat trickling down her back.

Just because their actions looked similar, they had thought of the same thing?

A case of two minds thinking alike? Just a coincidence, not mind-reading?

It had to be, how could an ordinary person read minds… that was something only a Evil God could do! Shen Yuhe couldn’t possibly do that, she was just an exceptionally beautiful, ordinary person…

Xiang Er reassured herself, it was fine, Shen Yuhe couldn’t read minds, it was all just a coincidence… but a lingering unease remained, like something buried deep within her, something she would eventually forget, or perhaps, it would sprout, but not now.

Now, they stood together in the windswept city, their hands clasped, like two islands finding solace in each other amidst a stormy sea.

Xiang Er looked into Shen Yuhe’s clear eyes, a warmth spreading through her. Honestly, who else could she trust besides Shen Yuhe? Shen Yuhe wouldn’t hurt her, she couldn’t possibly read minds, she was her good friend, someone she… had feelings for, how could she do anything strange?

“Um… let’s not… call each other that anymore, it’s a bit strange.”

Xiang Er said, gently squeezing Shen Yuhe’s thumb, an unconscious gesture of reassurance.

“Okay, you can call me Mom too, I’d like that.”

Shen Yuhe said.

“Ah… haha.”

Xiang Er chuckled awkwardly. A sudden urge to confide in Shen Yuhe overcame her, and she said:

“I’m an orphan, I’ve never called anyone Mom, I’m not used to that kind of joke.”

Shen Yuhe’s grip tightened, and Xiang Er looked up, seeing a deep concern in her eyes:

“Do you need a mom? I can be your mom.”

To be her closest… A lover would be good, a mother even better. To devour her, to absorb her, to make her a part of herself, that would make her her “mother.” It was simple, if that’s what she needed…

But Xiang Er said, puzzled:

“That’s not possible, and I don’t need a mom now, I’m all grown up.”

But Shen Yuhe continued to stare at her, as if trying to see through her brave facade, into her fragile, crystalline heart, to the deepest part… where a little girl, alone in her cold bed in the orphanage, hugged her pillow, whispering “Mommy, Mommy…” then crying herself to sleep.

Xiang Er looked away. She thought, a hug would be nice right now… but it wasn’t necessary, she had overcome those useless sentimental feelings…

The next second, she was enveloped in a familiar, comforting embrace.

Shen Yuhe held the back of Xiang Er’s head, pressing her face against her chest, her voice warm and sweet:

“Good girl, don’t be afraid, you have me now, I’m better than a mom.”

Better than a “mom,” I can destroy you, I can create you, I can merge with you, I am your master, your god, your one true faith. I am your friend, your lover, your mother and father and daughter, your creator, and eventually, I will be everything to you…

The wind whispered, the branches rustling, the sounds of people and traffic filling the streets, the calls of vendors, a vibrant tapestry of city life, the reality of the mundane world.

And in this utterly real and ordinary world, a Evil God, disguised in human form, came for the soul… and the love… of a single, fragile, pitiful little ant.

The Evil God’s presence intensified, a sudden gust of wind whipping through the streets, snatching hats and ruffling hair, sending ordinary people scattering in its wake.

And Xiang Er, buried in the Evil God’s embrace, her face pressed against its warm, sweet-smelling chest, long past the age of crying for a mother, felt tears welling up in her eyes.

She could feel Shen Yuhe’s heartbeat, strong and steady, a comforting rhythm in her ear, the heartbeat of a mother, the heartbeat she had always imagined in her dreams.

She knew this wasn’t her mother. But precisely because of that… this care, this warmth, made her want to cry even more.

Tears streamed down her face, soaking Shen Yuhe’s blouse, the black fabric clinging to her skin.

Xiang Er felt a large hand gently stroking her hair, it wasn’t a mother’s hand. It was Shen Yuhe’s.

A gentle, caring touch, slowly stroking and smoothing her hair, an endless affection spreading outwards, an emotion Xiang Er didn’t want to define, just wanting to absorb it, to bask in it, like a sponge soaking up water.

What it was wasn’t important, it was for her, and that was enough, more than enough… Enough to bridge the lonely nights of her childhood, the cold beds and empty hours, ignored and forgotten.

She now had someone who cared, someone who was there.

She reached out and, like a child, hugged Shen Yuhe tightly, that slender yet strong waist, capable of holding all her needs and dreams…

After crying, Xiang Er stood up straight on the street, her eyes red and swollen. Shen Yuhe patted her head and gently wiped away her tears:

“There, there, I’m here.”

Xiang Er felt the swelling in her eyes subside. It seemed she hadn’t cried too much, it was just… embarrassing.

To distract herself, Xiang Er suggested they find a place to eat.

She handed the menu to Shen Yuhe, letting her order. Shen Yuhe ordered a few dishes, Mapo tofu, spicy stir-fried chicken gizzards, and Chongqing-style spicy chicken. Xiang Er was surprised:

“These dishes are very spicy, are you sure you want to order them? Can you handle spicy food?”

Shen Yuhe nodded confidently:

“Trust me, I’m very interested in your spicy dishes.”

The food arrived, and Xiang Er ate her own bland dishes while Shen Yuhe, with great enthusiasm, scooped up a spoonful of spicy chicken, swallowing the chicken along with several chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns!

Xiang Er:

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t…”

But it was too late.

Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face instantly flushed red, an alarmingly bright red.

She immediately leaned against Xiang Er, as if drunk. Xiang Er had a strange sense of déjà vu. Hadn’t she seen this scene before, not long ago, in a certain coffee shop?

Shen Yuhe raised her arms, naturally wrapping them around Xiang Er’s waist, her face close to Xiang Er’s, her lips, full and red, slightly parted, her breath, hot and spicy, brushing against Xiang Er’s face:

“Why… so spicy… I’m going to melt, melt…”

Xiang Er’s chopsticks clattered onto her plate.

She almost wanted to tremble.

Shen Yuhe’s body was half-leaning against hers, her face, flushed and slightly sweaty, so close to Xiang Er’s, more alluring than the most delicate rose… and her lips, those parted, sweet, and spicy lips, clearly inviting a kiss!

Xiang Er suddenly understood the legend of Liuxia Hui.

But she couldn’t be Liuxia Hui!

She just wanted to kiss those alluring red lips, kiss them until they were swollen and bruised, crush them like rose petals, extract their sweet nectar, and drink it all down…

*********

T/N:

T/N: Liuxia Hui: A historical figure from ancient China renowned for his unwavering moral principles, especially his resistance to sexual temptation. The story that made him famous involves him holding a woman on his lap to keep her warm on a freezing night, but remaining completely chaste. This is often summarized by the idiom “坐怀不乱” (zuò huái bù luàn), meaning to remain unaroused and composed when faced with temptation. His name is used to praise someone’s high moral character or to ironically question someone’s claimed virtue.

Chapter 45: Misunderstanding

A low hum filled the elevator, the air thick with the combined scents of too many people crammed together. Someone coughed nervously, the rustle of clothing adding to the cacophony.

But Xiang Er heard none of it. Her heart soared, her ears filled only with Shen Yuhe’s words.

She didn’t even dare look at Shen Yuhe, the words echoing in her mind like a bell, a final declaration, a beautiful bubble adorning her mundane life, like a blossoming peach tree in spring.

A peach tree bloomed in her heart, its branches swaying gently, its fragrance sweet and intoxicating, but she had to suppress the feeling.

After a long moment, she finally managed a soft:

“Mm.”

No denial.

Shen Yuhe smiled in satisfaction, the sound muffled against Xiang Er’s shoulder.

The elevator was a confined space, packed with strangers, yet Shen Yuhe and Xiang Er, huddled together in the corner, their hair intertwined, their breaths mingling, were in a world of their own.

In the midst of the noisy world, they were completely together.

The elevator doors opened, fresh air rushing in, the crowd dispersing quickly. Shen Yuhe stood up and walked out, Xiang Er following closely behind.

It was Xiang Er’s first time riding in a police car. Fortunately, it wasn’t a patrol car with bars on the windows, just an ordinary sedan. General Manager Cheng, as the plaintiff, sat in the front passenger seat, Xiang Er and Shen Yuhe in the back, the others taking a separate car, following behind, all heading towards the police station.

Xiang Er’s mind now turned to the matter at hand. She wasn’t afraid of General Manager Cheng’s accusations; it was clearly his fault, she had nothing to do with it. She was wondering if she could just hand over the small eyeball, the Evil God’s remnant, to the police. Surely the authorities had ways of dealing with such things, that’s what always happened in novels.

But could ordinary police officers even see the small eyeball?

As she was pondering this, the small eyeball in her sleeve suddenly moved, its tentacles crawling up her arm, towards her shoulder, its round body squirming against her wrist, as if trying to escape the confines of her sleeve!

Her arm was on the side away from Shen Yuhe, and Xiang Er quickly pressed her hand against her sleeve, pinning down the tentacle, and carefully tried to pull the eyeball back down, but it was no use, the small eyeball, like a stubborn calf, was incredibly strong, almost bursting out of her sleeve!

Shen Yuhe, noticing her movements, looked at her with a questioning gaze. The two people in the front hadn’t noticed anything yet.

Xiang Er pulled her arm behind her back, trying to act natural. She even smiled at Shen Yuhe, as if to say everything was fine, but she didn’t know if Shen Yuhe understood. Her dark eyes remained fixed on Xiang Er.

“You…”

Shen Yuhe’s beautiful red lips parted, and Xiang Er’s eyes widened, glancing at the two people in front, shaking her head frantically, silently pleading with Shen Yuhe not to say anything here, it would cause a misunderstanding!

Shen Yuhe obediently closed her mouth, but her gaze, filled with curiosity, remained fixed on Xiang Er’s arm.

Xiang Er took a deep breath, her other hand pressing down on her sleeve, and silently pleaded: Okay, stop moving, I won’t give you away!

The small eyeball immediately froze, its tentacles retracting.

So obedient… it was almost frightening!

For the rest of the journey, the small eyeball, as if having received a promise, remained perfectly still.

But a chill ran down Xiang Er’s spine. Did this mean that the small eyeball… could hear her thoughts all along?

Was this the small eyeball’s ability, or Akhe’s?

Did this mean that the Evil God had been able to hear her thoughts all along? Did It know everything she was thinking?

Was this… the terrifying power of a Evil God? Omniscient, omnipotent, able to hear everything?

A cold sweat broke out on Xiang Er’s forehead. She had vaguely sensed Akhe’s omnipotence before, but she hadn’t thought about it carefully, trying to avoid its mental pollution. Now, thinking back, if the Evil God could project messages directly into her mind, then… it could surely do the reverse!

Perhaps, to a Evil God, hearing her thoughts was as easy as breathing!

It had been listening all along!

It could hear everything!

Xiang Er’s mind was flooded with memories, and she tried to recall if she had had any particularly outrageous thoughts during the time she had been entangled with the Evil God.

Well, her thoughts had been outrageous almost constantly. She had wanted the Evil God to leave, to hand It over to the authorities, to make It disappear from the world completely. She had even prayed to Guanyin, Buddha, Yuanshi Tianzun, God, and various other deities, hoping they would intervene, imprison the Evil God like Sun Wukong under the Five Finger Mountain, punishing It in all sorts of ways!

Thinking about it… perhaps Akhe, by granting her wish and leaving, had heard her silent pleas, her desperate rejection, had known how much she loathed It.

Even a Evil God knew that forcing someone wouldn’t work.

Xiang Er’s perception of the Evil God shifted slightly. It had actually listened to her true thoughts, which was… unexpectedly… considerate?

Xiang Er was startled by her own thoughts, then chuckled wryly. It was rather ironic that only after Akhe had left did she realize that It wasn’t so bad after all, a classic case of closing the barn door after the horse had bolted.

Well, Akhe had probably found a new, willing follower by now. They had parted ways, there was no need to dwell on it. Xiang Er thought.

“I don’t.”

Shen Yuhe suddenly whispered beside her.

A cryptic, out-of-context remark.

“What?”

Xiang Er turned to her, puzzled.

Shen Yuhe’s eyes, like intelligent amber in the depths of an abyss, clearly reflected Xiang Er’s face, a precious and beautiful fossil preserved within.

“I said, I don’t have anyone else.”

Shen Yuhe’s words were still cryptic, and after saying this, she turned away without waiting for a reply.

For some reason, looking at her expressionless profile, her body language… Xiang Er felt that she seemed… angry?

Why was she angry? What was she angry about? Xiang Er hadn’t done anything, she had only thought about Akhe, but what did that have to do with Shen Yuhe?

It wasn’t until they arrived at the police station and started giving their statements that Xiang Er put the question aside. It was her first time giving a statement, and she didn’t know the procedure. The police were quite polite, leading her to a small room and asking her to describe what had happened in the office.

Xiang Er, slightly nervous, told the truth, emphasizing General Manager Cheng’s attempted sexual harassment, her expression a convincing portrayal of fear, distress, and vulnerability.

Soon, she was taken out to watch the security footage with General Manager Cheng and the others. The footage clearly showed General Manager Cheng reaching out to touch Xiang Er, then suddenly recoiling before grabbing his own arm and slamming it against the desk. Xiang Er, startled, had stood up and walked towards the door, where Shen Yuhe, arriving just then, had led her away.

After they left, General Manager Cheng had continued his frantic outburst in the office, slamming his injured arm against the desk, breaking the bone, then hitting his head against the coffee table, throwing himself against the wall, each impact violent and self-destructive, as if possessed, until he was finally taken away by ambulance.

The police, having watched the footage, looked at General Manager Cheng with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance.

General Manager Cheng continued to rant and rave, even trying to attack Xiang Er, before being restrained by the police.

“You monster! You did this to me! What did you do to me?! Huh?”

Held back by two police officers, he still tried to kick and lash out, frothing at the mouth like a rabid dog.

Shen Yuhe, who had been standing quietly at the back, suddenly strode forward and slapped General Manager Cheng hard across the face, twice!

The two slaps stunned him into silence, his face quickly reddening, then darkening, swelling like two loaves of bread.

Shen Yuhe’s face remained expressionless, not a trace of anger or disgust, as if she had simply washed her hands.

After slapping him, she turned and walked towards Xiang Er, protectively putting her arm around her waist, her expression softening:

“Are you alright? Are you scared?”

Xiang Er shook her head:

“No, he can’t scare me.”

Her experience with Akhe had significantly raised her tolerance for such things. Even in his crazed state, General Manager Cheng was just a human, there was nothing to be afraid of.

She looked at Shen Yuhe’s hand and said with concern:

“I hope you didn’t hurt your hand.”

Shen Yuhe smiled, raised her right hand, the one she had used to slap him, and held it out to Xiang Er, palm up:

“Then blow on it for me.”

The police officers and other people in the station all pretended to look away, but their ears perked up, a good show to watch, two beautiful women, how interesting, and some juicy gossip to overhear.

Under their watchful eyes, Xiang Er pushed Shen Yuhe’s hand away:

“This isn’t the place…”

Shen Yuhe, slightly disappointed, withdrew her hand:

“Then remember to blow on it for me when we get home.”

Xiang Er blushed and nodded.

The eavesdroppers’ ears practically perked up: Oh my god, what did they just hear? These two beauties, they lived together!

They looked at the two women again, one cold and domineering in her long black dress, her slap like a martial arts master’s strike, the other slender and vulnerable in her white dress, looking frail and pale, protected by the woman in black, even the object of her affection… Oh my god! What a perfect couple!

The young people in the station were excited and surprised. Who would have thought that they could not only witness a good show at the police station, but also find a new ship to stan!

Their gazes intensified, fixed on Xiang Er and Shen Yuhe.

The police officers were reprimanding General Manager Cheng, while others explained the situation to Xiang Er, Shen Yuhe, and the rest, apologizing for the misunderstanding. Xiang Er’s supervisor and the others were mostly irrelevant, their statements brief and inconsequential.

“Alright, thank you for your cooperation. We’ll handle the rest with Mr. Cheng. You can leave now.”

Shen Yuhe nodded coldly and walked towards the exit, Xiang Er following hesitantly.

It was another overcast day, the sky a pale white, like a sheet of paper pasted over the window, the city outside blurry and indistinct. Xiang Er looked back at the ordinary, bustling police station, then at the lively street outside, and thought for a moment.

She couldn’t just leave like this!

She suddenly turned and walked back into the police station, addressing the officer at the entrance:

“Can I have a private room, please? I have something to show you.”

The officer’s expression turned serious, and he called over two colleagues, a man and a woman, who led Xiang Er to an interrogation room.

Xiang Er looked up and called out to Shen Yuhe, who was standing at the entrance, looking stunned:

“Wait for me here! I’ll be right back!”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes widened, her expression turning serious.

Xiang Er entered the interrogation room.

She didn’t see that, the moment she entered, a sudden gust of wind swept through the street outside.

A violent wind, snapping branches, whipping through the streets, almost lifting pedestrians off their feet, their screams mingling with the cracking of trees and the honking of car horns, a symphony of chaos!

And Shen Yuhe turned around and slowly walked back into the police station, her eyes dark and deep, a swirling sandstorm raging behind her.

She strode towards the interrogation room, her long legs carrying her swiftly.

You still… can’t tolerate even a small part of me?

You only like this skin, this disguise, don’t you?

You loathe the real me this much?

Foolish… foolish human!

The unnatural wind followed Shen Yuhe into the police station, computers crashing to the floor, papers flying everywhere, people clinging to pillars, screaming:

“Where did this wind come from?!” “Aaaaaah! Close the doors, close the doors!” “I can’t get through, the wind is too strong!”

Almost all the furniture and objects were swept away by the wind, walls crumbling, even the building itself seemed to tremble, people scrambling to save whatever they could, doors slamming shut then bursting open, locks flying off, chaos everywhere!

Only the interrogation room where Xiang Er was remained untouched, like the eye of the storm, a quiet sanctuary amidst the chaos.

Only the beautiful woman in the black dress, her face cold and resolute, walked steadily through the wind, reaching the interrogation room, her gaze like a rose-thorn sword, piercing through the glass.

And then… she saw that Xiang Er’s sleeves were neatly covering her wrists, the small eyeball inside quiet and obedient, no trace of the tentacles visible.

And Xiang Er was showing the police officers… her employment contract?

Shen Yuhe frowned, and the wind instantly vanished.

She stood at the doorway for a moment, then silently turned and sat down on a chair, exhaling softly.

So… she wasn’t handing over the small eyeball to the authorities. She didn’t hate it that much… that part of It.

Was this what humans called a misunderstanding?

Then, the feeling of a misunderstanding resolved, was quite pleasant.

Chapter 44: Ants

It was nine o’clock in the morning, a damp, cold, and stifling winter day in the south. The sun, like a small, round biscuit, hung in the sky as mere decoration, thick clouds swirling around it, occasionally obscuring it completely.

There was no wind, and on a day like this, the air inside the office was even more stifling, suffocating everyone.

The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed steadily, the ventilation fan whirred mechanically, the office plants looked dusty and lifeless, the eyes of the employees dull and uninspired.

Very few people in this world truly possessed a soul.

Until Shen Yuhe walked in, a black lightning bolt shattering the stagnant, lifeless atmosphere.

One could judge her with a critical eye, dissect her with a limited mind, define her with ordinary labels. But the moment one saw her, one also knew that she was completely indifferent to all of it.

Because she wouldn’t even notice you, because to her, everything in this stagnant world was no more significant than the struggles and dreams of an ant.

She only saw that one… insignificant ant, overlooked by everyone else.

She walked towards that ant, her steps firm and direct, without a moment’s hesitation, under the envious gazes of all the other ants.

The ants’ gazes, like snowflakes, fell upon the black figure, then vanished without a trace, a strange sensation washing over everyone, their thoughts becoming muddled, their reason crumbling… a sharp pain in their heads, its source unknown.

As Shen Yuhe, like a black wind, swept through the office, several people clutched their heads, a man’s nose even starting to bleed, and he frantically pressed a tissue against it, stumbling towards the bathroom.

Shen Yuhe walked straight towards Xiang Er, her gaze fixed on her, under the surprised and uneasy stares of the others.

Xiang Er’s throat was dry with nervousness:

“You… why are you here?”

Before she could finish, Shen Yuhe reached out, her jade-white fingers gently caressing Xiang Er’s neck.

Xiang Er’s pupils constricted sharply!

In full view of everyone, of her colleagues she had worked with for half a year, being touched on the neck by a beautiful, alluring stranger… Realizing how inappropriate the scene was, Xiang Er almost wanted to scream.

She could even hear Zhu Minmin gasp beside her, and she could feel the weight of their gazes, a mixture of scrutiny and shock.

She knew everyone would be judging her, staring at her, dissecting her, making her the topic of gossip for the next three months… She would become the center of attention!

She raised her hands, trying to push Shen Yuhe’s hand away, but Shen Yuhe’s other hand quickly caught her wrist.

Shen Yuhe’s movements were so swift that Xiang Er didn’t even see how it happened, her wrist already held captive.

And her other hand was trapped between the desk and the wall, unable to move.

She could only tilt her head back slightly, submitting to Shen Yuhe’s touch.

Under the burning gazes of countless eyes, Shen Yuhe’s beautiful, elegant fingers traced Xiang Er’s cheek, then slid down her neckline.

The cold touch against her neck, suddenly appearing at her collarbone, almost made Xiang Er moan, her head instinctively pulling back.

Shen Yuhe’s fingers hooked onto her collar, preventing her from escaping, her voice carrying a tone of displeasure and authority, like a judge passing sentence:

“You’re not showing it.”

Xiang Er didn’t understand, blinking at her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, as she whispered:

“Don’t…”

Don’t embarrass me here… Don’t let my colleagues see… Don’t go too far…

But Shen Yuhe, still holding her collar, pulled her closer.

Xiang Er, sitting in her chair, was pulled forward, the rolling chair scraping against the carpet, unstoppable, until her head bumped against Shen Yuhe’s abdomen.

A flat, firm, slender, yet still slightly soft abdomen, completely different from her own soft, yielding stomach.

Ignoring where Xiang Er’s head was, Shen Yuhe reached into her neckline and pulled out the necklace, the pearls swaying gently.

Xiang Er finally realized that Shen Yuhe was talking about the necklace, she was upset that Xiang Er hadn’t been wearing it visibly!

Truly… a very Shen Yuhe thing to do.

Xiang Er quickly pulled back, creating some distance between them, and glanced to the side, seeing Zhu Minmin, like a kettle about to boil over, her hand covering her mouth, her feet stomping excitedly, almost creating a hole in the carpet!

Xiang Er knew her face was burning, and she adjusted the necklace, making sure it was properly displayed.

Shen Yuhe clicked her tongue in disapproval, her face still dark, then suddenly leaned down, close to Xiang Er’s ear, and whispered:

“Remember, show it.”

Xiang Er nodded quickly, eager to get rid of this imposing figure! She would tuck the necklace away again after Shen Yuhe left…

Shen Yuhe continued, her voice low and slow:

“If you hide it again, I’ll appear before you immediately. You can try me.”

Xiang Er flinched, like a startled dove, her eyes slightly wide with alarm:

“Ah… okay.”

Shen Yuhe adjusted the necklace again, stood up, and turned to leave.

Just like when she arrived, her presence commanding, her gaze fixed on the empty hallway ahead, her beautiful face a mask of indifference, her figure tall and elegant, her black skirt swaying as she walked, finally exiting the office.

All her colleagues felt a sudden release of pressure, their minds clearing, their gazes shifting between Xiang Er and the beautiful woman in black, curiosity and tension swirling within them, speculating about their relationship.

Zhu Minmin, beside Xiang Er, like a drowning person finally surfacing, grinned and winked, her voice high-pitched and excited, like the hiss of steam from a boiling kettle:

“Aaaaaah—you still say you’re not a couple!!! She touched you!!! She touched you aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”

Xiang Er, speechless, could only stare, her mind a jumble, the cold sensation still lingering on her neck, the pearl necklace, or perhaps just the ghost of Shen Yuhe’s touch.

Her gaze involuntarily followed Shen Yuhe, fixated on her retreating black figure.

Shen Yuhe, standing at the office entrance, suddenly turned around, her gaze locking onto Xiang Er’s.

Across the sea of heads and computers, across the maze of cubicles, her gaze reached Xiang Er, carrying an intense, unreadable message.

She mouthed a single word, and Xiang Er saw it clearly: Good.

Xiang Er’s heart pounded wildly!

She understood what Shen Yuhe was doing. It was a message to everyone, that Xiang Er was under her protection, and anyone who dared to bully or gossip about her should think twice!

Shen Yuhe turned to leave and, at the corner of the hallway, bumped into General Manager Cheng, his arm in a cast.

General Manager Cheng, his neck in a sling, one arm held across his chest, his suit rumpled, still the same one from yesterday, looking utterly miserable, stormed out of the elevator, his face a mask of anger and frustration, as if looking for a fight.

He was walking briskly when he suddenly saw Shen Yuhe standing at the entrance of his company, and he froze.

Then, his anger intensified, and he shouted:

“Who are you? You were also involved in what happened yesterday, come with me to the police station, I’ve already called the police!”

Two police officers emerged from behind him, their eyes on Shen Yuhe.

General Manager Cheng turned to the officers and said:

“Officers, it’s her, she was also involved in what happened to me yesterday, you can’t let her go!”

The police officers, their tone official, said:

“Please come with us to the station for questioning.”

Shen Yuhe turned and looked at Xiang Er inside the office, her gaze calm and cold.

General Manager Cheng, followed by the police officers, hurried into the office. Xiang Er, who had already stood up and gathered her things, looked slightly nervous, but also… a little excited, as the officers approached.

The officers repeated their request to Xiang Er, and she immediately followed them out, naturally standing beside Shen Yuhe.

General Manager Cheng pointed out two more people in the office to accompany him to the police station, including Xiang Er’s supervisor.

The group gathered in the hallway, the police officers leading them towards the elevators. Shen Yuhe looked at Xiang Er, a puzzled look in her eyes, as if unsure how this had happened.

She whispered:

“Why are we going to the police station? We didn’t do anything wrong.”

Xiang Er smiled at Shen Yuhe:

“It’s okay, we’ll just go and explain everything, we didn’t do anything wrong, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

General Manager Cheng, overhearing this, turned and glared at Xiang Er, his voice filled with rage:

“It was all you! You monster! Monster!”

Shen Yuhe, as they walked, leaned closer to Xiang Er and whispered:

“Monster? What does that mean?”

Xiang Er wondered, had Shen Yuhe grown up abroad? How could she not know such a common term? She explained:

“It means… something that’s not human, but has taken human form, like a cat turning into a human is a cat demon, a dog turning into a human is a dog demon.”

Shen Yuhe nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her voice:

“Then I’m also a monster, I must be a god monster.”

Xiang Er chuckled, charmed by her cuteness. Who would call themselves a monster! And such a cute name, god monster, what was that even supposed to be, there was no such thing!

They filed into the elevator, the crowd pressing close. Shen Yuhe pushed Xiang Er into a corner, protectively extending an arm to shield her from the others, her body almost entirely pressed against Xiang Er’s.

Xiang Er whispered:

“You’re not a monster, you’re… a very, very good person. Just like this, it’s perfect.”

Shen Yuhe looked down at her, her eyes dark and deep:

“I’m yours. And you’re mine.”