Category: My Cthulhu Girlfriend (gl)

Chapter 43: Intentions

The sky was just beginning to lighten. Xiang Er got out of bed, dressed, and carefully washed up in the bathroom, her movements quiet, trying not to make a sound.

She was thinking that if she really couldn’t face what had happened last night, she would leave early today, avoid seeing Shen Yuhe, and perhaps the awkwardness would dissipate.

Shen Yuhe probably didn’t want to see her either… Brushing her teeth, she looked at herself in the mirror, noticing with a pang of anxiety that the lack of sleep had worsened her already pale and unhealthy complexion, faint wrinkles even appearing at the corners of her eyes.

She touched the wrinkles, thinking that Shen Yuhe’s skin was always flawless, her perfection all-encompassing, truly enviable.

The small eyeball bounced on the counter beside her, extending a tentacle to grab the moisturizer and offering it to her, like a clever little toy.

Xiang Er took the bottle from the tentacle, applied the moisturizer, and without putting on any makeup, headed out, ready to escape to work.

But… as soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, she almost bumped into Shen Yuhe.

Shen Yuhe was standing at the bathroom door, her arms crossed, her body bathed in the morning light, completely blocking the doorway.

She was wearing a trench coat, but the red lace nightgown was still visible beneath it. Xiang Er quickly averted her gaze, managing a:

“Morning.”

Shen Yuhe leaned against the wall, her long legs crossed, her voice tinged with reproach:

“Are you leaving?”

Xiang Er nodded, then looked up:

“I thought… you’re a CEO, your work schedule must be different from mine, you don’t have to leave so early, right?”

Shen Yuhe:

“Are you trying to avoid me?”

Xiang Er:

“…No.”

She swallowed, trying to sound sincere:

“I’ve been late too many times, I don’t want to be late again, and I also want to see what’s going on with General Manager Cheng…”

Shen Yuhe interrupted her without hesitation:

“Let’s go together.”

Xiang Er:

“Huh… huh?”

Shen Yuhe:

“I said, let’s go together. Wait for me, I’ll change.”

Xiang Er’s mind was a jumble. She watched as Shen Yuhe turned and entered the master bedroom, leaving the door open. A series of loud crashes and bangs echoed from inside, as if she were throwing things around, slamming the furniture.

As expected… she was angry!

Xiang Er wanted to object, but she couldn’t think of a good reason, pacing anxiously.

Just then, the small eyeball emerged from her shoulder, its round, black form peering towards the master bedroom. Xiang Er quickly grabbed it and tucked it into her sleeve, its tentacles clinging to her wrist.

Sigh! What was she going to do, Shen Yuhe, the small eyeball, they were both so clingy, impossible to shake off!

Xiang Er, for some reason, felt a pang of sweet exasperation, especially… hearing the commotion from the master bedroom, her lips curving upwards involuntarily.

Although Shen Yuhe was angry, she didn’t seem to dislike her, she still wanted to leave together, which was much better than the worst-case scenario she had imagined.

Just as Xiang Er had secured the small eyeball in her sleeve, Shen Yuhe emerged from the bedroom.

She seemed to have a preference for monochrome outfits, today dressed entirely in black again, but this time, instead of a suit, she wore a long, heavy black dress that covered her from head to toe, a small, black tuxedo jacket over it, only her radiant, pale face visible, like a movie star, an award-winning actress, ready to walk the red carpet.

She carried a bag, and Xiang Er, her eyes sharp, noticed that it was a new bag, a designer brand, the latest model, costing tens of thousands of yuan, its exquisite craftsmanship a stark contrast to the old apartment.

Shen Yuhe, holding that bag, standing in the old apartment, truly made the place shine.

Before Xiang Er could say anything, Shen Yuhe walked over and handed her the bag:

“This is for you.”

Xiang Er was stunned:

“Huh?”

Shen Yuhe looked at her intently, as if unwilling to miss any subtle reaction, and said:

“Open it and see.”

Xiang Er, her mind reeling, wondered if there was something else inside. She nervously opened the bag and gasped.

Inside, nestled on the soft lining, was a lustrous pearl necklace, its design simple and elegant, the pearls, round and full, radiating a warm glow, strung together in a single strand.

Xiang Er stared, then looked up in disbelief:

“Is this… the necklace from the store yesterday?”

Shen Yuhe nodded silently, her eyes fixed on Xiang Er, a playful smile on her lips, as she asked:

“Do you like it?”

Xiang Er hesitated:

“We just saw it yesterday, and you already bought it? When and where did you buy it? Are you sure it’s not a fake?”

Shen Yuhe’s brow furrowed, her lips turning downwards, a wronged tone in her voice.

“You don’t like it… then I’ll throw it away.”

Xiang Er couldn’t bear it. She quickly took the bag, thinking she would ask about it later, the most important thing now was to appease Little Fish.

She forced a smile:

“Of course I like it! Such an expensive gift, I love it! Especially because it’s from you, this surprise, I really love it!”

Shen Yuhe’s gaze snapped back to Xiang Er, her eyes fixed on her:

“Then wear it to work.”

Xiang Er:

“Ah… uh… I’m not wearing any makeup today, and it’s too flashy to wear to work…”

But Shen Yuhe had already taken the necklace out of the bag and, holding it in her hand, walked behind Xiang Er.

A warm, sweet fragrance enveloped her, and Xiang Er instantly fell silent, holding her breath, afraid to move.

This posture, this scent, this angle… it was hard not to recall certain details from last night’s dream!

Something cold touched her neck, not the pearls, but Shen Yuhe’s fingers, her nails, more beautiful than pearls, gently brushing against Xiang Er’s collarbone.

Then her throat, then her cheek, then her earlobe.

Like a spring breeze caressing a winter meadow, flowers blooming in its wake, the electric current a hundred times stronger than in her dream.

Xiang Er’s legs went weak, and she tilted her head back, surrendering herself completely.

Shen Yuhe’s cold fingers traced her throat, sending shivers down her spine, goosebumps rising on her skin.

She didn’t know that, behind her, it was no longer Shen Yuhe.

If a mirror had appeared, like in her dream, Xiang Er would have seen:

The being behind her, although still in human form, its skin peeled back, revealing a mass of short, thick, red and black tentacles, writhing and swirling around the back of her head.

Like sea anemones, examining their prey.

One of the tentacles, its tip still shaped like a human finger, its base a rough, tentacled flesh with suckers, was now gently tracing Xiang Er’s throat, pressing lightly against her carotid artery.

Akhe couldn’t accept rejection, any rejection.

This morning, she had told It to leave, although she hadn’t meant it, but Akhe couldn’t understand the discrepancy between her thoughts and actions. Shouldn’t thoughts be reflected in actions? Why was she so contradictory?

She was rejecting It.

It wanted her dead.

It wanted her dead, so It could at least have her body.

But this fragile, pitiful human! Her strange, unfathomable soul was even more alluring!

A soul bound to a fragile body, dependent on that carotid artery, dependent on that flesh that harbored strange thoughts and mysterious desires, it was frustrating.

“Are you done yet? I’m going to be late…”

That fragile throat, the vocal cords vibrating, producing strange, rhythmic sounds through the pharynx and those soft, sweet lips, sounds humans called language.

Language was supposedly a tool for communication. The Evil God had donned human skin, learned human language, read human knowledge, and tried to communicate in a human way, but why were her thoughts becoming even more enigmatic, the distance between them growing?

“Mm, almost.”

The tentacles, jostling and crowding, mimicked Shen Yuhe’s voice. Xiang Er, completely unaware, even blushed slightly.

Wasn’t this even stranger?

The pearl necklace rested against her fragile, slender neck. A single movement, and it would all be over, but then, the distance between them would become an unbridgeable chasm.

Even if she died, even if her body merged with the Evil God, even if she became a puppet or a toy, the distance would remain, eternally vast, never closing.

Akhe hated distance. Akhe couldn’t kill her, not yet.

A tentacle carefully fastened the small clasp of the necklace.

With a soft “click,” the tentacles retreated, the skin closing over them like a door, the world returning to normal. Xiang Er lowered her head and touched the pearls.

She turned around, and Shen Yuhe’s gentle, smiling face was right behind her, saying:

“Perfect.”

“With this, you can’t leave me.”

---

The moment Xiang Er stepped into the company, she felt something was off, and she hesitated.

To match the necklace, she had chosen a dress and a coat. Shen Yuhe had insisted that she wear the necklace visibly, and only after they parted downstairs had Xiang Er tucked it inside her clothes.

It was almost time for work, the office bustling with people, everyone chatting and gossiping, but the moment she appeared, the conversations stopped abruptly.

All eyes turned towards her, their expressions strangely uniform, a mixture of fear, confusion, and apprehension.

Xiang Er walked carefully towards her workstation, her long white dress swaying gently with each step, brushing against someone’s leg, and the person, as if electrocuted, quickly pulled their leg back under the desk.

Silence fell upon the office. Some people averted their gazes, others nudged their colleagues, whispering to each other.

Xiang Er, ignoring them, reached her workstation and sat down.

Just then, Zhu Minmin stealthily approached and whispered:

“Do you know what happened after you left yesterday?”

Xiang Er, lacking this information, immediately turned to her:

“What happened?”

Zhu Minmin winked:

“General Manager Cheng went crazy! He ran around the office shouting and screaming, saying you were a monster, that you had cursed him, that he couldn’t move, all sorts of crazy stuff, until the ambulance came and took him away. I don’t know if he’s coming back today.”

Xiang Er thought for a moment, then said slowly:

“Actually, he tried to harass me yesterday, asked me to be his girlfriend, tried to touch me, I refused, and then I don’t know what happened, he suddenly said he couldn’t move his hand, it really had nothing to do with me.”

Zhu Minmin was shocked:

“Oh my god! He seemed like such a decent guy, I can’t believe he’s such a creep! He deserves to have his arm broken! But that’s not important, I want to ask…”

Her expression suddenly turned sly, and she winked at Xiang Er, whispering:

“You and the beautiful CEO downstairs, you guys are so sweet! So, she came to rescue you yesterday, right? Seriously, what’s going on between you two?”

Xiang Er blushed slightly and quickly denied:

“Ac… actually, it’s nothing, we’re just ordinary friends…”

Zhu Minmin exclaimed dramatically:

“Ordinary friends? Who holds hands with their ordinary friends! And I can see it, you like her, your eyes light up when you look at her! Oh my god, you guys are so cute together!”

Xiang Er chuckled nervously:

“No… we’re just ordinary friends… I like her? Haha, no way!”

As she was saying this, she caught sight of a figure at the doorway, a jade-white face framed by dark hair, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er, over the glass partition.

Shen Yuhe was standing outside the office, staring intently at her.

Xiang Er:

“…”

Why did she have a feeling that Shen Yuhe had heard her? It must be her imagination!

But Shen Yuhe had already opened the glass door and, bathed in the cold, white light, strode inside.

Chapter 42: Melancholy

Despite her words, Shen Yuhe didn’t leave, continuing to look at her with concern.

Her tall, beautiful body bent over the edge of the bed, one hand supporting her weight, the other extended towards Xiang Er, as if trying to comfort her.

She resembled a flowing river of jade, her radiance illuminating the bed. Her dark eyes sparkled in the dim light, the contours of her body curving towards the bed like a large, mysterious serpent.

She exhaled, her sweet breath reaching Xiang Er’s nostrils.

“Why aren’t the lights on?”

Her voice was slightly hoarse as she reached out a hand, sculpted from white jade, brushing past Xiang Er to switch on the bedside lamp.

Xiang Er flinched slightly, and as she looked up, the dim, yellowish light filled the room, a golden halo illuminating Shen Yuhe, making her look like an exquisitely lit jade sculpture in a museum.

A jade sculpture brought to life, a goddess from an ancient painting gazing beyond the canvas, or… the flesh-and-blood body that had intertwined with hers in her dream, or the powerful, terrifying, and slimy tentacled entity?

Xiang Er’s head ached, tears welling up in her eyes from the sudden light.

Shen Yuhe reached out a hand and gently wiped away the tears, her voice soft and tender:

“Did you cry because you felt wronged? What’s wrong? Don’t cry, okay?”

Xiang Er didn’t know how to answer. A lump of raw emotion was lodged in her throat, choking her words. She just looked at Shen Yuhe, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She choked back a sob, her mind hazy and confused, her gaze fixed on Shen Yuhe’s hand, then following the line of her arm, to her body enveloped in the red lace and silk.

She took a deep breath, the tears stopping, but her gaze remained fixed.

Xiang Er had always known she wasn’t a good girl. She had desires, desires that she explored in the secret hours of the night.

When she was very young, it had been hunger. She would steal cold, leftover bread from the kitchen, or snacks from other children, until a kind teacher at the orphanage, noticing her, explained to her—that tossing and turning at night, the gnawing hunger, the heightened sense of smell, the uncontrollable urge to steal, to grab food, that was called appetite.

Later, as she grew older, she had a period of intense longing for physical touch, for hugs, a feeling that filled her with warmth, a comforting fullness in her stomach. But she was timid and shy, never daring to ask, only exchanging brief hugs with her female friends, which wasn’t the same. She saved up for months to buy a soft, life-sized plush toy, which she would hug while sleeping.

Then, later, in the depths of the night, amidst hazy dreams, as she rubbed against the toy, she realized a new kind of desire.

A desire without an object, without a clear outlet, without any answers. A fire burned within her, a fire she couldn’t share with anyone, a fire that consumed her, bringing tears to her eyes, her blood rushing through her veins.

It was like bamboo shoots growing rapidly in the night, her body maturing, a desire she buried, suppressed, and frantically tried to ignore, a desire that belonged only to her.

It was sexual desire.

A terrifying lion lurking in the darkness, a monster waiting to devour her the moment she let her guard down.

What good girl harbored such improper desires? Weren’t good girls supposed to be pure, innocent, and obedient? She knew she wasn’t a good girl anymore.

Throughout her adolescence, even in university, she hadn’t found an object for this desire. She wasn’t interested in men or women, watching others fall in and out of love without a ripple of emotion. She refused to be driven by desire, to seek out tools to fill the void, that was her only pride.

The Evil God, Akhe, had tried to evoke her desire, but it was impossible. The mere touch of tentacles and flesh filled her with terror. Physically, she might have reacted, but mentally, her fire was extinguished, she just wanted to escape.

Until she met Shen Yuhe.

Every moment, every second, a flame flickered within her, a flame that had never burned for anyone else, a wild, hidden fire that Xiang Er guarded and concealed.

But the more she hid it, the more she suppressed it, the stronger it burned!

Last night’s dream was proof! Xiang Er bit her lip in shame, her gaze shifting away from Shen Yuhe, trying to speak:

“I… I’m fine, you should go to sleep, it’s… it’s not time to get up yet.”

Shen Yuhe looked at her, her gaze deep and filled with an emotion Xiang Er couldn’t understand, and she suddenly sighed:

“You…”

The sigh seemed to come from nowhere, and Xiang Er looked up at her, bewildered.

Shen Yuhe suddenly leaned in and gently pulled Xiang Er into an embrace.

A wave of sweet fragrance enveloped her, a firm, comforting hug, their shoulders touching, their breaths mingling.

Like a mother, gently patting her back.

To Shen Yuhe, it was probably a pure, innocent embrace, but to Xiang Er, whose heart was already ablaze… it was like throwing gasoline onto a fire!

Boom! 

Xiang Er didn’t even realize when her hands had been untied, she had completely forgotten about the small eyeball.

Her hands, freed, reached out from beneath the quilt, involuntarily embracing Shen Yuhe’s back, her fingers touching her skin. That skin, more perfect than milk and tofu, jade and pearls, a beauty beyond words, she was intoxicated! Intoxicated by this reality, more beautiful than a dream! Intoxicated by this mysterious feeling she had longed for since adolescence!

She spread her palm, caressing Shen Yuhe’s back, her fingers finding the ribbon of the nightgown. Without thinking, she tugged at the ribbon, and it came undone, a chain reaction, everything unraveling, all restraints gone, the thin silk falling onto the bed, its coolness brushing against her hand…

A soft chuckle echoed in her ear, Shen Yuhe’s enigmatic voice:

“Heh…”

A faint, cool breath caressed her ear, and Xiang Er, as if in a dream, her hand sliding downwards…

Xiang Er suddenly snapped back to reality, her eyes widening as she pushed Shen Yuhe away.

“Ah! You need to… get dressed!”

Shen Yuhe sat up, looking at her with a puzzled expression, a questioning eyebrow raised.

The red nightgown, like a pool of blood, lay on the sheets before her.

And rising from that pool of blood, was Shen Yuhe’s… breathtakingly beautiful, naked body!

It was exactly like the scene in her dream. Shen Yuhe’s body, so perfect it could be a Guinness World Record, every inch of skin a treasure, burning Xiang Er’s eyes!

Xiang Er quickly averted her gaze, her face burning, burying her head in her hands, feeling like a monster!

Xiang Er’s body went limp, melting into the bed, wanting to disappear completely. She felt an overwhelming wave of shame and embarrassment, wondering if she was going mad, or if the world had gone mad!

Shen Yuhe looked at her, still naked, and extended a perfectly formed arm, asking:

“What’s wrong?”

Xiang Er shook her head frantically, covering her face with her hands, unable to even look at the red nightgown, let alone Shen Yuhe’s… body!

“No… don’t, you need to leave… go away…”

Shen Yuhe sighed melancholically:

“Sigh…”

She seemed to have a lot to say, yet she said nothing, just a sigh.

She picked up the red nightgown, casually draped it over herself, stood up, and turned to leave.

Everything faded away, and Xiang Er looked up, her eyes filled with tears, a hazy image of Shen Yuhe’s graceful figure, her jade-like skin crossed with uneven patches of red, the silk nightgown, or perhaps something else.

She didn’t dare look closely, and lowered her head again.

The door creaked open, and Shen Yuhe left.

The room suddenly felt cold.

Shen Yuhe hadn’t even said good night.

Xiang Er’s body still held Shen Yuhe’s warmth and scent, her hands still tingling from the touch of her skin… She felt like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away, staring at her hands, her mind replaying the scene over and over.

Her reason gradually returned, the heat in her head cooling down, and Xiang Er finally had time to think: Am I crazy? Why did I undress her?

That embrace, Shen Yuhe had just been trying to comfort her, it was a pure, innocent gesture of comfort between friends.

Shen Yuhe was such a pure and innocent person, and yet she had undressed her!

Xiang Er clutched the quilt, berating herself for being a monster, for not deserving to have friends!

This action, this action… would definitely be misunderstood… Shen Yuhe would think she was a bad person, someone with ulterior motives, someone who coveted her body… She would be disappointed, she would move out, she would leave, wouldn’t she?

Xiang Er thought of Li Wan’s boyfriend. What she had done tonight wasn’t any different from what he had tried to do, it was all driven by lust!

She silently punched the quilt, overwhelmed by shame.

She didn’t even understand her own feelings for Shen Yuhe, she just knew… that she could no longer imagine a life without her.

She wanted her to be near, no matter the nature of their relationship. She didn’t dare ask for more, content with their current companionship, but… after tonight, perhaps even this small comfort would be gone… What should she do?

Something was wriggling beneath the covers, like a rubber water balloon. Xiang Er reached out and grabbed it, her hand coated in slime, then she remembered, oh, the small eyeball was still in her bed.

She pulled the small eyeball out, holding it in her hand, black slime dripping down her fingers. She remembered the dream, being suspended, Shen Yuhe behind her… She gritted her teeth, her grip tightening, almost crushing the eyeball.

The eyeball made a soft squeaking sound, its thin tentacles clinging to her arm, climbing upwards like vines, finally reaching the skin beneath her eye.

The tentacle lifted and gently wiped away the tears.

Xiang Er froze, loosening her grip. The horrifying, blood-red eyeball blinked in her hand, rolling playfully, its tentacles flailing.

Xiang Er looked at the small eyeball for a moment, then whispered:

“Don’t climb into my bed at night, and don’t tie me up with your tentacles, or I’ll have to throw you away, understand?”

The small eyeball flinched, rolling back and forth, as if nodding, then opened its eye wide, looking at Xiang Er curiously, its tentacles clinging to her wrist.

Xiang Er carefully peeled the tentacles off her wrist, her gaze fixed on the palm-sized eyeball, trying to convey that its actions were inappropriate, hoping it would understand.

The small eyeball seemed to understand, allowing her to remove the tentacles without resistance, just drooping its eyelid, looking slightly dejected.

Xiang Er’s heart was in turmoil, but it was no use. She had to go back to sleep.

Seeing her lie down, the small eyeball extended a tentacle, finding a spot on the pillow beside her, directly facing her face and eyes.

Xiang Er, too tired to argue, closed her eyes, trying to ignore it.

She didn’t sleep for much longer before dawn arrived, and her alarm went off.

Xiang Er woke up before the alarm, staring at the small eyeball, its eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep, lost in thought. Did Akhe also sleep? Or was this unique to the small eyeball, needing sleep to replenish its energy because it was so small? But it hadn’t seemed lacking in energy when it tied her hands last night.

Xiang Er didn’t want to get up. She still didn’t know how to face Shen Yuhe.

“Beep, beep, beep—” The alarm rang.

A tentacle suddenly shot out and slapped the phone screen, silencing it instantly.

The small eyeball opened its eyelid, looking annoyed and grumpy, its tentacles thickening, slamming the phone a few more times.

Xiang Er, witnessing the entire scene, was speechless: So this was why her alarm never went off, this was the culprit!

The small eyeball suddenly noticed that Xiang Er was awake and looking at it. It quickly rolled away, retracting the tentacle that had silenced the phone, waving it awkwardly in the air, as if unsure what to do.

A few seconds later, the tentacle curved and folded, forming a heart shape in mid-air.

It was… rather comical.

Xiang Er couldn’t help but chuckle: …Where did it learn to do that?!

Chapter 41: Facing the Mirror

Everything happened so swiftly, so inexplicably. Xiang Er stood amidst the eerie chorus of children’s voices, beneath the boundless, vibrantly colored flowers, her vision limited, only able to see the luminous, white body enveloped in mist.

Realizing she was naked, she felt the cold, the subtle wind whistling through the trees, sending shivers down her spine.

She sighed and lowered her arm, looking at the person in front of her. She should at least say hello, shouldn’t she?

She didn’t know why she was here, but having encountered someone, she had to speak, to interact.

“Little Fish, what are you doing here?”

Xiang Er heard herself say the words, her voice filled with surprise, a trembling shyness… and a hint of embarrassment. By saying this, she was pretending not to notice Shen Yuhe’s attire, acting as if this were a normal, everyday encounter, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.

“You summoned me.”

Shen Yuhe replied, but her voice was distant and ethereal, as if descending from the heavens, not coming from that beautiful body, not from those full, vibrant lips.

It was a divine decree. A cold, chilling decree, descending from the sky, landing in her mind.

Xiang Er’s body tensed, sensing the danger in the decree. She tried to step back, but her foot sank into mud, unable to move!

Behind her was a swamp, she couldn’t retreat!

Xiang Er forced herself to take a step forward, away from the swamp. But she was completely exposed under Shen Yuhe’s gaze, the shame making her skin crawl, the cold wind amplifying the tingling, itchy sensation, her nakedness on full display, her most private self observed by the person she cared about most…

It was driving her mad!

Shen Yuhe was now very close, surrounded by countless colorful flowers, the branches of the trees illogically blooming with blossoms of every hue, the ground covered in a vibrant tapestry of petals, even the grass hidden beneath them, only the bright flowers remaining, vying for attention.

Shen Yuhe, enveloped by flowers, her body radiating a quiet luminescence, a faint smile playing on her lips, as if amused, extended her hand towards Xiang Er.

In that moment, Xiang Er’s nervousness reached its peak, turning into a strange numbness. She waited for Shen Yuhe’s next move, like a child anticipating fireworks on New Year’s Eve, a tingling fear mixed with excitement.

Shen Yuhe’s beautiful hand suddenly grabbed her arm and lifted it high above her head!

Her other hand was quickly raised as well, and Xiang Er held her breath, swallowing hard, her voice muffled as she asked:

“What… what are you doing?”

Shen Yuhe didn’t answer, just held both of Xiang Er’s hands above her head, then grabbed a rough vine from nearby and tied her wrists together.

Xiang Er felt the rough texture against her skin, and a belated wave of fear rose in her throat:

“What are you doing? Let go… let go of me!”

But Shen Yuhe had already moved behind her. Xiang Er didn’t hear the sound of mud or swamp, and she turned to look, only to find that Shen Yuhe’s feet weren’t touching the ground, she was floating.

Why was she floating? Xiang Er didn’t feel any change in gravity.

Her hands bound and raised high above her head, unable to move, Xiang Er bit her lip, her gaze falling on her own pale feet, buried amongst the colorful flowers. She wondered, could she fly in this place too?

Shen Yuhe’s voice suddenly echoed, close to her ear, like the slow, drawn-out notes of a cello, low, languid, and seductively husky:

“Focus!”

Xiang Er’s body stiffened, the sound like an electric current, traveling from her ear to her scalp, making her head spin, every hair standing on end. She involuntarily obeyed, focusing on the sensations…

Shen Yuhe was right behind her, her unique, cold, sweet fragrance wafting towards her.

Cool, soft hands, like entwining vines, wrapped around her shoulders from behind, fingertips gently caressing her earlobe.

The world tilted, an endless embrace, her life igniting, her soul burning, every inch of her skin tingling as if struck by lightning, wanting to scream from every pore!

But when she opened her mouth, her voice was hoarse, a dreamlike whisper, barely audible:

“You… let me go…”

Shen Yuhe chuckled softly:

“You like this, don’t you?”

Xiang Er desperately wanted to run, but her hands were bound and raised, her legs numb and weak, unable to move.

She was now just a beautiful porcelain doll, her hands tied, being admired, being posed, being played with… She was confused, unsure what to do, unsure if she wanted this, or if she didn’t.

She didn’t understand, but she was already lost, nowhere to escape, unable to resist…

And yet, a small part of her felt relieved. She knew this must be a dream, so it was okay… it was just a dream, anything was permissible, no matter how outrageous, no one would know.

These were her own private thoughts, it was okay as long as no one knew… Xiang Er raised her head, her eyes hazy as she looked at the sky, a sigh escaping her lips:

“Mm…”

Shen Yuhe leaned closer, her body a flame igniting everything it touched, an endless fire burning away all reason and restraint, consuming the world in a beautiful, decadent blaze!

The temperature in the forest seemed to rise, the colors of the flowers intensifying, more and more blossoms appearing from all directions, their sweet fragrance even stronger.

Xiang Er’s body arched and trembled. She was tired, so tired, but Shen Yuhe wouldn’t stop, the flowers blooming endlessly…

Shen Yuhe was slightly dissatisfied.

She couldn’t see Xiang Er’s face, her expression, and Xiang Er couldn’t see her, not the real her… She wanted more than this.

Shen Yuhe gestured towards the mist, her fingers picking up a strand of Xiang Er’s sweat-dampened hair, pressing it to her lips and kissing it softly.

Xiang Er’s eyes, half-closed, looked ahead. Something seemed to be appearing in the hazy mist, something silver-grey, large, like a door, what was it?

Xiang Er strained her eyes, a part of her feeling that this wasn’t right, if only something could interrupt Shen Yuhe… but she also didn’t want the dream to end, her heart conflicted.

But the thing in the mist was beyond her wildest imaginings.

It was a mirror!

A huge, full-length mirror, its frame adorned with ancient, eerie silver carvings, its surface clear, reflecting the scene before her!

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, her body suddenly cold.

She almost couldn’t bear to look! But the mirror floated in mid-air, directly in front of her, impossible to ignore!

Xiang Er gritted her teeth, the shame almost unbearable:

“What is this, I don’t want this! I don’t want this!”

Shen Yuhe’s arms tightened around her, her voice distant and low:

“Look.”

Look, look, look… the words echoed through the silent forest, countless divine decrees filling her ears. Xiang Er, despite her reluctance, opened her eyes and looked at the mirror.

The mirror’s surface, clean and clear, faithfully reflected everything.

Xiang Er’s naked body, suspended by vines, surrounded by countless flowers.

And behind her, Shen Yuhe’s exquisite figure, beautiful as a sculpture.

Xiang Er’s face burned, her skin tingling as if scalded, a burning shame. How… how could there be a mirror! This wasn’t a dream she could handle! She wanted to get out!

But Shen Yuhe’s body in the mirror suddenly began to change.

Xiang Er stared in disbelief as Shen Yuhe transformed into a mass of blood-red, viscous flesh, writhing tentacles flailing.

Her eyes stung, a sharp pain shooting through her head. She wanted to close her eyes, but she couldn’t control her eyelids, her gaze fixed on the mirror!

She felt something cold and soft brush against her shoulder, the sensation telling her it was Shen Yuhe’s fingers and palm, her wrist, her forearm… but in the mirror, it was a black and red tentacle, covered in suckers!

The tentacle was almost entirely red, its countless tiny suckers a vivid, dripping red, oozing red slime!

The red slime landed on Xiang Er’s shoulder, slowly sliding down, like viscous blood, clinging precariously to her skin.

Xiang Er, terrified, looked down at her shoulder.

There was nothing there! No red slime, only her own flushed skin, pale and thin, the bones visible beneath.

She turned her head, straining to look behind her.

Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face was right behind her, and seeing Xiang Er look at her, she smiled, a smile that could launch a thousand ships:

“What’s wrong, Little Ears?”

Xiang Er quickly turned back to the mirror.

In the mirror, her body was covered in red slime, like pieces of dismembered flesh!

And behind her, several thick tentacles extended from the blood-red mass of flesh, one tentacle tracing her waistline, sliding downwards…

But outside the mirror, all she saw were Shen Yuhe’s hand and arm!

Shen Yuhe gently bit her shoulder, her voice seductive:

“Love me…”

Xiang Er refused to listen! She shook her head violently, struggling against the vines, against the blood-red reflection in the mirror!

Her head throbbed, her senses overwhelmed, and she finally screamed:

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”

She sat up abruptly, the scream continuing, hoarse and ragged:

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”

She didn’t stop screaming until her eardrums ached, her hands touching the warm sheets of her bed.

It was a little past five o’clock, the sky a deathly white, like a giant, overturned fish, barely alive. The wind howled outside, the branches and leaves of the camphor tree rustling chaotically, occasionally banging against the windowpanes.

Xiang Er could barely see, it was too dark, her mind too confused.

Her eyes were filled with tears, she sobbed, her throat aching, her eardrums throbbing, her body weak and sore, her wrists especially painful.

She tried to raise her hands, but she couldn’t, they felt bound.

Xiang Er was on the verge of a breakdown. It had been just a dream, hadn’t it? It was a dream! How could things from a dream appear in reality?

She pulled her hands out from under the covers and looked down.

It was too dark to see clearly, but she could vaguely make out that her hands were tied together by several rope-like things, and between those ropes, a small, round object was attached.

It was this thing… it was Little Akhe… Little Akhe had tied her hands, making her have that dream, making her subconsciously associate the innocent Shen Yuhe with the tentacled Evil God…

Xiang Er exhaled, a sense of relief washing over her. It was okay, it was just a dream, external events could influence dreams, it was all just her confused senses creating that horrifying scene, it wasn’t real.

How could it be real! Shen Yuhe was human, she couldn’t possibly have anything to do with a Evil God…

Thinking this, Xiang Er exhaled again, her cheeks flushing.

She had just had a… a dream about Shen Yuhe.

How could she face Shen Yuhe now!

A sudden “creak” echoed through the dark, silent room, as loud as thunder.

Xiang Er flinched and looked up. The door had opened.

A pair of jade-white hands reached in, ghostly pale, glowing in the dim light.

The sight of those hands made Xiang Er’s ears burn. She remembered the feeling of those hands igniting her body in the dream… but then, remembering those hands turning into tentacles in the mirror, she immediately calmed down.

Shen Yuhe entered, wearing a red lace nightgown, her jade-like skin visible through the lace.

Xiang Er remembered the suitcase by the door when she came home yesterday, the one Shen Yuhe had taken to her room, supposedly containing her belongings.

So… were Shen Yuhe’s nightgowns usually this… this… revealing?

Xiang Er hid her bound hands beneath the covers, looked at Shen Yuhe, and, forcing a normal expression, said:

“Why…”

Shen Yuhe walked to her bedside and asked with concern:

“I heard you scream! What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Xiang Er, her gaze fixed on Shen Yuhe’s low neckline, looked away and whispered:

“It’s nothing… you should go back to sleep.”

If Shen Yuhe didn’t leave soon, Xiang Er felt that something might actually happen.

Chapter 40: The Date

As dusk approached, the pale pink and yellow clouds, like layers of sheer silk, veiled the light, casting a soft halo on the approaching night, like a delicate blush on a cheek.

The city nights were brilliant, everyone’s gaze fixed on the ground, this fleeting beauty of twilight appreciated by no one.

But Xiang Er looked up at the sky and sighed contentedly:

“So beautiful.”

The pale pink clouds, the towering skyscrapers, the gradually brightening neon lights, and the pale, colorless moon on the horizon, everything was beautiful.

Or perhaps, simply because her heart was happy, everything she saw was beautiful.

The most beautiful thing was still beside her, undoubtedly, Shen Yuhe. But Xiang Er avoided looking at her, her mind preoccupied, wondering if Shen Yuhe had noticed anything strange, her thoughts so tangled that she herself became confused.

But she had to maintain a “normal” image in front of Shen Yuhe. Xiang Er resolved this, although she wasn’t quite sure what “normal” even meant anymore.

Was a normal life working nine to five, enduring harassment from her boss in silence? Were normal humans just numb, walking corpses, toiling away for three meals a day, forgetting what they truly desired?

Xiang Er was also a little worried. She could feel the small thing on her wrist breathing softly, rising and falling, wriggling slightly beneath her clothes. She was now regretting her promise, letting it protect her, it was… what was she going to do with this thing?

Could she really keep it forever?

They strolled along the streets of the industrial park, neither of them wanting to take the subway yet.

Shen Yuhe held Xiang Er’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Every inch of skin on Xiang Er’s hand was incredibly sensitive, her palms sweaty, and although she felt embarrassed, she couldn’t bear to let go of Shen Yuhe’s hand.

The friction between their skin, the tiny electric currents, the subtle sensations, all combined into a powerful feeling.

In school, Xiang Er had held hands with other girls, but it had never felt like this.

The electric current, the warmth of their skin, the subtle touches as they walked, everything was a new experience, as if carried by the wind and the current, making Xiang Er feel like she could fly.

Shen Yuhe’s hand, initially cold, was now warmed by Xiang Er’s body heat, soft and pliable, the pads of her fingers, the base of her palm, the soft, elastic muscles between her thumb and forefinger, covered in smooth, satiny skin…

“Hmm?”

Xiang Er suddenly heard Shen Yuhe’s voice, and she snapped out of her reverie, turning to look at her.

“I was saying, let’s take a walk by the river, shall we?”

Shen Yuhe said gently, her fingertips lightly brushing against Xiang Er’s palm, a feather-light touch that sent shivers down Xiang Er’s spine.

“Okay.”

Xiang Er readily agreed. From now on, she could be with Shen Yuhe all the time, anywhere was fine.

They walked along the street, reaching the river after crossing a block.

The air was damp and cold, and with nightfall approaching, there wasn’t a single soul by the river. Xiang Er had bought two cups of milk tea on the way, double the sugar for Shen Yuhe’s, and they each held a warm cup, their other hands still intertwined.

Under the warm, golden glow of the streetlights, the reeds, taller than they were, swayed gently in the wind, the world seemingly silent except for the two of them.

Xiang Er took a sip of her milk tea, but it wasn’t as sweet as her current mood.

“That man in your company, do you want me to get rid of him?”

Shen Yuhe suddenly asked.

“Huh? Get rid of him? Hahaha, you’re so funny.”

Xiang Er chuckled, taking another sip of her milk tea, and turned to look at Shen Yuhe. The streetlight illuminated her face, highlighting her flawless skin.

“I can do it, but I want to know what you think.”

But Shen Yuhe’s eyes were hidden in the shadows, a coldness in her gaze as her eyelashes fluttered, her lips unsmiling, her tone serious.

“Ah… but I think he’s just a jerk, he doesn’t deserve to die… There are many other people in the world who deserve to die.”

Xiang Er said, looking out at the river.

The dark water flowed silently, its current gentle, the occasional glint of moonlight on the ripples, like fleeting fireworks. The river reminded Xiang Er of the black river in Akhe’s domain… She quickly dismissed the thought and turned back to Shen Yuhe.

Look at beautiful women, not Evil Gods, it was good for her mental stability.

“Really? Tell me who you want dead, and I’ll kill them for you.”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact.

As if she were saying, what do you want for dinner, I’ll buy it for you.

“Hahaha… you’re such a joker. Let’s not talk about killing people. I’m hungry, aren’t you? Let’s find something to eat.”

Xiang Er turned away with a smile, shaking Shen Yuhe’s hand, her tone unconsciously taking on a slightly coquettish quality.

Shen Yuhe’s gaze deepened as she looked at her.

A girl’s genuine smile was more beautiful than any scenery, the pale face flushed with happiness, her eyes curving into two small crescents.

And in those two small moons, there was only her. These were her own, private little moons.

Shen Yuhe smiled and followed Xiang Er towards the street.

After walking a short distance, Shen Yuhe’s voice lowered again:

“You know, I would kill anyone for you, if you asked me to.”

As she spoke, they happened to be passing through a crowded area, and several people turned to look at them, their faces filled with alarm.

“Huh? No… I would never ask you to kill anyone!”

Xiang Er blinked in surprise, unsure how to react, and quickly pulled Shen Yuhe away from the crowd, saying:

“I know you’re just trying to show your loyalty as a friend, but even as friends, we shouldn’t kill people! We live in a society with laws, we have to be law-abiding citizens!”

Shen Yuhe frowned slightly and said slowly:

“Law-abiding citizens?”

Xiang Er nodded:

“Yes! We can’t kill people, we can’t break the law, there are many things we can’t do, you should know that, you’re a leader!”

She really thought Shen Yuhe was acting strange today, talking about killing people since they were in the elevator, and still talking about it now. She felt a surge of alarm and quickly instilled some basic morals, hoping Shen Yuhe would listen.

They found a small restaurant and ordered beef noodle soup, as Xiang Er had suggested.

Shen Yuhe looked at the beef noodle soup, picked up her chopsticks, and tried to imitate Xiang Er, picking up the noodles, but the slippery rice noodles, combined with the metal chopsticks, proved too difficult.

“Pfft… no, I’m not laughing at you, it’s just… Excuse me! Can we have a spoon, please?”

Xiang Er couldn’t help but laugh, then asked the waiter for a spoon and placed it in Shen Yuhe’s bowl.

Shen Yuhe frowned:

“Aren’t you going to feed me?”

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, and she quickly looked around. Fortunately, no one was paying attention to them:

“We’re in public! It would be weird to feed each other!”

Shen Yuhe picked up the spoon herself, her expression sullen:

“I hate being in public.”

Xiang Er picked up a piece of beef and placed it in Shen Yuhe’s bowl, her tone unconsciously taking on a doting quality:

“But I think… this feels like a date…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiang Er blushed crimson. Why had she said that out loud? This was so embarrassing… Shen Yuhe would definitely misunderstand… The more she blushed, the lower she bowed her head, until it was almost buried in her bowl, only her red ears visible.

Shen Yuhe, who had been watching her intently, asked:

“A date? Does that have a special meaning?”

Xiang Er looked up, saw the clear, innocent look in Shen Yuhe’s eyes, and relaxed:

“It’s nothing, just eat, before it gets cold.”

But she felt a pang of disappointment. Shen Yuhe hadn’t understood her meaning, which was good, it wasn’t awkward, but… her not understanding meant that she hadn’t thought about it in that way.

In other words, it was all in Xiang Er’s head… Xiang Er’s heart was in turmoil, and she channeled her anxiety into her appetite, focusing on her food.

Shen Yuhe scooped all the beef from her bowl into Xiang Er’s:

“You should eat more. You’re too thin, it’s not comfortable to hug you.”

Xiang Er’s chopsticks froze in mid-air. She suppressed the flutter of excitement in her chest, telling herself not to overthink, it was just a casual remark between friends! Just friends!

After their meal, Xiang Er paid the bill, and they left the restaurant, walking towards the bus stop.

As they passed by a jewelry store, a string of lustrous pearls in the window display caught Xiang Er’s eye, and she stopped to admire them.

Shen Yuhe looked at her profile:

“Do you like it?”

Xiang Er’s eyes sparkled:

“Who doesn’t like shiny pearls!”

Shen Yuhe, with her long legs, was about to enter the store when Xiang Er quickly grabbed her arm:

“Wait, what are you doing?”

Shen Yuhe:

“You like it, I’ll get it for you.”

Xiang Er chuckled:

“There’s no need, it’s so expensive. I was just looking, you don’t have to buy me such an expensive gift.”

Shen Yuhe seemed slightly disappointed as Xiang Er pulled her away, glancing back at the window display.

It was a bit cold, and Xiang Er, having just eaten, shivered slightly.

Before she could react, a wave of warm, sweet fragrance enveloped her.

A shadow fell over her, and Shen Yuhe stood before her, her arms around Xiang Er’s shoulders, draping her trench coat over Xiang Er, carefully adjusting the lapels.

“Hold it.”

Shen Yuhe’s voice, close to her ear, was as soft as silk.

Xiang Er held the lapels of the coat, wrapping it tightly around herself, and looked up.

Under the neon lights of the city, Shen Yuhe looked at her, her eyes soft and gentle, a tender smile on her face, as if all the romance in the world was contained within that gaze, her eyes filled with spring water and blossoming flowers.

In that moment, Xiang Er knew that this image of Shen Yuhe would forever be etched in her heart, never fading.

They boarded the bus home, a route she rarely took, the scenery unfamiliar, the bus almost empty.

The bus swayed gently, Xiang Er and Shen Yuhe sitting side by side in the back, Shen Yuhe’s warm, sweet fragrance filling the air. Xiang Er looked out the window at the passing city lights, her mind at peace.

She had been carrying so much stress lately, and she rarely felt this relaxed.

Her stomach was warm, the bus was warm, and Shen Yuhe’s coat was warm.

Her head nodded, her body involuntarily leaning forward, resting on Shen Yuhe’s shoulder, and she drifted off to sleep.

Unseen, a tentacle emerged from behind Shen Yuhe, pulling the coat tighter around Xiang Er.

Shen Yuhe held her phone in one hand, her other arm around Xiang Er’s shoulder, several tentacles typing on the screen, searching: date.

Couple… what was a couple? The most intimate… what did people do to become a couple?

The blue light of the phone screen reflected on Shen Yuhe’s expressionless face, a flicker of interest in her eyes.

She understood. The next step after good friends, was couple.

---

That night, Xiang Er was exhausted. After showering, she returned to her room, placed the small eyeball back in the storage box, and closed the lid.

She knew the lid was meaningless, but… for now, this would do.

Xiang Er stretched, yawned, and crawled into bed, quickly falling asleep.

In her dream, she found herself on a desolate hillside, surrounded by mist and withered trees.

She was walking forward anxiously when she suddenly heard footsteps rustling through the grass, someone approaching through the mist.

And that person was… Xiang Er’s eyes widened as she saw clearly!

It was Shen Yuhe, which wasn’t strange, the strange part was, she was completely naked!

Xiang Er gasped, covering her eyes with her hand, then peeking through her fingers.

Shen Yuhe’s black hair swirled around her, the mist a beautiful backdrop, her perfectly proportioned body striding towards her, colorful flowers blooming wherever her beautiful feet stepped, the withered trees around them coming alive, their branches swaying, bursting into large, vibrant blossoms of deep red, deep blue, deep green, deep yellow… beautiful and eerie!

Music, seemingly from nowhere, filled the air, a grand, sacred classical melody, or perhaps a chorus of children’s voices, the language unknown, the tune dark and enchanting, making her dizzy.

Shen Yuhe’s black hair billowed around her, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiang Er, a boundless mist swirling within them… Her face was expressionless, or perhaps a mysterious smile played on her lips, her gaze traveling up and down Xiang Er’s body, a hint of appreciation in her eyes, as she slowly nodded.

Xiang Er suddenly realized something and looked down.

She… was also completely naked!

Chapter 39: The Office

The company bustled with activity, the flimsy figures of colleagues coming and going like moving stage props.

The entire office, bright and clean, with its glass walls and doors, was essentially a hastily constructed stage, where the backdrop figures and the few prominent actors played their parts, each immersed in this farcical play.

Xiang Er stood outside, an audience member, an observer, a shadow extending beyond the stage, separate from the actors.

But she still pushed open the door, her face calm, ready to face everything this farcical play threw at her, missing Shen Yuhe more than ever.

Throughout the afternoon, aside from dealing with the occasional slime and tentacles that escaped from her sleeve, she thought about Shen Yuhe.

The more she thought, the more unreal it seemed. Perhaps Shen Yuhe hadn’t meant to kiss her? Perhaps it had been an accident, not intentional? Perhaps Shen Yuhe was just affectionate, expressing friendship, nothing more? Perhaps she, in her loneliness, had misinterpreted Shen Yuhe’s intentions?

Xiang Er’s heart fluttered with uncertainty, her mind adrift, the world around her unreal, the scenes in her mind her only reality… Thankfully, the workday soon ended.

The bell rang, her colleagues still seated, but Xiang Er had already jumped up, her heart filled with excitement and anticipation, and hurried towards the door.

She had almost reached the exit when General Manager Cheng appeared, blocking her path:

“Come to my office, let’s talk.”

His expression was grim. Xiang Er followed him, the small eyeball on her arm, which had been still all afternoon, now stirring as if waking up, creating a small bulge in her sleeve. She quickly pressed it down.

Soft and yielding, like a rubber water balloon sold at a street stall.

General Manager Cheng sat in his office chair, gestured for Xiang Er to sit opposite him, his face dark, and immediately launched into his interrogation:

“Why weren’t you at work this morning?”

Xiang Er:

“I wasn’t feeling well. I submitted a leave request. I don’t mind the pay cut.”

General Manager Cheng frowned:

“Then why didn’t you reply to my messages? If you were taking leave, why didn’t you tell me directly?”

Xiang Er had seen his messages earlier that afternoon. They were… suggestive, and rather oily, making her uncomfortable.

Xiang Er raised an eyebrow:

“I didn’t want to bypass my supervisor. The company has rules and procedures, you should also follow them.”

General Manager Cheng slammed his hand on the desk angrily:

“You! You’re playing hard to get, aren’t you? Do you know how much effort I’ve put into you!”

Xiang Er looked at him calmly and reiterated:

“We’re just boss and subordinate.”

General Manager Cheng choked, momentarily speechless, and poured himself a cup of tea to calm down.

Xiang Er stood up to leave. She didn’t have time for this, she had to go find Little Fish.

But General Manager Cheng raised his voice:

“Come back here! Sit down, I’m not finished yet.”

Xiang Er sighed and sat back down.

General Manager Cheng’s expression softened slightly, and he leaned closer, his tone coaxing:

“If you’re still pretending not to understand, I’ll just say it directly. Xiao Xiang, will you be my girlfriend? You know, if you’re my girlfriend, you don’t even have to come to work, no one will care, you just have to be with me, understand? You’re fresh out of college, you should know that a woman’s prime is only a few years, if you miss this opportunity, it will be hard to turn things around later!”

As he spoke, he reached out across the desk towards Xiang Er’s right hand.

Xiang Er looked down at her right hand, a strange sense of calm settling over her.

She looked at her hand and whispered:

“Little Akhe, protect me, and I won’t throw you away—for now.”

The small eyeball on her arm seemed to twitch, or perhaps it didn’t move at all. But a gust of wind, carrying a faint stench, seemed to sweep through the enclosed office.

Xiang Er smiled faintly, looked up at General Manager Cheng, her expression calm and gentle.

General Manager Cheng’s hand reached out, almost touching hers, his face, that of a young, successful man, filled with greed, triumph, and contempt. Just like that, all women were the same, a few sweet words, and they would…

But he suddenly saw Xiang Er’s expression, and his heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease washing over him.

Then, his hand froze.

The dark red wooden desk, a relic from the previous general manager, held Xiang Er’s hand, its pale, delicate skin a stark contrast against the dark wood.

It wasn’t a conventionally attractive hand, but it possessed a certain enigmatic quality that had captivated General Manager Cheng from the moment he first saw it. He had resolved to have her.

Now, his hand was less than an inch away from that coveted hand.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move it any closer!

His hand was completely immobile, like a wax figure!

He strained, trying to move his hand, to grip the desk, to move his fingers, but even his fingertips wouldn’t budge!

His hand felt like it was stuck in quicksand, the more he struggled, the more immobile it became, a growing numbness spreading from his fingertips up his arm, as if something strange had suddenly wrapped around it…

At that moment, General Manager Cheng finally understood the meaning of Xiang Er’s smile.

He looked up, his face filled with terror, and cried out:

“What did you do? What did you do to my hand!”

Xiang Er didn’t answer, just smiled and glanced at the scene before her.

The desk, in her eyes, was now far more interesting.

After she had spoken those words, the eyeball on her wrist had begun to wriggle, energetically emerging from beneath her sweater, its tentacles dancing around its eye. Its excitement was almost palpable, and dozens of tentacles immediately extended, wrapping tightly around General Manager Cheng’s fingers, from the tips to his palm, pinning his hand to the desk.

Then, the thin tentacles continued to grow, like branches, like vines, like the endless flow of blood through capillaries, like black tire tracks in the snow. The red and black tentacles, one after another, climbed up his arm, like an endless ouroboros, coiling and wrapping around it, moving upwards, towards his shoulder.

But General Manager Cheng couldn’t see anything, he only felt his arm go numb and immobile, instinctively blaming Xiang Er.

Xiang Er watched the tentacles coiling around the man’s arm, the sight strangely fascinating. She thought of the times Akhe had bound her with its tentacles, was this what it had looked like? Had it been this terrifying?

When she had been the one bound, she had hated the tentacles with a passion, but now, seeing someone she disliked being restrained… she found the sight strangely captivating, noticing the intricate details of the tentacles, their nimble movements, how well-suited they were as weapons, and… as pets.

Xiang Er thought self-deprecatingly, she had been the one who wanted Akhe gone, and now she was the one who thought Akhe would make a good pet. She had been so fickle about Akhe, yet she was still… entangled with It.

But right now, she really needed Akhe.

The tentacles continued to extend, reaching General Manager Cheng’s shoulder, the black fabric of his suit twisting and bunching under the red and black tentacles, a horrifying sight for him.

General Manager Cheng screamed:

“Ah… what have you done! Let go of me!”

Xiang Er watched the tentacles climb upwards, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. She had told Little Akhe to protect her, she didn’t know how Little Akhe would interpret that, after all, Little Akhe had its own mind, its own judgment.

What would it do? Xiang Er watched with interest.

The tentacles reached his shoulder, their thin tips curling and swaying, as if greeting Xiang Er.

Then, suddenly, a “crack” echoed through the room!

The sound of a bone snapping!

“Aaaaaah—”

General Manager Cheng screamed, his arm going limp, collapsing onto the desk!

Xiang Er’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected the tentacle to break his arm. But thinking about it, it was a very Akhe-like thing to do.

The tentacles hadn’t stopped, they continued to coil and writhe, tormenting the man.

General Manager Cheng continued to scream and shout, his eyes bloodshot, on the verge of madness. Xiang Er hesitated, then said softly:

“Come back.”

Little Akhe immediately and obediently retracted all its tentacles, withdrawing from General Manager Cheng, gently caressing Xiang Er’s hand before returning to her arm, disappearing beneath her sleeve, as if nothing had happened.

Someone tried to open the office door from outside, and Xiang Er stood up, ready to tell her colleagues that she didn’t know what had happened, that General Manager Cheng had suddenly had a seizure and broken his own arm.

Her face calm, she waited for her colleagues to enter, whether it was her supervisor or someone from HR, she could handle it. She had faced a Evil God, she could handle this.

But the office door opened, and a tall, graceful figure entered, a wave of fragrance accompanying her, the red of her skirt brightening the entire room.

Xiang Er’s eyes widened in disbelief. How… how had Shen Yuhe gotten in here?

She immediately thought, thankfully Little Akhe and the tentacles were hidden beneath her clothes, otherwise Shen Yuhe would have seen them and guessed what had happened…

Just the thought of that possibility sent a chill down Xiang Er’s spine. Shen Yuhe couldn’t know about this! In Shen Yuhe’s eyes, she had to remain pure and innocent, always!

Xiang Er immediately feigned a look of fear and distress, looking at Shen Yuhe with pleading eyes:

“I don’t know what happened, he suddenly had a seizure, it has nothing to do with me… Little Fish, why are you here? How did you know I was here?”

Shen Yuhe glanced at General Manager Cheng, writhing and screaming on the floor, her gaze as cold and indifferent as if looking at a piece of trash, then immediately turned back to Xiang Er, a faint smile playing on her lips as she listened.

A smile that seemed to say… how cute.

Xiang Er, afraid that Shen Yuhe wouldn’t believe her, even forced out a few tears:

“You have to believe me, he’s my boss, he just suddenly had a seizure, I was so scared, I’m so glad you’re here…”

Shen Yuhe, seeing the tears in her eyes, walked towards her, suppressing a smile, and extended her hand:

“Let’s go.”

Xiang Er hesitated:

“Aren’t we going to do anything about him?”

Shen Yuhe:

“You’re scared, why should you care?”

Xiang Er took a deep breath, extended her left hand, and placed it in Shen Yuhe’s, her hand immediately enveloped in a firm grip.

Shen Yuhe led her out of the office.

Almost all their colleagues were still there, sitting or standing, they had all heard the commotion in the office, but no one had moved, no one wanted to get involved.

Shen Yuhe, her red skirt swirling beneath her trench coat, her hand intertwined with Xiang Er’s, who was slightly shorter, dressed in a white top and jeans, walked through the stunned crowd, ignoring their gazes, openly displaying their joined hands for the world to see.

Like two protagonists making a dramatic exit from a farcical play.

No one knew where they were going, but everyone knew that their story would be far more dazzling than anyone else’s.

The crowd watched them leave, their expressions a mixture of shock and bewilderment.

It wasn’t until the two had left the company, disappearing around the corner, that Zhu Minmin, hidden in a corner, finally let out a scream:

“Holy shit!”

They were… perfect together… Mom… my ship… they were so perfect, so beautiful, aaaaaah!!!

Chapter 38: The Elevator

Outside the guest room door, Shen Yuhe stood tall and elegant, her hand on the doorknob, slowly turning it, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Her movements were deliberate, giving the person inside ample time to react.

Her figure was hidden in the shadows, her silhouette on the door, like a patch of black slime, slowly shifting.

A breeze from the balcony across the hall ruffled her long hair and the hem of her fiery red dress. This morning, she had deliberately chosen the red dress she had worn before, the one hanging on the balcony, wearing nothing underneath.

She pushed open the door, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly, her gaze immediately falling on Xiang Er’s… arm.

As if she knew everything.

Xiang Er sat on the bed, wearing her pajamas, her hands and arms hidden beneath the quilt, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, her eyes glistening as she looked at Shen Yuhe.

The quilt was slightly raised. Shen Yuhe glanced at it, and Xiang Er, her back stiffening with tension, quickly spoke, her voice hoarse:

“You… you’re not going to work today? I… I seem to have overslept, my alarm didn’t go off…”

Shen Yuhe’s gaze, which had been wandering around the room, finally focused on Xiang Er’s face, a look of genuine concern in her eyes as she stepped closer and asked:

“Are you sure you’re okay? Why… is your face so red?”

Xiang Er shook her head, trying to smile, but her teeth chattered with nervousness. She whispered:

“I’m fine. Why are you wearing that dress today? Aren’t you cold?”

Shen Yuhe seemed pleased, turning around and twirling, showing off the flowing skirt:

“Does it look good?”

Xiang Er nodded, her teeth still chattering slightly, her nervousness making her speechless.

Shen Yuhe finished twirling and looked towards Xiang Er’s desk, where the storage box, filled with black slime, sat.

Xiang Er’s heart pounded with anxiety.

The eyeball on her arm was wriggling slightly beneath the quilt. She pressed it down with her other hand, silently praying that Little Fish wouldn’t see the black slime, hoping that, like everyone else, she wouldn’t see anything…

But… Shen Yuhe’s eyes widened in surprise, and she said:

“What’s in that box? It looks so dirty!”

Xiang Er’s heart sank, a startling realization hitting her: Shen Yuhe could see the Evil God’s remnants!

Besides Li Wan, this was the second ordinary human she had encountered who could see these things!

Xiang Er, stunned, remained silent.

Shen Yuhe continued, as if talking to herself:

“We should throw that box away later… Little Ears, get up, don’t you have to go to work?”

Xiang Er didn’t answer. Shen Yuhe waved her hand, her smile bright and alluring:

“Hurry up and get up, I’ll wait for you.”

Her skirt, like red butterfly wings, fluttered as she left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

Xiang Er watched the door slowly close, a strange feeling in her heart. She pulled back the covers, and the small eyeball on her arm lifted its eyelid, looking at her with apparent indifference, seemingly unaware of what had just happened, only interested in clinging to her arm.

But Xiang Er was in shock.

She had confirmation now. She wasn’t the only one in the world who could see the Evil God!

Did this mean she finally had a companion, someone with the same ability?

However, Shen Yuhe didn’t seem to know much, she hadn’t even recognized the black slime, she probably hadn’t seen Akhe.

Xiang Er’s excitement quickly faded, and she sighed, turning her attention back to the small eyeball on her arm. She couldn’t possibly go to work with this thing attached to her, could she?

---

As they rode the subway together, arriving at the entrance of the industrial park, Xiang Er’s feelings were a tangled mess.

Shen Yuhe occasionally spoke to her, and Xiang Er always replied, but her replies were… brief, just “oh” or “mm-hmm,” and she avoided eye contact.

Xiang Er wore a loose, long-sleeved sweater. Her left hand constantly pressed against her right wrist, her gaze fixed on the ground, as if studying the path, but in reality, she was constantly checking her wrist.

She didn’t know if Shen Yuhe had noticed, but in her current situation, she couldn’t care less—she had a piece of a Evil God attached to her wrist!

She had tried everything at home, but she couldn’t get it off. The small eyeball seemed to have fused to her skin. Soap, water, even a lighter and a small knife, nothing worked!

And when she tried to remove it, the eyeball would make noises, like a rubber toy, “squeak, squeak,” blinking at her, as if trying to act cute.

But the eyeball, covered in slime and tentacles, wasn’t exactly endearing, and Xiang Er, her heart unmoved, continued trying every method she could think of, then realized… unless she cut off her hand, she wouldn’t be able to get rid of this thing.

She also had to avoid Shen Yuhe’s gaze and get to work. She had no choice but to wear a sweater with tight cuffs, completely concealing the eyeball, then put on a long-sleeved jacket over it.

Shen Yuhe didn’t seem to notice her sleeve, but as soon as they left the apartment, Xiang Er regretted it. She was going to a crowded subway, what if this thing caused trouble, wouldn’t she be responsible?

Unfortunately, she had no other choice. Fortunately, the small eyeball remained quiet, not moving or making any suspicious noises, not attracting any attention.

Xiang Er, constantly hiding and dodging, finally breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the elevator in the office building, her right hand relaxing.

Shen Yuhe looked at her, her expression unreadable, and Xiang Er, not daring to meet her gaze, just said:

“Your company is just downstairs from mine. We’re almost there.”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was low:

“I’ll come find you after work.”

Xiang Er instinctively wanted to nod, but she also wanted to get rid of the small eyeball on her wrist before then. After a moment of thought, she said:

“I might have something to do after work today. You don’t have to come find me, I can go home by myself…”

Just then, the elevator reached Shen Yuhe’s floor, the doors opening with a “ding.”

Shen Yuhe’s tall shadow fell on the floor, motionless.

Xiang Er looked at her, puzzled, finally meeting her gaze for the first time that day:

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Yuhe’s face was breathtakingly beautiful. Xiang Er could tell she wasn’t wearing any makeup, but even without it, her skin was flawlessly smooth, a delicate blush like spring flowers reflected in water, her eyes bright as stars, her lips full and deep red, like a classic oil painting brought to life.

Her expression was neutral, seemingly emotionless, but her eyes were dark and deep, like a swirling abyss.

She spoke slowly, each word deliberate:

“I. Will. Come. Find. You.”

An intense, possessive tone.

Xiang Er froze slightly, and just then, several people approached the elevator, colleagues from Shen Yuhe’s company.

Seeing Shen Yuhe, they immediately bowed respectfully, their voices humble, yet with a strange, almost religious fervor:

“Good day, CEO Shen!”

“Good afternoon, CEO Shen!”

“CEO Shen, we’ve been working hard today!”

“Yes, CEO Shen, we’re very obedient!”

They remained bowed, even without a response, their expressions not the usual respect shown to a CEO, but more like the devotion of believers to a deity. They resembled devout followers, repenting before a divine statue, awaiting forgiveness and redemption.

But the deity they awaited didn’t respond.

Because this deity was also waiting, for a human’s reply.

Xiang Er felt a strange tension, looking at the people in front of her, then at Shen Yuhe’s intense gaze, unsure of the situation.

She said tentatively:

“But I might have something to do after work…”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was firm and brooked no argument as she stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

“You’re not allowed to have anything to do. You’re only allowed to wait for me. Do you understand?”

Xiang Er was cornered against the wall.

The eyeball on her wrist suddenly moved, its tentacles flailing, as if trying to climb up her arm.

Her arm, beneath the sweater, itched and tingled, countless tiny tentacles sliding across her skin, warmed by her body heat, even the black slime seemed to have thinned, flowing down her elbow…

Xiang Er’s voice, surprisingly shrill, rose in panic:

“Wait… you need to leave… this isn’t appropriate…”

This wasn’t appropriate, those people outside could see them! And the slime on her arm was about to drip down, Shen Yuhe would definitely see it!

No, this couldn’t happen, Xiang Er desperately pushed Shen Yuhe’s shoulder with her left hand, saying urgently:

“Get out, we’ll talk outside…”

But Shen Yuhe reached out and easily caught her flailing left hand.

One by one, she folded Xiang Er’s fingers into her palm, forming a fist, then enclosed the fist in her own hand, her fingers tightly wrapped around it.

She lifted their joined hands and, without warning, gently kissed the back of Xiang Er’s hand.

The posture, one person dominating the other, should have been intimidating, but the kiss was gentle, like a tender caress of a precious rose, infinitely affectionate.

Her lips, cool and soft, delicate as sea salt foam on milk tea, a fleeting touch, the fragrance lingering.

Xiang Er’s fingers twitched and curled involuntarily.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected gesture, she almost wanted to cry, the itching and discomfort of the slime forgotten, only Shen Yuhe’s beautiful face, and that gentle kiss, remaining in her mind.

And the immeasurable tenderness hidden within that kiss.

Shen Yuhe’s lips, having just kissed her hand, moved closer to Xiang Er’s face, her voice husky and alluring:

“If you don’t wait, I’ll kill you.”

Then, she abruptly released Xiang Er’s hand, her face cold, and strode out of the elevator.

The moment she turned away, a drop of black slime dripped onto the floor, a thin, red tentacle, dangling from Xiang Er’s wrist, slipping out from beneath her sleeve.

The elevator doors, as if on cue, closed, and the elevator began to ascend.

Xiang Er froze for a second, then quickly tucked the tentacle back into her sleeve. Then, her left hand, as if moving on its own, lifted to her lips, the skin on the back of her hand, where Shen Yuhe had kissed it, belatedly starting to burn.

A burning heat, releasing a sweet fragrance that filled her nostrils, entering her bloodstream, carrying endless, ambiguous imaginings, spreading through her body, converging in her heart, forming a single name: Little Fish.

Her Little Fish, the one who would kiss her, possess her, her one and only Little Fish.

Xiang Er secretly kissed the back of her own hand.

Chapter 37: Nicknames

Shen Yuhe’s words left Xiang Er speechless.

She looked around the room. The broom was lying haphazardly on the floor, the rag tossed carelessly on the table, and Shen Yuhe’s hands were empty, her body clean.

Xiang Er walked into the room:

“You continue cleaning, I’ll make the bed.”

She walked towards the bed. Shen Yuhe froze, hesitated for a moment, then turned and picked up the rag, wiping the table haphazardly, then tossed it back onto the table with a look of disgust. She picked up the broom, but her sweeping movements were clumsy, scattering dust everywhere.

Xiang Er looked at her in confusion:

“Weren’t you cleaning very efficiently just now?”

Shen Yuhe puffed out her cheeks, glaring at the broom as if it were her worst enemy.

She had heard Xiang Er’s question, but didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the broom, as if locked in a silent battle.

Xiang Er, ignored, wasn’t offended. Instead, an unbelievable possibility occurred to her, and her expression shifted to one of disbelief. She leaned closer to Shen Yuhe and asked:

“Could it be… that I’m… disturbing you?”

Shen Yuhe glanced at her quickly and said:

“No, it’s not that you’re disturbing me…”

Xiang Er:

“Then what?”

Shen Yuhe glanced up at her, then quickly looked down, her voice soft, almost embarrassed, but she continued:

“When you’re here, I can’t focus, I just want to look at you.”

Xiang Er:

“…”

She clutched the edge of the quilt, her face flushing. This must be the hundredth time she had blushed today, she had lost count, and she couldn’t control it.

Her palms even started to sweat.

She felt lightheaded, weak, a tingling sensation in her heart, like eating mint ice cream on a hot summer day, completely immersed in the pleasant sensation, her mind drifting.

Silence fell upon the room, broken only by the sound of Shen Yuhe clumsily sweeping the floor, the dust swirling and dancing in the air, like an impromptu musical performance for an audience of one, a melody playing only in Xiang Er’s flustered mind.

Xiang Er quickly made the bed, spreading the sheets and quilt, the rather unattractive red peony pattern surprisingly complementing the old room.

But the quilt was heavy, and she couldn’t spread it out by herself. She turned to Shen Yuhe and said:

“Um… can you come help me? Hold that side.”

Shen Yuhe dropped the broom and walked over, holding the corner of the quilt, her tall figure silent, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s every move.

Xiang Er didn’t dare look at her, afraid of seeing her own reflection in Shen Yuhe’s intense gaze, a heat she couldn’t bear, she wasn’t ready.

She held the other corner of the quilt, smoothing it out.

Shen Yuhe’s voice suddenly broke the silence:

“I saw a drama once, where a newlywed couple also made the bed together on their wedding night.”

Xiang Er looked up at her in surprise, her gaze meeting Shen Yuhe’s dark, unwavering eyes, deep as an abyss.

Shen Yuhe, like a curious elementary school student, asked:

“Is that a wedding ritual?”

Xiang Er:

“…No! It’s just… making the bed before going to sleep!”

She continued smoothing the quilt, then looked up and glared at Shen Yuhe:

“You should watch less of those nonsensical dramas.”

She thought her words and expression would be intimidating.

But… in Shen Yuhe’s eyes, her glare, fueled by embarrassment, only made her more endearing, her full, red lips pouting, sending out an alluring… a divinely tempting signal.

Shen Yuhe licked her lips, her gaze turning dangerous:

“Okay, no drama is as captivating as you.”

Xiang Er:

“…”

She quickly finished making the bed, wanting to escape, to go to the bathroom and splash cold water on her burning face.

Bringing Shen Yuhe home was too dangerous, she was at risk of combusting from blushing!

As soon as she finished making the bed, Xiang Er turned to leave, but as she brushed past Shen Yuhe, Shen Yuhe grabbed her arm, her grip gentle but firm.

Xiang Er’s face flushed, and she turned:

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Yuhe stared at her intently, a strange, unsettling emotion in her eyes, as if… looking at a delicious delicacy, not an equal.

Xiang Er took a step back.

Shen Yuhe, still holding her arm, whispered:

“Good night, Little Ears.”

Xiang Er breathed a sigh of relief:

“Good night, Miss Shen.”

Shen Yuhe said:

“Call me Yuhe.”

Xiang Er felt it was a bit strange, especially because it sounded a bit like Akhe’s name, which she didn’t like.

She said:

“I prefer calling you Miss Shen.”

Shen Yuhe frowned:

“No, I want a nickname, a nickname only you use, like Little Ears.”

Xiang Er:

“Oh… I see.”

She thought for a moment:

“How about… Little Yu(1)? Or Little Fish(2)?”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up:

“Yes! I’ll be your Little Fish!”

Xiang Er couldn’t help but smile:

“Then… Little Fish?”

Shen Yuhe, holding her arm, replied softly:

“Mm! Little Ears!”

Xiang Er smiled, also gently swaying Shen Yuhe’s arm:

“Mm!”

The two of them, as if having exchanged something precious, looked at each other, their eyes filled with sweet smiles, like elementary school students, swaying each other’s arms, their gazes locked.

Shen Yuhe suddenly leaned in and gave Xiang Er a quick hug:

“Then, Little Ears, good night.”

Her magnetic voice, like a cello, echoed in Xiang Er’s ear, the most beautiful melody in the world.

Xiang Er’s ears tingled, the words echoing in her mind even after she quickly left the master bedroom and returned to her own room, the sweet, romantic tone repeating endlessly:

Little Ears, good night.

Xiang Er stood in her room, her lips curved into a wide smile. Thankfully, she couldn’t see her own expression, otherwise, she would have thought she looked foolish, like someone who had never tasted candy before, finally experiencing its sweetness for the first time.

Tonight, she had tasted many sweet things.

Although those sweet things were mixed with a bit of fright, the sweetness easily overshadowed it. She was in such a good mood that she couldn’t help but smile even when she looked at the eyeball in the small box.

She whispered softly to the eyeball:

“Good night, Little Akhe.”

The eyeball, almost asleep, immediately opened its eye and looked at her, blinking with eagerness and anticipation, its meaning unclear.

Xiang Er exhaled, went to the bathroom to wash her face and arms, the smile still lingering on her face, impossible to erase.

Back in her room, she lay on her pillow, took out her phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to Shen Yuhe.

“Little Fish, good night.”

She put down her phone, satisfied, and instantly drifted off to sleep.

And on her darkened phone screen, replies began to appear, one after another.

“Little Ears, good night.”

“Little Ears, good night, I’ve devoured you.”

“Little Ears, good night, devouring you isn’t enough.”

“Little Ears, sleep eternally with me.”

“Little Ears, offer your body to me.”

“Little Ears, let your soul shatter for me.”

“Little Ears, how can I be closer to you?”

“Little Ears, what is this feeling?”

“Little Ears, why don’t you like the real me?”

“Little Ears, I want everything you are!”

…

The replies appeared rapidly, as if countless hands were typing on the other end.

But just as quickly, they began to disappear, even faster than they had appeared, vanishing without a trace, as if they had never existed.

Within a minute, only the first reply remained on the screen.

“Little Ears, good night.”

---

The next morning.

Xiang Er woke up to sunlight on her face.

She was puzzled. Her alarm was set for six-thirty, it shouldn’t be sunny yet.

Then she opened her eyes, saw the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, and realized: She had overslept!

And not just slightly overslept, she had slept in until the sun was high in the sky, she didn’t have to go to work this morning, perhaps she would never have to go to work again!

Any office worker would understand this feeling, waking up at ten o’clock, a heart-stopping moment of pure panic.

After a few minutes, Xiang Er finally sat up, looking at her phone in confusion.

She had over ten missed calls, text messages, and WeChat messages, but… somehow, her phone had been switched to silent mode, even her alarm had been silenced.

The alarm she could understand, she might have turned it off in her sleep, but how had her phone been switched to silent mode? She didn’t remember doing that.

Just then, something small and cold brushed against her wrist, like a strand of cold, wet yarn.

Xiang Er froze. She was very familiar with this sensation, but… how was this possible?

Her neck trembling, she slowly turned her head.

As expected, a black eyeball with a blood-red pupil was sitting on the bed, several thin tentacles wrapped around her wrist.

Seeing Xiang Er look at it, it didn’t seem to care, its pupil still fixed on her wrist, as if engrossed in some important task.

Xiang Er wanted to scream, but she quickly suppressed it, there was someone else in the apartment!

Her throat tightened, and she looked down, speechless:

The eyeball, with four or five thread-like tentacles, had wrapped them around her wrist, and all the tentacles were pulling together, rhythmically.

The eyeball’s eyelid lowered slightly, revealing a determined, almost ferocious expression, as the tentacles pulled, and pulled, and pulled, finally managing to lift the eyeball from the sheet!

Xiang Er watched the eyeball’s trajectory.

The fist-sized eyeball, dragged by the tentacles, swung through the air like a meteor hammer, then—”splat”—slammed against her wrist!

Xiang Er’s eyes widened, and she immediately shook her arm, trying to dislodge the eyeball.

But the moment it made contact with her skin, it secreted a large amount of black slime, a thick, viscous substance that clung to her skin, impossible to shake off, the more she struggled, the tighter it gripped!

The eyeball extended even more tentacles, wrapping and coiling around her wrist, forming a network of black and red lines, then settled comfortably on top of the lines, securing itself with the black slime, completely unfazed by Xiang Er’s frantic shaking.

The eyeball raised its red pupil, looked at Xiang Er, and drooped its eyelid, giving her a pitiful look.

But Xiang Er, overwhelmed by the horrifying sensation of the black slime, desperately suppressed a scream, shaking her hand violently, trying to pry the eyeball off with her left hand, but she couldn’t!

Her left hand was also covered in the black slime, almost fused to her right wrist. The more frantic she became, the more slime there seemed to be!

Xiang Er’s head buzzed, she was almost in tears, this was so disgusting, she really regretted not throwing this thing away yesterday! Now it seemed to have fixated on her! What should she do?!

And just as she was about to lose it, a knock on the door, followed by Shen Yuhe’s alluring voice, added insult to injury:

“Good morning, Little Ears, are you awake? I’m coming in!”

A vein throbbed in Xiang Er’s temple, and she yelled at the door:

“No!”

Her voice was shrill and trembling, and as soon as she spoke, she knew she was doomed. She didn’t sound okay at all, and knowing Shen Yuhe, she would definitely come in and check on her!

But what about the thing on her hand if Shen Yuhe came in?

As expected, the next second, the doorknob turned. And the black eyeball on her wrist had even found a comfortable position, settling down as if it belonged there.

Xiang Er was about to lose her mind. For the first time, she wished Shen Yuhe wasn’t so attentive!

---

T/N:

(1)-(2)

The nicknames “Little Yu” appear twice, but with different characters and meanings:

• 小遇 (Xiǎo Yù): The “Yù” (遇) here means “to encounter” or “to meet.” It’s derived from Shen Yuhe’s name, likely the “Yu” part. This is a common way to form nicknames in Chinese.
• 小鱼 (Xiǎo Yú): This “Yú” (鱼) means “fish.” While “Yu” can also be a surname, in this context, it creates the nickname “Little Fish.”

Chapter 36: The Heart Demon

Shen Yuhe actually licked her hand!

What was she doing? Was she crazy, or was Xiang Er crazy?!

Xiang Er’s body went completely limp. Mustering the last of her strength to prevent herself from fainting, her gaze involuntarily fell on Shen Yuhe’s hair.

Shen Yuhe’s long, wet hair now rested on Xiang Er’s wrist.

The owner of that beautiful face, that beautiful hair, that exquisite body, was now bowed, carefully and meticulously, licking the wounds on Xiang Er’s hand.

Her demeanor was serious, focused, as if this were the most important task in the world, devoid of any hint of flirtation.

Shen Yuhe didn’t look up, not at Xiang Er, not to observe her reaction, her attention solely on the wounds.

And Xiang Er… the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth again, her lip bitten until it bled, the action uncontrollable.

Her mind was blank, her body seemingly non-existent, all her senses concentrated on the small area of her arm, no, completely focused on the tip of Shen Yuhe’s tongue, that small, moving point of contact, amplified a million times.

Cold, wet, soft yet firm, a slight friction that drove her almost mad, as if every cell on her skin was being turned inside out.

Or as if someone had placed a handful of cool, clean snow on her wounds.

The burning pain in her arm, buried beneath the snow, soothed by its coolness, quickly subsided.

But the sensation itself was more unbearable than the pain… Xiang Er’s legs went weak, and she had to lean against the wall for support.

The sweet, watery scent in her nostrils mingled with the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. The pain and the wet, tingling sensations were the only things keeping her conscious, her vision blurring, unable to even see who was in front of her.

“Mm… so sweet.”

Shen Yuhe lifted her head and smiled at Xiang Er, a languid, sly smile.

She then, deliberately, provocatively, licked her lips.

Like a fox that had finally stolen a bunch of grapes, her eyes seductive.

Xiang Er barely registered that she had stopped.

The sensations were too intense, even after she stopped, she could still feel the soft tip of Shen Yuhe’s tongue moving across her skin.

After a long moment, she abruptly pulled her arm back, her skin cold and slick. The wind howled outside the window, and she felt a wave of goosebumps ripple across her arm.

She self-consciously pulled her sleeve down, too embarrassed to speak, her mind blank, then finally managed to hand Shen Yuhe her pajamas:

“Here… your pajamas.”

Shen Yuhe took the pajamas, and the next second, Xiang Er regretted it.

Deeply regretted giving her the pajamas! Regretted bringing her home! This was… improper!

Because Shen Yuhe, without hesitation, untied her towel.

Right in front of Xiang Er, her tall, exquisite, radiant body, completely exposed.

Xiang Er didn’t dare look, quickly retreating into her room and slamming the door shut.

It was rude, but she had to survive!

Shen Yuhe’s puzzled voice came from outside:

“Huh? Why did you close the door? I’ll come in after I change.”

Xiang Er immediately went to her closet, rummaging through it, and found a set of clean sheets and a pillow, thankfully purchased in anticipation of guests, and now, she finally had a guest.

A rustling sound came from outside, Shen Yuhe seemingly changing her clothes.

Xiang Er held her breath and listened, a tingling, itchy sensation on her arm, a lingering coldness and wetness. She could no longer feel the wounds, only the lingering sensation of Shen Yuhe’s touch… She was going to lose her mind! Why was Shen Yuhe like this?!

Her mind screamed in silent torment, but her outward expression remained calm as she waited for Shen Yuhe to finish changing.

The doorknob rattled, and Shen Yuhe seemed to chuckle, her laughter like a white dove with wings, pure and innocent, flying through the door, circling Xiang Er’s ear, refusing to leave.

“Little Ears?”

Shen Yuhe’s amused voice called out.

The doorknob rattled, then clicked, the lock disengaging, the door slowly opening, Shen Yuhe’s pale wrist appearing, the blue veins like branches on snow.

As the door opened halfway, Xiang Er quickly pushed the packaged bedding towards her and, her voice trembling, shouted:

“Here are your sheets! You can sleep in the other room! I’m too tired, I’m going to sleep now, good night!”

She caught a glimpse of Shen Yuhe’s surprised expression and quickly slammed the door shut.

Shen Yuhe called out from behind the door:

“Little Ears!”

Her voice soft and slightly reproachful.

Xiang Er leaned against the door, exhaling, then shouted again:

“Good night!”

She pressed her entire body against the door, keeping it firmly shut.

Then, she heard a long sigh from outside:

“Sigh—! Since Little Ears doesn’t like me, I’ll just leave…”

It sounded pitiful, reproachful, lonely… but it was definitely an act!

Even though she knew it was an act, Xiang Er’s heart still ached, a strange softness spreading through her. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

Her right hand involuntarily reached out, grasping her left hand, caressing the skin where the wounds had been… caressing the skin Shen Yuhe had touched.

She had been so startled just now, why did Shen Yuhe suddenly lick her hand… It was so unexpected! But was this Shen Yuhe’s way of showing affection?

It seemed quite effective, the swelling and redness had already subsided.

Xiang Er had vaguely heard that saliva had a pain-relieving effect on wounds, and now it seemed to be true… but wouldn’t it cause an infection?

There was no more sound from outside.

Xiang Er exhaled and turned around, her gaze falling on the storage box on her desk, its contents a dark, indistinguishable mass.

Xiang Er:

“…”

She had been so shocked that she had completely forgotten about the little thing.

What should she do now?

What about this thing?

Xiang Er couldn’t think of a good solution, mainly because she didn’t know where to dispose of a piece of a Evil God, was there a special department for that?

If there wasn’t… would she have to keep it?

As a pet? As a souvenir of her time living with a Evil God?

The thought sent shivers down her spine. How could she possibly keep this thing? She would just throw it away in the morning, box and all.

The most pressing issue now was sleep. She had to get up early tomorrow, and she had to talk to Shen Yuhe, set some ground rules, tell her that if she was going to live here, she couldn’t walk around naked in the common areas, and she absolutely couldn’t lick her roommate!

Otherwise, her heart rate would be dangerously high all the time!

For the sake of her normal life, she had to control Shen Yuhe’s behavior!

Xiang Er looked at the box. The red eye inside was half-closed, as if sleepy, tilted at an odd angle in the corner.

But seeing Xiang Er, it blinked, then opened wide, using its tentacles to prop itself up, its entire body pressed against the lid, staring at her.

As if it had endless energy and interest as long as it could see her.

Xiang Er’s heart softened slightly.

She asked:

“Can you go home by yourself? Back to Akhe’s main body?”

She hoped it would say yes, so she could just open the box and leave it by the garbage bins in the morning.

Unfortunately, it didn’t do as she wished. Xiang Er watched as its eyelid drooped, and it fell from the lid with a “plop,” back into the black slime, seemingly dejected.

It seemed to be telling her that it couldn’t do that, it wouldn’t work, and it was upset about it.

Xiang Er frowned. She understood. She never thought there would be a day when she could understand the unspoken message conveyed by a small monster’s actions.

She could only say:

“Then… rest.”

The small eyeball obediently crawled to a corner of the box, several thin tentacles pulling a piece of black slime over its round body, as if it were also, like a human, covering itself with a blanket.

Xiang Er found this both amusing and a little sad. Even the little monster was resting, but she… was wide awake.

So much had happened tonight.

Her world had been turned upside down, she had encountered a remnant of Akhe, she had dealt with Shen Yuhe’s overly intimate and boundary-crossing behavior, and she had to be careful not to reveal anything… Life was so hard!

Xiang Er suddenly remembered that the master bedroom was still covered in dust, it hadn’t been cleaned at all, and someone as refined as Shen Yuhe clearly wouldn’t do housework, she had to help!

She used this excuse to convince herself, she was just going to help clean, she wouldn’t do anything else, she wouldn’t say much, she would just clean and then come back to sleep!

But her heart pounded in her chest.

She had just seen Shen Yuhe, yet she already missed her, wanted to see her again… She could see her again…

Her heart racing, Xiang Er opened her door.

---

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom.

Shen Yuhe stood in the center of the room, the packaged bedding floating in mid-air, hundreds of tentacles extending from beneath her pajamas.

The tentacles were busy, some wiping the tables and cabinets with rags, some sweeping the floor with brooms, some making the bed.

Shen Yuhe, in the center of all the activity, stood motionless, her face expressionless, like a hollow doll, devoid of life, just a silent clothes rack for the tentacles.

When Xiang Er wasn’t around, Shen Yuhe never showed any emotion. No other human was worth the effort.

There were so many tentacles that the task, which would normally take an hour, was completed in ten minutes. The room was almost clean.

Several tentacles were clinging to the guest room door, eavesdropping, yearning to be closer to Xiang Er, just a little closer…

Suddenly, the door opened.

A few tentacles, having lost their grip, fell to the floor, their tips raised in confusion, then quickly retracted.

Xiang Er stepped out, her slender, pale figure casting a long shadow on the floor. She walked towards the master bedroom without hesitation, hearing a strange sound from inside, like… something soft and fleshy hitting the floor.

For a moment, Xiang Er thought of Akhe’s thick tentacles. Sometimes, when those heavy tentacles bumped into something, they made a similar sound.

Xiang Er shook her head and chuckled, thinking she was being paranoid, then peered into the old master bedroom.

Shen Yuhe stood in the center of the room, wearing Xiang Er’s blue, cartoon-patterned coral fleece pajamas, her back to Xiang Er, the hem of her pajamas strangely lifting and falling, as if something had just slithered inside.

Xiang Er, looking at the almost spotless room, asked in surprise:

“You’ve finished cleaning already?”

Shen Yuhe slowly turned around. Her hair was still slightly damp, a genuine smile on her face, as she said:

“What? Have you changed your mind, decided to sleep with me after all?”

Xiang Er, who had been about to ask more questions, blushed crimson at her words:

“No, that’s not what I meant… I just meant, you cleaned this room so quickly, I didn’t know you were so good at housework.”

Shen Yuhe’s smile was innocent, her eyes bright as stars, her lips curving seductively:

“Yes, I told you, I’m very clean, very suitable to be what you humans call… a wife.”

Xiang Er:

“…?!”

Chapter 35: The Unexpected Guest

A small thing.

Easily overlooked, just a shadow in the corner of the room, perhaps just a flicker of movement.

The shadow of the camphor tree outside the window, the shadow of the desk under the moonlight, the shadow of her own heart, suddenly lurching, trembling in her throat.

A choking sensation, like a duck force-fed with air, like the branches of a tree snapping in the wind. Xiang Er’s scream caught in her throat, unable to escape, quickly fading.

She became unusually calm.

Her fingers gripping the edge of the desk, she stared at the small thing in the corner, observing it closely.

Black, viscous, rolling, trembling, the slime seemingly blinking with hidden eyes.

Numerous tiny tentacles extended from it, short and thin, pressing against the wall and floor, slowly exploring.

Like a seed sprouting countless tiny roots and leaves.

Or like a baby bird that had fallen into tar, its body dripping with viscous fluid.

Black slime, tentacles, eyes. These characteristics all pointed to the name that filled Xiang Er with despair: Akhe.

This was a part of Akhe!

Hadn’t It left? Hadn’t It promised to disappear completely? Why was It back, and at such a crucial moment…

Xiang Er stared intently at the thing.

She reached out and slowly groped across the desk, her movements careful and quiet, trying not to alert it.

Her fingers found the tissue box, and she pulled out several tissues, clutching them in her sweaty hand.

She walked towards the corner, slowly, quietly, trying not to be noticed. The small thing was rolling in place, its tentacles occasionally probing the walls and floor, leaving thin trails of slime.

It was like a newborn infant, curiously exploring the world, unaware of the human approaching.

Xiang Er narrowed her eyes, dismissing the inappropriate analogy. What newborn infant? This was a piece of the Evil God, a remnant of its pollution, a piece of trash left behind by a god who didn’t keep its promises!

Only a few steps remained. The small thing continued to sway in the corner, its body moving rhythmically, a few tentacles extending upwards, like branches reaching for the ceiling.

Xiang Er was now many times larger than the small thing.

Her shadow slowly crept over it, almost completely obscuring it, and the small thing suddenly moved.

It… opened its eye.

Its entire spherical body was its eye!

The black eyelid opened, revealing almost half of the sphere, the tentacles around it like countless eyelashes, the inside a smooth, black surface with a blood-red, circular pupil, the pupil filled with thin, intricate black lines.

Identical to the giant eyeball that hung in the sky in Akhe’s domain! Just… much, much smaller!

Xiang Er quickly raised her hand and covered her mouth, suppressing a scream. She stared at the eye, her gaze fixed on the pupil.

A sharp headache instantly pierced her brain, countless whispers and screams, cries of pain and anguish, threatening to overwhelm her, but Xiang Er was prepared, she had experience.

She braced herself against the wall with one hand, the other raised high, clutching the tissues.

Gritting her teeth, she slammed her hand down!

Through the tissues, she felt the spherical object in her palm. Black slime exploded outwards, staining her hand, arm, and chest.

Xiang Er exhaled, her hand tightly gripping the object, trying to prevent herself from collapsing.

Her head still throbbed, the whispers still echoing around her, tiny tentacles wriggling in her palm, the eyeball still pulsing, like… a trapped, incredibly resilient cockroach.

It made her skin crawl, goosebumps rising all over her body.

She hadn’t yet figured out what to do with this thing. Should she put it in a jar? Or wrap it tightly in a garbage bag and throw it away? But wouldn’t that contaminate the entire city through the garbage system? That wouldn’t be good.

Should she keep it for now, and try to contact Akhe, ask It to come back and retrieve it? But the thought of contacting Akhe filled her with dread. What if It came back and refused to leave again?

Xiang Er thought and thought, but every option seemed wrong.

And to make matters worse, the water in the bathroom stopped, and the door opened.

Xiang Er froze, the tentacles in her palm scratching at her skin.

Shen Yuhe’s voice, languid and warm from the shower, called out:

“Xiang Er? Where are you? Can you bring me some pajamas?”

Xiang Er took a deep breath, telling herself to just answer normally, ask her to wait a moment, and then she would find somewhere to put this thing… it would be fine.

But when she spoke, her voice was unusually hoarse:

“I… you… cough!”

Shen Yuhe’s voice immediately approached the door:

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll come in and check on you!”

Xiang Er quickly screamed:

“No! Don’t come in! Cough, cough, cough!”

A violent coughing fit doubled her over, the scratching in her palm intensifying, the eyeball pulsing even more forcefully. Fortunately, the black slime on her hand had dried, providing some friction, otherwise, the eyeball would have jumped out already.

Xiang Er stood behind the door, her body covered in dried, black, foul-smelling slime, a pulsating eyeball clutched in her hand, tentacles emerging from beneath the tissues, extending along her skin and veins.

She couldn’t see herself, but she absolutely didn’t want Shen Yuhe to see her like this.

Absolutely not!

She had finally achieved a normal life, she finally had a normal roommate… This couldn’t be ruined!

Shen Yuhe’s voice came from behind the door:

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need any help?”

Xiang Er could almost picture Shen Yuhe pressed against the door, peering through the crack with concern, and a warmth spread through her, but her body trembled with tension.

She suppressed the scratching sensation in her throat and said, trying to sound calm:

“I’m fine, just wait a moment, I’ll get your pajamas.”

There was no time to hesitate. Xiang Er turned and went to her desk, glancing around, but there was nothing useful there.

Shen Yuhe continued speaking from outside:

“If anything’s wrong, you must tell me, we’re good friends. There don’t seem to be any blankets or sheets in that room? Can I sleep in your bed tonight, share your quilt? Don’t worry, I’m very clean.”

Xiang Er didn’t want to hear what she was saying.

The tentacles in her palm scratched relentlessly, and Shen Yuhe’s concerned voice only fueled her anxiety. Her mind raced, and she frantically opened her closet, her drawers, anything that could be opened, her gaze scanning, searching for a solution.

Then, something in the closet caught her eye.

A translucent green storage box she had bought for her socks, an impulse buy, mostly empty.

She grabbed the box with her other hand, carefully opened the lid, and dumped the socks out, scattering them on the floor. Her palm itched and ached, and she bit her lip so hard that it bled, the metallic taste filling her mouth.

Shen Yuhe’s voice followed her:

“Xiang Er? Little Ears? My good friend, are you still there? Are you busy?”

Xiang Er managed to reply:

“Mm!”

The metallic taste of blood in her mouth intensified. Xiang Er placed the storage box on the table and raised her right hand. The small thing in her palm, now mixed with the tissues and dried black slime, had formed a thick, hardened black mass.

Numerous tiny tentacles, like black capillaries, extended from the sides of the hardened mass, crawling up her wrist and arm, clinging tightly to her skin, like a bizarre tattoo.

Xiang Er used her left hand to tear away the hardened black mass, the cracking sound of the slime breaking into pieces, leaving sticky residue on her hand, but she didn’t care. She grabbed the small eyeball, along with the black mass, and shoved it into the storage box.

The small eyeball let out a “squeak,” like a squeezed balloon, immediately trying to crawl out of the box.

Xiang Er held it down, tearing away the thin black threads clinging to her skin. Each time she pulled one off, a sharp pain made her gasp, leaving a deep red, almost cut-like mark on her arm.

Xiang Er’s heart turned cold, her movements numb and ruthless, as she continued tearing.

But the small eyeball cried out in pain, a sound like a howling wind, impossible to ignore. Xiang Er stopped and looked at it. The small eyeball huddled in the corner of the storage box, its large eye wide open, filled with tears.

Transparent tears, like a human’s.

Xiang Er murmured:

“Did I hurt you?”

She froze. Why did she care if it was hurt?

But she did.

She sighed, reached out, and said in a low, almost resigned voice:

“Then go in by yourself, and I won’t pull you.”

The tearful eyeball let out a whistling sound, its source unknown. It moved towards the edge of the storage box, the tentacles clinging to Xiang Er’s arm retracting one by one, curling up inside the box.

The eyeball looked at Xiang Er and huddled in the corner, looking utterly wronged and aggrieved.

Xiang Er stared at it in surprise. It understood? It was actually obedient? Was this really a part of Akhe? Not some other kind of pollution?

She asked:

“Are you Akhe?”

Hearing the name, the eyeball immediately perked up, rolling around in the storage box, its large eye blinking, the box filling with black slime and transparent tears.

Judging by its reaction… it was definitely Akhe.

But a smaller, obedient, communicative Akhe, an Akhe she could keep in a box.

Well… for now, this would do.

Xiang Er exhaled and carefully closed the lid of the storage box, pressing it down firmly.

She turned to grab some clean pajamas from her closet, and when she looked back…

The small eyeball was pressed against the lid of the storage box, its red pupil fixated on her every move, its gaze fervent and eager, its tentacles covering the entire box.

Shen Yuhe’s voice echoed from outside:

“Are you done yet? I’m cold, ah—achoo!”

Xiang Er looked away and rushed to the door, pulling it open, her breath catching in her throat.

Shen Yuhe stood at the doorway, wrapped in a towel, her shoulders and collarbones exquisitely beautiful, her skin glowing, water droplets clinging to her, her wet, black hair draped over her shoulders, her face breathtakingly beautiful.

Steam still rose from her body, making her look like a goddess descended from the clouds, her skin even whiter, her hair even blacker, her red lips the only splash of color, captivating Xiang Er’s gaze.

The white towel was loosely wrapped around her, her body leaning against the wall as if boneless, yet even so, her slender waist and long legs were on full display, her curves more beautiful than any Renaissance sculpture.

Xiang Er felt her eyes had been cleansed, especially after the ordeal she had just endured…

“Ah! What happened to your hand?”

A jade-white arm reached out and, without hesitation, grabbed Xiang Er’s left hand, pulling it out of her pajama sleeve.

Her left hand was covered in deep red, swollen, fresh marks, like whip marks or cuts, a shocking sight.

“It’s nothing, I accidentally fell earlier…”

Xiang Er tried to pull her hand back, but she couldn’t.

The next second, a warm, wet sensation, like an electric shock, shot through her arm, spreading through her entire body. Her eyes widened in surprise!

Shen Yuhe licked her hand.

Chapter 34: The Blouse

Xiang Er was practically dragged into the living room by Shen Yuhe, their hands still intertwined.

Shen Yuhe seemed to have no need for lights, moving around the living room with ease, her vision seemingly perfect. Xiang Er turned on the lights, hurrying around the apartment, switching on every single light, then brought out a pair of slippers for Shen Yuhe.

Shen Yuhe looked at the plain guest slippers and frowned:

“Where are the rabbit slippers?”

Xiang Er, already wearing her rabbit slippers, replied awkwardly:

“These… are the slippers I usually wear. You can wear these, they’re for guests.”

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow, the corner of her eye tilting upwards:

“I said, I want to wear your pajamas, including the slippers.”

Xiang Er:

“…”

Before she could react, Shen Yuhe bent down, half-squatting, and forcefully… grasped her ankle.

That beautiful, jade-like hand, its nails perfectly manicured, holding her swollen ankle after a long day of work… Xiang Er was terrified and tried to pull her leg back, but it was held fast, as if in a vise.

Shen Yuhe proceeded to remove the rabbit slippers from Xiang Er’s feet and put the plain guest slippers on her, repeating the process with the other foot.

Xiang Er was frantic, almost wanting to hit Shen Yuhe:

“Aaaah! Stop it, I can do it myself!”

But Shen Yuhe ignored her, continuing to squat, her movements not exactly smooth, but quick, as she finished changing both slippers.

Then, she kicked off her high heels and slipped her perfectly sculpted feet into Xiang Er’s rabbit slippers.

She sighed contentedly:

“Mm, your body heat.”

Xiang Er:

“Ah… you… I… aaaaaah!!!!!”

She covered her face with her hands and leaned against the wall, feeling like she was about to melt into a puddle on the floor!

Her face burned, her hands also growing hot. She wanted to hide, but she didn’t know where to hide.

This was her home!

Had she made a mistake? Now it felt like… Shen Yuhe had come here just to watch her embarrassment, to see her break down!

Saying those things, what did she mean?!

While Xiang Er was still panicking, Shen Yuhe had already gone to the living room, sat down on the sofa, spread her legs casually, looked around the room, picked up the remote control, and tried to turn on the television.

Xiang Er said:

“Do you want to watch TV now? Do you know how to use this remote? Wait, it’s an old model…”

But the television had already turned on, the sound of a drama filling the room.

Xiang Er looked at Shen Yuhe’s hand in confusion. She hadn’t seen her press any buttons, how had the TV turned on?

She must be tired and seeing things.

She glanced at the television screen, the images from last night still vivid in her mind.

The matter with Li Wan had been shown on the TV… The Evil God’s understanding of human technology was perhaps quite advanced.

The male lead in the drama shouted hysterically:

“Whose love do you think you’ve received? A god’s love!”

Shen Yuhe, seeing this, turned to Xiang Er, her face expressionless, and paused the TV.

Xiang Er, seeing her look at her, pointed at her face in confusion:

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Shen Yuhe shook her head, pointed at the TV screen, and repeated:

“A god’s love.”

Xiang Er:

“Huh?”

She glanced at the TV and shook her head:

“It’s a bad drama, not worth watching. Change the channel… By the way, it’s already past ten, why don’t we take a shower and go to bed…”

As she said this, her voice lowered, her cheeks flushing.

No one else lived here, so she didn’t have any extra toiletries. Shen Yuhe would probably have to use hers… Damn it, she should have bought some things at the convenience store, how could she have forgotten!

Shen Yuhe, hearing that it was a bad drama, seemed lost in thought, then turned off the TV and stood up, following Xiang Er:

“Shower, sleep.”

Xiang Er stammered:

“Then, then… you go first?”

Shen Yuhe looked towards the bathroom, a strange smile playing on her lips, then she looked down at Xiang Er and suddenly leaned in close!

Xiang Er’s heart skipped a beat.

The living room walls were covered in faded, golden wallpaper, the dim light giving it a warm, gilded glow.

Shen Yuhe’s back was to the old, warm yellow light in the living room.

A halo of light seemed to emanate from her dark hair. Her beautiful face, in the darkness, a blend of black and jade-white, intensity and elegance, like a fusion of angel and demon.

Her red lips parted slightly, a sweet fragrance, mingled with the scent of milk, escaping her breath:

“Let’s… shower together.”

Their noses were only a centimeter apart, their breaths mingling, a strange yet familiar scent filling Xiang Er’s nostrils, surging through her capillaries, reaching deep into her body, from her brain to her heart.

She said, shower together.

The words echoed in Xiang Er’s mind, but she couldn’t process their meaning.

Shen Yuhe leaned in even closer, and even… reached out.

A pair of cool, soft hands, slowly and gently, yet purposefully, grasped Xiang Er’s wrists.

Xiang Er’s chest heaved, and she abruptly snapped back to reality, retreating:

“No, no! You go first, you go, I’ll get the bed ready for you…”

But her hands were held fast, the anchor points of her body.

With her anchor points controlled, her struggles were futile, like a caged bird. She tried to step back, her upper body leaning backwards, but she couldn’t break herself in half.

Shen Yuhe continued to press closer, her eyes dark, the sweet fragrance filling the air, like invisible ropes weaving a net around Xiang Er.

Xiang Er, unable to maintain her balance, fell backwards, her arms still held captive.

Shen Yuhe stepped forward and caught her, her arm supporting Xiang Er’s waist.

Xiang Er’s left hand, freed, fell limply to her side. Her right hand was still held by Shen Yuhe, raised in the air, her slender waist held captive in Shen Yuhe’s embrace.

It was almost a classic waltz position.

Half-embraced, half-supported, one arm raised, the female partner’s waist completely controlled…

Xiang Er thought of the dance performances she had seen, but she had never learned to dance, and she would only embarrass herself… She knew her face was burning, and she lowered her head, almost burying it in Shen Yuhe’s chest.

Shen Yuhe’s blazer was unbuttoned, revealing a black blouse beneath, and the top two buttons of the blouse were also undone.

The view within was unobstructed, black lace lingerie, a more ample and perfect cleavage than she had imagined…

Xiang Er’s mind was a blur. She should have closed her eyes, but… she had never seen such a perfect sight, she couldn’t bear to look away.

A soft chuckle came from above, and then, that beautiful sight pressed closer, almost touching Xiang Er.

Shen Yuhe’s slightly husky voice, like a whisper from heaven, reached her ear:

“Like what you see? Look all you want.”

She released Xiang Er’s waist and wrist, allowing her to stand up straight.

Then… Shen Yuhe started taking off her coat.

Slowly, seductively, she removed her blazer, tossed it on the floor, her jade-like fingers reaching for her blouse, unbuttoning the third button.

The topmost button still fastened.

Shen Yuhe, a playful smile on her face, stared into Xiang Er’s eyes as her fingers moved deftly.

Xiang Er’s mouth was slightly open, her mind blank, then suddenly, it clicked.

She realized! She realized she had been staring! Her image as a decent person was ruined!

Xiang Er let out a mortified cry:

“You go shower, I’m going back to my room!”

As she shouted, she turned and ran towards her room, faster than she had ever run before!

She slammed the door shut behind her, shutting out the beautiful woman, as if blocking a raging fire, her heart pounding, her body tense, as if she had just survived a terrible battle.

And it was a battle! A battle between her and beauty itself, and the enemy was being incredibly aggressive!

Xiang Er gasped for air, feeling like she was suffocating. Her legs stiff, she walked to the window, opened it slightly, and breathed deeply, the cold night air against her face, as if trying to extinguish the flames within her.

Why was the night sky still black, why wasn’t it burning like her heart, a fiery gold and red? Why was the world still so quiet, why wasn’t anyone else screaming like she wanted to?

Xiang Er gripped the windowsill, the cold December wind against her face, only intensifying the flames within her. Something was rising in her chest, struggling to escape, but she couldn’t find a way to release it… She gritted her teeth, preventing herself from screaming out loud.

She composed herself and listened for any sounds from outside. A faint rustling, then silence, the sound of slippers shuffling on the floor, and after a while… the sound of running water from the bathroom.

Xiang Er exhaled, knowing that the ordeal was over for now.

Thankfully, Shen Yuhe hadn’t barged into her room and dragged her into the shower with her. Her heart was safe.

For now… safe.

Coming back to her senses, Xiang Er started to wonder. As an orphan, it was understandable that she wasn’t always socially adept, but why was Shen Yuhe also so… so… direct?

It was excessive, not like someone who had grown up in human society for so many years. Who would try to shower with their new roommate on their first night? And undress in front of them! And say things like, “Like what you see? Look all you want…”

Xiang Er decided that she would ask Shen Yuhe about her upbringing sometime, her way of thinking was so unusual.

Her room was separated from the bathroom by only a thin wall, and the sound of running water was clear, she could even see the steam rising from the bathroom window.

Xiang Er watched the steam dissipate into the night, and couldn’t help but imagine Shen Yuhe standing under the showerhead… She abruptly shook her head, pressing her hands against her temples, and scolded herself: Get a grip, Xiang Er!

She pulled the rusty window closed, tightly, leaving no gaps, not a single crack for her imagination to seep through.

Turning around, she leaned against her desk, exhausted from the mental struggle, her gaze unfocused, falling on a corner behind the door.

She saw something small.

A fist-sized, slime-covered, tentacled… thing.