Yan Chuan slowly moved forward, following the source of light around a bend.
It seemed like a man-made dungeon, twisting and turning, built specifically to imprison something.
Yan Chuan thought to himself.
Then, he heard footsteps.
The footsteps were coming straight towards him.
Yan Chuan paused at the corner.
Is the “monster” here?
Is it still posing as Dr. Navi?
As the footsteps grew nearer, Yan Chuan’s heart began to pound.
He unconsciously clutched the hem of his clothing, crumpling it in his grip.
Would the monster find him?
Yan Chuan didn’t know, but as a contestant, he had no way of facing the monster from the script directly; he was merely delivering himself as prey.
In the dim cave entrance, Yan Chuan crouched behind a corner, half-squatting, with his pointed chin resting on his knees.
He dared not make a sound; even his breathing was light, with his heart racing.
Yan Chuan held his breath and slowly counted seconds in his mind, hoping the monster would overlook him, granting him time to escape.
The footsteps gradually faded.
The dripping water echoed in his ears, refreshingly clear.
Two whole minutes passed, and Yan Chuan didn’t hear any more footsteps.
He glanced out into the dim light.
The cave wall cast long, narrow shadows.
There was a figure.
The shadow was projected onto the narrow, winding cave, twisted into an irregular shape.
And the owner of the shadow stood not far from him, motionless, seemingly watching him.
Yan Chuan:…
Well, he suspected he could not hide in such a small space and would eventually be found.
Yan Chuan’s palms were damp with perspiration.
His heart beat even more violently.
What would happen if the monster discovered him?
Would it devour him as prey, or did it have other intentions?
Yan Chuan slowly lifted his head.
Then he saw a pair of brown eyes.
“Leo…?” Yan Chuan exclaimed in surprise.
What was he doing here?
Hearing his voice, the person in the corner stepped out of the shadows, the faint light illuminating his face.
A handsome and gentle face, incredibly familiar.
His eyelids drooped, covering the normally gentle brown eyes.
“Uh-huh,” Leo began, “I’m here to take you out.”
Yan Chuan felt a weight lift from his heart, but at the same time, he felt drained of energy.
He remained cautious, recalling how he had interacted with Dr. Navi in the infirmary without any signs of abnormality, doubting whether Leo in front of him was real or not.
The monster could imitate Navi… would it not be able to imitate Leo as well?
Yan Chuan felt anxious.
Could it have assumed Leo’s identity when he was scared, rescued him, and made him trust him like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline?
The bridge effect?
Yan Chuan blinked and shook his head at Leo’s outstretched hand.
“I’m fine,” he whispered, “If you’re going to take me out, I can walk by myself.”
[Ah, ah, ah, it’s a guard! Someone’s here to save my wife!]
[My poor wife is about to cry; there’s no little black room in this little black room.]
[No matter if the guard is a good person or a bad person, let’s save the wife first.]
[The monster is thwarted: Where has such a big wife gone? jpg]
[Why am I feeling a bit scared? Are there any good people in this script?]
Leo paused for a moment.
“Let me carry you,” he looked at Yan Chuan’s ankle that had accidentally gotten a bit muddy: “It’s difficult to walk here; the ground is covered with stones.”
The Eastern beauty still shook his head.
Leo understood what he was worried about, and frankly said,
“I’m not the monster who brought you here,” Leo’s voice held a hint of helplessness, “Monsters can only mimic others under specific conditions; they can’t just turn into a specific person.”
“Looks can change, but memories cannot,” seeing Yan Chuan still look a bit doubtful, Leo continued to explain: “You like toast with honey, don’t like it too sweet, and you dislike anything with spices. I even gave you my office key; you and the prison director…”
Yan Chuan pressed his lips together.
“Alright,” his cheeks inexplicably began to flush: “You don’t need to say that.”
It shouldn’t take such measures to verify one’s identity.
Yan Chuan felt that if he didn’t stop him, he might even disclose things about Ariel.
His cheeks flushed, and the anxious feeling somewhat dissipated with this blush.
Leo pulled the corner of his lips, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
Yan Chuan was certain that the person in front of him was indeed Guard Leo, the one who had shown kindness from the very beginning.
“Can I carry you out now?” Leo half-squatted down, meeting Yan Chuan’s gaze, extending his hand: “Does your leg still hurt?”
Leo’s hand hovered in the air, neither too close nor too far from him.
Yan Chuan shook his head.
He hesitated but placed his fingertips in Leo’s palm.
A timid yet slightly trusting gesture.
The Eastern beauty’s ankle was covered in a bit of dirt, contrasting sharply with his snowy skin, looking a bit disheveled.
He crouched down, wrapping his arms around himself—a very defensive body language—but he still extended his hand to the man in front of him.
His long eyelashes drooped, making his eyes appear round and bright.
If the light was brighter, one would see the Eastern beauty’s more disheveled areas.
The coat was someone else’s, hanging loosely on him, and he wore no clothes underneath.
From his pointed chin to his neck, there were faint red marks, clearly left by someone embracing him too closely.
There were also bruises on his calves, still looking severe despite having been treated.
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments