Wu Li saw clearly as she got out of bed, her hands groping blindly in the dim light. She bumped her knee against the edge of a stool while navigating around the table, yet she still stumbled forward, step by step, until she reached him.
Then, she reached out her hand to him.
Chai Xiaomi could only barely make out the silhouette of a figure, unable to pinpoint exactly where his hands were.
She probed tentatively, her fingertips suddenly brushing against a flat, firm... abdomen?
Uncertain, she lightly scratched it.
The area instantly tensed, rising and falling slightly with a ragged breath. Even through the fabric, she could feel the distinct ridges of well-defined muscles.
Yes, those were definitely abdominal muscles.
Wu Li abruptly stood up and took a step back. His throat tightened, his voice so hoarse it was almost broken:
"You..."
"Don't..."
Amidst his rapid panting, he couldn't even piece together a complete sentence.
Chai Xiaomi, however, unhurriedly slid her hand down from his abdomen, her fingertips brushing past his waist until she successfully found his hand.
Only, that hand was clenched tightly into a fist, trembling slightly, with not even a sliver of space between the fingers.
She simply grabbed his wrist, leading him toward the bed, her voice soft and gentle: "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Just look at him, the poor child, trembling so much he couldn't even speak clearly.
The young man behind her now seemed like a marionette being pulled along, his limbs stiff and his movements sluggish as he let her lead him.
Chai Xiaomi gently pushed him down onto the edge of the bed, pulled up the blanket, and softly urged, "Quick, get under the covers. If you hide under the covers, you won't be scared anymore."
Terrified that her hands might wander again, Wu Li didn't make a sound. He obediently shrank under the blanket, quickly shifting to the innermost side of the bed, pressing himself into the corner against the wall.
His previously chaotic breathing still hadn't steadied. He tried to adjust his breathing in this quiet corner, only to have a warm, soft, and fragrant body press against him the very next second.
Two slender arms gently wrapped around his shoulders, drawing his head toward the crook of her neck.
A soft, sweet voice drifted down from above: "What's the use of shrinking into the corner? You'd be better off hiding in my arms."
As she spoke, her hand gently patted his back, over and over.
Wu Li's entire body stiffened.
With his forehead resting against the delicate side of her neck, he could clearly feel the gentle pulsing of the veins beneath her skin. Just beneath his nose was her slender collarbone.
He instinctively held his breath.
Otherwise, those burning, uncontrollable pants would brush entirely against her neck.
As if that would leak some deeply hidden secret.
"Lili," Chai Xiaomi asked softly as she patted him, "Are you afraid of enclosed spaces?"
Wu Li had always been arrogant by nature. On any normal day, he would have started bickering with her using cold, sarcastic remarks. But from just now until this moment, he hadn't uttered a single word. When told to cover up, he obediently did so, and after retreating into the bed, he hid straight in the corner against the wall.
His entire demeanor was completely out of character.
Chai Xiaomi held him more securely, her palm still lightly stroking his back, patiently waiting for his answer.
She recalled how Wu Li had seemed reluctant to close the window last night; it was only shut after she pretended to be drunk and fell asleep. No wonder he left the room later.
After waiting a long time without a response, she curiously called out softly, "Lili?"
Wu Li continued to hold his breath, unable to speak, only grumbling inwardly: If you want to ask a question, just ask. Why bring your face so close?
She seemed to be trying to discern in the dark whether he was still awake.
In pitch blackness, what could anyone see?
Naturally, she couldn't see a thing.
But as it happened... his heterochromatic eyes could see clearly in the dark. To him, there was no difference between day and night.
Most people feared the dark, but he preferred it.
Because of this ability, when others were terrified, he could calmly look down upon them.
Like a beast lying in wait in the deepest part of the night, silently watching and admiring its prey.
Yet, as the young girl's face drew closer and closer, the dormant beast lost its composure for the rare first time.
Her eyelashes were thick and curled, her pupils dark and bright like grapes soaked in water. Perhaps because she couldn't see, they were veiled in a thin layer of bewilderment, making her look innocent and curious.
"Lili...?"
Could he have fallen asleep? Chai Xiaomi deliberately kept her voice very, very soft, floating like a whisper, drilling into his eardrums thread by thread, like a mischievous cat's paw scratching at the tip of his heart, making him tremble from the itch.
He finally couldn't hold his breath any longer.
Wu Li abruptly turned his head, greedily gulping in air, exhaling a cloud of burning breath into the darkness.
He didn't want this breath to brush against her; only he knew how hot it was.
His rapid panting caused his chest and shoulders to heave violently. It took quite a while before he gradually calmed down.
"What's there to be afraid of in an enclosed space?" He tried hard to find his voice, even though it was still heavily hoarse. "I think you're the one who's afraid. That's why you didn't sleep a wink last night, went out with two dark circles under your eyes, and insisted on dragging me along to keep you company tonight."
His tone carried that faint, habitual mockery once again.
At this moment, only by making himself seem colder and more detached could he appear less abnormal.
He used to despise being touched by others more than anything.
Initially, when carrying her on his back or holding her, he always did so with a forced sense of distance.
But since when had he unconsciously grown accustomed to her closeness?
Even when she kissed him, or wrapped her arms around him so intimately like this... he actually didn't know how to pull away.
This realization sent a wave of panic through Wu Li's heart.
It was as if he were sinking into a swamp—the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.
He should push her away, right...?
But just as he was about to raise his hand, Chai Xiaomi let go on her own.
The cozy warmth was suddenly withdrawn.
He suddenly felt an indescribable sense of emptiness and discomfort. It was as if a fire was fiercely burning inside him, yet his skin was perennially steeped in coldness.
Ice and fire tore at his flesh and blood in torment. Only that warm, soft, and sweet embrace from just now could quell this bizarre tearing and bring him peace.
But she had let go.
Right after he said he wasn't afraid, she let go without hesitation, showing not a shred of reluctance.
That was fine too.
He was going to push her away anyway.
After a moment of silence, Chai Xiaomi asked again, "If you're not afraid of enclosed spaces, then... are you afraid of the dark?"
As she asked this, she shook her head inwardly.
She remembered their first encounter, when Wu Li was soaking alone in a dark pool inside a pitch-black cave. He hadn't shown an ounce of fear; instead, he was languid and composed.
Perhaps she was really mistaken?
Judging by his tone just now, he didn't sound afraid either.
Just then, she heard a very low,
"...Mhm."
It was as light as the flutter of a mosquito's wings; if she hadn't listened carefully, she almost wouldn't have heard it.
It also carried an indescribable softness.
"Who is it?" Chai Xiaomi's expression turned sharp. She instantly pricked up her ears, peering into the empty air. "Who's talking?"
"Did you hear that?" She nudged Wu Li, her small face scrunching up. "Could it be... that ghost child is here..."
"..." Wu Li only felt his throat go incredibly dry. His knuckles tightened more and more, and his thoughts seemed to stall, unable to turn. Yet, as if possessed, he said, "I was the one talking... I said mhm, can't you understand that?"
Chai Xiaomi was taken aback. "Huh?"
She could hardly believe it. Did that incredibly soft and vulnerable tone really just come from him!?
Wait, what was he agreeing to just now?
Her mind raced for a moment before she finally recalled her own question: "Are you afraid of the dark?"
The source of her confusion had finally been found.
Who would have thought? The grand, formidable villain was actually scared of the dark!
"You should have just admitted it earlier instead of trying to act tough." Holding back a smile, Chai Xiaomi reached out and wrapped her arms around him once more, keeping her voice incredibly light and soft. "Is this a little better?"
