In the past, E Gui had been somewhat uncontrollable, but overall, Xia Miao kept him in check. At most, he would put on a raincoat on rainy days, pick up a bloodstained knife, and feel the urge to go out and let loose—nothing too serious.
But ever since Xia Miao became pregnant, his behavior had grown increasingly erratic.
Occasionally, he would disappear for a while, only to return with various small wild animals, presenting them all to her.
It was as if he couldn’t help but reveal his wild instincts—now that his mate was pregnant, he felt compelled to hunt and provide nourishment for her.
Xia Miao looked at the pile of small animal carcasses and felt a slight headache.
Honestly, she didn’t dare eat these wild creatures, afraid they might harm her health. But seeing E Gui’s damp, pleading eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to throw them away. That would be too cruel!
E Gui, fully embracing his impending fatherhood, picked up the animal carcasses and hunched over as he shuffled toward the kitchen. "I cook. Lunch."
Xia Miao quickly set down her book and rushed over, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. "E Gui, you’ve been working so hard lately. As a reward, let’s go out to eat today!"
E Gui turned his head, blinking slowly. "Go out… eat?"
"Yes! I’ll treat you to a feast!"
E Gui glanced at the animal carcasses in his hand, then let them drop to the floor. His face lit up. "Feast."
Since they were already out, after their meal at the restaurant, Xia Miao dragged E Gui around for a walk to help digest.
Passersby cast them strange looks.
Xia Miao reassured E Gui, "They’ve just never seen such a handsome man before, so they can’t help but stare. They don’t mean any harm. Don’t mind them, E Gui."
E Gui gazed at her with shadowed eyes. In truth, he thought those looks were directed at her.
After all, she was drenched in his scent.
Xia Miao spotted a shop with the words "Escape Room" and suddenly remembered that she and E Gui had first met while playing one. She tugged his hand. "Let’s go check it out!"
Stepping inside, Xia Miao was surprised to see a familiar face.
Director Lin looked equally startled. "Teacher Xia!"
Xia Miao greeted him. "Director Lin, what are you doing here?"
"This shop is mine," Director Lin said with a chuckle, cautiously eyeing E Gui. "Here to play, I assume? Welcome, welcome!"
Just then, another group entered.
Gu Moleng and Jiang Du, along with Wen Yaoyao, had scoured every corner of the town. This was the only place they hadn’t checked yet, so they walked in—only to run into Xia Miao and E Gui.
The three of them had witnessed E Gui’s murderous methods before, and their nerves tightened, their guards instinctively rising.
Noticing their probing stares, E Gui lifted his pale face, his lips slowly stretching into a gloomy smile.
Wen Yaoyao, easily frightened, quickly hid behind the two men.
Gu Moleng forced himself to stay calm. "Boss, we’d like to play the escape room."
Director Lin grinned. "Sure! Our small-town escape room isn’t fancy. There’s only one rule—find the way out. Anyone who succeeds gets a prize from me."
He picked up a pot of white roses. "Only those who escape can take one."
Xia Miao’s eyes sparkled. "I want one! E Gui, let’s play!"
E Gui nodded blankly.
Though both groups entered the escape room at the same time, Gu Moleng’s party deliberately slowed their pace. When they reached a fork in the path, they waited until Xia Miao and E Gui took the left before decisively choosing the right.
The corridor was dim, illuminated only by faint red lights that made the indistinct surroundings even eerier.
Gu Moleng comforted Wen Yaoyao. "Yaoyao, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you."
Wen Yaoyao sniffled. "Thank you, Brother Gu."
Suddenly, Jiang Du lunged forward and wrapped himself around Wen Yaoyao. At the same time, a sharp claw meant for her slashed across his back, leaving deep, bloody gashes.
Wen Yaoyao screamed. "Jiang Du!"
Jiang Du gritted his teeth. "I’m fine."
Wen Yaoyao burst into tears.
Gu Moleng’s heart twisted. Hearing the creaking, puppet-like sound of joints twisting behind them, he shouted, "Run!"
The three of them sprinted forward, but Jiang Du, injured, couldn’t keep up.
Wen Yaoyao turned back. "Jiang Du!"
But Gu Moleng yanked her forward, pulling her along.
Jiang Du stumbled. "Yaoyao, don’t worry about me!"
As Wen Yaoyao was dragged farther and farther away by Gu Moleng, she sobbed helplessly, unable to see what had happened to Jiang Du. But Gu Moleng gave her no chance to turn back, forcing her to keep running.
Meanwhile, Xia Miao held E Gui’s hand, curiously examining their surroundings.
"This escape room is exactly like the one where we first met!"
E Gui echoed her words slowly. "Exactly… same."
"I’m gonna eat—"
Before the figure hanging upside-down from above could finish, E Gui punched it without expression. The figure flew away, followed by a distant thud.
Xia Miao looked up. "Did you hear something just now?"
He replied, "No."
A few steps later, the floor cracked open, and a claw emerged.
E Gui stomped on it. A crisp snap echoed.
Xia Miao asked again, "Did you hear something just now?"
He answered innocently, "No."
The beast lurking in the shadows had planned to jump out and scare them, but after witnessing its colleagues’ fates, it wisely stayed hidden, trembling in fear.
Now, there truly was no sound.
Xia Miao rubbed her chin. "This escape room is a bit too bland. Feels like there’s no horror element at all."
The moment she said this, her eyes landed on a room. Through the glass window, she could see shelves lined with jars.
Curiosity piqued.
But E Gui suddenly tensed. "Miao Miao… ahead… fun."
Ignoring him, Xia Miao pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Up close, under the dim light, she finally saw what was inside the jars.
Murky dark-green liquid preserved various organs and body parts—especially facial features, which filled two entire shelves.
Even if these were just props, their sheer number and lifelike appearance were enough to shock anyone.
E Gui tightened his grip on Xia Miao’s hand, his voice urgent. "Miao Miao… out… out… we… out…"
Struggling for words, he could only repeat "out," his pale face on the verge of shattering.
Xia Miao remained frozen in shock, her gaze fixed on one of the glass jars containing a pair of eyes. Unconsciously, she reached out to touch the cold surface, as if she could feel the chilling emptiness of those eyes even through the barrier.
She lifted her face, her eyes meeting his.
E Gui’s pitch-black eyes flickered with fear and panic—eyes that had once sparkled with warmth and affection under her devotion, now seemed on the verge of losing every trace of light.
In the next moment, it was as if his eyes would become no different from those preserved in the jars—lifeless and hollow.
