บท 22: Squeeze

Drizzle descended in a soft pitter-patter, seeping into the fabric of Song Zhuyu's hoodie and enveloping him in a chilly embrace. He took a deep breath and exhaled, watching as a spray of white mist danced from his mouth.

This was something he hadn't realized since he had been cocooned in the warmth from the fireplace, but night in Shenci Island was awfully cold. It was a sharp, biting, and penetrating cold comparable to the winter in Yacheng, capable of freezing someone's airway.

Even Song Zhuyu, whose body temperature ran higher than average, couldn't help but shiver and rub his hands together for warmth.

After ensuring that the coast was clear, he ventured onto the stony path and ascended the hill with cautious steps. The information he had of Shenci Island was extremely limited and coupled with the fact that he hadn't received a tour, Song Zhuyu was literally charging ahead blindly into the darkness before him, yet he remained unfazed and undaunted by the unknown.

The thrill of dancing at the edge of danger only served to fuel his adrenaline, sharpening his senses. Even his spirit artifact seemed to exude warmth, presumably resonating with the excitement and anticipation simmering within him.

At night, Shenci Island exuded its own inexplicable allure. Perhaps it was the flickering lanterns and candles guiding the way, or the rustling of tree leaves as raindrops gently tapped against them, mingling with the distant crash of waves— the land seemed to emit a mysterious aura that drew him in.

Song Zhuyu wouldn't even be surprised if the demon chose this moment to reveal itself.

No, scratch that— he was actually hoping for it, as it would spare him the trouble of having to scour the island to search for it.

But alas, it wasn't the demon he ended up seeing, but a familiar silhouette ascending the hill a few meters ahead.

Song Zhuyu narrowed his eyes. That was… Ma Boliu?

As soon as the realization dawned on him, Song Zhuyu swiftly abandoned the stony path and took cover behind a tree trunk. At the same time, the person ahead abruptly turned around, scanning the area behind him with sharp, wary eyes.

Thanks to the lanterns, Song Zhuyu managed to confirm that the other person was indeed Ma Boliu.

What was the village chief's son doing out at this hour? And what was that he was holding in his hand? It was too bad that Song Zhuyu dared not poke his head out, plus Ma Boliu's broad frame partially obscured the unknown item he carried, rendering him unable to discern what it was.

With a final glance around, Ma Boliu shifted his gaze forward and resumed his ascent up the hill.

"Hmm…" Song Zhuyu pondered, the corner of his lips twitching into a bemused smile. "What about no climbing after one AM? So it only applies to the outsiders? Or perhaps… everyone except Ma Boliu… and the Chief?"

Tugging at the string of his hoodie, Song Zhuyu continued to trail after Ma Boliu, ensuring to maintain a safe distance between them. In order not to be seen, he couldn't take the stone path and could only tread on the muddy ground, making his journey more challenging as he had to be extra careful not to slip. But luckily, the rain tonight worked in his favor to mask his movements and conceal any trace he left behind.

Ma Boliu, on the other hand, navigated the terrain with ease, glancing back once in a while to make sure that no one was around. His wariness only served to confirm Song Zhuyu's suspicion that he was indeed hiding something.

The two of them, one in front while the other sneakily followed behind, continued to climb until they almost reached the top of the island. Here, Song Zhuyu observed that the cluster of wooden houses were no more, as the area was dominated with dense foliage that resembled a wild jungle.

Pushing away a huge leaf that obstructed his view, Song Zhuyu watched with interest as Ma Boliu halted in his tracks and placed the object he was carrying on the ground.

Then without doing anything else, he turned away and descended the hill once more, returning to the direction he had come from.

Song Zhuyu hid himself securely behind the tree and held his breath as Ma Boliu walked past him, and he only released his breath once the man vanished from sight.

"What was that…?" he muttered quietly.

Frowning, Song Zhuyu turned to the spot where Ma Boliu had left the item, finding it still resting on the ground.

Unable to resist his curiosity any longer, he stepped out of his hiding place and approached it with silent footsteps. As he drew nearer, he finally caught a clear view of the item— a flat, rectangular box wrapped securely in a cloth. And when he was just three steps away, he was surprised to catch the faint scent of food drifting towards him.

This was… food?

What was Ma Boliu doing placing food in the middle of nowhere, at such an ungodly hour, no less?

The first thought that crossed Song Zhuyu's mind was— an offering? But to whom?

With his mind racing, Song Zhuyu intended to inspect the area further, but when he turned around, a dark shadow collided right into him and—

Squeeze.

His fist, raised halfway, froze in midair as he glanced down at a hand – pale, slender, and unmistakably human – pressing firmly against his pectoral, squeezing it for good measure. The unexpected touch caught both of them off guard, and for a suspended moment, they stood there in shock, equally surprised by each other's presence.

Song Zhuyu was certain he had not sensed the other person's approach at all, so where had they come from?!

Before he could open his mouth to speak, however, the other person pushed himself away with his hands still on Song Zhuyu's chest, gasping in surprise. The sudden movement caused Song Zhuyu to instinctively step back as well, his cross earring swaying gently.

Ding-a-ling

Song Zhuyu's vision, that had long since adjusted in the dark, caught a glimpse of the person's attire: a clean white shirt and straight black pants. He possessed a thin and slender frame, his skin unusually pale compared to the islanders' healthy wheat-colored complexion, proving that he was seldom exposed to the sun.

And then, one second before the other person turned away, Song Zhuyu caught sight of a small face and eyes covered by a… black cloth?

Blind?

Just as this thought crossed Song Zhuyu's mind, the other person turned and bolted away with such speed that he vanished before Song Zhuyu could even react, leaving him dumbfounded and rooted on the spot.

He disappeared as swiftly as he came, just like a ghost. If not for the faint scent of shampoo still lingering in the air and the vivid sensation of his chest being groped, Song Zhuyu would have doubted whether this was another hallucination of his.

"Wha—" Song Zhuyu blinked, struggling to make sense of what had just happened.

What the fuck was that???

A/N: my special thanks to ArcaneMag, Ying, CMRCS7 and mimikyu for giving 13 golden tickets to DS this month <3<3<3

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