CH 102

Before, Xun Chuan could be described as a sharp knife: cold, glinting and unyielding, unforgiving to others and even more harmful to himself. Only when he met Yan Yu did he seemed to have sheathed himself, retracting all the thorns he had as a guard, and became content to only watch, to be safely handled and tamed.

Yan Yu moved his hand to take away that annoying pillow creating distance between them, making Xun Chuan fall right onto him and be securely embraced, even tighter than threads being woven together.

For a moment all was quiet and peaceful in their hearts; it was hard to believe this could ever happen, and it was during this moment that the both of them even wished time would stop. Xun Chuan rested against Yan Yu’s shoulder and lightly nuzzled him. Seconds seemed to be quietly ticking away as cosmic dust coalescing to form stars.

Yan Yu embraced him, tucking in both of his hands, as if hugging a temperamental but pitiful wild cat, and yet also almost as if he was hugging with everything he had, leaving no space untouched.

Xun Chuan seemed to feel something and he smiled. He leaned over, lightly biting onto Yan Yu’s lips. Biting and then letting go, before resisting the desire to swallow the other up into himself. He snuggled up against his neck, lightly breathing in that cigarette smoke filled scent.

Yan Yu was not a weak sauce himself and he turned his head to the side to bite at that ear so close to him. His warm breath brought a numb, ticklish feeling, sending shivers all the way down his spine. Xun Chuan trembled and covered his ears. He quickly put some distance between the two of them and looked unwaveringly at Yan Yu with a pair of eyes that were just a bit misty, like the dew on a flower that was just given water.

Yan Yu grabbed the blankets beside them and threw it over them. Xun Chuan’s line of sight was covered in darkness, and he rustled around but was pressed down by Yan Yu, 

“Nap.”

When someone reached a certain point of laziness, they could sleep until the world turned upside down. And adding on the fact that Yan Yu had woken up so early in the morning, he couldn’t hold back his drowsiness anymore. Xun Chuan, however, couldn’t sleep, and he zoned out in the dark, mind blanking out underneath the blankets. He would occasionally reach out to tug at Yan Yu’s sleeve or buttons, touching here and there, never able to just settle down. He kept it up right until a hand reached out to pinch him on the butt.

As night approached, Su Qing came over for Yan Yu. Behind her was a 17 or 18 year old female highschooler who was still wearing her school uniform. She was dripping wet, from head to toe, almost creating puddles wherever she went.

“Her name’s Chi Xia, drowned in a nearby park about a year ago. Before she reincarnates, she wants to go to an amusement park. I’m too busy to take her there, so if you could make the spirit line and take her around, that’d be great. Just come back before morning.”

Su Qing patted Chi Xia’s head. But the latter skittishly hid behind her, looking to be quite the introverted girl. Su Qing rustled through her bag and then grabbed a stack of money to hand over to Yan Yu. 

“Here’s some spending funds. Whatever Chi Xia wants to eat or drink, buy it for her. You can keep the remainder.”

Yan Yu thought to himself, ghosts don’t have taste buds, so what could they taste? He took the money and roughly counted, 

“You’re quite generous.”

As natural as she could be, Su Qing said, 

“I’m trying to accumulate good karma here.”

Yan Yu: “Tsk.”

When Su Qing left, the apartment was left with one human and two ghosts. Chi Xia seemed to be a bit afraid of the two, and she huddled into a corner, not daring to move. Xun Chuan’s face scrunched up even more in irritation when he recalled that Yan Yu had never taken him out for fun. And now he was going to accompany some other ghost to an amusement park, and the air surrounding Xun Chuan became heavier and heavier.

TL Tidbit:

The ‘Xin Tian Di’ in the amusement park name means New Day/New Opening/New Start