Chapter 24

The morning light outside the window showed that I had successfully survived to the next day. I opened my eyes and looked at the clear and bright scene, then I threw back the quilt and quickly walked to the dressing mirror and sat down.

I stretched my neck to look at myself in the mirror. There was a faint blood scab on my skin, and it also exuded the fragrance of ointment.

If you touch this line lightly with your finger, it will no longer hurt.

I almost died last night.

The eyes in the mirror were red from crying, but there was no fear or resentment on this face.

Even if I see the sun today, for me it would only be a suspended death sentence.

Want to escape?

The moment this thought popped into my mind, I rejected it. Even without the Phoenix bracelet, let alone the band, I wouldn't be able to run more than a few hundred meters.

Besides, I didn't want to run away.

Because I like him, I even accept things that I was afraid of before. These three days are like the countdown to my life.

If I stay, I can see a glimmer of hope.

If Chu Yingyu hadn't been reluctant, why did he stop last night? Being frightened won't solve the problem, so let's just keep going.

I put aside all the distracting thoughts in my mind and began to dress up seriously, cheering myself up and preparing for my birthday in advance.

Stepping out of the house, I saw Chu Yingyu staring at Lai Fu in the yard. I raised my hand and said, "Good morning!"

Chu Yingyu paused for a moment, looked at me, and said nothing.

I lifted the hem of my skirt and leaned over to poke him, "Stop looking at me so creepily without saying anything. I feel like I'm already a corpse!"

"There's really nothing to say about corpses."

"...Then what am I now!"

"It should be a corpse."

Unable to contain myself, I snorted and pretended to be angry, "Since you gave me three more days, just have a good birthday and don't mention this."

"I'm not looking forward to this."

"That's because no one has ever given you one before. It just so happens that this time, I'm celebrating for you."

"What about you? When is your birthday?"

"As for me, it was summer, but that time is gone now."

“…”

Chu Yingyu rubbed his chest and walked away, not wanting to waste time talking to me. Ever since he injured his hand yesterday, he has become much colder towards me, as if he was deliberately suppressing all contact with me.

Since you are not looking forward to your birthday and don’t want to talk to me more, why do you give me three days?

I was busy doing my own things that day, such as designing a birthday hat, dyeing it with colored ink, and using glue to stick on the pearls and agates that I removed from the hairpins.

There was a blacksmith in the village. He paid a little extra money to ask the master to make a hundred iron needles, which were to be given to Chu Yingyu as gifts.

I haven't danced in over six months, but I haven't lost my choreography skills. Just some loosening up and some practice has helped me get back into shape. Although I majored in classical dance, I wanted to give him a light and cute birthday dance. A kindergarten-level dance is more than enough for him!

I was humming a song while doing my work. Lai Fu was playing with my trouser leg. When I was stretching, I caught a glimpse of the sprouting Chu Yingyu standing by the window.

I:"……"

He seemed to have been standing by the window looking at me for a long time, but I only now realized that this guy was really a ghost.

Once I noticed him, I felt the gaze was piercing. After thinking it over again, I still said hello.

"Would you like to come in and sit down?"

“…”

Someone turned and left.

I was hoping to have a happy three days, but the guy looked like he was about to be guillotined! What the hell is going on?

After two days, I couldn't stand it anymore and rushed into Chu Yingyu's room. The boy who was changing clothes widened his eyes in surprise, and I reached out and pushed him away.

I stood on tiptoe and locked him in my arms. I raised my head and looked at him sternly: "I am dying and I don't even have a temper. What's wrong with you?"

"You're not afraid of me anymore."

"Being afraid won't kill you! What's there to be afraid of? Don't you want me to be afraid of you? If it's your wish, aren't you happy?"

"without."

"Then act happy and smile for your sister."

“…”

Chu Yingyu's eyes moved around, and he licked his lips as if nervously. When he opened his mouth, I saw his little fangs. I showed no emotion on the surface, but in my heart I thought he was so adorable and wanted to kiss him to death.

He is rarely seen looking uneasy.

Perhaps because he knew that his life was coming to an end, he became more arrogant.

"I'm going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow, so please don't start wandering around like a ghost again and ignoring me!"

"What to do."

"Just cooperate with me and celebrate your birthday."

"……oh."

With his back against the wall, his confused gaze finally fell on my face. He reached out and poked a dimple on my cheek.

Me: “Hmm?”

Chu Yingyu: "Today, I'm not wearing any makeup."

He wasn’t picky about my bare face before, but I started wearing makeup these past couple of days. Could it be that he is not used to me without makeup?

"I'm going to put on makeup now!"

"No, this is fine."

"real?"

Chu Yingyu nodded affirmatively.

Perhaps because of my strict request, Chu Yingyu no longer avoided me in a panic or observed me secretly, but continued to follow me openly as before.

I gradually got used to working under such scorching gazes. Unfortunately, the hens I raised couldn't lay eggs yet, and the vegetables in the backyard hadn't grown yet, so I didn't have time to go and see them.

Due to the lack of materials and my own lack of extraordinary talent, I cannot make a decent cake.

But I accept these imperfections, at least I put my heart into it.

I didn't sleep that night. I couldn't close my eyes for various reasons. Even if it was the countdown of my life, I couldn't waste the last moments!

"Get up!"

I howled in front of Chu Yingyu's door, and I actually got up earlier than him!

There was no response. I pushed the door open to test it, but it wasn't locked at all. "I'm coming in?"

After politely saying goodbye, I stepped into his room. There was a bulge on the bed. No way, was the sky falling? Was he staying in bed?

He pulled off my quilt so many times in the past, and now the situation has changed, will I have to pull off his quilt one day too?

A strange feeling of relief suddenly surged in my heart, and I couldn't help but put my claws over, "Chu——"

"Here."

The sound behind me scared me so much that I jumped twice. When I lifted the quilt, I saw a Lai Fu and various things it had brought in its mouth.

After all the ups and downs, I looked at this handsome guy with dead eyes and asked, "Why aren't you in the room?"

"Not asleep, in the tree."

"...Are you going to watch the moon all night?"

"You haven't slept in your room either."

Tsk, I opened the window for ventilation, not so you can peek at me from the tree!

We both stay up late, but Chu Yingyu doesn't have any symptoms at all, while I yawn from time to time.

Pulling a ribbon out of my pocket, I said with a smile, "Wrap it around your eyes. I'm going to celebrate your birthday!"

“…”

"I won't plot against you. Besides, am I capable of doing that?"

Chu Yingyu looked at me for a moment, then took the ribbon and tied it around his head. He was already very familiar with the room, and even without seeing, he could easily avoid obstacles and sit at the table accurately.

I placed the freshly baked omelet in front of him. I had previously carved the big red candle into the shape of number 18. Although the craftsmanship was a bit rough, it was passable.

After everything was arranged, I untied the ribbon. Chu Yingyu looked at the birthday hat, egg pancakes, awkward number candles and a bunch of iron needles rolled up in a cloth bag on the table.

"Ahem, my dear friend, please let me put a hat on you, light a candle, and sing and dance a birthday song for you!"

“…”

Chu Yingyu really cooperated and sat down obediently. Although there was confusion in his eyes, he continued to follow my procedures.

I put a colorful birthday hat on the boy's head, smoothed down his ponytail and adjusted its position, then took out a tinderbox and lit the candle.

Singing Happy Birthday, I danced a simple and cheerful children's dance around Chu Yingyu. His eyes followed my figure, never leaving my sight for a moment.

"What a strange dance."

The action was frozen on the heart shape I made with my hands. I looked at him in the frame and smiled, "Do you want to see more?"

"think."

"First, blow out the candles, make a wish, and eat a bite of the omelet. Then I'll teach you how to dance a duet!"

“Why do you want to do this?”

"It's just a little ritual. Quick, after you blow out the candles, think of something you want to get, or something you want to accomplish."

Chu Yingyu said seriously: "Wishing is a lie. If you want something, you have to go get it yourself."

Me: "...Don't be pragmatic at a time like this, be romantic."

Chu Yingyu tilted his head: "Are you angry?"

I put my hands on my hips and said, "Will you allow me?"

Under my gaze, Chu Yingyu blinked, put his hands together like me, blew out the candles obediently, and then looked at me blankly.

"Look at me, making a wish."

"I don't know what to wish for."

"It's hard for me to follow the process if you do this."

"My wish..."

"Don't tell anyone! It won't work!"

"Then don't make a wish. Just teach me how to dance a duet."

I skipped the wishing part and went to the next round. I rolled my eyes, pulled the man up from the chair, and moved closer to him, but he took a step back.

I put my arm around his waist, and the aura of a substitute teacher in the training class soared. "First, straighten your body and hold your posture. Let's do the simplest one."

Chu Yingyu: "Do you have to be that close?"

Me: "A duet."

Chu Yingyu: "If this happens in a brothel, you will take off your clothes."

"You need to apologize to me and everyone else who dances with you! I'm crying when I dance Latin dance!"

"What is that?"

"A type of dance. Wait, you just mentioned a brothel. Have you ever been there?"

"Um."

My heart sank. Even though I might die today, I still cared about the fact that he visited a brothel!

"What are you going to do?"

"Task."

"Are you still doing missions in the brothel?"

"If there's a target there, they'll be less vigilant on women, making it easy to target them."

“…” is now a qualified worker.

It feels like this guy has seen a lot of live teaching.

Suddenly, Chu Yingyu hugged my waist tightly. I blushed nervously when I met his curious gaze.

"Are all these dances you do with men?"

"If you have a male companion, come with me."

“…”

My waist was a little sore from being hugged, so I patted his arm, signaling him to relax. "Don't be so hard! Besides, I'm not majoring in these subjects. I usually learn classical dance, either alone or in a group. I don't often dance with boys."

"A group of men?"

"Girls!"

"oh."

"I'll count the beats. We'll learn the steps first, then the hand movements. It's very simple."

"Um."

I didn't dare ask if I would be killed after I finished learning, but just took the time to teach him a simple and complete duet.

Perhaps because martial arts and dancing have something in common, Chu Yingyu is not as stiff as some beginners. He is very flexible and has quick reactions.

After memorizing my male steps, he was also able to memorize my female steps: spinning, looking back, holding hands, he could catch my every movement and glance. In this kind of cooperation, I felt both satisfaction and regret.

I don’t know how long I have been teaching him, but seeing that he has become more and more proficient, I hope that time will continue without stopping.

But this is impossible, the song I was humming in my heart had already ended.

"You've graduated."

When the last beat fell, I said it affirmatively. I wanted to let go of my hand, but the other party held it tighter again.

"Chu Yingyu?"

“…”

"Are you feeling unwell again?"

"Um."

"Then, go ahead and do it. Happy eighteenth birthday."

After saying that, I closed my eyes. A few seconds passed, and I was still alive and kicking. When I opened my eyes, the man's expression never changed, leaving me stunned.

"You don't want to wipe my neck anymore?"

"think."

"Then go ahead and do it! Just thinking about it isn't enough! I've figured it out. Maybe if you kill me, I'll go home! Give me a quick death, don't let me die in agony and misery!"

“…”

I closed my eyes again, but still couldn't wait for the end. What does it mean to be full of energy at first, then weak and exhausted? This is how I am now. If I delay any longer, I will be afraid again!

Just as she opened her mouth to call him, the boy hugged her tightly in his arms.

"If I kill you, will I still feel pain?"

I heard fear and hesitation in these words. How many people have seen this hesitant side of him?

I responded to the hug and said soothingly, "What if the pain goes away and I can go home? Think positively, maybe this is the best of both worlds."

"In a few days."

"What?"

"I'll kill you in a few days."

Am I some chicken, duck, or fish waiting to be slaughtered during the Lunar New Year? Raised and then killed?

The shaken person let go of the hug and ran out of the room. I looked at the untouched plate of omelets and was still thinking about how to settle the score between Lai Fu and me.

As a result, Chu Yingyu turned around and ran in, picked up the plate and ran away again.

I:"……"

I thought I would not live past Chu Yingyu's birthday, but in his confusion, I managed to survive. I don't know how long, and the faint scar on my neck also healed.

It was as if the temptation that night had never happened, so our relationship now became a little weird.

Whenever I see Chu Yingyu, I would say something like this from time to time.

"Friend, are you going to kill me today?"

"No, we'll go to market tomorrow."

"Okay."

Two days later, I leaned on his window again and asked him.

"Friend, are you going to kill me today?"

"No, Lai Fu bit my clothes."

"Okay, take your time mending the clothes while I educate Lai Fu!"

Six or seven days later, I looked up at the boy in the tree and asked loudly.

"Friend, it's a beautiful day today, shall we kill him?"

"No killing, come up to watch the sunset?"

"Take me up there!"

So Chu Yingyu came down, held me in his arms and jumped onto a tree branch, and we watched the entire sunset. I even leaned my head on his shoulder, and he didn't push me away.

He seemed to be unwilling to exclude me from approaching him.

"Chu Yingyu, doesn't your chest hurt when I'm so close to you?"

"pain."

I was about to distance myself from him, but he pulled me back in. You're asking for trouble! I sighed, "You seem to be used to it."

“…”

Swinging my legs and gazing at the night lights, I saw Laifu crawling into the doghouse from under the tree. This guy is biting my shoe again! Next time, I'll give him a full bite!

"Xiao'e."

I was still staring at the dog below when Chu Yingyu called me. I responded without even raising my head. Dissatisfied with my perfunctory attitude, he turned my shoulder and asked me to look at him carefully.

I was shocked by her looks for a second, then I pretended to be calm and said, "What's wrong?"

"I just had a birthday wish."

"You're only making a wish now? Your birthday is already a month away! No more waiting!"

"……"stare.

"All right."

He might have had a sudden impulse, thinking that today was a good day to sacrifice me. He raised his neck, and I closed my eyes. I wondered how he had developed this calm demeanor for facing death.

“Chiu——”

When my neck was kissed, I stared at him in shock and shame, my body swaying. The boy immediately reached out to hold my waist, worried that I would fall.

"Chu Yingyu, isn't your wish to kill me?"

"If you tell me, it won't work."

“…”You are the only one who can draw inferences from one example!

"But I want you to know."

"You talk, I'm listening!"

Stroking my cheek, he leaned in gently, revealing his soft side, and whispered in my ear.

"Qin Xiao'e must always stay with Chu Yingyu."

"Don't talk nonsense, I will take it seriously. Even friends will eventually part ways, not to mention you want to kill me."

"No, I won't kill you. You said you should protect the people you care about. I want to learn to treat you the way you expect."

"Even if I cause you physical pain for no apparent reason, is that okay?"

"I'll find out why."

"Even if I hold you back or even become your weakness, you don't care?"

"You said that having someone you want to protect should make you more powerful."

"What if, I mean, what if I don't become stronger?"

"I don't know, but I can't bear to kill you. I want you to live."

There was no momentum in the words, as if it were a big cat playing tricks. I felt a little dizzy due to the feeling of being in a daze.

He gave me hope.

I leaned into his arms and heard his heartbeat, not knowing if it was mine or his. My mind was in a state of confusion, and I grabbed his clothes by his chest. I hesitated to open my mouth, but finally, buried in his arms, I screamed out loud.

"I like you, Chu Yingyu!"

Now that I'm still alive, I want to confess!

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