Chapter 014 Orchid's Independent Side Story - A Joke (Part 1)

#CharacterDeathWarning

Piano music flowed through the bar, and the lights swayed gently like dark blue silk.

"Excuse me, is anyone here?"

The girl blushed and asked the man sitting by the window with a shy expression.

Upon hearing this, the latter slightly raised her head, her beautiful eyes possessing a gem-like quality.

He squinted slightly, like a cat's eyes startled by a sudden light, his pupils contracting abruptly and disappearing into the depths of his thick, long eyelashes.

"No."

His lips parted gracefully, and the man's voice was clear and magnetic.

Receiving the man's unabashed and direct gaze, the girl couldn't help but blush slightly: "Then—"

“I mean no. You can’t sit here.”

The man spoke calmly, but a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes, like a snake flicking its scarlet tongue. A fleeting hint of mockery crossed his eyes.

"Sorry to bother you!"

The man watched the girl's hurried departure, his gaze shifting to a huge poster by the door.

It was clearly written above—

"Paradise, a magical show! Midnight Theater welcomes you!"

The poster, painted with exaggerated colors, features balloons, bouquets, and fluttering ribbons. A bizarre clown face occupies almost three-quarters of the image, with a round red nose and black eyeshadow drawn in a cross shape above it.

The man stared at the scarlet lips that stretched almost to the back of her ears for a while, then slowly raised the corners of his lips.

...

Annie sat among the noisy audience, feeling like a complete fool.

She actually agreed to let that little bitch Chris come see some damn circus performance, screw her clown phobia!

Seeing Chris's high-pitched voice and heart-shaped eyes, Annie bet the guy on the other end of the phone was Pete. Oh, okay, at least her friend had a guy to make excuses for her, while she—

Anne recalled the scene in the bar and felt like crawling into a hole.

The circus performance was as dull as ever.

Anne stared at the dazzling stage, where a dwarf in a bodysuit was leaping nimbly through rings of fire, as agile as a monkey. It wasn't until the performance ended and the actor removed his hat to the audience that she realized—oh well, it really was just a damn monkey.

Anne let out a bitter sigh and began to look around, planning to sneak out during the break.

Suddenly, her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly.

She saw a familiar figure from the front row near the side door: a tall, slender silhouette, and thick, long hair that cascaded down her back like seaweed...

The other party was none other than the man who had teased her earlier.

Anne wasn't quite sure when the other person appeared—but it certainly wasn't too early, otherwise she probably would have noticed them much earlier.

Moreover, he had no companions and did not seem to be waiting for anyone.

A burst of rapid drumbeats interrupted Annie's train of thought. A clown in baggy overalls hopped and skipped toward the center of the stage, and cheerful music filled the air. The performance had begun.

Anne watched the performance absentmindedly, but kept glancing towards the side door.

As soon as she entered the bar, she noticed the man sitting by the window, a man who was outstanding in appearance, temperament and even clothing.

"If I didn't already have Pete."

Chris winked meaningfully, as if they were accomplices, and then Anne felt as if she were under a spell, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

—Forget that stupid thing, Anne.

Anne kept reminding herself of this as she lowered her head to avoid the man noticing them.

The man did not turn around; he remained facing the stage the entire time.

While Anne felt fortunate, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed; perhaps she still hoped—

A round of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from all around.

She then noticed that the lights were on, and the clown was standing on the stage, bowing deeply, his hat falling off to reveal a colorful, fluffy wig.

Anne clapped her hands in a mock applause. When she saw the man stand up, she had an urge to follow him; perhaps she was crazy.

But the person next to her kept pushing her in the opposite direction. Annie struggled to turn around and saw the hem of his clothes disappear on the side of the stage. She was finally squeezed to the door.

...

Anne walked out of the theater dejectedly; she didn't see the man.

—Maybe I should try my luck at the bar again.

She said to herself.

The girl stared at the tips of her shoes as she slowly walked forward.

The light from the streetlamp ahead was blocked by a shadow. She looked up abruptly and nearly bumped into someone's chest. She hurriedly backed away and almost tripped again.

A gloved hand grabbed her. Annie stopped, her heart pounding... Oh my god, it was him!

The man looked the girl over with interest for a while, then suddenly smiled slightly: "She's really beautiful."

The girl felt her blood rushing to her face; oh my god, she might need an oxygen tank.

The man then asked softly, "May I take a look?"

Annie then realized that the other person had been referring to the flowers in her hand.

Her blood cooled instantly, but her cheeks felt like they were on fire.

The red rosebuds are soft and fragrant, with fresh dew even clinging to their tips.

The man examined the flowers quietly for a while, then handed them back to the girl. The smooth fabric of his silk gloves brushed against her skin, then paused gently.

"Has anyone ever told you that red suits your eyes?" the man asked abruptly.

My wrist was gently grasped.

The two looked at each other closely, and Annie felt as if she were staring into a vortex that could devour souls, and she was being drawn into it.

...

An 18-year-old girl named Anne Bloom went missing after watching a nighttime circus performance.

According to the girl's friend Chris, the two had planned to watch a circus performance together, but Chris left the show midway after receiving a phone call from her boyfriend and has not seen Anne since.

Two days later, the missing girl's body was found in a grove of trees near the theater.

"Witnesses claim that Anne Bloom went backstage alone after the show. It's said you were the last to finish performing that night, I wonder—"

Shen Yun turned her gaze away from the bouquet of roses by the window and stared at the young man with a probing look.

Yu Qingzhou smiled; her clean, youthful face even looked somewhat childlike.

Shen Yun had seen him in his clown costume once, and he was completely unrecognizable.

"Yes."

Yu Qingzhou lowered her eyes and examined the photo on the table.

The girl in the photo is wearing a knitted cardigan, has curly brown hair that falls over her shoulders, and has beautiful dark green eyes that look at the camera.

“I remember her eyes, they were beautiful,” the young man said softly.

Upon hearing this, a dark glint flashed in Shen Yun's eyes.

Yu Qingzhou recalled: "We talked for a while, and she was looking for someone."

“Someone?” Shen Yun repeated, enunciating each word clearly.

"Yes."

Yu Qingzhou nodded: "A young gentleman sitting in the front row. She thought we knew each other. But we didn't. We chatted for a bit, and then she left dejectedly. I'm sorry."

The young man spoke calmly, his tone sincere and unpretentious.

A soft knock sounded on the door, and a tall, thin young police officer entered, leaning down to whisper a few words to Shen Yun. Yu Qingzhou noticed the detective's long, slender eyebrows furrow, then stood up to take his leave.

Yu Qingzhou politely saw the two out of the room.

They had only walked a short distance when the tall, thin man hurriedly reported: "Shortly after the performance ended, someone saw Yu Qingzhou at the Red Letter Bar, from 11 p.m. that night until 2 a.m. the next morning—"

"What exactly do you want to do?" Shen Yun interrupted her subordinate coldly.

“Playing the piano. That kid works part-time there, twice a week, and he’s always on time.”

The tall, thin man paused for a moment: "The guests generally have a very high opinion of him, especially some of the female guests."

Shen Yun had lost interest in listening any further.

Flowers, eyes... He thought he had victory in his grasp.

A girl lying in the withered grass flashed before my eyes. Thanks to the weather, the body was well preserved. There were no signs of struggle or fighting around her. The girl lay there quietly, her face pale and her expression peaceful.

That is, provided that the petals placed in her eyes were not removed.

Because there was nothing beneath the red petals, her eyeballs had been gouged out.

...