haunted house
Coming down from the Ferris wheel, Lin Xiyan felt his feet touch solid ground, and the feeling of being suspended in mid-air slowly subsided. The sunlight shone a bit brightly on the snow, but the air remained chilly. The small deer antler headband on his head still glowed a warm yellow, making his face look a little rosier than before.
Jiang Yibai didn't let go and continued walking forward with him. Lu Panji and He Yunling huddled together to look at the selfie they had just taken, laughing to themselves.
"What are we going to do next?" Lu Panji put away his phone and glanced around, clearly restless. "We can't just take a walk, right? We're here to do some activities!"
He Yunling pushed his glasses up, his gaze fixed on a sinister-looking building not far away with a queue at the entrance. The corners of his mouth curled up, "How about that? It looks...exciting."
Lu Panji followed his gaze and her eyes lit up: "Haunted house! Sure, He Yunling! This is it! Let's go!"
The tension in Lin Xiyan's heart, which had just relaxed, suddenly tightened again. A haunted house... He could almost imagine what would be inside—darkness, sudden appearances of terrifying things, screams... Just thinking about it made his palms sweat. He subconsciously leaned closer to Jiang Yibai, his fingers unconsciously curling up.
Jiang Yibai immediately noticed his stiffness. He glanced at the ferocious decorations at the entrance of the haunted house, then looked down at Lin Xiyan's face, which had turned even paler.
Lu Panji had already rushed forward two steps excitedly, and turned back to urge them: "Hurry up! Line up!"
Jiang Yibai didn't move. He squeezed Lin Xiyan's palm and asked in a low voice, "Are you afraid of this?"
Lin Xiyan bit her lower lip and nodded softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "...Yeah."
"Then we won't play." Jiang Yibai said without hesitation and turned to say to Lu Panji and the others.
"No!" Lu Panji was anxious and ran back, "Since we're here! We're not afraid of crowds! Xiyan, try it, it's very exciting! I guarantee you'll forget the cold!"
He Yunling also came over and said in a more reliable tone: "Everything in there is fake, the staff are pretending. If you are really scared, just close your eyes and hold on to Brother Jiang."
Lin Xiyan looked at the expectant (Lu Panji) and encouraging (He Yunling) eyes of the two, and felt the silent support and indulgent "If you don't want us to leave" from Jiang Yibai's hand. He suddenly felt like... he was always the one who spoiled the fun.
He took a very light breath, and the cold air entered his lungs. He raised his head and looked at Jiang Yibai. His voice was still a little trembling, but with a little courage to try: "...Okay, let's try."
Jiang Yibai raised his eyebrows slightly, looked into his eyes carefully, and made sure that he was not forcing himself: "Really?"
"...Yeah." Lin Xiyan nodded, and added softly, "You...don't let go."
Jiang Yibai smiled and shook his hand firmly: "Of course not. Follow me closely."
The four of them lined up. The closer they got to the dark, tattered door, the clearer the screams and eerie music from within became. Lin Xiyan's heart was beating so fast it threatened to burst out of his chest. His other hand unconsciously grasped Jiang Yibai's arm.
Jiang Yibai sensed his nervousness and simply pulled him closer, almost half encircling him in his arms. He used his body to block him from the scary decorations and whispered in his ear, "They're all fake. Just follow me closely. If you're scared, close your eyes."
Finally, it was their turn. The staff member expressionlessly drew aside the curtain, sending a gust of dust and cold air lashing their faces. It was pitch black inside, with only a few dim green lights barely illuminating the bumpy road beneath their feet.
"Let's go." Jiang Yibai said in a low voice, took the lead, and walked in with Lin Xiyan in his hand. Lu Panji and He Yunling followed closely behind.
As soon as I entered, darkness and oppression instantly enveloped me. The eerie background music and the sounds of dripping water and groaning coming from nowhere stimulated my eardrums from all directions.
Lin Xiyan regretted it almost instantly. The hairs on his body stood up, and his breathing became rapid. He was supported only by Jiang Yibai's tight grip on his hand and the half of his body blocking his way.
"It's okay, I'm here." Jiang Yibai's voice was particularly clear and steady in the darkness.
Suddenly, a cage nearby shook violently, and a "ghost" wearing tattered prison uniform and with a pale face jumped onto the railing, letting out a shrill howl!
"Oh my god!" Lu Panji shouted exaggeratedly, but with more excitement.
Lin Xiyan was so frightened that her whole body trembled. She let out a short "ah" and suddenly closed her eyes. She almost shrank into Jiang Yibai's arms, her fingers tightly grasping his clothes.
Jiang Yibai immediately stopped and turned around, blocking the direction with his back, completely protecting Lin Xiyan, and patted him gently on the back: "It's fake, it's over, it's okay."
The "ghost" howled a few times and then shrank back into the darkness.
Lin Xiyan was still shaking, with his eyes tightly closed, not daring to open them.
"Can we go?" Jiang Yibai asked in a low voice.
Lin Xiyan was speechless, she just shook her head and buried her face in his chest.
Jiang Yibai paused, then said very naturally: "Then I'll carry you out?"
The question was asked... as naturally as if he was just asking if he wanted some water.
Lin Xiyan had not yet recovered from the shock, her mind was blank, and she didn't hear clearly what he said. She just nodded randomly based on instinct and dependence.
After getting the approval (although it was out of fear), Jiang Yibai immediately bent down, put one hand around his knees, and firmly supported his back with the other hand. With a little force, he picked him up sideways.
Lin Xiyan was very light, and it was effortless to hold her.
The sudden feeling of weightlessness made Lin Xiyan scream, and she subconsciously hugged Jiang Yibai's neck. She opened her eyes and looked at the jawline so close to her in panic.
"Be good, don't look if you're scared." Jiang Yibai adjusted his posture to make him lean more comfortably, practically pressing his head into the crook of his shoulder, and then continued walking forward without changing his expression. It was as if he was holding not a person, but a large doll in his arms.
Lu Panji and He Yunling who were following behind: “…………”
Lu Panji's mouth opened into an O shape, and he almost tripped over a fake skull on the ground. He Yunling helped him up, and his eyes behind the glasses widened a little.
The light in the hallway was dim, but it was enough for them to clearly see the scene ahead—Jiang Yibai, the usually stern-faced Jiang Yibai who struggled to say a single word, was now holding Lin Xiyan in his arms, steady and composed, as they walked through the eerie haunted house. Lin Xiyan huddled in his arms, her face buried, revealing only a hint of her fuzzy hair and the still-glowing antlers.
This scene... is too impactful!
Lu Panji was stunned for several seconds before he suddenly reacted. He was so stifled that his shoulders were shaking. He nudged He Yunling with his elbow and said in an exaggerated tone, lowering his voice: "Fuck... did you see that... I told you... pretending to be dead... I must have wanted to do this for a long time..."
He Yunling couldn't help but laugh. He pushed up his glasses and looked at the back of the man in front of him who was "calm in the face of danger" and carrying someone away. He whispered back, "The evidence is conclusive."
The rest of the journey was like walking on flat ground for Jiang Yibai. Zombies popping out suddenly, female ghosts hanging from the ceiling, cold air blowing from his feet... He ignored them all. Occasionally, when one rushed directly in front of him, he would give them a cold glance, a look scarier than a ghost, which actually startled the staff.
He holds his whole world in his arms, feeling very stable.
Lu Panji and He Yunling followed behind, dealing with the "surprises" that popped up from time to time, while watching the outrageous scene in front of them. They were trying so hard to hold back their laughter that their stomachs ached, and they had to try hard to look scared so as not to ruin their gaming experience.
Finally, I saw the light of the exit ahead.
Jiang Yibai quickened his pace and walked out first holding Lin Xiyan.
Back in the daylight (although it was still cloudy), the cool air rushed into Lin Xiyan's lungs, and he felt like he was finally alive, his tense body slowly relaxing. He finally realized that Jiang Yibai had carried him all the way out. His cheeks suddenly burned, and he frantically tried to get down.
"Are we there?" His voice was still a little hoarse from the shock and full of embarrassment.
"Yeah." Jiang Yibai then carefully put him down, but still holding his arm to make sure he was standing firmly. "Are you okay?"
Lin Xiyan's face was red as blood, and she didn't dare to look at Jiang Yibai at all. She lowered her head and said in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "...Yeah."
At this time, Lu Panji and He Yunling finally came out of the exit while holding back their laughter.
As soon as Lu Panji came out, he patted his chest exaggeratedly, "Oh my god, I was scared to death! It was so exciting!" He glanced at Jiang Yibai and Lin Xiyan, and his tone became sly, "But... I see some people don't seem to be afraid at all? Not only are they not afraid, they even practiced their arm strength?"
He Yunling nodded in agreement, saying seriously, "Yeah, your core strength is also very strong. You can walk so steadily while holding someone."
Lin Xiyan lowered her head even lower, wishing she could bury her face in her scarf.
Jiang Yibai glanced at the two of them expressionlessly, and said in a cold tone: "What are you arguing about?"
"Oh my, you think we're noisy already?" Lu Panji wasn't afraid of him. She moved closer, winking, "Brother Jiang, tell me the truth. Have you been wanting to hug me for a long time? Huh? Are you trying to make a fuss about this? You're just pretending!"
He Yunling also slowly added: "Is the plan working?"
An extremely unnatural look flashed across Jiang Yibai's face, and his ears seemed to turn red, but he quickly regained his composure. He reached out and pulled Lin Xiyan, who was desperately trying to shrink him, behind him, blocking the two men's teasing gazes. He said coldly, "Get out. He's scared."
"Yes, yes, I was scared." Lu Panji laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. "We all saw it. I was so scared that I had to be carried like a princess to get out." He imitated her in a pinched voice, "'If you're scared, don't look' 'Be good' - ugh - so corny!"
Jiang Yibai: "...If you want to die, just say it."
Lin Xiyan hid behind Jiang Yibai, listening to their teasing. His cheeks burned like hotcakes, but strangely, he didn't feel embarrassed or want to escape. Instead... there was a subtle, enveloping sense of security. Even if he was teased, it was because... he was with Jiang Yibai.
Moreover, although Jiang Yibai was cursing the two men, his broad back was firmly blocking him, blocking all the sights that made him uneasy.
He quietly and lightly hooked his fingers around the back of Jiang Yibai's coat.
Jiang Yibai seemed to pause slightly, then he turned his hand and accurately grasped his rebellious fingers, holding them tightly in his palm. He still didn't turn around, and continued to use a cold tone to deal with the two childhood friends who were paralyzed by laughter.
But the hand holding Lin Xiyan had a hot palm and a firm strength.
Lu Panji had laughed enough and wiped away the tears: "Alright, alright, I won't laugh at you anymore. Hey, I'm so thirsty, let's go buy some hot drinks. I'll treat you to calm Xiyan down!"
He Yunling: "Agree."
Jiang Yibai hummed in agreement. He pulled Lin Xiyan and turned to walk towards the beverage store.
Lin Xiyan followed beside him, lowered her head, looking at their clasped hands, and recalled the feeling of being held firmly in his arms just now. The heat on her face did not subside for a long time.
It seems... the haunted house is not so scary anymore.
Because he knew that no matter what happened, there would be someone who would hug him and take him away without hesitation.
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