Chapter 91 Old Campus "Don't deny it, I'm gay."...
Clothes come alive, reflecting human emotions. This particular outfit pays great attention to its demeanor, like a mediocre actor who designs three movements and five different expressions for every little emotion, as if afraid that people won't be able to discern his status, emotions, and personality.
So even without a mouth, the movements were more restrained than the costumes of the dubbed film escape downstairs. It was the most exaggerated mime Xue Chao had ever seen. Just entering the door required a script of several thousand words, plus several thousand words of reading comprehension.
It moved closer, and the reflection in the mirror revealed its true nature. The monster was roughly the shape of a rounded tower, constantly changing, like hundreds or thousands of maggots wriggling in a quagmire. It had countless greedy eyes, drooling lips, and hands that crossed the line. The hands at the very base crawled, and even centipedes had to kneel down and call it their ancestor. It crawled up quickly and strangely.
At the very center was a huge eye, as big as three human heads, a weak and lewd turbid yellow, locked onto crimson, the pupil like a gaping maw of an abyss, capable of swallowing a person whole from head to toe, tentacled hands rubbing against each other.
With this movement, the puppet-like Sheng Hong suddenly swayed, as if a hypnotized person had woken up midway. Even without understanding the situation, she sensed the danger, turned around and ran, disappearing into the maze.
The monster naturally gave chase, even more excited than when watching from afar. Both doors in the corridor were locked, and the dim lighting rotated appropriately, adding to the intrigue of this cat-and-mouse game where the prey was destined to be unable to escape.
Xue Chao was almost slammed out of the door. As he followed, he kept a close eye on every reaction and change in the mirror maze.
He walked with composure in his suit, his leather shoes clicking rhythmically on the mirror, like a VIP invited to a banquet. He maintained a distance of about three meters behind Sheng Hong, "knowingly" leaving space. When he saw Sheng Hong running around in a panic, he even raised his hand in concern from afar.
On the contrary, Sheng Hong, who was running ahead, had her crown fall to the ground, her carefully styled hair came undone, and she seemed a little crazy, not knowing what she was afraid of, which was inexplicable.
However, the monster in the mirror was the truth, and it never stayed still. With its long arms flailing wildly, it constantly teased the reflection in the bright red mirror, sometimes tugging at a skirt, sometimes pulling a hair, its eyes darting around, and its mouth making "tsk tsk" laughter.
Then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, those hands would tear apart and devour the other girls' reflections one by one.
Not only were the monsters excited, but the audience standing further away were also excited. The gray shadow waved its hands and actually waved glow sticks, and there were also stereotypical cheers. Xue Chao, the host who managed the live broadcast room, could tell at a glance that this was a "live broadcast".
These gray figures are indeed the audience characters programmed into the program. Their excitement accelerates the growth of the red roses, and the thorns have already been brought out of the ground, as if nourished by the audience's emotions.
A tip?
If it's a live stream, isn't sending flowers a form of tipping?
The protagonist being chased was still conscious. She didn't just wander around aimlessly. She continued forward, suddenly turning left and right, shaking off both the two people, one in the open and one in the shadows.
However, we cannot let our guard down. The structure of this mirror maze, no matter how far away, may leave a mirage in other places, and it would be troublesome if its location could be deduced.
She thought about it, but didn't push open the trapdoor in front of her. This door could definitely be opened the first time. She just opened it. It couldn't be that it wasn't a trapdoor. Why was it locked?
She looked closely and noticed a small dressing table by the door. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't recognize herself at first. It was her face, but something seemed off, as if there were layers upon layers of someone else's reflection.
Her hair was disheveled, her lipstick was faded, her skirt was wrinkled, and her eyes were dull and lifeless—she was undeniably a mess.
The cosmetics in front of the mirror were open, and the gray shadow in the mirror stopped cheering. The eyes of the pinhole camera were staring at her, looking dissatisfied and critical, making people feel apprehensive.
In her dazed state, she actually understood what the group of onlookers meant—they wanted her to touch up her makeup.
She was chased and teased by such a disgusting monster... yet they complained that she wasn't presentable enough and demanded that she touch up her makeup.
The magnificent skirt weighed a ton. When she looked down, she saw countless hands clinging to her body, climbing upwards, and then she was dragged downwards, as if to be pulled into hell.
The red roses at her feet clung to her ankles, their thorns causing her great pain.
For a moment, she felt as if she were in a swamp, frozen in place.
Just then, the man in the suit burst in. The monster's hand, passing through the makeup mirror, actually reached out from the mirror, picked up the cosmetics, and began to touch up her makeup. Others helped her redo her hair and straighten her clothes. A dozen hands worked at the same time, and in no time she was restored to her radiant beauty. The diamond crown was placed back on her head, as if everything had been reset.
He bowed politely in his suit, extending his hand in a gesture reminiscent of a gentleman asking a lady to dance.
The audience erupted in cheers, as if watching a romantic story of a decade-long relationship finally coming to fruition. One by one, they were moved to tears, tears streaming down their faces from the camera's lens and soaking the floor. The red roses instantly grew wildly, trying to entwine the crimson blossoms with overwhelming force.
As a result, a large hand swept it across, gathering it in the palm of his hand. The blade, held between his fingertips, had endured too much wind and rain, and snapped after cutting only halfway. Xue Chao didn't care, pulling it all into his hand and presenting it to Sheng Hong like a bouquet of roses.
There's no need to say anything more; the red rose is the symbol. The audience is quiet, the suits are back in their place, and suddenly a competitor appears.
However, as expected of "audience members," the wedding ceremony was much more interesting than "pure love," with someone trying to steal the bride. Gray Shadow, not one to shy away from trouble, cheered again, and the audience in the room's comment section spontaneously joined in, entertaining themselves.
The suit was still presentable. He faced him warily and took two steps closer to Sheng Hong with concern. Xue Chao deliberately turned to the side to block his gaze, which, though not physically present, was still disgusting.
Sheng Hong didn't react. She seemed to have fallen back into hypnosis. Her dress supported her swaying body, and she straightened her chest and raised her head, allowing Xue Chao to see her dark, almost black eyes at a glance.
Is this wine really that poisonous? Did they inject it into her body like glucose?
Sheng Hong ignored Xue Chao and looked smug, as if she had already agreed to his request. It wasn't the posture of a victor, but rather the satisfaction of "who else could it be but me?" It was all just a test she gave her pet out of boredom, and her pet's performance pleased her.
In the mirror, the monster clapped its hands vigorously, its large eyes narrowing into slits like curved blades.
Seeing that the suit was about to push Xue Chao away, he took Sheng Hong's hand and, with a flick of his wrist, inserted the bouquet of roses into the suit's empty body.
Xue Chao grabbed Sheng Hong's hand and said earnestly, "Don't be fooled by him. He just says he'll give you all the money, put the house in your name, let you check his phone anytime, and only love you. If he's lying to you, he's a eunuch, and the world is a giant Forbidden City. Of course I know, because he flirted with me like that too, indiscriminate in his pursuit of sex, wanting to have multiple relationships. Look at his clothes, he's rich, he drives a cruise ship at sea. On one trip, you could catch not only people and fish, but even several ghosts."
With the appearance of a fierce god descended to earth, he talks about love and gossip, possessing a chaotic beauty reminiscent of Western zombie shamans. The man in the suit probably never imagined that someone with his "looks" would one day be the target of rumors. He angrily plucks out roses, and the man, wrongly accused, points at him repeatedly. The monster in the mirror bares its fangs and claws, like a personal guard on orders, and entangles Xue Chao.
Xue Chao indeed felt the resistance of being gripped tightly. He calmly said, "Don't deny it, I'm gay."
The audience is naturally inclined to watch the spectacle, and the fact that the victim of the third party is a homosexual makes things even more interesting. The red rose grows ever more luxuriant, reaching its highest point to the ceiling.
Xue Chao expressed his understanding: "Whether it's heterosexual or homosexual, it's really outrageous that handsome men and beautiful women like us would be interested in you, and at the same time. We have to be diagnosed with either love-struck or honey trap. I've always believed that a short pain is worse than a long one, and I've come to my senses and don't want to be bothered by you anymore. But I can't stand seeing girls use sweet words to deceive people because they're soft-hearted. Since you're sincere, you have to prove it. If you keep it hidden in your gold-plated clothes, who knows if it's empty? You all agree, right?"
The audience waved glow sticks, and all the cameras were focused on the protagonist in a suit and tie. Even the lowest red roses had grown into a flower bush, reflecting in the mirrors all around, turning the mirror maze into a red rose prison.
The black hand in the mirror tightened its grip, and Xue Chao heard his arm bones dislocate. He forced a smile, a rather cold provocation. It was a pointless, overt scheme, but perfect for a ghost pretending to be human—wasn't it genuine? Then let's dig it out and see.
Love is generally about two people being happy when they are together, and finding joy in each other. Even if they suffer together, it is for the sake of sharing happiness in the future. In fact, it is about the happiness they get from it. So they say they are infatuated and would not hesitate to die for each other. However, if loving someone has reached the point of taking one's life, where is the happiness?
Deceiving yourself into sharing happiness is useless, because death will take away the future.
Even if there are truly devoted lovers, and the other person spends the rest of their life choosing only beautiful memories to comfort themselves, the resentment and pain of loss will inevitably follow them like a shadow, endlessly entangled. It would be better to forget each other and still be at peace.
Are there really that many fools who would die for others? Everyone is just trying to find a little joy for themselves while struggling to survive.
If true love is like this, then what about lust obtained through deception?
This is not just a hunting ground for one person in a suit; the audience, who were originally there to add to the excitement, have now become fuel for the fire.
Its truth has been internalized in the mirror; this outfit is meant to make a good impression, and it's a trap to fall into.
So he reached into his clothes with his sleeve, pulled out a lot of gold coins, and acted with utmost sincerity, almost kneeling down on one knee.
But every time a piece jumps out, the monster that binds Xue Chao glances at it, laughs, and scratches Sheng Hong, as if she has a price tag and it can't afford to lose out at all.
The gold coins were gone in a short while. The red rose held them in her mouth, crunching and chewing, trying to taste if they contained any "true feelings." The man in the suit was momentarily distracted, no longer paying attention to Sheng Hong, but staring at the gold coins that had gone into the rose's mouth.
Xue Chao chuckled softly, pulling it back from its flight. It then pulled out several poetry collections, which Xue Chao brushed aside with the tip of his shoe. They were all filled with love poems. Then came his degree certificate, honorary certificates, published papers, special-grade teacher certificate, property certificate, car keys... all bearing his name, his nobility, his credentials, with no connection to her whatsoever.
Having tasted roses imbued with the meaning of love, he still couldn't discern the true flavor. Slowly, he turned his attention to the suit, and the gray-clad figure booed.
He enjoys the attention, but it's not the kind of attention you give a monkey. Putting aside his true feelings, his pride is definitely his top priority. When pushed to the limit, he actually pulled a heart out of his empty clothes.
A heart-shaped handbag made of diamonds, the tag still on, with countless zeros.
It's just a set of clothes that create a "face," it doesn't have a human heart, so it's more reasonable to match it with a bag!
The audience's attention shifted back to Xue Chao, who said, "The one they gave me was blue. Could it be a repainted secondhand item?"
The audience laughed, but their eyes remained on him. Xue Chao suddenly adopted a humble attitude: "I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. I don't really believe you love her, but you're willing to give her your heart, so naturally you're willing to do anything for her... but that doesn't mean she wants your sincerity. If I give it to her and she agrees, I have nothing to say."
He straightened his back in his suit, regaining his composure, and tilted his collar forward. His nod confirmed his words, and he wasn't worried that Sheng Hong wouldn't accept; what choice did she have?
Xue Chao thought so too. It wasn't that he was infected by the suit's mysterious confidence, but rather that he was in a role-playing situation. Since Sheng Hong couldn't break the deadlock, he could only follow the plot.
He won't give her that chance.
So when those hands loosened their grip, Xue Chao didn't even take the handbag. Instead, he grabbed Sheng Hong's neck, took the scalpel he had taken from the clothes seller downstairs, and deftly stabbed it into Sheng Hong's body.
"It seems she can't agree anymore." Xue Chao gave a cruel smile. The returning red rose, trailing thorns, entangled the two of them. In the end, all that could be seen was the continuously flowing blood and Xue Chao's blue eyes. "If it's true love, and you're willing to do anything for her, then of course it's to live together... die together. Please."
All the cameras were pointed at the suit again. The suit froze in place, and its monstrous shadow suddenly twitched. Countless faces pieced together from the black hands emerged and stared intently at him.
"【Sheng Hong】I knew it, with the relationship between Sheng Hong and Xue Chao, how could Xue Chao possibly help her out of this predicament?"
"【Sheng Hong】The laser cannons are firing like fast guns, this slash, I've been waiting for a long time, haha."
Red Rose had gotten used to the new business of the fence-sitter. She countered with a suit. The doors on both sides of the corridor opened, and Xue Chao brought up the props transferred from Fang Tailai's panel. He applied a few drops of healing medicine to Sheng Hong's wound, barely stopping the bleeding, and then carried her on his shoulder.
He lit a match and tossed it into the gap between the roses as he passed by. The suit immediately burst into flames, and the monster's eyes widened in agony. Yet, countless girls' faces in the mirror laughed heartily, providing accompaniment for the monster's frantic, wildly waving hands.
Xue Chao tied up the target, but instead of heading to the broadcasting room, he went straight to the auditorium.
The stage in the auditorium was still a paper palace. He went backstage and found a machine that wasn't there before, which was the main body of those parts.
The machine is shaped like a goose egg, with two colors on the top and bottom, which reminded Xue Chao of a time capsule. It looks old, but upon closer inspection, you can tell that it was deliberately aged. It is a prop that was recently made for the cultural festival, not some antique.
Inside the cabin, there is a partition that divides the machine into front and back halves. Near the door, there is a circular platform with the word "Now" written on it. Behind the partition is a full-length mirror.
There are two buttons nearby, one for "Young" and one for "Old". Each button has five small lights below it. One light is on for "Young" and three lights are on for "Old".
This is the number of times the "time machine" can be activated.
Xue Chao stepped up and pressed the "Grow Old" button.
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