Wen Di put on two layers of cotton-padded clothes and walked outside.
He didn’t want to tell Shen Wangqing the clue anymore. Surprisingly, Shen Wangqing didn’t press further—whether he forgot or simply didn’t care, Wen Di couldn’t tell.
Stepping into the courtyard, he noticed the body on the ground was gone.
“Lu Jieyang took care of it. He just dragged the body away to dispose of it,” Shen Wangqing explained. “We examined it and found the body was likely pushed from the rooftop.”
Following Shen Wangqing’s gaze upward, Wen Di could see the massive antique clock beside the large window on the rooftop—the same bell he had used last night to gather everyone.
His eyes instinctively shifted to the side—the room next to it was where the Sigil Array was set up.
Before they discovered the secret of the Sigil Array, he had to make the remaining few violate the taboo as soon as possible.
But… why were they so indifferent, paying no attention to Yao Nana at all? Even when Yao Nana took the initiative to show weakness, they simply ignored her.
“I once had a crush on a boy,” Shen Wangqing suddenly spoke, his words exploding in Wen Di’s ears like a cannonball.
Wen Di widened his eyes in shock, staring at him.
Shen Wangqing’s eyes curved gently as he looked at Wen Di with warmth. “Surprised? Do I not seem like someone who likes men?”
Wen Di snapped out of it and shook his head quickly.
Shen Wangqing spoke slowly, “He was a boy I met in college. He was small and very cute. Later, he jumped off a building and took his own life.”
His eyes softened with a nostalgic, indulgent glow as he recalled the boy, but it gradually faded.
Wen Di wore an expression of sorrow and disbelief. “Why?”
Shen Wangqing shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure. It’s said he suffered from depression.”
“So when I came downstairs today and saw Liu Yajun’s body lying on the ground, I almost fell into a nightmare. For a whole year after that boy jumped, I couldn’t sleep properly.”
Wen Di lowered his head, his expression growing increasingly sorrowful. “If… if someone had helped him back then, maybe he wouldn’t have chosen that path…”
Shen Wangqing’s gaze paused, a flicker of something sharp and elusive flashing in his eyes.
“I think so too. I deeply regret being too shy to approach him back then. If I had reached out earlier, I would never have let him go down that path.”
Then, he raised his hand and patted Wen Di’s head. “Boss Wen, you’re a lovely person too.”
“…”
Wen Di dodged Shen Wangqing’s hand, his ears tinged with an uncomfortable blush. “Thank you… I need to go cook for everyone.”
“Alright, I’ll head out for a bit.”
Wen Di stood absentmindedly by the side, waiting for the pre-made dishes to heat up.
Shen Wangqing said he liked men, so he couldn’t possibly be attracted to Yao Nana. No wonder he had always been so gentlemanly…
Then, would he like Lu Jieyang? Or Fu Zhen?
Wen Di tried to imagine any of them together in bed, or kissing… It sent shivers down his spine. Wouldn’t Lu Jieyang and Fu Zhen beat someone to death?
The master had said it wasn’t necessarily his husband who had to do the killing. He could also kill on his husband’s behalf, then write the method of killing on a talisman and attach it to the body. His husband would then believe he was the one who committed the murder.
If… if none of the three were interested in Yao Nana, then he… Wen Di’s peripheral vision caught the gleam of a well-sharpened kitchen knife nearby, and his gaze fixated on it—
“Darling, what are you doing here?”
Lu Jieyang’s voice suddenly came from behind, startling Wen Di so much that all the hairs on his body stood on end. He instinctively rushed over, grabbed the kitchen knife nearby, turned around, and pointed it directly at Lu Jieyang.
“Don’t… don’t come any closer!”
Thinking of the fear of being locked in the room, his eyes reddened—whether from fear or shock—and his voice was soft and small, lacking any intimidation.
Lu Jieyang stood still, tall and long-legged in his cotton jacket. His gaze shifted from the knife in Wen Di’s hand to his face, blinking innocently before smiling, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes:
“What’s wrong?”
Wen Di gripped the knife with all his strength, stepping backward as he asked in a trembling voice, “Why… why did you lock me in the room?”
Lu Jieyang seemed to have anticipated the question and answered quickly, “I was afraid you wouldn’t listen and sneak out on your own. I just didn’t want you to see the body—you’d be scared.”
Wen Di was stunned. Was that the only reason?
So, Lu Jieyang had locked him in the room for his own good?
“That’s not right. You can’t lock me in a room without my permission,” Wen Di snapped back, glaring at him angrily.
Lu Jieyang adopted a thoughtful expression before smiling and saying, “So, I need Wen Wen’s permission to lock Wen Wen in a room? I understand.”
“…”
Wen Di felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. Why was Lu Jieyang so calm about this?
“Alright, Wen Wen, put the knife down. I’m afraid you might hurt yourself.”
Lu Jieyang took a step forward, causing Wen Di to thrust the knife forward in alarm. “Don’t come any closer!”
Lu Jieyang stopped. After a few seconds of standoff, his gaze shifted to the nearby stove. “Wen Wen, it’s about to burn. You need to turn off the heat.”
Wen Di glanced over but couldn’t free his hands to turn it off. After a moment’s thought, he pointed with wide, teary eyes at the tall man before him. “You go turn it off.”
Lu Jieyang curled his lips into a smile. “Okay.”
He obediently turned off the heat.
“What else?”
Wen Di said, “This… and this need to go into the pot.”
“What else?”
“Sweep the floor.”
Lu Jieyang obediently completed all the tasks Wen Di was supposed to do. He even put on an oil-resistant apron and served the dishes on the table.
Half an hour passed, and Wen Di not only grew tired from holding the knife but also felt increasingly unsettled by Lu Jieyang’s compliance.
“Alright, it’s time to eat. Wen Wen, put the knife down. Your arm must be sore, right?”
Only when Shen Wangqing and Yao Nana arrived did Wen Di finally lower the knife.
He retreated to the side, rubbing his sore arm.
“Let me help Wen Wen—”
As soon as Lu Jieyang approached, Wen Di immediately backed away. “No, don’t come near me!”
Lu Jieyang’s expression faltered, a look of disappointment crossing his face, resembling a large, well-behaved dog with drooping ears.
Lu Jieyang left after only a few bites of his meal.
After lunch, Wen Di returned to his room and was immediately drawn to a splash of unexpected color.
His expression froze slightly as he picked up a yellow rose from the table.
It was in full, vibrant bloom, its petals beautifully unfurled, with edges adorned by half-melted ice crystals.
There was also a note with a few lines written on it:
【Wen Wen, I was wrong. I kept worrying you’d be scared while I was away and couldn’t wait to come back. I found this flower unexpectedly at the foot of the mountain and picked it for you. Please don’t be angry with me anymore, okay?】
【If you’re not angry anymore, could you place a petal outside my door? That way I’ll know you’ve forgiven me. Until then, I’ll disappear on my own and definitely won’t bother you.】
【But please don’t make me wait too long, I’ll die. 【Attached is a sad puppy emoji】】
Wen Di’s heart raced wildly. A sudden, nameless gust of wind blew fiercely through the window, lifting the curtains high into the air.
Then they fell just as quickly.
Wen Di’s gaze was drawn to the movement. A chill crept up his back, as if he had brushed against a giant ice sculpture for an instant. Sensing something amiss, he looked down—all the petals in his hand had shattered.
They fell to the floor.
Leaving only a bare, barren flower bud.