Due to the lingering influence of the pheromones and the fact that Qi Fan’s movements were so natural, Sheng Zhiyu didn’t realize at first just how intimate the gesture was.
By the time he realized his hand had been caught, the opportunity to break free had already passed.
Qi Fan didn’t seem to be using much strength, but by taking advantage of the fact that his hand was a size larger than Sheng Zhiyu’s, he quietly restrained and controlled him. Sensing Sheng Zhiyu’s stiffness, he even used his thumb to gently stroke the pale skin of the younger man’s wrist.
The man’s fingertips felt like fire; everywhere they touched, a wave of heat followed. Concerned about his ongoing rut, Sheng Zhiyu gradually stopped struggling.
Silence returned to the car. Qi Fan lowered his dark eyes and looked at the person beside him.
Sheng Zhiyu rested his chin on one hand, looking aimlessly out the window. His expression was flawless, save for the tips of his ears; because his skin was so pale, the flush of blood there was very obvious.
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t turn to look at him. Instead, he was adjusting his system settings.
Lin Weiyu’s sensory system was mostly synced with his, but certain parts could be manually blocked. For instance, right now… he didn’t want Lin Weiyu gossiping about him.
The drive ended quickly. When Chu Baiqian parked the car, Sheng Zhiyu felt Qi Fan’s grip loosen slightly. Like a small animal escaping control, he quickly pulled his hand back.
Qi Fan looked down, hiding a fleeting smile.
The haunted house mentioned by the production team was on the easternmost side of the resort island. It was reportedly a converted middle school site, facing the sea to the east.
It looked desolate and eerie at first glance.
An Yu was terrified the moment he got out of the car. His face turned pale, and his first instinct was to turn and hide.
As he turned, the faint scent of iris filled his nose.
Sheng Zhiyu was standing behind him, as if waiting for him to turn around. When their eyes met, Sheng Zhiyu’s sharp features softened.
The youth’s long lashes curved slightly as he patiently leaned down, reaching out to gently pat An Yu’s head. “Are you very scared?”
An Yu’s heart raced even faster.
Qi Fan stood behind the crowd, silently watching the interaction.
[As expected of the hard-worker in the ‘White Moonlight’ group, Sheng Zhiyu’s professional skills are impressive.]
The system had seen many task-takers. Some, knowing they were merely identity thieves and that the protagonist wouldn’t truly end up with them, performed their tasks mechanically.
Task-takers like Sheng Zhiyu, who controlled every detail and pursued the goal so seriously, were rare.
Qi Fan casually toyed with the ribbon wrapped around his wrist. His voice was unreadable:
[So, are you saying my professional skills are poor?]
[How would I dare? You don’t even take your performance seriously yourself, so how could I criticize you?]
The system’s tone was the complete opposite of its words.
Qi Fan let out a low laugh.
The previous group had already come out of the haunted house screaming. The two guests were panting as they showed their seashells to the directors.
Once they passed, a staff member waved and called for the next group.
An Yu, whose emotions had just been soothed, immediately began to tremble again like a newborn lamb.
Sheng Zhiyu felt bad for him and was about to speak to the crew when a tall figure stepped into his line of sight.
“It’s okay, I’m here too.” Chu Baiqian’s voice was low and gentle. He smiled at An Yu. “While I might not compare to Xiao Yu, I can still manage to protect you.”
A soft-spoken man easily earns favor, especially one as refined and elegant as Chu Baiqian. An Yu’s reluctance to enter the haunted house with a stranger faded slightly.
…This was, after all, his randomly assigned teammate. He couldn’t keep clinging to Xiao Yu and make things awkward for everyone.
After a moment of hesitation, even though he was very reluctant, he looked back at Sheng Zhiyu.
It was as if he were asking for permission.
Sheng Zhiyu’s face remained still, but Chu Baiqian noticed a subtle shift in emotion. The man let out a low laugh and looked at him good-naturedly. “No need to be so hostile toward me. I promise to bring An Yu out safely.”
…He was even using a tone one might use to coax a child.
Sheng Zhiyu smiled and turned to look at An Yu. “If you’re really scared, just think about the ice cream we had this afternoon.”
An Yu didn’t expect Sheng Zhiyu to mention that. The fear and tension in his mind were instantly replaced by the happy memories of the afternoon.
He nodded. “Then, I’m going in.”
“Go ahead.” Sheng Zhiyu smiled and waved at him.
After An Yu composed himself, he entered the haunted house with Chu Baiqian. Sheng Zhiyu watched them through the production team’s night-vision monitors.
There was a jump-scare NPC at the entrance. When they popped out, An Yu was so scared he crouched down immediately. Chu Baiqian quickly protected him. Once he confirmed the NPC was just doing their job, he leaned down to comfort An Yu.
“That serious?” A low, calm voice came from behind him.
Sheng Zhiyu shifted his attention from the screen and looked back at Qi Fan. “Is it appropriate not to be serious while working?”
Because the haunted house was large and each group took a long time, the production team would arrange for the next group to enter when the previous one was halfway through.
After receiving notice from the staff, Sheng Zhiyu gave a slight nod and then looked at Qi Fan. “Let’s go in.”
The person behind him was silent for a few seconds before slowly responding, “Mm.”
The sound lacked his usual casual air; there was an indescribable coldness to it.
Sheng Zhiyu frowned slightly.
Even Lin Weiyu noticed the abnormality.
[Is he afraid of haunted houses or something?]
Sheng Zhiyu: …
[I felt like he wasn’t in a good mood at the dinner table either. Now that we’re here, he’s barely talking. It’s highly likely he’s scared.]
Mobile devices were handed to them, and the staff told them they could enter.
The two stood before the dark stairwell. Just as they moved, Qi Fan reached his hand toward him.
Sheng Zhiyu: ?
Qi Fan looked at him calmly and said matter-of-factly, “Every group that went in before us was holding hands.”
Even An Yu had just gone in clutching Chu Baiqian’s sleeve.
Though that was because he was terrified.
[Qi Fan wants to hold your hand? Okay, okay! I’ve discovered the fatal weakness of the ‘Scum Gong’ ace! You’re actually afraid of ghosts, aren’t you?]
Sheng Zhiyu ignored Lin Weiyu’s gloating and looked down at Qi Fan’s hand.
…He pointlessly recalled the feeling of his hand being held captive in the car.
He hesitated for a moment and looked up at him. “Is it absolutely necessary to hold hands?”
When he said this, the production crew was a bit embarrassed.
They knew Sheng Zhiyu was a young master of the Sheng family, but Qi Fan was a movie star and a senior in the entertainment industry. For him to be rejected like that wasn’t it a bit too impulsive?
Just as everyone worried that Teacher Qi would get angry, the elegant man simply stood quietly in front of Sheng Zhiyu.
He didn’t speak, acting like a very patient parent.
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t mean to embarrass him; it was just that he had a bit of night blindness. He could barely take care of himself in the dark. If Qi Fan were truly afraid of ghosts…
They might end up holding each other back until dawn.
During the silence, a piercing scream echoed from the building. It was An Yu’s voice.
Sheng Zhiyu subconsciously took a step forward, but his sleeve was caught by Qi Fan.
Because the collar of his stylized short-sleeved shirt was designed to be “revealing,” Sheng Zhiyu had been wearing a Hawaiian-style jacket all evening—matching An Yu’s.
When Qi Fan grabbed him, he happened to catch the coconut tree pattern on his sleeve.
Sheng Zhiyu was stunned, but the man was already leading him forward.
Qi Fan: “Aren’t you going to see what’s happening with An Yu?”
He spoke naturally, as if Sheng Zhiyu didn’t agree, he would go forward alone.
“…I am.”
Sheng Zhiyu gripped the mobile device in his hand. It had a weak light source, which made him feel less restricted in the dark.
At least he wouldn’t be a burden.
Qi Fan’s steps, however, were unaffected. He walked up the stairs steadily and could even distinguish which direction An Yu’s voice was coming from.
He didn’t seem scared or perhaps, the top performer of the ‘Scum Gong’ group cared about his mission after all? Had An Yu’s scream overridden his logic, causing him to ignore his fear of ghosts?
Before Sheng Zhiyu could finish his analysis, his left shoulder suddenly collided heavily with something.
The dull pain made him snap out of it with a frown. When he raised the light in his hand, he saw Qi Fan’s hand pressed against the corner of the wall.
…No wonder it was a dull pain. Sheng Zhiyu hadn’t hit the corner directly; Qi Fan had used his hand as a cushion.
The back of the man’s hand was already turning red; it was clear the impact had been quite hard.
Sheng Zhiyu took two steps back, looked at the man’s hand, and said softly, “Sorry.”
Qi Fan glanced at him briefly and withdrew his hand. “An Yu and the others should be just ahead. Pay attention to where you’re walking.”
Sheng Zhiyu rubbed his shoulder and gave a small “Oh.”
Although Qi Fan’s tone felt a bit like a reprimand… he had indeed been distracted.
Just as Sheng Zhiyu was about to go upstairs, he heard the man beside him lower his voice. The tone was slightly different from before.
Softer.
Qi Fan asked, “Does it hurt?”
“No,” Sheng Zhiyu said. He turned back to look at him and pulled his sleeve out from between Qi Fan’s fingertips.
That empty feeling caused a hint of coldness to appear in Qi Fan’s eyes, but before the emotion could settle, Sheng Zhiyu offered his hand to him again.
His long fingertips looked exceptionally pale against the surrounding darkness.
Qi Fan paused, his deep voice sounding slow and calm. “Mm?”
“Hold it.” Sheng Zhiyu turned the light on his device to the maximum and said naturally, “Aren’t you scared?”
“…Scared?”
The word was blurred for a long time before the man spoke it. His tone was so flat it was impossible to tell if it was a question or a statement.
In the darkness, a long, narrow smile appeared in the man’s eyes.
He thinks I’m scared?
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t actually intend to comfort him; it was simply too dark, and they were on the stairs.
He couldn’t guarantee he could avoid danger again, and he couldn’t keep causing trouble for Qi Fan. They were rivals and should compete fairly.
With that thought, the hand suspended in the air was slowly covered by the man. A slightly higher temperature spread into his palm, as if traveling slowly along the lines of his hand.
Sheng Zhiyu paused, only starting to move after a moment of delay.
When they reached the third floor and saw a fluorescent directional sign, Sheng Zhiyu suddenly remembered the NPC he had seen on the monitor earlier.
An Yu had been scared into a crouch right here. He was about to turn and tell Qi Fan, but before he could speak, he heard a “crackle” of an electric shock.
This was a classic jump-scare tactic used by NPCs in horror rooms, serving as a warning that “danger” was approaching.
The staff had warned the guests that if they wanted to find the seashells quickly, it was best to avoid these NPCs.
“What should we do?” Qi Fan’s low, husky voice dropped from behind him. His warm breath fell on Sheng Zhiyu’s ear, causing a wave of itchiness.
Sweeping the pale yellow light around, Sheng Zhiyu vaguely saw a door on the side of the hallway. The crackling sound of electricity was coming from downstairs. He gripped Qi Fan’s hand and led him behind that door.
The door to this classroom was slightly ajar, likely intended as a hiding spot for guests. Sheng Zhiyu pulled Qi Fan behind him and leaned against the wall, listening to the movement downstairs.
Unfortunately, the production team’s NPC was very dedicated. Instead of just a cursory glance, they began searching this floor with the electric shock device.
…How troublesome.
Sheng Zhiyu was about to look for a more hidden spot when a hand wrapped around his waist from behind.
An Alpha’s strength is not to be underestimated. Despite their similar builds, Qi Fan easily pulled him into his arms like a small animal.
A faint scent of dark agarwood slowly drifted from behind, as if to envelop and sink him.
Taken by surprise, Sheng Zhiyu let go of the recording device, leaving him holding only the light source.
The sudden feeling of being lifted made his thoughts race. He frowned slightly. “You—”
“He’s right outside,” Qi Fan whispered. “Put your head down.”
Sheng Zhiyu was pulled tightly into his arms, unable to see Qi Fan’s expression or the surrounding environment.
Qi Fan seemed to have brought him into a small, narrow space. He could only bend his legs, awkwardly wrapped in the man’s aura.
His entire back was flush against Qi Fan’s chest. The gland at the back of his neck inevitably pressed against the man’s neck. As the man’s breath fell slowly, it soon triggered a shivering heat.
Every nerve ending at his most sensitive point seemed to be stimulated, slowly feeding that craving for pheromones back to his brain.
The faint light in his hand hit a switch and suddenly went out.
In the pitch black, Sheng Zhiyu heard Qi Fan’s breathing.
“…Why did the light go out?”
Qi Fan’s voice was as quiet as a thread, a volume that could only be heard when pressed right against the ear.
Because it was so close, the emotions within it were amplified and slightly distorted, making it impossible to tell if he was scared or… smiling.
“I don’t know, I think I pressed the wrong button,” Sheng Zhiyu replied in an equally low voice.
The crackling of electricity suddenly appeared nearby. Sheng Zhiyu frowned.
Then he felt the person behind him bury their face slightly into his shoulder and neck.
A movement like this might not be noticed normally, but with Sheng Zhiyu’s vision completely dark, his other senses were naturally heightened.
He knows it’s just someone in a costume… is he really that scared?
Meanwhile, the person outside was dedicated enough to pace through the empty classroom step by step, as if patrolling territory.
Qi Fan, taking advantage of the misunderstanding, overstepped the safety distance and lowered his head toward the Alpha’s gland.
The moment Sheng Zhiyu dragged him into the classroom, multiple secret thoughts had sprouted from this bold action.
Any other Omega would not easily drag an Alpha who had bitten them just yesterday into a strange, enclosed space.
Especially not protecting them behind their back so defenselessly.
Qi Fan was like a covetous wolf, staring shamelessly in the dark at that small piece of thin, pale, fragrant flesh on the back of Sheng Zhiyu’s neck. For the first time, he marveled at his own self-control and patience…
Last night, looking at this spot, I actually didn’t bite down?
He didn’t have night blindness; he could see the youth’s thin silhouette clearly. Because of the hurried hiding, that Hawaiian jacket which was so at odds with Sheng Zhiyu’s personality was slipping off his shoulder, revealing the punk short-sleeved shirt underneath.
Qi Fan finally noticed that the shoulder of that shirt had a half-loose button; if it were unfastened, it would reveal most of the shoulder and collarbone.
…No wonder the young master had kept his clothes wrapped so tightly all evening.
It turned out he was past his rebellious phase.
Warm breath slowly settled on his neck, gradually seeping into Sheng Zhiyu’s collar and brushing over the scent-blocking patch on his gland.
The thin patch was faintly visible under the collar, a sharp contrast to Qi Fan’s bold, uninhibited neck collar.
The irritation that had bothered Qi Fan all evening finally subsided. He was about to withdraw his gaze when he smelled a familiar fragrance.
The iris seemed to recognize him; as soon as it drew near, it bypassed its owner’s consciousness and drifted toward the Alpha’s nose, entangling his breath.
Soft and sweet.
Not an Omega, but physiologically more attractive than one.
Qi Fan felt his fangs itch slightly.
Yet the person in front of him remained still, as if completely unaware of the change.
After a long moment, whether because the hand on his waist tightened or because his neck felt itchy, Sheng Zhiyu seemed to suddenly react. He raised his hand and rubbed the man’s hair.
Qi Fan’s lowered lashes lifted slightly. He looked at the hand in front of him and let out a very, very soft “Mm?” in inquiry.
The person who had been forced to help didn’t think much of it, simply providing a polite comfort. He said calmly, “It’s nothing. Don’t be afraid.”
Slender fingertips, gentle movements.
So, every person who was scared could get a head pat from Sheng Zhiyu.
Finally, the annoying NPC left the classroom.
Sheng Zhiyu fumbled for a few seconds before finally turning the light back on. Only then did he realize Qi Fan had led him to hide under the podium.
He stepped out first. When he turned back, he saw the man with one hand on the podium, slowly standing up.
The vision was dim and he couldn’t see his expression, but Sheng Zhiyu strangely felt… he didn’t seem to have the embarrassed messiness of someone who had lost control due to fear.
At the same time, Qi Fan increased the distance between them.
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t pay attention to these details. Using the dim light, he tried to pick up the device he had dropped earlier.
However, when he reached the door, he found it was empty. The NPC had likely assumed they had abandoned their belongings in a panic and picked them up.
But the production team had monitors, and the scene could be completed from a third-person perspective later, so it wasn’t a big problem.
After finding the seashells by following the fluorescent signs, Qi Fan looked up at the night sky. “We got delayed a bit. An Yu and the others should have walked out by now.”
Sheng Zhiyu gave a casual “Oh” and then turned back. “Qi Fan, did you always do tasks so willfully in the past?”
They had been in this instance for a while now. He always felt Qi Fan cared about An Yu, yet every time he seemed to nonchalantly let it go.
The person beside him was quiet for a moment, let out a faint laugh, and asked back, “Sheng Zhiyu, aren’t you my rival? Why do you seem so eager to see me woo An Yu?”