You Mingxu took a shower and simply sent a message telling the others not to wait for them for dinner, then slipped under the covers and held his arm. He made a soft “mm” sound without opening his eyes, pulled her into his embrace, and continued sleeping.

When You Mingxu woke up, it was already dark. The room was dimly lit, with only a small lamp on in the corner.

A figure sat by the bedside, like a shadow of dark colors, lost in thought.

You Mingxu sat up. “Yin Feng?”

He turned his head and said, “You’re awake? Are you hungry?”

You Mingxu replied, “A little.” She got up and washed her face, feeling refreshed. When she walked back, she found him still sitting in the same spot, motionless.

You Mingxu didn’t feel like moving either. In this languid light, with silence surrounding them like an empty valley, one couldn’t help but feel melancholic. She walked over and sat down beside him, holding his arm.

Yin Feng sighed softly, pulled her into his embrace, and lay back on the bed.

She asked dreamily, “Why are you sighing?”

“I want to possess you,” he said softly. “Why do I want to possess you so much? So you have nowhere to escape.”

You Mingxu cursed under her breath, “You’re crazy.”

He said, “Is it wrong to be crazy?”

She pushed him away. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat first.”

He made an “mm” sound and said, “I knew you’d be hungry, so I’ve prepared food already. It’s on the table.”

You Mingxu was a bit surprised. He was quite capable—she hadn’t heard any noise while she was sleeping. He must have had it delivered from the kitchen.

In the dim light, she could see something placed on the small square table in the corner of the room, but only vague outlines.

Yin Feng said, “Turn on a light so you can see more clearly.” His voice was slow and low.

You Mingxu suddenly felt her heart seized by a strange feeling. Everything around remained quiet, with nothing unusual. He sat silently beside her. Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. She knew he was watching her.

“Oh,” she responded.

Her hand found the wall and turned on another light. The room immediately became half-bright, half-dark.

Now she could see clearly—on the small table was a semicircular crystal dome. She could vaguely make out something inside, but couldn’t see it.

You Mingxu turned to look at Yin Feng.

His face was expressionless, and he wasn’t looking at her eyes. He appeared especially calm as he stared at… the wall.

You Mingxu’s heart suddenly melted completely. The tension that had arisen from his current gloominess vanished like smoke.

She suddenly smiled and said, “Do you want me to look? Have you thought it through?”

Yin Feng slowly looked at her, then also smiled and said, “Of course, I’ve thought it through. What about you? Do you dare to look?”

You Mingxu said, “What wouldn’t I dare to do?”

Just as she was about to get up and lift the cover, with Yin Feng’s gaze firmly fixed on her, her phone rang. Yin Feng frowned and said, “You Mingxu, you dare to answer that?”

You Mingxu laughed. “Don’t get angry!” She picked up the phone but then paused.

It was Ding Xiongwei calling.

For Ding Xiongwei to call during vacation was never a good sign.

She looked up, saw Yin Feng’s icy gaze, and quickly said, “I’m sorry, just a moment.” She answered the phone, and after listening for just a sentence or two, her expression changed dramatically.

Ding Xiongwei said, “Something’s happened at Mengshan’s home!”

——

The sun tilted westward, casting a golden glow on the wooden floor. The “thud, thud, thud” of a bouncing basketball echoed clearly in the court.

Xu Mengshan wiped the sweat from his forehead, sat down at the edge of the court, and took big gulps of water, staring somewhat absently at those still playing basketball.

A childhood friend walked over, sat down beside him, and nudged his arm. “How is she?”

Xu Mengshan followed his gaze. Not far from the edge of the court, several girls were watching the game. Among them was a slender, good-looking girl who seemed to be looking in their direction. He had noticed earlier that the girl had clear eyes and a delicate appearance.

Most of his buddies were already married, leaving Xu Mengshan single.

Xu Mengshan tilted his head back, finished his water, and violently crushed the mineral water bottle. “We’ll see.”

His friend persisted, “What do you mean ‘we’ll see’? You’re not getting any younger, and your uncle and aunt are hoping every day. She seems to have a good impression of you, too. Although you’re a bit quiet around girls, if you make an effort, there’s still hope.”

Xu Mengshan smiled slightly. Quiet? You haven’t seen how playful and lively I can be around girls.

Seeing him silent, his friend simply pulled his arm. “Come on, let’s all go have dinner together and try getting to know each other. It’s not like we’re asking you to give up your virginity tonight.”

Xu Mengshan didn’t move and replied with a half-smile, “Forget it, don’t drag me along today. I promised to have dinner with my parents. I just finished a case and haven’t been home for a long time.”

His friend asked, “Really?”

Xu Mengshan replied, “I swear to heaven.”

His friend sighed and said, “Alright. But you must come next time.”

Xu Mengshan responded with an “mm.”

Xu Mengshan’s parents also lived in the same city, but because city apartments were too expensive and unaffordable, they lived in a more remote area, almost reaching the neighboring county. When Xu Mengshan arrived at his parents’ building, it had just gotten dark. He hummed a tune as he went upstairs. Seeing the familiar door of his home, his heart felt settled, and he took out his key.

The door opened. Thinking about the way the girl had looked at him that afternoon, Xu Mengshan felt a bit anxious, with an urge to turn and run away. Without looking up, he walked a few steps into the house and suddenly shuddered.

The smell of blood.

He smelled the heavy, pervasive scent of blood.

Xu Mengshan jerked his head up, momentarily unable to process what he was seeing.

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

On the walls.

On the table.

On the floor.

A red silence, so silent it was piercing to the eyes.

The living room of his parents’ home wasn’t large. The walls, usually white, were now completely stained. Patches and drops of red, as if smeared everywhere by a sinful hand. It was like countless crimson, eerie flowers silently blooming around him.

A bone-chilling cold surged up from the depths of Xu Mengshan’s heart. He felt his limbs stiffen as he forced out a hoarse roar from the deepest part of his throat: “Dad—Mom—”