TBWE Chapter 20

The Date

Under the intense gaze, Chu Li couldn’t help but swallow, cold sweat breaking out on her back.

Perhaps her expression was too stiff, as Huo Xiu stepped closer, his shadow enveloping her.

“Li Li?” His upturned lips slowly straightened. “Are you unwilling?”

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, the air thick and viscous.

A pale right hand slowly extended.

“No.” Chu Li forced a smile. “I’m very happy.”

The tentacles wrapped around her ankles suddenly tightened, and she faintly heard some strange, peculiar sound, like insects buzzing in low voices.

Huo Xiu stared at the pale, soft hand, pupils dilating, a hint of flush showing through his cold, pale skin. These subtle reactions were starkly at odds with the gentle expression he maintained.

He gently lifted her hand, carefully pinching the ring and sliding it onto her middle finger.

Inch by inch, a perfect fit.

Chu Li’s hand was gripped tightly, and she suddenly felt as if she was being licked. A vision unfolded in her mind—

The fingertips split open, revealing nimble tongues that licked and kissed her skin.

Low buzzing sounds converged together, like the rise and fall of tides.

She couldn’t understand their meaning, but could feel the frenzy within. As if impatient to crush and devour their prey.

Huo Xiu bent down closer, caressing her face, murmuring, “Why are you sweating so much?”

His fingertips wiped away the cold sweat, leaving behind a moist sensation.

As if it hadn’t been wiped away, but licked clean.

Chu Li’s heart was stuck in her throat, beating until it ached, her voice dry and hoarse. “First time being proposed to, I’m a bit… nervous.”

Huo Xiu accepted her explanation.

Recently, he had researched many guides about human wedding preparations. It was normal for future partners to feel nervous when being proposed to.

“Actually, I’m nervous too.” He curved his eyes with a smile. “I’m very happy you agreed.”

His handsome, sculpted features gradually drew closer.

Chu Li’s body instantly tensed. Even though she repeatedly told herself not to avoid it, when those thin lips were about to touch hers, she couldn’t help but turn her head away.

The soft touch landed on her cheek instead.

Before Huo Xiu could speak, she yawned and tugged at his sleeve, saying, “The wind made my head ache a bit, I’m so sleepy.”

His partner’s physical health was Huo Xiu’s top priority.

He didn’t mind the brief avoidance, kissed the top of Chu Li’s head, and said with gentle tolerance. “Alright, let’s go back and rest.”

The night wind dispersed the intense floral fragrance.

Huo Xiu took off his jacket and draped it over her, lifting her up to leave the observatory.

Chu Li looked over his shoulder at the carefully arranged venue and flowers, left behind in the black night.

****

They stayed at Moran Manor for three nights.

Chu Li had to admit she had a wonderful time there.

The manor’s entertainment facilities were too comprehensive. Those oppressive thoughts seemed to disappear with the wind after a few laps around the horse track.

When she went horseback riding, Huo Xiu would wait for her in the rest area.

Not a single horse in the stable would let him approach. Even getting slightly closer would make the horses tremble and their legs go weak.

The handsome man sat quietly in the rest area, his gaze continuously fixed on the figure on horseback and her genuinely brilliant smile.

He watched with rapt attention, feeling that Chu Li at this moment seemed to be glowing, radiating a vibrant life force that made his never-satisfied hunger even more intense.

Boiling desire flowed through every blood vessel.

When he noticed others were also watching Chu Li, the hunger transformed into a terrifying possessiveness.

Passersby who had stopped to admire the scene suddenly felt like they were being watched. Turning around, they saw a tall figure in a suit standing in the rest area.

He stood there, face unclear, like a ghostly shadow.

The onlookers shivered and ran away as if fleeing for their lives, dragging their companions along.

Chu Li had just finished three laps and was leading her horse over when she saw those people fleeing. “What’s wrong with those people? They looked like they’d seen a ghost.”

Huo Xiu’s eyes clung to her, using his gaze to lick the sweat beads on her forehead, her flushed skin, and her bright, sparkling eyes.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head calmly. “Perhaps they had urgent business.”

“We’re returning to the city this evening. Is there anything else Li Li wants to try?”

Over these three days, Chu Li had tried almost every entertainment facility in the manor. As the engagement date approached, pressure wrapped around her like silk threads, urgently needing an outlet for release.

After getting off the horse, the familiar anxiety returned.

She looked at Huo Xiu. Although he had accessed Huo Xiu’s memories, he wasn’t essentially human and didn’t understand human recreational activities. For these three days, she had been the one playing while he waited nearby, occasionally participating.

“Let me take you somewhere.” She proactively took his hand.

****

Moran Manor had a commercial district.

Neon lights spelled out “Star Game Center” in five large characters. Walking inside, cold air carried electronic sound waves rolling toward them.

The moment they stepped in, cacophonous sounds flooded their ears. Hundreds of arcade machines simultaneously produced electronic sound effects, players screamed excitedly, and coins clattered down at the prize exchange counter. Laser ball lights spun overhead, casting colorful light spots that danced across the floor.

Huo Xiu frowned imperceptibly.

He detested many things about humans—so noisy and boring.

Chu Li pulled him to the exchange counter, traded for a full basket of silver coins, and thrust them into his hands.

“I loved coming to game centers as a child. Let me show you the experience.” Arriving at the familiar venue, she was in her element, weaving between players and claiming vacant machines.

Two silver coins were inserted, the claw machine lit up with colorful lights, and Chu Li manipulated the joystick, her lips unconsciously curving upward.

Huo Xiu stood in the noisy environment, watching the slight smile at her lips, his expression gentle.

Those boring, clamorous sounds all became lively because of her.

A burst of cheerful music played, followed by several envious exclamations from nearby. A snow-white lop-eared rabbit plushie filled his vision.

“Spoils of war.” Chu Li’s face peeked out from behind the plushie, her smiling eyes curved like crescents. “Tong Tong and I used to play this all the time, we annoyed so many claw machine shop owners. Want to try? It’s quite simple.”

His simulated human heart trembled violently.

“…Alright.”

Huo Xiu meticulously replicated the process Chu Li had demonstrated.

The claw grabbed at the air with great momentum.

“It’s okay, it’s normal not to catch anything on the first try.” Chu Li’s eyes were encouraging as she inserted two more coins.

Second try, third try, fourth try…

Huo Xiu calmly gripped the joystick, which made creaking sounds under the strain.

“You can’t break the equipment!” Chu Li quickly pressed him down. The two were pressed close together, warm sensation covering the back of Huo Xiu’s hand as she gripped his hand to control the joystick.

“Choose this one, it’s close to the exit, less likely to fall off…”

Huo Xiu looked down intently, not shifting his gaze for a long time.

The claw machine lit up with colorful lights, and a little devil plushie fell out.

“Did you hear what I just said?” Chu Li picked up the new prize and waved it in front of his eyes.

“I learned.”

Chu Li watched him operate again with skepticism. The claw tremblingly picked up a panda, descending bit by bit.

Just as it was about to slip off the hook, a shadow flashed by, and the panda seemed glued to the claw, eventually obediently falling into the exit.

He repeated the process, and before Chu Li could recover from her shock, he quickly grabbed several more.

Huo Xiu picked up a pile of plushies and handed them over calmly. “New spoils of war. Want more?”

He could extract them all.

Chu Li: “……”

Next, she didn’t give Huo Xiu any more chances to cheat, choosing only skill-based games.

The entire afternoon, two figures shuttled through the game center, the silver coins in their basket rapidly depleting.

In a corner, there were several old-style arcade machines.

The two nestled on a small sofa, pixel fighters battling frantically on the screen.

Soon, “K.O” appeared on Huo Xiu’s screen.

“Li Li is really amazing.” He praised her tirelessly.

Every time she won a round, Chu Li had to hear his praise. She opened a can of cola, icy bubbles filling her stomach with a sour, bloated feeling.

“I originally wanted to play with you, but it seems like I made you accompany me to play instead.”

“No, it’s very fun.” Huo Xiu’s eyes were filled with her reflection. “I’m extremely happy.”

Overwhelming joy completely filled his heart.

He believed this was a memory worth treasuring.

“Can we come again in the future?”

Chu Li lowered her eyes and nodded gently. “Of course, we can come together again when we have time.”

****

At dusk, scenery flew past the car windows.

Returning to the city from Moran Manor required traveling a tree-lined path.

Chu Li sat in the passenger seat, the back seat occupied by their prizes. Soothing music flowed, and her eyelids gradually grew heavy.

A truck approached from the other direction.

As they passed each other, it suddenly changed direction!

CRASH——

The massive impact sent their car spinning out of control, rolling and tumbling inside. Airbags and writhing tentacles instantly filled all the space.

Chu Li clearly saw that Huo Xiu’s first reaction was to release the steering wheel and protect her.

Buzz——!

Bronze bell sounds rang continuously, and the small patch of sky overhead instantly darkened.

Tentacles tore apart the car’s metal frame like shredding waste paper. Huo Xiu held Chu Li as they landed, coldly surveying several shadows in the darkness.

Crimson patterns surfaced on the ground, rising and falling like breathing creatures.

By the light of the burning car, Chu Li saw these patterns strangling and devouring the tentacles lurking in the darkness.

Five shadows silently surrounded them, faces covered with ceremonial masks, none of them speaking.

They were from the Chu family.

Chu Li hadn’t expected them to dare come again.

The last encounter had been tragic enough—weren’t they afraid of death?

Huo Xiu’s face was stern as he forcefully pressed her into his embrace, blocking all lines of sight.

Bell sounds, the noise of tearing flesh, and the dripping of sticky blood became the background music.

Both sides remained silent, as if this scene had played out countless times before.

The scent of blood that Chu Li detected grew stronger, and it was coming from Huo Xiu.

When four people wielding bronze bells desperately surrounded and attacked him, Huo Xiu was forced to briefly release Chu Li.

A red line wrapped around her waist.

Her dress fluttered like a kite flying backward in the darkness. As Chu Li’s vision rapidly retreated, she finally saw clearly what condition Huo Xiu was in.

Countless black tentacles clustered around him. His handsome face had basically lost all human resemblance, covered with narrow, deep blue slits like countless eyes.

His expression was ferocious to the point of being terrifying.

The tentacles smashed one of the Chu family members who blocked him into the ground, turning him into a blood-soaked pulp with an unrecognizable face.

The other three were unmoved and continued to obstruct.

Chu Li finally landed, a hand covering her mouth and nose as a strange fragrance penetrated her nostrils.

“Miss Chu, it was really quite difficult to get you to come out.”

The woman’s voice was icy and slippery, with a hint of playfulness.

“I wondered why summoning your gu had no response. Turns out He sacrificed part of His power to forcibly put the gu to sleep.”

“Well then, the Grand Nuo really wants to meet you. Please come with me.”

The woman caught the softly collapsing body, stuffed the person into a car parked by the roadside, and without another glance at the carnage behind, the vehicle disappeared into the night.