TBWE Extra 8

Two identical faces locked eyes, their gazes filled with undisguised mutual loathing and murderous intent.

The Xi Chu on the left took a step toward Chu Li first, his voice returning to its usual low, gentle tone. “Li Li…”

The Xi Chu on the right immediately also stepped forward, his voice sounding simultaneously, “Let me explain.”

“Don’t move.” Chu Li took a deep breath. “First, explain to me clearly what’s going on.”

“Lost control.” Their expressions darkened, and one of them explained tersely, “After symbiosis, there’s a power transition period… After losing control, we split into two independent consciousnesses, both wanting to kill the other and be with you.”

The other glanced at Him indifferently, then turned to look at Chu Li, putting on a gentle expression. “Sorry, Li Li. When we lost control, we couldn’t synchronize information, couldn’t… merge. We can only exist like this temporarily.”

Chu Li’s throat tightened.

If it weren’t for the fact that their power came from the same source and neither could gain the upper hand, this farce would never have reached her—one of them would have killed the other without hesitation, then returned to a normal life with her.

Her gaze slid over the two figures, her head buzzing. “If one of you dies, what will happen?”

“Not sure, but it definitely won’t affect you.”

“Perhaps some power will be lost.”

They answered one after another, their expressions calm.

Chu Li understood their meaning. Their mutual destruction wouldn’t affect the original symbiotic contract, and therefore wouldn’t affect her. As for serious injury or loss of power after killing the other…these consequences weren’t within their consideration.

The desire for exclusive possession outweighed everything else.

What should she do?

She rubbed her aching temples, deliberately avoiding the two thick, scorching gazes.

She definitely couldn’t make a choice—the other one would go mad. Besides, both were Him, with no difference whatsoever. She couldn’t choose between them either.

“Let’s just live like this.” Chu Li made her decision. “Until we find a way to merge, we’ll live together.”

This outcome was beyond their expectations.

It was precisely because they believed Chu Li couldn’t accept two “Xi Chus” that they had always wanted to eliminate the other’s existence.

Chu Li established three rules.

All forms of fighting were prohibited, all previously made agreements must continue to be observed, and the last rule was that before merging, she would sleep alone in the master bedroom while they did as they pleased.

They both silently accepted the first two rules, but upon hearing the last one, their gazes instantly darkened.

This meant the monster was deprived of the right to intimate contact.

He tried to negotiate. “Li Li… we can be like before,” the word “take turns” rolled around in His teeth several times before being forced out with difficulty, “take turns… keeping you company.”

Better not to mention it—once mentioned, she recalled the monster’s previous insatiable demands.

Living in the same house, taking turns keeping her company?

Just thinking about it made Chu Li’s scalp tingle and her lower abdomen ache faintly. She refused decisively: “If you can’t comply, leave.”

The matter of sleeping in separate rooms was settled with finality.

****

Chu Li admitted she had thought things through a bit too simply.

On the first day of the three living together, after washing up, she opened the door bleary-eyed, and her yawn was frightened back by half.

Two equally tall figures stood guard at the door. The left one wore a full haute couture suit, the dark gold lapel chain at the collar gleaming, as if about to attend a banquet. The right one wore a dark-patterned frog-button robe, two circles of red beads wrapped around his wrist, jet-black hair flowing loose—very similar to His attire in the shrine.

Chu Li slowly surveyed the two peacocks in full display. “What are you doing?”

“Li Li, good morning.”

“Li Li, I was waiting for you to wake up.”

They both stepped forward simultaneously, two gazes fixed on Chu Li. “Good morning kiss.”

Chu Li: “…”

When establishing the three rules, she should have added one more—intimate contact prohibited before merging.

Seeing through her evasion, the Xi Chu on the left raised his hand to caress her cheek, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Li Li, yesterday when we established the three rules, nothing was said about not being able to kiss.”

The Xi Chu on the right naturally fastened the topmost open button of her pajamas, his fingertips lingering on her collarbone.

Their excessively ardent gazes stuck to her soft lips.

After washing up, her lips were moist, and from her tongue tip to the warm interior of her mouth would emanate a faint mint scent.

His gaze darkened, His Adam’s apple rolling.

Before, He could naturally kiss her, and the kissing location should have been in bed or the bathroom, not at the doorway, having to wait in advance.

The root cause of all this was right beside Him—this inferior creature.

He slightly rotated his eyeballs, looking at the Xi Chu beside him. Their gazes collided, carrying identical dark malice, both wishing the other would immediately disappear.

Chu Li’s ears burned, her heartbeat skipping a few beats.

Two equally slender hands were touching her. Though they were clearly the same being, she actually had the illusion of two-timing.

Judging by their stance, they wouldn’t easily give up if their demand wasn’t satisfied.

She steeled herself and met the burning gaze, suppressing her palpitations, then suddenly grabbed that deep black tie.

Like a large predator being pulled by its collar, He obediently lowered his head.

Soft lips touched, two breaths mingling at lips and teeth.

This scene drove into the other Xi Chu’s eyes like a nail.

Damn it.

An inferior creature—how could he deserve her kiss?

Jealousy and violence rampaged within the human shell. His hand lingering at Chu Li’s collarbone involuntarily increased in pressure, leaving red marks.

It was just a fleeting kiss, yet it seemed to last a century.

Chu Li was stared at death by the gaze from beside her, her back to her throat going numb. She hastily released the tie, then circled the other Xi Chu’s neck, giving him an equally brief kiss.

Soft lips carrying a hint of mint fragrance pressed down.

“There!” She quickly squeezed out from between them, fleeing downstairs.

The two Xi Chus came to their senses, exchanging cold glances, both seeing in each other’s eyes intense killing intent and possessiveness.

They wanted each other dead even more.

Chu Li ran to the dining room as if fleeing for her life. Two breakfast sets were laid out on the long table.

One was pea noodles with side dishes, the other was avocado shrimp bagel with a bowl of blueberry nut yogurt.

Looking up, they had already followed down, quietly awaiting her choice.

Chu Li looked for a while, then under two gazes, first took a bite of noodles.

One gaze immediately became scorching, carrying undisguised satisfaction.

Immediately after, she took a bite of the bagel, repeating this until she forced herself to finish everything.

As she ate, her heart filled with exhaustion.

She suddenly understood those families online who had twins—everything had to be doubled, and the slightest favoritism would brew disaster.

****

Life after moving in together appeared calm on the surface but surged with undercurrents within.

The originally spacious duplex building, because it now accommodated three people, even the air became cramped.

At night when sleeping, Chu Li often felt two identical yet distinctly separate inhuman auras stubbornly stationed outside her bedroom door, standing guard all night.

Ever since losing the privilege of sleeping in the same bed, the two Xi Chus, when facing the other “self,” had hostility and irritation almost bursting through their skin. When encountering each other indoors, their gazes were cold, as if sweeping over a disgusting yet necessarily coexisting piece of furniture, then each looked away, treating the other as air.

Their goal was unified—when Chu Li was awake, to do everything possible to monopolize her attention and not miss any opportunity for intimate contact.

Chu Li didn’t want to face the strange atmosphere at home. Although her thesis and study abroad application were basically settled, she still went to school every day or made plans to go out with Xin Tong.

Avoidance was shameful, but effective.

Not having to constantly face two Xi Chus, she felt much lighter overall.

As graduation season approached, the school spontaneously organized a flea market to sell or give away used items for free.

The flea market had been open for several days. After hearing about it, Chu Li organized professional books and notes she’d used over four years of college, planning to give them to younger students in her major.

Her notes were clear and detailed, with many knowledge points marked in the books. They were quickly claimed.

Xin Tong was grabbed by her advisor to attend a meeting and didn’t respond to the invitation for French food. Chu Li wandered around the flea market for a while. Having nothing else to do, she slowly headed home as dinner time approached.

Today the house was exceptionally quiet, filled with the aroma of lunch.

Xi Chu wore a loose tank top, bringing the last dish to the table. When bending over, the loose neckline swayed, revealing glimpses of His clearly defined chest and side waist lines.

He looked over with a smile. “Li Li, time for lunch.”

Chu Li changed shoes and walked over, scanning the surroundings. “Where’s He?”

“Went to the company for a meeting.” He brushed it off lightly, then smiled again, “It’s just us for lunch today.”

The words “just us” were emphasized slightly.

Chu Li blinked, a bit incredulous. “Did you two fight?”

Otherwise why would the other one obediently go to a meeting, leaving this one at home.

Xi Chu curved his lips slightly. “Didn’t violate the agreement.”

They hadn’t fought, just used another method. The lucky winner could stay home, and the loser had to go to the meeting.

“Mm, alright then.” Confirming everything at home was intact and Xi Chu wasn’t injured, Chu Li decided not to interfere and went straight to sit down.

A leg inserted itself unobtrusively, blocking her path.

Chu Li was pushed back a step, her lower back hitting the table edge, causing the soup on the table to slosh.

Xi Chu moved closer another step, rapidly compressing the distance between their bodies. He braced one hand on the table, the other encircling Chu Li’s waist, lowering his head to linger over her face and neck.

His high-bridged nose brushed past her soft cheek, the side of her neck, her collarbone…

He inhaled greedily, thin lips sucking, leaving wet traces. 

The faint fragrance filled his senses like a lit fuse, releasing suppressed desire.

Chu Li instinctively gripped the hem of His shirt at the waist. Warm lips sucked at the thin skin of her collarbone, then unsatisfied with just that, began trailing downward with nibbles.

“Mm…”

A subtle electric current shot through her. Her hand gripping Xi Chu’s hem moved to His waist, nails digging in slightly through the fabric.

The lines beneath her palm suddenly tensed, and the pressure of the lips increased somewhat.

If it were any other time, Chu Li would likely indulge Him to continue.

But that tightly closed door could open again at any moment.

Her heart remained suspended, all sensations magnified many times over.

An inappropriate thought flashed through: It feels like… having an affair.

Chu Li trembled all over, her cheeks flushed red, and pushed Him once. “Stop fooling around, I need to eat.”

Xi Chu straightened to look at her, still keeping her circled in his arms, pupils like undiluted ink.

“Li Li, I’m hungry too.”

A statement so direct it was almost naked.

Before Chu Li could react, Xi Chu lowered his head to capture her lips, his calm expression forming a stark contrast with his fierce actions.

His tongue forcefully pried open her closed teeth, rolling around her soft tongue, greedily sucking and swallowing.

Wet tentacles followed along Chu Li’s arm, drilling in through the sleeve. 

“Wait, wait…”

Xi Chu swallowed all her words.

The air gradually grew humid and warm, fine beads of sweat clinging to her back and forehead.

Chu Li’s breathing became difficult, forced until her eyes were misty with moisture, her gaze floating emptily.

Amidst the chaos, her exposed skin prickled with needle-like pain.

A gaze that had appeared at some unknown moment swept over her inch by inch, deadly focused.

Because it was so intense, it felt like sharp thorns piercing her skin.

Her scattered vision suddenly focused. Chu Li looked past Xi Chu’s shoulder and saw a figure in a suit standing at the entrance.

His expression was beyond words to describe.

“Mm… Xi Chu—” She forcefully turned her head away, dodging the relentless lips. Just as she looked toward the entrance, a hand gripped the back of her neck, forcefully turning her head back straight.

An identical face was close at hand. Xi Chu’s breath was scorching, his voice low and husky. “What are you looking at? Focus, Li Li.”

Her unfinished words were again cut off by lips and tongue.

The figure at the entrance moved.

Chu Li watched helplessly as He approached step by step.