When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 141: Can Of Soda

Chapter 141: Can Of Soda

The very same night, Shen Nianzu registered their organization in the Nightmare App.

As they could rename it at will with the mere price of 200 experience points, Shen Nianzu had not bothered to think of any meaningful name and simply registered it as ’SJG’ – the abbreviation of their surnames: Shen, Jin and Gu.

Alas, how could such a move of his be unnoticed by others?

Half an hour later, a thread appeared on the forum, announcing that the player ranked 36, Nian, also known as the Master of Illusion, had created an organization. What caught everyone’s attention was the fact that there were only three members at the moment!

The thread quickly gained popularity, and countless players rushed in to apply, only to be disappointed when they discovered that Nian would not accept new members for the time being.

[Ah, such a shame. I thought this would be a new organization that will rival the Big Three!]

[It’s been years. Why did Nian suddenly create an organization? Does anyone know?]

[Who cares?! I am more curious about Nian’s teammates!]

[Ahhh they’re so lucky to be chosen by Nian!]

[Nian, if you see this, please pick me! I am ranked 256 on the leaderboard...]

[Me too! Me too! I am ranked 175!]

It was fortunate that the list of organization members remained private only for insiders, otherwise if the other players found out that Nian and the most popular newcomer JJ had joined forces, they would definitely make another trending topic. As the players speculated and analyzed Nian’s future plans, Shen Nianzu himself was busy dragging a certain husky to study, thrusting a thick book into his arms.

Shen Nianzu gave his ultimatum, "If you don’t finish two Chapters tonight, no breakfast for you tomorrow!"

Jin Jiuchi: QAQ

Jin Jiuchi draped himself over the table and lamented his bleak fate for the next two weeks with an expression as if he had nothing left to live for, "Why is my life so miserable?!"

Shen Nianzu quickly snatched the book away before it could be tainted by Jin Jiuchi’s crocodile tears.

Over the next two weeks, they met up with Gu Luoxin every weekend at the library to study together, even though Jin Jiuchi fell asleep more often than not soon after the book was placed before him.

They not only cram theoretical knowledge, but also analyze the props they should bring to the Cycle. As there was a huge possibility that they would need to go into water, they ended up purchasing a prop that could allow them to breathe underwater, headlamps, ropes, mini yacht (only Local Tyrant Shen Nianzu could afford this) and two life-saving props. As for Jin Jiuchi, Shen Nianzu added a few packages of mental stabilizer agents in his list in case they encountered mental pollution again. As he wanted to focus on searching for the witch’s bane to break his curse, he did not want to be distracted by the black-eyed Jin Jiuchi.

Amidst the frantic studying and extensive research on Atlantis, time flew by in a flash and it was now the night before their departure.

They had not discussed Jin Jiuchi’s identity or the prophecy again since Qian Hui’s visit, and thus taking advantage of the fact that there was no studying tonight, Shen Nianzu planned to have a good talk with Jin Jiuchi and carefully dig out what the man knew about himself.

After taking a shower, Shen Nianzu went to the kitchen and grabbed two cans of soda as a bribe. He knocked on Jin Jiuchi’s door and asked, "Jin Jiuchi, can I come in?"

There was no response from within, causing Shen Nianzu to furrow his brows. The silly husky couldn’t have collapsed due to intense studying these past two weeks, right? Harboring the doubt in his mind, Shen Nianzu pushed open the door and poked his head in, only for his eyes to widen upon finding the room empty.

Shocked, Shen Nianzu walked in and looked around, and his gaze eventually landed on the open window in the room. It couldn’t be... he was not so depressed as to entertain the thoughts of jumping down from the second floor, right?

He hurried to the window and looked down, finding nothing but the lush greenery below.

"Jin Jiuchi!" He called out loud, his heart rising to his throat. Fortunately, before his mind could spiral further, he heard the man’s response coming from above.

"Nian’er?"

Shen Nianzu snapped his head up and saw Jin Jiuchi’s long legs dangling on the edge of the roof, while the aforementioned man was looking at him with his head tilted in confusion. "What’s wrong?" A thought crossed his mind and his expression morphed into horror. "We’re not studying again, are we?! You told me yourself earlier, no more studying tonight!"

Jin Jiuchi, who had never attended school, finally experienced the psychological shadow brought about by slack students cramming to study a few days before finals.

The corner of Shen Nianzu’s lips twitched. "Don’t worry, we’ve already studied everything we could. What are you doing up there?"

"Oh!" Jin Jiuchi’s face lit up with a grin as he turned to face the sky. Amidst the lush forest, the night sky appeared much brighter than in the city, adorned with twinkling stars. "Isn’t it fascinating? I like to look at it before I sleep. Wanna come up here, Nian’er?" He offered a hand to the jade doll.

Shen Nianzu could very well climb onto the roof by himself, but as he looked at Jin Jiuchi’s outstretched palm, he found himself reaching out to grab it. In the next moment, he felt himself being lifted out of the window as Jin Jiuchi caught him by the waist.

"Oof!" Jin Jiuchi shamelessly held the jade doll close to him with their sides pressed together, grinning. "Isn’t this nice?"

The night wind blew, ruffling Shen Nianzu’s long silver hair, and Jin Jiuchi gently tucked it behind his ear. "It’s damp. Did you just shower, Nian’er? Smells good..."

Shen Nianzu’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the carefree smile on the corner of Jin Jiuchi’s lips. Under the blanket of the night, his silver eyes glowed with a radiance brighter than the moon, swirling with unprecedented gentleness. Jin Jiuchi’s lashes fluttered as he blinked, and for some reason Shen Nianzu felt a ticklish sensation spreading across his chest at the mere sight of it.

When would he finally get used to Jin Jiuchi’s casual compliments, he wondered? He knew that Jin Jiuchi meant nothing by that, but his heart could not help but race every time he heard them.

Clearing his throat, Shen Nianzu’s gaze landed on the two cans of soda he had brought. He opened one and handed it to Jin Jiuchi, inviting him to try. "What’s so fascinating about the sky?" he asked in an attempt to change the topic.

Alas, it did not seem like Jin Jiuchi heard him as his whole attention was fixed on the chilled can covered by droplets of water vapor. He observed the can of soda with undisguised curiosity, bringing it to his nose for a tentative sniff. "What is this, Nian’er?"

"Soda." Shen Nianzu opened one for himself and took a small sip, enjoying the refreshing bubbles sliding down his throat."You haven’t tried it yet, right? It’s delicious."

Like a curious puppy, Jin Jiuchi tilted the can to his mouth and took a small sip, imitating Shen Nianzu’s movements earlier. In an instant, his eyes flew wide in shock. "Wha—" he stared at the can in astonishment, then turned to Shen Nianzu, brimming with excitement. "Nian’er, Nian’er! What was that? It... It pops and explodes on my tongue! How is this possible?!" Jin Jiuchi took another larger sip, and his eyes lit up in genuine awe. "Mmm-mmm-mm?!!"

The corner of Shen Nianzu’s lips trembled. "Swallow first before you speak."

Jin Jiuchi struggled to swallow and panted, sticking his tongue out. "Nian’er, this... this is..." He was so baffled by the new and bizarre sensation that he was rendered speechless.

He reacted just as Shen Nianzu imagined he would. Unable to contain himself any longer, Shen Nianzu burst into laughter. "Hahaha, your face...!" He tried to stifle his laughter with the back of his hand, but it proved futile as it spilled out uncontrollably.

Jin Jiuchi finally realized that he was being teased, and his lips puckered into a pout, though his eyes were gleaming in mirth. "Nian’er, you are doing this on purpose, aren’t you?" He asked with his eyes narrowed.

"Pfft, my bad..." Shen Nianzu’s shoulders shook as he struggled to control his laughter. "You’re just so..."

"Hmph," Jin Jiuchi pretended to be magnanimous and took another sip of his soda. "I will forgive Nian’er this time, just because he looks so pretty when he laughs."

"...!" Shen Nianzu almost choked on his breath when he heard that. "You..." he raised his head to meet Jin Jiuchi’s smoldering gaze, and the words were abruptly lost in his throat. There it was again; the breathlessness and heart palpitations. Shen Nianzu’s lips still carried traces of the previous smile when Jin Jiuchi reached out to rub it gently, the touch was akin to a jolt of electricity running down his spine.

Somewhere nearby, a faint song drifted to his ears, and only then did he realize that he had forgotten to turn off the music player after he finished his shower earlier.

Hot summer nights, mid-July

When you and I are forever wild

The crazy days, city lights

The way you’d play with me like a child

"Nian’er, you asked me why I find the nights so fascinating..." Jin Jiuchi whispered, the tip of his finger tracing from the corner of Shen Nianzu’s lips to his Cupid’s bow, as if etching it into his memory. His eyes followed suit. "Isn’t it fascinating how the night makes everything more beautiful somehow? The forest is gentle and calm, the birds are sleeping, and you..."

Jin Jiuchi lifted his eyelids, and his eyes curved into crescents. "Do you know that you shine the brightest at night, Nian’er? So beautiful..."

.

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A/N: Song is from ’Young and Beautiful’ by Lana Del Rey