When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 296: Little Disagreement

Chapter 296: Little Disagreement

Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!

The sound echoed so loudly in Gu Luoxin’s ears that he instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, fearing that Noir might hear his erratic heartbeat. He could not seem to tear his gaze away from the emerald-eyed man, his mind still reeling from shock and disbelief. What in the world had just happened? Noir offered an apology? To him?! Had the sun arisen from the west today?!

In his mind, Noir did not appear like someone who would regret his actions and express remorse, so what had brought forth the change?

Curiosity tickled Gu Luoxin’s heart, the question ready on the tip of his tongue. Yet for some reason, he felt like it would be too rude to ask. Thus he sensibly swallowed it back down to his stomach and kept mum. He was lost in a daze for a few more seconds before the full realization hit him like a train wreck.

Holy shit, Great God Noir had just apologized to him— Gu Luoxin, of all people!

Gu Luoxin tried and tried to suppress it, but he still failed to stop the corners of his lips from raising. Just like that, all the resentment, grievance and embarrassment eroding his heart seemed to have been swept away, replaced by an intense flutter in his stomach that made him feel strangely giddy. What a simple man he was!

Noticing the lack of reaction, Noir glanced at Gu Luoxin through his peripheral vision, only to be rendered speechless when he saw the blissful look on the young man’s face. His eyes, still flushed on the corners, were now shimmering with delight and exhilaration. Coupled with his tear-stained cheeks, he looked both ridiculous and funny in equal measure.

The corner of Noir’s lips twitched as he deadpanned, "Are you that happy?"

Startled out of his joyful reverie, Gu Luoxin couldn’t help but cover his face with both hands, feeling the warmth on his chilled fingertips. Oh God, was he that obvious? How embarrassing! "N–No, I’m not..." he stammered. He peeked at Noir through the gaps of his fingers, only to close them again when their gazes immediately collided in midair. His inner temperature continued to rise, and he felt oddly stuffy despite the gloomy weather. Why did it feel so hot all of a sudden? He fanned his face and muttered, "I was just... surprised, that’s all."

In response, Noir let out a soft snort and threw his gaze back outside.

This time, the silence between them no longer felt as awkward, and Gu Luoxin no longer felt suffocated in the man’s presence. Instead, he found his gaze drawn to Noir, outlining the man’s sharp and gorgeous side profile with his eyes. His attention lingered on the man’s long and thick lashes for one second too long, when a sudden epiphany struck him.

Now that Noir had apologized, did it mean... Gu Luoxin was allowed to appear before him again?

Giddiness bubbled up in his chest and he had the powerful urge to run outside and let the rain embrace his body while laughing out loud like a fool. But of course, he knew better than to embarrass himself in front of Noir again. Instead, he tightened his arms around his legs and he cleared his throat, steeling himself to initiate another conversation. "Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Little Anc— I mean, Lucius anywhere. Has it gone somewhere?"

Noir turned to face him, and a myriad of complex emotions flashed through his captivating emerald eyes, too hard for Gu Luoxin to comprehend. W–Why would Noir look at him like that? Oh no, had Lucius gotten into an accident?! The more Gu Luoxin thought about it, the more certain he was that it must be the case. He began to break into cold sweat, fearing for the adorable black feline’s fate when he heard Noir speak in a hesitant tone that was very unlike him,

"We... have a little disagreement, and he has gone into hiding ever since."

Disagreement? Gu Luoxin blinked in confusion. He recalled how Shen Nianzu had once mentioned that divine props possessed a will and consciousness of their own, but what kind of conflict could escalate to the point where a player and his bound prop was engaged in a cold war, especially considering that their emotions would be transmitted to one another? Without warning, an absurd possibility popped into his mind, causing his jaws to drop.

Could it be...

Was the friction between them caused by... Noir’s rude demeanor toward Gu Luoxin?!

It couldn’t be, right? How could the two of them be at odds just because of him? Alas, when Gu Luoxin recalled yet again the unexpected apology he had received, he had a hunch that he might have hit a jackpot. The sudden revelation hit him like a massive typhoon, turning his mind blank. He could not describe into words how complicated he was feeling right now, but everything narrowed down into a single conviction – he had to prove his conjecture one way or another, or the curiosity might drive him mad!

Swallowing hard, he tried to rack his brain for a suitable method and gingerly suggested, "Well, it’s not good for a player and his divine prop to be in a feud, is it? Why don’t you summon it and let it roam around for a while? It must be feeling stuffy inside. Who knows, it might even reconcile with you after its mood has gotten better! I swear!" He hurriedly raised three fingers to the sky when he noticed that Noir was contemplating his words. "I will not be clingy and touchy-feely! I will be on my best behavior!"

Noir let out a light hum, the sound akin to deep vibration that caused Gu Luoxin’s ears to tingle. He discreetly rubbed his burning earlobe, and in the next instant, a familiar black cat materialized out of thin air before them.

Before anyone could react, it instantly rushed over to Gu Luoxin and pounced on him, clinging with all four paws without giving its owner a single glance. "Meow meow meow!" It unleashed an endless string of meows, as though complaining wholeheartedly about the abuse it had suffered. Even its large emerald eyes seemed to shimmer with tears, expressing a mix of anger and grievance.

Gu Luoxin reflexively cradled Lucius’s butt with his arm, utterly bewildered as the cat began to rub itself all over him as though trying to burrow deeper and deeper into his arms.

So his earlier speculation... was it true?

With a sudden start, Gu Luoxin jerked his head up, only to be met with Noir’s dark and scowling face.

Gu Luoxin: hiccup

This time, it was really not him who started it!!!

.

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A/N: Lucius the best wingcat!! >< also sorry to get your hopes up, the bathing scene will be tomorrow *laugh*