When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 393: Not Even Once

Chapter 393: Not Even Once

The four of them indulged in a simple breakfast of toasts, eggs and bacon, courtesy to Shen Nianzu and Gu Luoxin, who insisted on helping him in the kitchen. They couldn’t have asked Song Yunshi to serve them, given his age and status. As for Jin Jiuchi... well, it would be better for everyone’s safety if he did not step one foot into the kitchen – ever.

After breakfast, the trio politely excused themselves as they had accomplished their original purpose, and also because they still needed to cover a long distance by car.

Song Yunshi bid them farewell, escorting them outside the building.

"Thank you so much for having us, Grandpa!" Gu Luoxin expressed with cheerful sincerity. "I will definitely miss this place now that we have to return to the city..."

"We will visit again next time," Shen Nianzu added with a respectful bow.

Song Yunshi let out a hearty chuckle. "Sure, this old man will wait for you youngsters. Until next time, then. Please be careful in your next Cycle."

Shen Nianzu nodded resolutely, "I will start to practice the technique you shared." The two of them bowed once again before turning around, intending to find Jin Jiuchi who had gone off to God-knows-where to say goodbye to his squirrel friends. But before they could track him down, Song Yunshi’s voice sounded behind them,

"Are you not afraid?"

Despite the lack of context, Shen Nianzu and Gu Luoxin intuitively grasped the underlying meaning behind that question.

Tugging on his bangs, Gu Luoxin showed a sheepish look. "I should be afraid, shouldn’t I? But for some reason, rather than fear... I feel more annoyed at him." A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes upon recalling the way Jin Jiuchi mocked and teased him, not only once but countless times during the short span of time they had known each other. Gu Luoxin clenched his fists and gritted out, "I really, really want to punch him just once— oh wait, I did do it... once..." he immediately slammed the brakes once he realized Song Yunshi and Shen Nianzu’s gazes on him.

What did you just say, Gu Luoxin?! How could you admit to punching Da Shen in front of his boyfriend, who is none other than your Boss?! This is why Da Shen kept calling you ’dumb’!

Realizing his blunder, Gu Luoxin summoned his best acting skills and concluded his sentence, "Anyway! My point is, he didn’t scare me as much as I thought... probably because I have Toki with me now. It makes me realize that not all nightmare creatures are bad! T–That’s all I can say! Please excuse me!" He hurriedly blurted out everything in one breath, gave Song Yunshi a deep bow, and swiftly scurried away to escape from further embarrassment.

Song Yunshi chuckled, "He’s a very good kid, isn’t he?"

"Mn," Shen Nianzu echoed his sentiments with a faint amused smile. "I’m lucky to have him in my organization."

"What about you?" Song Yunshi redirected the question to him. "Are you not afraid of him, not even the slightest? Pardon me if I’m wrong, but it seems like the relationship between you two is... quite intimate."

Shen Nianzu had no qualms in admitting the truth, "You’re not wrong, Grandpa. Jin Jiuchi is my boyfriend." He could see Song Yunshi’s eyes widening in surprise from his peripheral vision, but his attention was fixed on a distance where Jin Jiuchi and Gu Luoxin were huddled close together, squealing at something in Jin Jiuchi’s palms which he assumed to be a baby squirrel. Unbeknownst to him, the look in his purple eyes softened, simmering like a piece of amethyst under the dazzling sunlight. "I doubted him at first. I allowed him to stay by my side solely to keep an eye on him, so that I could eliminate him at the first sign of suspicion. But in the end... I lost. I lost to his sincerity, honesty and transparency. Unlike me, he’s someone who wears his heart on his sleeves. If he wanted to harm me, he would have done so from day one instead of waiting until now. I trust him with my life, yet not even once has he let me down."

Out of nowhere, his thoughts drifted to his divine prop, Aqua, and he turned to Song Yunshi, stating solemnly, "I agree with Gu Luoxin. Not all nightmare creatures are bad. Perhaps... we have been too blinded by our own prejudice."

It took Song Yunshi a while to regain his senses. A warm and kind smile slowly stretched across his face as he nodded, "That’s an interesting outlook. I will keep it in mind."

Knowing that their conversation was done, Shen Nianzu bowed for one last time before striding to where his teammates were. "Come on, it’s time to go back."

***

"Oh right, do you have any plans next weekend?" Shen Nianzu asked once they entered the city, glancing at Gu Luoxin through the rearview mirror. By then, evening had already settled, but fortunately the road was still quite clear as it was still nowhere near dinnertime.

Gu Luoxin pondered for a while before shaking his head, "Nope. Unless there’s a last-minute assignment, my schedule is pretty much empty."

"Perfect." Shen Nianzu smoothly turned the wheel, heading towards the young man’s college. "I promised Aqua that I will bring her to the sea. If you’re free, let’s go next weekend and oh, ask Noir to come too."

Gu Luoxin almost choked on his breath at the sudden mention of that name. "N–N–Noir? Why..."

"What ’why’?" Shen Nianzu raised a brow.

"I mean, he’s not a member of our organization and..."

"He has been an immense help to us for two whole Cycles. Moreover, hasn’t he saved your life a few times before? Just extend the invitation to him as a token of gratitude. Whether he wants to join or not, it’s up to him."

"I see..." Gu Luoxin slowly nodded, his heart thundering in his chest for reasons he couldn’t quite comprehend.

"What is it?" Jin Jiuchi turned to him with a knowing and teasing smile. "Even after everything we have been through, you’re still afraid of him?"

"W–Who says that I’m afraid?!" Gu Luoxin retorted angrily. "I am just... just..." The memory of the ordeal they had faced together in the Cycle replayed in his mind like a fast-forwarded movie, almost making him forget the reason why he was avoiding the emerald-eyed man in the first place. He had humiliated himself by acting foolish when he was drunk, but... could it be compared to the moments when Noir had generously saved his life again and again?

Taking a deep breath, Gu Luoxin declared, "Fine! I will invite him, but... but I’m not responsible for making him say yes, okay?!"

Who was he kidding?

Noir was a loner through and through. He wouldn’t have accepted the invitation, Gu Luoxin was certain of it. All he needed to do was ask the man casually, and hey— he didn’t even need to do it himself! That’s right, he could just send Noir a message or give him a call, then wait patiently for the man’s refusal!

Gu Luoxin nodded to himself, secretly patting his back for his great wit.