When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 485: So Dazzling

Chapter 485: So Dazzling

As Gu Luoxin wrestled with his inner turmoil, Noir swiftly finished off the fried rice in a few large mouthfuls, packed the styrofoam box and tossed it to the nearby trash can. Only when he shifted his attention forward did he notice that Gu Luoxin seemed to be on the verge of tears, his eyes rimmed red, lips pursed tight and cheeks flushed. Yet he still fought not to let them fall.

"..." Noir blinked, taken aback.

With a speed that was nearly invisible to naked eyes, he snatched up a toothpick, stabbed a piece of rice cake, and stuffed it into Gu Luoxin’s mouth, causing the latter to look up at him in shock.

"You are very..." he paused for a while, searching for a suitable word before settling with, "expressive. What a crybaby."

It might have been the shock of Noir’s sudden action, or maybe the burst of spiciness that spread throughout his mouth, but a teardrop finally escaped from Gu Luoxin’s right eye, trailing down his flushed cheek. And once it fell, it was like a floodgate was opened and Gu Luoxin found himself unable to contain his emotions any longer.

"Well, excuse me for being such a crybaby!" He burst out while chewing on the spicy rice cake in his mouth, causing his voice to come out a little muffled. "I never know what you’re thinking, and all of a sudden, you told me you’re angry with me? I– I don’t even know what I’ve done wrong! But if you think that I’m going to apologize, then you’re sorely mistaken! I’m not a pushover who will say sorry for something I didn’t even do!!" His loud voice echoed on and on within the studio, mingling only with his ragged breathing.

A heavy and quiet silence followed as their eyes remained locked onto each other.

Gu Luoxin: "..."

Oh shiiiit!

W–What had he done?! How could he...!

Covering his face with both hands, Gu Luoxin shrank into himself, desperately wishing that the ground could open up and swallow him whole. Gone was his fierce momentum earlier, and now he was as timid as a mouse. "C–Can we pretend I didn’t say anything earlier...?" He pleaded, his voice shaking badly.

But Noir, ever the cruel, responded without hesitation, "No can do."

"...!" Gu Luoxin’s heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as he squeezed his eyes shut, more and more tears cascading down his cheeks. Seriously, he had no idea what had come over him earlier. How could he even lash out at Noir like a... like a snotty brat?! Oh no, Noir must be utterly disgusted with him now!

The word ’sorry’ was hanging on the tip of his tongue despite his earlier declaration that he wouldn’t apologize. But before he could blurt it out, Noir abruptly seized his wrist, pulling it away from his face, then he stuffed another piece of spicy rice cake into his mouth.

Gu Luoxin blinked rapidly at him, too shocked to comprehend the situation. Who could tell him what was going on in Noir’s head? Why would the man feed him out of nowhere?!

"You must be hungry," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, still with that deadpan expression of his. "Eat more."

He moved to pick up another piece, but Gu Luoxin hurriedly stopped him. "Hmm—!" He hastened to chew the food in his mouth, wanting to speak, but Noir beat him to it,

"I don’t know how you jump to such a conclusion," he said calmly. "But I’m not angry at you."

"H–Huh?" Gu Luoxin snapped his gaze to the man in shock. If not him, then who? Noir had mentioned how he had never felt so irked before until he saw Gu Luoxin fighting the nightmare creature, so wouldn’t it be natural for Gu Luoxin to conclude that the man was angry at—

Hold on.

A sudden possibility crossed Gu Luoxin’s mind, one which had read and analyzed various manhwas with a similar trope and plotline. Never before had Gu Luoxin felt so enlightened, and his tears practically stopped as he peered up at Noir with sparkling eyes.

"By any chance..." he began tentatively. "Are you angry... not at me... but because of me? Because I threw myself into danger? For you?"

Noir stared at him unblinkingly, and this time Gu Luoxin seemed to be able to see the gears turning inside his head, before it all clicked for him. "...Ah."

’Ah’? Was that all he had to say – ’ah’?! Goddammit, after all these emotional rollercoasters he had put Gu Luoxin through! How dare he... how dare he be so... cute! It was so unfair!

"You’re crying again," Noir pointed out, his tone a mix of observation and confusion.

Gu Luoxin covered his eyes, sniffling. "This time it’s tears of happiness."

Noir: ?

"Ah, I’m so relieved!" Gu Luoxin slumped onto the table with a groan. "You totally scared me, Senior! And here I was thinking what should I do if you kicked me out!" He shot Noir with a playful glare that contained no heat at all. Moreover, as he had just cried, a layer of moisture still clung to his lashes, making him appear particularly pitiful and endearing.

The corner of Noir’s lips twitched, his brow arching in amusement. "So that’s why you burst into tears all of a sudden?"

Arghh, his black history! Gu Luoxin felt like he could die of sheer mortification whenever he recalled everything he had said! Hurry, he had to change the topic before Noir teased him again about it!

Clearing his throat, Gu Luoxin straightened up and thickened his skin, asking, "W–Why would you even go out of your way to carve it if it makes you angry? Or are you just... venting your emotions to make you feel better?"

Shaking his head, Noir silently urged him to eat, and Gu Luoxin had no choice but to comply, bringing the spicy rice cake to his mouth. Then he heard the emerald-eyed man say, "It indeed irks me, but at that time... you were so dazzling. I couldn’t tear my eyes away."

"Cough—!" Gu Luoxin choked as the food went down the wrong pipe, and he coughed so hard it was as if he was about to hack his lungs out. He instinctively grabbed a water bottle closest to him and chugged it down to relieve his painful throat, not even realizing it belonged to Noir.

Covering his mouth, he stared at Noir in shock, his face so red as though it could ooze out blood. "I... I was...?"

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Noir, of all people, would consider him dazzling. Shouldn’t it be the other way around??

"Hmm-mm," Noir let out a brief hum, a faint smile tugging on the corner of his lips. "You are."

Gu Luoxin’s breath abruptly ceased as he took in the smile that, albeit faint, still managed to blow his mind. It felt as though a nuclear explosion had gone off in his mind, leaving him with nary a thought except for one— oh God, w-wasn’t this the first time Noir had ever shown him a smile? And it was just so... so lethal, so beautiful and captivating that he wished so badly to capture it with his eyes and burn the image into his memory forever.

How was a feeble man like him supposed to survive in the face of such a destructive weapon?!