When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 562: To a Good Place

Chapter 562: To a Good Place

Gu Luoxin shoveled one bite after another into his mouth as if it could help him bury the embarrassment. But the rich flavors exploding in his mouth were so riveting that his attention was soon diverted to the food. He chewed happily, relishing in the satisfying sensation of having his stomach filled after starving for almost a day.

Hmm, how delicious! You’ve outdone yourself with these superb dishes, Xinxin!

"Speaking of which, Senior," he suddenly recalled that he had not gotten his answers earlier. The curiosity was gnawing at him from within, and so he decided to take the risk and ask bluntly, despite how he might receive another scathing remark, "What brought you here and... how did you find this place?"

After the question left his mouth, he subconsciously held his breath, his fervent gaze fixated on the man before him.

But alas, Noir’s response couldn’t be more casual. "I was just passing by when I saw you from above."

Gu Luoxin’s tense expression collapsed in an instant. P-Passing by, he said? What kind of random excuse was it? Could he at least come up with a more believable lie?!

With a grumble, Gu Luoxin sulked, "Do you think I’m Jin Jiuchi?"

That dumbass had a mentality of a three-year-old child, naïve and straight-up idiotic. He would blindly follow whoever offered him free food and considered them his good buddy, but Gu Luoxin was different. He was not that easy to fool, okay?!

Across from him, Noir’s lips curled ever so slightly in faint mirth, but too bad Gu Luoxin missed this rare and stunning sight because he had his head lowered as he shoved a big spoonful of rice into his mouth with vengeance, still huffing and puffing in frustration.

After chewing for a while, he still found himself reluctant to drop the topic just like this. It was like a fishbone stuck in his throat, making him feel unbearable if he didn’t get it out! This time, however, he adopted a casual tone as though he was merely asking in passing, "So why did you call me, Senior? Did you need me for something?"

Feeling somewhat speechless by the young man’s endless barrage of questions, Noir pointed his chopsticks at Gu Luoxin’s rice bowl and commanded with a faint warning in his tone, "Less talk, eat more."

"Oh..." Gu Luoxin glumly lowered his head once more. This time, he had no choice but to give up for real and eat his meal in a well-behaved manner. He knew he wouldn’t be able to pry the answers out of his senior’s mouth even if he wagged his tongue dry. Noir showed no intention of clearing his doubt at all— and Gu Luoxin couldn’t tell whether the man was just teasing him or he was truly reluctant to talk.

Geez, it should be a crime to leave someone in suspense like this!

Well, forget it, he released a sigh full of resignation. Who told him to like this person so much?

The two of them polished the food swiftly, and by the time Gu Luoxin finished washing the plates, the sky outside had turned pitch-black. Wiping his hands dry, he walked out of the kitchen and found Noir putting on his shoes in front of the door. He already had his coat on, ready to leave.

For a fleeting moment, Gu Luoxin was struck with a pang of reluctance, and he nearly blurted out, ’Why don’t you just stay for the night?’

But fortunately, he managed to brake himself on time. He told himself that he must not be so selfish. He couldn’t take more of Noir’s time. It was already nice of the man to accompany him until now, so what right did he have to ask Noir to stay longer? It was New Year’s Eve, for God’s sake, so why would he spend it with a university junior whom he had only known for less than a year? It’s not like they had any special relationship per se!

Clenching his fists, Gu Luoxin called out softly, "Senior..."

"Hm?" Noir made a questioning sound without lifting his head, as he was occupied in tying his shoelaces.

Biting his lower lip, Gu Luoxin suppressed the urge to beg the man to stay with him and instead said, his tone soft and subdued, "I have no idea why you dropped by all of a sudden, but... thank you for having a meal with me. It really means a lot, much more than you think. So thank you, Senior..." toward the end, his voice gained a raspy quality as he tried his best not to get too emotional.

Without Noir here, who knew how miserable he would have been?

He could picture it vividly in his mind— how he would have spent the lonely night all alone, picking at an ice-cold meal while wiping his tears once in a while. What was supposed to be a joyful day spent with his one and only family member had instead left him hollow with disappointment, and he would have welcomed the New Year with a bitter heart. He was certain that, even if his Uncle never again missed another appointment in the future, he would remember this day for decades to come, remember how lonesome and disconsolate he had been. But Noir had overwritten all that. His sudden presence transformed this day into a precious memory Gu Luoxin would cherish in a lifetime.

And for that, it was enough.

He felt satisfied enough already. It would be too much to ask for more.

Gu Luoxin discreetly took a deep breath, intending to see Noir off with a big smile on his face. Yet instead of leaving right away, Noir turned around and asked him, "Do you have any other plans after this?"

"Huh?" Gu Luoxin blinked, taken aback, and reflexively answered, "N-No...?"

"No? Good," he remarked out of nowhere and waved his hand in a shooing gesture. "Then go and grab your coat. Dress yourself as warmly as possible. We will be leaving."

Gu Luoxin: ???

W-Where did that come from? Moreover, ’we’— as in, the two of them???

For a moment, Gu Luoxin’s expression turned blank, his mind struggling to process the onslaught of information. But Noir gave him no time to think as he snapped his fingers in front of Gu Luoxin’s face, "Hurry up and get moving. If you keep dawdling, I will leave you behind."

That was enough to spur Gu Luoxin into action.

Eyes widening, he dashed into the living room, all the while leaving a panicked sentence, "W-Wait for me for five— no, three minutes! You absolutely can’t leave me behind oh!"

Gu Luoxin’s mind was in complete disarray. He had no idea what Noir planned to do, but he still followed the man’s instructions blindly. At this moment, nothing else mattered to him— he simply did not wish to be left alone tonight. And if Noir was willing to take him along, then he would stick to the man everywhere, even to the ends of earth!

Two minutes and fifty four seconds later, Gu Luoxin stood in front of Noir, panting, his delicate face tinged with a rosy flush from exertion. He was bundled up from head to toe in a thick coat, a scarf, gloves, and a woolen hat with two fluffy pom-poms that swayed with each breath he took.

"I-I’m done!" he exclaimed, still struggling to catch his breath.

Scanning him from head to toe, Noir removed his woolen hat and, after a brief contemplation, shoved it into his own pocket. "You won’t need this for the time being."

Gu Luoxin watched his series of actions in apparent confusion. "Where are we going, Senior?" he gingerly asked.

With a mysterious gleam in his striking emerald eyes, Noir stated in a low voice, "I will bring you to a good place."

.

.

Mini theater

Gu Luoxin (sulky): do you think I’m Jin Jiuchi?

JJ, miles away: *sneeze* who’s talking shit about me behind my back?! It must be Xinxin, that evil spawn! There can be no other person!