Tang Ning instinctively turned away, frantically twisting the doorknob, but the door wouldn't budge.
Trapped in the basement, Tang Ning was engulfed by the eerie silence and chilling atmosphere.
Laughter echoed in the supposed empty room. If Tang Ning barely maintained composure when he first saw the crib, now, hearing the nightmarish childlike laughter, fear surged like a tidal wave.
Trembling, he retrieved a chocolate from his pocket, one hand covering his eyes, the other extending the chocolate forward.
The baby's laughter persisted, and through the gaps, Tang Ning glimpsed a small figure squirming on the crib. It jumped down like a puppy, swiftly crawling toward Tang Ning.
Goosebumps covered Tang Ning; he shuddered, tossing the chocolate aside and desperately turning the doorknob.
"Creak."
The door opened.
Surviving the ordeal, Tang Ning was flooded with joy as he looked at the open door. However, his excitement turned to dread as he faced a tall figure.
It was Mo Yunchu.
Locked in a gaze with Mo Yunchu, Tang Ning was horrified to see that Mo Yunchu had no face.
A head without features rested atop his slender neck.
Suddenly, all the lights in the room went out, plunging it into darkness. Tang Ning's head buzzed; he shivered, nearly collapsing.
The sound of wheels echoed in the spacious basement. Orange-red flames flickered in the dark. Mo Yunchu removed the faceless skin, revealing an incredibly handsome face, illuminated by the candlelight.
Long, enchanting phoenix eyes stared unwaveringly at Tang Ning, exuding a strange charm of evil and allure.
This face, captivating countless young hearts, was now haunting to Tang Ning.
Something brushed against his feet; Tang Ning looked down to find a grotesque version of Annabelle's doll crawling by. Its red lips curled into a smile, and its hollow eyes locked onto him.
With a cheerful tone, Mo Yunchu exclaimed, "Surprise!"
A rich, sweet fragrance filled the air as Mo Yunchu pushed a cart with a birthday cake in front of Tang Ning, saying, "Happy birthday to us, little Ning!"
Staring blankly at Mo Yunchu, Tang Ning's brain struggled to process the overwhelming fear. Mo Yunchu picked up the doll at Tang Ning's feet and presented it to him, saying softly, "I noticed your doll was damaged on the bus. I had this one custom-made for you."
The grotesque doll appeared before Tang Ning, who, with widened eyes, managed to utter, "Throw it away."
Mo Yunchu hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Tang Ning's tears, immediately threw the doll outside. He closed the door, raised his hands, showing nothing, and approached Tang Ning gently, comforting him like a startled animal. "It's thrown away. All gone. Stop crying."
Tears continued to stream down Tang Ning's face; he hadn't noticed Mo Yunchu gradually getting closer. When he realized, Mo Yunchu was already kissing away his tears. Fear evident in his dilated pupils, Tang Ning stammered, "No, don't, you go—"
Mo Yunchu placed a large hand on the back of Tang Ning's head, sealing his trembling lips. Tears glistened in Tang Ning's eyes as he struggled to breathe.
With a hint of fear, Tang Ning forgot how to react to everything happening before him. Mo Yunchu, ending the deep kiss, gazed deeply into Tang Ning's eyes and promised, "I'm not leaving."
He seemed to have misunderstood Tang Ning's plea of "Don't go" as "I don't want you to leave."
At this point, Tang Ning found explanations meaningless. The fright had drained too much of his energy, leaving him gasping for fresh air. As his hazy eyes gradually cleared, he remained bewildered.
Mo Yunchu embraced his waist, guiding Tang Ning to the birthday cake, whispering by his ear, "Come, little Ning, make a wish."
The deep, magnetic voice made Tang Ning both afraid and strangely attached, unable to resist its pull.
"If wishes could come true, I hope to escape this nightmarish existence and never return," Tang Ning wished, lips quivering with greed for the fresh air.
Mo Yunchu held Tang Ning, pressing his back against a firm chest, entrapping him in a warm embrace. "Alright, you can blow out the candles now."
Tang Ning instinctively blew out all the candles, trembling.
Mo Yunchu took the serrated knife beside the cake, handing the handle to Tang Ning. With his large hand enveloping Tang Ning's, they cut into the vivid blood-red velvet cake.
"Here, take a bite," Mo Yunchu fed a piece to Tang Ning's lips. The velvety texture swept over his taste buds—sweet but not overwhelming, a taste that comforted his soul.
"Is it good?" Mo Yunchu asked indulgently.
Despite his fear, Tang Ning, revitalized by the delicious cake, nodded appreciatively. Being a celebrity with strict dietary control, he hadn't enjoyed such an indulgent cake this year.
Mo Yunchu fed him another large bite.
Tang Ning, shaky but no longer as scared, ate it, eyes glistening with a mix of fear and desire, like a trapped animal oscillating between trembling and taking the bait.
"Do you like it?" Mo Yunchu asked.
Tang Ning, though still trembling, nodded. Tears stained his delicate jaw, a bit of white cream on his lips making him look sweet and pitiful.
Mo Yunchu wiped the cream off Tang Ning's lips with his rough fingertips, then sucked on the cream-coated finger, saying, "So sweet."
"How about I continue making cakes for you, little Ning?" Mo Yunchu proposed.
Having eaten so much cake, Tang Ning finally had the strength to speak. "Sure, but next time, no more dolls. I don't like them."
"I'm sorry, I didn't think it through," Mo Yunchu immediately apologized.
Tang Ning took another bite of the cake, soothed by the sweetness. The secrets hidden in the basement, like this mysterious gift, lost their power once revealed.
Yes, he should be brave, not afraid of the basement, not afraid of the doll, and certainly not afraid of Mo Yunchu.
Looking at the handsome and affectionate Mo Yunchu, Tang Ning, with a soft voice, invited, "The cake is really delicious; you should try it too."
Mo Yunchu's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at Tang Ning's lips.
They continued to eat for a while, then Mo Yunchu brought the cake to the living room.
This birthday was carefully arranged by Mo Yunchu. He took a day off and personally made the birthday cake, designing the "surprise" in the basement with the director. The old "Tang Ning" used to enjoy such thrilling and supernatural elements, while the current Tang Ning favored red velvet cake, enjoying it to the point of overindulgence.
In the warm-toned light, Tang Ning sank into the soft sofa, and Mo Yunchu gently massaged his slightly bulging stomach. Maybe it was the overly gentle lighting or Mo Yunchu's deeply restrained eyes, but Tang Ning felt that Mo Yunchu was truly a good person. The abnormal behavior captured by surveillance must be a misunderstanding, just like the basement. It would be resolved by asking questions. After all, if he didn't clarify, Tang Ning might not be able to sleep tonight.
With this in mind, Tang Ning gathered courage and asked softly, "Under what circumstances do you think someone would stay up at night, continuously staring at their partner's face?"
Mo Yunchu thought for a moment and earnestly replied, "There are two situations. One is when the partner is too good-looking; you want to keep looking at them, never getting enough."
"And the other?" Tang Ning cautiously asked.
"That person is a psychopath," Mo Yunchu stated.
The breeze in the air seemed to freeze.
Mo Yunchu's deep pupils gazed at Tang Ning, a faint smile playing on his lips. "When did little Ning notice I was staring at him?"
That handsome face maintained a perfect smile, yet there was no humor in his eyes. It was like a demon wearing human skin.
Tang Ning's mind went blank.
He stared at Mo Yunchu, whose smile gradually widened. The laughter penetrated his eyes, appearing both helpless and curious, as if he were surprised by Tang Ning's timidity. "Did my expression scare you?"
Tang Ning stared blankly at Mo Yunchu.
"Silly, the role I recently took is that of a psychopath." Mo Yunchu pinched Tang Ning's nose. "I'm a method actor, and it seems my normal life is a bit influenced by this role. I thought you wouldn't notice."
"Since you sleep so soundly every day, just like a little pig." Mo Yunchu ruffled Tang Ning's fluffy hair. "How did you find out? Were you pretending to sleep?"
Tang Ning dared not admit that he had surveillance. Instead, he followed Mo Yunchu's lead.
Mo Yunchu squeezed Tang Ning's cheeks. "Little Ning, you're amazing. You even fooled me with your pretending-to-sleep act."
Tang Ning hadn't expected this reason. He was now relieved; Mo Yunchu's thoughts were too easy to guess, all laid out on his face. Anyone could read him at a glance.
"Are you still afraid of me now?" Mo Yunchu asked, a smile playing on his lips.
Tang Ning obediently shook his head.
Leaning in, Mo Yunchu's lips were close to Tang Ning's ear, and his voice, husky and gentle with a hint of irresistible desire, murmured, "Then, tonight, let your husband be satisfied, okay?"